Scales and Honor: Darkened Skies

Chapter 22: Dinner Date

Hulmara returned some time later with a hasty bow, then wiping her hair from her eyes as she righted herself. She guided Nivra back to her room, where a dress had been laid bare on her bed. The house woman instructed the lord expected a certain etiquette. One that he held with all his guests. That was fine to the princess. Afterall, she was used to such things as was typical in her life back in Entis. She simple smiled, thanked the girl and picked up the soft dress, letting it fall to her feet.

It was royal purple, the exact color of her tabard that she wore over her other clothing, and silky to the touch. Underneath the flowing arms was a white section that wrapped all the way to her wrists and snaked its way towards her neck where it parted like a T. On the bed beside the pristine looking garment was a golden sash with a sapphire studded into the front. Resting to its side was a square golden amulet with the same oval shaped gem planted within it.

“Well its been quite some time since I've had to go to an elegant affair." She giggled as she undressed and slipped into the provided garments. Hulmarra helped her stitch up the back, making sure it wasn't too tight as to restrict her breathing nor was it too lose that it threatened to fall from her at the slightest jostling. Nivra flipped her onyx hair over her shoulders, slipping the amulet around her neck and neatly putting her traveling clothes onto the dresser where Hulmarra mentioned she would have someone clean them with upmost haste. The wizard strolled towards the room's body length mirror, performing a twirl. She looked rather good if she said so herself, she couldn't even fight the smile that had started to tug at her lips. Heck, she might even ask the lordship if she could keep the provided clothes. It was not like he would deny a request from royalty. She turned towards the house maiden, giving the shy woman a quick curtsey, offering her thanks. With that completed the girl bowed her head, insisting that they head on down towards the dining hall. When asked about her other companions the girl explained that other servants were gathering them as well for the evening's festivities.

“Including the gryphons?" She mused covering her lips were her palm and picturing her bodyguard with a red bow tie around his neck. His feathers all puffed up proudly at how handsome he looked in the mirror. Silently she wished he was like that.

“Uh..Not that I am aware of miss." Hulmarra laughed. “Do gryphons wear clothes in Lumara? I took it that they all pranced around with their bits dangling about."

“Well." Nivra's cheeks started to flush as a certain pair of blackened balls came to mind attached to a plump and alluring sheath. “They…do tend to do that." She glanced away, “Just comes natural to them of course. Sometimes the guards are known to wear leathers or other armors to protect themselves." She took a break, steeling her nerves with a straightened face, anything to hide the reddening of her cheeks at the idea of her love's lower regions. They walked in a few foot falls of silence before Hulmarra rose her brow, opening a door with a sly grin.

“Don't get me wrong miss. But I've seen how you look at the gryphons. You're in love with the blue one isn't ya?"

“Krotos?" She burst out laughing as they passed a woman dusting a vase with a larger than normal feather duster.

“Well, if not him then why do you blush so hard at the mention of gryphon balls?"

“Because!" Nivra laughed, “I generally don't speak fondly or otherwise of Voidwing's adequately  sized balls or his plump sheath!"

Hulmarra giggled her reply, giving the girl a sly wink. “Oh, no one said anything about any plump sheaths mum. Perhaps your mind is starting to wander to certain areas."

Great. “Really now? I could have been certain that topic was mentioned." She avoided the servant's gaze with a cough as it was now her turn to start giggling like a mad woman with every few paces they took. She was thankful when they bumped into Arcturus, running a finger down the crimson vest that had been slung around him with golden curls stitched into the fabric. His hair was combed back and neat, his chin clean shaven.

He was leaning forward, tilting his head to the side as he admired himself in one mirror hanging on the wall. “How do I look?" He rubbed the smooth skin with a cupped hand. “Figured I go for a different look." The man righted himself when she gave him a hmmmm. He turned to her, bowing deeply with a quickened apology.

“Sorry your majesty. I thought it might have been someone one else traveling along. You look lovely this evening."

