Bardsong (Open after PM)

[roleplaylifer]

The bard chuckled softly to herself as Salina just barely beat her to the bed. It seemed the princess took on a more prim and proper appearance when she was agitated, her legs crossed lady-like over the edge of the bed. Alexis didn't miss the fact that her stance could have her back on her feet at a moment's notice, her blade ready to bear once more.

It was good to have friends.

It was Byron that had surprised her the most though. Having travelled with Salina before, Alexis had half expected a calm, composed response from the princess. While blustering a few threats, Byron had managed to keep the edge of his blade down low, clearly honoring her wishes. Such a show of composure in the face of the newcomer's obvious insults earlier deserved recognition. Even as she poured the first glass with the odd amber liquid, Alexis winked softly at the larger warrior, a soft smile of thanks given freely, as she extended the glass to him.

While seemingly innocent, the bard's smile deepened as she met Byron's questioning gaze, even as she saw the prince stiffen almost imperceptably. She had chosen her actions carefully, trusting in the cautious nature of her one true companion to keep her safe even as she herself turned down Alexis' offer.

In order to accept the delicate looking goblet, Byron was forced to relinquish a handhold on his large axe. His remaining hand not accustomed to bearing the weight of such a mighty weapon alone, relaxed just enough to be comfortable, the great head of the battleaxe dipping softly to the floor.

Yet at the same time, offering the first such goblet to a man of color was an obvious snub to Valens, a thing that the prince had to frown upon to be sure. But if she was correct, any ire she would create here would be directed against her.....hopefully diffusing the nasty situation that was beginning to brew between him and her new bodyguard.....

She was careful to offer the next such libation to him.....

Finally, before pouring herself the final round of the bottle, she reached forward to offer a similarly generous pouring of the wine to her mysterious savior. His attempts to flatter her were not unlike many of the suitors she had taken briefly throughout her many trips and travels, his blithe honesty prompting Alexis to include him in the conversation to come.

Having refused earlier, a simple bob of her auburn locks and a soft smile of appreciation were hopefully enough of a gift for the watchful Salina. Another soft chuckle escaped her as she noticed the distrustful glint in the woman's normally soft eyes.

"Tis good someone be keepin watch here, Salina. Though I'm hopin wine'll help us where words didn't."

Raising her own glass to her lips, the honeyed taste of the mead brushed delicately across her palette. Just the tiniest splash of berries could be tasted, a confusing blend from the normally bland beverage.

Turning once more to Valens, now that all had been served, Alexis backed up slowly until she felt the edge of the bed brushing gently across the backs of her knees. Sitting without further adieu, the half-elf crossed her legs almost coquettishly as she gave her unexpected audience her winningest smile.

"I ask ye again. What do ye want?"

 

[TheScarletBlade]

((Dear fellow writers,
I am in the WP so I have to move around a lot and I had to move again and this is the first time I could get a solid internet connections,I cant write right now but I will soon,thanks for understanding!))

 

[roleplaylifer]

(Sky Jade knows this already, so I should tell the others of the thread that aren't as of yet informed......On Wednesday, Aug 3 I am closing on a new home and will be undergoing the painfully excruciating task of moving as well. This will take me offline for a few days though I have no intentions of abandoning the thread. I will be online tomorrow to check the post, but will probably be seen very infrequently for the next few days after that. Thanks for the understanding, and hope to see you all soon! ^_^)

 

[TheScarletBlade]

Valens did not flinch as the large colored man entered the room looking angry or the sly looking thief seemed to move out of the center of all of the focus.It seemed all eyes were on him: just how Valens liked it.Not completely vain,Valens liked holding the attention of the people around him,being a prince and all he was used to it.

Grinning slightly,he shifted his weight to the leg away from the large warrior,readying himself for a fight.Being a warmonger,people didn't believe he would be much of a king,that was one of this reasons for his warriors prilgrimage,hoping while on his adventures that he could kill enough people that he would have his fill of it.A sort of hard ass took up his facial expression as he looked to the man of color without blinking.

