Daphne 2.IV

This is a picture of a slave talking to some people.  Exciting, right?  Next update will be the last of this chapter, and then I have a special entry with more map.  Also, next one has some catty girl-on-girl action.  Now that's exciting.

“Of course sir, after me.” And with that he turned and began to shuffle away. Her husband turned about and quickly informed their two bodyguard to take all the horses and go around the corner to where they could store the horses, their goods, and rest their weary feet, and then gave them a silver Denarius each. They both liked to give their slaves rewards for either special or generally good work, such that they could either buy something for themselves or eventually save up to buy their freedom. It was one of the reasons that their slaves were generally quite predisposed towards them.

She followed them in and after her husband and his slave had been shown to a side room, the hobbled old slave asked of her, “Madam, should you like access to the cosmetics of the Lady of the house, or have you brought your own with you?”

Honestly, Daphne didn't like Vikas’s wife. She couldn't quite place it, it was perhaps that she was a little too artificial, but he had been married to her on account of her families wealth, not due to any manner of deep and passionate love. However, he liked her well enough, so they indulged him and indulged in pleasantries with her when there was need of it. Should she use the expensive cosmetics of a woman she didn't particularly like instead of the one’s she’d packaged with her? Of course. She put this thought into it and thusly replied with a fake smile creeping across her face, “Of course.”

“Yes, m’lady.” He changed the direction that he was leading her, evident that he’d thought of this halfway through leading her to somewhere else. As such, she and Doula followed and were taken back towards the back of the house, passing a beautiful garden surrounded by a colonnade and into the bedroom of the mistress of the house. It was opulent, as to be expected. She couldn't bear but to be surrounded by but the most expensive of furniture of decorations. It was how she was raised, Daphne supposed. Doesn't make her any less of a right cunt.

Daphne 2.III

So, I just finished helping out with a 48 gaming marathon on the N64 to raise money, and now I'm absolutely exhausted, and this is also why I'm updating this so late.  At any rate, I hope you all enjoy.

She thought that he was going to do something nice when he reached his arm out, but she should have known; it was a sneak attack. He reached behind her arm and went for the ribs to launch a devastating tickle-attack. She reared away from him with laughter, but then lunged downwards to grab down onto her horse’s neck. There was nothing on the horse except for a pillow and blanket, and so the only thing keeping her from falling off was the strength of her own thighs. Still hunched down atop her horse, with Aelestros laughing heartily at her, he shook one fist at him and hissed, “I should have suspected such treachery from the likes of you, villain! Alas, I shall escape your wretched grasp!”

She lifted herself up slightly and kicked her heels sharply into the haunches of her horse twice, and it started into a gallop. Not too long thereafter she looked back to see him chasing after her, with their personal slaves behind, and then the poor slaves they’d brought to protect them, horseless, running yet further back. But as she looked forward once more she saw that she was cresting a hill, and then what was beyond. It was Errama, they were there.

. . .

The sun had begun to sag by time that they had drawn near to the urban villa of Vikas, a friend of theirs that they’d had for quite some time. He was quite the socialite, and knew many of the important people in the city. He was also quite richer than they were, which certainly helped his position, and from a more notable noble family. Theirs, whilst not without repute, back. Aelestros had maintained this notion that one should not stand too close to the door when someone answered it, but even though he’d explained why, perhaps more than once, she never quite understood. After not too terribly long, one of the great doors swung slowly inward to reveal a meek little old balding man in a black tunic. With almost a tremble to his voice, he bowed slightly and greeted them, “Lord Orionus. We expected you much earlier. I trust your journey did not contain any trouble?”

Aelestros turned his head over his shoulder back towards her and with a straight face and cocked eyebrow replied, “No, our journey was made in due time. We just had a bit of trouble getting out of the old homestead.” How passive-aggressive. She would have to hold this against him later. He turned back towards the aging slave and inquired, “We’re in need of being refreshed after our journey. If you would show us to a room in which we may do so, and then inform your master of our arrival?”

Daphne 2.II

So, since I've made that last post, this chapter is no longer the first one.  I moved another one before it because I think it would make a more powerful impression.  That being said, I still like this one.  It's neat-o peachy keen.  Also, changed the name of the character Vivica to Kalliste.  I'm likely also to change the name of Vikas.  Excepting Talos, that would be all of the characters who I had written on bursts of inspiration before I compiled them into a single corpus of work, and gave them distinct cultures.

The first thing that he had said to her after since they’d left this morning. Naturally, it wasn’t to apologize for keeping a cold shoulder or being impatient with her; he knew what he was getting into when he married her. Naturally, it was because he had something to say. She looked over at where he was pointing. There were a couple of small fuzzy animals, sort of a like small deer or goats. She had no idea what they were, and thus retorted, “Why don’t you tell me, dear?”

