Gia murmured responses to her lord as he set about doing whatever he was doing. She felt like she should have been surprised that he knew Zhaltev, but... she wasn't all that shocked. He was obviously more worldly than the average person in the street, though if it came down to that, so was Gia herself. She gave a slight grin about the infighting comment. "Well my lord, there's still infighting, only it's considered legal now. That's how the government is chosen now."
Three centuries ago was a lot. Gia was suddenly struck by a curiosity as to how old this person was, but she wasn't going to ask. That would be rude. "An Iordan rules now, or he did when I left. The other families aren't happy with that, of course. I wouldn't be surprised if it had changed..." She trailed off as her lord spoke to the mirror.
She listened to the woman, noting that she knew how old Master Tuc was. The voice echoed and... bounced, if you could actually call it that. It sounded strange to Gia, and she resisted the urge to shake her head like a dog would to get water out of its ears.
She didn't feel at all insulted by the attractivness comment, though she was starting to wonder what it was with old women and critizing her looks. That last one she'd gone to see with Lord Krevster, Gia'd been insulted by her as well.
She nodded to the woman in the mirror though she didn't say anything. She was interested in the news, though she didn't know what it regarded or anything. She stood and waited, relaxed.
Waiting
Re: Waiting
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Belatucadrus
- Lord
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2005 4:25 am
- Name: Belatucadrus
- Race: vampire
Re: Waiting
More infighting in Zhaltev didn't come as a shock to Bela. Wolves had ways of asserting dominance that he understood. Only someone strong could keep order, and only for as long as he was around.
"I have cut tongues from mouths for less insulting tones, Dubrindja. Believe me when I say she would have little trouble removing yours, along with everything attached to it."
"You always have known how to charm me, belaji." She retorted, referencing something in her native tongue.
"Years of practice. But come, must I wring this news out of you like slime from an old rag? I was told you heard of someone special headed my way."
The old woman didn't seem any more offended by his allusion of the old rag than he did about anything she said. She smiled, but it was the same sinister type of smile Bela himself showed to others all too often. If sinister plots were alive anywhere on Pal Tahrenor, they were alive behind her eyes. The two of them knew something that didn't need to be shared.
Probably, they knew many things that didn't need to be shared.
"I have caught wind from Dupranj Brah's camp that there is a girl in Shaddin who I'm sure will interest you."
All of a sudden, the two of them were all business. No more foreplay crossed between them.
"Dupranj..." The vampire had to think on the name. He recognized it, but there were so many to remember. "The griffin herder. I recall."
She nodded in a tight, strained motion that made it look like her old bones had trouble even doing that. "Her name is Lo'en. A half elf come down from somewhere to the north. She is important enough for him to have sent a griffin to watch over her."
"Do you know why?"
"Not exactly. Have one of your mages look into something called the Kengali. I don't have more than that, but that weasel is up to something in your neighborhood."
"Mmm..."
"I do love the sound of that voice, old demon." She teased. The official business was, apparently, over with. He responded by showing his fangs in a smile.
"Thank you, Dubrindja. I will see to your payment."
"I know you will, old demon."
The light from the mirror faded to nothing but a reflection of the candles and the dimly lit room in about a second. The vampire was glad to have the bright light gone. Although he wouldn't admit it, it hurt his eyes as much as anything else.
"A griffin in Thar Shaddin shouldn't be difficult to find. If they come anywhere near Marn or Shim, my people will take notice." He said, turning around to regard Gia once more. "I suppose you can guess what I would like from you."
"I have cut tongues from mouths for less insulting tones, Dubrindja. Believe me when I say she would have little trouble removing yours, along with everything attached to it."
"You always have known how to charm me, belaji." She retorted, referencing something in her native tongue.
"Years of practice. But come, must I wring this news out of you like slime from an old rag? I was told you heard of someone special headed my way."
The old woman didn't seem any more offended by his allusion of the old rag than he did about anything she said. She smiled, but it was the same sinister type of smile Bela himself showed to others all too often. If sinister plots were alive anywhere on Pal Tahrenor, they were alive behind her eyes. The two of them knew something that didn't need to be shared.
Probably, they knew many things that didn't need to be shared.
"I have caught wind from Dupranj Brah's camp that there is a girl in Shaddin who I'm sure will interest you."
All of a sudden, the two of them were all business. No more foreplay crossed between them.
"Dupranj..." The vampire had to think on the name. He recognized it, but there were so many to remember. "The griffin herder. I recall."
