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Post by blossom on Apr 3, 2007 13:13:56 GMT -5
"She was probably frightened," Rois said with a simpering smile, "Hester's ..... not very bright, I'm afraid."
From where she was sat next to Rois, Hester scowled. Very few people understood that just because she didn't talk, it didn't mean she was a simpleton.
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 3, 2007 13:27:37 GMT -5
Demanvar slowly raised his eyebrows. This kind of girl was the type to be avoided at all costs. He HATED being simpered at. "I wouldn't say that at all. If your sister had been frightened, it is more likely she would have dropped the reins than stopped the horse. But no matter. You weren't driving." He urged the black forward two steps and bowed to Hester. "Thank you, Lady Hester." He straightened and smiled.
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Post by blossom on Apr 3, 2007 13:31:18 GMT -5
Hester blushed and smiled back awkwardly. She made flapping motions with her hands, to try and say You're welcome, but you don't have to thank me. Rois shook her head and translated for her.
"My sister can't talk, sir. I think she's trying to say you're welcome."
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 3, 2007 13:33:27 GMT -5
"Ah. I beg your pardon Lady Hester." He nodded to the other girl, then reined the black to the side.
(what, the guys aren't jealous or curious or anything? lol)
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Post by blossom on Apr 3, 2007 13:41:40 GMT -5
(They can't really see; Rois and the caravan are blocking them. But since you've mentioned it ...)
"Who is that guy?"
"I don't know!"
"What does he look like?"
"It's a Royal Soldier!"
The boys in the other caravan were pushing and climbing over each other to try and get a decent view of the man that had stolen Rois' attention. Rois herself spared them a single, withering glance, while Hester was still blushing furiously and feeling like a fool. If only she had been able to talk! Her mother, while she was alive, and she had tried to invent a means of sign language, but the rest of the Singers saw it as degrading and meaningless, and they had soon abandoned their task.
"It was an honour to meet you, Sir." Rois gave her farewells with an elegant nod of the head, and another simper, although Hester suspected that Rois' fawning manners simply annoyed the man, unlike the Singer boys who would do anything for a simple word from Rois.
An idea suddenly sprang into Hester's mind as to how she could say something to the soldier, and, setting her harp upright in her lap, played a short, joyful melody traditionally sung as a farewell.
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 3, 2007 13:46:50 GMT -5
Demavar had ignored the other girl, but pulled up short as Hester suddenly played a quick melody on her harp. Once more he bowed to Hester, giving her a flashing smile of thanks. "Better than words, indeed, Lady Hester. Unlike these stumbling phrases, your music goes straight to the soul."
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Post by blossom on Apr 3, 2007 13:49:17 GMT -5
Hester smiled a smile of pure happiness, glad she had done something well. If only the Singers could see her music the way this soldier did, instead of simply dismissing her as unworthy because of her inability to sing.
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 3, 2007 14:01:33 GMT -5
Demanvar paused, thinking. "Be that as it may, Lady Hester, I believe I know some who would pay much for the privilege of listening to your words. If it would please you," he nodded to her, "perhaps you might travel to Serin."
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Post by blossom on Apr 3, 2007 14:05:45 GMT -5
Hester's eyes grew round with amazement, and Rois nearly fell from her seat in shock. The boys behind them heard the soldier's words and let out a great cry of exclamations.
"Hester!? Serin!?!"
"But she can't even sing!"
"She's mute!"
"Where would she live?"
"What would she do?"
"You've GOT to be JOKING!"
Rois regained her balanced and shushed the boys with a wave of her hand. "Sir," she turned to the soldier, "My sister is only fifteen, nearly sixteen, and a mute. Whether or not some might pay to listen to her music, where would she live? How would she survive?"