“Oh come now." She waved him back to his rightful position, her cheeks starting to feel like they were boiling. “And to your answer your question. Yes. I think you look rather fetching without the beard." She held up her two fingers close together. “Or perhaps a tiny gryphon sized one now. Just make sure it doesn't get too unmanageable. Not much of a lover of hair."

“Oh really?" Arcturus gave her a smirk, pressing down a crease on his fabric “And what does your bodyguard have on him again?"

Drat. She stared down the knight with the upmost grace she could muster. He would not win this little bout of words. “For your information. He is covered in Feathers and fur not hair." She waved him along as Hulmarra showed them towards the dining hall.

“Oh, excuse me. You suggest that I am just a simpleton then."

“I wouldn't go that far." She smiled as Hulmarra hurried them along. They crossed the courtyard quickly, the cold from outside making her clutch at her sides for warmth. She shivered, leaping for joy when they crossed back within the keep's warmth and the promise of steaming food that could be spread across the table. They eventually neared the kitchens, the menagerie of scents hanging heavy in the air like a delicious cloud that could rob any starving mortal of their wits in nearly a second's time. It was hard to not feel her mouth rebel against her, saliva pooling at the base like some waiting dog. The scent clung to every surface and guided them towards the hall. Heck, she didn't even need Hulmarra's guiding hand it was so poignant. By the time they reached the open doors of the dining hall she was ready to dig into anything they presented her, even the many fish dishes that she knew were awaiting her.

Three Lengthy oaken tables stood proudly atop a dark navy rug with golden waves crafted into the cloth. They were lit by numerous flickering lanterns and set before a roaring fireplace with thick red-orange flames that filled the room with an aura of pleasing warmth. Any chill that dare show its face was cast away in a manner of footsteps. Like a forest the delectable treats were scattered and piled high atop silver platters. Steam flowed off each tantalizing dish, preforming a seductive dance meant only to entice. She spied fish, crab, lobster, clams, all a manner of seafood combined with assorted green vegetables and numerous different cheeses. She spied roasted or grilled, or even baked plates to tease at the senses as her knees quaked beneath her and begged for a seat. From the meals there were biscuits of golden brown, potatoes skinned and covered with dark green spices and dipped in a yellow buttery sauce. Rice awaited each patron in large red bowls complete with off-white tops to contain it's heat.

Her companions were already there of course, seated around the tables on long wooden benches that stretched as long as the tables were lengthwise. Merlia was holding a silver goblet to her lips, cheeks red as she laughed. That was unsurprising, but what drew the wizard's eye was her clothes. For Even the ranger was dressed up of all things and doing her best to not let the purple wine dribbling from her goblet stain her dark red vest with tan sleeves. The dwarf brushed a blue and teal tipped feather that was stuck in her hair then playfully punched Asterion and Feku who were gawking at the food.The little kobold's scales were a slight hint of purple as the Cleric helped her pile food onto her plate with a genuine smile on his muzzle.

Shandalar was politely feasting on a pile of rice in front of her, seemingly oblivious to Merlia's raving story about some adventure she had been on years ago. Bragging about how she had met Jandar the traveling mage when he was just a wee child. Nivra was guided away from this however as Hulmarra brought her towards a fourth table that overlooked the others while Arcturus was led towards the other gathered guests. She sighed, this was typical of course as she noted that Lyndis was seated at the table as well. Royals and nobles often ate apart from the more common of their guests, which in this case was that of her companions. She glanced down to her place as she took her seat, staring at the silvered plate in front of her flanked by silverware. There was a goblet resting on the table filled with a darkish purple liquid that bubbled at the surface, whispering for her to try it. She sighed, taking a large whiff of the gathered food, already hoping to try each dish on the table. Even the fish which she normally hated smelled delicious and appetizing. She didn't know how they managed that, but it would mean the halfling chef was truly a master of his craft if he could even sway her mind on such matters. She was about to grab her fork and start to gather some foods when a certain blue feathered gryphon's joyous squawk caught her ear.

