[The Regents Offices] Isle of Hope? (Milo please)

[Nell L'Evienne]

TS: 16th Ioannes, Summer of Era XIII

She was running. Oscar had never seen Nell run before, but there was no mistaking the fact that the Vicegerent had just run out of her office, carrying a parchment just delivered, and with an expression of what could only be described as excited glee. The skirts of the red gown fluttered behind as Nell raced down the corridor, taking a turn and continuing on until she reached the offices of the Regent. Scampering in, she paused at Ada’s desk, and with hurried pace in her voice asked, “Is Milo in his office?”

Her thoughts were racing too. The Herald only a few brightenings previously had given the news of the reappearance of the Insula Coronae, and in circumstances that could only be described as staggering. Intervention of the Gods? Nell was prepared to believe it, and the confirmation from the Imperial Chronicler held tightly in her hands gave her hope that finally they would be able to do what they had wanted to do since the winter and find an Emperor for the land. Hope, at last hope. Nell trembled with anticipation at the thought, her cheeks slightly flushed as she grinned at the dwarven secretary.

[Milo L'Evienne]

Working for the Imperial Regent had turned out to be a more interesting job than the elder dwarf had thought it might be when having agreed to pick up and move her household from Taralon to Prime. Not the bookkeeping end of it of course, nor watching over appointments made, letters written or schedules maintained. That was as mundane a chore as always, never mind that the number of tasks involved had increased themselves exponentially since serving as the assistant to the Consul of the Southern Coasts. But the only real difference there was that the pay was better. No, Ada instead had come to look forward to coming to office each brightening, given there was always the likelihood that something would happen which would compel her utter discretion and silence in the matter. Well she might not be able to speak of this or that, but it was indeed good entertainment all the same-added any number of mysterious developments worthy of keep her old mind occupied the rest of any given brightening. The breathless and hurried entrance of the lady Vicegerent for one thing. Ada couldn’t recall such being the case since, well, since she couldn’t recall. Her weathered face crinkled with the efforts of twin caterpillar eyebrows drawn together over curious blue eyes, her mouth splitting into a grin that was mostly hidden by her curling beard. The lady was grinning, she thought, so whatever was amiss surely wasn’t cause for alarm.

”Aye, my lady. I jes’ took ‘is correspondence in an’ laid it on ‘is desk. Though ‘e’s not bothered ‘imself t’ have a look at it this mornin’, what with ‘im and Mr. Tierney at some silly game on th’ balcony,” she said while having already begun the process of working her way off her chair. Then frowning, she settled herself back in with a grunt. ”Why don’t ye see yerself in m’lady? An’ could I bother ye to r’mind him about a proper desk an’ chair fer me?” she asked while gesturing to the pair of Rosemen to swing open the doors for Nell’s entry into Milo’s office.

The inner office was as always, but with balcony doors left wide open to cool the large space where heat might gather and linger around the high ceilings. And Milo, absent from the interior as Ada had indicated. Instead, Milo sat out on the balcony, lounged in one of the chairs at a small table, his boots stretched out in front of him one foot propped over the other, and Barrett Tierney seated opposite him with much the same posture. And just in front of the balcony’s rail was Milo’s felt gambler’s hat, turned upside down while each took turns at flicking cards in its direction, a few of them scattered along the brim, a few on the ground, and occasionally, one or two missing so completely that it fluttered out over the edge and spiraled into the courtyard far below. Likely those passing by and discovering a rain of playing cards would be having quite the curious look upwards and seeing nothing at all to answer to the why. Several small stacks of silvers sat the table between men.

