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Into the Icy Darkness II: The Next Generation
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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1585784" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p>“So, Ari is staying with your father?” Valaron asked Raven, trying to distract his sister from her teasing of the poor girl.</p><p></p><p>“Yeah,” Raven nodded. Part of her mind was still aloof, relatively cool and composed... save she was already hating the dress. True, it looked beautiful, but the corset was too tight, the loops on the sleeves too long, and it was a trial to not trip over the front of its long form. The Empress was slightly taller than Raven, so it dragged under the girl’s feet.</p><p></p><p>The other part of Raven was nervous... tense. The setting was part of it. She wasn’t used to formal gatherings, despite how exciting they could be. The other was who she was standing next to.</p><p></p><p>“Yeah is the only response I get?” Valaron pressed. He could see she was rather uncomfortable, and assumed it was because of the other nobles. <em>Maybe talking to a friend will put her at ease.</em></p><p></p><p>“Well, she hasn’t been home in two whole years, Val!” Vintressa jumped to her friend’s defense. “Kulloden is some eight hundred miles from here, and I’m sure she doesn’t have the cash on her to teleport back and forth!”</p><p></p><p>“She could always ask mother for help. She <em>does</em> refer to you as the niece she wishes she had,” Valaron smiled at Raven.</p><p></p><p>The girl’s heart skipped a beat slightly, and she coughed, trying to focus her thoughts. “I, um, I...” Raven tried to organize her thoughts into words. She was having an incredibly hard time doing so.</p><p></p><p>“Knowing Raven, I’m sure she likes getting along by herself, without always turning to Auntie Empress and Uncle Emperor to help her out,” Vintressa replied with the words she knew Raven was trying to say. She gave her friend a smile that was devilish, and Raven blushed again as Vintressa launched into a story about the raven haired girl’s independence.</p><p></p><p>“And then, of course,” Vintressa babbled on a few minutes later, “Raven told Aergrifyr that in her opinion, launching a fireball into the mess would have just fixed the problem! That caused the class to break out in laughter, didn’t it?” Vintressa babbled happily... until she heard no response from her brother. </p><p></p><p>“Val? Are you even listening?” she growled, turning to look at him, and seeing a look of utter and complete shock on his face.</p><p></p><p>“Um... Vinny? Who invited them?” he hissed into her ear. Vin followed the direction of his subtle head nod, and found herself facing the two children of the late Duke of Erelion. Her mind raced, placing their names and backgrounds... <em>Simeon and Eryna... their father had a counterclaim to the Imperial throne, and attempted to start a rebellion... </em> Quickly, her own face followed Val’s in slipping into a blank look, one that covered up her confusion and shock inside.</p><p></p><p>“They are scions of House Erelion, despite who their father was. They will be powerful nobles... and they deserved the respect of being invited,” Vintressa’s politically focused mind said quietly. “I never would expect them to show up, however,” the Princess added guardedly.</p><p></p><p>“Wha...?” Raven’s mind asked. She gave herself a mental headshake, and with a growl realized she had been staring at Valaron... again. <em>Focus, Raven! </em>–her mind scowled at itself. <em>Valaron and Vintressa are looking rather uneasy at this pair in front of us... something is going on. Should I slip away? Do Val and Vin want me to stay?</em></p><p></p><p>“Greetings, My Lord Valaron,” the woman bowed. From her large, perfectly shaped eyes, Raven could seemingly see her soul reaching out to Valaron’s trying to tug at his. The girl’s face reddened again, as the young lady knew what it was to be the ‘third wheel.’ She nervously looked back at Val, hoping to get a hint from him as to what she should do. Strangely, his arm had not let her shoulder... indeed, she felt it tense up, gripping her shoulder tighter.</p><p></p><p><em>Maybe he’s nervous at seeing such a thing of beauty in front of him?</em> Raven’s mind wondered. She had to admit, the lavender eyed beauty to Val’s front was easily the best eyecatcher in a room full of people seeking to catch the Crown Prince’s eye...