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Post by Rozaria Ni Catháin on Aug 14, 2012 14:14:46 GMT -5
Lady Rozaria sat regally in a stately chair, reminiscent of a throne, in the great hall of Leananshe Castle. Raised upon a stone dais, she glared down upon her soldiers and more so upon the common man who they had pushed to his knees. The chamber was silent save for the drumming of the lady’s fingers against the wooden arm of the chair.
Dauntingly, The Red Lady rose from her seat and stepped down from her perch. The hem of her red and violet robes trailed behind her on the stone floor as she approached the kneeling serf. No one dared to look her in the eye, not in her present mood. Rozaria was not pleased, not in the slightest. The man before her stood accused of stealing scraps of gold from her mines, and if there was one thing she would not tolerate in her lands, it was stealing. However, her guards could not find the missing gold, and the man claimed he was innocent. So now it was up to Rozaria to uncover the truth of the matter.
“You are well aware that I do not tolerate thieves,” stated Lady Rozaria, her voice cold and void of emotion. “Especially those who steal from me!”
“I swear I am innocent, your Ladyship,” cowered the miner, ringing his boney hands.
“We shall see…” The Red Lady of Liore said ominously, circling around the man and strutting back to her seat. After gracefully lowering herself into the chair, she sank into the seat and clutched the clawed arms. Then closing her eyes, the sorceress concentrated, reaching into her vast power. With a small gasp, her dark eyes shot open, her vision now clouded with images of the past. It did not take her long to find what she wanted, but what the lady saw was not what she expected. In her vision, Rozaria saw the serf witnessing the foreman of one of her gold mines pocketing the gold and then threatening the serf’s family. Well that was all that she needed to see.
Returning to the present, Rozaria straightened up in her chair, once again poised, and commanded, “Release him, and bring me Foreman Alik.”
Without question, the guards freed the miner and escorted him from the great hall as they set off to arrest the foreman. Then as Rozaria began to relax, her chamberlain announced, “My Lady, the Lord of Tarnovo has arrived.”
“Well, show him in,” ordered the Lady of Liore, waving her chamberlain away. The lord and lady had much to discuss, mainly how to advance and maintain their position, wealth, and influence in the kingdom.
tag; isaac comnenus |
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Post by Isaac Comnenus on Aug 16, 2012 19:40:26 GMT -5
The ride to Leananshe Castle from Tarnovo was a long one. It had taken a better part of a week for Isaac to arrive in his caravan. He was exhausted from the ride, and by the time he had arrived he needed time to get rejuvenated as well get dressed in more formal attire. It took till the better half of the afternoon to do so. He changed into a dark blue uniform, and took a rest, drinking a few cool classes of water before moving to the castle entrance. By the time he was at the gates he felt a hundred times better.
"Who goes there?" Shouted one of the guards from atop the gates.
"Lord Isaac of Tarnovo has arrived at the invitation of Lady Rozaria." Isaac herald shouted back. The guard turned and made a motion to some below. "Open the gates!" He shouted. After a moment the gates slid open, and Isaac's assistants followed the young lord through. The guards bowed with respect. "My apologies lord, we were unaware of when you would arrive."
Isaac raised his hand in acceptance. "Apologies are not necessary, my arrival was not formally planned." He replied casually.
The guard gave a quick bow then motioned towards the castle. "Right this way my lord."
Isaac and his guards passed through the great hall to Lady Rozaria's audience chamber. Isaac was impressed by the decor and condition of the castle, the 'Red Lady' lived here well off, and it showed. But then again Isaac didn't pick her because she was some poor country girl. He had sought this meeting because her mines were some of the most profitable in the east, and he wanted to be more than just on good terms with Lady Rozaria. But then again who did not want to be on good terms with a young single woman who was wealthy as she was attractive?
