As Ipmeek awakens, he sees that his companion for the evening had departed. It was just as well. The small talk between them was difficult, but the pleasures of the flesh were better than he expected. The warmth that came from his companion was energizing and exhilarating. It was a totally new experience.
In the morning, Ipmeek looks around for Bella in the common room to thank her, but doesn't see her or anyone else around. Disappointed, he orders some warm breakfast and sits by the fire. The people here live well, he thinks. And dreams of a day where kobolds might somehow create a similar metropolis.
Not finding a response from the room Orri pulls out a piece of paper and scribbles out a note and slides it under her door.
Love,
Orri
He heads off to hit the streets and get some shopping done after all the gems Ipmeek gave to them and the rest of the loot they had obtained.
Bella groans when Sophie wakes her. She opens her eyes only partially, squinting up at the cursed woman. She puts her finger to her lips and says quietly "Shhhhh! Don't shout!" as she squeezes her eyes shut, moving her hands to her head and continuing to groan.
Pushing herself to a sitting position, she pulls several pieces of straw from her face that had become affixed at some point during the night. Squinting again as she tries to blink repeatedly to get her eyes open she wipes something dried from her face that is clearly vomit from last night and groans a third time. Looking around very confused she asks "Where am I? Am I in a stable? What happened?"
Looking down at the red splotches over her dress, she mistakes the wine for blood as panic seizes her and she reaches for her dueling sword and she leaps to her feet, ripping the blanket aside and tossing it away. When the blanket rips off, the naked android is on the ground at her feet and Bella squint-stares down at her in confusion. "Annalla? What's going on? Where are your clothes? Why are we here?" She looks away from the naked woman, shamed for disrobing her. "Get her the blanket Chrysa!"
She crouches and puts her hands back on her pounding head. "I don't feel good."
Chrysa falls backward on her rump as Bella jumps up, which proved to be a good idea as her blade swings clear and would have sliced into a horn if she had been lucky. "You came running out here, both of you, about a half an hour ago. You were a bit out of your mind, so I chose to let you sleep." Chrysa picks up her cloak where it had fallen, and drapes it over the waking naked woman. "I don't know what happened before that. Are you.... Okay?" her voice soft with worry.
I ran out here? she thinks to herself? "Wait. I came out here on my own? I don't remember-" she stops talking mid-sentence and moves her hands to her face. Squeezing her eyes shut and pushing her palms into them, she falls back onto her own rump as she tries to think back.
"I." she tries to start.
"I'm oh, okay. I think. I think, maybe, I had too much wine last night." she deduces as she pulls her hands from her eyes and stares down at her wine-stained dress.”Yes, yes I did.”
She looks over at the unmoving body of the android before looking up at Chrysa her HUMAN friend. "Is she alive?" she asks, worried. "I didn't-" she trails off, fearing she hurt the woman.
"If they are any indication" she gestures to the rising and falling of the woman's impressive chest under the cloak "... then she is fine."
Chrysa sits down facing her friend, hands under her chin, looking at her friend "So the cards only covered the pain, not erased it. Like a lid on a boiling pot, just waiting to spill over spectacularly. What now?"
Annalla blinks and then sits up, pulling Chrysa's cloak about herself. "Are you ok?" she asks Isabella. She begins to reach out a hand but thinks better of it. "I think you had a bad dream. You woke up screaming and ran out of my room. I followed you because you said we were friends now and I was worried that you'd hurt yourself."
She yawns, showing perfectly straight teeth. "Here, let me," she says and reaches out a hand to move over Isabella's dress, but not touching it. The wine stains vanish.
Isabella shrugs silently as she realizes Chrysa is right. "I don't know. I mean, I do feel better mostly. I can think clearly now. Before, afterwards I mean, I was, what's the word. Lost maybe? The cards fixed that. It was like I couldn't focus on anything and all I saw was him staring down at me. Taunting me. Laughing at me." she closes her eyes and mutters "Doing thing.".
She swallows and pauses a bit before continuing "Those memories are there still, but they aren't there all of the time. I'm at least able to function. Mostly, I guess."
Bella sighs loudly, looking down at her ruined red dress "What now? I don't know."
When Annalla shifts and gets up, Isabella suddenly grows uncomfortable with the attention she's getting and climbs to her feet. She looks down at Chrysa and nods "I'm fine. Everything is fine. Don't worry about me, okay?" she lies terribly.
When the dress cleans itself, she quints at Annalla and asks "You know magic? You never said last night you knew magic."
"Yes, I know some magic," she answers, her eyes shifting away. "You didn't ask last night. If you had, I would have told you. There's ... there's nothing I wouldn't tell you. You're my friend." She turns to look back at Isabella. "Aren't you?"
