Early Morning on the streets

[Samira al Aliyya]

Morning, Brightening 10, Melora, Spring II

The sun had just risen in the sky high enough to make everything light. Walking down the street, Samira took in the sights and sounds that were this other city of the Empire. Daltina was certainly a sight to behold. Her long cream colored outer coat hugged tightly around her curves. Holding her hands in the sleeves of her coats in a hope to hide her skin color. She walked the streets for a few hours. Just wandered.

Walking a past a shop, a sparkle caught her eye. Turning, she saw a necklace through a window. She walked slowly towards the window and just looked at the jewels lying on the other side of the glass. Her emerald eyes rested on the necklace for what seemed like a forever.


OOC: Open thread, feel free to jump on in.

[Isadora de Lunette]

Isadora had never been an early riser and could barely count the number of brightenings that she'd seen the suns rise on one hand. She'd never been given a reason to get up early and see the brightening from what it was in the wee candlemarks and thus she slept in later than most common folk would, rising after the suns had lifted away from the horizon line and the healthy pink glow in its wake had dissipated. She broke her morning fast, eating a scone and sipping tea at the table with her maidservant Anastasie, the conversation slow but present.

"I was hoping to pay a visit to the concourse this morning after breakfast this morning," she announced to the aging, pudgy woman. She studied her old nursemaid as the woman sipped her tea. She was reading a book. Dora studied the tattered, black cover. The words scrawled across it were recognizable: The Knight and his Rose. She'd read it last month and thought it trashier than most, but Ana seemed enthralled.

"Whatever for?" Anastasie didn't even look up from her book, gnawing on her lip as her eyes scanned the pages. It was nearly impossible to talk to Ana when she was reading.

Isadora pulled the book from the woman's hands and set it down on the table. The woman had the good sense not the protest, but she did look marginally annoyed. "Because I want to. And because I was hoping to see what has come in to the jeweller's lately. Help me dress?"

Soon the two women were dressed and out the door, Isadora dressed in her trademark, amethyst purple which she set off with cream accents. Her hair hung in delicate ringlets around her neck, carefully groomed and held into place by small, barely visible clips. They approached the jewellers alongside one another, more or less--Anastasie hung a little behind. They came to stand alongside Samira just then, although neither paid the elvish girl much mind at all. "Look at that one there, Ana."

"Which one, my lady?" Anastasie was clearly humoring her. Not that it mattered.

"That one with the gold clasp." She reached out to tap her finger on the glass to indicate the necklace. The same one that Samira had been admiring. In her movements she accidently bumped her arm against the elf, which caused Isadora to draw her hand away quickly and smile at the woman in apology; the elf didn't look noble born, but it did not pay to be impolite regardless. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't jostle you too hard, did I?"

[Eyvind Redbeard]

A Legionnaire wandered in the streets. He didn't wear his armor, instead of that he had decided to try his brand new Parade Uniform, wasn't him in Daltina, City of Nobles, afterall? He had come prepared to such occasions, he had also brought his Parade Uniform to this long journey to Mystique so he could see the Lord Thane without his dirty armor and travelling clothes.

This Vagaran had his long red hair falling on his shoulders and passing behind his ears, making a little side wave effect. His high knee black boots were impressive for walking in paved streets. At least he thought that as he was used to his military combat boots that were a little bit heavier than these ones. His grey trouser coming down to his knee and entering his boots. His thigh long stiff necked coats, also in grey, with his Legion crest in the right side of his chest. If someone would look closely they would see he was from the Jade Legion. On his collar tab a pair of crossed spears shown him as a Senior Legionnaire. On his head a shako. To complete his Parade Uniform the Legionnaire had a green long cloak on his shoulders, the color of the Jade Legion.

The seven feet tall Vagaran wandered in the streets of Daltina. He had yet to know the city as he had only arrived it the day before and would depart in the next day. This was only a quick pause in a long journey. With some luck the next time he would be in Daltina he wouldn't be a simple Senior Legionnaire but something more.

Without his Carmelyan Warsteed to accompany him Eyvind was alone. The Darkening passed in the Barracks with the other soldiers had been somewhat tiring. He deserved something more, he deserved to take a little rest of the worries of the world around him. That was when he saw what seemed to be noblewomen. With a smile on his face he walked in their direction, stoping at close distance behind them. They seemed to be looking to some jewels in a store. Stepping forward to get closer he asked.

"Serale, m'ladies. Would you mind of helping this poor soldier of the Empire who seems to be lost?"

He took his shako out and bowed his head slightly as he greeted the women.

[Samira al Aliyya]

Samira hadn't seen another person all morning and had been lost in her own thoughts. The spark from the jeweller's window had actually reminded her of some of the few times that her family had interacted with their people. The memory of the drums and the sparkly of the dancers' belt around a fire were some of her favorite memories. Memories are all I have now.

