Lairesul+-+A+Tale+of+His+Travels+to+the+East

"Baroness, might I have a moment of your time?" the red haired priest from Lyrabar, bowed in greeting.  Lorwyn walked the long hall of the keep in Jade Hill, a book rested closed in her hand, "Forgive me, Teegan, but my time is already occupied today."

"I promise it will only take a short while, my lady. It's about the harvest festival," he began. "If it's financing you want, you're going to have to take that up with Thrice," she continued her steps without falter.

"Yes, baroness, and I will... But there are a few details to work out for a seamless cross of the races," he walked beside her, matching her pace.

"Take it up with Senathliel then. If it's still necessary... you both can come to see me tomorrow afternoon," she turned to face him more directly, "but not today." Teegan sighed and nodded, "Tomorrow then."

She nodded, rounding the corner without him to walk up the stairs of the main chamber. Marseu met her at the top of the stairs, "Baroness, Lairesul is already in to see you."

The red haired elven arcanist nodded to the servant woman who had been working in the castle, "Thank you, Marseu. I'm expecting him. Please keep the doors closed today. I will not see anyone else. If a towns person requires attention, send them to Lyssa or Octavia." The simple, but fair woman curtsied, "Of course."

"Res..." she stepped into the large room. Her golden eyes met his for a moment before she began walking down the long green rug led through the center of the room.

She looked as he remembered her... his Nelle. Her autumn red hair just touched the golden skin of her shoulders. She was dressed in blue and white, the elven silk clinging to her lithe form. There was a new fire in her eyes though... and she walked with confidence... even some air of authority.

A dais where a few chairs sat open to address the room waited at the end of the rug. Lairesul stood looking at a painting hung on the wall, depicting the simple town of Jade Hill. He had recovered most of his health, sleeping much of the four days it took them to return.

"We're in the castle. I believe I've waited long enough," she crossed the room with the heels of her boots barely muffled by the rug and her voice was angry as she approached him, "Do you know how hard it was for me to ask you for your help? And then almost directly after you agreed to help me get better with diplomacy, you left! You LEFT! No word of where you were going! You just vanished... leaving me here while you headed off into dangerous lands alone! What were you thinking?! If this was some ploy about my skills and not being able enough to handle such a quest... I swear I'm going to send you right back to that forsaken spyre! Start talking." Despite the anger in her voice, he could see the worry in her eyes and he could tell she was desperately trying to hide that she was glad to see him.

"No....no!" The silver haired elven mage held his hands out before her, shaking them back and forth vigorously. "That's not it....I know your capable, Nelle....more than capable. It's been amazing to see you...blossom into a more...confident....and beautiful woman in the last year." And she had...in so many ways, and yet...she was still the same fiery haired maiden than he'd fallen in love with. That day when she had bumped into him while he'd been coming out of the magic shop in Evereska...the way she blushed had taken his breath away. He flashed her his most winning smile...hoping to see that blush again. Her eyes flashed and she put her hands on her hips, waiting for him to continue, if there was a blush, he couldn't see it. Apparently he really was in trouble if his best smile couldn't melt her. He sighed heavily, she really had grown up while he'd been gone. "It's just that....that bard....was leaving town fast after you banished him, and I knew that you had suspicions about him. I did as well. I thought it would be best..if I followed him to see who he was working for. Since I can....magically change my appearance, among other things, I thought it would be easy. And...even if....something happened it couldn't as easily be blamed on you or your companions. You could...disavow me." She narrowed her eyes slightly....he was always so hard to read. The fact....that he was so damnably handsome with a voice that could melt butter...didn't help. It would be so easy to fall into those arms. He seemed to be....telling the truth...but not all of it... She softly gnawed on her bottom lip as she looked him over. What wasn't he telling her? She raised her finger with accusation, "Don't ever..." she started to speak, but paused as she almost heard her father's angry commanding tones in her own words. She didn't like the sound of it at all. Her accusational hand lowered, and she fidgeted with her fingers as she bit her lip once more. Her eyes fell to the floor as she thought for a moment. . She had been so worried... so angry... and when she thought that he was going to die... all she wanted was for him to be safe back here with her. He was here now... and he was so hard to stay mad at. He drew her in like a moth to a flame... and it seemed he really was trying to help. Her voice was soft as she continued, "Don't ever take off like that again... I...I was just really worried and... I..." her gold eyes came up to meet his, "I don't want to... disavow you... Okay?" She fidgeted with the long sleeve of her sky blue dress. As she glanced away, he noticed a new hoop had been pierced along the tip of one of her ears. "Now please..." she took one of his hands into both of hers, her eyes once again meeting his, "Tell me everything. We can walk if you like... Sen has been working on a garden just outside," she gestured to a hall that led to a new door where he could see light shining in from outside, "Or we can remain here," she gestured to a couple of the chairs in the large main chamber of their castle, "But please tell me everything."  "Very well 'Nelle....let us walk....the story is a long one." He offered his arm to her, and with only a moment's hesitation she linked her arm with his as he led her towards the garden. Bright sunshine greeted them as they stepped outside into the small garden, the early autumn breeze washing over them. He couldn't help but notice her hair rippled like flame in the wind. Her body felt warm...against his. They had walked like this in the past...back in the elven lands...and yet now it was different. She seemed so....mature now although her elven body had scarcely changed over the last few years. Did she really....even need him any more...or was she just trying to make him feel at ease. Even so...the way she made his heart race...and his body respond...he knew that he loved her even more now. And the way she kept...biting her lip was driving him crazy with the urge to kiss her. He'd been a fool in so many ways. Why had he...had to prove himself to her...to her friends.