The woman's blue eyes burn into Isabella's, pleading for the right answer.
Chryda's eyebrow raises looking up at Bella curious what the answer is as well.
Lady Sophiel was no barrister, but she knew she had to try to help the last of the bandits if she could.
During part of her time in the library, she learned what she could about Rostov’s legal code, looking for a way to get the two doomed men a reprieve from death. She didn’t trust the Dragonscale throne room mete out the punishment fairly, and she knew, for a fact that banditry isn’t always the crime that the government claimed. She once knew a ‘bandit’ and she’d be damned if she wouldn’t try to save these two.
Her failure with Happs and the others weighed heavily on her as she approached the courthouse, Bjorn in tow, looking every bit like a proper Rostovian lady. Gone was the mud and twigs, gone was the dirt. She was immaculate in her smart-looking green leaf-patterned dress, tastefully cut but accentuating her slight but obviously very feminine shape. Her hair was down, braided beautifully in a traditional formal style, covering the tips of her ears slightly while not hiding them, and had any of her adventuring companions seen her, they would be amazed at how her makeup accented her beautiful, forest-green almond eyes, a silvery foundation that made her skin glow, and the rouge that subtly accented her high cheekbones. She wore pink lipstick to be as subtle as she could when she spoke.
She prayed her companions would not attend the trial.
When she had a chance to plea her case, she spoke simply and truly about honor, mercy, forgiveness, and redemption. She explained her interactions with the two men at every time during their interactions with the Stag Lord, going into detail about what the others had done, and if she exaggerated slightly about how Falgrim tried to stop the worst of the depredations, or Jex snuck them extra food, few were there to argue. She downplayed their criminal acts, and tried to contextualize it, noting that Falgrim for his part, had attempted to make amends and return what he stole, which had already been returned to Kesten, restoring Kesten’s honor, for no only reason than attempt to make restitution.
Practiced tears welled up in her eyes, truly felt, but summoned on command, as she pleaded for the men to be sentenced to prison, instead of execution. All could find redemption she argued, and these two have already shown some capacity for it. ”The greater crime would be to extinguish now, that potential for redemption,” she ended, hoping it would be enough to convince the judge.
”Of course you know magic, you are made of magic. How did I not connect this in my head last night, I do not know. Forgive my ignorance.” she says, shaking her head at herself.
Looking down at the woman on the ground at her feet, Isabella feels something protective tugging at her from within. She doesn’t understand it exactly and isn’t able to put a name to it. But was it friendship? She hasn’t known this woman a half of a day? How could them be friends?
She reaches down with her right hand to Chrysa and her left hand to Anna and helps them both to their feet. Once they are on their feet, she turns to face Annalla and speaks ”I... I’ve only known you for a few hours, but I enjoyed our time together last night. I have some errands to attend to this day before we prepare to return back to the frontier. If you are free today maybe you could accompany me? That’s something a friend would do, right?”
Turning to Chrysa she asks ”I intend to purchase a new blade and armor today. Do you need anything I can pick up for you?”
Annalla positively beams as she rises to her feet.
"Yes, I think that is absolutely what a friend would do," she says with a wide smile as her eyes dance. The cloak she's wearing shifts a bit and it seems that only then does the woman realize that she's naked. She pulls the cloak tighter around herself and her visible skin flushes a delicate pink.
"Um... can we stop by my room first so I can get dressed?"
Late in the evening on your third day in Restov, you receive a summons to the Aldori holdings in the city. You are eventually led to a private meeting hall where Jamandi Aldori and Kesten Garess await.
”Lord Garess here has informed me of your victory over the Stag Lord and his band of bandits,” Jamandi begins. Kesten gives him a scowl at his addressing him as “Lord,” but does not dare correct him. ”Your progress in your charter is promising, as are the reports we have received from the other groups. As such, I think it is only fair to inform you of the next task we would like to bestow, nay, reward you with.”
”Upon your return, I would ask that you study the lands and locate suitable places for settlement. If you can free the lands of the troublesome trolls, the Greenbelt should be secure for you to help bring civilization to. And, given your considerable efforts in doing so, the Swordlords,” he pauses, then adds with a faint hint of disdain, ”by the grace of the Dragonscale Throne, we recognize you to reign over the lands as proper Lords and Ladies in your own right.”
Giving that knowledge a moment to settle, he adds ”Granted, this is all contingent on success against the trolls. To that end, Sir Garess has asked to be allowed to continue his efforts in securing the lands on your behalf, and House Surtova has agreed to his request. He is being granted a small contingent, fifteen men, to lead south and help secure Oleg’s Fort and any other defensible positions you locate.”
Kesten offers a military salute and bows to you all as Jamandi informs you of this.
