ROLEPLAY HQ - honored-bonds

The audience hall of Castle Wyndia is active as usual. Servant staff and council members move through the marbled and ornate halls, talking among themselves. Not all are human, as some possess animalistic traits. Couriers, otherwise known as Demi-Humans, make up a notable minority in Wyndia. Despite mostly making up the servant ranks, there seems to be little difference in interaction between them and Humans. Pages and scribes hurry about, tending to their duties. Nobles go about their business, either exchanging favors for power or trying to garner favor from the royal family. Meanwhile, in the throne room, the royal heir and the head steward await the arrival of a new member to the royal court's security detail. "With the completion of their trials, I have personally examined each of the recruits that have placed in the top among their peers, and I am pleased to say that I have found a suitable candidate to serve as your personal guardian." The steward's tone of voice is as clean and punctual as he is dressed. "As you are aware, with the recent integration of the Courier people into the castle guard, I thought it only fitting that I included one into such a position to serve beside you. I do hope you find their company acceptable." A staccato of footsteps rings out against the noise of the audience chamber as the former recruit walks with purpose to meet their new station. His brow furrows slightly as whispers of invasion and deceit are overheard. Tensions with the neighboring nation has been a pressing matter as of late. Bolstering the royal guard was an expected response after word got out of the events that led to this day. His stride slows as he approaches the doors to the throne room. With a deep breath, he puts on a confident smile as the doors open. His yellow-gold and cat-like eyes taking in every detail of the sights before him as he strides into the throne room to meet the princess he has been tasked with protecting.

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Tul!auto "Maìrìn" #honored-bonds

Now automatically proxying messages in channel #honored-bonds with Maìrìn. To disable autoproxy, use tul!auto off.

Princess Maìrìn was, for the most part, not paying much attention to the steward. She was preoccupied with pruning and doting over a large, green potted plant. It was something she loved to do, and had managed to bring plants into almost every room of the castle, prompting the hiring of a new horticulturist to oversee the plant's care. She did some herself, but it would be impossible for one person to care for all of the plants she had acquired. As soon as word got around that it was something she was interested in, every noble and prince in every kingdom on the land had decided it was a convenient way to curry favor with her, and those who wanted to suck up to her father would send them, hoping her father's affection for her would mean giving her gifts would earn his favor as well. Of course it was a ridiculous notion. Her father was not an easy man to please. His daughter's were the only things that could bring a smile to his face anymore. The oldest of four, Maìrìn was a sheltered and spoiled princess. Not so spoiled she was unpleasant, as she was naturally quite a charming young woman, but she had been given all the finest things in life. Education, food, medicine, clothing, housing, company. She had never known want. She was also given anything she asked for, though she tended to ask for very little, and what she did ask for was never extravagant or excessive. It wasn't her nature to take these things for granted, though from her perspective it wasn't truly possible to appreciate just how much she did have. She had been informed of the addition of a personal guard just a few days ago. She wasn't informed why, and didn't ask. It wasn't wise to question her father on things like this. Now, though, her curiosity is piqued. She steps away from the plant to give the steward her full attention. "A Courier? What type? I didn't know Couriers were included in the selection." She asks softly. She hasn't had much chance to meet any of the Courier people. There is

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still much predjudice against them, though its considerably less blatant. Those who have entered service in the castle tend to keep to themselves, and she suspects they have intentionally avoided her. She sees them everywhere, but whenever she or her sisters are present, they are nowhere nearby. Just then the door is opened and she turns to get her first look at her new shadow, pleased that her curiosity will finally have a means to be satisfied.

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@Mr BReightside

"Excellent, he is right on time." The steward's satisfaction is short lived as it becomes apparent while the man is dressed in the green and gold of the royal guard, he does not carry a sword on his belt. While this detail bothers the steward, the arriving guard seems unfazed by such an important detail. The steward grumbles and fumes, obviously infuriated by the display. As he crosses the space between, the man sports a subtle, confident smile. His golden eyes transfixed on the woman standing before him. Slowing his stride, the man stops in front of the princess and raises a hand to his chest before giving her a small yet polite bow. Raising himself back up straight, he loosely clasps his hands behind him as he introduces himself. "Your Highness. My name is Arthur Brennan. It is an honor and a pleasure to serve you. But I must ask, how would you wish for me to address you?" His confidence unwavering, there is a subtle vibration in his throat as he speaks. Almost as if there is a purr behind his words. The steward falters, unable to tolerate the lack of formality. "Excuse me, where is your weapon? Where is your respect?" Known for his prim and proper demeanor, the steward is notoriously known around the castle for being a stickler for conduct and discipline. Giving an apologetic glance to the princes, Arthur turns to the steward. "The weapons master of the armory thought it would only be appropriate if the princess's personal guard carried a weapon fitting for both the position and it's wielder. I am a mage before I am a swordsman, it wouldn't do to damage the available weapons with the way I use my magic." Arthur gives the steward a pointed look. "You should know how I use my magic, I only told you just about everything I know about it." Taken back by the rebuttal, the steward relents. "Well.. I shall leave you two to acquaint yourselves..." With a bow to the princess, the steward dismisses himself, exiting through a side hallway. Returning his attentio

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n to the princess, Arthur relaxes just a bit, still holding himself at attention before her. "To answer his question, a sword is being forged for me. One that can withstand the use of magic." @reddeЯ

Maìrìn watches this exchange with an expression of amused delight. Arthur Brennan just swept in here and fearlessly approached her, something she wishes more people would do. For all the privilege she has, it's all she has. People to command, bowing and scraping and jumping at her every word. It gets old, and quite lonely. A personal guard is given allowances. Exceptions are made, in order for him to be able to perform his job to the best of his ability. Which, as it is a novel concept to her, she has no clue how to comport herself. He is impressively confident, seeming to have no reservations or uncertainty concerning his place. She wonders briefly if all the Courier people are so self-assured. But no, if they were she would have met one long ago. "Oh, I see," she says softly, her voice surprisingly deep for a woman. It's far from bass, but also not what one would consider high or squeaky. "I suppose that would make sense, after all. And, to answer your question, I think 'my lady' should be just fine. I don't see any reason to be more formal when we are going to be spending quite a lot of time together. " She openly stares at him, noticing how his features differ. His black hair looks thick and luxurious, and she wishes to touch it and see if it is as soft as it looks. That would be highly inappropriate, though, so she refrains. "Do you like plants, Arthur? I very much enjoy them. They make a room seem much warmer and more inviting, which is difficult to do when the room is made of stone walls." She smiles and steps past him to the plant in the next window. Her hands gently untangle a vine from amongst the green foliage and lay it out along the windowsill with absolute care. "Do you know why I was assigned a personal guard?" She asks, hoping to get information from him than it was prudent to ask from her father. @Mr BReightside

"Of course, my lady." He responds, giving a slight nod of his head. He has heard quite a few stories and remarks about princess Mairin. Her plants included. A lot of people look up to her, many more wish to see her succeed. His confident smile exudes a warmth as she examines him. He turns, casually moving to keep Mairin in his sight as she walks over to one of the plants. I have an appreciation for plants. They can look horrendous, but save lives. Others can look beautiful, yet are able to inflict pain. My mother is a herbalist." He walks over towards her a bit, examining the plant from a distance as she askes the next question. "I was not told the reasons why I was chosen. I could say it was because I worked hard, it wouldn't be a lie, but it also wouldn't be the entire truth..." He moves to stand in front of a neighboring window, his voice taking a slightly more serious tone. I had a master, he taught me how to use magic the way he was taught. He was a military scholar from Arndora, the country on our northern border. They regard using magic as something like a sacred art, carefully guarded. When they finally discovered he had not only fled the nation, but has been passing on his knowledge, They took action to put a stop to it." Arthur takes a deep breath, subconsciously squaring his shoulders. "Assassins were sent out to deal with him and anyone with him. "We eliminated two of the three before they achieved their goal." Arthur stands still, his hands gripped behind his back as she stares out the window, the catlike pupils of his eyes narrowed into sharp vertical slits as she looks out into the distance beyond the window in front of him. @reddeЯ

"I see," she turns to look at him, taking advantage of his attention being elsewhere. She takes note of his pupils and pointed ears, and again finds herself struck with the urge to touch them. If she were her youngest sister she might not have hesitated. Which leads to her next question. "Do you know if my sister's have been assigned guards?" Not knowing why she was assigned a personal guard is not sitting well with her. Obviously there is some risk to her safety. She can't help but feel she would be better prepared to keep herself safe if she knew what that risk was, but her father did not see fit to inform her. Regardless of his answer, she has a schedule to keep. It's nearing lunch time, and a new soup kitchen will be opening in the lower city today. She agreed weeks ago to help on opening day. "I'll be going into the city for some community service work. I'm expected soon." She makes her way to the door and into the hall, watching curiously to see how he intends to accompany her. She has seen people with personal guards who were more casual, like a companion, who would talk with others and only really concerned themselves with ensuring the one they protected was within sight, and other who acted as their charge's shadow, never letting them get beyond arms reach. Typically, she supposed, a personal guard would fall somewhere between those two extremes. She's can't help but wonder where this one will be comfortable. She spots an attendant and informs them to have a carriage prepared for her trip into the city, then makes her way to her suite to change. While her dress is beautiful and comfortable, it isn't exactly practical for working a soup kitchen. This brings her to another curiosity. She assumes her father has given him instructions on how he wishes him to protect her. Is he going to follow her into her rooms? Or wait at the door? She supposes he will do whatever she tells him to do, but for now, she decides to wait and see what he chooses to do. <@27

