Yuki,+Magical+Girl+of+Love,+Buys+a+Stallion+(No,+Not+Azarius!+*BLUSH*)

Soon they would be leaving to hopefully find his sister Amara thought Azarius. It had occurred to him that he hadn't been back to the tower in the keep since he had relocated to the Vastel Estate on orders from his family. He was sure the food stocks and drink were OK but he had removed quite a bit of material from his former quarters. Therefore, it seemed prudent to go to Heroes’ Rest and take stock of the situation and see what needed to be brought back into his secondary quarters to help with the success of the fast approaching mission.

It also had occurred to him that he would have to get Trieste set up in here perhaps a room in the keep close to the tower where he was now staying. Azarius brought Trieste down to Heroes’ Rest and noticed at once how much the whole area had improved since the Arcane Vessel had recharged. Together they selected a room to her liking and Azarius helped her move in as quickly as possible.

Horses were the other problem. While he was sure Erevin and Wren had horses what about the others? Azarius had the foresight to look and see if Heroes’ Rest had a platform lift to get animals in and out since the staircase wouldn't do. Much to his surprise he found one after some digging around and messing with the controls. So then, it was off to find some ponies for the wee folk and horses for those who didn't own one or couldn't afford one... Of course, Trieste had a beautiful steed as one would expect. There was a small stable in Hero's Rest however if you wanted to let them roam the area was small enough that corralling them wouldn't be much problem thought Azarius.

Before they were due to leave for the Planes to look for Amara, Azarius made an appointment with Miss Ashdown to go the Stables in Lyrabar to look at horses and maybe ride a few to see which ones would be suitable. Though there was now this new problem with which he now had to deal with. Someone was making it difficult to do anything with Miss Ashdown on a one on one basis. Azarius wasn't sure what was behind this but for now it would have to wait. He would have Trieste come with him when he went to pick up Yuki and take her to the Stables.

“Azarius! I was so surprised to receive your invitation! I thought you would be chained to the Destiny preparing to find Amara! This is a treat.” The young priestess smiled radiantly at the nobleman and then to his... Servant? Bodyguard? er....STERN-FACED, SWORD-WIELDING, MUSCLEY, BEAUTIFUL TYPE WHO WAS STARING AT HER COOLY FROM BEHIND AZARIUS WITH A KIND OF...er.. er...LOOK that...suggested SHE, Yuki, was in trouble! She swallowed and smiled a little more winningly, “Hello, Miss Trieste! It’s good to see you again...too!” But the other woman’s tone, while polite was...TOO POLITE! Yuki couldn’t understand the other woman’s coolness towards her. The two had just met a couple of days ago, hadn’t they? She hadn’t said anything to...hurt her feelings, had she? Or to threaten Azarius in any way except knowing his secret and all that, she supposed... NOT that she would EVER tell ANYONE outside their group about it unless Azarius said it was ok! I mean...she was a priestess! Mmm.... AND it wasn't like SHE posed any kind of physical threat to a rich and powerful sorcerer like Azarius! It seemed a shame to Yuki that they all couldn’t be friends together. Or did...noblemen not do that kind of thing with servants. No, of course Azarius did. There was his childhood friend, Gaston! Or were Trieste and Azarius not close enough for that kind of friendship. Was she really...just a servant? But then wasn’t she a noble too? It all seemed a bit...complicated. The lives of nobles!

Trieste kept a watchful eye the two of them as they rode to the stables in the carriage. She followed closely behind on her mount.

Yuki glanced back a little worriedly at Azarius’ bodyguard, “Miss Trieste isn’t riding with us? B...But...won’t she be LONELY back there ALL by herself?”

Azarius looked at Miss Ashdown and said, “I hope you find a mount to your liking this afternoon.”

“Yes!” Yuki turned her attention back to Azarius, “Me too!”

“If you do I hope you will allow me the honor of paying for it as I had planned to do so for the others that don’t have mounts.”

Yuki shook her head, her long, elegant fingers trailing down to a red leather purse hanging by her side.

But under these new circumstances, I will understand if my generosity is unwelcome.”

“Cir...cum...stances?”

Azarius will lean in close to Miss Ashdown and say, “It seems someone has taken an interest in us as a couple...”

BATHUMP. Yuki’s eyes widened a little at his implication. "C...C...couple..." B...B...But...!!