Always paranoid though,the prince's eyes were always travelling around the room,watching everyone and everything.He notice both of the woman had taken a seat on the bed at the corner of the room,each taking part of some sort of vile drink,handing a cup to the thief and one to each other.Finally,after realizing the black man wasn't going to attack him off the bat,the handsome prince turned towards the two woman on the bad,yet his facial expression remained as hard as a stone,his intense glare fixating itself on the bard as she handed a cup of wine to the black man.

He knew he was in the wrong place.The assassians surely were not after these harlots.No princess or any memeber of royalty would offer a drink to a colored man.As the large man moved to grab the cup,Valens slapped it down,sending the cup crashing to the floor of the tavern,the wine splashing out onto the fine carpet of the in,already covered in the blood of the dead assassian,with a bolt peirced through his back.

Snarling,his anger obviously at his peak,his hand snapping down to the golden hilt of Rising Sun.His right hand closing around the hilt as he stood rigidly in the room,his body half pointing at the body gaurd and the bard.

"Do you know why I am here? well it seems I am in the wrong place but if you wish to know,I am Prince Valens of Ashgaldon or should I say King now.Recently my father sent me on a warriors prilgrimage,a quest where one man do one deed that is echoed across all the realms before he can return to the kingdom,on pain of death.So you could say I am the exiled king.My father was recently killed by assassians and now my sister is trying to control the kingdom yet now rebellions are sparking and the kingdom is crumpling and I cannot come back until I accomplish my quest."

Valens said with his stone like face yet his eyes seemed to soften at the mention of his fathers death.It was obviously that Valens cared for his father but he was talking business and was angry so his melancholly look seemed to fade behind the intense look.

"Recently I heard that a female bard and a friend of hers who was royalty that had been banished from their kingdom,pushed out by a wave of darkness were in need of help.I thought you two were who I was looking for but let me be blunt: Absolutely no royalty is in this room except for myself because no royalty would keep a colored man as a friend,only a slave or be rude enough to offer drink to a colored man before a prince or keep shady company like that rogue over there!" Valens shouted as he turned his back to the two woman on the bed and made for the door,stopping only to send the black man a glare of pure hatred.

Side stepping the large man,he moved to the door and opened it with a loud bang as he stormed out into the hall.All was silent down stairs,the bar tender had returned yet no patrons had come back,finding six to ten dead bodies in the main lobby unappealing.

Easily turning a table that was turned over in the melee that had ensued,he set it on its legs and brushed some dust off the top of it.Scouring through the mess to find a chair that was intact,he sat downstairs in the lobby,kicking his feet up onto the table,slouching back into his chair and reaching for his waterskin,to take a drink of pure old water.

 

[Gabe619]

"Pleasant sort of fella isn't he?" Rathe said straight faced as he sat on a chair and pulled his cloak around him and winked at the Bard.

"He said rogue as if it was a bad thing. I've never understood people like that. They always look down on rogues who try to make an honest living, and yet when they need a pocket picked, or an item stolen, who do they turn to? Rogues." Rathe grinned and took a sip from his glass, coughed as it went down and grimaced before saying hoarsly. "Smooth, real smooth."

When the tall warrior had made a move for his sword, Rathes hand had snapped down to his crossbow, but he hadn't drawn it. The tension in the room had been tight and ready to snap and Rathe hadn't wanted to add to it by shooting the idiot in the shiney armour out of hand, even if the temptation had been almost unbearable. Now the man had left though everyone seemed to breath out, and relax as if they had been holding their collective breath while Prince ... whatever, said his piece and stomped out. Rathe had expected the big black man to attack the Prince, he certainly had provocation, but he hadn't. He'd just stood there big and mean and silent and if Rathe had had to bet on which of the warriors would come out on top in a fight his money would of been on the black man.

"So does anyone know what he was going on about?" Rathe asked.

 

[Butch]

"Don't know, don't care" Byron said while bending down to pick up his glass "I'd say; good riddance. That clown was starting to get me mad."