”You owe me six silvers now my lord,” Barrett quipped dryly just as Nell entered the office and caught goofing off the both of them in an effort to temporarily ward off the sometimes overwhelming pressures and worries of service, added the latest range of maddening questions brought on by the mysterious reappearance of the Isle of the Crown, each man turned round in his chair to note the lady Vicegerent’s entrance. Each straightened their posture in tandem, like boys caught at slouching, Barrett stood and scooped up his winnings and pocketing them, beat a hasty retreat with a nod to Nell as he passed and a quiet ”Good brightening my lady.” For Milo’s part, he entered just after, a grin on his face as Barrett departed. His hair unbound, Milo was dressed in light tan trousers that brightening, a white shirt left open at the collar and a sapphire blue vest ”Good brightening love,” he said and kissed her on the cheek. ”You’ve caught us shirking our duties. If I have to answer one more piece of correspondence this cycle I think I’ll go mad.” Then drawn back and taking full notice of Nell's flushed cheeks and excited demeanor, he tilted his head curiously. "What's going on?"

[Nell L'Evienne]

Nell gave Ada a quizzical look at the mention of some silly game being played. Was this how her husband filled his time while she was slaving away in her office? “Thanks Ada, and yes, I’ll mention your desk and chair!” she answered with a quick nod before hurrying through to the inner office. Empty? And then she saw them, sat out as though it was Primehiems or something, without a care in the world. Perhaps on a different brightening Nell would have been annoyed, or would even have joined the pair as they played their game, but not on this brightening. “Barrett,” Nell replied to his greeting with a smirk and nodded her head as he passed her by and left the room. And then as Milo kissed her cheek and explained what they’d been up to, she laughed and threw her arms around him. “What’s going on? You’d find out if you bothered to read your letters, Milo!” she answered in the midst of the enthusiastic hug, and to save him the trouble of actually doing so, she pulled back and gave him the letter that she’d received. “I was sent a copy of it, but I wanted to speak to you about it straight away, so I dropped everything, everything and ran here!”

Remaining silent as Milo read the letter would be impossible, so she chattered on. “It’s wonderful. It means that the isle is really there and that the rite can be done and then everything will be put into place as it should be. Well, Duerain seems to think so anyway. And then we will know what we’re doing and can start to think of the future and doing all those things that we want to do and it’s just wonderful, Milo. Wonderful!” And then remembering Ada’s request, she quickly added, ”Oh and Ada wants a new desk and chair.”

To
His Most Imperial Excellency
Lord Milo L’Evienne

From
Duerain Whurfick
Imperial Chronicler
Imperial Archives
Aelyria Prime

Serale Your Excellency,

The gods themselves seem to have been so kind as to answer at least one of our questions in regards to the Rite of Succession. The reappearance of the Isle of the Crown is quite well timed, to say the least. I am neither a philosopher nor priest so I will not pass judgement on the cause of this lucky break.

Without going through recent history, the Rite has not been carried out for quite a long time. We are at a very seldom point in history where the crown will truly make the choice in whom should be next Emperor. To my understanding the steps consist of the following:

-Issue call for Candidates to the Imperial Throne as detailed by Article 22 of the Articles of Imperium
-Assemble Candidates at Aelyria Prime at a designated date.
-Said Candidates depart together for the Isle of the Crown.
-Upon arrival the Rite of Successionwill be carried out.

This is my advice and judgement on the matter. I remain available for any questions you have and assistance you might might need. I however remain-

Your Obidient Servant,
Duerain Whurfick
Imperial Chronicler

Copy sent to:
Office of the Viceregent

[Milo L'Evienne]

Eyes widening with surprise and arms flung around Nell’s waist when she laughed and hugged him, Milo’s grin only grew wider when she pulled back again. At the least, even where the mystery lingered, he could now assure himself that whatever had his love’s cheeks flushed wasn’t the result of bad news or an impending disaster. ”You ran here?” he repeated curiously while taking the letter and shifting into a stream of light for easier reading. He could only imagine the thoughts of those she’d passed along the way, and wonder with a smile while setting his sights on the first lines of the letter.