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“...and would see us separated. I suspect someone that wishes me ill but as of yet I am uncertain as to whom that would be. It may be that even now we are being observed. Thankfully Trieste has been sent by my family to look after me and ‘my’ interests.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #c27ba0; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Ah.” Yuki frowned slightly, “...I thought...it was only in the Temple but...” She looked up thoughtfully into Azarius’ strikingly handsome face. His mismatched eyes staring back at her were, as always, mesmerizing, “...I’m sorry Azarius but more than...than 'that' I think perhaps someone is trying to use my friendship with you to...ah...harm your reputation as a honourable man and maybe cause you troubles for all your...merchanting.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #c27ba0; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yuki sighed, “Amynta and I overheard some of the other priestesses talking. Anyway. I er....convinced Mynta to interrogate them! And...And...THEY WERE SO MEAN! AND THEY CALL THEMSELVES PRIESTESSES OF SUNE! THAT Christanna, grr! er... ahem...S...sorry Azarius. Ah... Well... This priestess, Christanna, said that a messenger had arrived while I was out running errands for Axton. The messenger said he was from a noble master. A noble master who had told him ‘you’ were picking ‘me’ up for the afternoon. AND THEN HE SAID the MOST OUTRAGEOUS THING! Christanna said that since he’d missed us, the messenger said he would have to go ALL THE WAY ACROSS TOWN to an Inn YOU used for...er....’entertaining the ladies’! Seriously! Like you would do something like THAT! And...And wasn’t he SUGGESTING ‘I’ would be there too?! WHAT KIND OF GIRL DID THAT GUY THINK I AM?! How could say something like that?! I’m a...” Yuki pulled herself up regally...beautifully, “...Priestess of Sune! A devoutee of TRUE LOVE...not some...some quick tumble in the hay with the first nobleman who treats me nicely. er... Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Er...tumbling in the hay with ah...well...LOVE and...all that but... Aren’t there a lot of bugs in hay?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #c27ba0; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Anyway...it’s just not...me... A...AND YOU’RE a MAN of HONOUR! I was...so mad! But Amynta was AMAZING. She didn’t lose her calm for an instant! You should have heard her!” Yuki’s sweet voice shone with obvious pride in her friend, “She asked them which noble house the messenger belonged to. Christanna couldn’t say but she went ON AND ON AND ON about his accent and how handsome he was and how they seemed to have a connection. She thought it was from Sembia or maybe, Raven’s Bluff. His accent. Azarius?” Yuki looked up into his beautiful yet unsettling eyes. Her own were deeply concerned, “Does that...help you?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Upon arrival at the Stables of Lyrabar, Azarius will speak to the stable master and present a list of gear and feed that will need to be delivered to the ship along with the ponies and horses selected that day by Azarius and Miss Ashdown. “Come Miss Ashdown we have many horses from which to choose and only a little time. First, let’s find you a suitable mount if you have any questions Trieste or I or even the Stable Master will help you. Next, we should choose ponies for the smaller of stature.I already have a mount at the Vastel Estate that will do nicely.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Once the beasts had been selected Azarius presented the Stable Master with his Family Marker and they were on their way back. Azarius complimented Miss Ashdown on her choice of steeds. “That was quite an equestrian specimen you choose there Miss Ashdown. You looked quite breathtaking riding about on it. I must say you have improved greatly since we first started this.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #c27ba0; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yuki blushed, her pale cheeks reddening with pleasure at a compliment from her equestrian teacher, “Oh Azarius! You give me far too much credit! I...er..just picked out the prettiest ones...” She smiled sheepishly, “...and don’t think I didn’t notice that YOU guided me through to the best one. Verrrrry clever, Mister! ...Thank you very much. Still. I wonder if it’s alright... I will have to think of a proper name for him. He is a very vain beast. So proud and high stepping AND sooooo tall! If I fall off, I swear I will break my neck!” She made a face then laughed lightly, “Promise me you’ll take responsibility and train me properly, k? So I don’t embarrass myself in front of...Era...ah... all...the others...” Yuki glanced out the carriage window, checking on Trieste. “A...Are you sure she’s ok back there all by herself?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #c27ba0; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Azarius nodded. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’m glad we could share this brief time together,” he said looking over Yuki’s shoulder at Trieste following them and then quickly focusing back on Miss Ashdowns lovely eyes. “Will you be helping me get all this gear down to Heroes’ Rest when its delivered or shall I drop you off?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #c27ba0; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’ll help! Of course, I’ll help! It’s the least I can do after all you’ve done for me. Anyway, I haven’t really checked on my house! And all the other changes in Heroes’ Rest” Yuki leaned back against the plush velvet interior of the carriage with a laugh, “Isn’t it all a little like having your very own magical treehouse!” Her eyes danced merrily, “We just never know what’s going to happen when we walk away and come back.”