He was sure to be excited at the chance to explain something, he always was. Fortunately, she thought it was cute, and it was one of the things that she liked about him. Instantly his face lit up in excitement, as she expected, a smile widening his face and giving birth to dimples upon his cheeks. He had lighter skin, coupled with blonde hair and blues eyes, signifying his northern ancestry, but despite that his family had lived here for some time, he was still naturally tanner than either of his parents. Aelestros explained excitedly to her, motioning with both hands, “It’s a chamois. It’s like a goat, and they mainly only live up in the mountains. It’s unusual to see them so far down and near the coast. I think I’ve only seen them once before.” He paused for a moment before postulating, “I wonder what they’re doing down here?”

She just shrugged, but he wasn’t even looking. It was a reflexive action. She didn’t really care about the goats, or whatever they were. They just sort of stood there by the trees a bit off, staring at them with unblinking eyes. She just wanted to run up to them and scare them all off, but that would take effort. Much better to merely sit upon the horse and continue down the road, clearly. A little bit passed before she realized that she never responded, so hurriedly spout out the first thing that came to mind, “It’s probably on some great goat journey, after their parents had been killed by the evil ibis, and now they’re here for revenge.”

He slowed his horse down to come back beside her, so that they were riding as close as they feasibly could have. Gazing lovingly at her face, he gently said, “And that’s why I love you. There’s simply no one else like you, and no one else that will do.” His eyes bled with sincerity as he reached over towards her. Her face was glowing.

Daphne 2.I

I decided to once again post from the perspective of Daphne.  This is actually the very beginning of what I propose to be my book, so I should doubly hope that it is of good quality.  Let me know.  And as always, enjoy.

They were going to be late. It seemed to bother her husband, Aelestros, but she had no such misconceptions. They were going to arrive exactly when they arrived, and there was nothing that could be done to avert this. She just couldn't understand anything otherwise. He had been irritated and unwilling to talk to her for a bit, but she knew that he’d get over it soon enough. He couldn't help but talk, so staying quiet was just as hard as it was for him to stay mad at her, she knew. He’d waited for half a day for her to finish working on an artistic project that she had set herself to, coming in to remind her quite often that they needed to leave. She confidently assured him every time that she was almost done, and every time he believed her. To be fair, I was telling to the truth, but every time I got to a stopping point, I saw one more thing that I had to do. And then again this morning; unavoidable.

They were riding from their country villa which they lived at to the city of Errama, the City, where they were visiting friends. The night before they’d stayed at an inn along the road, but today they’d be in the city; they weren't too far away, so it wasn't too hard to go and visit their friends. It was just the two of them, but of course they both had to bring their personal slaves, and they brought another couple of slaves along for protection, just in case. The beautiful thing about the Erraman domination of the Ravennas peninsula is that all the roads were brilliant, and they were safe to travel from the straights of Duraculis to Taratas and even into Molosseiros without fear of being waylaid by brigands, but even so, it never hurt to take the extra precautions, just in case some slaves happened to have escaped and were looking for easy targets, or were desperate and saw horses by which they could flee more quickly with. That and wolves.

Her husband interrupted her perhaps paranoid thoughts by pointing off towards the wood line and calling out in a whispered tone to her, “Look at that, do you know what that is?”

Teyrna V

Finishing up the first Teyrna chapter.  This Wednesday I start a new chapter and perspective.  Would you rather hear from the perspective of Daphne once more, or hear more from Vivica, the character who was riding in a palanquin?

Third to speak was, Ninian, a high chieftain of a younger age but nearly peerless but not for Cadeyrn above him. He was nearly peerless in battle, a giant of a man, though perhaps without the reason or wisdom that some others may have had. In their society, charisma and proficiency in battle in and of themselves were equal to age and wisdom, which is how such people alike were able to attain such positions of power. He roared out, “This envoy speaks of how great and terrible the Aigaids are. Are not we the bravest people on this world? Are not the Aevergos the best among our people? They make aim to threaten us, but if they were truly strong they would simply do as they wish. If they were strong, they would not ask us for permission, they would not make deceitful attempts to appeal to us in matters that they consider internal, that they consider to be outside of our regard. They attempt to intimidate us, and I for one shall not be part to such threats against us being taken seriously; I shall not stand idly aside as another shall tell us what we, the bravest and most powerful among nations in this world, can and cannot partake in!”

Teyrna knew that when Cadeyrn had first spoken he had already made up his mind, that at this point his course was set and that he should not avert from it, even should they be heading towards the rocky shoals which would ultimately spell their doom. Thusfar it had never steered him astray, and she knew that he was counting on it to work this time as well. However, he had never before been gambling the fate of an entire people against another which was so great in power, that united peoples of different ethnicity and religion by force of law alone. This truly was a gamble for him, but he could not back down from what he truly believed in, he could not truly do something which he was against, she knew this. For better or worse, she knew what his response would be before he ever was able to evoke it.