He turned to his newfound mistress and said:
"I hope you ain't plannin' for us to go follow that guy. Cus let me tell you; whatever he wanted with you, you can do without. Mind givin' me another drink?" he said, handing his glass back to Alexis "The last one sorta slipped outta my hand."

He turned once more to Rathe and said:
"Rathe, is it? You know it ain't nice to climb into people's windows. 'specially ladies'. I'ma let you off the hook for now, for saving Alexis and stuff, but you's better get outta here if your business here's finished."

Although he was harsch when talking to the thief, the man had spared him from lots and lots of grief. He'd have never been able to cope with himself had Alexis been hurt. While he was quite tired by now he was curious about his new mistress. They had only met a few hours ago and he'd already fought to the death for her several times.

"Miss Alexis" he said in a most respectful tone "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to ask some questions. Do you have any idea as to who would hire a gang of crappy assasins to whack you? Cus, you know, it wouldn't hurt to know when I'm guarding you and stuff."

 

[Sky Jade]

Salina stayed quiet the whole time, watching the prince. Her fingers curled a little as he spoke of there being no royalty here, but she held her tongue. She had a feeling this wasn't going to just go away anytime soon. She relaxed a little as he left, looking back at the others. She just gave her head a little shake for a moment before Rathe spoke, asking if anyone knew anything.

"I have an idea, but I won't stay anything about it. Not yet. I am sure I'm probably going to have to talk to him tomorrw morning."

She paused for a moment as she stiffled a yawn with her right hand for a moment.

"Speaking of morning, I was hoping to get an early start but I don't think that's possible now. Anyways, I think it's about time for everyone to get some rest and we can sort things out better in the morning."

 

[Gabe619]

At the rather blunt, but for the big black man probably polite, request that Rathe leave the room, the thief stood andgathered his cloak around him. The gorgeous young woman sitting next to the Bard stifled a yawn which made Rathe yawn and he grinned sheepishly as she mention getting some rest. Looking at the black man again from the corner of his eye, Rathe bowed politely to the two beautiful young women, gave them his best smile, and walked to the door. As he opened it he looked back and winked.

"Its been a real pleasure to meet two such stunning beauties. I feel honored. Sleep well, but if sleep is hard to find my room is two doors down on the left." He winked, grinned at the black man, and stepped out of the bedroom. Closing the door behind him he walking off down the passage humming to himself as he made his way to his own bed.

 

[roleplaylifer]

I'm back!

(OOC: You all have been dears for continuing the storyline without me. I'm happily settled into my new home and internet was finally hooked up today! ^_^)

A thinly arched eyebrow settled slowly back into place as she watched Valens storm out from the room. So much of his vanity reminded her of Orion, lines that could not be crossed, yet had to if they had any chance of working together.

On an up note, Byron had at least offered to spare the rogue's life. A small smile tugged the corners of her lips as she calmly accepted the pewter goblet that Byron offered her. Reaching for the bottle calmly once more, she emptied the last of its amber contents into the container before offering it back to him, a wink and a quick glance at the still open doorway the only salute offered to the departed prince. Muttered softly, almost under her breath, a sly smile crept across her face as she thought of the futures that may lay before the prince...assuming he could take control of his throne.

"Just wait until he learns what treaties are. He'll have his fill of "colored men" then, won't he?"

A quick glance at Salina accompanied with a shared smile were broken into by the soft coughing of the rogue as he became accustomed to her choice of drink. Never one to be detained it seemed, she watched him drain the last of its contents before letting the goblet slip carelessly to the floor.

"Its been a real pleasure to meet two such stunning beauties. I feel honored. Sleep well, but if sleep is hard to find my room is two doors down on the left."

He winked, grinned at Byron, and stepped out of the bedroom. Closing the door behind him he walking off down the passage humming to himself as he made his way to his own bed. A small hinting of what may have once been a dimple indented her now gaunt, travel worn cheeks as Alexis grinned and shook her auburn head. Elven liquor should not be tossed back so lightly, a lesson Rathe would most likely be learning before the night was through.

As her eyes dropped to her surroundings, Alexis regarded the corpse still spread out on the floor balefully, yet another dead. But why this time?