“And that's when he offered to touch my balls!" Krotos laughed, tapping a table that seemed to have been constructed with toddlers in mind. It was there that Krotos, Crimson, and Voidwing were sitting. Each feral laughing away with glazed eyes and rapidly swaying tails as they snatched up their own helpings of food and gobbled them down in an eating frenzy.

“Hewwo princess!" Voidwing smiled at her, turning to face her with a spray of food and waving of one of his wings. “Nice to see you!"

“Go on!" Krotos shoved the gryphon playfully, “Like we said!"

“Are you part chicken little kitty bird?" Crimson snickered, before lapping at a tiny bowl filled with what looked like the same spirits of everyone else.

Voidwing's cute ears splayed, his haunches wiggling as he sighed and looked into her eyes. “You look rather beautiful tonight princess. Rather stunning if I say so myself."

“Ooooooo." Crimson cooed, tapping the mini table with a paw. “He loves her."

“Shush your snout drunk gon." Krotos batted away the red's snickering snout with a chirp. “He's speaking from the heart!"

“Why thank you Softpaws." She giggled, ignoring as the ferals behind her love started to bicker and tap each other in their noses with claws and paws. Her chest felt warm from his words, her head a tad fuzzy as she strode over, kneeled and scratched her onyx love behind his little ears. “You look rather dashing yourself."

“But…I always look like this!" Voidwing protested, nuzzling into her touch and closing his eyes.

“Does it matter?" Nivra smiled warmly, his little sounds music to her soul. She was just about to pick him up and cuddle him against her chest when Crimson's loud shriek broke the air.

“Arcturus! You shaved!" The dragon bounded into the air, spiraling around the room with his wings almost grazing the walls before turning and clumsily falling onto the knight's shoulders and nearly collapsing off onto the table. “You got rid of that beard thing to look more like a dragon!" The little red dragon cooed, pushing against the man's face with his snout. “It feels wonderful!"

Nivra chuckled at the bashful paladin trying to keep is red scaled mate from touching and rubbing along his skin and commenting how sweet it was for him to try and emulate him. Of course, during this exchange Krotos was laughing away at the display, rubbing up on Voidwing and trying to pull his attention with a thrusted wing. She covered her lips when it became apparent to the little one she was laughing and his head snapped to her, frills fluttering in and out. Like a flash she snapped her head away in an attempt to hide her little outburst. Without another word she padded back towards her table and complimenting Lyndis' formal attire. It was fitting on her to say the least, which made perfect sense of course. She was royalty after all.

The half-elf's eyes widened, finger tracing over the smooth green scale dangling from her neck. She thanked her but the light behind her eyes darkened. When Nivra pushing on about it the princess avoided the question, instead grabbing at a silvered goblet and drowning her thoughts with a cupful of intoxicating wine. The wizard sighed as the others laughed and joked from behind them. Something about Shandalar levitating the dragon off the table and back to his seat which brought cackling laughter from Merlia about some time in the underdark and her cousin Burrae had to be dragged home he was so out of his mind on dwarven grog.

She plucked her own goblet off the table, admiring the fancy design of a pegasai in flight engraved into the reflective surface. Her own worried eyes reflected in the silver, icy blue specters resting upon her face. Searching, wondering for the answers that she and Lyndis sought. She peered inside at the red liquid that smelled of berries and tickled at her nose to try. She swished it around, wishing that she was all with the others, but this was her place after all. She was the princess. She rose the decorated cup, sipping the bitter yet sweet drink that washed over her taste buds. It lingered for a moment or two before she gulped it down, warming her throat all the way down and ending with a satisfied gasp. She was about to follow in the half elves example of finished off her cup of cup but that's when the lord and his family decided to join them.

