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Post by Tismri on Sept 19, 2012 22:12:40 GMT -5
Teza Mae put her arms around her father's neck, returning his embrace. She felt the slight tension course through him when she mentioned the visitor, and she could tell he knew something about this already. She nodded slowly, still eyeing him suspiciously, as Jason appeared out of nowhere. She'd been glad when her brother had slipped off to take a nap, and had used the occasion to do some exploration. It sometimes felt to her like Jason purposely tried to keep her from having fun. Although, granted, there had been times when she dragged him all over the place just so she could escape the boredom of the castle.
She gave an impish smile to her father as he suggested they go greet their guest. He didn't know what else mother had ordered her to do, and since she'd been told to just stay wherever Jason was...
"Sounds good to me," she said. She turned and grabbed her brother's hand. "Let's go, Jason!"
~~~~~
A look of relief crossed Tenel Ka's face at Elaine's words. There would be time to get the children to safety.
"Thank you, Elaine. And thank you for coming all this way to tell me." She put her head in her hand as she tried to process everything that had just been told to her. "The court will not appreciate this. I am certain they are going to accuse me of returning to our old warring ways. They already say I am wild...and that I do not exert enough control over my own family." She shook her head. These people who served directly under her were about as painful as her grandmother had been, always trying to run things their own way. "Do not worry, though. Ismalia will stand fully by Alagaesia's side when the time comes."
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Post by Max452 on Sept 22, 2012 13:06:37 GMT -5
Romulus laughed at his daughter's eagerness. "Come along you two." He playfully nudged his children toward the throne room. "Well, if a guest has arrived, I think that means we'll have to prepare for a feast. What do you two say we go and hunt for a large boar this afternoon?" He asked them as they made way to Tenel Ka and Elaine.
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Post by Trinn on Sept 22, 2012 13:57:07 GMT -5
Elaine nodded at Tenal Ka's words. There would be time, but not much. She caught sight of a familiar face coming towards them now, and Elaine realized it was Romulus Kingsley coming to meet them. He was with their daughter, and was that their son? The boy seemed solemn, even slightly annoyed. He followed after his sister with practiced patience. "Kingsley, well met." she said as they drew within speaking distance. "I've already met your daughter, noble young Tezza Mae, but who is this young man?"
***
Jason regarded the Alagaesian woman curiously. Her accent was strange, yet familiar. She reminded him of his father in a strange way. In manners only, he supposed. He gave her a formal bow, sweeping low. "I am Jason." he said simply. "A pleasure to meet you, Alagaesian." He looked at her hand, noted the gedwey ignasia. "Dragon rider." He quickly corrected himself.
Elaine smiled, humored by the boys greeting. He already had a noble bearing, and she was sure by the time he was grown, he would have something of a commanding presence. She returned his bow, and then turned her eyes to the elders. "Romulus, I'm sure your curious to know why I'm here. However, my news is not for young ears..." Jason frowned slightly at that. Young ears? He was sure he could handle whatever this woman had to say.
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Post by Max452 on Sept 22, 2012 14:59:42 GMT -5
"Elaine!" Romulus greeted the dragon Rider with friendly happiness. It was good to see her. "What a wonderful suprise!" He inclined his head respectfully to her. He moved himself and his family to stand next to his wife. He beamed proudly at the mention of his children. He placed a hand on his son's shoulder, pleased with his greeting. "Ah, don't be so formal, Jason. Elaine is a very good friend of ours!" He chuckled and nudged his son affectionately. Romulus was about to ask how Caedus was doing when Elaine's next words caused him to recall his previous concerns. His friendly smile faltered slightly. "I was afraid of that. I should have known something dire is happening if Queen Nasuada sent you." He gazed at his wife with some concern and then back to his children. "Jason, take your sister to the cooks please. Inform them of our guest and that we are to have a banquet. Once done, get your hunting gear ready, the both of you; we'll go hunting after your Mother and I are finished speaking with Elaine, all right?" He gently told Jason and then turned to lay a steady gaze on Tezza Mae. "No eavesdropping, the both of you. I'll let you both know later, all right?" He glanced back at his son. "Go on. I'll teach you a new trick with the bow on our hunt this afternoon." He gently nudged his children toward the door. "Oh, and would you please tell your cousin to stop eavesdropping, as well." Rom's eyes flickered to the side door where Tylon was. "Your Aunt won't be too pleased to find him there." He asked his children before turning back to the two women in the room.