”In the meantime, we will be putting word out search of anyone interested in helping settle the land and swear fealty to you, throughout Brevoy as well as the River Kingdoms. Also, we are already attempting to secure resources to get your small village-states started. Hopefully by the time you disperse the trolls, we will have things in order. Do you have any questions at this time?”
Isabella nods and says ”Why don’t you go get changed. I’ll meet you in the common room in thirty minutes? I’d like to talk to Chrysa for a few minutes first.”
Isabella is blown away by what was just offered. She doesn’t know how to respond and looks to the others who speak better to talk first, but then two thoughts pop in her head.
”That is an amazing offer, I am speechless Do you mean to say one of us will rule the lands or that all of us will rule the lands?” she asks for clarification.
For this next question she tries to disguise her motives from the others ”Also, do you care whom we bring with us when we return to eradicate the trolls? Some of us have recently acquired companions and followers. How exactly are we decide who is recognized? Are only us Lords and Ladies gathered here now eligible?”
Isabella nods and says ”Why don’t you go get changed. I’ll meet you in the common room in thirty minutes? I’d like to talk to Chrysa for a few minutes first.”
"Thirty minutes," Annalla repeats as if committing the number to memory. She gives a quick nod and then peeks out of the stables nervously, clutching the cloak to her body.
Jamandi smiles. ”That would be for you to decide, My Lady. Consider it good practice in each of your own methods of decision making and judgement of your own subjects as suitable advisors. As to who rules and how, that too will fall to you to decide. Only one of you rule as Lord, multiple city states, one ruler overseeing smaller fiefdoms, the options are entirely yours to decide.”
Once Annalla departs, Bella slumps down the wall back to the ground and puts her face in her hands. She groans and asks "Do you have a spell to make this headache go away? It's pounding like someone is hitting me over the head with a hammer. And I'm really thirsty, do you have your waterskin in you?"
After taking the woman's waterskin, she pops the top and promptly downs half of the container before pouring some into left hand and splashing it on her face and trying to rub the vomit off. She looks up at Chrysa and asks "Did I get it all?"
After finishing with Chrysa, Bella hurries to her room and dunks her head into the cold bath waters from yesterday. Holding head head underneath the cold water, she screams and shakes her head back and forth. Lifting her head up, she realizes she reeks of vomit and cleaning her had will simply not do. With no time to call for hot water, she strips off her freshly-cleaned dress and undergarments and takes a deep breath before climbing into the cold water. At least it isn't as cold as the river bath.
She rubs herself quickly and then climbs out and throws on some clothes and is about to leave when she comes across Orri's note. She smiles as he thanks her for her present, I'm glad he enjoyed the time. she thinks before her face flushes at the thoughts of how her brother might have had a good time.
She clears her throat loudly to distract herself before she moves down to his room to knock on his door. When he doesn't answer she returns to her room and writes her own note which she slides under his door before running downstairs quickly as she dries her hair in the hallway. She knows she is now late, but maybe the android will never notice?
Catch up at dinner tonight?
Love,
Bella
Nodding to Jamandi, Isabella responds "Thank you. I thought that was case, I just wanted to be sure that I heard you correctly and didn't make any assumptions."
She turns to look over at her companions, wondering how they are taking this news. For her own self, Isabella had never considered the possibility that she would have anything to rule in her life other than her blade. She doesn't speak it out loud, but she considers the possibility that she will likely end up just serving her brother when he chooses to rule. Of course he'll choose to rule, are you kidding me? After being a bastard his whole life, he would seize this opportunity very quickly.
As would Sophie.
Would Chrysa? I'm not sure. There's no doubt in my mind
Chrysa stays silent as Bella tells the other woman she can come with them, but leans in and looks to make sure the vomit is gone, pointing a bit she missed "Not sure how you got it in your ear."
"I promised King Sootscale I'd take him shopping, since the people of the city are unlikely to treat him with respect without someone there to make sure they do. You... and your friend... are welcome to join us."
Sophie returns a few hours later with Bjorn to find Chrysa and Sootscale. The semi-nude woman had apparently been entertaining Bella - but Bella had a bit of a breakdown, and they both left. ”Isabella left with the android? Do you know what they’re doing?” she asks Chrysa, obviously concerned.
Eventually, she unpacks her stuff and gets to work enchanting whichever cloak Sootscale most treasures.
Lady Sophiel Medvyed is dressed formally, but not especially like a noble, looking every bit an adventurer, as if to remind those that she meets that she’s chosen a harder path than to relax and snipe for influence with the Dragonscale Throne.
She and Bjorn wear the colors of her house, black and red, wearing the sigil prominently on their chest. By way of explanation, she indicates Bjorn is her bodyguard, and says nothing else, the man glowering at anyone who looks at Sophie sideways. He does not remove his helm, even in the presence of nobility, but stands at attention behind her unless dismissed by Sophie directly.
