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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 4, 2017 18:36:58 GMT -5
Azariah watched as the dragon rubbed against the side of the orb where Rosina touched. She nodded when she thanked Rietor, “Thank you.” She spoke as well as they exited the room. “To answer your question…” She spoke, breaking the silence on their walk. “I don’t know how, or why, but somehow my mother and father and held captive in another realm…it looks much like our world, only it is devoid of life and color….my mother, Tara, she showed me where to find our artifact room…” She spoke softly and then looked to the armory as they stood in front of it. “Thank you, Rosina.” She took the bag of gold and stepped inside.
Azariah stepped up to the woman behind the counter and gave a gentle smile. “I would like to purchase a few items.” She spoke.
The woman grinned to her, “You’re the elf aren’t you?” She reached up and moved Azariah’s hair from her ears.
Azariah took a step back, “Yes…” She blushed slightly, she wasn’t used to her race being such a curiosity. Though she did grow up inside the castle walls.
“No need to worry.” The woman chuckled. “Come, I have just the outfit for you.” She led her into the back room. She hummed slightly as she rummaged through a few things and pushed boxes to the side. “Ahhh here we are. You know, my great great grandfather owned this shop and he’d made this set, I’ve been waiting for the right person. You, are that person.” She gave a nod. She pulled a small chest out and lifted it up onto the table. “Take these.” She waved her hand over the lock and it unlatched. She pulled the top back. “You can use that room over there, dear.”
Azariah looked into the box at the outfit. She slowly lifted up a forearm plate and inspected it, it was light as a feather. The backing color of the armor was a shined black, the edges were wrapped in a beautiful silver color. Upon the forearm the piece had a set of red circular patters with an ancient text inscribed into the material. “What is…”
“Oh, that?” The woman smiled, “That symbol is for the fire mages.”
“How did…”
“Your eyes, dear.” She pointed, “I haven’t seen eyes like yours in a very long time.”
Azariah took in a slow breath and nodded. “I see.” She traced her finger over the circles and then nodded. “Thank you.” She spoke and lifted the chest. She carried it into the back room and then pulled the pieces of armor from it. She had two forearm pieces, two shoulder pieces that were layered to curve with her shoulders. She also had two thigh pieces as well as shin guards. She then pulled out the clothing material from the box. She examined the stitching in the material, it was as light as the armor, she’d never seen material quite like this before. She pulled on the pants that fix snuggly to her body. Next she pulled on the tunic which she affixed the bracers over her forearms, she slipped the shoulder pieces. Over her shoulders and pulled on the chest piece that was also made of black armor, it fit each curve of her body perfectly. It was strange how the metal seemed to have been made for her.
Azariah looked into the box and slipped on the leather boots that pulled up to her knee, she tightened the laces. She then pulled on the cloak that was folded at the bottom of the chest. It was a thick black material, but again it didn’t seem to have any weight to it. She then pulled on the belts from the box and tightened the belt around her waist and stepped from the room.
“Ahh, yes. See?” The woman smiled and chuckled.
Azariah let out a soft laugh, “Thank you.” She placed several of the coins on the counter. The woman counted through the coins and handed several back. “Oh…” Azariah blushed, she then smiled, “Thank you.” She stepped from the armory just as Rosina came back. She smiled and let out a soft laugh. “The woman that works here chose it for me.” She looked to the insignia on the forearm bracers and then gave a nod. She looked to the huge gates as they approached. “I know passages in the castle that Drake and his men may not.” She spoke, “If it is anything like when I escaped, there will be knights everywhere, I’m sure it has only worsened since I escaped…” She took in a slow breath. “Thank you Rosina, for helping me.” She smiled softly for a moment as they walked through the dark forest. Azariah grinned as a few Pyreflies approached her and floated around her happily. She chuckled, “These...are such fascinating creatures.” She spoke.
“So….these items, do you think it will really help?” She questioned. “What does Drake want from me?”