Pondering Byron's last question for a moment, the slender half-elf wavered unsteadily for a second as the resulting fatigue of the nights escapade finally rushed over her. Forcing one foot to go before the other, a welcome distraction from her other thoughts, a rare scowl cloaked her normally cheery visage as she contemplated her possibilities.

"The obvious answer is Orion. But that wouldn't make sense. If it were him, he'd have sent elven assassins. Believe me, I've dealt with a few of them already."

The thought put a sour look on her face, the wine suddenly not tasting so well in her mouth. Alexis hadn't told Salina that yet, though now that she had let it slip it would probably be just a matter of time before the princess had the full story out of her.

Meeting her gaze just briefly, the bard fought valiantly to don a shaky smile on her face.

"For the most part, its been the same ol' thing fer me. Find a bar, sing fer me room and board, then be off the next morn. I honestly cannae think o' anythin I might o' done ta warrant an attack like this. Unless I'm wrong and it is Orion o'course."

Grinning suddenly, she stepped forward to press her teasingly smallish hands flat against the big warrior's chest. Even as he stared at her in confusion, she gave him a gentle push backwards towards the door.

"I fer one, dunnae think that Salina's plan o' leavin at the break o' dawn is that bad an idea, nor quite shot yet. It will be if'n ye don't get yerself ta bed, and right swiftly."

Even as she prodded him ever backwards to the door, despite the reluctance she would have expected in a quality bodyguard, her hands were as busy as usual. Deft fingers found the pocket of his baggy trousers as he kept himself distracted fighting her, depositing a single silver piece into its depths. More than enough to buy him a room for the night if he had no such coin of his own, it would at least buy some supplies if it turned out that he did indeed have his own money. Either way, she kept herself silent as she continue to prod her newly steadfast "servant" toward the door.

As the dark man's bulk finally crossed the threshold of the doorway, she couldn't help herself but to tease him just a little as he seemed to mount one last wave of resistance. Even as he opened his mouth to utter another pointless complaint, the lanky half-elven woman leaned forward onto the tips of her toes. Not quite able to reach his lips normally perhaps, he had been fighting against her for leverage, although half-heartedly. His protest was cut short as her lips silence it forever. Not one to bashfully close her eyes, fully enjoying the moment as his eyes widened in shock, Alexis darted back just as quickly. Leaving him standing there, frozen momentarily as his body tried bravely to catch up to his brain, her own chuckle broke the silence as she reached for the doorknob.

"One last thing, Byron. I'll not have ye callin me mistress no more, aye?"

Her chuckle turned a touch more throaty as she considered all the delightful connotations of the word.

"At least not in public, aye?"

Closing the door behind her as she turned to slowly weave a painful path back to the bed and the freind she knew still waited there for her, Alexis' sigh could be heard across the room. Shoulders sagging slightly, the bard let her feet drag just a little as she walked, all too glad when the bed loomed before her.

Sitting on its edge, not fully ready to give herself over to sleep just yet, she risked a forlorn look at the princess.

"So....what do ye think they wanted here? If'n it'd been Rathe comin through that window, I'd have been thinkin I was ta be robbed. That man layin dead there, wasn't after nothin but a shadow ta conceal a killin blade."

With a groan, the bard rose reluctantly to her feet once more, shuffling across the carpeted floor. She winced at the stain that even now soaked the carpeted floor, remnants of Valen's heated departure. Moving past it, Alexis knelt beside the body of the man she had killed. Years of dealing death had left this palette of her emotions cold and void of any feeling. Insistant fingers danced over every inch of the man's clothing, seeking out any hidden wealth he may have had and easily locating her victim's purse. Pocketing the smallish bag and reaching for one arm and looping it firmly around her shoulder, she cast a glance over her shoulder at Salina before nodding in the direction of the still open window.

"Care ta lend a hand? If'n we're headin out on the morrow, I'd like ta get what little sleep I can. I'm sure we'd both prefer if'n the room dinnae stink when we woke."

