[Nia Alcove] Truth or diplomacy [private]

[Larien Gil'dae]

14th brightening in the Month of Immanis, Winter
Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum

The young elven woman was sitting at the desk situated in her quaint yet comfortable room within the Nia Alcove, pouring over her map of the Sovereignty of Enamoria, when a knock sounded upon the closed door. "Yes?" With a soft creak the door opened to reveal a tall elven man with sleek dark hair that was secured at the nape of his neck and a pair of dark brown eyes that appeared to be almost black -- quite unsettlingly indeed. Were it not for the easy smile that almost always seemed to be playing about his lips, he might have been a frightening fellow. "Lorvus," the maiden greeted the other with a smile as she shifted around in her seat to view him fully, her map forgotten for the time being. "How did it go?"

Lorvus stepped completely into the room before shutting the door softly behind him and leaning against the wood. "As well as you might expect, arwen en amin. He did not outright refuse your gifts, though he didn't seem to be entirely pleased... I think the common nature of the items in this part of the empire detracted from their value somewhat in our Thane's eyes. I might suggest a more exotic gift next time... perhaps something from Arakmat that we would not normally see in these parts?"

With a sigh, Larien nodded, leaning back so she could rest her head against the back of the chair. She had feared as much... but ah well. What was a young woman to do in a strange city where she had no friends? "I also... I hope it was not too forward of me, but I invited our lord Thane to dine with arwen en amin." At that news, Larien flew into a sitting position, her back straight and her pale green eyes wide. "You did... what?! When? Where? Oh gods..." Biting back a chuckle at the other's sudden panic, Lorvus lifted his hand in a motion of "stop", his smile threatening to widen so much as to split his handsome face in two. "I left the specifics up to arwen en amin. I was very vague... but I felt that such an invitation, if accepted, would be beneficial to you..."

Taking a few deep breaths, Larien leaned back in her chair once more, allowing her eyes to flutter closed as she merely listened to the lilting voice of her bodyguard turned spokesperson for the brightening. "And... was it accepted?" Lorvus watched the other curiously, his dark eyes studying the suddenly peaceful face of his employer. She was such an odd creature... "Indeed it was."

The young woman smiled in response to that news. Of course, now all she needed was to find a suitable place to entertain the Thane of Medonia... "What's he like?" Larien suddenly asked, opening her eyes until they were the barest of slits so she could study the face of the other without it seeming as though she was studying him. Lorvus finally did allow his amusement to show as he chuckled softly at her curiosity. "He was... like a Thane. Polite. To the point." "Mm... so he wasn't disagreeable in the slightest?" Tilting back his head, Lorvus allowed his voice to ring forth in a hearty laugh. "No... no arwen en amin, he wasn't disagreeable." I could see myself having a drink or two with the man, Lorvus added mentally to himself though he would have never spoken such a thing aloud.

"What does he look like?" Lorvus bit back another laugh as he finally gained control of himself. My, but this new employer of his was the curious one. "Like you would expect a man of his blood to appear... dark of skin, hair, and eye. Of the human bloodline, but of course, you already knew that arwen en amin." Larien nodded along with the other's words as she finally lifted herself from her lounging position once more, leaning forward to place her elbows on the desk as her fingers brushed against her lips, her eyes grazing across the map stretched out before her. "He sounds... interesting." Lorvus lifted an eyebrow as he finally moved from the closed door, his booted feet thudding softly upon the wooden floor as he walked towards the young elven woman to peer over her shoulder at what she was looking at. "Indeed he is, arwen en amin."

[Larien Gil'dae]

Larien, hearing the footsteps of the other, turned her head slightly to send a warning glance towards the mercenary. Perhaps it was just unwarranted paranoia on the young woman's part, but she truly disliked having people lurk behind her, peering over her shoulder. With a small smile, Lorvus moved away, taking his position by the door once more. "I will need Rougenoe's friendship," the elven maiden lilted softly as she returned her attention to the map of Enamoria stretched before her. As though she was caressing a lover, Larien brushed her fingertips along the lines of the map, tracing the River Roland and then the River Julianna in turn. "Along with the friendship of other select individuals within Medonia..."

"Might I suggest staying away from the Grape and Barley for future gift buying?"

The corner of Larien's mouth twitched upwards slightly in acknowledgment of his jest, though she was too engrossed in the map for the time being to truly appreciate her bodyguard's sense of humor. "Hmm... what is this Forest of the Circle?" The young woman's voice was barely more than a whisper curling past her parted lips as she bent closer to the map, her finger moving to trace around the small circle that was situated in the middle of the forest. "Shall I send you to another city to buy some gifts then?" The she-elf added in a louder voice even as she continued to study the curious landmark in the middle of the Enamorian countryside. She heard Lorvus's chuckle sound from somewhere behind her, though obviously she couldn't see his face seeing as how her back was to him. "I would much rather prefer something a little more... worthy of my skills, arwen en amin, to be honest..."

"Do not worry, Lorvus," Larien murmured with a smile, her fingertip tapping lightly upon the Forest of the Circle as it was depicted on her map. "Your skills will be put to good use soon enough... what can you tell me about this Circle? Have you been there before?"