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 3, 2007 16:04:28 GMT -5
Demavar just looked at them for a moment, then he laughed, his face transforming from serious and a little cold to warm and happy. "Why, as I said, she would be paid. And any there, especially the innkeeper, would be happy to house her for free, only to have her play in the evenings. Traveled though I am, it has been long and long since I have heard such music. The Lady Thalassa would be overjoyed to have her come. "
He chuckled and added, "Matters not that she is mute. The Lady inkeeper knows the language of signs, and is well versed in them, as are many others in Serin. Would be well-received she would be."
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Post by blossom on Apr 4, 2007 5:58:41 GMT -5
Hester's mouth dropped open slightly. Language of signs? Someone who could teach her to talk? Why, then, she must go. She turned to Rois in excitement, her face lit up, only to frown. She couldn't leave her sister. They were all each other had.
"I suppose we could change direction ... take you to Serin," Rois said eventually, with more than a little disdain. She said nothing else but Hester, with great sadness, could sense what remained unspoken. We have little use for you here. At least this way we might be rid of you.
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 4, 2007 10:37:38 GMT -5
"No doubt," Demanvar said carefully, "that you would be paid much to put on a show there. Then t'would more than pay your costs of traveling out of your way." And let Hester find a life that did not have your condemnation and merciless pity in it, he added silently.
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Post by blossom on Apr 4, 2007 10:46:59 GMT -5
Hester anxiously clasped her sister's hands, her eyes shining with hope and anticipation.
"You really want to go, don't you?" Rois whispered, her face suddenly softening. Hester nodded fervently.
"Ah, let her," Jakob said behind them, "We don't need her. If she can't sing, what's the point of her staying?"
Rois glanced back at Jakob, then turned to Hester again. "Well, alright. I think it might be the best chance you've got, Het." She said. Hester grinned.
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 4, 2007 11:51:40 GMT -5
Demanvar nodded. "Well then, just let them know Demanvar reccomended you." He smiled once more upon Hester and urged his horse forward along the side of the road. At that moment, another horse came around the bend, a silver-dapple with black points. On its back was a young-faced woman with silver-blond hair.
*****
Breeze came around the bend and pulled up short as she found her way blocked by a caravan of wagons. Without a word, she touched a hand to her sword, then sent her horse straight ahead.
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Post by blossom on Apr 4, 2007 12:00:42 GMT -5
Hester clapped her hands together in joy, then took up the reins and set the caravan rolling once more.
******
Ed hurried gathered his things into his pack. He had been planning on staying in Eren for another few days, but after the appearance of Magess Anjala, he decided it would be best if he left immediately.
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 4, 2007 14:21:00 GMT -5
As Demavar continued down the road, he found himself joined by the woman on the dapple, and glanced over at her curiously as they passed the caravan.
Breeze looked back at him, then nodded. "Curio's Box is your next stop. Ask for Wildair. Tell them that Breeze sent you." She whirled her horse around and set out for Eren at a canter, ignoring the wagons again as she passed.
**** Anaz had picked up the courier's trail easily, and was preparing to head out of Eren. He was passing by the Dark Horse once more and glanced inside, noting the bookish young man getting ready to leave.
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Post by blossom on Apr 5, 2007 7:04:45 GMT -5
Ed pushed open the door of the inn, and made his way round to the stables. He thought he passed by the man who had spoken with Magess Anjala, but couldn't be certain. The stablemaster had his bay mare, Bella, saddled up, and with some regret at leaving Eren so soon, Ed mounted and gave the stablemaster a tip.
He had just left the stables when he was waylaid by Sofie, who, to his surprise and concern, had changed her serving maid's uniform for practical travelling clothes and carried a pack slung over her should.
"What are you doing?" he asked suspiciously.
"I wanna come with you." Sofie said boldly.
"No. Absolutely not."
"Oh, come on Ed! I have money and my horse. I just want your company to Arin."
"And what are you planning on doing in Arin?" Ed asked.
"I'm gonna make something of meself." Sofie replied, "I'm sick of the same old thing day after day. I want excitement, adventure. Look, I'm coming whether you like it or not so you might as well let me travel with you."
"Fine," Ed muttered, "But be quick."