</p><p></p><p>“Greetings, Lady Eyrna, Lord Simeon,” Valaron did not even incline his head politely, and his greeting was far more stiff and formal than her flowing words. He’d seen the way she’d inclined her head, trying to display her graceful neck. <em>She’s trying to show off her beauty to me... despite the fact her House and mine are enemies...</em></p><p></p><p>Instantly his mind went defensive, and he sensed the upswelling of magic billowing from her necklace, rings, small tiara, indeed even her clothing. <em>Why are you here... at a formal ball thrown by your enemies? True... we do not assassinate our foes, but still, you would only come here for a purpose of some kind...</em></p><p></p><p>“Highness, would you care to chat with us?” Eyrna gave a beautiful smile to accompany her suggestion, her hand gracefully gesturing to one of the ornate tables near the side of the room. </p><p></p><p><em>He stiffened... so this young man is not nearly as lustful or foolish as to fall for such an obvious trap...</em> her mind graded. She had not expected mere beauty to work on him. That raised Eyrna’s curiosity greatly... a sixteen year old that had women fawning all over him due to his rank, yet still possessing iron self control.</p><p></p><p>“We have something we would like to discuss with you. It involves a friend of yours... a little younger than you...” Her voice, while sweet and innocent sounding to the casual observer, was not nearly so quiet and unassuming to Valaron’s ears. There was a certain dangerous... even poisonous element to it.</p><p></p><p>That alone caught his curiosity. The veiled reference to his ‘a friend’ caught the rest of him. <em>Who does she mean? Tark? The Dice kids? Amarine? Fortunas? Hemmel?</em> Even while he and Vintressa had spats and teased each other much, neither would tolerate someone harming or alarming the other. And both of them were <em>very</em> protective of their friends that did not retain a ‘Highness’ within their titles.</p><p></p><p>“Very... well...” Val said guardedly, a gentle push from his arms moving Raven and Vintressa towards the table. <em>Whatever goes on here... I want witnesses to it. There is trouble afoot.</em> Suddenly, Eyrna raised her hand, another polite but dangerous smile coming to her face.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>“Your sister is welcome to come,” she said bittersweetly, “bur your other friend might want to enjoy the dancing more than our political discussions.”</p><p></p><p><em>He wants the other girl present? Who is she?</em> Eyrna’s mind searched its extensive knowledge to try and place a face. One unfortunate thing about the Emperor and Empress was that until recently, when their children’s age compelled them to let their lives be more public, the Imperial Family had sheltered its children. Information on who Valaron and Vintressa’s closest confidants was still only just being put into place by other Houses.</p><p></p><p><em>Black hair... green eyes... slight mole on lower left chin...</em> Eryna’s photographic memory flashed through the thousands of faces of important people she’d met and seen... another advantage her mind gave her. Rather suddenly, she gave a smile, placing things together with a few faces she’d seen before.</p><p></p><p><em>Of course!</em></p><p></p><p><em>Political discussions</em>? Raven’s mind questioned. <em>That is a red flag... and they want me gone.</em> She glanced protectively towards Valaron and Vintressa... the three had been close friends since they were mere babes... close enough that Raven’s own father had taken to calling them, “the bear cubs.” And she was not about to allow a fellow pair of ‘cubs’ to be cut off in a diplomatic slaughter. At least, she assumed that was what these two people were after. It seemed what everyone who didn’t like the Imperial Family was after.</p><p></p><p>“With all due respect,” her alarms giving her tongue motion, “I do believe that His Highness might want me to accompany him and Her Highness,” Raven replied coldly. She had no care for what Vintressa or Valaron’s feelings on the subject might be, she <em>was</em> coming with. “I... believe His Highness would appreciate additional counsel, should this be regarding a personal matter pertaining to him.” </p><p></p><p>A moment after the last word left her lips, she winced. She didn’t know if Val actually wanted her to come with, she’d merely played this bluff to try and stay with her friends. <em>I hope he’ll play along...