From the door strode a well-dressed man in near pristine looking blue vestments lined with golden stitching that crossed from the front and all the way to the tall collar around his neck. Navy pants traveled down without a crease all the way to his steel buckled boots that sparkled in the torchlight. The brown bearded man gave them all a warm smile before bowing his head to reveal his shortened and well kept hair that was braided all the way down to his back.

“Greetings." His words were laced with warmth intermixed with genuine curiosity as he guided his family towards the princesses' table with a casual stride. “Fair adventurers and princesses of the realm, I welcome you to our keep." His turquoise eyes traveled around the room, taking in the adventuring party within moments. They finally rested onto the twin princesses, offering the two a smile that stretched from ear to ear. He introduced himself as William Threlfall, the now leader of his house and the defacto leader of Struport since the motherland had left them to fend for themselves. He introduced his wife, a fair skinned maiden adorned in a crème colored dress complete with lacy sleeves with numerous arm bands wrapped around her wrists. Next, he did the same for his three children, two boys and a girl. All who were well dressed and smiled, nodded, but otherwise not speaking a single word otherwise.

“You must have had a thrilling adventure on your own to make it all the way here." The family moved in around the table, taking their seats one by one with the scraping of chairs on the wood. “Especially with all those ghastly undead lurking around the lands now days." William sighed, a shadow spreading across his brow as he glanced to his family, fingers drumming across the wood. “Terrible fact now adays I'm afraid."

Nivra rested her goblet. Might as well return the warmth that was offered. She folded her hands in her lap, straightened her back and filled her words with as much friendliness as she could muster. “Well yes, it was rather exciting." Nivra flashed the man her teeth. “This group I think managed to have their egress halted by scores of those shambling horrors. But t'was not all. For we even ran afoul of a troll or three!"

“Really now?" He looked onto her with a hint of shock lingering on his brow. “It always troubles me to hear of our roads that were once safe now fraught with untold dangers." William sighed, a weight clearly tied around his heart. “At least you're safe now. Sometimes it feels as though we have been holding the line for ages now. But never say I wasn't an optimist. We've beaten them before. We can do it again, just needs the right application of force and brains to scatter them." His smile returned, casting away the darkened shroud as easily as the fire did the chill. Despite his gathering of food on his plate and now cheery attitude, Nivra couldn't help feeling that he was being strong for the people. Something her father had always said but obviously failed to live up to.

“I'd like to say a few words before we start to really dig into this meal in earnest!" William tapped his goblet with one of the silver forks, resonating with a loud ring that silenced the hall. Even the little ferals stopped their more recent squabbling over something about feathers and wings as the man cleared his throat. Silence lingered in the air before Crimson and four gryphon ears swiveled in his direction.

“I'm thankful that our various gods, in these trying times thought fit to guide you safety to our fair and prosperous city. Before you are the gains of our harvests and hard workers. Bless Fureen in her grace for allowing such things.Now dig in!" The man sat with a brief round of applause going through her companions. The lord and his family started to gather up some of the food, heaping it onto their plates in a little of a non-lordly sort of way. While he was doing so, William locked eyes with her.

“A little bird told me that you and your group are on quest to bring peace to our two kingdoms. Then to add to my utter sock, you lot even brought Lynalla with you." The man's eyes traveled to Lyndis, who regarded the man with a swishing goblet and shrug of her shoulders.

“That is true." Nivra bowed her head.

“Though that truly warms my heart dear, tis not that which occupies my time. Once the undead have been routed I can truly focus on such things as peace and unification of our peoples. Now don't be afraid to really dig in there." He gestured to the many plates with a grin. “Only the best spread has been put out here for us. And I don't want to see that bloody cup of yours go empty." He rose his own goblet higher and gestured to the others with a joyous cry. “And I don't want to see any of yours go empty as well."

“Well dis guy's all right!" Merlia rose her goblet, the contents splashing off the side and onto her vest. “Wasn't going ta last anyway." She laughed heartily before returning the drink to her lips, ignoring the snickering from the feral companions as Voidwing tried to snatch Veledar's swaying tail. The dragon pulled it away with a happy coo as Krotos only egged the gryphon on.