She nodded in a tight, strained motion that made it look like her old bones had trouble even doing that. "Her name is Lo'en. A half elf come down from somewhere to the north. She is important enough for him to have sent a griffin to watch over her."
"Do you know why?"
"Not exactly. Have one of your mages look into something called the Kengali. I don't have more than that, but that weasel is up to something in your neighborhood."
"Mmm..."
"I do love the sound of that voice, old demon." She teased. The official business was, apparently, over with. He responded by showing his fangs in a smile.
"Thank you, Dubrindja. I will see to your payment."
"I know you will, old demon."
The light from the mirror faded to nothing but a reflection of the candles and the dimly lit room in about a second. The vampire was glad to have the bright light gone. Although he wouldn't admit it, it hurt his eyes as much as anything else.
"A griffin in Thar Shaddin shouldn't be difficult to find. If they come anywhere near Marn or Shim, my people will take notice." He said, turning around to regard Gia once more. "I suppose you can guess what I would like from you."
There are no allies, and there are no friends.
There are only tools and liabilities.
There are only tools and liabilities.
Re: Waiting
Gia stayed silent throughout the conversation, disecting bits and pieces of it. Most of the names were unfamiliar to her. Her interest was slightly perked when she heard about a griffin--she'd seen one when she'd been captured, though she hadn't gotten a chance to meet or speak with it.
A shame, that, Gia thought. Well, she'd had more pressing problems. She rubbed her mouth slightly, remembering how it felt to bite through the cold iron bars of her cage, aided by another werewolf who she'd told to go to Zhaltev after they'd escaped. She still had faint scars around her lips from that, as not even the moonlight had been able to heal the wounds quick enough. So she hadn't met the griffin, but it appeared she'd see one soon enough, if she was understanding Master Tuc rightly.
She nodded as he addressed her again. "Find the griffin, find the girl. As I'm hunting, do I try and make friends, or follow along silently, spy, and report back? I'm assuming that you don't want them to know you're... interested... in them."
She'd followed people before for other masters, and each had had their own way they'd wanted her to track. Krevster had used her to track like a foxhound sniffing out the quarry--another master had had her befriend a person he wanted dead, then lead that person into danger. She needed to know what she was supposed to do, and then it was simple to do it. Having no moral qualms was a bonus when you were being used as a tracker.
A shame, that, Gia thought. Well, she'd had more pressing problems. She rubbed her mouth slightly, remembering how it felt to bite through the cold iron bars of her cage, aided by another werewolf who she'd told to go to Zhaltev after they'd escaped. She still had faint scars around her lips from that, as not even the moonlight had been able to heal the wounds quick enough. So she hadn't met the griffin, but it appeared she'd see one soon enough, if she was understanding Master Tuc rightly.
She nodded as he addressed her again. "Find the griffin, find the girl. As I'm hunting, do I try and make friends, or follow along silently, spy, and report back? I'm assuming that you don't want them to know you're... interested... in them."
She'd followed people before for other masters, and each had had their own way they'd wanted her to track. Krevster had used her to track like a foxhound sniffing out the quarry--another master had had her befriend a person he wanted dead, then lead that person into danger. She needed to know what she was supposed to do, and then it was simple to do it. Having no moral qualms was a bonus when you were being used as a tracker.
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Belatucadrus
- Lord
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2005 4:25 am
- Name: Belatucadrus
- Race: vampire
Re: Waiting
"Yes," he nodded, looking off thoughtfully at some of the trinkets on a table beside Gia while he spoke. "You are free to integrate yourself with the people as much as you like. There are others like you working for me. They won't announce themselves to you, though, and you should not believe what anyone tells you."
"I would like you to find her and follow her. Whether you make friends with her or not is your choice, but I must learn about her and her intentions if she brings magic into Thar Shaddin. If telling them I would like to meet with them would bring them here, to my manor, then you may tell them. I will leave decisions like that in your hands."
Still observing the things on display beside her, he reached up to touch his chin with a finger. Something was clearly occupying his mind other than the mission at hand.
"I will provide a way for you to communicate with me. But it will take time to make."
Seeming satisfied, he lowered his hand and started out of the room, leading her to exit with him by placing his hand at the arch of her back.
"If you must work during the day, you'll have to catch me at night. I don't like to be woken up."
"I would like you to find her and follow her. Whether you make friends with her or not is your choice, but I must learn about her and her intentions if she brings magic into Thar Shaddin. If telling them I would like to meet with them would bring them here, to my manor, then you may tell them. I will leave decisions like that in your hands."