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@Mr BReightside

Artur raises an eyebrow as she starts to walk away after asking the question. With a mental shrug, he follows along, answering her question. "I was not directly informed, but I am aware of additional recruits are being evaluated." Hearing her mention working in the city, his ear twitch a bit, angling forward as she catches his curiosity. He follows behind Mairin, matching her speed as she leaves the throne room. He has not yet spent a lot of time within the castle itself, so he familiarizes himself with it as they walk. Occasionally glancing at Mairin ahead of him, he carefully loosens his grip on his magic, using it to seek out and detect any traces of mana around them. Does she Possess the capability to use magic? It is a question best voiced in private, perhaps when they have a moment to discuss his own abilities. They walk past the room he has been assigned as they approach her own quarters. Arthur relaxes himself a bit but remains alert, taking in the details as he familiarizes himself with the area he feels he will be spending a lot of time around. "My Lady, how familiar are you with magic?" @reddeЯ

"Magic?" Maìrìn pauses at the door to her rooms and glances at Arthur before continuing into her private sitting room. "I know what I learned from my tutors. It wasn't something they focused on. Affinity for magic does not run in my family. It wasn't deemed necessary." She explains. She'd never actually been tested, but there was really no need. After all, there hadn't been a magic user in her bloodline yet. It was a trait that was more common among the Courier people. She moves from her sitting room to her bedchambers, still letting Arthur decide his level of comfort. Shebdoesnt close the door behind herself so he can follow or, if not, so he can still hear her talking, and she can hear him. "Why do you ask about that? I thought everyone knew we weren't magic users." She asks. Once in her room she quickly collects her change of clothing and steps behind her screen to change. She could simply pull a cord to summon her personal attendant to help her, but she doesn't deem it necessary. She's perfectly capable of changing herself, there's no need to bother her attendant.

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@Mr BReightside

Arthur strolls right on in, partly closing the door behind them. He seems unbothered by the fact that she is changing clothes. It wasn't out of a lack of respect, he already holds her with high regard, but if they are to be working together closely, they will need to adjust to this. He also has lost his sense of modesty after being swept away to the city. "I see, that answers why they chose a mage to be your guardian over a swordsman." He gives the princess her privacy by turning his attention to the room itself, a habit his dear sister had drilled him on before they both set out on their own journeys. He slowly browses the opposite side of the room, waiting patiently as he inspects the area. "I believe, -the royal guard as well,- that I possess certain talents that you will find... useful. While I certainly enjoy boring people to tears with talking about it, I would like to give you demonstrations. Over time, of course." Arthur grins a bit as he thinks about how he will handle watching over the princess while they are in town. Taking a glance over to the other side of the room, Arthur notes the subtle silhouette of her figure against the stretched tight fabric of the blind that she is standing behind. To say that princess Mairin is beautiful is a blatant understatement. His discipline and self control will certainly be valued traits as they work closely. @reddeЯ

Oblivious to the silhouette she casts, Maìrìn quickly changes, stripping off her gown in favor of breeches and an off white silk shirt. She wraps a lavendar scarf around her waist, like a skirt with a slanted hem,over her tan pants, giving herself a more feminine yet functional attire. She spends a moment to use the basin of water to wash off her makeup, then securely pins her hair up out of her face. She only puts a little lip gloss on before coming back out from behind the screen. "I'm sure that was a consideration.id love to see what you can do, so long as it's a demonstration and not a moment of need." She says with a smile. "I'm sure the carriage is ready, I don't want to be late." The carriage ride is not terribly long, though it takes them straight to the poor part of the city. Maìrìn seems to have no reservations about getting her hands dirty. She throws herself in to work, cutting up vegetables, scrubbing pots, and even ladleing bowls of steaming hot stew to hand out to the people who line the street for the opening of the soup kitchen. The kitchen is run by a large, robust woman who wastes no time informing Arthur he can either keep out of the way or help out. She greets Maìrìn warmly, embracing her like a close friend. It soon becomes clear that Maìrìn is a regular volunteer at the kitchens. She works for Mrs. Glendon at least twice a month, and her donations to the kitchens are a welcome boon that helps keep half the city fed. As they work, they chat about things like Maìrìn's younger sisters and Mrs. Glendon's family, and the state of the cities poor. It's an overall friendly and pleasant atmosphere. Even the patrons of the kitchen seem thrilled to see the princess, and thank her graciously. Her work here is a huge benefit for her image and has gained her favor with a large portion of the city. Her father is seen as a stern but fair leader, though he can be harsh with those who repeatedly cross the line, princess Maìrìn is, for the most part, view

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ed as a very promising heir to the throne. There are those who doubt that she would be able to handle the trickier negotiations of international relations, but they are a minority. All of which only makes her wonder even more as to why she was assigned a personal guard.

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@Mr BReightside

Seeing how well organized and involved everyone is, Mairin included, Arthur decides to stand aside and observe. His presence does not go unnoticed, as more people gather, the more glances come his way. Most are curious, why does the princess suddenly have an escort? He gives them a polite smile and a subtle nod, which is returned with a warm acceptance, ass if it has dispelled some unspoken concerns. When it comes time to serve the prepared food, Arthur gets a sense of pride for his new position as he watches Mairin pour and hand over bowls of warm stew. Everyone appreciates her work and dedication. Arthur stands to the side of the room, hands resting on his belt. He keeps Mairin in his sight while watching the gathering of people. His ears angled outward as he listens to various conversations. "The princess is lovely! It really is always a pleasure to see her here." "How many more days until it is time for the harvest?" "I heard there was some kind of fight over around Egris. What could be going on way out there?" Arthur frowns a bit. Just how much has word spread? How much do they know? He keeps his concerns to himself for now, this wasn't the place to make a big deal about it. Taking a deep breath, Arthur relaxes, continuing to keep a watchful eye on the princess and her people. As things start to wrap up, Arthur steps in, offering to carry a stack of empty bowls. "Everyone seems to appreciate what you do here for them. I noticed everyone was quite healthy as well." @reddeЯ

"Oh, yes, that's all thanks to Mrs. Glendon." Maìrìn explains with a very affectionate smile and wave for th⁴4⁴³a a to live in Parks Bank, years and years ago. She was married and had 9 sons by the time she was 30! She lost her husband to pirates when he was fishing, and her boys convinced her wit would be easier for them to move to the capital. Back then, the city was in bad shape. The homeless crowded the streets, crime was rampant, and more people kept coming every day. It was dangerous. Mrs. Glendon used her last bit of money to purchase a plot at the edge of the city and started a garden. Everything she grew, she gave away. But that wasn't enough. She started the first soup kitchen with her own garden and whatever things people in her area could find for her. It grew quickly, and she caught the eye of the city council. Her small part of the city had been one of our worst slums, but with Mrs. Glendon's soup kitchen, that district was rapidly improving. The people there had something common to work toward, and with food available crime dropped and illness was becoming less common. The council made the decision to fund her venture, and ever since she has opened a soup kitchen in a new district every year. She's a selfless wonder, truly a heart of gold. She has been crucial in bringing capital city together and improving the quality of life for residents." It doesnt take long to get everything cleaned up. A handful of guests stick around to wash the impressive amount of tin plates, cups, and bowls. The simple split-log benches that had been set up in the park nearby were quickly taken apart and stacked just beside the kitchen. Maìrìn bids the motherly woman farewell and returns to her carriage with Arthur in tow. "Next I have to collect my younger sisters and ensure they make it for their tutor on time." She has the coachman stop at a manse in a much nicer part of the city. She hardly makes it to the door when a young woman, no older than 10 or 11, bursts out t

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he door, running straight for Maìrìn to throw herself in the princesses arms. "Maìrìn! You won't believe what Alta did!" The youngest princess looks over her shoulder nervously before ducking close to her eldest sister. "She kissed a boy! I saw her do it!" Alta appeared in the doorway at that moment and her face went white. "Tilla! You didn't! Oh no!" Princess Alta covered her face with her hands as she blushed. Maìrìn was just trying to process what happened, her own surprise at hearing about the 14 year old princess engaging in such scandalous behavior left her speechless. "Come on, both of you. Get in the carriage." She finally manages to stammer. The three girls pile in the carriage. Alta wants nothing to do with Tilla, so chooses to sit by Arthur. "Who are you?" She asks bluntly, staring quite blatantly at his ears. @Mr BReightside

