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[Master Warder Z_]

They were disgusted because he stole what amounted a...Muslim varient of crucifixion

[Master Warder Z_]

Also I don't recall if it was Turkish Muslims who invented it or not, it could have been pre ottoman

[raging_monkey]

So it was a "honour" issue and wasn't vlad and his brother raised as Turks(by extension Islam) so it wouldn't it have been his as much theirs

[Master Warder Z_]

You might interpret it that way, it wasn't like it was the first time someone stole a idea from Muslims

[raging_monkey]

Beauty of history

[Uccio]

Spoiler

*Caius whirled across the grand hall Nazlik in his arms while the music died down leaving last tunes echo in the hall. He bowed at her courtsey smoothly, then took her arm steering Nazlik off the dance floor. The black pearls in her white hair tingled with a barely audible magical tune following her walk. They walked to the side of the dance floor taking drinks from a servant close by. Caius kept walking towards the space reserved for house Vaellanius nodding shortly to the host of the evening, Magister Rabirius, as he passed him. As Caius sat on the seat reserved to him Nazlik stepped behind him silently gazing at the guests passing by. Even she was Caius escort in the party she acted as his bodyguards, two daggers were hidden inside her elaborate gown for emergency use.

Publius walked to Caius side leaning towards him whispering, "You see master, that red headed elven girl surrounded by all those apprentices is the new protege of Magistra Aurelie". "Interesting", Caius said calmly, "where is she from?".
"She comes from Orlais, from Montpellier Circle master", Publius whispered, "she apparently has a talent for spirit magic". Caius stroked his goatee gazing at the elven girl in his thoughts, "I see. Maybe there is a specific reason for her being here... ".

"I will get right on it master" Publius said eagerly bowing to him and disappeared into the crowd. "Do you think he can find it out?" Nazlik whispered from the side of his seat.
"No" Caius said, "Publius is a strong force mage, and he seems to have a talent to necromancy but a spy he is not".
Caius took a sip of the wine, "I will leave it to Livia to find out what Magistra Aurelie is up to. We have not clashed yet as she understands to keep her distance to me. But if her plans affect mine at any level I need to know". He smiled shortly to Aurelie raising his cup to her as she gazed into their direction. Aurelie returned his greetings with a soft smile and a nod. She turned around and disappeared into the crowd.

"I wish I could touch you", Nazlik suddenly whispered with a fervent tone, "I want to feel your touch, your heat my love. This charade of ours, all this posturing, sometimes it tires me so much".
"I know love", Caius whispered smiling softly watching the crowd, "some day all this will be behind us, I promise".

Suddenly a familiar tune started to play, one of the bards hired to entertain the crowd had stopped right next to house Vaellanius booth blissfully unaware of who was sitting almost behind her. Nazlik listened to the notes resounding through the air, "power and slave" she whispered after a while.

The bard played through the first chorus singing. Then she started to feel that uncomfortable feeling of someone watching, intensively. She took a quick look behind her and saw Caius´ dark robed character looking at her. His cold stare completely knocked her off balance breaking her flow. She stumbled with notes, coughed and left quickly with an apology to her little circle of listeners whom had gathered around her.

Caius sighted, "after Mucia´s death and her house´s downfall that song has become even more popular". Nazlik smiled shortly gazing Caius softly, "still, how right that song is".*

[Serelir]

How fun! Caius and Nazlik got to dance - yay! I want to go back into the chapters I've yet to post and add some encounters with your characters. Caius' disconcerting stare made me laugh. 

[Uccio]

That´s his forte. 

[Serelir]

Elowyn will try to crack him up mid-stare.

[raging_monkey]

That I have to see lol most I get are sharp one lines.

More of ugin's tale

Spoiler

monkai sat in his chair at the circle rubbing his chin hair . The night before was a unsettling, the letter from the deceased ugin made his skin crawl "A passing those haven't been done in years... the void I do" he thought to himself the chantry had annulments but passing were a whole cleansing of mad shamans. He grew up in the circle and was a fluke nobody knew his skill set just academics. He debated reading ugin's "reward" what would be the point, he should burn the the thing, give it to caius and his jackasses of apprentices, anything but read the madness of a madman... but this was tevinter and he could sense the winds changing.