While seemingly lighthearted, fatigue had crept into even her voice now as Alexis struggled with her burden for a moment....

 

[Butch]

Byron wasn't really used to being pushed out of rooms like this by women. But then again, Alexis wasn't like most women. Most of his clients at least insisted on him standing guard by the door, but Alexis rather seemed to want get rid of him. And if his mother had taught him anything it was to never argue with a lady.
He briefly thought about sleeping outside of their door but decided against it. That would surely cause suspicion among the residents. Not to mention that Alexis would probably give him a scolding for it. Still, he'd never been forced out of a room like that before. Not while allowing it to happen at least. But good sleep hadn't come in weeks and warm bed sure sounded tempting so he made his way to his room.

It was three doors down and when Byron sat down on his bed, downing the strange drink in one big gulp, he couldn't help to wonder about she had said.
That he was not to call her mistress no more, least not in public. That was way strange. He'd have to remind himself to ask her when to call her mistress. And what to call her otherwise.

But that was as long as his thoughts would allow him to go because by now he had gotten to see first-hand what elven wine was capable of. Fortunatly for him he had already slipped out of his heavy duty boots and thick durable leather armor and had put his axe by the foot of the bed. Thus dressed only in his undergarment-pantalons, baring his muscular upper-body, he passed out onto his inn room bed and slept like a baby.

 

[Gabe619]

Rathe entered his room feeling like he was dancing on air. He closed the door and grinned to himself. He wondered if those two beautiful women would let him tag along tomorrow when they left. He felt they were going to have some wonderful adventures and no doubt quite a bit of loot would be up for grabs along the way. He pulled off his cloak and let it drop to the floor as his body began to grow warm from the stomach out. It was a nice warmth though that slowly permiated his entire body making him feel a little sleepy as he unclipped his weapons belt and hung it over the bed post by the top of the bed. Wow, he felt great, alive and buzzing even as the alomst sly warmth edged into his brain and made his thoughts a little muddled. Are well the night was young and so was he and with any luck one of those girls would come down to keep him company. He stood beside his bed and laughed as he bent down to remove a boot. The laugh slowly died and his hands never reached his boot as his body finally surrendered to the elven wine he had drunk so quickly only minutes before. The slow fall to the bed was quite a sight to see, if only Rathe had been awake to apprieciate it. His hips hit the mattress which allowed the body to straighten out slightly as his back and ass hit next. His legs slid on following the rest of his body and there he lay, still dressed, eyes closed and a content smile on his lips as he began to snore.

 

[Sky Jade]

Salina was feeling a slight buzz from the three mugs of ale from eariler, but she was glad she passed up the elven wine tonight. The last time she had drunk some, the stuff hadn't agreed with her and she was sick for days. She could try again another time, but tonight she didn't feel like it. She raised an eyebrow for a moment as Alexis mentioned Orion for a moment.

"Orion? No, I doubt he sent these guys either. ."

She hmmed for a few moments as she moved from the bed gracefully and walked over to the windowsill, carefully removing her dagger from the wooden frame. She surpressed a smile as she watched Alexis half-push, half urge Bryon out of the room. She sheathed her dagger once more and moved to the bed, sitting down for a moment. She reached over and placed a hand on the bard's shoulder, squeezing gently. She only pulled her hand away as Alexis moved from the bed to stand over the dead assasin as she spoke.

"I don't believe we were the intended targets. I've dealt with assasins in the past, and they only attack others if someone gets in their way. No, they didn't appear until after our mysterious prince showed up. We can deal with him in the morn tho, if he is still around."

She smiled gently and nodded to Alexis's question of helping with the dead body. She slipped form the bed and picked up the lower half of the dead body, carefully guiding the two of them to the window. With a moment's hesitation, the two of them flung the dead body out the window. Alexis's fatigue seemed to overtake her as Salina turned around to face her. Acting quickly, the princess caught her firend and guided her to the bed, helping her lay on the soft cushion gently.

"Don't fall over on me and get yourself hurt."

She reached out and brushed two fingers gently against Alexis's forehead gently for a moment.

