((Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice the Twelve))
"Kwee," Lysander said while perched outside the door to the kitchen. He was too large to get inside.
"You always give the same advice. I don't know why I ask you these questions," Aldeus said as he rummaged through the pantry. It was slim pickings. Three corn meal cakes wrapped in cheese cloth. A quarter of a sack of rice with a hole in the corner that suggested mice had been pilfering from it. And a bottle of wine that belonged to the High Templar that he didn't have the courage to drink himself. "I can't give her the mouse rice, she could get sick. Corn cakes it is." Aldeus unwrapped the cakes and the scent immediatly sent a shock of pain through his stomach. He was ravenously hungry. But honor demanded that he feed his guest first, and the code stated that no master should be obeyed before honor. Not even his stomach. Then again the code also said that he shouldn't needlessly harm himself. "Damn contradictory code. I wish the High Templar was here."
"Kwee."
Aldeus turned to face Lysander. "You're right. I know you are. They aren't coming back. But I can't stop hoping."
"Kwee."
"Don't be vulgar."Â Aldeus put the corn meal cakes on a tray along with two cups of water and headed back to his bedroom.
As Aldeus turns to the kitchen door to leave towards his bedroom he would notice a young man standing in the door way. The man carries a great axe on his back and wears red chest plate, the plate as red as his short hair. He begins to speak...
"You know, if this is how this Knights of Twelve treat their kitchen, I might have to reconsider joining you."
"Halone's flame!" Aldeus said jumping back in surprise and nearly dropping his tray. "Who are you? You aren't with the Brass Blades are you? I already paid them today."
((Back outside the Carnegie Hall))
"Yes he is the owner of this building, which was once a guildhall, if I'm not mistaken," Isielin said to Eagle. "He is the reason I have traveled to this gods-forsaken sandpit. Well... not him exactly, since we've never met before today, but-"
Realizing she was prattling without direction, she abruptly stopped, and cleared her throat. She still felt guilty for assuming him a criminal, and wished to make amends;
"Eagle, was it? A curious name. You know, amongst my clan I was known as the falcon. A nickname, due to my spirit animal. I wonder if it is not the same with you? But I shouldn't pry," she shook her head, "and I SHOULD return to my host. Do you wish to come? It is not my place to offer hospitality, though I do get the impression he wouldn't mind."
((To Aldeus))
The man begins to chuckle slightly, as if frightening the man struck him humourous.
"Hehe, no I am not with the.... huh... Brass Bricks or whatever you called them, I am hear to possibly join the Knights. I come from Limsa where an Order such as this might be of use to me. I see you could also use a good cook."
He begins to walk around the kitchen, examining everything around it. After a few moments pass he begins to clean up and puts things away, cleaning the place up.
"One of my biggest pet peeves, dirty kitchens."
Amongst Isielin's ramblings hides some wisdom.
Eagle a little taken aback by her statements seemed to open up alittle.
"Why yes in my clan there was seven of use chosen as babys to be trained and were named after our spirit animals and elements. I have a connection to wind hince my family name. I do not know my family nor anything of this place I was raised to train hand to hand, and use my spirit animal and wind element to help those in need and bring peace to those around me."Â
Eagle stopped there and found it might be fate to run into a Falcon spirit animal as his brother in the 7 was also a Falcon, there was Eagle, Tiger, Wolf, Falcon, Cat, Snake, and Raven. Perhaps this is a sign to stop here.
"I will go with you and introduce myself to this Aldeus." Eagle said to Isielin with a bow of his head.
Aldeus looked to Lysander who looked back at him. "Well, mister... whoever you are from Limsa Lominsa, my name is Aldeus, and I welcome you. I'm not sure how long you'd like to stay though. I'm the only one here. Everyone else is missing."
"Kwee!"
"Or," Aldeus sighed, "more likely deceased."
The man didn't seem to be paying much attention, being more focused on the depleted kitchen than the order's depleted ranks. "I apologize for the mess. I don't have enough time to clean this place anymore. I spend it all working to pay the property taxes."
"The names Eadmund."
He turns to Aldeus and just gives a big smile. "It's settled then, I am the new cook. I will help fill the coffers for rent and cook the meals while you of course.... ", his smile turns more devoius that friendly now, "you owe me a favor.