XXx
Ugin layer in his hammock in his safe house whistling a tune swinging. A pot was seething a foul odor and mist, he knew it to be ready. With a exaggerated yawn and stretch ugin hoped from his rest and to the boiling pot. "Ah the smell of magebane in the morning " he said taking a deep inhale from having grown a tolerance to it, most robes would be deader than a fish out of water at the amounts he would drink.

He started filling every flask he own with the substance, painting a sigil of a unique origin that was a trademark of his. Every person in the underworld knew of the mark but few knew him ironically. Some thought it dwarven, others tevinter due to the magical effects,but it was simply a glyph of hedge origin due to ugin being self taught in his magical studies...
Xxx

After months of preparation ugin was ready, he just had to wait to hear from his contact. The door to the warehouse slide open. "Rivani... I have done as you asked." A slender yet wizened woman said. It was judge Carissa over the past 6 months ugin and her had grown close compared to their original meeting. "Still have nightmares of your guard and I? " ugin joked pointing to the decomposing head. "You should join us we'do love a third hahaha "

"The one you want will be at his manor and he was aided by a judge darkon and I can assume to be his wife." Carissa threw a piece of parchment at his feet "don't ever contact me again or I will have you flogged and used a oxman's personal release ". Ugin laughed at the threat knowing she was serious he walked to Carissa grabbing his gear. "It appears I have new playmates then" he said callously. "Allow me to thank you honourable judge Carissa " ugin forced his lips on to her twirling his tongue, touching her teeth , and leaving spit as he left...

The judge was disgusted wiping slop from her face "a foreigner had assaulted her" she thought. Her vision began to have a reddish hue to it . "What sorcery is this!" She cried. Ugin merely whistled sharply calling his mount. "Oh judge by the way try not to make a mess" he said then getting on to his mount watching the judge hold her head in agony and finally exploding it light of red gore. "I'm going to have so much fun tonight!" Ugin laughed maniacally as he rode to his target absolutely ecstatic by the prospect of murder and mayhem

[Serelir]

Another scene at the party, Rabirius Manor:

 

Spoiler

 

Elowyn was watching the dancers, wishing she could join in. All eyes were riveted on a stately Qunari woman and her partner. She was the only Qunari in the room. Elowyn watched the watchers, noting the expressions of envy, distaste and, yes, lust that crossed their faces. The dancer had to be three times as tall as Elowyn, with legs that went on for miles. Elowyn wondered what it would be like to be that physically powerful and to be adored the way her dance partner so obviously adored her. Just then, Elowyn caught him studying her. His eyes were almost black and had an intensity that seemed to suck all the light out of the room. Elowyn felt a chill creep up her spine. She stared back, fascinated by the blackness that coalesced around the man. There was something about him that made her want to reach through the Veil and see what he looked like on the other side.

 

Just then, a shemlen man approached her. She turned to regard him and was intrigued to see that he looked a bit like the dark-eyed man. Only he was like a watercolor version of an oil painting. She wondered if he was the man’s son. She caught him glancing at her ears and frowning.

 

“I noticed you were watching Magister Caius,” he said. “I’m Publius, his apprentice.” He puffed out his chest. She knew nothing of this magister and wondered if his name was supposed to impress her. Here, in this place, she was this shemlen’s equal, elf or no. She drew herself up, pinned his gaze and smiled.

 

“I’m Elowyn, the apprentice of Magistra Aurelia Caracalla.”

 

“You speak Tevene well, for a foreigner,” Publius sniffed.

 

“Arrête de te la péter,” she said in Orlesian, just to see if he understood. She was gratified to see his cheeks redden. Then she caught him glancing at her chest. He looked away quickly. She drew out her fan to cover her smile. “Warm in here, isn’t it?” she said.

