sovin toyne

The man smiling at him was recognizable enough – Crown Prince Sovin Toyne of Casther – and though they’d never met, Liandrus had an inkling of his personality from talking with Sarupa. “If it’s not a bother,” he offered, one last out to his presence before he’d settle in.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Prince Sovin.” He doesn’t bow this time, thanks to previous reminder. His hand went to his own chest, exposed through the open jacket. “Liandrus, fifth son of Sollia. While we’re all to know the firsts, I don’t assume anyone to think of the last.” There’s no bitterness in the words, but perhaps a mild amusement. “Could I ask what has you hiding away? Unless it’s the same as me – I’m a books and beds prince, not a gods and parties type.”

of course it wasn’t a bother. sovin did not have the time to be bothered by such things. and anyway, a little company had never killed anyone before. he smiled softly, surprised by the other prince’s greeting. “the honour is mine.” he smiled again, listening to the other carefully. it was a shame he ought to think like that, really. “it would indeed be the same. i enjoy these things, but there is very little better than a little time with books, is there not?”

Faiyaz did his best to stay away from festivals like these. The ones where his family was dressed up in fashionable garments and the center of attention for the surrounding guests to gawk at them. However, the guilt of now spending enough time with his brothers and parents sunk it and he hid his boredom behind a false smile as he greeted everyone. When the moment came for him to slip away, he did.

He was hidden but at least he could blend in as well as he could. People still came up to him to say hello but it wasn’t as bad as having the complete spotlight. He spotted his oldest brother, Sovin and walked up to him. “I still don’t understand our excitement with this events. Though if the crown prince doesn’t enjoy them, then hope is lost for everyone else.”

it was not really that sovin was bored by things, not really. he just liked having things to be getting on with, and there was something awfully repetitive about the diplomacy events like these entailed. it was a shame. however, he would have to learn to deal with these things when he was actually monarch. he had such a set idea of diplomacy, things like this always managed to disrupt his view of it.

as faiyaz came up to him, sovin smiled at his younger brother. it was nice, at least, to have his family with him. that did, admittedly, make the spurts of boredom much easier to bear. a quick chuckle fell from his lips, and he shook his head. “i am enjoying myself, don’t worry. i just hate not having anything to do. but you’re here now, i might as well not be bored.”

While Liandrus wasn’t hunting for trouble, he was seeking ways to pass time during the festival, feeling far too exposed around so many for so long. Thanks to the Bergian king, there were new books to read – now all the prince needed was somewhere innocuous to read them; out of view enough to remain unbothered, but with a good enough view of the crowds to act if needed.

However, it seemed that this particular perch was taken. “–hello?” Liandrus called, reaching up to straighten his crown, settle the jacket better on his shoulders. “I can find somewhere else, if you’d prefer…” The large, well-bound book was held under one arm as Liandrus turned a corner, wondering just who he was about to find.

sovin’s main regret in that moment was that he didn’t have anything with which to write. it would be an excellent way to spend his time, just writing down all the things he was able to note down what he could see. just a little anthropological exercise. he liked things like this. it gave him something to do, at the very least, that wasn’t pass away time having endless conversations he was secretly rebelling against.

the crown prince turned his head as he heard someone speak. it was a shame, really, that the second thing he said was an offer to leave. were people so adverse to just talking? yes, that was ironic, because he was avoiding conversation, but it made sense in his head. “oh, no, don’t worry! please, feel free.” he smiled at him, happy to have the company, anyway.

the prince had finally found some time to himself, in which he was free to look around his new surroundings. of course, he was not exactly inconspicuous. his obviously expensive outfit did not help him blend in with everyone else. maybe that would be a problem on his academic endeavour, but he had far better things to be concerned about. sovin looked out from the window, admiring the sprawl of people below as they enjoyed themselves, praising the divine, and fascinating the castherian prince.

antonin had spoken to the crown prince a few times before and had to say he had grown into his appearance. he was a man now and antonin thought this might be the best time to solidify a bond with the future king of casther for the day he might need something. sitting besides the prince, offly close he smiled. “i’m terribly sorry, my prince. perhaps my men could take you to your kingdom? i haven’t seen you since you were a boy… more time for us tocatch up” his hand grazing the mans thigh.

antonin was one of those people that sovin was certain he would need to know as an ally in the future. an ally at the least, a friend at the best. his instinct was that he was a very good person to know. moments like this would prove to be very useful, in the long run. he noticed how close the consort was, but he didn’t think it his place to question it. it wasn’t as if he was... complaining. well, it was wonderfully comfortable for him to be casually reminded that antonin remembered as a child. “yes! that would be nice.” he smiled, in spite of the hand on his thigh.