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 4, 2017 19:28:52 GMT -5
Rosina glanced to the Pyreflies and smiled. “Yes… they’re called Pyreflies. They are pure magic in a very innocent form. It is almost like the emotions of the forest… When the forest is worried, happy, angry – they respond. They lead me to you, actually…” she glanced over. With each step – her staff touched on the ground and left glowing tracks.
“Drake – he was left to die in the Pit of Sauron… well it was expected that he would die. It seems he didn’t. His magic involves the theft of other people’s magic. The Queen believes he seeks revenge on the Magi for leaving him to die. He some how found out that you come from one of the most powerful bloodlines…Draining you of that power would give him enough to overcome the Forest and the Circle of Magi. By seeking out your full powers – we will have enough strength to take him down. This would be the only way to save your kingdom….” She spoke as they walked through the forest.
They walked down the path – over small bridges and what not. A few Mages lingered at their outposts – watching as they walked by. Her eyes glanced over the glowing flowers, vines that circled up trees and sprouted small white and pink flowers. As they walked Rosina glanced out into the depth of the forest – eyes looking past the trees and vegetation. “For years we have lived in the forest – hidden away from the rest of the world. We act like we are happy with that, we live up to our ancestry and such… Those who have emerged from the forest often write us – telling how terrible the life is beyond it. To be one of magic is one of true taboo. Some mages are hunted for sport.. to be different and to have that much power – people without never respond well. In some rare cases Mages are considered gods amongst small villages of sorts, just happy to have something…” she reached her hand out and plucked a glowing white flower from a flower that stuck out in their path.
Rosina twirled the flower in her finger for a moment and then smiled briefly. “But it is nature to be curious of the outside world, what it is like beyond.. I am sure you faced that yourself, bound to the castle hm?” she questioned and then handed her the flower. “The petals are sweet… I used to come out here as a kid and pick these, stow the flower away for a day that my sweet tooth was after” she chuckled and then continued onward.
“Perhaps emerging from the forest and beginning our start in your city may bring hope to the future of Mages amongst others” she glanced over and then sighed softly. “That is my wish in the end, but it is not why I am here. You are one of us – not to mention you could bring your ancestors name back to justice. There are a lot of wins in this situation. Politically it serves as an advantage, likely why the Queen has me following through”
They then emerged from the forest, over the hills the Kingdom could be seen in the far distance. “It’s not night time yet – I bet that is the best time to sneak in…” she glanced over and then glanced to Azariah. “I have a greater power than just.. teleporting, portals and what not. I am a shapeshifter… I can shift into almost every creature, to a point. Though – as I develop the time in which I can shift elongates…” she spoke and glanced over the Castle. “Perhaps I should fly over at a glance?”
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 4, 2017 20:35:47 GMT -5
“Pyreflies, my mother spoke of them.” She smiled, “She read books to me as a child. Fairytales, she called them, though I am beginning to believe she was preparing my mind for the truth of what the world really is.” She fell silent as she listened to Rosina, as she spoke of Drake. “Hm…he’s not a prince at all, I suspected as much. He’s not an elf either, when he first walked into the throne room, when he was supposed to offer my mother and father a deal to protect the kingdom, I noticed his ears…it isn’t hard to notice something like that, at least…” She sighed slightly and shook her head, “Left to die…I can only imagine the anger he must have, though I believe from the short time that I have been around your people, the ones that I have met at least do not seem to want to cause harm. He must have done something horrible…” Azariah pondered for a moment, “My father, when he appeared to me in my dream, he looked older, weak…do you believe that Drake would have tried to get power from him? My father is not of Elistar’s bloodline…it is my mother.”
Azariah took in a breath and fell silent as Rosina spoke of the outside world, of the mages that left the circle. She took the beautiful flower and spun it in her fingertips, a soft smile on her lips. “When I was a child I used to beg just to go into the city. My balcony faces the forest. I’d ask my mother of the forest nearly every single day. I yearned to explore. When I was 16 I snuck out and I made it through the city. I climbed the wall on the west side of the city and I ran toward the forest, I wanted to go in. I stopped at the edge, I stared inside, to the shadows. I took a step and then Captain Trisris grabbed my arm. He’d been behind me the whole time. I was so excited I hadn’t noticed him.” She sighed slightly. “Something new, can always be frightening, or it could even be exciting….” She paused and looked to Rosina, “I will protect the Circle of the Magi, Rosina, you have my word. You saved my life, I am in debt to you. If you had not found me, if you had ignored the Pyreflies. I could have lost too much blood to come back….” She took in a small breath and sighed as she overlooked her kingdom. She looked to the beautiful white walls that shot up into the air a stark contrast to the green vegetation and mountains in the background.