 

“Indeed,” he said. “Perhaps we should talk on the veranda?”

 

“I’m enjoying watching the dancers,” she said. “Tell me about this Magister of yours.”

 

While Publius was droning on about the Magister’s senatorial voting record, Elowyn’s attention was caught by an extraordinarily handsome man negotiating with the guards at the veranda doors.  His gaze turned toward her, and he winked. She decided to wink back. He had the loveliest smile! Not like this dry stick standing next to her. She interrupted Publius, “Who is that man over there with the guards?”

 

Publius stopped mid-sentence, something about the Magister’s war record, and looked at the man by the doors. He frowned. “That’s Vel Barrius. He’s a ruffian – they certainly won’t let him in.”

 

“What a shame!” she exclaimed. “He looks capable of entertaining a lady who wishes to dance.”

 

“He’s not someone with whom a respectable woman such as yourself should associate,” said Publius.

 

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she replied, a delicious smile curling the corners of her mouth. “Excuse me,” she said to Publius, “I’m absolutely dying of thirst.” Whereupon she made her escape before the apprentice could bore her to death.

 

 

 

[raging_monkey]

Late but it's party time

Spoiler

monkai looked into the mirror gazing upon the black overcoat signifying his allegiance to house valleonius. It was expensive and flamboyant oddy, definitely picked by zara and miriel. "So how does it fit we didn't know the dress code so we went with black and a simple coat." Miriel said mouth firing rapidly describing her fashionable tastes. Truth be told it was rather tight and overly conservative his tastes. "Miri we are family but your not allowed to dress me.." monkai joked.

"I think you look rather dashing love" zara said lustfully eying her date for the evening. "Oh maker I forgot I... have a... appointment " monkai skiddishly replied. He hated parties they made scorn antsy and they discussed things had did not care for. "Convient as your schedule is clear for the night" Muriel pointed out. Monkai wiped his face in admonishment. "So I'm to escort you two ladies?". Three ladies it's a gentleman's duty" said a monotonous voices. Cassia walked into the room wearing a matching gown of her sisters ,the three staring him down. make that four ladies beloved scorn said voice sing with jealousy. "Greeeat. might as well get comfortable .." monkai thought. he tore off the sleeves of his coat and left for the party
XXx

A servant stood on top of a stair case holding a parchment ready. "Introducing first enchanter of the minrathous circle of Magi and husband to lady zara vallenious lord ragin monkai "said the servant making monkai's skin crawl, he hated titles and to be in the open. "Escorting ladies zara,cassia, and Muriel vallenious "

The four glided down the stairs with the guests looking in shock monkai's tattoos and piercings. "Pfft a rivaini polluting our circle.." whispered a noble. "Be glad he's not a elf that would be a travesty " whispered another.

"They are staring at me again." Monkai said under his breath. "Just look straight ahead no slouching! " cassia said "your still on probation. Monkai heeded her words til they got to the dance floor. He saw caius and nazlik dancing... he had a smile.. well what would be considered a smile but he could tell he was planning something. Either way he decided to stay clear of him if possible the old man has a good right hook. Miriel went straight for the cakes, she acts like a ten year old he thought. Cassia and zara strolled over two apprentices one looked rivaini... least she can ask somebody else bought rivain. Monkai simply sat on the wall eying the crowd the incident with ugin made him paranoid of people.. passing are group efforts and wondered was it really over?. He pulled a pipe from his satchel putting dried deathroot into it and lighting it with a spell from his finger taking a deep inhale and watched the crowd

[Serelir]

Still at the party:

 

Spoiler

Elowyn ventured away from the crowd in search of the facilities. The plumbing, the glorious Tevinter plumbing! She wondered whether the fixtures were made of marble. Sources claimed that the Imperium had simply copied the technology from the dwarves. She supposed dwarves living underground had to do something with all the waste. Perhaps there was a giant room full of it somewhere. Or wait… they had molten rock or something down there, didn’t they? Perhaps they simply burned it up. It would smell horrible though. What sort of magic did the Vints employ? Perhaps they simply loaded it into trebuchets and flung it at the Qunari.