With all that said he goes back to cleaning the kitchen, you may notice him pulling out many spices and cooking tools out of his pack and begins to put those away as well.
After watching her struggle a few moments, Eagle was polite enough to open the door. Isielin led the way from there, talking in a solemn, serious tone.
"I too, am of the wind element; were it not for my clan being wholly in Matron Nophica's territory, I would follow the way of the Wanderer, Oschon, god of wind. As is, I devote most of my spiritual studies to Mother Nophica, but still make time to thank Oschon for his protection during my travels."
The hallways they wandered through were dusty and dark. She didn't know why, but she found herself feeling almost apologetic about this.
"This place has seen better days, I'm sure," she remarked. "I have half a mind to start rebuilding the stables tomorro-"
She trailed off as they entered the kitchen. She had been about to make introductions, but was brought up short by the other new arrival. With a polite cough, she lifted her chin high, and spoke;
"Sir Aldeus, this here is Eagle, a traveler I met outside. Who, then, is this?"
((yay we're all in the same room now xD that was getting confusing))
"A knight does not exchange in favors. He gives freely and relies on others to do the same. It's in the code. If you'd like to join you need to know it." Aldeus watched as Eadmund pulled ingredients from his bag and his stomach began to lay siege to his thoughts. "And there are vowes that need to be taken. And..."Eadmund removed prepared foods from his bag. "We can cover that later though. I'm sure it's fine. Welcome aboard."
Isielin entered and momentarily took his attention from the food. "Oh, miss Iseielin, hello. This is Eadmund. He comes from Limsa Lominsa, likes to cook, and... has an axe. There, now you're up to speed. Eadmund, this is Isielin. She's from Gridania and... gets very thirsty. And with her is Eagle, who you know as much about as I do." Aldeus was a little overwhelmed by all of the people who'd suddenly shown up, but he was thankful for the company. Even if it was heavily armed company.
"The favor I have in mind isn't about me but for the many. In due time I will ask you for this favor and you will not decline, this I am sure of." He reaches over and grabs an apple and tosses it over to Aldeus as the two others walk through the door.
"Why, I am Eadmund Vexyl, the man you will be getting your meals from now on from. I am also now a member of the Knights of Twelve." He gives the two a slightly cocky smile.
Speaking to IsielinÂ
"Seen better days this place is nice, specially after sleeping on a dirt floor in the arena."
Eagle starts to notice all the surroundings and feels the hanging feeling in the air of unfinished buisness and echoes of what once was a great brotherhood.
"Greetings Eadmund" Eagle said giving a bow, "I am Eagle Windstalker, an honor to meet you."Â
Seeing the food Eagle Realized he has not eatan since he left the arena, How many days was that? I have no clue, He shrugged and continued through the doorway.
The idea of sleeping on a dirt floor is not new to Isielin; she often slept under the pines of her native land, with nothing but moss and ferns as her bedding. But... those places held beauty, life... spirits. Here, was dust. She opened her mouth to say something to Eagle, but at that moment her stomach growled loud enough for all to hear. As every eye trained upon her, even Lyander's, she grew still, hoping her dark, copper skin would hide the flush of embarassment she felt.
"I... suppose it is a good thing we have a cook," she said quietly. She turned to Aldeus, desperate to change the subject; "Sir Aldeus, in exchange for your hospitality, I ask permission to begin work on the stables tomorrow. If guests are to start coming here, they will need a place to keep their mounts."
Aldeus lowers down a bit and catches the apple between his chin and breastplate without dropping his tray. "Well, technically I can't induct you as a member. I'm only a junior warden. Only a Templar can administer the vows."
Aldeus turns to Iseilen "Are the stables in disrepair? I haven't been out there in a while. This place is a bit too large for one person. Any repair work you'd like to do would be terrific. Though I'm not really able to offer much in the way of hospitality."
Eadmund begins to turn around in every which direction as if looking for something. "Hmm, I don't see any other Knights and you said it yourself, you're the last one. "He walks over to Aldeus and puts his hand on Aldeus's shoulder. "I do think you have been promoted to the highest rank in the order."