She greets Kesten and Jamandi warmly, obviously pleased to see them both again. ”Jamandi, it is wonderful to see you again. Please express my thanks to the Throne for their support. We serve dutifully.” She embraces the swordlord, happy to see a familiar face.
Beyond this, she sits quietly and listens to the proposal. Raising her eyebrow at the idea of controlling some of the land as a proper lady. She listens to Bella’s question and then adds her own, ”one of us as lord? That is an interesting... idea. The rest of us as vassals?” She is obviously thinking very hard.
At the meeting, Chrysa stands quietly watching the speakers. Doing her best not to jump at the sound of her last name, knowing without a doubt now that THIS was part of her aunt's plan.
"Would we be vassals under an existing lord?" in addition to Sophie's question.
Bella frowns and says "I'm going to have to wash my head I think, I'm disgusting. How I paid for a nights rest on a bed and a hot bath and I end up in a stable covered in vomit, well, that's just my luck now, isn't it?"
She sighs at Chrysa's comment.
"You're my friend Chrysa. We've saved each others lives and been through thick and thin. She's someone that I saved yesterday and then probably threw up on. I don't know her well enough to call her my friend yet. There's something strange about her, isn't there? She can't remember anything and she's made of magic."
She shakes her head and waves it off "I feel like I have things in common with her though, I don't know how to explain it. Have you ever met anyone that you felt comfortable around far faster than normal? I am hoping that spending the day with her will better help clear my head some."
She holds her hand up for Chrysa to pull her up. Once she regains her feet she asks "Oh! Did uhm, did you enjoy your visitor last night?"
"Wait." she asks, holding her hand up. "We would be vassals under each other. Except one of us?" she frowns but then shrugs. "Which one of us would be ruler?" she asks, looking around to see who would seize the moment to say they would want to lead. She knows she didn't, but she wouldn't tell any of them that. Yet.
Day 2
Chrysa helps her up and stiffens just slightly at the question. She had prepared for the question, but the morning's insanity had caught her off guard. Turning away, to hopefully feign a slight bashfulness instead of the pit in her stomach "Prudence was delightful, thank you."
Forcing herself to push past the memory of last night, she relaxes and smiles "Friends... yes. Not a word I've used in a long long time Bella. So as your friend, I need to point out that I worry about magical creatures that suddenly capture one's attention. But I also trust you with my life and sanity. So enjoy the comfort she brings." silently she adds that if it turns out badly the 'friend' will be gutted in a ditch.
Jamandi shrugs with a smile at the obvious mental gears turning in the group. ”Your chartered group will have the freedom to determine how you wish to rule as you see fit. Be it under a Lord or Lady from amongst your own ranks as vassals, or as independent city states from one another. The same offer is being extended to the other bands as well. Thus far we have yet to receive word on their planned organizational structure. Though I suspect Maegar Varn and Lord Drelev to declare themselves Barons and rule directly. I’ve received no report from the band in Glenebon as to their plans.”
"Let's consider our own places, with us working together as a council to deal with outside threats. But we can talk as we deal with the trolls. This is not something we have to decide now, correct?" Chrysa suggests.
Isabella smiles at Chrysa's comment on Prudence. "It's okay Chrysa, no details are necessary. That was for you to enjoy to yourself. I'm glad it was delightful, you are most welcome."
Blowing out a breath and trying to avoid the headache, she says "My head isn't right. If I make mistakes please tell me. I'm not sure what I'm doing right now, it sort of feels like I'm just doing whatever jumps out at me. Why, last night at dinner, I, I spit wine all over the table and got kicked out of a restaurant. My family would disown me if they found out I did that!"
Bella moves to hug Chrysa, but stops short when a twang of pain flares up in her chest. Instead she leans her head down to the side of the rogues so that her hair falls over the woman's head."You've tried to be there for me these last few nights. It hasn't gone unnoticed. Thank you for watching over me, my friend."
Isabella simply nods to Chrysa's suggestion, unsure if she would actually be up for being in charge of people or not.
”Certainly not!” Jamandi replies as he stands, taking his stein of mead in hand in preparation to depart, ”You have plenty of time to discuss this amongst yourselves. And should you need council...know that Restov will always be open to providing advice to its brothers and sisters in the Stolen Lands...” he says as he leaves.
"There is one more thing." Chrysa interrupts his leaving as she slides some documents from her pack, unrolls them for Jamandi to see. "The kobold king, Impeek Sootscale sacrificed much to see our mission to success. His lands are marked here and here. I assume as Lords and Ladies of this land we'll be able to make him a recognized sovereign as well."