Eager hands soon found their way to the numerous dishes as the sounds of silverware clinked through the air. Conversations were kept to the city and its numerous streets and activities, or that of her adventure with her companions. While it was rather entertaining to discuss how to weave spells to such a captivating audience the food pulled her thoughts. She had made sure to grab at least one of everything in so that could at least say she tried it all. Her thoughts recoiled at the prospect of so much fish but the image of Voidwing chastising her later for not doing so kept her hands moving and fork plunging into each mouthwatering confection. She first tried lemon butter fish. It was tender, flakey white, and was laced with lemon and pepper that left her remembering to have more. Beans were next to be slid on top of white rice, laughing as the wispy steam coiled around her face like a thin white octopus. The Mmmmms that were escaping her throat just kept on flowing until Crimson had heard her little outbursts and suggested that she might have a little dragon in her. The others laughed as she paid the little one hardly any mind, not really getting what that one was about. This continued with the night passing them by to the constant dull roar of good cheer, clinks of mugs, and the scraping of silverware over prepared dishes. Though without fail conversations had started to steer back towards that our their journey.

“Now this mission of yours." William placed his hands onto the table, smiling with slightly reddened cheeks. “Don't be afraid to ask for anything that we can provide of course. I'd like the world to know just how useful that Struport was to both of the waring nations." His eyes rolled to Lyndis, giving the woman a friendly nod and drumming his fingers on the table. “You know, when peace is finally achieved and all that. Just be clear on who helped the most."

Lyndis just chuckled politely, moving around some food on her plate with a fork. “I'll be sure to remember that."

Was he trying to make a power play? Nivra laughed aloud, covering her mouth in realization as her cheeks burned and were no doubly of the brightest crimson imaginable. She glanced down to her near empty goblet. How many times had she refilled it? She tried to recall through the dull fuzziness around her head but realized she had lost track. Perhaps she had a tad too much to drink after all.

“Yea you could bloody help us." Lyndis leaned back in her chair, whatever illusion of an elegant princess vanishing with a savage tear into a biscuit. “We're lookin for a temple that houses an orb of some kind." She waved the piece of bread around like a teacher to a class of students. “Symbol is in the shape of an…." She rolled the bread. “Shandalar what was the symbol again?" She snapped to the elven wizard who had been busy eating away with her back straight and aura of calmness as the others acted more like happily drunk fools than anything else. She looked practically royal. “Wizard over there has one of her scrolls. Granted you're still interested in helping us."

“Of course, we are my dear!" William insisted, eye raising as he watched the princess. “You're quite the character lady Lynalla. I had not known you were such a free spirit as it were."

“How so?" The half elf grabbed at her goblet, slurping down another mouthful of wine.

“Your friends are quite different." William gestured to the feral table, where Krotos had stood onto his hinds, attempting to serenate Merlia. His crown feathers were proudly outward, a claw placed to his chest as the little gryphon filled the air with joyous sounding trills while everyone close by chuckled among themselves. “I would have thought that one in your position would have more…" William's nose wrinkled at her companions as Krotos' song came to an end and Merlia picked up the blue gryphon and snuggled him close against her chest. “Elegance about them."

“And why is it just focken me?" Lyndis hiccupped, waving her hand to Nivra with a scowl. “We got a second princess here right? Why so concerned with what I'm bleeding doing anyway?"

William's mouth snapped shut as if he'd lost his words on the subject as the half-elf's eyes launched daggers at the finger drumming man. He bowed his head rather quickly as a bead of sweat had started to form on his brow. “Apologies lady Lynalla. I meant no disrespect truly. Just with the abandoning of your family. I had expected the worst. Don't let my little misstep of words effect your decisions in the future when this whole war travesty is finally put to rest. Especially when you're queen one day."