"After you banished the troublemaking bard....and held the meeting about how you thought he might be involved with the Dunswald, I thought it might be prudent to confirm is this was the case. So I....used my magical talents to sneak into his room and plant a rather non descript object familiar to me with his belongings. Using that...as a focus for my locating magic, as well as a magically summoned horse, I was able to follow him to the east. Truthfully, at first...I didn't think he would leave the Greenbelt. I thought he might circle around and continue to stir up trouble in disguise. But he continued to ride to the east, only stopping in villages to resupply himself or rest." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">He paused for a moment...he really should have turned back...but he really hadn't proven anything. Hadn't done anything. He still would have just been the layabout if he'd returned then. "And so...when he continued through the pass through the mountains towards Varnhold...I followed...." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lorwynelle nodded as she listened. She loved listening to him talk... she could listen all day if he would let her. He had such a captivating voice. She kept her arm linked with his as they walked, hovering close. It had been so long since they had walked like this.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">A small waterfall trickled down a couple of large rocks to quietly flow into a little creek that Sen had dug out. A pathway of large flat rocks led them beside the creek to a pair of young trees with cascading limbs that had leaves turning to brilliant orange and deep red. A few sparse plants and flowers had been planted that would grow to be beautiful in a couple of years. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The late morning sun lit his white hair as strands wisped over his blue eyes. Her fingers twitched as she fidgeted, aching to brush them away and touch his face. They hadn't spoken about her return message... her confession of love for him. Did it even make it through? Her heart was screaming... she loved him... but she didn't think she could say it to his face yet. There was a scar there warning her to proceed with caution. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She softly gnawed on her bottom lip before nodding again, "Varnhold... That boisterous barbarian and his ambitious seedy sponsor... Theodosis Helmont, was it? ...I see nothing but trouble to our east. You were awfully brave to go in alone... overconfident perhaps and certainly stubborn... but still... brave... I sure wouldn't have gone in alone." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Small symbols of the seldarine had been placed in the garden, water in the creek washed over a rock bearing a triangle with three circles inside it. The eight pointed star of Corellion dangled from a cord strung around one of the trees. There was a windchime that hung from the side of the castle, displaying several simple symbols of the elven gods. It was far from a temple or even a shrine, but the garden was certainly the work of the sylvan aasimar oracle. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lorwyn paused at a bench where two painted symbols resided side by side... the four points of a long star extended past a circle that encompassed the center of the star... and the points of a rounder star extended beyond the circle that encompassed the center... Mystryl and Mystra, Lorwyn had asked Sen to put them there for her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"So... the bard was definitely working with the east?" she gnawed her lower lip once more, pausing as she caught him staring at her lips. A light blush came to her cheeks, and she brushed a strand of deep red hair behind her ear, "Wh- What else did you find out?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Certainly...in my mind....although a court may disagree." The sorcerer's hair shone bright again in the sunlight making him almost seem...angelic. He certainly was handsome enough to be one...or a devil set from below to beguile her. He sat gracefully down on the bench and took her hand, bidding her to sit next to him. He smiled as she sat...having to scoot against him...the bench was barely big enough for two. His skin...tingled as it touched her's. He would have to thank Sen later for obviously cunning design. But he wondered...who had she...intended to share this bench with?