"Shall I sleep on the floor, or do you think the bed would be big enough for the two of us to sleep on?"

 

[roleplaylifer]

Alexis wasn't quite sure where she had found the reserves of strength she had needed to hoist not one but two corpses out her second story hotel room window. Truth be told, she probably couldn't have done it by herself. Silently she nodded in thanks to Salina as they abruptly hauled upward and over the windowsill, watching morbidly as the body fell to the ground of the alley below.

Fatigued beyond belief now, the half-elven bard closed her eyes, the pounding of her own heart mixing with ragged and hungry gasps for air. The world spun crazily for just a moment, the details of the room lost in a hurricane of blurred sight as her vision failed her....

Strong arms wrapped around her supple form, buoying her depleted body with their own strength. Alexis could almost feel the princess' breath brush warmly across one ear, Salina's own slightly musical voice bringing her world back to somewhat of a focus.

"Don't fall over on me and get yourself hurt."

Tired as she was, Alexis still couldn't help but grin at her friend's concern. Some part of that sentance seemed awfully self-deprecating if taken in such a way....a way that the bard knew full well was not what Salina had intended her to take it. With a soft chuckle, the auburn haired half-elf allowed herself to be led back to her bed, leaning hard against her old friend. Looking down for just a moment as she ran her fingertips across the bard's forehead, Salina was only slightly astonished to notice the same fiery sparkle lighting up the bard's one lone eye, seconds before her comment hit home.......

"Dunnae bout that. Seems ta me that if'n I fell over on top o' ye, there'd be plenty there between the two o' us ta cushion the fall."

She slid sluggishly back onto the bed, frowning as she did so. It didn't take long for her sour look to turn to one of amusement.

"I look a mess, aye?"

Long fingers finally took the time to examine the ruined fabric. Plenty of her must have been showing for both the prince and her roguish savior....not to mention her new bodyguard. No wonder it had been so easy to coax him out of the room. Still, she had never been the most modest girl in the world. As if proving it to herself once more, Alexis slowly reached for the clasps that ran the length of her back, heedless of Salina's presence.

"The bed had best be large enough. I'll not have ye sleepin on the floor, and that's bout all I'm gonna say about that matter."

As the velvet slowly dropped away, the bard finally blushed softly for the first time. Proud enough of her body, it was the scars that had criss crossed her full figured frame that caused her some minor grief. Mementoes from more fights than she could count, each held a story of its own, stories that she had kept locked away on more than one occasion.

Stepping out of the tattered pool at her ankles, she met Salina's eyes squarely, almost challenging her to disapprove. Reaching behind her, Alexis head dipped forward slightly as she ran her fingers through her long hair, searching the long tresses for the cord she knew lay hidden there.

Silently her eyepatch fell away, Alexis blinking slowly as her blind eye adjusted to the presence of light. Sickly pale compared to the other glittering orb, no sign of scar tissue marked the surrounding skin.

Her face breaking into a grin suddenly, Alexis lunged for the sheets, burying herself swiftly beneath them.

"If the sight dunnae offend ye, yer welcome ta join me fer the remainder o' the evenin."

 

[Sky Jade]

Salina chuckled softly and shook her head gently as Alexis told her that she wouldn't be sleeping on the floor.

"I've slept on the ground in the forest,and it's softer than this floor. But I won't if you won't let me."

She grinned teasingly for a moment as she straightened up. Her green eyes looked over Alexi's full figure for a few moments, give a nod of approval. She didn't at all mind all the scars on her firend, she had seen wore on comrades before. She paused for a few moments before she went to the door, making sure it was locked against intruders, and then the window as well. Latching it securely, she turned and slipped off her three daggers and sword, placing them within quick reach if needed.

"I would be more than honored tae join ye, m'lady."

She carefully unlaced the black leather bodice, followed by her boots, and then leather pants. She stood for a moment strecthing as the pale moonlight lit upon her slightly golden-tanned body before she slid into the bed with Alexis. She was soon asleep, cuddling up against the bard. Time passed quickly before Salina was awake with the sunrise, as was Beth'ria.