There was a flicker of hesitation that crossed her face as the half elf swished her goblet. “Riiiiight." Lyndis' voice trailed off, eyes rolling to her friends. The want to be back with them shining brightly within those amber pools.

“Back to the mission." Nivra coughed, drawing Alexander's rapt attention and a relieved sigh from the rogue at the topic change. “Would you be able to help us find a temple such as that? Preferably an old one. Perhaps one created by the dragons long ago?" She glanced timidly to Lyndis, who only nodded.

“That is what the last one looked like anyway."

“Temple huh?" William's drumming fingers traveled from the table to his chin. “Temple, temple, temple." He tapped his chin several times until an idea suddenly brought fire to his eyes. “Aha!" He slapped the table, thrusting a finger towards the princesses. “I figured it out! We have a temple such as that within the city, run by a curator of sorts. I think if I remember correctly it was constructed by the dragons. Perhaps that is the one you're talking about?"

Well that's convenient. Nivra eyed the man with a hint of suspicion that she tried to hide with a laugh. “You have an old dragon temple here too?" She shifted in her seat. “That's not something we were aware of!" She glanced to Lyndis, their eyes meeting for a fleeting moment. The rogue looked as perplexed as she was, although she acted on it by folding her arms and leaning back against her chair.

“Interestingly enough same here. How is it that the royal family wasn't bloody told of this?"

“Curators idea actually." William placed his hands together, laughing nervously as the two-princess stared at him with warry eyes. “She figured that the way to keep it safe was to restrict who knew about it. The only ones that were privy to such things were her, myself, and the royal family when they took the throne."

“I focken hate secrets like this." Lyndis' brow stitched together, ruffling her demeanor. “Makes me wonder what else our country is hiding from me. What are we? Lumara for gods sake?" She scoffed as the concern was etched across her face, pooling in her eyes like waves of worry within an amber sea.

Is that now something we share? Nivra listened in as the pair started to squabble back and forth about who had the right to know just what resided within the country's borders. Who was this curator that had this knowledge? Nivra leaned forward as the man raised his hands, cheeks already burning an even darker red. “Who is this curator anyway?"

“Someone of great importance to our city." William shot back, a sternness in his voice.

“Is it Ramakox?" Crimson questioned loudly, taking flight and curling around the table. He rose through the air with an angled wing, eventually catching one of the numerous wooden beams above and latching onto it with his little claws. He lowered his horned head, grinning as he admired the mortals one at a time. “You know…The great swirling…." The red dragon caught himself with a surprised meep, almost tumbling off the beam and onto the floor. He righted himself with a swaying tail, trying to hide his embarrassment with a little snapping of his jaws. “You know, the great swirling storm!"

“I think if it was him then the man would have said so!" Lyndis laughed heartily. “He's kinda well known throughout Drenedar!"

“How did you know about Storm's true name?" William's face suddenly hardened as he met Crimson's little eyes. The smile that had been so prominent melted away like ice upon a summer's day.

“Lady Lynalla. Was it you that gave such info to those that we're not privileged?"

Lyndis scoffed and waved Alexander's sharp stare off with a laugh. “Oh, bite my ass yer lordship. We both know that's a bit of bullocks. The red hand was beaten off, and these lot are my friends. Besides, didn't you just tell us about this curator and temple even if we're not supposed to know about it?"

“Temple?"Crimson pulled his head back with his frills flaring out. “You are talking about interesting things over here! I knew it!"

The lord's mouth snapped shut as the little dragon snickered away. His eyes fell, his shoulders slumped, and he let out a long heavy sigh. “I suppose so." William grumbled, clearly keeping whatever protest he had under wraps before his future queen. “And no little dragon. It was not Storm who demanded such a thing."

“Well…." Crimson's tail snaked down from the beam, wiggling back and forth as the dragon swayed his haunches. “Where is he anyway? I wish an audience with the great dragon. You of all people should be able to make that happen no?" Crimson's head cocked to the side, showing off all his gleaming teeth. “I mean, you're the lord of this city yes?"