 

She opened a door that turned out to lead to a study and was about to move on when she heard someone muttering. She peeked in to see who it was. The strangest man stood in front of a bookshelf. She’d never seen anyone like him: the sleeves of his coat were missing, and his arms were covered with tattoos. She couldn’t quite see his face, as he had his back turned, but his ears were pierced all the way around. He seemed to be holding a conversation with himself.

 

“You were ogling those women no I wasn’t I swear I can see through your eyes don’t lie I’m not lying they’re not covered up are they? You’ll pay for this I’ll enjoy that a lot I’ll make you suffer…”

 

Elowyn decided it wasn’t her problem, but perhaps she should alert a guard just in case. She tiptoed back out of the room. Just then, a black-haired woman came running up, followed by a young blonde girl with a little smear of jam on her cheek.

 

“Have you seen a Rivaini man come this way?” the raven-haired woman asked breathlessly.

 

“There’s a man in that room,” Elowyn pointed behind her, “but I’m not sure where he’s from. He’s talking to himself though.”

 

“That would be him! Thank you so much.” The two women hurried into the room. Elowyn shrugged and started walking down the hall. A tall, chestnut-haired woman wearing a severely-cut gown strode up the hallway and looked down her long, patrician nose at Elowyn, who felt like she’d been caught doing something naughty.

 

“I was just looking for the powder room,” she said.

 

“Never mind that! Where is that irritating little monkey?” said the woman.

 

“Monkey? I saw some people go into that room, but no monkeys,” Replied Elowyn.

 

The woman merely snorted and strode off.

[raging_monkey]

Hehe so that's what it looks like when he's talking to her

Spoiler

zara saw monkai in the study he losing it he was tossing the desk over. "Kai what are doing here the party is this way. She said calmly she knew he was in his moods again. "Acting like a petulant child no doubt" cassia strolled in after her.

The sounds of their voices broke him from his stooper "I need some air excuse me ladies" monkai said holding his head. It felt as if it would explode ,death seemed preferable to this pain. "Best keep a eye on your pet lest he go mad. Bringing him in the open was bad idea." Cassia said picking up the desk and putting everything back. "He needs to learn be in social settings he only leaves the circle when he has to or for our trysts " zara replied woefully. "Well you two aren't married so he needs his space" cassia said with concerns and tradional stoicism. Zara worried bout her intentions she knew she will always play second but loved him nonetheless.

Xxx
Monkai leaned over the balcony taking slow breaths trying to center himself nausea filled and in seconds he vomited the contents of his stomach. All he had eaten was bread and smoke from his pipe. this isn't over before the night is over you'll learn that I'm all you need scorn echoed as monkai spit and cleaned his mouth. "I know.. your all i need without you I'm nothing..." he said regretfully good boy

XXx
Monkai returned to the party eying the guests that detour left his group vulnerable. He saw caius chatting with nazlik ,miriel stuffing her face with sweets trying to detour another guest to no avail. Cassia and zara were talking to the host of the party. All was fine so far. He notice a redheaded elf awkwardly socializing by her appearance she was the new enrollie that had crossed his desk... he would have to see her soon. He relite his pipe and tried to relax away from the people that will one day kill him

[Serelir]

Back at Domus Caracalla, the next day:

 

Spoiler

Elowyn was reading a book about Eleni Zinovia in the orange study, named for the potted orange trees that filled its balcony. Their blossoms wafted a sweet fragrance into the room. She was just noticing a subtle change in the scent when she looked up and saw that Caradoc was watching her. He was arranged casually, leaning against the wall with one foot hooked over the other, his muscular arms crossed. He smiled at her.

 

“I wish I had Zinovia’s precognitive powers,” Elowyn said, “I would have known you were going to come distract me!”