Samira didnt even see the two ladies approach. The bum from Isadora's arm broke the stream of memories and brought her back into the present. She turned her emerald eyes to the lady as the apology was uttered. This lady looked different than anyone she had seen before. Samira wasnt sure who this lady was, especially since she had never met anyone of noble birth, but she was slightly shocked that this person was actually apologizing to her. People were usually frighten, or at least prejudice, because of her grey skin tone. She looked the woman in the eye and gave a small smile, "No, you didnt. No harm done."

Samira is a naturally curious individual. She did a quick scan of the woman head to toe before asking, "I'm not in your way, am I?" As she spoke, a very tall man approached. M'ladies? That must be what she is, a lady. Her grandmother had told her once about people who were called nobles, but Samira herself had never met anyone who fell into that class.

She turned to face the Legionnaire, looking up far enough that her hood fell back exposing her white-silver hair. "I am new here myself, so I am afraid I can't be of much help." As she spoke, her dark eyes looked over the uniform he wore, the sunlight catching some of the blonde in her hair. She blinked as if she remembered something important. "I am Samira al Aliyya, it is a pleasure to meet you both," she said, doing what appeared to be a curtsey, but instead of spreading her skirt, her hands assumed a prayer position in front of her chest.

[Isadora de Lunette]

Isadora had only gotten a glimpse of the woman from the corner of her eyes as they stood side-by-side in front of the large, glass window. Now, fully-turned towards her in apology, she got a much better look at her. She was different, her skin a grayish cast and her brilliant emerald eyes, an exotic beauty. But a strange one. Dora had never seen a vysstichi before and knew only what they looked like based on stories and tales. Still, she'd heard enough to know that this woman here was not an elf generally excepted by the populance.

"My lady..." Anastasie's voice, low and clearly worried, grasped at Isadora's forearm in such a way that it seemed as if she meant to pull the young woman away from the half-breed.

Isadora delicately extracted the nursemaid's fingers from her arm even as she took the tiniest of steps back, her smile wavering somewhat. She did her best to maintain that sweet facade that still conveyed her previous apologies; although this was an awkward situation she would not let her public mask slip away. "It is no worry, miss. You were not in my way at all," Isadora responded in quiet, even tones that did not at all betray her discomfort with the strange woman in front of her.

She shifted as another voice added itself to the morning, peering up at the rather tall young man with his long red locks and crisp uniform. A soldier, indeed, she thought with a sudden relaxation to her frame, less worried now about the presence of the vysstichi. Isadora's father was a Count, a man who had earned his rank by his merits with a blade. He commanded men not unlike the one who stood before her. All her life Isadora had been surrounded by knights and soldiers. It was a familiar comfort.

"Good brightening, sir. I would certainly be glad to help for, unlike Samira, I am a native here," she responded, her voice that schooled mix of reservation and femininity that her mother had drilled into her skull since she was a little girl. Isadora had worked hard to appear the perfect picture of Daltinian femininity and she arranged her own posture to reflect it--gloved hands clasped in front of her amethyst dress, her chin uplifted just enough that she did not appear ridiculous peering up at him. "I am Isadora de Lunette." She smiled pleasantly at the pair of them while her maidservant clung to Isadora's elbow, hoping to extract her mistress but reluctant to physically drag her. Ana would have had no qualms voicing her opinion of Samira, Isadora knew that and the elvish woman was indeed a strange picture to behold, her curtesy an odd one.

[Samira al Aliyya]

As Isadora's maid reached for the young woman's arm, Samira fought very hard to not roll her eyes at the woman. Ignorant, was the only thought that went through her head. The dance posture that Samira had used to introduce herself was a high sign of a respect a dancer could give the strangers she wasn't performing for. Isadora's own tone showed that Samira might not endure quiet the treatment she was accustom to, but it wouldnt be far off.

As she waited for an introduction from the tall man, Samira shifted slightly uncomfortably. She realized her hood was down which she quickly replaced. Where is a shadow? I might need to leave quickly. Shadows were always Samira's friend, though if she was ever going to do anything, she would have to overcome the prejudices that prevailed.

[Asche Rjindael]

There was a string of noble murders going on, yet no leads. Asche fiddled with the small notebook in his pocket as he walked along the streets of Daltina as a sort of casual examination of the area around the crime scenes. He found it somewhat frustrating to see that there was nothing much amiss in the usual Daltina scenery.

However, a tall man dressed in strange clothes caught his attention. Clearly, the man was a warrior, and his clothes hinted at a position in the military. Asche then took point from an alley entrance beside two shops, making himself look like an average human boy skulking about after a long day of play. He started scribbling in his notebook.