“Crimson!" Arcturus' voice cleaved through the awkward silence only filled with the snickering of Lyndis. “Get down from there and stop pestering his lordship and the princesses! We can discuss whatever was said after!"

“I was simply asking a question!" Crimson's head curled around with a hiss, flashing the red faced paladin a smile. “Once that is done, I shall be back to perch on my favorite human. So be patient Umraadi!"

“Storm had no interest in meeting you red dragon." William said flatly. “Although he is aware of your presence within the city. Hell, I think all of my staff currently knows of your existence."

The red dragon narrowed his eyes, kneading at the wood with his claws as irritation pooled within his cerulean spheres. The dragon flared his wings, thrashing his tail out below him like a snake, but before he could voice anything that might upset their contact within the city Lyndis rose her voice.

“And why is that? Why would he not want to meet our benevolent red overlord?

“Precisely!" Crimson rose his head high, tapping his paw. “Tell him minion!"

“Especially before he destroys everything in his clumsiness?"

“Hey!" Crimson hissed, tail curling up behind him. “I'd watch what I'd say!"

Nivra and the others ignored the little grumbling dragon as she set her eyes towards the lord. “The rogue has a point. I'd be mighty interested in that as well. Is he simply too busy to meet us?"

“That would be the answer." William snapped his fingers towards her before setting his hands on the table. “He is ever so busy in this conflict. If you must know. So, you will pardon his absence of not meeting with one dragon."

“And yet my irritation grows ever further." Crimson grumbled, tapping his paw against the wooden beam, his tail swaying back and forth. Suddenly from the ground pounced an orange colored cat, it's paws clasping together and missing the dragon's tail. “Hah!" The dragon pulled his tail back as the little animal settled onto it's haunches. “Better luck next time cat. My tail is not something to be snatched."

“Tell that to this fledgling here!" Krotos cackled, jostling Voidwing on the shoulder. The black gryphon's ears splayed before he returned the gesture with a resounding chirp.

“Storm's actually on the front?" Lyndis leaned closer, placing her elbows on the table and intertwining her fingers. “Guess I don't get to ask him for bleedin help. Things must be bloody bad if you lot were asking for his help." The rogue pulled back, thrusting a finger to the table. “What happened? Why did my parents abandon you lot? Everyone else hasn't known anything. I was half expecting it to suddenly be this focken large revelation. Like we were working with Lumara after all these years!"

William seemed to shrink before the two princesses gaze. He glanced up to his wife and children, giving them a sour filled look as a sigh escaped his lips. “We're not exactly sure on the specifics of why. But what we know is that soon after the destruction of Wallowdale pass the fighting was over.

Nivra tilted her head to the side as a little bit of cold nipped at the back of her skull. “Excuse me?" she asked,. “Was it burned to the ground or something? Did the undead get it? Surely you don't mean the complete…" William stared into her eyes, glancing away when the moment became too much.

“It wasn't any fire that we have ever known if it was. What we do know is that every man, woman, child was wiped off the map in a single day. Where once were buildings that grasped for the heavens is now nothing but dust, and scattered building fragments. Our scouts told of how thick the air was with this lingering sense of dread that had wrapped around them. Now mind you this was before the outbreak of the undead." He turned to Lyndis, whose hands were now twitching on the table. “Then your parents surrendered to Lumara. Whatever defiance lurked within them was broken that day."

“The uniter." Lyndis gasped as the color from her face drained. Even her voice cracked when she spoke. “That's..That's what it has to be. Just another bloody thing by Lumara…Right?" She turned to Nivra, eyes so filled with need that they looked close to bursting. “I didn't think…. That was months ago,,,Oh gods…" She glanced away towards the joyous conversations of her friends, which seemed so out of place now. Though even Crimson noticed the gravity of the situation, for he stopped playing with the cat and sat in silence, shifting his weight along the beam supporting him.