He watches Alta enter the carriage and take a seat beside him. With a slight, yet polite smile, he raises an eyebrow at her question. "My name is Arthur Brennan, I am princess Mairin's personal guardian." He was not informed if additional personal guardians were being recruited for the younger princesses. Protecting three people on his own would certainly be a test of his abilities, just not one he thinks would be appropriate. Upon arriving to the castle and being put through the trials and lectures for his role, Arthur has taken notice of how lax the people of the capital are. It wasn't until word of assassins within the kingdom reached the nobility that security began to be seriously scrutinized. His eyes shift over to Mairin and Tilla as they enter the carriage, joining them. Taking notice of the varying moods, Arthur look to Mairin. "Should I be concerned?" He finds their interactions amusing, not because he hasn't seen it before, but because he knows what it's like. Having a younger sister as well, he could rarely ever get away with the antics that he got himself into growing up. It seems this holds true for siblings in general, a reassuring revelation to Arthur. Arthur glances out the window of the carriage as he feels it pull away from the manse. His cat-like ears turned outwards, tilted at a relaxed angle, while he sits with his back straight and shoulders squared. The lack of a weapon on his belt making it easy to sit properly. He uses his magic to monitor the road ahead. It's a difficult task being inside the moving carriage, but he welcomes the exercise. @reddeЯ

"Alta did you-" Tilla starts to address her sister, only to be abruptly cut off. "Dont even talk to me, Tilla. I don't have anything nice to say to you." Alta glared at the younger girl. "Stop that, Alta. It's not Tilla's fault you were behaving inappropriately." Maìrìn says when Tilla's head droops at her older sister's anger. "No, but it is her fault she has a big mouth she can't keep shut!" Alta snaps. Maìrin looks shocked for a moment, then frowns. "Alta, you need to take responsibility for your actions. Tilla was not wrong to tell me. You are a princess, you can't just go around kissing boys! Don't you understand what kind of damage that can do to your reputation, and father's reputation? What we do has bigger effects than you realize. You must think of this before you decide to go off behaving like this!" Maìrìn tries to explain. "Oh, so what? Maybe i don't care about my reputation! I never asked to be a princess! I hate it, I don't want to have everybody telling me what I can and can not do, I hate it!" Alta seems to be getting herself worked up for a big explosion. "No, you didn't ask for it. None of us did. It's something our ancestors fought for, though. We should be grateful that they sacrificed so much so we could have what we have now." Maìrìn keeps a calm, even tone in the face of the younger girl's outburst. "No, Maìrìn! I'm not grateful, I would rather be a peasant! Then I could wear what I want, go where I want, and... kiss every boy I wanted to! And I could slap my sister for being a little suck up and telling on me!" Alta was almost yelling now, and Maìrìn looked a little frustrated as well. "You don't know what you're talking about, Alta--" Alta cut off Maìrin as well. "I don't CARE! You're not any better, you know? Always sucking up to daddy! You're probably going to tell him, aren't you? I hate you too, Maìrìn! Don't ever talk to me again!" And with that Alta crossed her arms and turned toward the window, refusing to look a

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t her sisters. After a few minutes Maìrìn sighed and the rest of the ride passed in silence. Once they returned to the castle Alta was the first one out of the carriage. Then Tilla followed, much slower, as the two of them headed to their respective rooms. Maìrin sighed again and got out, seeming contemplative. Rather than go inside, she headed toward the garden to go for a walk. "Do you have any siblings?" She asked Arthur. "It been... a struggle... ever since our mother passed. I feel like I have to be the mom sometimes. They need me, though. That's what they need from me, because our father has so much to do already..." it was a glimpse into the inner lives of the royal family, something Arthur would find himself becoming very familiar with in his new position. @Mr BReightside

Arthur sits in silence as the princesses quarrel during the ride back to the castle. He can tell the argument weighs heavily on Mairin's thoughts, being confronted with such strong opinions from her sibling. He does sympathize with Alta, though. Being placed in a role in which she didn't ask for. It isn't easy or fair to be held with so much expectations at such a young age. As they ride in silence, Arthur continues to focus his magic, subtly monitoring the area around the carriage. Upon their arrival, Arthur is the first out, securing the immediate area for the princesses. Turning in time to see Alta storm off, followed by Tila sulking behind her. Turning to follow as she starts to walk away, his ear twitches, angling itself towards Mairin as she speaks to him. "I have a sister, only a couple of years younger than me. We.. have our disagreement, our differences. While I always longed for a purpose, a role to fulfill, she aspired to simply be free. We both seem to have found what we have been looking for, in those regards. For better or worse..." Arthur lets out a quiet sigh as he walks with Mairin, his hands loosely clasped behind his back again. "My sister an I are.. gifted magic users. It has been something that has caused both us and our family quite some trouble. Our affinities are.. contrary to each other. My affinity is with Light magic, hers is Darkness. They are not inherently good or evil, but it is often seen that way." Arthur lets out a sigh, taking a moment to straighten the vest of his uniform. He glances around, checking the corridors as they make their way to the gardens. "I have always been expected to become a protector in one form or another. While my sister has always been regarded with disdain, apathy. But, despite our differences, we trust each other with our lives. That said, I can only imagine how furious she will be when I see her next..." How long has it been since they last saw each other? Months? Years? Too long. He glances at the top

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of the walls and roofs around them before returning his attention to Mairin. @reddeЯ

The princess considers how it would be to have such a significant rift between herself and her siblings. It's not something she had experience with. Her siblings and her have always had more in common than not. Maìrìn has always been able to find a way to put herself in her siblings situation and come to understand their perspective. It's something she has always been able to do with any situation. Setting aside her family problems for now, she chooses to examine the information her new companion just provided her. She learned a lot from their brief exchange. It was a glimpse into his past, and who he is now. "You've always been expected to... but is it what you want?" She asks. It's a superfluous question- she has no way of changing his current assignment. Neither does he. By becoming her personal guard, his life has been irrevocably tied to hers. Should something happen to her, and he survive, his life is forfeit. He will be her guard until his death. For a moment she indulges in the emotions this evokes, the sadness, the finality, the empathy. He was chosen over many other men suitable for the position. His loyalty and sense of duty must be admirable. Its humbling, to realize that devotion is given to her. And why? Because she was born a princess, and her father is a good king. Hes considered a bit harsh, unrelenting in his expectations, strict, but the kingdom has only flourished under his rule. His recent ambition has been to expand their borders, which is why there has been rumors of opposition to his more recent advances. Her attention is grabbed by a commotion at the front gate. Curious, she moves that direction to see is happening. A group of castle guard are gathered, with several people shouting. As she approaches, one of them abruptly steps in front of her. "Princess, please return to the keep." He says firmly. Maìrìn glances at his face and what she sees there makes her blood run cold. She's never seen anyone look like that. She nods once and tu

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rns to return to the castle, no longer interested in seeing what all the commotion is about. Behind her, a single wagon had arrived at the gates. It had raced through the city, driverless and riddled with holes, charred on one side. It was one of the supply wagons that had been sent to an Eastern outpost. Instead of supplies, it was loaded with around 30 bodies, all the kings men who'd been assigned to the outpost. It was an attack, by an unknown adversary, and could only be answered with bloodshed. The most alarming part was that, for the wagon to have made it to the keep without a driver, it meant whoever had sent it was much closer than anybody was comfortable with. Just as Maìrìn reaches the doors to the keep, alarm bells begin to toll in the east wall tower. There's a fire within the walls. Maìrìn ducks into the castle and hurries to find her sisters, hoping they are both in their rooms. She has a very bad feeling about what is happening right now. @Mr BReightside

As they approached the front gates, Mairin could feel a warmth wrap around her as Arthur readies his magic. A knot twists in his gut as he notices the charred wagon returning. He could feel the residual mana smoldering on the burnt and damaged wood. He doesn't get in the way of the princess, but upon seeing the bodies upon the wagon, a layer of golden magic wraps around the both of them. "They are acting faster than we expected..." Arthur says as he escorts Mairin inside, a sense of dread hanging over him. Moving through the halls and marbled corridors, confusion starts to spread among the nobles and servant staff. Some move with purpose, while others gather to the sides of the halls. No-one gets in Mairin's way as she and Arthur hurry through, both subtly aglow with Arthur's light magic. While his ears are swept back, Arthur does not outwardly display his aggression. Only maintaining his stoic determination. Crossing through an intersection, a pair of nobles quickly approach, trying to get Mairin's attention. They are cut off as barriers of golden mana snap into existence. Arthur focuses his magic to allow the two of them to continue on, uninterrupted. "Once we find your sisters, we need to move to a secure location." HIs voice is dangerously calm, his focus honed on the task before him. Outside, chaos slowly erupts across the castle grounds, subterfuge enacted by magic. Rodell, captain of the guard, barks orders as he coordinates the response efforts from the great hall of the castle. Familiars, both living and ethereal, swiftly move about the castle as information is exchanged. Nobody dares to give voice to the thought that is now running through everyone's conscious. Wyndia is under attack. The residential wing and personal suites are heavily guarded now, knights and mages of the royal guard patrol the area. They all acknowledge Mairin and Arthur's arrival, moving aside to allow them passage. @reddeЯ