The reappearance of the Isle of the Crown was no doubt an event that had captured his imagination, not only for being a wondrous and dramatic occurrence, but for wondering what it meant that it should happen at this particular time instead of sooner or later. That it meant the right pieces were in place to perform a Rite of Succession, no doubt. So the assumption naturally followed that it was a sign things should now proceed in that regard once the Isle was deemed safe for mortal men to arrive. Of course then there’d still been unanswered questions. He’d never thought much of omens time past, good ones or bad ones. He’d thought much of talk like that was mostly superstition born of coincidence. But events since the very brightening he was chosen, visions, dreams of sorts and in fact the notion that he’d been called by the Aethercrown itself, had all conspired to make him a believer, and now the reappearance of the Isle of the Crown…and apparently, the answers they’d been waiting for from the Imperial Chronicler.

He read those answers while listening to Nell and in the end, his grin only grew in response. Part his own reaction, and part her contagious enthusiasm until he couldn't distinguish between the two. ”It does look like everything’s in place doesn’t it? I guess if we were needing a sign, then there’s no clearer one. It is love. It’s wonderful. Duerain does seem to think as much doesn’t he? It has been the hardest part I think, all this not knowing what the future holds or when that might change, unable to plan for what we don't know. So now we find out yes?”

[Nell L'Evienne]

“Yes, now we find out,” she replied and hugged her love once more. “Oh, at last, I can scarce believe it!” She laughed once more, crushing her face against Milo’s shoulder as she squeezed him tight, and then released her hold to look at the letter in Milo’s hand once more. “And if we issue the call for candidates now, this very brightening, then everything will proceed so much faster, yes? Shall we do that? Work out an announcement right now?”

She looked at him eagerly, fired up with enthusiasm to act. “And … and I’d like to go to this shrine of Revelation mentioned in the Herald where it’s said that the figure who brought back the island came ashore. There may be witness there still who can tell us about him, who saw the whole thing happen! I wonder if it really was a God who did it. What do you think is meant by purging the isle with fire? I suppose the island needs to be checked and cleared for danger before the Rite, yes?”

There was much to do and her thoughts were racing ahead of her words, although they came rapidly enough themselves. “Goodness, how on Telath do you word a call for candidates for the Rite!” Now that would be a challenge indeed.

[Milo L'Evienne]

Under siege by his love’s very enthusiasm, and if one was going to be under siege there were far worse circumstances than this-he ought to know-Milo laughed in the wake of a second hug and with hands gently on Nell’s shoulders, held her distant enough so he could grin more directly into her eyes. He couldn’t recall seeing her so happy in a good long while, and it did him good. ”Slow down love. We can write an announcement right now if you like, yes. I don’t think there’s a thing on my schedule that I can’t leave for later. Here, sit here,” he added then and pulled out one of the chairs along the table meant for hosting meetings larger than a handful. With the breeze coming in from the open doors, it would prove far more comfortable. Added, his desk was a clutter of epic proportions.

Once seeing her seated, he strode to his desk and collected a few sheets of fresh parchment, a couple of quills and an inkpot. Returning to set those on the table, he then fetched two tumblers and a pitcher of water before joining her and sitting down. ”This shrine of Revelation…You’re right, we should visit it as soon as possible. The sooner the better, I think. I’d surely like to know what happened, talk to anyone who might’ve seen it. And I can’t imagine, if not a God, how such a thing could have occurred. As for purging by fire, I don’t know, but I’d like to think the whole of the isle is left intact. But yes, before we start taking contenders out there for a Rite, we’ll need to make sure its safe to set foot on the island. I wouldn’t want to gather those that answer the call, only to lead them into the unknown. Now how to go about penning a call for candidates, I’ve no idea,” he added with a grin while pouring them both a tumbler of water.

[Nell L'Evienne]

At the instruction to slow down, Nell giggled and then nodded her head, took a deep breath but still couldn’t help grinning at Milo. “Yes, yes, all right,” she agreed and took the offered seat. No slouching on this brightening though. She sat up straight, in a manner reminiscent of a schoolchild eager to learn, and began immediately to fidget with the quill nearest to her, rolling it back and forth between thumb and forefinger so the feather twirled in the air in rapid circles.