Azariah bit her lip slightly, “Yes, please, have a look. I will head to the north. The wall that I scaled when I was younger, it will be the easiest route in, the watch towers are the furthest from it and it leads into the garden for the city. Not many of my people will be around, if there are any left…” She sighed softly. “I hope he hasn’t killed the residents of my kingdom…if you think that mages few in numbers….humans nearly wiped out my kind around 50 years ago. It seems that no matter what the difference is, humans do not take to it kindly.” She clenched her jaw slightly, “In the last 10 years my father has made a peace treaty with the humans. We have an agreement. We trade with them, we help them, they return the favor. It has been a long process, but we’ve gotten there…” She looked to Rosina, “But all of this is nothing if we cannot defeat Blake, isn’t it?” She paused and stopped walking for a moment. “The west wall then? I will make my way there.” Azariah took off in a jog. She stayed on the edge of the forest to keep herself from being spotted. She ran along and stopped after a moment. She spotted soldiers in the field. Azariah crouched down she felt her pulse increase as she watched the men walking about. Patrolling.
“Have you seen any sign of the princess?” One of the soldiers asks, he had an insignia on his soldier, possibly a commander.
“No sir. We have posted all around the fields as requested.” Another of the soldiers spoke. “Sir, how do we capture her?”
“Any means possible, just make sure that she is alive. If you kill her you will have Drake to answer to. I wouldn’t even wish that upon you.” The commander chuckled.
Azariah shifted and held her hand out, she took in a slow breath willing for the bow to come up into her hands. She watched the men all faced away from her as they began to walk back toward the city walls. She pulled the string of the bow back and an arrow appeared in her fingertips. Azariah released the arrow. It flew through the air and cut right through the armor of one of the soldiers. He gasped and grabbed at his chest, the arrow disappeared into a puff of smoke instantly. The other two soldiers turned and looked to him as he fell to his knees.
“Commander!” One called, “Sir!” He knelt down. “He’s bleeding!” They both stood and drew their swords as they spun around.
“There!” The other soldier called and began to sprint toward her.
Azariah pulled the string back and released again, the arrow whizzed through the air and pierced through his eye. Azariah then pulled the string back again and shot down the third soldier before she rushed forward. She sprinted through the field. Staying low. Watching for other guards. She zig zagged along the side of the small stream and eventually she came to the west wall. Azariah looked up at the vine that grew up the side of the wall. Just as it was when she was 16. The captain never did tell the king and queen about her little escape. Suddenly an arm came around her throat. “Princess.” The voice was low. “Drake has been looking for you. He will be pleased that you’ve return for his hand in marriage.”
Azariah writhed against his grip. She grit her teeth, her eyes began to glow. She slammed her elbow against his side. Her fists lit with flames as she spun around. She slammed her fist into the side of his face with a hard hook. The knight stumbled to the side and pulled his sword. Azariah put her hands together and a sword appeared in her grip, it was a cutlass, quick and easy to maneuver.
“Put the weapon down, Princess.” The knight ordered as he stepped toward her. “I’ll be forced to kill you.”
“You won’t.” She smirked, “I know he wants me alive.” She rushed forward and her sword clattered against his. She bounced back and slammed her heel into his knee, a sickening crack came from his leg and he let out a cry of pain. Azariah then lunged forward and sliced her sword down through the top of his chest piece into his heart. She kicked him from her blade just before it disappeared. Azariah took a step back and let out a long slow sigh. “Okay…” She whispered to herself. She looked to the vine and then looked around for Rosina.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 4, 2017 21:26:41 GMT -5
Rosina glanced to Azariah as she spoke of the elves being far and few in between. “This is true, what more to be an elf with magic” she smiled “Though our texts say that Magic comes more naturally to elfs, some stories say that Elfs were once pixies that lost their wings, and then evolved. But I digress… we should focus, yes?” she spoke and then nodded.