As he wrote, he continued to observe them from afar, occasionally looking around for other suspicious things.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The Vagaran smiled as he straightened his backs and placed his shako under his left arm. As he evaluated the situation he realized he had entered a rather interesting one. In one side a Vyystichi woman and in the other a Noblewoman and her female servant. The Vyystichi who claimed to be called Sarima seemed a little bit surprised with the Legionnaire's appearance, she even let her hood fall as she looked up at him. As for the Noblewoman who seemed to be called Isadora de Lunette. "An illustruous name for sure." thought the Vagaran. Seemed to be used to see soldiers or at least tall people like Eyvind. As the Noblewoman bowed so did the Senior Legionnaire, bringing his torso slightly down and forward and crossing his right arm over his chest looking slightly down to avoid eye contact with Isadora as it could be considered unpolite.

Standing he bowed to Samira in the same way and then simply gave a nod and a smile to the servant.

"I am Eyvind "Redbeard" Avornmagor, Senior Legionnaire of the Jade Legion, Envoy of His Most Excellency the Minister of War."

[Samira al Aliyya]

Samira didnt notice the boy who began watch the group. But she did raise an eyebrow to the soldiers as he gave her the same bow he did Isadora. She really took in his appearence as he did. She hadnt seen many people with red hair, coming from Nauri where everyone was dark from the desert sun.

I wonder if he can drum? Samira half thought to as the tall man if he did. To dance for someone who was apparently terrified or just out right mean to her would be nice. Her family's people only gained such an honor when one visited and she danced with her mother and grandmothers. She decided to speak, hoping that the good graces of the Legionnaire would last, "Forgive my ignorance, but I am from the deserts of Nauri with no real formal education. What is the Jade Legion? I am afraid I know nothing of the army, mostly only drummers and dancers."

[Isadora de Lunette]

Isadora observed the dark elf with a somewhat distant expression on her face, almost trying to decide what to make of the obviously foreign woman standing alongside of her. At her elbow, Anastasie tugged at her mistress's arm, not at all discreetly either. "My lady, don't we have an errand we should be running?" the older, heavier woman pointed out.

"No, Anastasie. I believe our errand was this very excursion to the visit the jeweller's, is that not correct? In fact, I do remember being the one to suggest the venture in the first place." The young woman looked amused, her mouth curving into a faint smile as she canted her head slightly to peer at the graying woman. She loved Anastasie possibly more than she did her own mother, but the woman could be down right pushy when she set her mind to it.

"Please, I beg your pardon for my servant's poor manners," she murmured lightly to the pair in front of her, earning herself a scathing glance from Anastasie. She ignored it without so much as batting an eyelash in the woman's direction.

Dora turned her attention towards the legionnaire in front of her, nodding slightly at Samira's inquiry. Like the half-breed she had not given notice the halfling scribbling away in a notebook his on observations of their exchange. "The Jade Legion is in the service to the Empire, Miss al Aliyya," she responded in her lilting, formal voice. "They are Alleria's defense against anything that threatens our security, is that not so, Master Avornmagor?" Again, that formal address had been tacked on. Everything about Isadora seemed just that--formal. "My father is the Count of Athami and has more than a passing interest in the legions." She was not certain if he would understand why her father being a count accorded him an interest in the legions, but she at least had no doubts of her commentary.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

If there was someone watching Eyvind besides the three women in front of him he didn't know, he considered Daltina a safe city, far safer than Aelyria Prime with all those black alleys full of cut-throats in Old Prime, and therefore he was relaxed, if anything happened he still had his Imperial Longsword under his cloak, but it certainly wouldn't happen.

He nodded to Isadora with a smile.

"Yes, indeed it is so, Miss de Lunette."

He spoke in a cordial voice, something he wasn't really used to due to his daily life in the Legions with harsh training exercises and duties.

"Yet the Jade Legions isn't a normal Legion, it is a training Legion. There we train and prepare new soldiers, or Legionnaire, how to defend the Empire, then they are sent to where they are most needed. There is also an Officer's School in there, in which I am studying, that prepares future Officers on how to lead the best soldiers in the Aelyrian Empire."

Turning to Samira and looking her in the eyes the Vagaran continued.

"Miss al Aliyya, Samira."

He paused for a moment.

"Lack of formal education means nothing in Telath, education can be learned sooner or later. Just look at me. Just a few months ago I was a simple hunter in the cold and icy Hinterlands of the Carmelyan Province."

After this glimpse of solidarity towards someone who seemed to be going through a period of life similar to one he had had before he spoke to the Isadora.

"Does the Count of Athami has more than a passing interest in the Legions, Miss de Lunette?"

He spoke with his formal voice again.

[Samira al Aliyya]

This Isadora is an odd one. Such a spirit when she spoke to her maid, but such a formality with the two she was speaking with. It reminded Samira of her own mother. She looked away from the group as she felt a lump in her throat and her stomach sink. She squeezed her eyes closed, as if to make the world disappear, though, truely, it was to keep the tears from falling down her face. Will it never stop hurting?