Jamandi stops in the doorway at Chrysa’s remark. ”Yes...” he says sternly, ”That would be up to the lot of you. But know that if he and his ilk cause problems for Restov again, we WILL handle it, once and for all.”
Chrysa's dark eyes narrow in sudden anger remember all the dead and broken futures in the kobold caves, but she holds her tongue. Silently she swears to make each of every one of this man's ILK pay a heavy price if he tries to Handle the Sootscales.
When he leaves, she turns to the others "I want a trading post of my own. A tavern, a shop, a church. A place that doesn't owe anyone or any nation anything, where everyone can simply be free. That will be my place."
Chrysa rests her head forward, into the nook of the other woman's neck, since foreheads are impossible, and she smiles. "I think this is where men would punch each other in their shoulders and laugh loudly in hopes the demons run. But we are more sensible than that, aren't we?" sighing she steps away. "Go. Or your not yet friend will be forced to frolic the day away with vomit girl."
Orri does some shopping getting some new armor and a fancy new whip. He also stocks up on a few other items that he thinks may be of use when they return to the wilds.
Later in the day he goes to meet up with Isla again once she is off from work. The two go to get an early diner together and he tells her about more about their work in the Stolen Lands as well as that they have a meeting with the Swordlords tomorrow and he hopes for some good news. The 'date' is enjoyable but brief since she has to get some rest before her next shift, but Orri asks if she can see her again tomorrow after his meeting and before they set out for the Stolen Lands again. She agrees.
That evening Orri waits around in the inn until Bella returns. When she does she asks for some of her time alone so the two of them can talk.
Orri is shocked at the news from the Swordlords, but happy at the news. He notes "You honor us with this gesture. We will do what we can to see order return to the Stolen Lands."
As the others begin asking questions he asks a couple of his own. "One question I have, what sort of strings are attached to this, what expectations do you have for us as we rule?
Afterwards he also asks "You mentioned getting supplies together to have us started. Again, what are the expectations should we accept this assistance in getting our own regions started?"
Annalla is waiting patiently in the common room when Isabella arrives. "You're much more punctual than I am. You were only fourteen minutes past the designated meeting time," she says with a smile.
She's either found more clothing, or, more likely, has embraced the usage of the magical sleeves that Isabella gave her. She's wearing a light blue summer dress with silver trim. She's also added a couple of pieces of jewelry. A delicate silver headband rests on her forehead and a matching ring encircles one finger.
As they set out to accomplish Isabella's shopping, Annalla comments in a casual voice, "I hope sleeping with me wasn't the cause of your nightmare. Since I've never slept with anyone before I can't say with absolute certainty that it's not a side effect. I rather hope it's not because I enjoyed sleeping with you."
Bella pushes off Chrys and then levels a finger at her. "Do not call me vomit girl again!" she says with a deadpan expression on her face. She holds that for a few seconds before laughing. "Or I swear to the Gods I will ping you down in the mud and like I did to Sophie that one time!"
Bella turns her head to the side and remarks "You know? I think Sophie will like Annalla. She's made of magic. I bet they are going to get along great."
She says goodbye and heads off to meet up with Annalla
* * *
Isabella grimaces when Annalla greets her with the exact lateness of her departure. "I mean, how in the world do you know it was fourteen minutes? Do you have a time keeping device on you? Most people would round to fifteen minutes. Why wouldn't you just fifteen?"
Isabella looks down at her rather plain trousers and leathers and then over to Annalla and comments "Uhm. I think either I'm underdressed or you're overdressed. I was planning on visiting the smith and we're going to be quite the pair dressed like this."
Once they depart, she stops when Annalla talks about sleeping together. Turning to face her she clarifies "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Okay, hold on. Annalla. Please do not refer to last night as sleeping together. People will interpret that to mean that we were doing other things than sleeping. We did not sleep together."
She frowns and blinks as she tries to think back. She begins to converse in her own head back and forth.
Did we?
No! I would remember that. No. That did not happen.
Right?
She turns back to Annalla and asks "We. We didn't. You know. Did we?"
Sophie looks like she’s going to say something when Jamandi mentions a lord for the lands, but when Chrysa mentions independent states, she slowly nods, ”probably for the best, I think. Leave the lording over others to the other settlers, right? It’s probably better to have smaller baronies to start, for practical purposes.” And she looks like she’s going to mention something else when Chrysa asks about Sootscale, too. Sophie nods, ”yes, and there are some indigenous people there, like Sootscale’s tribe, they were there long before us.” She thinks to herself a moment, ”having separate plots will be better for those people too. Though as far as I’ve seen, Sootscale’s tribe was the only group organized enough to claim land in any significant way.”
Isabella takes his opportunity to speak to the group since they are all gathered together and alone once more. "Everyone, I have some great news. The Anndroit woman we saved from trouble two days ago in the inn, Annalla, she's going to join us when we venture off to take care of the trolls."