Still observing the things on display beside her, he reached up to touch his chin with a finger. Something was clearly occupying his mind other than the mission at hand.
"I will provide a way for you to communicate with me. But it will take time to make."
Seeming satisfied, he lowered his hand and started out of the room, leading her to exit with him by placing his hand at the arch of her back.
"If you must work during the day, you'll have to catch me at night. I don't like to be woken up."
There are no allies, and there are no friends.
There are only tools and liabilities.
There are only tools and liabilities.
Re: Waiting
Gia bit back a sigh of happiness. He'd succeded (even if he didn't realize it) in giving her a job she could do, which served with making her feel important and like she was useful. She really was an easy creature to please--all she wanted was a job, a home, and to be in service. It seemed so simple, and yet it had never worked long-term with any of her masters yet.
However, even more important than making her feel important and like she was needed, he'd allayed her worst fear. She'd never let on, but by saying that he'd give her something to contact him with implied that it could lead her back. That he wanted her to come back, that she could be useful again. One of her former masters had sent her away, then not met her where he said he would.
She could have tracked him, she later thought, but for both the wolf and the human it was a clear sign she wasn't wanted, and was also no longer needed. It hurt, but in a way it was kinder than telling her to her face that she was unwanted and useless. Simply leaving...
But giving her a contacting device made her feel needed. And that, more than anything, made her want to serve and aid him however she could even more than before. She simply nodded and said quietly, "I think I will also sleep, my lord. It's strange, feeling safe." She gave him a shy smile and headed out of the scrying room.
However, even more important than making her feel important and like she was needed, he'd allayed her worst fear. She'd never let on, but by saying that he'd give her something to contact him with implied that it could lead her back. That he wanted her to come back, that she could be useful again. One of her former masters had sent her away, then not met her where he said he would.
She could have tracked him, she later thought, but for both the wolf and the human it was a clear sign she wasn't wanted, and was also no longer needed. It hurt, but in a way it was kinder than telling her to her face that she was unwanted and useless. Simply leaving...
But giving her a contacting device made her feel needed. And that, more than anything, made her want to serve and aid him however she could even more than before. She simply nodded and said quietly, "I think I will also sleep, my lord. It's strange, feeling safe." She gave him a shy smile and headed out of the scrying room.
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Belatucadrus
- Lord
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- Name: Belatucadrus
- Race: vampire
Re: Waiting
Gia's statement was charming but painted with the same brush of emotional weakness that had led him to her to begin with.
"I expect," he said coldly, "that you will keep remarks like that to the confines of this manor. I don't need any more spineless cowards scrambling to fulfill my wishes in the hopes that I will spare their miserable lives or toss them some scraps. The city is crawling with them, and they're the most unreliable sort of help.
"Safety is earned with strength. I will not pamper you for your weaknesses. When you're out there, dealing with my enemies, you listen to the wolf, not a frightened girl who needs to feel safe. Am I making myself clear?"
"I expect," he said coldly, "that you will keep remarks like that to the confines of this manor. I don't need any more spineless cowards scrambling to fulfill my wishes in the hopes that I will spare their miserable lives or toss them some scraps. The city is crawling with them, and they're the most unreliable sort of help.
"Safety is earned with strength. I will not pamper you for your weaknesses. When you're out there, dealing with my enemies, you listen to the wolf, not a frightened girl who needs to feel safe. Am I making myself clear?"
There are no allies, and there are no friends.
There are only tools and liabilities.
There are only tools and liabilities.
Re: Waiting
The wolf cowered inside Gia's mind, which didn't help with the girl's reaction either. She succeded in concealing a wince from his words, but she couldn't meet his eyes. The alpha was mad. She'd done something wrong. He'd even made the wolf feel just a touch scared, no easy feat.
A cool, distant, and extremely small part her mind said distainfully that this was exactly what he meant by 'weaknesses' and 'cowards.' And that same part of her mind said that she better stop before she put her foot further into her mouth.
For a change, she actually listened to it. Hiding her slight fear... her large fear... of her lord, she forced herself to meet his eyes. For wolves it was a challenge in rank, but she'd learned through trial and error that for humans it showed a lack of intimidation. "Forgive me, my lord." Gia swallowed, trying to gulp down her shame as well.
She drew a breath and said calmly, surprised that her voice wasn't shaking. "Have no worries as to me revealing what you've done for me to anyone. I would not betray you that way. I expect no pampering, nor do I deserve any."