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Post by Tismri on Sept 22, 2012 23:03:58 GMT -5
Tenel Ka's gaze turned toward the door when Rom and their children entered. Her gray eyes stared disapprovingly at Teza Mae, knowing her daughter had twisted the instructions given to her. However, she was at the same time secretly proud. It was a skill she would have to know as Queen Mother one day.
"Listen to your father, you two," she said, placing a gentle hand on Teza Mae's back and pushing them toward the door. She still felt a bit sick to her stomach at the new Elaine had just shared.
Teza Mae noticed her mother's gaze when they entered, but she still kept smiling as they went in. However, they still didn't get a chance to hear what was going to be said. She was frustrated, being kept in the dark on an obviously important matter. However, she visibly cheered up when her father metioned he would take them out hunting.
"Yes, sir!" she replied to him enthusiastically, turning on her heel. She was going to leave out the door they entered, but at her father's mention of him, she turned instead to the door where, if she tried, she sensed Tylon crouching behind. He'd been eavesdropping? Perhaps he could tell her what was being discussed.
"Ty, you know you shouldn't be listening at doors on the Queen Mother's private meetings," she reprimanded him as she opened the door. Her cousin looked a bit sheepish as he backed away.
"Sorry," he said.
"Well, tell you what. You walk with me and Jason to the cooks, and you tell me everything you heard, and I won't tell Aunt Teo that you were the one who shattered her favorite vase."
"W-what?" Tylon said, paling a bit, "That happened over six months ago! Why would she remember that?"
"Because it was a gift from her mother if I recall..." Teza Mae let her threat hang in the air.
"All right, fine," he replied, at told her and Jason what he had heard while she'd gone to fetch her father.
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Post by Trinn on Sept 24, 2012 21:37:34 GMT -5
Jason nodded at his fathers instructions. As usual, Tezza Mae was already out ahead of him. It was hard to look dignified when he was hustling after her at all times, he thought, hoping he didn't look too foolish half trotting after Tezza in his expensive robes. The clothes were really such a nuisance. He stopped behind her thankfully when they found Tylon. He couldn't help but smirk at Tezza's bribe. And he was grateful. He desperately wanted to know what his parents and the Alagaesian were talking about. He listened intently, and by the end of Tylon's account, he felt his mouth hanging slightly open. "War!" he hissed out in a startled whisper. "But... well... shards!" He swore, feeling somewhat frightened. And mother planned on aiding the Alagaesians. He hoped they would all get out of this new war with their heads still attached.
***
Elaine watched the twins hurry off, and she didn't turn her eyes away from them until they were out of sight around a corner. Only then did she look at Rom. "I'm sure you want to know the meaning of my arrival here. And here it is. War looms before us again. But it is much, much worse than the war we faced with Galbatorix. I know that seems hard to believe, but once you hear what I have to say, you will understand." And she told Romulus what she had told Tenal Ka. And at the end, she could not stop herself from frowning despondently. It seemed like such a hopeless thing, to face an army of shades and dragon riders, led by a new abomination, a shade rider. "So you see. Much worse than Galbatorix."
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Post by Max452 on Sept 24, 2012 22:06:37 GMT -5
Romulus was silent throughout Elaine's account. He was taking in each word she spoke. He continued to remain silent for another moment as he gathered his thoughts. It seemed war was now upon them again. He thought of his children. He would have to make sure they were safe and away from this new abomination. No doubt this Shade Rider was gathering dangerous allies...dark allies. He wondered if Tyrant was one of them. The Shade's dire words echoed in his mind. A Shade was horrible enough, but one that wielded the bond of a Rider and dragon? That was worse. As much as he disliked war, Rom had a family to protect and to protect them, he would have to eliminate the threat.
"What do you think, my heart?" Romulus finally spoke as he gazed at his wife. "Would our children be safer here or in New Doru Arabea while we go to war?" He asked her, giving his wife his answer that he would be involved. This was his people after all and he knew, that this Shade would not stop in conquering Alageasia alone, but all countries beyond it.
