#araian

At least for the two women? There was silence.  The mess that Syred left behind would be penetrated by light as it ate through the last of the resistance and forced itself into the room. The man that stepped into the room was not Folcard at all but Lord Sunshield himself. His strong form donned in armor and a unique sword in his hand.

"It was not Grayterror, Lord Sunshield."  A meek voice sounded from beside the aged Lord. "We all know his darkness.. it wasn't him."

"Then who?"

"I.. don't know. The mages are trying to follow.."

"Very well." Araian moved to the destroyed wall. Rosemarri had occupied this room for as long as he could remember her living in the estate. Not long after her husband's death.. now it was ruined. And she and her guardian gone. His gaze dipped to the water and scorch marks that licked across the floor. It would seem Lyric had fought the best to her ability. Lyric. His gaze moved from the floor to the silent man that stood within the room.

"She was dieng. I heard it." Dom spoke, upset causing his compressed lips to rim with white.

28.... 29... 30...

...mentally she ticked off the seconds as she waited.  Though he surely knew that she hovered and had been doing so since his fight with Sir Folcard. When had that occurred? She couldn't even bring the date to mind.. but the words had been clear.

...31...32...33...

She sucked in a slow breath and her hand slid down from where her palm pressed against etching that had been carved into the old wooden door, some by talented hands commissioned to do so and some by naughty fingers with their mischievous intent. Rosemarri's talasite stare flicked down towards the 'I luvv papa' scratched into the expensive wood and a faint frown tugged to life. Not now. Later. Think about it later. Her traveling fingers settled onto the handle and she pressed downwards with her exhale so that the heavy door opened with a click and swung open.

Lord Araian Sunshield's study was filled with bits and pieces of his life. The paintings that adorned the walls were of people she only knew from stories, globes of the worlds and maps from times that were before her first breath littered time forgotten desks and artifacts that she had yet to receive stories about had found places that they were rarely moved from. Journals.. books. Every piece that called this room home was a small testimony to a full life.

"Araian.." Rosemarri stepped into the fire lit room and immediately moved to where he sat, her slender form sinking down to rest upon the unused footstool that loitered near the chair that he typically used for brooding, it was a brooding night it seemed. She leaned forward so that her hands could find his. Her head cocked slightly, the movement sending raven-wing colored ringlets dancing to one side of her form. Her bright stare, framed in thick black lashes, flicked over his features as he turned slightly to face her. There was no surprise there, of course she'd come.

“The house is settled then?”

“Do you not hear them?”

“No..”

“Then it is settled..”

The corner of his lips tugged into a faint hint of a smile and in return she squeezed his hands gently. “Tell me?”

“It was a bad year..”

Her eyes widened slightly at his attempt to redirect the conversation from where she wished it to go, though she did dip her shoulder and glance backwards towards the shattered brandy glass. “I see… “ She slowly shifted her attention back to him and attempted to coax her expression into something that would convey understanding, patience.. it didn’t work and what he got was a foul expression of doubt. “We all heard the fight, Papa..

we all heard Folcard. Chaynal has gone.. Renault has gone.. Jaxson.. you did not keep your men home, what eats at you? Do you think you should be there with them? Leading them? Their voice and ours as it has always been? When do you get to say no? When do you get to sit at home with your brandy and robe and enjoy your grandchildren?”

"Never.. Rosemarri." He snapped, putting a quick  stop to her endless-seeming questions. " Never. As long as I breath I fight. As long as there is something to fight for.. I fight. They fight. For the people.. “ He gently removed his hand from hers and leaned backwards, settling into the curve of the chair.

It was her turn for the half smile and she mirrored his movement with one of her own, leaning back slightly, adjusting her skirts with plucking fingers and that half smile that welled into a knowing one.

“Damnit..” He sighed.

“I will summon Echo..” She announced as she rose and quit the room without a backwards glance.

thelordsecho

Pind Araian Raiwind Operation-Inside Story-18 Jul 2014