Maìrìn pushes her fear down, refusing to let it cloud her determination to find her sisters. When they reach the royal wing of the keep she calls out to her sisters. One of the guard stepped forward and addressed her. "My lady, the princesses were not in their rooms when we arrived. They had not yet come from their lessons." He said quietly. "There are search parties seeking them right now. They will be found." Maìrìn stares at the guard in shock, then shakes her head. They never came up from the carriage. Alta was angry, she probably went to hide somewhere. Tila was upset, she would have gone to the kitchens to sew the new kittens and get a sweet roll. Without wasting another moment, Maìrìn turns back around and leaves, heading toward the kitchens to find her sisters. She had forgotten all about Arthur in her worry over the girls. @Mr BReightside

*As Mairin turns to leave, Arthur addresses the guard who spoke. "If either of them are found, have the familiars notify us immediately." He speaks with urgency, but still holds it at a respectful tone. The guard nods. "You will be the first to know. - and Brennan! Don't let any of them out of your sight, please..." They are all genuinely worried about the royal family. Arthur nods before hurrying to return to Mairin, falling back into stride with her. Moving further into the keep, the pair are joined by an owl. It soars above them down the hallway, occasionally glancing back as it beckons for them to follow. "Looks like the familiars found them. I'm right behind you. Lead the way!" That last part was directed to the owl, who continues down the hall, quickly stopping at a door. It looks back at the pair as the approach, waiting patiently. It scoots back as Arthur rushes ahead, opening the door for Mairin. The owl continuing on once they are both past the doors. @reddeR

*As Mairin turns to leave, Arthur addresses the guard who spoke. "If either of them are found, have the familiars notify us imme...

@Arthur Brennan (@Mr BReightside) - jump Maìrìn wrestles with her anxiety and tries to think. Her sisters can't have gone far. They've almost reached the kitchen when the owl appeared. Maìrìn struggled to make herself follow Arthur. She was certain her youngest sister would be on the kitchen. But she didn't know where Alta would be. Hopefully they had found the headstrong young woman, and she could return for Tila. As they follow the owl, she starts to get a very unsettling feeling. Like something bad was going to happen. The owl stops at a door and Maìrìn pushes herself to move faster. Somehow Arthur still manages to reach the door first, and she doesn't even slow down as she rushes through. She doesn't realize the risk she took, with the current threat of attack. Arthur should have gone through the door first, to ensure it was safe for her to go. She's never had a personal guard, though, and didn't even think about danger to herself. She was far to concerned with finding her sisters. @Mr BReightside

The owl soars ahead, stopping at the entrance to the kitchen. It calls out, trilling at Arthur and Mairin as it gives them a knowledgeable gaze. "Good job, thank you." Arthur thanks and praises the efforts of the familiar for it's work. The owl blinks and gives them what passes as a bow before it lifts off, flying away to resume it's duties. Opening the door to the kitchen, Arthur takes the lead, securing the room as Mairin enters behind him. The two of them still wrapped with his protective magic, Arthur stays alert. This wasn't how he imagined how his first day would go, but he has already fully committed himself to the role. Already, his resolve is being out to the test. Looking back at Mairin, he realizes the princess has wound herself in worry over her younger siblings. --- Clad in leather and shadow, a Courier woman nimbly navigates the northeast of the alpine forest that stretches across the kingdom of Wyndia. Even with her armor and equipment, she make little sound as she moves. She has been tracking Arndoran forces moving through the area for days now. Wondering if her warning had been received, she mutters an expletive under her breath. The group she has been following has brought her to a staging area of sorts. Keeping to the shadows within the tree line, she observes the invading forces, and makes note of the location on her canvas map. "This is bad... Brother, where are you...?" @reddeЯ

Maìrìn enters the kitchen, which is eerily quiet. The kitchen staff have all left, most likely to find what safety they can. She pauses, then calls out to her sister. When she gets no response she starts searching, opening cupboards and checking under tables, all the while gently calling for her sister. It feels like it takes forever, but It doesn't really take that long to find the sleeping princess. She managed to get herself in the pantry, with a jar of jam and sticky fingers and face. "Tila!" She sighed, scooping the girl up in her arms. It was a lot easier to do when Tila was smaller, but Maìrìn manages to get her up and draped on her shoulder. Tila wakes up and looks around. "Whats going on? Where is everybody?" She asks, her sticky fingers pulling at Maìrìn's hair and dress. "Shush, it's alright. I'm going to take you to our rooms. You'll have to stay there for a bit. Where is Alta?" Maìrìn says soothingly. "Alta yelled at me and went toward the training yard because she knows I won't go there." Tila said, her wide eyes showing she understood more than Maìrìn wanted her to. "I'll take you back to our rooms. The guard is posted there for now, they will look after you. You have to stay there until they say it's safe to leave, alright?" Their rooms were on the opposite side of the castle from the training yard. It would be a considerable trek, but Maìrìn was prepared to run if she had to. "No, wait!" Tila protested. "I can go, I'll go straight there, I promise! You can go find Alta, she needs to be safe too." Tila dropped from her arms and landed on her feet. "I promise, I'll go straight there." Torn, Maìrìn glanced at Arthur, but this was her call to make. Indecision wreaks havoc on her mind. Finally, she nods to her sister. "Arthur go with her. I'm going to the training yard, I'll bring guards back with me. I will be safe." She says. Tila looks at Arthur with wide eyes, but doesn't argue. Maìrìn waits anxiously for him to agree- or not. But she

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gave him a direct order. He has to do it... doesn't he? @Mr BReightside

Arthur looks at Mairin, then at Tila, before he shakes his head with a small sigh. "Your Highness, I'm sorry, but that is not a risk I am willing to take. We don't know if the castle is truly secure." He takes a deep breath, focusing his magic. His golden magic gently wraps around Tila with a subtle golden aura. "You are safer together." Arthur gives the two princesses a stoic display, but something in his voice carries an air if confidence. As they speak, a pair of ethereal sparrows flit about the room, monitoring them. Arthur glances at the familiars, knowing that they will be reporting on what they see before them. One of the sparrows banks and flies out into the hallway, while the other perches on the edge of a countertop beside the princesses. Looking at the remaining bird, then back at Mairin, Arthur lets out a quiet exhale. "I mean no disrespect, your Highness, but if this is who I think it is.. We need to move, together." The sparrow the had left returns, with a man wearing a leather apron following closely holding on to a sheathed sword. "Brennan! We worked as fast as we could, as soon as the blade was quenched and sharpened, the armorer sent me to deliver it to you." The blacksmith's assistant walks over and hands the sword to Arthur, who takes it and secures it to his belt. "Thank you, just in time. Give my thanks to the master blacksmith." Arthur nods, still stoic. The assistant nervously looks at Mairin, giving her a short bow. "Your Highness." The sparrow that guided him here lands on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, I must to return to the forge." He bows again before glancing back at Arthur as he makes his way out of the kitchen. With his new weapon secured, Arthur stands tall, looking at Mairin, waiting for her response. @reddeЯ

when the signal came, the response was perfect. The city was already surrounded. Soldiers poured in from every direction. The buildings of the outer city were ignited, forcing the people to flee toward the inner city. The gates couldn't be closed fast enough. The city would be hard pressed to provide for so many people for any length of time, and the attacking army was prepared to stay as long as it took. A messenger was dispatched to deliver the terms of surrender. They knew the king would never surrender, but the terms would be delivered anyway. With the city all shut within the walls, it was just a waiting game now.

Maìrìn is indecisive. She wants Tila to be safe in their rooms, but she can't send her alone, and she still needs to find Alta. She casts a pleading look at Arthur, then nods. "Fine, we can all go." She decides, then heads toward the training yard with Tila's hand in her own. A unit of guard comes rushing down the corridor, looking extremely serious. One of them stops when they spot her. "Your highness, you must get to the safe room, were under attack!" He says, then hurries to catch up with the group. Maìrìn panics. She starts moving faster, tugging Tila along with her. She notices the smell of smoke, faintly at first, but it grows stronger and stronger.