Isabella smiles excitedly as if this is fantastic news for everyone.
The woman looks uncomfortable when Isabella brings up her time keeping. "I don't know. There's just a part of me that keeps track of ... things like that. I won't mention it again, sorry."
At the comments about her dress, she frowns and lifts her nose a little. "I wanted to look pretty and I don't see anything wrong with that. For three days I've looked like something that was dragged behind a wagon for seven and a quarter miles. I have no wish to return to that."
At her insistence that they didn't 'sleep together' she looks confused. "But we did sleep together. For some reason, you wouldn't get under the blankets, but we were sleeping together in my bed."
"Did we ... what?" she adds, her eyes narrowing as she attempts to interpret what Isabella is talking about. The bell seems to ring a moment later and her eyes open wide and her skin turns pink. "Are you ... are you asking if we ... had sex?"
Isabella doesn't protest at the woman being dressed all fancily. "I don't mind if you don't, I'm not going to tell you how to dress or not dress. You look beautiful in it, so I'm sure everyone will be looking at you instead of me which is fine with me!"
* * *
Isabella motions her hands down towards the ground in the universal sign of NOT SO LOUD as he face flushes red. "SHhhhhh!" she says as she nervously looks around to make sure no one is dropping any eaves.
Satisfied no one is listening, she nods to her question and says "Yes. Exactly. That. We didn't, right? You fell asleep and then I fell asleep? Yes? "
Sophie pales slightly, and responds, ”joining us? Shouldn’t we talk about this first? Did I miss something yesterday? I’ve been busy...” She scratches her head and looks confused. ”Her... name is Annalla? Okay... do you know where she came from? I mean, Restov has all manner of grifters and con artists...”
She looks at Isabella sympathetically, and says softly ”look, I know what you’ve gone through. You don’t have to... get some ... one to come help you work through it.” She pats her friend’s shoulder sympathetically. ”I just don’t want you taken advantage of. She hasn’t seen what we have. Can we trust her?” Sophiel looks skeptically at Isabella. Sophie appears to be choosing her words carefully.
Isabella turns to face Sophie confused. "I already asked her to join us?" she states as a question instead of the fact that it was. "I thought you all would be excited to have another magic user with us?" she scratches her head, confused.
"She's from. Uhm. She doesn't know. She can't remember. Does it matter? She's all alone and needs help. Isn't that what we do, help people?"
When Sophie insinuates that she is only helping Annalla because she needs someone to help me. She crosses her arms on chest and grows defensive, her jaw tightening "Why do you think I need help? Just because I'm broken doesn't mean I need help. And why is she going to take advantage of me? Can't I make new friends?"
You look beautiful in it, so I'm sure everyone will be looking at you instead of me which is fine with me!"[/b]
Annalla's smile returns almost immediately. "You think I look beautiful?" she asks.
Satisfied no one is listening, she nods to her question and says "Yes. Exactly. That. We didn't, right? You fell asleep and then I fell asleep? Yes? "
"To be more specific, I fell asleep. Then you fell asleep. Then I woke up and covered you with a blanket and curled up next to you and then fell asleep again," she says in a lowered voice. She looks around as well. "Why does everyone want to have sex with me?" she adds in frustration.
”We don’t have to talk about this now. Let’s not keep Kesten any longer than we have to.” She stiffens a bit, making a wan smile, and doesn’t meet Isabella’s gaze, adding ”I am working for most of today anyway, I don’t have time to... just do what you think best, Isabella. You’re an adult.” She looks guilty and adds, quietly, ”I don’t want anyone else hurting you, or using you.” She looks down, fiddling with the hem of her dress. She takes a deep breath and looks at Kesten expectantly.
"You think I look beautiful?"
Isabella answers honestly, shrugging and nodding her head a few times. "Yes. I don't think that it is a question really. You are extremely beautiful. It's a natural beauty, not one covered in makeup and trinkets.
[b]"Why does everyone want to have sex with me?"
Isabella holds up her index finger. "Nono. I don't want to have sex with you. I'm sorry that wasn't clear. I just wanted to make sure we didn't because we had a lot to drink is all."
She waves it away "Nevermind. Thank you. We're good. Changing subjects now. Alright?" She clears her throat loudly and starts walking again towards the smith. Once in the shop she purchases a new magically enchanted chain shirt as well as a beautiful magically enchanted blade. She tries both on and asks Annalla, "What do you think?"
Isabella continues to stare at Sophiel, even when she looks away. When she lowers her voice, Isabella suddenly feels guilty. "Oh." She closes her eyes and blows out a breath in frustration. "I'm. I'm sorry Sophie. I didn't mean to get defensive. We can talk about it later. Okay?" She offers a half-smile and says "Thank you for thinking of me. You all are so sweet to me."