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"He travelled all the way to Thunderfall...which is the capital of Dunward, scarcely stopping at all at inn's along the way. What...travelling bard doesn't stop to ply his craft after all." He looked into her eyes deeply...trying not...to think about how kissable her lips were...soft and glistening in the sunlight. "He'd barely been in the city for a day before he was invited up to the castle to perform for the Baron and his companions. That was good enough...proof for me. I considering...sneaking into the castle...but there were wards. They must have a skilled worker of the arcane among their number...or working for them." He continued to hold her hand as he spoke, not even realizing how he leaned in closer...and closer to her. They were practically...nose to nose now. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"And....why...didn't you return..home...then..." She seemed to be...fallling into his sparkling eyes....she could feel his breath...faintly...on her lips...what was he...what if he...what should...she do? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tension...hung in the air...and heat that had little to do with the sunshine. "It...was my intention....honestly...but on the road...between Varnhold and Thunderfall....I was captured...by centaurs..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She was pulled to him by his charismatic charms... almost mesmerizing... her mind almost cloudy as she watched the sunlight play with his hair... his eyes were as blue as the sky... and his lips... a mere breath away Her golden eyes started to close as she leaned closer... and a voice screamed a warning in her head that seemed to be carried on the wind itself, "Run!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> Startled, she jerked back, her deep red hair tousling against her cheeks from the motion. Flooding images of a singing dragon, cloud islands, and various bridges popped into her head. "I can magically change my appearance" she heard his words echo and for just the briefest second, she imagined him as the bard that he told her he had been chasing. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She stared at him wide eyed... betrayal... or possibly just shock... was on her face as her eyes searched him for some hint... some proof... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Don't be ridiculous! she argued with herself. How could you even think such a thing?! This is Lairesul! As angry as he makes me... as much as he drives me crazy...He... he would never... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Centaurs?!" she finally spoke after her initial look of shock, "I... I didn't even know they were in this area." She gnawed softly on her lower lip and stood up, pacing for a moment back and forth in front of the bench until finally looking down at him sitting there, "Were they working for Dunward too? What happened?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">So...close....he had been so close, but then...she had jerked away as if she had been burned. Was...she still so angry at him...or perhaps...she didn't find him appealing anymore? Was there another.....that...must be it. He had been gone for months after all had she found someone else? But she'd...said she loved him...didn't she? He withdrew slowly but she could see the confusion and doubt in his magnetic eyes.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"No....not working with Dunsward...exactly. They do have a treaty with them though..to leave each other alone and trading occasionally. They are on the northern edge of Dunsward's land...east of Varnhold. They call themselves the Nomen and they worship an Aspect of Selune called 'Mother Moon'...and they seem to think they are guardians....guarding the land against an ancient evil. I had been heading towards Varnhold and ran across some of their scouts in battle against orcs. I helped them...but...after the battle...they said I must meet their leader." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">He shrugged "I told them I had business to the west...but they seemed rather insistant. I didn't want...to cause any trouble so I went." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lorwynelle pursed her lips...searching his face. He seemed...cool and collected now. Had...she...hurt him with her rebuff? Had he even...been..trying to kiss her at all? "Why...did they want to take you to their leader?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">At that...Larisul blushed faintly. "Their leaders name was Aecora Silverfire...she was a warrior priestess with hair like fire. When I arrive I noticed...most of the centaurs were female. It seems...most of the males had died over the last several decades leaving a serious imbalance. I think that...Aecora had grown rather desperate...." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The elven arcanist blushed even more than Lairesul....he didn't mean....did he....how would that even work? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lorwyn stared at him with wide eyes, the pink from her cheeks spreading up to the tip of her ears as she tripped over her words, "Ohhh... um... you... you and she..." Her eyes fell to the ground as she tucked a strand of her deep red hair behind her long pointed ear, still blushing profusely. No wonder he had been gone so long. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">He was amazingly handsome... of course the centaur must've found him handsome as well... though she still had no idea how they... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She shook her head, she didn't want to think about it! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Was he in love with this Aecora? Is that why he hadn't mentioned anything about her own confession of love? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Her heart raced as her chest felt tighter. It was so hard to breathe. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She reached out, almost blindly grasping the bench to steady herself. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Her head was spinning. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Despite her intelligence, she found it difficult to focus... there was so much she still didn't know. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Don't jump to conclusions, she told herself, try to hear him out. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"So do you... lo-love," she couldn't look at his face... or finish the question. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">He smiled. So she did care. He could see now all over her down turned face. He gently took her hand from the bench and patted the seat next to him. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">This was it...She sat down, trying to prepare herself. She could feel her eyes burning from the tears starting to form. Don't cry, she told herself, please don't cry... you don't need him anyway. Her heart ached in disagreement. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">He gently lifted her chin so she would look at him, "Nelle..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She shook her head, cutting him off, "Wait! I... I don't want to know. I don't want to know if you love her... I don't want to know if you're going to have babies with her... I..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Her words started to pour out in a thousand questions at once... one question blurred into the next as her thoughts jumbled and questions just kept pouring out... She didn't even seem to take a breath, "How did you end up on the spyre? Do they kill their lovers afterward? I mean that would explain the lack of men. Or did you escape? Did she send people after you? But there were no centaurs at the spyre. So who was attacking you? Did someone attack them? Were you separated in the attack? Did you leave and get attacked later? How did you get there? Who were those people?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">He gently turned her head back, leaning in to quickly and covering her babbling lips with his own, cutting off her questions rather effectively. Lorwynelle's body felt like she'd been shocked before a gentle warmth spread through her. His lips were so soft.....was all she could think...her mind...suddenly blank. Why couldn't she think? She just...stared into his sparkling eyes when he pulled away....not knowing what she should say, as well as vaguely...disappointed that he'd stopped kissing her. And then a spark of anger, she hadn't given him permission to kiss her!