</em> she thought as she unconsciously pulled closer to him... a move that Vintressa was echoing.</p><p></p><p>Eyrna turned, slowly and with poise, to look at the miscreant daughter of a mere Baron. </p><p></p><p>“Of course, you may come, Lady Dice,” she said sweetly. Mentally as she spoke, she categorized the way the young woman, daughter of a close friend of the Emperor, had slid even closer to Valaron, and the way her hands danced slightly above her waist... a spot where a weapon would likely sit.</p><p></p><p><em>She has feelings for the Prince,</em> Eyrna’s mind grasped, and a gleam came into her eyes. <em>It shall be enjoyable to drag her family into this fall as well, but how?</em></p><p></p><p>“I was merely thinking that you may not enjoy a nice political discussion. Perhaps I was mistaken,” Eyrna smiled sweetly, as her agile mind wrestled with its new problem.</p><p></p><p><em>The Dice family is not powerful... they are weak. They have no armed forces, no troops... they merely have their shops and inns spread all around Irulas. Money does not necessarily equal power...</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Yes, it shall be fun watching her fall within our plot!</em></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Valaron’s eyes shot over to Raven as the group sat down at one of the more removed tables from the rest of the crowd. Her eyes burned with an intensity he had never seen before, fiery and sharp, directed at Eyrna as she gracefully sat down. If present company had not been there, he would have likely given her a smile of thanks. As it was, his own gaze focused on Eyrna.</p><p></p><p>“As you may know, m’lord,” Eyrna began, “unfortunately Count Lawes of Holstean died a year ago, and has since been replaced by Count Elberron. Elberron has been most... aggressive... in pursuing the strict adherence to Imperial law and code.”</p><p></p><p><em>What does she want? Has Elberron pushed the law onto some of their family lands? Do they want him replaced?</em> Valaron’s mind began weighing her words, trying to discover her intentions. Elberron had intentionally been placed in Holstean after the death of Count Santac Lawes a year prior. While Elberron was dull and mechanical to a certain extent, he was steady, and followed the rules of the law to the letter.</p><p></p><p>“And, I regret to inform you, that your father, Lady Dice, is currently in violation of the law.” While Eyrna’s face conveyed a slight trembling sense of pity, the consumate actress could not hide the smile that danced in her lavender eyes.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1585784, member: 15043"] “So, Ari is staying with your father?” Valaron asked Raven, trying to distract his sister from her teasing of the poor girl. “Yeah,” Raven nodded. Part of her mind was still aloof, relatively cool and composed... save she was already hating the dress. True, it looked beautiful, but the corset was too tight, the loops on the sleeves too long, and it was a trial to not trip over the front of its long form. The Empress was slightly taller than Raven, so it dragged under the girl’s feet. The other part of Raven was nervous... tense. The setting was part of it. She wasn’t used to formal gatherings, despite how exciting they could be. The other was who she was standing next to. “Yeah is the only response I get?” Valaron pressed. He could see she was rather uncomfortable, and assumed it was because of the other nobles. [i]Maybe talking to a friend will put her at ease.[/i] “Well, she hasn’t been home in two whole years, Val!” Vintressa jumped to her friend’s defense. “Kulloden is some eight hundred miles from here, and I’m sure she doesn’t have the cash on her to teleport back and forth!” “She could always ask mother for help. She [i]does[/i] refer to you as the niece she wishes she had,” Valaron smiled at Raven. The girl’s heart skipped a beat slightly, and she coughed, trying to focus her thoughts. “I, um, I...” Raven tried to organize her thoughts into words. She was having an incredibly hard time doing so. “Knowing Raven, I’m sure she likes getting along by herself, without always turning to Auntie Empress and Uncle Emperor to help her out,” Vintressa replied with the words she knew Raven was trying to say. She gave her friend a smile that was devilish, and Raven blushed again as Vintressa launched into a story about the raven haired