She was happy that Milo wanted to come see the Shrine, but first things first and nodding her head at Milo’s words, she thought about what would be required to make the island safe. “You know, I know so little about cyraxians, Milo, except they’re terribly fearsome demons. I mean, there might be no sightings of them, but what if they were hiding, or if this purge of fire didn’t affect them?” She stopped twirling the quill abruptly. “We have to make sure there are some Mages with whoever is first on the island. And get someone to find out all that can be known about cyraxians, so … well so those who are going in know the potential of what they might face. Scouts too, who can fly the island. There are pegasi in the Legions here, I think? Goodness, and some kind of patrol around the waters to stop civilians making unauthorised trips in case they end up getting themselves killed!”

So many potential dangers - or perhaps none at all. Nell bit her lower lip. "I so want to see this island for myself. Do you think ... no, they'd probably advise against it ..." she said with a self-admonishing frown.

[Milo L'Evienne]

Grinning all the wider while fixated on Nell’s quill twitching back and forth, Milo shook his head, chuckled and poured them both a tumbler of water. ”You’re making me jumpy love,” he said with a wink while leaning back in his chair and pulling his cigarillo case from his waistcoat pocket. ”I hardly know a thing about them, except that there’s very little known, if anything that can undo one. Though apparently something managed to drive them back in N’danosh from all reports,” he added after lighting the cigarillo and drawing it’s tip to life. ”I guess this reported purge of fire might have, but I wouldn’t want to be wrong if I were to say they were all eliminated in the process. So we need to find ourselves an expert on Cyraxians then, or at least someone willing to become one,” he agreed to finding someone to gather such knowledge. "Then again, who's to say if there's even any there now? We might be sending a bunch of adventurers on nothing but a sight-seeing trip."

”As for Pegasi, I’d assume so. Sir James or Sir Pious might know for sure,” he added of the two Rosemen stationed outside his doors. ”I could contact Alexis about setting up patrols to keep civilians away. Mages to go along on an expedition…We know plenty of those, both in government and out…” Glancing aside to catch Nell chewing at her bottom lip, Milo frowned slightly himself in the process. ”What are you thinking?” And when she suggested it, he wished she hadn’t, given he’d been trying to avoid thinking it himself. For all its mysterious reappearance, the Isle was a lure he’d be hard pressed to resist while others were doing their exploring beforehand.

”Do you know what the Rosemen alone would say? Then again,” he reconsidered with a thoughtful frown and a quirked brow while puffing on his cigarillo. ”they follow my orders and have yet to refuse one. And if there were sorcerers along…It would eliminate the need to outrun an enraged Cyraxian should one by chance be lurking in the shadows now wouldn’t it? And though we can’t know for sure, you might think that it would be perfectly safe and cleared away, given what’s already reported to have occurred…But you're right, I suspect they’d advise against it,” he added with a frown intended to correct both of them even considering it, though unsure how successful he’d be on either count now that she’d gone and voiced such a thing out loud.

[Nell L'Evienne]

Nell leaned forward on the table, resting on her elbows and tried to stop playing with the quill as she listened to Milo. It began to twitch in the air once more, although held so that it was partially hidden by her head with the tip of the feather poking out the other side. “Some one from the High Sage’s office could do some research,” she offered, “Although I don’t know if the High Sage himself is in town at the moment.” It was a nod of resignation as Milo concurred with her thoughts on joining such an exhibition, followed by a moment of silence and then a shrug. “Well, perhaps it would be daft for us both to go, and there would be time afterwards to see what is on the isle,” she murmured. “Although … well I think one of us should go along at least. And it would be far more appropriate if you did. I can watch stuff here in the meantime. No one ever said that being ruler had to be a desk job only.” Her eyes gleamed as she began to smile once again. “It’s time you got out of the Palace, yeah?”

“Anyhow, orders to be written, mister Regent,” she continued sitting up straight once more and pulling the ink well closer. “Would you like to dictate and I write, or shall I get started on putting some thoughts together for the call for candidates?” She wanted to get on and do something, anything, to help things forward and she suspected Milo was just as eager to get something down on parchment. However, unable to resist, she quickly leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.