7:37 PM

@Mr BReightside

Haze fills the sky, sounds of pandemonium carries from the near horizon of the city. While buildings burn and targeted strikes are carried out, it becomes clear to many that is is a well planned attack. Royal guard move about the castle grounds, doing everything they can to secure the area. As Arthur and the princesses rush out onto the training field, it appears to be deserted at first. Everyone who hasn't taken action to respond to the attack has already left the area to seek shelter. Arthur looks around, staying close to the two princesses as they search for the third. "I doubt your sister has gone unnoticed, but I can't say whe-" A loud, deep bark sounds over the silence of the yard. He searches for the source of the noise, before another sounds out, carrying from a tree off to the side of the worn dirt training field. Beside the tree sits a large dog, accompanying a girl that sits beside it. The dog barks again, looking at the group before looking over at the girl. It ducks it's head, licking the girl's cheek. Arthur locks eyes with the dog for a brief moment before pointing. "There!" He instinctively touches Mairin's shoulder, either to get her attention or cue her to move with him, ass she heads towards the young princess and the dog standing guard over her. @reddeЯ

Maìrìn races toward her sister to wrap her in a tight embrace. Immediately Alta demands to know what is happening, but Maìrìn silences her and looks to Arthur. Her gaze is caught by something behind him. A thick plume of black smoke on the horizon, billowing up from the outer city. Maìrìn knows this city, and that fire is much to close to the new soup kitchen. She tears her gaze back to Arthur, clearly distressed. "We should go to the seige room, with father." She says, but she knows her father will not join them in the secured rooms. As soon as she says it Tila wails. "No! We have to get our personals from our rooms before we go to the seige rooms!" She cried out. They had been having drills, ensuring the girls would be prepared should something happen. They were supposed to go to their rooms, collect certain items, then lock themselves in the seige rooms. "Alright, then. The guard will appreciate seeing you are safe, so we should let them know, yeah?" Maìrìn says encouragingly to her sister. "What do you think, Arthur?" She asks almost as an afterthought, remembering that her safety is his job. @Mr BReightside

Arthur does his best to quickly consider their options. He wasn't wrong to keep them together, but they should have all been safely secured by now. Golden mana gathers around his hands as she looks around at the area beyond the training fields. His eyes and ears both flick towards Mairin as she asked him for his thoughts. "We need to get back inside, it's not safe out here. We don't know enough about what is going on." Like her sisters, Alta gains a warm glow around her as he wraps his mana around her. Three people plus himself. It's a lot to focus on. Arthur motions for them to move back inside, wanting to put as may of the stone walls between them and their enemy as possible. The dog that was guarding Alta barks once again, stamping the ground with it's paws. Even it wasn't keen on being standing around. "Alright, let's move back towards thee siege rooms. We can figure out if we have time or opportunity to gather our belongings as we go." He would very much like to secure his own belongings. He lost most of it in the fires of the assassin's attack. Arthur keeps his most treasured keepsakes on him at all times, in case of situations like this. The dog stays close by the princesses while Arthur positions himself too watch other them as they all make their way back inside the keep. He hurries them along as fast as they can, gaining a growing escort of guards as they move. One of the guards updates them on what they know. "The castle grounds have been secured, as well as the city proper. However, reports are coming in saying that the city is surrounded." @reddeЯ

though they were prepared to camp out for an extended seige, they wanted the whole ordeal over as quickly as possible. Before the wagon was sent, 15 men had entered the city, mingling with the population. As soon as they started flooding within the protective walls of the inner city, those 15 men had kept themselves with the crowd. The city couldn't hold out long like this. People filled the inner city, hardly any room to even move could be found. As quickly as the gates had closed, enough people had passed through to push the limits of what the castle could sustain. The 15 men knew their mission, and they made their way to the castle individually. They took different routes, one using rooftops to jump the wall, one moving through the sewers. One took a cramped passage through a rainwater drain, pulling iron bars free from rotting stone to slip through. It didn't matter how they did it, as long as they made it to their target. The fastest one of them would find himself positioned very strategically when the small contingent of guards escorting the princesses went by. He used shadows and magic to conceal himself until just the right moment.

Maìrìn was shocked when her youngest sister was suddenly wrenched from her grip. She turned, but could only see strangely distorted shadows. There was a figure of a man in the shadows, and he appeared to be struggling to touch the girl. Then a blinding flash of light forced her to pull back and shield her eyes. "Tila!" She cried out, rushing toward her sister as the shadows enveloped her. Tila was screaming, but no sound could be heard. There was another burst of light and the shadows suddenly all converged on the young princess, seeming to pile onto her in a mass that concealed her from sight and grew darker and darker. Most of the guard watched uselessly- how can you fight a shadow, after all? But Maìrìn threw herself at the last place she had seen her sister, desperate to get to her, not caring if she got hurt in the process.

9:18 PM

@Mr BReightside

Arthur winces in pain as his protective barriers surrounding the princesses shatter. It was so sudden, so abrupt, so focused. There was no time. No time orient himself, no time to draw his sword, no time to process what had just happened to the young princess in his care. The only thing Arthur does in response is blast the distorted veil of shadows with lance of light that emits such a warmth it singes the fabrics nearest it. A man's scream carries over the rush of mana as Arthur looses his fury into a single focused attack. The magics of light and dark are contrary, binary. The only clash, snuffing out the weaker of the engagement. The assassin's dark magic was strong enough to prevail in an ambush, but not under the weight of Arthur's focus and anger. He has already lost his mentor to these bastards, as well as a part of himself. He wasn't about to loose anything or anyone else. Drawing his sword, Arthur approaches the assassin, his voice strained with anger as he recites an incantation. "O Deities of Light, grant me radiance in this present darkness. Embolden me to endure and outlast, to safeguard what I hold dear. Behold me, Incandescent!" Arthur's light saturates the hallway around them, turning the ambient light of the sconces oppressively harsh. It floods the hallway, burning away all shadows, magic or otherwise. Tila emerges from the void, unharmed but obviously frightened. The assassin, howling in pain, staggers back, trying to compose himself. He is surrounded by the royal guards who have been escorting the princesses. Mana builds along the blade of his sword as Arthur raises it into the air and swings it down, bringing the collected magic down onto the assassin in a fiery flash of light. A brief eternity passes as everyone's vision returns. Arthur stands in the middle of the hallway, his arms trembling as his emotions and magic simmer. Before him on the floor is a charred corpse of the assassin. The guards, although confused, reform a defensive

11:33 AM

position around the princesses. They don't say a word, either out of awe of what just happened, or shame that an assassin got as far inside as this one did. One of the guards helps Mairin, while Arthur sheaths his sword and reforms his protective magic around the three princesses. His empowered magic radiating a heat that is almost too warm to be considered comfortable. @reddeЯ

The princesses are escorted back to their wing of the castle. The younger 2 girls are quite shaken, requiring guards and handmaids to assist them with preparing to retreat to the seige rooms. Maìrìn works on getting herself prepared, while keeping up a constant barrage of questions for the guard captain. The man seems very uncomfortable with her questions, and only gives evasive half answers to most of her inquiries. Finally, frustrated, she dismisses him. "My father has ordered them not to tell me anything that would be deemed inappropriate for a young woman to have knowledge of. War is included in that. It's ridiculous, you would think with our city being under attack they might see fit to keep me informed, but apparently it still isn't enough for my father to allow me to make an educated decision." She rants to Arthur as she collects her cloak and changes her slippers for a pair of sturdy boots. "Maybe he will tell you more of what's happening. At least one of us should know what's going on." Once they are all ready, another escort is arranged to take them safely to the seige rooms. Surrounded by guards on the lookout for anything that might pose a threat, Maìrìn and her sisters soon find themselves at the entrance to the safest rooms in the structure. But the king is nowhere to be found. "Where is my father? He should be here!" Maìrìn demands. "He will be here soon, m'lady, he has to take care of a few things-" the guard tries to placate her, but she won't have it. "I'm no fool, captain, once these doors are sealed they won't open again until the seige is over. If my father doesn't enter now, he won't be joining us and I won't set foot in there until he is here!" She snaps at the guard. The man stands there silently, unsure what he can do now. They were told to put the princesses in the seige rooms without the king. It's worth more than his life to try and force the princess into the rooms physically, and if she doesn't go in, he is disobeying a direct

2:16 PM

order. "Take me to my father." Maìrìn demands, causing the man to pale. "My lady, the king has ordered-" "And I have ordered you to take me to my father this instant, captain." Maìrìn interrupts him, leveling her gaze on him. He swallows hard and looks at Arthur. "Now, captain." When he doesn't move to obey, Maìrìn starts back down the corridor on her own. "Fine, stay here and look after my sisters. I'll find him myself!" She ignores their pleas for her to remain with them and keeps walking. @Mr BReightside