girl’s independence. “And then, of course,” Vintressa babbled on a few minutes later, “Raven told Aergrifyr that in her opinion, launching a fireball into the mess would have just fixed the problem! That caused the class to break out in laughter, didn’t it?” Vintressa babbled happily... until she heard no response from her brother. “Val? Are you even listening?” she growled, turning to look at him, and seeing a look of utter and complete shock on his face. “Um... Vinny? Who invited them?” he hissed into her ear. Vin followed the direction of his subtle head nod, and found herself facing the two children of the late Duke of Erelion. Her mind raced, placing their names and backgrounds... [i]Simeon and Eryna... their father had a counterclaim to the Imperial throne, and attempted to start a rebellion... [/i] Quickly, her own face followed Val’s in slipping into a blank look, one that covered up her confusion and shock inside. “They are scions of House Erelion, despite who their father was. They will be powerful nobles... and they deserved the respect of being invited,” Vintressa’s politically focused mind said quietly. “I never would expect them to show up, however,” the Princess added guardedly. “Wha...?” Raven’s mind asked. She gave herself a mental headshake, and with a growl realized she had been staring at Valaron... again. [i]Focus, Raven! [/i]–her mind scowled at itself. [i]Valaron and Vintressa are looking rather uneasy at this pair in front of us... something is going on. Should I slip away? Do Val and Vin want me to stay?[/i] “Greetings, My Lord Valaron,” the woman bowed. From her large, perfectly shaped eyes, Raven could seemingly see her soul reaching out to Valaron’s trying to tug at his. The girl’s face reddened again, as the young lady knew what it was to be the ‘third wheel.’ She nervously looked back at Val, hoping to get a hint from him as to what she should do. Strangely, his arm had not let her shoulder... indeed, she felt it tense up, gripping her shoulder tighter. [i]Maybe he’s nervous at seeing such a thing of beauty in front of him?[/i] Raven’s mind wondered. She had to admit, the lavender eyed beauty to Val’s front was easily the best eyecatcher in a room full of people seeking to catch the Crown Prince’s eye... “Greetings, Lady Eyrna, Lord Simeon,” Valaron did not even incline his head politely, and his greeting was far more stiff and formal than her flowing words. He’d seen the way she’d inclined her head, trying to display her graceful neck. [i]She’s trying to show off her beauty to me... despite the fact her House and mine are enemies...[/i] Instantly his mind went defensive, and he sensed the upswelling of magic billowing from her necklace, rings, small tiara, indeed even her clothing. [i]Why are you here... at a formal ball thrown by your enemies? True... we do not assassinate our foes, but still, you would only come here for a purpose of some kind...[/i] “Highness, would you care to chat with us?” Eyrna gave a beautiful smile to accompany her suggestion, her hand gracefully gesturing to one of the ornate tables near the side of the room. [i]He stiffened... so this young man is not nearly as lustful or foolish as to fall for such an obvious trap...[/i] her mind graded. She had not expected mere beauty to work on him. That raised Eyrna’s curiosity greatly... a sixteen year old that had women fawning all over him due to his rank, yet still possessing iron self control. “We have something we would like to discuss with you. It involves a friend of yours... a little younger than you...” Her voice, while sweet and innocent sounding to the casual observer, was not nearly so quiet and unassuming to Valaron’s ears. There was a certain dangerous... even poisonous element to it. That alone caught his curiosity. The veiled reference to his ‘a friend’ caught the rest of him. [i]Who does she mean? Tark? The Dice kids? Amarine? Fortunas? Hemmel?[/i] Even while he and Vintressa had spats and teased each other much, neither would tolerate someone harming or alarming the other. And both of them were [i]very[/i] protective of their friends that did not retain a ‘Highness’ within their titles. “Very... well...” Val said guardedly, a gentle push from his arms moving Raven and Vintressa towards the table. [i]Whatever goes on here... I want witnesses to it. There is trouble afoot.