Calmly he began, “I have heard enough of my countrymen, of the men who have chosen to put me in the position that I am in because they thought that I would be able to make the wisest choices for our people. You speak as though you will bring peace and serenity to all the land, but I know that this is not the case, and I know that your boldness and drunkenness shall cause your fall, for your expect to drink up kingdoms in huge cups. Be gone from here Apostolos, and tell your lord and master that the Aevergos nation is not one that can be bought as mercenaries, not one that can be pressured to sit aside as their morals are allowed to pass them by. Tell him that most of all that we are not afraid, and that we shall do what is right no matter the circumstance. Flee now, little man.”

The envoy opened his mouth but briefly as though he was to extend a retort, as though he was to make a counter-argument against what had been said, but then seemed to think better of it. He clenched his jaw and fists both, saying nothing, but instead turning on his heel precisely backwards and heading back out the way that he can come in, his two bodyguards doing the same, following their charge as he exited the large round hall, everyone else remaining silent as they left, all eyes tracking them as they egressed from the building. Once they had exited, all eyes turned from them up in the opposite direction from the envoys back up to Cadeyrn.

He fell back into his seat, slumping into it, almost growling under his breath, “What other business do the lot of you have to content with myself, whilst I am still here?”

Teyrna IV

Sorry for such a long break in posting everyone.  I kind of had to go to jail for ten days, which made it really hard to post things on the internet.  However, I'm now able to resume with posting, which I'm sure you're all exceedingly happy to know.  And because I missed out on posting, I'm going to make the rest of this chapter two posts, instead of just one.  Enjoy some rhetoric.  (Oh, and let me continue to complain about how hard it is to find artwork of La Tene Celts.

The diplomat made a slight bow and continued with his nonsensical gesticulation, “Brennus, the Aigaid people have great clout and strength both, and they have taken it upon themselves to protect the Molosseisian colonies just to the south of your peoples, for fear that a more perfidious and ill-intended nations otherwise would wish to subvert them away from truth and justice. We are knowing that you have trade and interaction with these peoples, and wish to inform you that we have only their best interest in our hearts and minds, that it is our rightful claim to their cities and their colonists, and beseech you no interference.”

Teyrna could feel her husband draw in a deep breath and then let it loose, the audible air escaping his nose and mouth. He reiterated with a sterner tone, “First I must say again that Brennus means king.” He stood up and her hand slowly fell off of his shoulder back to her side as he continued, his voice booming, “True it is then, that the strong do what they can, while the weak suffer what they must.” He shook his head slightly before continuing, “As Vergobret, as the elected official of the Aevergos, I must make my opinion known. I trust that the gods will give fortune to the Molosseisians, for they are standing for what is just against what is not.”

“Brennus, I—” the ambassador began.

Cadeyrn didn’t give him the chance to even start a sentence, bellowing out with fire in his belly and his voice, “Call me king again and I shall be your king; lord and commander of your very life and being! You have nothing more to say here!” He breathed in deeply through his nose and exhaled out of his mouth before continuing in a more somber tone, “The envoy has spoken. I have spoken. What say you, chieftains of the Aevergos?”

The first to respond was Galchobar, one of the high chieftains who had held his position the longest, carrying a more hunched posture and a great long white beard. His wisdom was such that all listened when he spoke, even as his voice was softer with a hint of trembling due to his age, “You are very quick to accuse Vergobret, but the wise man does not make decisions in a moment, but thinks them over a great people of time. It is always best to think on all sides of an argument, and then thereafter choose which is best among many. You speak of the evil that these southerners will bring, how the cause of our neighbours is just, but are not they both of the same people? Are they not of the same blood? You speak for the gods, but we all know that we cannot know what it is that the gods know and think. If we were to sacrifice and man to send a message to our ancestors, that is the only way!” He paused briefly before finishing his argument, “I only beseech you all that we cannot make decisions so rashly, that we must appeal to reason, not passion when it comes to matters of state that may have great influence on our very livelihood.”

Next to speak was Lugobelenus, a high chieftain who was of moderate age and long, wild hair, devoting himself to the religious arts, divining the wills of the gods. Even his name came from the deity Lugos. He slowly and methodically brought up his argument, “It is true that man cannot understand the will of the gods, or the fate that has been woven for both gods and men. I can only advise against speaking on their behalf, or even invoking them for such as you have, so brazenly. How are we to know that relations with the Aigaids shall be any different than how it should be now? I only suggest prudence, that we act in a manner which is just, rather than what is expedient.”