 

Caradoc walked over, sat next to her on the couch, put one arm behind her and gently took the book from her hands with the other. She felt alarmed and attempted to scoot away from him, but just at that moment, he tickled the nape of her neck with the hand behind her. She tried to swat him away.

 

“What do you mean by doing this?” she demanded rather inarticulately. He really was distractingly handsome, and she felt angry at herself after Aurelie’s little lecture about honey-traps. Caradoc even smelled good, like Antivan Pepperbark. She had to stop herself from leaning closer and breathing in his scent.

 

“Training,” he replied sardonically. “I hear you’ve met Dio.”

 

“So? Aurelie told me what he is. I’m not an idiot!” she said hotly.

 

Caradoc brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. Her traitorous heart sped up, and she took a deep breath to calm herself, which only delivered another dose of whatever subversive perfume he was wearing. Elowyn took hold of his hand and placed it in his lap.

 

“I just want you to be prepared,” he stated simply.

 

“I’d like to think I can tell when someone is playing me,” she said.

 

“And do you think I’m playing you?”

 

“You just said you were! It’s just training.”

 

“Is it?”

 

“Oh, stop!” Elowyn got up and crossed the room. “Ok, tell me what to do if Dio tries his tricks on me.”

 

“You’re doing well, so far, though I’d suggest a bit more charm.” Caradoc rose and came over to her. This was getting annoying! He took her hand and kissed it. Elowyn felt like she was going to collapse right there, so she gritted her teeth and stiffened her back and snatched her hand away. To her irritation, Caradoc just grinned. “Ask me a question,” he demanded.

 

“What?”

 

“Ask me a question.”

 

“That was a question!”

 

He laughed. “Point awarded to Elowyn!” he declared. “Okay, imagine me in my small clothes.”

 

“That’s not helping!”

 

“Imagine me with my small clothes around my ankles, sitting on the jakes,” he added.

 

“Ugh, no!” she waved her hand as if it could dismiss the image from her head.

 

“Good! We’ve dispelled a little of the hold I had over you.”

 

“You had a spell on me?” asked Elowyn, confused. “I thought you weren’t a mage!”

 

“No, no, I was speaking figuratively. Well, maybe it is a little like magic. Charm has several meanings.”

 

“Maybe it is!” said Elowyn excitedly. “Maybe that’s what Aurelie meant by ‘practical magic!’ Maybe that’s what charisma is.”

Caradoc made a funny face, “I never thought of it that way,” he said.

 

“I’m opening my mind to new ideas! There might be many kinds of magic that we just haven’t studied yet,” beamed Elowyn.

 

“Ah, look at you! Successful distraction – mission accomplished.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“You turned the tables on me and broke the hold I had on your emotions. Well done!”

 

“So, the trick is to go scholarly on someone who’s trying to seduce me. I like that!” Elowyn laughed.

 

“When I came close to you and entered your personal space,” said Caradoc, doing just that, “I disrupted your concentration, putting you at a disadvantage and forcing you to defend yourself. Now, if you were Aurelie, you could do it right back to me. But since you have different talents, you need to use those.”

 

“Are you saying I don’t know how to flirt?” asked Elowyn, batting her eyelashes at him.

 

Caradoc grinned and pinched her waist. “Ouch! Stop that!” she cried, jumping a little. “Ummm, did you know that the Hercinian shore crab can pinch its claws with fourteen pounds of pressure?” she asked.

 

“I did not know that!” Caradoc exclaimed, “Shall we test who has the stronger pinch?” He did it again, this time on her derriere.

 

“Ow! You are wicked! The Mabari hound has a bite pressure of 500psi!” she shouted, backing away.

 

“You can toss your facts at me as much as you like, but I’m not going to let you get away this time,” Caradoc smirked as he invaded her space once again. He suddenly seemed menacing rather than funny.

 

“Please stop,” she said, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

 

“Do you think you could?” he asked, coming closer.

 

“Please don’t!” She felt her mana rising into her hands. She didn’t want to hurt Caradoc, but she was having bad memories of Hervé beating her. She reached into the Fade and pulled herself through.