Isabella answers honestly, shrugging and nodding her head a few times. "Yes. I don't think that it is a question really. You are extremely beautiful. It's a natural beauty, not one covered in makeup and trinkets.
Annalla's cheeks pink slightly. "Thank you," she says.
Once in the shop she purchases a new magically enchanted chain shirt as well as a beautiful magically enchanted blade. She tries both on and asks Annalla, "What do you think?"
The android's face screws up into a puzzled expression. "I think I'm wondering why you don't want to have sex with me? The first vile, smelly man I meet wishes to mount me as soon as he sees me and someone that I like has no interest. I don't understand that. What is wrong with me?"
Isabella fumbles the sword in her hands when the woman begins talking about sex in the middle of the smith. As it clatters to the ground and attracts even more attention, she drops to the floor to pick it and then looks up at the android with pleading eyes as she shout-whispers with a finger over her lips hhhhhhhhh!!!! Annalla! Don't talk about sex in public! Okay? That's not appropriate!
One such vile, large, smelly man with a dark brown beard rounds the corner and walks up to Annalla and grunts behind her "Well if she ain't gonna, I'll have sex witcha sweet thang."
Isabella's shame vanishes immediately as she scoops up her blade and in the blink of an eye she lunges across the room and is on top of the man within a second. She growls down at him "Keep it in your pants if you want to keep it all. Why don't you go get some fresh air before I put new holes through your chest to breathe with!"
The man scampers off quickly, not used to women moving lightning quick with blades at his throat.
Turning back to Annalla she changes the subject again. "So. I think I might look at shields too. I wonder what they have. Walk with me please." she says quickly as she moves to the rear of the store.
In spite of being taller than Isabella, Annalla moves behind her and ducks her head down when the swordswoman takes charge of the situation.
When Isabella turns to change the subject, she can't help but notice the woman's nostrils are flared and her eyes are dark.
"Yes," she agrees with her in a breathy voice. "Shields. By all means, let's look at shields."
Isabella heads to the shields and tries on a half-dozen different ones on, never quite finding the one she likes. "Too heavy."
"Too shiny."
"Too small."
"I don't like the shape."
"Too awkward."
Frustrated, she finally says "Why can't the one from my father just be better?" she asks no one in particular. An idea pops into her head "Hey. Maybe Sophie can make it better." she thinks to herself.
Turning to Annalla she nods "I'll skip the shield and just pick up these." She heads to pay the merchant for the wares and walks with Annalla as they leave the store, talking about Sophie. "I think you are really going to like her. She's very sweet and always is looking out for my best interest first. She's very different Chrysa, she's really smart."
When Vomit Girl realizes that sounds bad, she corrects herself "Not that Chrysa isn't smart, mind you. Chrysa always has my back and isn't afraid of anything. These fey did some very nasty things to her when she was younger."
"Then there is Orri, my big brother. I'm meeting him for dinner later. He tries to take care of me, but I think I take care of him more than he takes care of me. It's okay though, I pretend to let him think he's the smart one." she smiles and winks.
"Can't forget about Ipmeek. Have you ever met a kobold before? Small dragon-like guy. Don't call him small though. Call him King, he likes that more."
Looking over at Annalla she asks "It's weird that I can talk all the time about memories and you can't. I feel very sad for you about that, I'm sorry. If my talking is making you uncomfortable, just tell me to be quiet."
"You're not making me uncomfortable," Annalla answers with a soft smile. "I like listening to you talk. And I can always make new memories."
She turns to look over some of the items arrayed around her as if they actually interested her. "I like you, Isabella. I feel safe when I'm with you. There's something between us. Do you feel it? Being with you feels right."
She looks back over her shoulder.
"I can tell that someone hurt you. That makes me angry. I want you to know that I would never hurt you. You're safe with me."
"Uhm." Isabella tries to find the right words to respond to Annalla. She does feel it too, but it makes her uncomfortable because she doesn't know what it is.
"I don't like to let mean people do mean things, that makes me very angry. Like the man in the store today or the ones in the inn yesterday, I don't like rude or mean people. Or people who think they can control other people. No one should be controlled. Everyone should make their own decisions of their own free will."
Frowning, she thinks about her failures. "I tried hard to protect my friends, but I failed. One died and the others had mean things done to them because I wasn't strong enough. I won't let that happen again." she declares.
On the topic of being hurt, she offers a half-smile. "Thank you for your nice words, Annalla. I'm glad that you feel safe with me. I don't think you would hurt me, you are so very innocent."
Isabella spends the next several hours of the day shopping with Annalla for varying pieces of magical equipment to better protect her from the trials and tribulations that await them with the trolls. When the afternoon finally ends, she pops the big question.