Sofie beamed at him and dashed inside the stables. She was soon ready to leave on her own, beautiful chestnut.
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 5, 2007 13:29:24 GMT -5
Anaz came around the corner to the Inn's stables and was surprised to see the serving woman and the young man in the middle of a conversation, and apparently planning on traveling together. He slipped past them and untied his horse from where it waited outside the stable, then mounted. The nondescript-looking brown was far better than the rest of the horses around, and could go all day and all night at an easy, comfortable shuffling trot that left faster horses far behind. He swung around the two and began to leave the stable yard.
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Post by jessimyre on Apr 6, 2007 7:46:28 GMT -5
Dreya hurried out of the Tavern in time to see Sophie leading her chestnut horse out of the stall, fully geared for travel.
"What's going on?" she asked. "Where are you going?"
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 6, 2007 12:03:12 GMT -5
Breeze had picked up the trail of the mage she was shadowing easily, then set her course once more and cloaked herself from magic. She smiled grimly to herself. Sometimes it was just so useful to have lived as long as she had. The tricks of the trade had never been far from her fingertips, and even in this age, she held the advantage. She urged her horse on.
****
Demavar trotted the black along the road, and after a while of gazing at the towering trees and stretching meadows near the road, and looking down the steep hillsides with their scattered grey stones, he saw a small rock-built place ahead, its wooden sign swinging in the light wind. A small golden box with a partially opened lid had been painted on the sign; quite some time ago from the amount of weathering he could see, but still bright and fairly legible. He nodded to himself as he read the name carved in intricate scrolling letters. "Curio's Box."
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Post by blossom on Apr 6, 2007 14:34:26 GMT -5
"Dreya!" Sofie turned to face the other girl guiltily, "I well .... I ...." she took a breath, and squared herself, "I'm leaving. I'm going with Ed to Arin."
"Lucky me ...." Ed murmured angrily under his breath, turning away from the girls.
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Post by jessimyre on Apr 7, 2007 0:15:03 GMT -5
Dreya was shocked. She never thought Sophie would just disappear like that. Just up and leave in an instant. Of course, all the girls had talked about it, joked about it but that was all. Her heart-rate rose and for a few moments she just stood and looked at Sophie stupidly. Then she regained control of herself and forced a little smile.
"Well... good luck." she said. "Look after yourself." She shrugged her shoulders a little helplessly. "I'll tell the others. Olaf will be disappointed to lose his best serving girl." then her customary silence took over. There was nothing more for her to say.
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Post by blossom on Apr 7, 2007 4:18:41 GMT -5
Sofie gazed down at her feet, ashamed. She looked up at Dreya then suddenly took the other girl in a tight hug.
"I will miss you all," she said, "But there's got to be more, Dreya."
She pulled back and clasped her chestnut's reins, ready to mount. Then, suddenly, she turned back, "Why don't you come with us?"
Ed nearly fell off his horse in shock.
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Post by jessimyre on Apr 7, 2007 17:47:52 GMT -5
"Me?" Dreya's jaw dropped - most uncharacteristically. She noticed Ed's facial expression. How she would have loved to! Normally so quiet and accepting, but she could feel something within her. A longing. She felt akin to Sohpie - always had - and now she too felt that flutter in her chest... surely there was more to life than this?
"I," she paused. "I would like to come." She answered hesitatingly. "But I have nothing to offer. I have only a little gold saved but I don't have a horse and I can't ride. I would slow you down and I don't want to put this gentleman out." she dropped a half-curtsy to Ed.
She hung her head. "I really couldn't."
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Post by blossom on Apr 9, 2007 5:23:26 GMT -5
"Oh, ignore him," Sofie replied, shooting a glance at Ed that dared him to argue, "I don't have much either, Drey. But it doesn't matter. You can ride with me - it's not that hard. I only have a little money myself. But I want to experience life. Come on, Dreya, say you'll come. It'll be so much more fun with you there!"
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