 

She found herself on the other side of the house, near the kitchens. The cook was making a garlicky sauce which she would normally have found enticing. But her stomach flipped over, and she staggered outside and threw up. “Nug crap!” she spat, and wiped her mouth. She used a little magic to make the vomit disappear. She heard Caradoc calling her name. She walked back into the house and found him in the hallway.

 

“I was worried about you!” he cried. “You just disappeared.”

 

“I’m okay,” she said, “Sort of.” She covered her mouth. She really did not want him to see her like this. She still felt a little green, and not in a healthy fields-and-meadows kind of way.

 

He came over and hugged her. “How did you do that?” he asked.

 

“I just wanted to get away. I didn’t like what you were doing.” She felt like crying, but she felt angry, too, and kind of dried out, parched even. “I need a drink.”

 

He led her into a parlor and poured some wine. “That could be a useful trick,” he said, handing her a glass of wine. She drank it down gratefully.

 

“Don’t make me do that again,” she said.

 

He looked concerned. “You can practice it so that you have conscious control. Even what you felt today, when I was pressuring you – you can practice how to respond so that it no longer upsets you.”

 

“How did you learn all this?” Elowyn asked him. “I don’t know anything about your past. How did you learn how to manipulate people and spy and steal information?”

 

“Survival,” he said. “I was born a slave, but in a different house. We weren’t treated well. We weren’t fed – if I hadn’t learned to steal, I and my family would have starved. After a while, I became so good at it that I drew the attention of the Crows. My master almost sold me to them, but Aurelie rescued me.”

 

“She rescued you? How did she even know about you?”

 

“She keeps her eye on the Crows so she can keep abreast of the contracts out on her. She’d rather have a weapon in her own hands than let the Crows have it, so she bought me and my entire family.”

 

“Where is your family now?”

 

“In a safe place, far from here.”

 

“She didn’t want them to compromise you,” Elowyn observed.

 

“No, and I’m grateful for it. I love my work. She didn’t have to force me into it. Knowing my family is safe allows me to take necessary risks. Aurelie is my mentor – I owe her everything.”

 

“From what I’ve seen of her, she’s inspiring. Not at all what I had imagined Tevinter Magisters to be.”

 

“She can be ruthless when she has to. But it’s not just about her own survival and benefit – she cares about the Imperium and wants it to prosper. People forget that we’re at war. They get so caught up in these petty inter-House rivalries and forget that we face a much larger threat to our north.”

 

“The Qunari war.”

 

“Yes, in everything we do, our goal is to drive the Qunari from our doorstep. What Aurelie and I teach you is important. You are a weapon in that war – don’t forget that.”

 

“I hadn’t thought of it that way. I guess I thought of myself as an employee. I thought I’d have my head in a book and contribute to the store of esoteric knowledge.”

 

“That might be just what we need to give us an edge,” said Caradoc, “but you need to learn to protect yourself and our mission while you’re gathering that knowledge. It’s not so different from sneaking into houses and stealing letters.”

 

“I see. Thank you, Caradoc. I’m sorry if I over-reacted.”

 

“No need to be sorry! I enjoyed it, actually.” He grinned. Elowyn crossed her arms and stomped her foot in mock vexation and grinned back at him.

[Serelir]

Bit different from Monkai's training  methods 

[raging_monkey]

Stay tunined @5

[Red of Rivia]

It's something I always wonder, how someone trains ''magic''

[raging_monkey]

life ran llonger than expected

Spoiler

monkai walked to his office in the circle feeling drained of his mana. The party was exhausting between the hostess pressing him to take her son as a apprentice and miriel trying to stuff her mouth full of sweets... he needed time to relax.

He opened his door expecting paperwork. But he was shocked by the arrival of a guest.
She was sitting in his chair reading his book and taking notes. "Who the **** are you" he asked summoning mana between his fingers. "Now is that any way to greet a guest a lady guest at that... really as a retainer of house vallenious and a rivaini you'd have better manners." The woman said face deep in her reading.

