An Improbable Truth. (ch 2 )00:15 Apr 30 2023
Times Read: 164
the sheriff sat at his desk with the contents of the girls' satchel spread out on it.
A carved wooden box containing several rare and likely magical stones, not his personal specialty. while he had no idea what type of magic they had been imbued with he knew one thing, they were barely powerful... they seem to have come from a salt cave rather than a deep earth mine common in eros...so they were certainly rare.
A bundle of dried herbs were in the box as well. unlike any he was familiar with..then again he was not a gardener or a chef...it could be poison, it could be tea, it could be useless and decorative. the small purple flowers suggested uselessness.
There was also a silk chemise rolled up, the kind ladies use as a nightdress or wear under their corsets to freshen up.
an odd thing to wander around with but he knew little of the travel habits of women. the small jars of tinctures and powders all seemed to be fine cosmetics and body oils. these he knew well as his wife had similar vices of vanity.
he also knew, painfully well that they were not cheap.
Fine parchment and a quill in a silk velvet wrap...and the most damning evidence a golden wax seal...with the symbol of Domintera
The silver jewelry renders the picture even more clearly. they were a finely crafted metal, with even finer crystals- also magic.
A healing amulet, clearly a powerful one that had to be considerably expensive for someone from Domintera. as well as a protection ring...clearly not a powerful one as she was subdued so easily. Then again the reports from the guard made no mention of arrows, spells or swords. just that they picked her up knocked her out and brought her in.
Strange to be sure.
He lets out a deep sigh and rises from his chair.
"Lord Armond is going to be pleased at least..."
******
The cold stone of the oubliette was far from comfortable, meaning that the sleep which had been so forced onto Emelia was quickly fading away. As the strange reality set in she realized that she had enough space to sit with her legs curled under her body and her torso leaning against the wall, but not enough to lay.
she still had her riding cloak but it was crumpled in a heap on top of her back instead of properly on her, implying that it had been thrown down onto her sleeping form. her riding boots also seemed to be missing. and while the warmth they would have provided was sorely missed she was thankful not to have the hardened leather digging into her thighs.
An attempt to stretch only grants a stiff reminder that she has not adjusted her corset laces since riding and the strange sleeping arrangement has caused it to shift upwards and pinch at her underarms.
These accommodations were not a part of her plan in the slightest. Then again she isn't aware of a kingdom that would deal with a visiting Nobel in such a way. If a visitor from even Eros came in peace they would be given hospitality and a respectful audience!
As she silently protests the drate above her is pulled out of place with a horrid scraping noise. "well princess, apparently you arent some looney woman... "
she cranes her head upwards to see her captor hovering above. A gruff serious looking man dressed in dark blue and lightweight chainmail, burnished so that it wouldn't reflect the light. "does this mean you didn't mean to imprison me?"
he laughs, crouching down and fishing her out with one arm "No your highness it means that you'll get an audience with the king instead of being sent to a madhouse"
she lets out a sigh of relief "Finally some dignity" but no sooner than she says this the Sherif begins to bind her hands "Excuse me?"
without looking away from his work he responds "Well we know you are a magic user so we can't have you doing anything hocus pocus related in the presence of our king...and besides, you're still trespassing in a time of war."
her cheeks flush red as he finishes up her binds "W-well I stated very clearly that I was coming in the name of peace!"
he laughs and pulls the rope attached to her wrists to lead her through the castle and to wherever this audience is meant to take place. "you really marched in through the back door expecting not to be treated like an enemy?" he lets out another condescending laugh "you women get the strangest ideas!"
Her cheeks burn red and she turns her face to the side. refusing to let him see her slighted. for the rest of the walk, she remains silent, biting her tongue and trying to learn everything she can from her surroundings. though, there isn't much to go off of. paintings of faces she doesn't recognize, symbols that have little meaning to her, and flowers, as every royal hall ought to have this time of year.
they approach a large pair of wooden doors which once the Sheriff opens reveal an opulent dining hall, the morning sun comes through the slivers left by large velvet curtains. at the furthest edge of the table sits a man, idly peering into a scrying glass. "ah you've fetched her" he says with an air of boredom.
Emelia is struck by how odd his disinterest is. remaining silent as she's shown to a chair adjacent to the head position where the bored king is seated presently. As she sits she scoots expecting the chair to be pushed back in, but the sheriff pushes her back and ties her waist to the seat "How dare-"
"Silence," the strange royal says with a hand wave "You've given me enough headache without being so shrill so early in the morning..." he pinches the bridge of his nose. his long hair hangs down, covering his gaunt features.
Emelia notices that he's wearing a simple linen shirt and black breeches, as if he had only just woken up...come to think of it the sun is awfully low in the sky.
it must be quite early indeed...
The sheriff ties the bind in a condescending bow from behind the chair and stands. "there are three guards posted don't hesitate to call them." and with that, the gruff man makes his exit.
She turns her dark brown eyes to the pale man and waits in silence for him to open his own. For some time he remains silent and still. "So why, pray honestly tell, did you come here in the state you have, and better yet at the time you have."
COMMENTS
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Vampirewitch39
16:46 Apr 30 2023
Ohhh... *eats popcorn*
oXMiahGraceXo
05:19 May 01 2023
I might squeeze out a new installment next week... lol but we shall see :3