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Post by Tismri on Sept 24, 2012 22:28:28 GMT -5
Teza Mae listened intently to what Tylon told her, hanging on every word. She was still confused as to what exactly a Shade was, but she had a feeling it wasn't good. At any rate, one thing was certain: Ismalia was going to march to war once again.
She glanced at her shocked brother, understanding his fear. War meant battles, and many people were going to die.
"Why do you think Mother wants to keep all this a secret from us?" she asked. "It's not as if they're going to be able to hide the fact that we're going to send our army to fight soon." She noticed a small light in Tylon's expression when she mentioned the army and wondered about it. He was training to be a member of the royal guard. Why would he care about something as mundane as the army?
~~~~~
Tenel Ka thought long and hard about Rom's question. It was obvious from Elaine's report that the Shade meant to attack Bromsland, but that was likely going to be among the last places, since it was so far away.
"I think it is be best place to send them," she agreed with her husband. "We can cover by telling them we hope they will become Riders." She sighed; on some small level, she had been wanting to do this anyway, hoping that one of her children might bond to a dragon so that the Rider legacy would continue in Ismalia.
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Post by Max452 on Sept 25, 2012 0:25:55 GMT -5
Romulus nodded at Tenel Ka's thoughts, feeling a bit more at ease that his children would be safe. "Argetlam Elaine," Rom returned his attention to the Ambassador, "do you have any idea on how long this Shade Rider has been gathering her army? And if they plan on attacking soon?" Romulus asked, trying to guage the time they had to organize their troops to march to Alageasia.
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Post by Trinn on Sept 25, 2012 10:48:54 GMT -5
"The shades army is already surprising large. I would say seven score and growing. I believe they have gathered in the desert because it is the largest and most isolated space for them to meet. The army means to demolish all of us. It is for that reason I believe she is hiding her time to strike. I assume she wants more followers to thicken her ranks, and then, when the shades and he dragon riders are all weapon ready and organized, she will begin her march. Who know who she will strike at first? Already small villages have felt her crushing hand. It's only a shirt time before her malicious followers begin their attack on larger towns, and then cities. So to answer you question, Romulus, I think we have perhaps a month. Maybe less, maybe more."
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Post by Max452 on Sept 25, 2012 21:17:08 GMT -5
Romulus nodded, although he was unnerved by the number of days they would have. "It will take the army at least 3 months to reach the border; hauling supplies and weapons." He glanced at his wife. "Perhaps we should go on ahead with a smaller army whilst the main one is brought forth?" He suggested to Tenel Ka, his brain already trying to map out a solution to their problem. He reached for her hand. "What do you want to do?" He asked his Queen.
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Post by Tismri on Sept 25, 2012 22:16:22 GMT -5
Tenel Ka considered their predicament carefully, finding her mind continually returning to Teza Mae and Jason. Protective motherly instincts kept telling her to put her babies as far out of harm's way as possible.
"It will take a while to get our men moblized," she said, "Not to mention I will need to convince the court of the necessity and urgency of this. They only agreed so quickly the last time because Galbatorix was a clear threat that all could see..." The queen rubbed the sides of her forehead, the thought of the issue weighing heavily upon her.
"Elaine, I will send a small regiment who can travel quickly back to Alagaesia with you. My best general will be leading them, and carry my answer to Nasuada. During that time, Rom, Tristan and Teodora, and I will take our children to Bromsland."
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Post by Trinn on Oct 4, 2012 18:27:38 GMT -5
"Agreed." Elaine said quickly, accepting Queen Tenal Ka's plan. "I will lead this regiment back to the capital, where Queen Nasuada will house them and merge them with Alagaesia's army." She fell silent, wondering how long it would be before Tenal Ka could get her main force mobilized. Moving a large force of men was never easy, especially when there was cavalry, footmen, bannermen, servants, cooks, and all other sorts moving with them. If only they could all fly rather than march to Alagaesia. "Queen mother, Eridor and I are ready to depart as soon as your regiment men are. I trust it's needless of me to say the sooner, the better."
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