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"''Nelle.....nothing happened with Aecora or any of the other centaurs. I convinced them...that...well...breeding between humans and centaurs was impossible..at least for producing children. It wasn't easy but they are a pretty superstitious people and after a few magic tricks they were convinced I was a mage and must know what I was talking about." He took her hand and held it in his own. "And the females of the tribe don't kill their lovers...it's just that a generation ago they were involved in a dispute with some bugbears, and most of their warriors were male and died in the fighting." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"But you were right in that we were seperated. I was with another member of the tribe hunting for herbs and showing them several new ones that they could use for medicine and other purposes. We were attacked by that group...of orcs and bugbears and that ogre...or giant..or whatever he was. Clearly...they were looking for me. They....killed my centaur companion with arrows before we really even negotiate." His grip on her hand tightened, as did his jaw, in anger. "I used...my magic to hide myself from their sight and fled. I didn't...want to lead them back to the Nomen, so I headed west to the pass and then the lake were you found me. I couldn't outrun them....and was running out of magic so I levitated up to the top of the spire." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"So that group around the spire... they were hunting //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">you //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">specifically?" she stared at him with wide gold eyes, "Thank goodness they couldn't follow you up there." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">But who were they and why were they chasing him? Her mind was still spinning. She could still feel the warmth from his soft lips on hers. He had kissed her. She gnawed softly on her lower lip, still uncertain about what she was supposed to do. Most of what she had seen from her parents growing up was the two of them arguing. He drove her crazy... but she desperately wanted to be near him... surely this was love. Her mother had told her that love was special and should be cherished... but Ahnahi certainly hadn't shown anything like that toward Gaerond Thaldain. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"They were definitely after me," he nodded his agreement, "and I don't think I would have lasted up there much longer." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Her hands were fidgeting... she was always fidgeting. Her soft red lips were pouting as she sat lost in thought. He considered kissing her again. She was so damned hard to resist... and she really didn't even seem to know. He took one of her fidgeting hands back into his, waiting patiently for her to look at him on her own before speaking, "I can't remember really thanking you... for coming to get me." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">His cheeks were a light pink, still rather embarrassed that he needed rescuing in the first place... but his sky blue eyes managed to lock with hers and she could see that he was grateful. They were perfect... his eyes... like tiny pieces of a summer sky. She could feel herself melting. Why did she always have to fall to his charms? She didn't seem to be mad anymore... she just seemed to be struggling with some battle of will. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Well I... I couldn't just let you say goodbye like that... It was a ridiculous farewell... but, you're welcome," she pouted cutely before changing the subject, "So do you think that bard seen you following him to their castle? And it was that barbarian goon who sent them after you?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">He fought to tear his gaze away from her soft red lips...really...she was a baroness now, he couldn't...shouldn't just kiss her like that. No matter how lush and inviting she was. Her innocence was intoxicating...and every time she bit her lip like that it sent shivers down his spine. "I think they were...hunting after me specifically yes...although I'm not so sure it was the barbarian 'goon' as you say." He laughed and she couldn't help giggling softly.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"If not...him...then who?" She asked, her lips still tingling. She wondered if she'd ever stop blushing in front of this vexing man. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Someone...at his court probably. While the barbarian may not be the sharpest he was smart enough to surround himself with smart people.The bard...himself is particularly cunning although I can't prove he's part of their...court or was just entertaining for them. There was a striking...Damaran woman as well with the court...I think Zora...was her name. Silver haired..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Striking....he though she was striking. Lorwyn pouted....unaware how unbelievable cute it made her look to the elven sorcerer sitting beside her, making his heart race. Did he think...she was more...attractive that she was. With her full...ripe...human body. She was...so...big....compared to her. Is that what he liked in a woman? Was this...jealousy...this fire rising in her. She didn't like it one bit! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Striking..." the word slipped a little more tersely from her lips than she intended and she gnawed her lower lip as she fell silent. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She needed to control whatever was raging inside her... this jealousy... it just seemed to lash out on it's own like some kind of angry monster. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lairesul fought to keep from smiling. Her fiery outburst was a little bit adorable... especially the way she blushed afterward. She was struggling... but she was trying. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She glanced sideways...He certainly hadn't missed the way she said it. He was staring at her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She wanted his eyes on her... but now that they were, she couldn't even look at him. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">First Aecora and now this Zora woman seemed to have his gaze... He had always been charismatic and there was never a lack of women around him. Why did it even bother her? It was the way he had said it... it wasn't that she was beautiful... it wasn't that she was clever like the bard... she was striking... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She fidgeted with one of the hoop piercings in her ear, twirling it around. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">It didn't matter, she told herself. She could be striking too if she wanted to be... well... maybe. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She didn't need his stupid attention anyway... but... she glanced at him again to find his blue eyes drawing her in with his charming smile... and her heartbeat quickened. She might not //need// his attention... but she still really wanted it. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She should find out more about this woman... she could be dangerous... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She looked more directly at him. Unable to help herself, she brushed a lock of his white-blonde hair from his face, her fingers softly gliding over his forehead and cheek. His skin was cool and soft, and her hands were pleasantly warm. A lingering scent of vanilla spiced ink and paper clung to her fingers. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Her voice was calmer, "What is the role of this... silver haired Damaran woman... this Zora? Is she as smart as she is beautiful?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lairesul smiled, thanking the elven gods that his hair was so treacherously unruly at times. He captured her hand in his own before she could return it to her lap, and held it with his own. Her jealously...of this human was simply...adorable...and he considering teasing her a little more. After all....who could resist when her cheeks turned such a rosy shade...and her lips pouted in that so kissable way. But, perhaps he shouldn't torture her so much, after all she was a Baroness. His Baroness. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"I did....not get a chance to personally speak with her...although I overheard several of her conversations with other members of court. She's....much more intelligent than she lets on most times, but seems content to let the barbarian make most of his own decisions, guiding behind. She uses...both her mind...and body to play the barbarians group like a fine elvish harpist. He couldn't letting a touch of admiration leak into his voice...he wondered if she was a spy for the barbarian's benefactor back in Damara. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lorwyn couldn't...help notice the warm way he spoke of the Damaran woman...had...he fallen in love with her? Then why...was he holding her hand....softly stroking her skin. Was...he a cad...a rake...a two timer...or even a three timer or more?! She started to pull her hand away. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">But the white haired sorcerer held firm, squeezing it tighter. "And....the one thing for certain about her...she may play flirtatious with everyone...but...she's only interested in women. I heard she took many lady...lovers in Damara. I saw her claim a few in Thunderfall as well." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Oh!" she blinked her golden amber eyes with surprise, "I didn't realize humans did that." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">A woman of experience! Thank goodness she liked women. Relief seemed to melt some of the tension in the young woman's body, "She sounds like she's quite busy then." She couldn't miss the smile of amusement on his face. "What?" she blinked innocently, and tried to sound more convincing, "She does!"

"Thank goodness for that. We wouldn't want her to try and claim //you//," he winked at her. "What?" she blinked wide eyes, her cheeks blushing deeper and deeper hues, "I didn't mean... I wasn't... I don't even... You don't think..." She really was so easy to torture. He smiled, leaning closer to whisper, "I think your safe." His warm breath on the edge of her ear and the soft way he was tracing over her hand rippled goosebumps across her skin.

Safe... she nodded, leaning her head against his shoulder, "I'll have to be more wary of the east... it seems danger comes in many faces from there... and we should certainly tell the others." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">