I'll find him myself! The words catches the attention of many around her as the princess declares her intentions. Some of the royal guard and nobles try to dissuade her from leaving, pleading with her to stay in safety. Arthur follows but doesn't halt their attempts. "My Lady, please, We were just attacked by an assassin. The situation is getting more out of hand. I..." He pauses to think, still in stride. He waves one of the mages to walk with him as he follows the princess. "I need a favor..." As he gives instructions, the guard nods, but appears nervous, almost dismayed. "Can I trust you with this?" They nod as Arthur gives an apprehensive glance to them and they nod before hurrying away. "My Lady, Maìrìn." Arthur addresses her more directly once they finally get away from the others. His voice not hiding his concern. "I'm not going to stand in your way on this. Whatever happens, I need you to trust me. Can I ask this of you?" He walks beside her now, his protective magic still wrapped around her in a golden aura. No more distractions. No surprises. He allows the princess to press forward while keeping watch over her. It's admittedly easier to focus on just her, alone. Passing nobles and servant staff, they draw a lot of attention, seeing them moving away from where they are expected to be. Arthur doesn't let the attention bother him, his focus already split between monitoring their surroundings while also maintaining his protective magic. A task he has practiced for a long while. It was part of his training. For being a mage, for being a guardian. Maintaining focus and control over his magic and himself has been a task that turned into second nature to him. He is powerful, but power isn't what he seeks. Control, understanding, knowledge. All that allows him to attain a goal, whatever that may be. Arthur glances over at Mairin, checking on her as they walk. @reddeЯ

Maìrìn stops when he adressed her by name and turns abruptly, almost causing a collision. She hears him, the sincerity in his request. Trust him? She blinked, surprised. "Arthur, I trust you with my life. I will always put my people, the kingdom that will be mine, before myself. I need you to be the one who puts me first. I can't be distracted by things like that." Maìrìn had been taught many things, by many tutors, about what her future would hold and what it would mean when she became queen. Her father was a strict king, but fair. He had spent his reign expanding his kingdom, forging alliances, establishing trade and infrastructure. He wanted to leave his daughter a prosperous land, a powerful land that he could be proud to leave in her hands. He had campaigned to seize lands from several smaller kingdoms, slowly bringing more good agriculture and farmland under his rule. He was always considerate of civilians. His soldiers were to be merciful, to help those who fled the battle. They were ordered to cause as little destruction to property as possible. There was no point in claiming lands by mindless destruction. He wanted his lands to be prosperous, not cost gold and men and time to be rebuilt. He was a good king, and under him the kingdom was flourishing. The only issue spoken of was the lack of leniency. He expected citizens to abide by his laws. Criminals were often subject to harsh punishment. Soldiers were permitted to many liberties under martial law. But he was generally held in high regard by his subjects. The attack had to be because of the lands he had taken from surrounding kingdoms. Someone must have had an alliance with a much more powerful kingdom. The castle was large, but Maìrìn knew where she was going. When she reaches her father's wing they find more guards. None of them try to stop her until she reaches her father's office. Then two guards step in front of her. "We cannot let you pass, princess. You are supposed to be in the seige rooms

10:32 AM

." One of them says. Maìrìn ignores him and moves to step past. The Guard reaches to grab her arm and she reflexively slaps him. The energy shield also reacts, hitting him just like the slap with an electric charge. The man slams into the door and slumps to the ground, leaving Meìrìn staring with shock for a moment. The other guard looks from her to Arthur. He recognises him from the selection process and nods. He'd been quite impressive in the trials. "Well met, princess. I see you won't be dissuaded. Your father ordered that you specifically were not to enter." "Then my father can tell me that himself." Maìrìn spat back, then stepped over the prone guard and pushed the door open. She strode in confidently, her eyes sweeping the room for her father, the king. @Mr BReightside

This is bad. It made sense for security to be everywhere here, but barring the princess from entering? What is going on? What don't they know? Slap. Arthur's attention snaps back to the princess as Mairin slaps the guard, using his protective magic to repel his attempt to move her. The princess certainly was a force to be reckoned with. Taking a deep breath to compose himself, he turns his attention to the door what may await them. Arthur's mind and magic attempt to peer into the room ahead, to anticipate who they will find. His efforts are blocked at the door. A discernable barrier of magic rests on the doors, set in place to turn away prying eyes and inquiring minds. He readies himself for whatever they are about to walk into beyond the doors. His heart hasn't stopped pounding in his chest ever since he struck down the assassin. The empowerment incantation he had cast is barely lingering at this point, having ran it's course. @reddeЯ

Maìrìn walks into the room without fear, eyes scanning for her father. There are three men in the office, all three the aged advisors her father keeps closest council with, and her father. As she walks in the three men stand up and look at her with disapproval. "Your grace, a council chamber is no place for a princess, we have discussed this-" one of the men said to her father. Her eyes narrowed at the man, but her father cut him off. "And you see how well you're discussing things with me has worked to change her from willfully disobedient and headstrong. You should be relieved, Matteo. She'll make a fine queen." His eyes passed over Arthur and he nodded slightly in acknowledgement, then turned back to the table, which had a map of the city spread out on it. "Whats going on, daddy?" She asked nervously. The king looked at her, then sighed. "I can find no way to save this kingdom I have worked so hard to build for you, princess. I will not surrender my dynasty, so I will die fighting for it. It will fall to you to claim it, if you can." "What are you talking about? Come to the seige rooms with us, let the generals fight this battle." "The generals are already giving up. We've been cut off from the majority of our military. There is no way out of this. For me." The king looked at Arthur again. "You keep her safe, son. She's more precious than this entire kingdom." He said solemnly. @Mr BReightside

Arthur gives a bow to the king. "You have my word, My King. I have already begun preparations. An attempt on your daughter's lives has already been made here within the walls. The keep is no longer secure." This is it. His first day on his new assignment, and life as he knows it is already being upended once again. The advisors stand in outrage, protesting the idea of the princess leaving. Arthur ignores them, walking forward to examine the map spread out across the table. He takes a moment to think, tracing paths with a finger along the fine canvas. With a deep breath, his eyes lift to meet the King's. "There are others who will aid us. Whatever happens this day, it will not be the end." Arthur bows his head before turning to Mairin. "If the siege rooms have not been sealed by now, then it is no longer safe to return to them. I need you to come with me. We need to leave before sundown." The yellow-gold of his irises look to her with patience, while retaining an eager edge of danger and intent behind them. There is a long road ahead of them. An even longer one beyond that, should they survive today. @reddeЯ

"My sisters!" Maìrìn looked horrified. She threw a tearful look at her father, then turned and ran from the room. She didn't care if it was safe, she was going to go back for her sisters. Not doing so wasn't an option. She ran down the corridor, not caring if Arthur was with her. She wasn't going to let him stop her from getting her sisters. She knows her father won't survive, he's already resigned himself to his fate. He's the one they want. Her and her sisters will be used to get to him, if needed. Or killed. Or worse. Her fear lends more speed to her reckless charge through the castle. It's Arthur's job to keep her safe. She runs with no regard for her safety. She fails to notice blood spilled in the hallway as she runs past. She fails to notice the eerie quiet in the rooms she passes. There is no sound of soldiers boots, no jingling of armored men. She focuses on the corridor that will take her to the seige rooms, just around the next bend. She doesn't notice the way inky dark shadows seem to cling to the walls, shifting as she passes. "Tila! Alta!" She calls out as she gets closer to the darkness at the end of the corridor. She briefly wonders why no torches are lit, but doesn't dwell on it long. @Mr BReightside

The protective light around Mairin reacts to the oppressive darkness, the warm glow warding off the hostile magic. As she nears the doorway to the siege rooms, light envelopes her as Arthur's voice issues a menacing warning. "Don't touch her." It's followed immediately by the sickly sound of a blade biting into something wet. Arthur had followed the distressed princess back through the castle. As they went, it became painfully evident that anyone who hasn't escaped to the siege rooms has met their end. This is bad. Thick shadows cover the now sealed doors to the siege rooms. Yet they are not alone. A figure veiled in inky dark magic emerges from the void between Arthur and Mairin. He doesn't question if it's a mage or a creation of magic, his blade strikes it down all the same. The figure dissolves and fades away into a cloud of dark mana while Arthur approaches the princess, taking care as he touches her arm. "Your Highness, we need to leave. It's not safe here, there is nothing we can do for them right now." He offers his free hand to her. His gold yellow eyes watching her for a moment before flicking away to monitor the shadows. @reddeЯ

She eyes the shadows for a long moment. A choked sob escapes, then she turns and retreats back toward Arthur. She can't help her sisters if she dies trying. "Fine, but where do we go if we can't get into the seige rooms?" She asks, looking around with wide eyes. She was at a loss. She didn't know of anywhere she could go that would be safe. "I don't want to die, Arthur." She moved back to Arthur's side, eyeing the shadow with distrust. She reached out and took his hand, putting her life in his hands. @Mr BReightside

As Arthur brings Mairin out of the darkness, moving back through the castle. "There are safe places where we can go and there people who can help us. First, we need to get out of this city." The halls of the castle are eerily silent now. Gone are the ambient conversations, the echoes of footsteps. It makes it easier to hear anyone approaching. It also makes them easy to hear as well. There is minimal destruction, very little blood. No bodies to be seen. He has many questions, but Arthur doesn't dare give voice to them as he brings the princess to the west wing of the castle. Passing through the dinning hall and the kitchens, the golden glow of his protective magic dims. He carefully tightens his grip securely around Mairin's hand as the light around them bends, gently warping reality as the princess and her guardian become invisible. At the back of the kitchen, a door sits ajar. A cool breeze pushes through the open space as the pair carefully passes through. It's obvious that this was the entrance the assassins had used to invade the castle. They move through storage area. Wooden crates full of food and other goods. Wagons sit at the rear, half loaded. They pass by as nothing more than a shimmer in the wind. Not wasting any time, but not hurrying too quickly, Arthur brings Mairin down the road for a short distance before veering off into the tree line. "I asked a guard to bring supplies out here for us. Your casual attire helps keep your identity hidden, but this royal guard uniform will only draw attention." @reddeЯ