[Milo L'Evienne]

Given Nell’s hard pressed efforts, Milo’s grin twitched past a swallow of his water at her inability to keep the quill completely in check, while at the same time pondering her comments on a hopeful candidate for providing them the information they were after. ”The High Sage,” he repeated while that grin dissolved a bit. ”Ordinarily I’d say that lord Z’kron was the perfect choice. In fact, given his apparent longevity, he’d likely have all the information we need already at hand in his mind and would be more than eager to share it. Unfortunately there’s a bit of a problem there at the moment. No, he’s not in the forum at the moment and I do believe I am partially responsible for that, though circumstances seemed to warrant it at the time. The last I saw him, he’d hailed the city’s nature spirit through a portal in his office so that I might converse with her. A strange creature who manifested herself by way of a thick cloud of insects. A most unusual personality,” he remembered with a frown while getting up to fetch an ashtray and then return.

”At any rate, during that interaction, lord Z’kron began to shift form at random into a bird, though his mind remained as sharp as ever. But while I assumed at first that he was in control of such a transformation, I soon realized that he was not himself driving it. I then assumed it was the influence of this spirit, as she seemed inclined to a certain level of mischief, but was again proved mistaken. It worried me, not only for his own sake, but I was concerned about such a lack of control, him being an Advisor to the Crown. And so I questioned him and was told that yes, he’d been just recently experiencing some bothersome irregularities with his magic, though it had not affected his mind. He was honest enough to admit though, that he worried it might be the case if left unchecked. Now the nature spirit,” Milo added with a thump of his cigarillo to knock away an ash, ”seemed to feel that such could be easily righted. Given my concerns, I requested that he do that as soon as possible, then to please keep me informed of any developments. If it could be easily righted, I was not compelled to immediately remove him until I knew for sure given his mind was sound and his thinking as sharp as ever, and the effects of the irregularities affected only himself. It might be viewed much the same as a temporary, but debilitating illness. But on the other hand, felt his service should be put on hold until such a time the situation could be put to rights for the sake of avoiding any negative mishaps. I believe he was in full agreement on that count. But it was the last conversation we had, and then he’d wandered off with not a word since. It's been a few months now. Though I’ve heard a rumor or two recently and may now be compelled to act in an official capacity unless he presents himself very soon. Though I'm aware that there are those in his offices that can carry out brightening to brightening duties to a particular level. So the Ministry is by no means non-operational. Meantime, he's being considered to be on official hiatus until such things are resolved. Otherwise, he seems not to have presented himself at all elsewhere in the Empire in his official capacity since that time. In fact, he seems to have vanished and I may well need a new High Sage at some point soon. It's not a situation that can be left too long, though I'd hoped for a quick resolution, and have of course not advertised his particular status beyond those in the immediate need to know, or who can otherwise gain needed information from his offices, despite his own absence at the moment.”

”But you’re probably right love,” Milo added then after puffing a few smoke rings into the air. ”I don’t suppose both of us should go, given the possible risks and the fact that one should remain here to run the store meantime,” he added with a wry grin. ”And I wouldn’t mind getting out of the office. Barrett tells me I’m getting a little pasty. I could go then, in the company of the Rosemen and those adventurers we bring together for the task, then once making sure all is safe, then we could both go over and have more of a look around. As for visiting this Shrine in particular though, I’d like to do that as soon as possible the two of us.”

Then snuffing out his cigarillo, he leaned forward and propped his elbows on the table, but turned his head aside abruptly so that her lips met his, instead of his cheek. ”Yes, orders,” he said with a smile and slid a piece of parchment in front of her. ”I’m still not at all sure how to word a call for candidates, and I guess we should put out a call for mages and adventurers as well. Or should we simply just contact those we’re familiar with already who might be up to the task? So we need more information on Cyraxians in case there are any to run across. Maybe an educator, a professor in the city might have such knowledge readily on hand? Alexis needs to be contacted about setting up patrols around the island, we need to find out something about pegasi in the city, we need to gather those who might accompany an expedition to the Isle before candidates can be escorted to the Isle, and we need to pen a call for the candidates themselves.”