To hear that his fellow crown prince was left unaccompanied and for an undetermined amount of time had the Sollian prince frowning, and he turned to look over his shoulder at his companions. “Loren, where about would you say we are?” he asked the servant, only to watch as he looked upon his map. “Just at the boundary where Sollia meets Valtolia, your grace,” he answered, and he gave a nod before he moved to hop off of his horse. “If you’d like, Sovin, I can escort you to the nearest town so that you aren’t alone and we can find your driver, or you can travel with us back to the Sollian capitol wherein you can use one of our portals to be home.” He knew that his mother wouldn’t forgive him if he didn’t try to help one of Sayu’s sons, given the relationship between his mother and House Toyne, and he and Sovin grew up alongside one another… even played together. “Or I can leave one of my men here to stay with you until your driver returns and you can send him back when you reach whatever destination you mean to reach.”

oh for fuck’s sake. sollia and valtolia? could sovin not, just for once, have a successful mistake? apparently not. this was not fucking good. thankfully, solomon seemed to have a solution. a decent one too. even if it meant having to abandon his driver. although, in all fairness, he was probably to blame for this; therefore, abandoning him might not be an idea as repulsive as he thought. regardless, the man could find his way back to casther. “i have to thank you, you are too kind. i would very much appreciate going back to the capital. it sounds like the safest option, and i’d rather not have my parents berating me for intentionally endangering myself.” he chuckled, and smiled at the other royal.

the queen never had the best relationship with casther or the toynes for that matter, sure they were on friendly terms but there had always been a resentment to valtolia for its history and antonin understood this, so he didn’t try to push a relationship too much with king sayu. if they stayed out of the others hair, things would be best. “it’s alright, would you like some company?” he asked as he entered the carriage. “if your knight doesn’t return soon, we could give you a ride? where were you heading?”

yes, there were many other people who would have been better to meet, but anything between their countries would hardly constitute the man just abandoning him in the forest. although this might be a very opportune moment for the future king. “i would appreciate the company very much.” he smiled graciously to him. “you are too kind. we were intending on making our way back to the border soon, but i think that is a bit of an impossibility now.”

in the rural eastern lands of valtolia where the mountain ranges began to form, antonin had been on a journey to visit one of his nobles, house selwyn, and check into a vineyard. the land were getting rougher though antonin had suspected this, telling his men to stop when he saw a suspicious carriage deserted on the road. “go check it, roland” he ordered one of his knights. it was green and had a swan on it, the sigil of house toyne.

once getting cleared, antonin raised his robes as to not get dust on them and walked out to the others carriage. “prince sovin, is that you?” he asked as he peaked into the window and saw the bearded prince inside. opening the door, he let looked the other over. “are you okay? what happened to your carriage?”

fuck. there was someone getting closer to the carriage. this was not going well. there were a number of possibilities here, and very few of them were possibly good. there was some sort of chance that this would turn out to be a nobleman who could provide sovin with some help for a while. that would be ideal. on the other hand, there was also a chance that it was bandits and sovin was about to be robbed.

it was antonin remes. sovin had to smile as he saw the blond, holding the door open for the man. “yes, it’s me. i’m fine, it’s just that the carriage got stuck. my driver’s gone to find help.” he slowly got out of the carriage, and gave the man a quick bow. “i’m sorry if i’m in the way. if you need me to, i can help move it somehow?”

Though the travel between Bergia and Sollia was great, Solomon didn’t opt to take one of the mages’ portals. There was something so beautiful about traveling the countryside on horseback, to see what commoners saw, and so he made the long trek upon his steed’s, Essen’s, back. As he continued down the path, nearing the border of Sollia and Valtolia, he noticed a figure in the distance and as he grew closer, he could recognize the face almost instantly. “Prince Sovin,” the Sollian prince spoke as his horse came to a stop, eyes staring down at the prince of Casther. “I’m surprised to find you here, and with no horse or wagon… are you alright?”

someone was getting closer. that could be something perfectly innocent and would pass sovin right by, but there was that awful feeling that that was not going to be the case. however... as the man came closer, sovin found himself quite grateful to see to be in safe company. prince solomon. he sighed quite happily as the sollian prince revealed himself. it was an odd question: are you alright? was sovin alright? he had been abandoned by his shit driver in a fairly unfamiliar land. at least, he was not familiar with endless wood. “i have found myself in a few difficulties, to be honest. my driver has gone to try and find some sort of solution.” though he doubted he’d be back soon.