Maìrìn moves as quietly as she can. She holds on to Arthur's hand tightly when she feels his magic settle over her. He leads her safely from the castle and grounds. Seeing the castle so eerily quiet is unsettling for her. She's never seen it with nobody in the halls. When he veers into the trees Maìrìn still makes no protest. Only when they reach the bag with supplies does she let go of his hand and find somewhere to sit and rest. She stares dejected ahead, not even registering that Arthur is going to be changing his clothes. She seems quite distracted, almost on the brink of tears at times. @Mr BReightside

Arthur's cat-like ears angle outwards as they approach the bags set out against the exposed roots of a large tree. He immediately recognizes his backpack, alongside two other bags. He looks over to Mairin as she lets go and takes a seat. Letting out a quiet huff, he recognizes her fear but there is little time to do anything about that right now. Opening his backpack, he pull out a tightly rolled pair of trousers. "This will only take a few minutes, please excuse me." Quickly unrolling them and laying them out, he removes his belt, followed by his uniform coat, boots, and pants. Just as quickly, he slips into his trousers. Out of habit, he fiddles with an additional clasp at the back of the waistband but stops himself. He looks around, monitoring their surroundings before taking a seat on the root to put his boots back on. They still have plenty of daylight left, he intends to make the most of it. With his boots secure, he stands up and wraps his ring belt around his waist, tying it off in the front. He again checks around them, unsure of what their enemy or the king is doing at this moment. Rolling the uniform jacket and pants as tightly as he can, Arthur puts them away in his backpack before putting it on over his shoulders. Checking the second bag, he pulls out a smaller pair of guard's boots, taking note of the food that is also in the bag. He closes up the bag and brings both it and the boots over to Mairin, moving down in front of her. Seeing her expression, he speaks softly and directly. "Your Highness, Mairin, You should put these on. They will help for the road ahead." He holds up the boots, wanting to be as polite as possible without wasting time. @reddeЯ

She looks at Authur, then the boots, then back toward the castle. After a moment she turns back to Arthur and takes the boots from him, but makes no attempt to put them on just yet. "That is the only home I've ever known, and it's been overrun by shadows." She said. "My sisters, my father, for all I know, are gone. Dead. And I am fleeing like a coward. Why are you still with me, Arthur? There is no one to pay your wages. No one to call you to task for abandoning your charge. You could just walk away." She asks him. As she talks she works at removing her heeled shoes and replacing them with the boots. While it might be a bit conspicuous for a woman to be wearing guard boots, she can see that it's more practical to have them than not, even if it means risking being discovered. @Mr BReightside

Arthur remains down on one knee before the princess. His ears angled outwards, while his yellow-gold eyes look at her gently. His pupils taking on a wide, gentle curve now from the razor edged slits from a moment ago. "I just gave your father my word that I will keep you safe. As far as I and the people of this kingdom are concerned, you are the heir of Wyndia. Right now, there is an army threatening your rule. We need to get you to safety and get in contact with our forces. The generals may have given up, but I doubt the soldiers share in that cowardice. Your people respect you far too much to simply give up." His voice is kind, confident. Once her boots are on, Arthur stands, holding a hand out for the princess to join him. He gives her a confident smile, while his eyes shift. Anger and malicious intent roils behind them as he reflects on their situation. "We need to head northeast, towards the town of Egris. Once we are far enough away from here, I will call for assistance. Come, we have your kingdom to save." Please be safe... His thoughts turn towards his family. His sister is likely well into her element with invading forces moving through the lands, but what about mother? What about their home? Questions for a later time. @reddeЯ

His words hit Maìrìn like a bucket of cold water. This was her father's kingdom, her kingdom. They were under attack. If her father were to fall, it would be her responsibility to find a way to defend her kingdom and her people. So many people. She couldn't let them down, she couldn't let them die. She didn't have time to sit and feel sorry for her losses. She had to do what needed to be done to make sure nobody else was lost. Every life lost was one she would mourn, when this was all over. Arthur was right. She needed to gather her father's army. Her army. She needed to reclaim her throne. Her father and her sisters could be remembered once the threat was eliminated. She quickly pulled the boots on and tied them securely, then stood. "You're right Arthur. We need to rally the men. They need to know that at least one of their sovereign family still stands and is willing to fight for them." She asserted. @Mr BReightside

With a grin, Arthur hands Mairin the backpack with food, holding it open so she can put her shoes away inside. Letting her hold the bag, he looks around once more. How many escaped the castle? How far has the enemy infiltrated? He monitors the area while Mairin prepares herself. Looking over and briefly inspecting her boots, Arthur nods. "Now we put as much distance between us and the siege forces as we can, while staying hidden. We will need to avoid using the roads as much as possible." Again wrapping them with his magic, they slip away into the forest. carefully making their way to the wooden mountains of the northeast. ---- Tendrils of dark magic erupt from the very shadows cast by the patrolling invaders, binding them tightly. The ensnared soldiers panic an an unidentifiable group descends upon them, stripping away their weapons and armor before capturing and carrying away the hapless soldiers. A Courier woman clad in leather armor pauses to look around for a moment before one of her group call to her. "Koryn, we're moving!" She calls back an affirmative, while further disturbing the dirt, covering their tracks. "You're never without a shadow." @reddeЯ

The pair continue on for hours. Indirectly following roads, waterways, and other route as they make their way towards somewhere safe. They move slow, as to reserve their strength and to not draw attention. After feeling confident that they have put enough distance between them and the invaders, Arthur relaxes his magic. He still maintains a protective field around Mairin, but he no longer tries to completely hide them. "This looks like a good place to stop, let's rest here." He points out a secluded area. An overhanging of rock, creating a natural crevasse in the mountainside. Making sure it's safe, Arthur puts down his backpack before taking a moment to stretch his muscles. Taking note of the surroundings, he walks around, clearing out a space before gathering any wood he can find. "It's dry here, covered, and and out of the way. We can make camp here for the night." His muscles ache. How long has it been since he roughed it out in the wilds? Months? Years? It certainly wasn't the first time, doesn't appear to be his last. He looks over at Mairin. Has the princess ever done anything like this before? He examines her balance, how she takes each step. Arthur walks over to her, he speaks more plainly with her, yet still being respectful. His voice carrying a gentleness to it. "You're doing great. How are you holding up?"

Maìrìn looked up at him bleakly at his gentle inquiry. She'd never walked so long in her life, and she had blisters on her feet. Her stomach ached from hunger and her legs felt like they would give out. She wanted to simply lay down and cry for her family, for the people of the city. But she wouldn't. Every bit she suffered, she suffered because she was still alive. Those who had lost their lives would not be honored by her giving up. She was alive, against all odds, because of the bodyguard that her father had insisted she take. Arthur had gone above and beyond today, and she made it her goal to ensure his efforts did not go to waste. "I'm alive, that is what matters." She said tiredly as she found a place to sit and take off the boots. They were ill fit, and she had blisters on her heels and the soles of her feet. Her heels were bloody. Still, she said nothing of it as she enjoyed the relief of being able to sit and rest her feet. @Mr BReightside

Seeing her bloodied feet, Arthur winces. "I'm sorry.. Please, allow me." He takes the bag Mairin has been carrying and opens it, taking out her shoes as well as some of the food and water. "Take your fill, I have medicine for your feet." He retrieves his backpack, his eyes still scanning around the cave for signs of danger. Returning to Mairin's side, he takes out folded lengths of cloth and carefully cleans the blood off of her feet, apologizing as he tries to be gentle. "I should have considered this would happen..." He looks up at her, "This will feel better soon." Once the blood is cleared away, Arthur inspects Mairin's wounds. "Fortunately, I don't see signs of infection." Going back into his backpack, Arthur takes out a sealed wooden bowl. The small bowl has writing scrawled across the paper seal, notes and instructions. Carefully breaking the seal, he reveals a thick cream that gives off a soothing herbal aroma. Medicine. "This will feel cold, but the discomfort will pass quickly." Setting the bowl down on the ground, Arthur gently holds Mairin's ankle as he applies the medicine with a practiced hand. With the blisters cleaned and treated, he wraps Mairin's feet with strips of clean cloth. He adds extra padding under her feet, wrapping it as well. He ties it off to finish before examining his work. Satisfied, he finally takes a seat across from her. Letting out a tired sigh, again looking around their shelter. We should be far out enough, it should be safe to build a camp fire. I..." He lets out a long sigh, rubbing his face. "I need to summon my sister." While he reseals and puts away the medicine bowl, Arthur mulls over the thought of having to summon his sister, as well as the incantation required to do so. He has no doubts that she will respond, whether or not it will result in an argument or a fight is the question that weighs on his conscious. @reddeЯ