Rosina held her staff outward and took in a deep breath. The ball of her staff began to glow and then her body turned into a white image – the limbs sunk in swiftly and an in instant she shrunk to a small size. The light faded and she appeared as a black Raven. The Raven turned to Azariah and cawed. An in instant she flew off into the sky.
Rosina soared through the sky, the orb of her staff was actually dangling from her neck, like a necklace… She swooped down over the castle and her small eyes looked around the castle. There were several guards in the courtyard.. she could see through the large pane windows – a collection of guards as well. As she flew over the wall, only two stood in the garden… She then circled out far from the castle – looking out into the city.. several groups were on patrol – walking the city. Far out in the pastures were several small fires – campsites as they staked out the area.
Rosina then nose dived downward toward the wall, her eyes spying Azariah. She watched just as Azariah finished off a guard. Rosina quickly landed, her talons gripping the ground as her stop was sudden. Her body glowed and she transformed back. “Looks like majority of the guards are patrolling outward. They are expecting you to come through the pastures, the city, however. I don’t think they are guarding as heavily here…” she then glanced to the dead bodies that lay next to her.
Rosina thew up a mirror like portal – she flicked the bodies into the portal with a touch of magic. She then closed the portal and nodded. “Let’s not leave a trace…” she spoke and then nodded. “Before we enter a new room or such, I will scout ahead… understand?”
“Over this wall is one guard, I will go first…” she spoke and then morphed once more into the Raven. She flew over the wall and then flew directly into the Guard. The guard stumbled back and swung his arms about.
“What the fuck! Fucking – bird – did it? Shit on me?! What the” he drew his blade. “Come back here you fucking bird!” he turned around swiftly. Rosina fluttered behind him – just as the guard heard her – he jerked around. In that jerking motion – Rosina had morphed into her human form. She grabbed his sword, twisting his hand back. His wrist broke and he went to cry out – Rosina grasped his jaw and twisted it instantly, breaking his neck.
She kicked his body back then into a portal and she turned – “Alright” she spoke and held the sword in her hands, with that she tossed it into the portal and it closed. “Lead the way”
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 4, 2017 22:25:24 GMT -5
Azariah looked up as Rosina came in quickly for the landing. She watched as she threw the bodies into a portal. “They won’t kill me.” She spoke, “He does want me, specifically.” She shook her head. “I will follow you, I think that’s best as well. Get an eye on what we are up against.” She grabbed onto the vines, the sun was beginning to set, in about 10 minutes it would be over the ridges and the valley would become dark. Azariah began to climb up the vines, she poked her head over the top just in time to see Rosina take out the guard with deadly precision. Azariah climbed down the wall and jumped down the last five feet or so. She landed with a thud and nodded to Rosina. “Alright.” She spoke softly as she moved through the garden. She crouched behind plants and bushes.
“Drake is wasting his time looking for this girl. He has the kingdom now anyway, what is finding the princess really going to do for him?” A guard spoke.
“He can finally kill off the mages that left him for dead. Remember? Don’t you listen to anything.” Another guard spoke.
“He has all of this now! Why waste the effort? He’s already ruined the kingdom, the elves are all hiding in fear.” He chuckled.
“Look, we do as the boss says. That’s that.” The guard spoke as he walked off, toward where Rosina and Azariah sat.
Azariah took in a breath, she gripped her hand into a fist and a dagger appeared in her grip. She waited until he came around the corner. Azariah was swift as she stood. The blade shot upward through his jaw. She gripped onto his body and lowered it to the ground. She then rushed forward and gripped the next guard by his head, she turned his head and his neck snapped, he fell to the ground limply. Azariah helped Rosina put the bodies into the portal before she stepped ahead. She glanced up to the castle in the distance her eyes looked to her balcony, she took in a slow deep breath before she pushed forward. She pulled up the hood of her cloak and pressed on. She slipped into a back alleyway and ran into an elf that was running. She toppled to the ground with a groan.