"So my companions and I are going to be leaving Restov soon. We're working together under the direction of Lord Noleski Surtova, he's the current Regent of the Dragonscale Throne. We're exploring the wilderness known as the Greenbelt. We've been chartered to eliminate banditry and other unlawful behavior we encounter."
I was thinking, if you don't have anywhere to go and no money to sustain yourself. You could come with us and I, I mean we could protect you. You could help us on our charter and there would be some coin in it for you so could maybe build up enough to be able to find out what happened to you? Or maybe we'll find someone to help you? If you want help that is? I'm not exactly sure what you want? I just figured you knowing magic could be useful to us. Things have been very challenging and another pair of hands would be great."
"Do you want to come with me? Us. I meant all of us."
Exhausted from doing nothing but shopping all day, Isabella collapses on her bed for fifteen minutes thinking about her conversations with Annalla today. She pops up and gets changed to meet her brother for dinner. Coming down to the common room she's dressed fancy again, wearing the same dress from last night but this time clean once more from Annalla's magic.
Finding her brother waiting for her, she waves and smiles and walks up to him. She holds her arm out so he can hook his through hers and asks "So. Where you taking the lovely Miss Lebeda for dinner this evening young man?"
After the meeting with Kesten, Isabella grabs Sophie's shoulder gently and holds her back. When everyone stops, she urges them on. "Please go on, we'll catch up in a moment."
Once everyone has left, Isabella stands there fidgeting with her hands idly in front of her as she tries to work up the courage to an apology. "I'm sorry Sophie, I made a mistake. I should have asked everyone if Annalla if she could come but I didn't. I wasn't thinking clearly and I just made a decision because she's sweet and nice to me and I like her and she's not going to hurt me." she rambles out all in one big sentence.
Still fidgeting and looking at the floor, she continues "Uhm. So. I owe you an apology. I should not have snapped at you back there, that was rude. You were trying to be nice to me and I wasn't nice in turn. My father would be disappointed in that behavior from a proper Lady."
She takes a knee in front of Sophie and folds her right fist to her chest. With her left hand she takes Sophie's right and holds it as she looks up from the ground. "I am not meant to lead, I am but a gifted sword and would be best served by someone's side who is smarter than I am. You look out for me, you are wise, you are beautiful, you always have the right words, you are gifted with all manner of creatures and your judgment is just. You have stood by my side through good and bad and you have provided sound counsel to me at all times.
You have all of the makings of a true leader, Sophiel Medvyed. When the time comes, I would be honored to serve you faithfully as my Baroness, Queen or whatever you are destined to become in these lands. I will serve you loyally in whatever capacity you shall have me." She raises Sophie's hand to her lips and kisses it before letting the hands go and bowing her head in respect.
Sophie is taken aback by the gesture, and puts her hand behind her head, pulling away a bit, before composing herself and going back to Isabella. She pulls Isabella up, "you don't ever have to bow to me. You are my friend. And as for destiny, well, we make our own destiny, right?" She hugs Isabella, "as for the other stuff, I'm not smarter than anyone, but I do try to learn as much as I can. People will try to take everything from you - not just your body, but your spirit. Learning things just maybe will help me avoid it. I won't let that happen to me, or to you, as long as I can prevent it."
She pauses, "I know what the Stag Lord did, or some of it, don't ask me how." She looks into Isabella's eyes, "and I wasn't being nice, before, I was being cautious. And catty, and jealous. Like I said, there's more than one way to hurt someone." She drops her hands and looks away. "This woman makes you happy, make of it what you will - but like I said, after the cards - I don't trust anyone, or anything, other than us."
Sophie adds, quickly, "and she said she was an android. Do you know what those are? They're not magic, not like the fey. Not like Chrysa, or Orri's magic, or mine. She has magic powers yes, but androids themselves are artificial life forms. Like golems. Nobody knows where they originally came from, but they are rumored to come from Numeria, the land of the fallen sky." She points west, and grumbles "maybe she is telling the truth. She seems sweet, but sweet people are often vessels for worse things, even unintentionally."
She suddenly flails her arms a bit, "I don't trust someone who shows up and fills the hole that SoB made! It’s too convenient! The only way to heal is to work at it. Tomorrow and the next day and the next day.” She slaps her hand for emphasis, ”Until you get better! Or maybe you don’t but it’s at least real. Isabella - everything is a struggle and it only gets harder. There are no shortcuts - but we took one when we drew from that f*~~ing deck.” Sophie is breathing very heavily, unfocused, looking through Bella. Her gaze sharpens and she focuses again, ”maybe we could talk about what happened, but by bit, every time you feel up for it.” She touches Bella’s arm, ”my way is harder, but the wound will heal cleaner.”