Maìrìn didnt even have the energy to protest when he examined her feet. She saw it as just part of her new life. A thing she would have to deal with. By the time she had reclaimed her father's kingdom, she was sure she would be very familiar with pain. She allowed him to tend to her wounds, not making a sound of complaint. When he finished and mentioned his sister, she still didn't speak. She made the decision to trust Arthur. She hardly had a choice, but she made it her choice to have faith in him. He had shown nothing but loyalty, and she needed to believe he was truly acting in her best interests. He was the only ally she had at the moment. She couldn't do it alone. "Arthur, I will retake my father's kingdom. I will avenge my sisters. I swear this on my own life. I will take back the city, the crown, and my home. I will restore the rightful bloodline. I will give back to the people that which they lost. Or I will die trying." She swore to him, conviction backing every word. "You will be repayed for your services, and for what is still to come. I only ask that you have patience. Once I have been restored to the throne, you will be given honors, titles, lands. I just need time to be able to settle this debt." She hoped he would have the tenacity to stay with her throughout. She did not imagine it was going to be easy. She was prepared to do what needed to be done. She just hoped he would be at her side while she did it. @Mr BReightside

Raising a hand, he shakes his head. "No debt. I took an oath to be your guardian. To stand by your side to the end. I gave your father my word that I will keep you safe." Reaching over into the bag of supplies, he takes out a wrapped half loaf of dense bread. He eats from it, taking a short rest, and motions for her to do the same. "Eat, please. You need your strength and it will help you feel better." His tone of voice is tired but polite. His catlike ears relax at an outward angle as he sits and eats. He seems to shift quite a bit, as if bothered from sitting on the hard ground, but he doesn't make any complaints. A quiet moment passes between them. It isn't uncomfortable, as it was on their long walk. Arthur has yet to lower his guard, the fatigue starting to make its tell-tale signs. Upon finishing his small meal, he stands up, and again assesses his surroundings. Weighing his options, he decides to get the hard part out of they way. "I am going to cast an incantation to allow my sister to join us. I must warn you, she can be... Brash." With a deep breath, Arthur relaxes his shoulders, and readies himself. Focusing his magic, he recites the incantation that was drilled into his memory, speaking them carefully and with purpose. "For I abandon sanctuary from the City of Lights and walk the endless wilderness. With no miracle before me and no guide, the Night alone grows. Where there is Light, Shadows follow. I call forth my Shadow, to guide us in our time of need. I summon you, Koryn!" Wisps of mana swirls around him, shifting from his brilliant gold into dark grains that defuse into the air. He lets out a sigh and shrugs. "And now we wait..." --- The leather-clad Courier woman exits the decrepit log cabin that has served as their shelter and base for the past week. The prisoners they had returned with haven't been very cooperative, much to her annoyance. As she walks around the perimeter of their hideout, she feels a tug in the back of her mind, a voice ech

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oing with it. Panic courses through her, sending her rushing back into the cabin. "I need to leave, I will contact you when I can." "Leave? Where in th-" "I am not having this conversation." She hisses in response as she gathers a couple of bags. With a huff, she walks into the dark corner of the room, not stopping as the shadows open and welcome her into the void.

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Arthur waits almost impatiently as he keeps count of the time. He is part of the way into building a campfire before his attention is pulled to a dark corner of their rocky alcove. The shadows seems to thicken and swirl with dark magic before rippling, giving way to a woman as she steps out of the void. She locks eyes with Arthur before voicing her displeasure. "Ten months. Ten months! Where have you been? I have spent weeks trying to salvage what I can from this horrendous situation while you have been-" She stops, scoffing, as her brother motions for her to lower her voice. "I've been busy as well, it was better if nobody knew what I have gotten involved with until an appropriate time. I do so now out of necessity. Sister, I would like to introduce you to my charge." Arthur takes a step to the side, motioning to princess Mairin. An introduction he had hoped to make a proud moment of now hangs in sorrow. He watches as realization sets into her sisters expression. Koryn stares at the princess for a moment, turning to look at her brother's uniform, and then finally flinches. "Oh no... If you're here, then..." "Koryn..." Arthur's voice is stern, yet soft. He shakes his head. "We need your help." "Yes, yes you do..." Koryn glances at the half constructed campfire at her brother's feet, before walking over to Mairin. Dropping down onto one knee before the princess, she introduces herself. "My name is Koryn Brennan, I believe you have already met my brother." She glances over at Arthur, who has gone back to building a fire. "Please, tell me, what has happened?" Koryn tries to maintain her attention on the princess, but something about her brother keeps wanting to draw it away. @reddeЯ

The incantation, and the shadow mage that appeared, should have alarmed her. Somehow it didn't. Maybe she was to exhausted to be alarmed. That wasn't a good thing. She simply watched Arthur greet his sister in silence, and when Koryn introduced herself Maìrìn glanced back the way they had come, then sadly shook her head. "Much has happened, and been lost. Your brother saved my life, and is still keeping me safe. I trust he has a good reason for bringing you here, when it was clearly shadow magic that was used to attack us?" Shr questioned. The truth was, she did trust that he had a good reason. It made sense. A shadow mage could get places nobody else could with shadow mages. Or so she assumed. She was curious about Arthur and his sister. He wasnt a shadow mage, she why did he associate with one? Were they truly kin? She looked between them, wondering what Arthur was planning. She hoped he had a plan, because she was to tired to think of one at the moment. Arthur's sister was certainly a contrast to her brother. She wondered how he'd gotten past the vetting. She was sure her father would have checked for any ties to dark magic when screening applicants. "Aside from being attacked, and my family either slain or taken captive... I don't know much. I never saw my sister's bodies, but... there were shadow mages. I'm sure my father was slain." @Mr BReightside

Koryn's expression shifts through an array of emotions. Shock, horror, anger, dismay. Eventually, she lets out a sigh, and nods solemnly. "You have my sincere apologies for you losses. Their use of Shadow mages and assassins in concerning. Even more, we have yet to really identify who this adversary is." Koryn unpacks her supplies. Tools, amenities, camp supplies. Things she can see her brother is lacking in this moment. Once more, her attention is drawn back to her brother. "If I correctly remember, the Royal Guard doesn't enlist Couriers. Where did you get that uniform?" Arthur's brow furrows as he recalls the events of this day. I was already hard to believe this was still only his first day in service to the princess. "It does now. I am the first Courier of the Guard and Princess Mairin's personal guardian. We.. I had only just started today. We were in the city proper just this morning. The siege had came out of nowhere." With emphasis of his frustration, he strikes an iron rod with a knife, casting a spray of sparks into the mound of feathered wood and fibers. Nurturing the newborn embers, a small fire bursts into life before him as he moves it into the heart of the assembled campfire. "Is that so?" Koryn raises an eyebrow at him before looking back to Mairin. "Well Highness, you certainly have found the most capable person in the land for that role. @reddeЯ

"Arthur performed, and continues to perform, his duty admirably, even knowing the treasury will be unavailable for some time." Maìrìn said softly. "My father intended to find ways to shift attitudes toward Couriers. Hiring one for my guard was an unintentional boon for that goal. Arthur outperformed every other applicant, and did so well enough to silence even those who were against Couriers being welcomed into the kingdom. Including my father, who has never been particularly fond of Couriers, yet saw that his personal interests must needs be separate from what is best for the people." Her father was dead now, and talking about him left her feeling a strange sort of hollow inside. He was always a hard man, strict, firm, with high expectations and standards that seemed to only rise whenever she achieved them. He had been considered a hard man, and king, by most, but the same who said he was hard also said he was fair and consistent. He had always been there for her, always made sure she wanted for nothing. He had done his best to demonstrate to her the sort of king he wanted the kingdom his daughters lived in to have. He had done his best to create a kingdom he could proudly hand down to her. Her eyes stung with unshed tears, and she rubbed them with the heels of her hands, refusing to let them fall. She would have time to cry later. Now, she needed to figure out what she was going to do. "If Arthur trusts you, then I welcome you to join us. I have nothing to offer for your help now, but when my kingdom is restored to me, I will not forget those who remained loyal to the rightful queen. And I am the rightful queen. The same blood runs in my veins as ran in the veins of king Vailant the first, who carved out a kingdom from amongst the warring factions and created a safe place for people to settle. I will take back what is mine, and make it safe once more for the people who depend on me." She thought of her friends at the soup kitchen, and wondered if they were

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still alive. She had no doubt that they would fight, once they heard what had happened at the castle. She hoped they would be wise and wait for some word from her before they did something foolish. "I need to get to the military training camp. I don't think they would have let any messengers leave the city, the generals have no clue what happened. Or that I'm alive, and intend to reclaim my kingdom." @Mr BReightside