Nivra for the better part was keeping her composure as the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on her mind. There might have been a different reason for what had happened, but she knew this was the most likely. The thought sent a tingle down her spine the longer she stared blankly off as she pictured her father giving the order to some faceless soldier to begin the attack. How could her people do such a thing? Unleash something so dreadful that it destroyed everything it touched? Was it ever justified? So many people that hadn't been caught up in the fighting wiped out in a single day. Her breaths started to feel harder to take, like her throat was closing the longer she imagined the burned and mangled bodies of Wallowdale's populace. She clenched her fist under the table, the ice circling her veins starting to spread to the rest of her shivering body. She watched on as Lyndis quivered and William rambled on about facts and the counted dead and more theories than she could shake a stick at. The rogue held her sides, features wrinkling as if the very thought were going to make her sick.

Is this what you wanted father? To gain the peace that you wanted? She felt her teeth start to grit as Lyndis glanced down to her boots, her gaze seemingly looking for oblivion. “Why….did you stay?" Nivra recovered, resting a hand on Lyndis' knee. She gave the half-elf a comforting look, one that she hoped the woman understood.

William looked positively embarrassed about the whole affair. “I'm so sorry for the terrible news. But you did ask." He wiped his brow, face as red as Crimson's scales.

“No, no. You did nothing wrong." Lyndis waved him off with a harsh laugh that seemed forced more than anything. “Why should I even care about these deaths right? I wasn't even here! I focken ran away!" She settled her hands on the table and letting out a heavy sigh. The next few minutes they discussed in length about their visit to the temple, and how they were going to go about doing it. William insisted that he would pass a missive to the curator of the temple and have them met in the morning and led towards it's grand halls. Lyndis seemed rather insistent to get out of here, nodding along with a look of disinterest as the lord went on and on about the plans. Eventually when it looked like they were finished she stood up quickly, scraping her chair along the wood.

“I think that's me bloody done for the evening." She waved to the lord and his family, and then to her companions. “Thanks for the lovely evening." She hiccupped, “I have a lot to think about." Before anyone could offer any sort of rebuttal the Drenedarian princess stumbled out of the hall.

“Sorry for her." Crimson hissed. “Doesn't have a lick of manners at times." The dragon pounced down from his perch, circling the table before settling onto the cushion Lyndis had been sitting on with a flickering of his frills. “Although…" The dragon's head curled around, a sigh escaping his maw. “I'm going to go with her, I think. Thanks for the evening I suppose lord Human. Also, for Storm not keeping an eye on me. Didn't think he trusted me that much."

“I never said you weren't being watched." William replied, gesturing to the cat who was now licking its paws while staring right at the little red dragon like he was a mouse ready to be hunted.

“Right." Crimson rolled his eyes, leaping onto the floor and scampering off towards Arcturus and nuzzling the man with a pleased rumble. The human tried to protest but the red beast had scurried off before the man could snatch him up in his hands.

“Crimson!" Arcturus called out after him, bowing politely to the lord and excusing himself before sprinting off after the drunken dragon, worry dripping from his features.

“You got nothing to worry about William." Nivra lied through her teeth, giving the lord a reassuring laugh as the tabby cat bound after the human and dragon with a faint meow.

The lord seemed unphased, simply raising his mug and sipping loudly at the wine. “I was not too worried. I did say we were being watched did I not? If he breaks anything it can be fixed. It's not like this is the first time we've had dragons in here you know."

“Fair enough."She laughed, trying to convey that she was still in a good mood, and not worrying about her other companions. The conversation soon went back towards the temple, enough so that she called Shandalar over into Lyndis' vacant seat to explain the plans and further ideas for their adventure. William listened on with keen interest, making correct points and responding with questions of his own. The princess just hoped that the further time in the city went just as smoothly. Though when she thought of that she glanced towards the door and felt the cold licking at her skin with every passing second thought about the empty and broken streets of Wallowdale.

*****

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