With her eyes now sparkling with uncried tears, she turned back as she heard Eyvind's voice say her name. His voice sounded unused, as if he didnt get the opportunity to speak much. Samira smiled up at the Legionnaire, for once enjoying hearing her name on a stranger's lips. "I believe you will make a fine Leader," she paused a moment, weighing the risk,"Eyvind. And I do thank you for your words, though I do doubt you just a simple hunter."

All of a sudden, Samira just felt so tired. And it wasnt really from a lack of sleep, more so from the sting of losing everyone she had ever loved. She tired to lean back against the glass of the shop carefully, mostly, so as to not startle her two companions in discussion. She turned to listen to Isadora speak of her father. Samira's curiousity was al peaked about court. She had never even heard of such, not even from her grandmother. If she doesnt say more, I will ask. Surely, she will be kind enough to forgive my ignorance.

[Isadora de Lunette]

Isadora wasn't certain whether to be amused or pleased with the manner that the legion had affected in speaking with her. He was polite, pleasant. It wasn't generally what a lady of higher classes tended to think of those who came from a more common background. Common indeed if he truly had originated as a 'simple hunter'. Her father would have thought him a good specimen of a soldier--well-built, well-spoken. Well, a good specimen if he actually knew how to fight. Not all officers did and she wasn't about to ask for a demonstration of his abilities. That required conflict and Isadora wasn't generally leaping to create those.

The young woman canted her cheek slightly as he made mention of an officer's school, her eyes skipping past him briefly to survey the road. "Does the Legion make a habit of allowing their potential officers to wander from the city or are they testing your mettle elsewhere?"

She might have had a thing or two to say about 'formal education' and where it got a person these brightenings. As a noblewoman she'd spent many brightenings when she was younger at the knees of those who had a poor opinion of the lower class. Not that hers was necessarily better--it was, marginally--but she still had some belief that they served in their place and she served in hers. For a reason. That he was obtaining officer's training at all was somewhat surprising. Somewhat. But then Alleria Prime was doubtlessly different from Daltina, too.

"My father and his family have established their place in life by the way of the sword. He commands a small contingent of knights and common armsmen for his liege the Duke of Maeve. He is in the business of studying the tactics and strategies of other armed units, if only to see in what manner he might best incorporate them into his own methods. He likes to pride himself on his innovation." Isadora looked quite proud herself. Her father's accomplishments were not something she looked down on and, indeed, she hoped to be able to claim the same of herself some brightening. It was a shame wielding a blade was not necessarily honorable in Daltina if the hands that held it were those of a woman. It was a sore spot for Isadora, not one she would have opened up about to anyone, and she smiled through the knowledge at both Samira and Eyvind.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The Vagaran smiled back at the Vyystichi. It was a true smile, felt by him and intended on showing it. He had been pleased by her compliment. His smile then turned into a tricky and playful one as Samira said she doubted him a simple hunter. After a small laugh he spoke.

"Thank you, I will do my best when the time of leading men comes. For the moment being I am just a soldier who follows orders. And indeed I may have been a little more than a simple hunter."

Here he was, playing with the world around him. Trying to balance things. In one side the formal Isadora who he had to be careful not to offend as she seemed to be quiet influent or at least seemed to have access to influent people. In the other Samira, most would tell her useless and unworthy of any effort but the Vagaran didn't thought in that way. He had seen much in the past few months to judge someone just by the appearance.

Turning to Isadora he answered to her question.

"Not exactly, Miss de Lunette. I am on a mission of dire importance for the Minister of War. As his Most Excellency's Envoy I am on my way to the city of Mystique in the Lylles Kingdom of Lauryl to have a meeting with the Thane of the said city and to carry out a specific mission."

He paused. He didn't think it correct to tell civilian what the real purpose of his mission was. The idea of sending someone from the Imperial Capital City to check the readiness of the Legions stationed in another Province was a sign that things weren't going well. Eyvind suspect that bigger and wider things were about to happen, but he wasn't sure of what.

He smiled to Isadora.

"Maybe your father and I share a common interest as studying the art of war is something I consider both interesting and useful. And if you speak of innovation I'd tell you have some ideas of my own, Miss de Lunette."

Eyvind had tried his luck, maybe this little comment would open him some more doors to his ascention to power, or maybe not.

[Samira al Aliyya]

Samira smiled back at Eyvind. He does have a nice smile. The exchange between Eyvind and Isadora brought here back to the present. She had been lost in her own world for a few moments. As she listened, she realized she didnt really understand what they were talking about at all. It showed on her face, and left her unaware of what to say to bring herself back into the conversation. She did recognize Isadora's pride in her family and Eyvind's hook to further his military conversation with Isadora.