”Now this call, I’m not sure how to go about wording an article. I guess we should make note of the requirement that a Regent is to organize such a thing within a particular amount of time. A mention of the reappearance of the Isle of the Crown, and that the pieces necessary are now in place, as well as this being a historical event given the time elapsed since such was possible added the circumstances…Timing. I guess we should choose a proposed date for the gathering of candidates, how much time is to elapse before they should present themselves here in the Palace?”

[Nell L'Evienne]

“Mmm yes, he does seem like quite an old elf,” Nell answered to the mention of the High Sage’s longevity. She had almost nothing to do with him except for seeing him on that brightening when Aerienne had suffered Diana’s visitation. She fell silent though at Milo’s explanation of Z’kron’s absence, squinting in thought at this nature spirit. She knew nothing of these things and thought it all sounded a bit dubious. Although she was interested in arcane matters, hailing spirits through portals all seemed a bit strange. That this ancient city would have a nature spirit? She blinked though at the matter of Z’kron’s transformation into a bird and there was the faint suspicion that Milo had been taken for a ride by a Mage who wanted some time off. At the end she grunted. “Well perhaps there are others within his ministry who’ll be able to gather some information for us.”

She found her smile once more however when Milo considered the matter of going along on an expedition to the Isle. “Good. I think you being there makes sense, and you might even get to try waving that fancy sword the half-giant gave you about,” she replied with a chuckle and then dipped her quill in the inkwell ready to start scribbling out whatever was needed.

“Professor, perhaps,” she continued, although still thought there might be those within the Government who might suffice. “Professors tend to take their time though,” she added, out of a personal prejudice against those who spent their lives with their noses in books but did little to spread the knowledge gained. She smiled as Milo continued to talk, airing his thoughts about what could go in the necessary article, not disagreeing with anything said. And at the end, she asked a simple question. “Milo, what would you like me to do, right now?” The quill twitched.

[Milo L'Evienne]

”Quite old,” Milo admitted noncommittally and with a frown when Nell mentioned it. She’d no idea, he’d no idea either. And in fact, he wasn’t even sure lord Z’kron knew for sure just how old he was. But the less mentioned about that the better, he concluded wisely so left it at that. After all, it only made sense to him that a High Sage otherwise qualified, loyal and possessing of great wisdom might be forgiven a few eccentricities-hence the fixation on carrots. Went with the territory. ”I’m sure there’s someone in his offices that could provide us with the information we’re looking for, yes. I guess it would be quicker than seeking out an educator in the city.”

”And I would like a chance to use that sword,” he admitted then with a grin. ”My old one is all form and little function. Not surprising since it was fashioned after the one Rioughe wore and he couldn’t fight his way out of a potato sack.”

And when her quill twitched again, his smile turned sheepish. ”I’m rambling again aren’t I love. I’m sorry. I’m a lawyer at heart, what do you expect? The call for candidates then, you work on that. We need to decide whether to issue a public call for mages and adventurers for the expedition, or simply contact those individuals we already know of and feel are suited. So either way, we need to pen a call, or a number of letters to that effect instead. I’ll pen a note for Alexis now about setting up patrols to keep civilians away from the Isle of the Crown, so I can send it off to his offices. And I'll also write a request to send off to the offices of the High Sage as well for information regarding Cyraxians. Yes?”

[Nell L'Evienne]

"I'm never sure what to expect, Milo," she replied with an impish smile. "Regent, rogue, card tossing layabout, father, lover, friend? Lawyer is usually at the end of the list. But yes, I'll start on the call for candidates. As for the call for those who'd go on the expedition, I say let's make it a public call and contact those we know of! Gods, if only Odyleon was in the country. No doubt he's still in N'danosh, messing around with what he thinks is important." She paused, no word having been heard from Odyleon or Robyn, and the realisation made her uneasy. "Anyhow ... yes, I'll start on trying to word this announcement," she continued shortly and wrote a wonderfully neat title on the parchment and underlined it.