"Excuse my imprudence.. who the **** are you Milady" monkai said mana now glowing in his hand. The woman put rose from the desk casually strolling to him. "I am magister Aurelia a friend and your biggest fan" she said holding a first edition of his book. "Fascinating read shame most refuse to give it credit "

"I don't need friends or credit... I have enough" monkai said still readying his magic. Aurelia extended the book for a autograph making him feel like it was a trick or trap. " I would like to invite you and your wife to dinner and to discuss your theories I have a very talented apprentice I'd like to to meet..."

"And if I refuse... I can easily say you attacked me and slipped... and I'd sleep like a child." Monkai said grinning at the idea of killing a magister. "You won't because I know your secret... and what you've done... dinner will be ready Friday... please dress lovely and not those rags from last night.." Aurelia left smiling at her new friend but monkai felt ill he had just dodged a arrow meant for his head

[raging_monkey]

It's something I always wonder, how someone trains ''magic''

if origins is anything it's like a school but with a lot of P.E

[Serelir]

Go Aurelia! Way to handle the Monkai!

 

You may have to write this dinner scene though... We can toss it back and forth 

[raging_monkey]

I was actually going to sugesst that still picking the meal can't write a dinner scene unless we know the meals lol

[Serelir]

Mediterranean - Italian sort of food? or Turkish, since Byzantium is the model. I do love stuffed grape leaves. There could be figs and roasted eggplant and a lemon tart. Feta cheese and some wine. I can think of some more things, but I have to go watch Sense8 - more tomorrow!

 

Indigenous wine grapes of Turkey

[raging_monkey]

I can do that

[Serelir]

Minrathous, Domus Caracalla

 

Spoiler

Elowyn was sitting in the window seat of her bedroom that evening, sketching an unusual insect that had taken up residence in the roses that climbed up the wall around her window. The insect had a large wasp in its grasp. Elowyn wondered which would win the skirmish.

 

Satina, the small moon, was just appearing over the edge of the dome of the Great Library. Elowyn loved the dome and felt its reassuring presence wherever she ventured in the city. She’d look up to discover an unexpected glimpse of it as she turned a corner and feel her spirits rise just thinking about all the knowledge it contained.

 

Just then, a pebble bounced off the window sill and scared away the insect, which let go of its wasp victim and watched it fly away. She looked down to see a man with a lute smiling up at her. It was Vel Barrius, the handsome ruffian.

 

“What are you doing here?” she called to him quietly. “The guards will find you!”

 

“Then let me climb to your window, beautiful lady, and serenade you with a tune.”

 

“How do I know you’re not here to kill me?”

 

“If only music could slay your hesitation,” he replied, playing a few notes on the lute.

 

Elowyn eyed the daggers strapped to his hips. “I would study the hilts of your daggers at close range, but fear it is the blades that would make my acquaintance.”

 

“You wound me with words sharper than any daggers,” he countered. “Perhaps you would join me here in the courtyard for a dance? Since my comrade at the party failed to perform the honor.”

 

“Play me a tune first,” she demanded.

 

“Anything for you, mia cara,” he said, smiling while he tuned his instrument.

 

He began a song in Elowyn’s favorite key. She leaned over the edge of the window, her loosened hair drifting toward the dangerous thorns of the roses. Then his rich voice rose over the delicate notes of the lute, singing about a lady whose lover was drawn toward her by the fiery warmth of her hair, only to be frozen by the contempt in her icy glances, and how his sufferings made him wish for the sweet release of death. As the last notes drifted through the garden, Elowyn wondered what it would be like to kiss those shapely lips, to feel the embrace of this dangerous shemlen.

 

He gave her a courtly bow. “Will the lady join me for a dance?” he asked. Just then, they both heard the sound of the guards marching around the perimeter of the house.

 

“Perhaps another night,” she said, smiling, and closed the shutters as his shadow slipped away into the darkness.