It was awkward, it was short, but her voice was firm and she was meeting his eyes. And the best part was that it was the truth, as well. She was tough, and she needed to prove it.
A cool, distant, and extremely small part her mind said distainfully that this was exactly what he meant by 'weaknesses' and 'cowards.' And that same part of her mind said that she better stop before she put her foot further into her mouth.
For a change, she actually listened to it. Hiding her slight fear... her large fear... of her lord, she forced herself to meet his eyes. For wolves it was a challenge in rank, but she'd learned through trial and error that for humans it showed a lack of intimidation. "Forgive me, my lord." Gia swallowed, trying to gulp down her shame as well.
She drew a breath and said calmly, surprised that her voice wasn't shaking. "Have no worries as to me revealing what you've done for me to anyone. I would not betray you that way. I expect no pampering, nor do I deserve any."
It was awkward, it was short, but her voice was firm and she was meeting his eyes. And the best part was that it was the truth, as well. She was tough, and she needed to prove it.
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Belatucadrus
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- Name: Belatucadrus
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Re: Waiting
Gia met his eyes, and the vampire stared back at her. He knew what eye contact meant to her. She was trying, she was daring to stare into his eyes. The girl was fighting back her fears to try to prove herself to him. If she was going to do that, he wasn't going to make it easy.
The two of them stopped walking and he gave her a glare that no would could mistake as anything but a direct challenge. As far as her culture was concerned, he had every right to lash out at her violently for what she was daring to do. Every fiber in her being would tell her that that is exactly what he was preparing to do.
In the last moment, however, he smiled, and posture eased.
"People do not often get what they deserve, and still more often get what they do not deserve. This is why you must take what you desire. Take it, and you deserve it.
"You have your instructions and you know what you must do. Find Lo'en. Find out why Dupranj sent one of his griffins to follow her. If you can, bring her to me. I will be here."
Leaning forward, he closed the distance between them to only a few inches. There was an oddly seductive quality about him, even if he was a little creepy. Up close, he looked more demonic than human. Teeth a little too sharp, eyes a dark red, skin cold and pale.
"I have faith in you."
The two of them stopped walking and he gave her a glare that no would could mistake as anything but a direct challenge. As far as her culture was concerned, he had every right to lash out at her violently for what she was daring to do. Every fiber in her being would tell her that that is exactly what he was preparing to do.
In the last moment, however, he smiled, and posture eased.
"People do not often get what they deserve, and still more often get what they do not deserve. This is why you must take what you desire. Take it, and you deserve it.
"You have your instructions and you know what you must do. Find Lo'en. Find out why Dupranj sent one of his griffins to follow her. If you can, bring her to me. I will be here."
Leaning forward, he closed the distance between them to only a few inches. There was an oddly seductive quality about him, even if he was a little creepy. Up close, he looked more demonic than human. Teeth a little too sharp, eyes a dark red, skin cold and pale.
"I have faith in you."
There are no allies, and there are no friends.
There are only tools and liabilities.
There are only tools and liabilities.
Re: Waiting
The wolf was fuming, wanting to fight back and attack, but the human repressed the willful creature and kept eye contact. Gia knew that Belatucadrus was challenging her--it seemed that her trying to fit into what she preceived at his culture, in assuming that he was more human than werewolf, had had a reverse effect.
Bu apparently something worked, because he backed off suddenly. It was confusing, but Gia just left it at that. Being confused was better than being snarled at again for not understanding. She didn't really understand either about the comment that he made, about taking what you wanted, but she just nodded. She didn't desire any pampering and special attention, so why should she take it? Maybe he was talking more to himself...
Then he moved closer, and seemed strangly attractive. She brushed that thought aside. There was no place for her to go developing... feelings... for her master. She was a servant, and one who had just been reprimanded at that. The girl held eye contact, completely ignoring her other thoughts through a much practiced skill, then said quietly, "I won't fail you, my lord."
Bu apparently something worked, because he backed off suddenly. It was confusing, but Gia just left it at that. Being confused was better than being snarled at again for not understanding. She didn't really understand either about the comment that he made, about taking what you wanted, but she just nodded. She didn't desire any pampering and special attention, so why should she take it? Maybe he was talking more to himself...
Then he moved closer, and seemed strangly attractive. She brushed that thought aside. There was no place for her to go developing... feelings... for her master. She was a servant, and one who had just been reprimanded at that. The girl held eye contact, completely ignoring her other thoughts through a much practiced skill, then said quietly, "I won't fail you, my lord."
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