Then a pause, a glance sideways at Milo and a giggle that refused to be suppressed. She looked back to the title and shook her head, trying to focus and under the table her right foot was tap, tap, tapping away, quite unable to stop itself from the unnecessary action.

"Milo?" Nell said, a bare few seconds after silence had fallen. "I can't concentrate." She pulled a wry and apologetic grin as she looked at her love. "Would you be so good as to help me out here?" The quill was placed down and Nell reached out to touch Milo's arm. "I mean, I know this is very important and urgent work and I know I pushed to do it this instant, but ... half a candlemark will make no difference, surely?"

And with a tilt of her head to one side, and eyes gleaming, the question came. "Does the door to your office lock?"

[Milo L'Evienne]

”Right,” Milo agreed with a grin while Nell bent her head over her piece of parchment, amused at the sort of energy that was driving her. It was indeed contagious and added to his own sense that recent events were a sign that their future would soon be much clearer as a result. ”As for never knowing, I like to keep you guessing,” he teased. ”How else will I make sure you’ll stay interested?” Shirking off his own task for a second or two after picking up a quill and pulling a fresh sheet of parchment in front of him, he added, ”Public announcement and personal contacts. A good idea, though I suspect the Rosemen might want to perform some sort of evaluation process when those arrive for security reasons. As for Odyleon, who knows? I haven’t heard from him in awhile. Only the letter from Robyn we received that indicated he’d gone off there. I hope he and Robyn are alright. He’d be a natural choice though wouldn’t he?”

That last remark made, he dipped his quill in the inkpot and began to scrawl out a missive to be delivered to Alexis, only pausing when Nell spoke up again. ”Hmm?” he asked distractedly without looking up at first. He did though, when asked for his assistance. And catching the expression on her face when she touched his arm, he quirked a curious brow in response while his mind hastily formed the sort of assumption it was more than capable of piecing together with little outside encouragement. In spite of himself, his grin turned vaguely wolfish when he asked, ”Only half a candlemark? And it does,” he added with a glance at the pair of closed doors. ”Sir James has a key…But are you sure I’ll be safe in your hands?” So saying-after all, he hardly needed much encouragement in that regard, and still wolfishly grinning, he stood and took Nell’s hand to help her up, leading her over to that door so he could slide the lock in place with a barely audible click.

Then there with his back resting against the doors and arms wrapped around her waist, he dipped his head to find a particular spot just behind her ear and whispered. ”Now what exactly did you have in mind love?”

[Nell L'Evienne]

If there was one thing that Nell could say about Milo, he was reliable – in all the varied and numerous areas of life. Predictable? No. Reliable, surely yes. The heavy hint given and taken up, Nell eagerly followed her love to the door and once it was securely locked, bit her lip in anticipation. “I promise not to hurt you,” she had quipped back when sat in her chair, but the second question by the door received no voiced answer. Instead she shivered as Milo’s lips brushed against that spot, then reached up to clasp her love around his neck and bestowed a most enthusiastic and demanding kiss.

Time passed. A half candlemark? Perhaps a little more – but as no-one was timing matters exactly, it's only fair enough to leave this question as saying that a certain amount of time was taken to indulge the lady.

And afterwards, when clothing had been adjusted, hair patted into place and the room tidied to resemble exactly what it should resemble, Nell was more than happy to sit down at the long table and resume their work. Extraneous energy used up, she was rather composed as she picked up the quill, no twirling involved, and dipped the nib into the inkwell once again. There was a rather pointed smirk on her lips, and a slight chuckle, but she took a deep breath and focused on the matter in hand.

“Yes, I think letting the Knights evaluate those who come forward is a fine idea,” she said, as though no interval had passed. A slight raising of her left eyebrow punctuated her words quite nicely and she set to writing …