[/i] Suddenly, Eyrna raised her hand, another polite but dangerous smile coming to her face. “Your sister is welcome to come,” she said bittersweetly, “bur your other friend might want to enjoy the dancing more than our political discussions.” [i]He wants the other girl present? Who is she?[/i] Eyrna’s mind searched its extensive knowledge to try and place a face. One unfortunate thing about the Emperor and Empress was that until recently, when their children’s age compelled them to let their lives be more public, the Imperial Family had sheltered its children. Information on who Valaron and Vintressa’s closest confidants was still only just being put into place by other Houses. [i]Black hair... green eyes... slight mole on lower left chin...[/i] Eryna’s photographic memory flashed through the thousands of faces of important people she’d met and seen... another advantage her mind gave her. Rather suddenly, she gave a smile, placing things together with a few faces she’d seen before. [i]Of course![/i] [i]Political discussions[/i]? Raven’s mind questioned. [i]That is a red flag... and they want me gone.[/i] She glanced protectively towards Valaron and Vintressa... the three had been close friends since they were mere babes... close enough that Raven’s own father had taken to calling them, “the bear cubs.” And she was not about to allow a fellow pair of ‘cubs’ to be cut off in a diplomatic slaughter. At least, she assumed that was what these two people were after. It seemed what everyone who didn’t like the Imperial Family was after. “With all due respect,” her alarms giving her tongue motion, “I do believe that His Highness might want me to accompany him and Her Highness,” Raven replied coldly. She had no care for what Vintressa or Valaron’s feelings on the subject might be, she [i]was[/i] coming with. “I... believe His Highness would appreciate additional counsel, should this be regarding a personal matter pertaining to him.” A moment after the last word left her lips, she winced. She didn’t know if Val actually wanted her to come with, she’d merely played this bluff to try and stay with her friends. [i]I hope he’ll play along...[/i] she thought as she unconsciously pulled closer to him... a move that Vintressa was echoing. Eyrna turned, slowly and with poise, to look at the miscreant daughter of a mere Baron. “Of course, you may come, Lady Dice,” she said sweetly. Mentally as she spoke, she categorized the way the young woman, daughter of a close friend of the Emperor, had slid even closer to Valaron, and the way her hands danced slightly above her waist... a spot where a weapon would likely sit. [i]She has feelings for the Prince,[/i] Eyrna’s mind grasped, and a gleam came into her eyes. [i]It shall be enjoyable to drag her family into this fall as well, but how?[/i] “I was merely thinking that you may not enjoy a nice political discussion. Perhaps I was mistaken,” Eyrna smiled sweetly, as her agile mind wrestled with its new problem. [i]The Dice family is not powerful... they are weak. They have no armed forces, no troops... they merely have their shops and inns spread all around Irulas. Money does not necessarily equal power... Yes, it shall be fun watching her fall within our plot![/i] Valaron’s eyes shot over to Raven as the group sat down at one of the more removed tables from the rest of the crowd. Her eyes burned with an intensity he had never seen before, fiery and sharp, directed at Eyrna as she gracefully sat down. If present company had not been there, he would have likely given her a smile of thanks. As it was, his own gaze focused on Eyrna. “As you may know, m’lord,” Eyrna began, “unfortunately Count Lawes of Holstean died a year ago, and has since been replaced by Count Elberron. Elberron has been most... aggressive... in pursuing the strict adherence to Imperial law and code.” [i]What does she want? Has Elberron pushed the law onto some of their family lands? Do they want him replaced?[/i] Valaron’s mind began weighing her words, trying to discover her intentions. Elberron had intentionally been placed in Holstean after the death of Count Santac Lawes a year prior. While Elberron was dull and mechanical to a certain extent, he was steady, and followed the rules of the law to the letter. “And, I regret to inform you, that your father, Lady Dice, is currently in violation of the law.” While Eyrna’s face conveyed a slight trembling sense of pity, the consumate actress could not hide the smile that danced in her lavender eyes. [/QUOTE]
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