Before Isaac arrived before Roza on her throne he could here the chamberlain announced his audience. Isaac waited a moment before the chamberlain greeted and showed him before the Lady. Isaac approached and bowed before her in a respectful manner. "It is a pleasure to see you my lady, it has been a long time since I've seen you at court." Isaac had not been much for the court scene, and tried to avoid as much as possible. He had only seen Roza there a few times, but they never sat down and talked before. Isaac liked dealing with other lords in his own home, or on estates away from the ears of the Avarian royalty. "We have much to discuss."
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Post by Rozaria Ni Catháin on Aug 20, 2012 16:37:06 GMT -5
The Red Lady of Liore sat proudly in her seat, looking lightly down upon her lordly guest with her raven black eyes. A soft, dignified smile rested upon her blood red lips, mildly enjoying the sight of a man of similar station bow to her in respect. Rozaria nodded graciously to the Lord of Tarnovo, acknowledging his noble presence. She would never bow to any man in her own castle, save for the members of the royal family.
"It is a pleasure to see you, my lady. It has been a long time since I've seen you at court."
Rozaria rose grandly from her seat, and lifting her skirts a bit, the independent lady stepped down from the dais with a genial smile. Then teasingly, she negated his comment, saying with a touch of humor lacing her enchanting voice, “It is I who have not seen you at court, Lord Tarnovo. You should frequent it more often. One might think you were up to something.”
“We have much to discuss.”
“Indeed we do,” agreed Rozaria in a more staid tone. However she wanted to deal with her own affairs before she moved on to Isaac. The lady knew that it would take some time before her guards apprehended her foreman. Now she knew she could speed up the process with a simple locator spell, but then again she did not want her men to constantly rely on her aid. Rozaria wanted and demanded that they be on the top of their game.
Apathetically glancing over her shoulder, The Red Lady addressed her vigilant captain of her guard, “Captain, inform me the moment the foreman has been dragged through the gates.”
“Yes, my lady.” The captain responded automatically.
Returning her attention to her guest, she more or less suggested, “Shall we retire to privy chamber, my lord?” In all honesty, Rozaria was not going to give him much of a choice. Though she trusted her staff, she did not want their conversation to be overheard by any lowly servant wanting to make a quick bit of coin.
Gesturing to the ornate double doors behind her throne, Rozaria led the Lord of Tarnovo into another gilded room that was brightly lit by a roaring fire and a few large standing candelabras. The walls were covered in rich dark oak paneling that featured carved column-like designs. Above the mantle of the large stone fireplace hung the Catháin family crest, a blood red three-headed dragon, and their family motto, “Per Sanguinem et Potentia”. Detailed tapestries that were spaced intermittently about the spacious room decorated the walls, and the gleaming hardwood floor was softened by a lavish crimson area rug. In the center of the room stood a long mahogany refactory table with matching cushioned chairs set around it. The table was swathed in a cloth of black, red and gold as well as set with goblets, dishes, cutlery, and a crystal orb circled by candles as a centerpiece. Truly, Rozaria did not skimp on her interior design and decorating.
Taking a seat at the head of the table, Rozaria gestured to a seat to her right, and said, “Do take a seat, Lord Tarnovo. You must be weary after such a long journey.” Then with a snap of the noblewoman’s nimble fingers, a serving maid scurried in bearing a decanter of rich red wine. After the maid had filled Rozaria’s cup, The Red Lady inquired, “Would you care for some wine, my lord? It is a very fine vintage. And you must be famished. Surely, the road does not provide the necessary sustenance for a gentleman of your vitality. Do request whatever you desire. My kitchens are yours.” Rozaria requested a pomegranate and four boiled quail’s eggs for her midday snack. She wanted something light, not wanting to fill herself before the afternoon dinner.
Once the servants were no longer needed, the Lady of Liore dismissed her staff, leaving only she and Lord Isaac in the chamber. “You may speak freely and frankly, Lord Tarnovo,” remarked Rozaria, leaning back in her chair with her goblet in one hand and a cunning smirk on her crimson lip. “You need not worry about my household servants. They know where their loyalties lie and what would happen if they betrayed those loyalties.”
tag; isaac comnenus |
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