Very little was said for the first half of their journey. Coatleque wore her typical stern expression signalling she was focused on her mission. Dheres flitted between melancholy and some sort of agitation. The paladin considered him to be taking the news of his brother's demise rather well. Or perhaps it was all a show - her time spent around Jameson and other nobility by proxy had given her a glimpse at the steel nerves that were required of the rich and powerful. More so than any time she had spent in the palace.
The house of Ul was a very static mode of living by comparison. Very little had changed in the palace since she had joined the Order those few years ago. With the exception of recent political scandals, there was hardly any excitement to be had. Not that Coatleque was one to complain - she preferred the quiet. Even she could grow bored, however.
The sun had begun to dip below the horizon by the time they reached Scorpion's Crossing. To her benefit, Oswell knew who he was dealing with and had pacified the guards for the most part. Still, further proof could not hurt. Dheres waited patiently while she spoke with the Blade Commander on duty. Badges were flashed and reparations promised should the bird fail to be recovered. Imme was content enough with that though she still flashed the Sworn a look of annoyance.
Coatleque collected her charge again at the northwestern gate. Checking both their supplies she glanced behind to scan the square. A small group had gathered and began to murmur to themselves, pointing in their direction. It was then she decided to raise her cowl again. Adjusting her sword, she pulled the boy closer to her before urging him onward. They still had malms to cover on foot and light was quickly fading.
When they were a hundred yalms from the crossing, Dheres finally took it upon himself to break the silence between them. "So, how is Lord Taeros?," he began. "I was cheered to hear his demise had been greatly exaggerated."
Of all things to speak of, this was not the best conversation he could have chosen. Coatleque swallowed and kept her eyes on the road in the distance. "As was I. He has seen better days. I pray he sees them again soon." She did not see the boy smiling at her.
"Are there plans to wed?"
A pause. "He has many plans. None with me, sadly."
It was not hard for him to guess at her meaning. Another silence fell between them then, but this one carried a familiar awkwardness to it. He muttered an apology and she assured him none was required.
They were nearing the cliffs overlooking the ruins of Sil'dah when he tried to speak up again. A change of subject might have done some good had the paladin been at all interested in conversation. Instead she stopped and took him by the shoulder, spinning him to face her.
"Mi'lord Algincourt, are you absolutely certain this is wise?" She hissed at him. The sun had disappeared entirely now and gloaming was giving way to twilight. Black Brush was still a bell or more away and the chances of ambush increased with each minute after dark.
"Is what wise?" he stammered.
"If your father does intend you harm, you may be walking into an ambush!"
Dheres looked at her as though she may be addled and she very well may have been. "Father would not harm me, Ser Crofte! Why would you say such a thing!? I am all the son he has left! I know I am not what he might have hoped for, but..."
She cut him off there, her voice still hissing in annoyance. "What he might do and what he will do are two separate things!"
"You do not know him. Yes, he is... can be difficult. But he loves his sons, and more - the honor of his house!"
"Yes, well," she swallowed. "I've learned much of how lords show their love."
They both paused once more. She released his shoulder and turned back to the road. "I'm sorry." She heard him call out behind her as she continued down the road. "Can I ask what happened between you?" His steps quickly grew louder as he caught back up to her. She stopped again but refused to look at him.
"My lord chose someone else. Simple as that."
She waited only a moment before taking her next step, and Dheres began to voice another apology when his words were cut off by a cry of rage from around a boulder to the side of the road. The pair spun on their heels just in time to see a flash of steel in the moonlight, bearing down towards the paladin's neck.
The house of Ul was a very static mode of living by comparison. Very little had changed in the palace since she had joined the Order those few years ago. With the exception of recent political scandals, there was hardly any excitement to be had. Not that Coatleque was one to complain - she preferred the quiet. Even she could grow bored, however.
The sun had begun to dip below the horizon by the time they reached Scorpion's Crossing. To her benefit, Oswell knew who he was dealing with and had pacified the guards for the most part. Still, further proof could not hurt. Dheres waited patiently while she spoke with the Blade Commander on duty. Badges were flashed and reparations promised should the bird fail to be recovered. Imme was content enough with that though she still flashed the Sworn a look of annoyance.
Coatleque collected her charge again at the northwestern gate. Checking both their supplies she glanced behind to scan the square. A small group had gathered and began to murmur to themselves, pointing in their direction. It was then she decided to raise her cowl again. Adjusting her sword, she pulled the boy closer to her before urging him onward. They still had malms to cover on foot and light was quickly fading.
When they were a hundred yalms from the crossing, Dheres finally took it upon himself to break the silence between them. "So, how is Lord Taeros?," he began. "I was cheered to hear his demise had been greatly exaggerated."
Of all things to speak of, this was not the best conversation he could have chosen. Coatleque swallowed and kept her eyes on the road in the distance. "As was I. He has seen better days. I pray he sees them again soon." She did not see the boy smiling at her.
"Are there plans to wed?"
A pause. "He has many plans. None with me, sadly."
It was not hard for him to guess at her meaning. Another silence fell between them then, but this one carried a familiar awkwardness to it. He muttered an apology and she assured him none was required.
They were nearing the cliffs overlooking the ruins of Sil'dah when he tried to speak up again. A change of subject might have done some good had the paladin been at all interested in conversation. Instead she stopped and took him by the shoulder, spinning him to face her.
"Mi'lord Algincourt, are you absolutely certain this is wise?" She hissed at him. The sun had disappeared entirely now and gloaming was giving way to twilight. Black Brush was still a bell or more away and the chances of ambush increased with each minute after dark.
"Is what wise?" he stammered.
"If your father does intend you harm, you may be walking into an ambush!"
Dheres looked at her as though she may be addled and she very well may have been. "Father would not harm me, Ser Crofte! Why would you say such a thing!? I am all the son he has left! I know I am not what he might have hoped for, but..."
She cut him off there, her voice still hissing in annoyance. "What he might do and what he will do are two separate things!"
"You do not know him. Yes, he is... can be difficult. But he loves his sons, and more - the honor of his house!"
"Yes, well," she swallowed. "I've learned much of how lords show their love."
They both paused once more. She released his shoulder and turned back to the road. "I'm sorry." She heard him call out behind her as she continued down the road. "Can I ask what happened between you?" His steps quickly grew louder as he caught back up to her. She stopped again but refused to look at him.
"My lord chose someone else. Simple as that."
She waited only a moment before taking her next step, and Dheres began to voice another apology when his words were cut off by a cry of rage from around a boulder to the side of the road. The pair spun on their heels just in time to see a flash of steel in the moonlight, bearing down towards the paladin's neck.