“Oh! Oh! I’m sorry!” The man spoke. “I’m sorry.” He helped her up. As he pulled her up her hood fell from her head. He stared into her eyes for a long moment. “Princess….” He whispered. “You…you’re alive…” He gasped and looked to Rosina. “Come with me this…this isn’t safe for you to be here.” He grabbed ahold of Azariah’s arm and pulled her quickly through the alleyways and through a doorway. He rushed them downstairs and spun around he slid the lock into place and deadbolted the door. “Come.” He pulled her along. He pulled a table aside to reveal a hatch. “Down here.” He helped Rosina and Azariah into the hatch before he climbed down and pulled the table back over to hide the hatch.
Once they were at the bottom of the ladder he led them down a hallway into a larger room. A few others sat in the room. “Az!” A familiar voice spoke. “Oh thank the heavens!” Liliana rushed forward and threw her arms around the princess. “I thought you were dead.”
The man looked to Azariah, he wore rather nice clothing, he had a blackened eye. “I didn’t dream to meet you in these circumstances, Princess Azariah.” He spoke. He then looked to Rosina, “Excuse my manners. I am Dresden Trillium. I wished to speak with your mother and father, however I was ambushed on my way here from my kingdom.”
“He was the prince that your mother was preparing you for.” Liliana spoke, a sad expression on her face. “I found him when I fled the castle. He was laying in the back alley, unconscious, his men dead. Drake ambushed them. He has his men scouring the city for you, Az.”
Azariah took in a deep breath as she looked around the room. “This is the escape tunnel from the castle isn’t it?” She questioned.
“Yes, it leads into the old panic room….” Liliana spoke, her brows pulled together.
“Rosina, we need to go this way.” She nodded, “Thank you, Prince Dresden.” She bowed her head to him. “You’ll forgive me.” She made to walk off.
“Princess, you can’t be thinking of going into the castle.” Liliana spoke, fear in her voice.
“I’ve no choice in the matter, Liliana.” She searched her eyes.
Liliana looked into her ember eyes and furrowed her brows. “What’s…your eyes they’ve changed…”
“The family lineage. You know of it I am sure, you’ve been around long enough I’m sure you’ve heard my mother speak of it.”
“Yes….yes I have…” Her eyes widened slightly. “You…you’re?”
“Yes.” Azariah spoke. “I need to get to the artifact room. I know where to find it.” She pulled away from her assistant and turned to the hallway.
“Princess, I cannot allow you to go, the danger you will face.” The prince spoke.
“Prince Dresden, I do believe Rosina and I can handle ourselves.” She spoke and looked up to him.
“These men are here to kill, to capture you.” He still blocked her path. He reached forward for her arm then to stop her as she went to step around him.
Azariah gripped his hand and pulled him forward, she stared into his eyes for a moment before she turned swiftly and slammed him to the ground. Her hand was in the middle of his chest. “I can handle it.” She spoke, her tone agitated. She’d trained all of her life under the captain. She knew how to fight. The prince gave a nervous nod and stared up at her in silence. Azariah stood and turned she went into the hallway and looked to Rosina, “The Captain….” She spoke, she searched Rosina’s eyes. “Can we free him? I can’t let him die…not like this….I left him…” She whispered the last bit. “He told me to go…I…I thought he was dead…” The hallway that they were in was a catacomb, Azariah made random turns as she went through the halls. “This is a labyrinth, meant to confuse any foe that follows the royal family into it. It can be entered two ways from the castle, or from the hidden room below the city that we were just in. Liliana was the only civilian that knew of the hidden room, as it was in her home…” She then stopped as they came to a door. “We can do this, right?” She asked and searched Rosina’s eyes. She hid her fear well, but her voice trembled slightly, on the inside Azariah was panicked. She knew the circumstances. She stood between many lives in this moment. If she failed, the Magi could be completely wiped out, as well as her kingdom…
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 5, 2017 19:32:45 GMT -5
Rosina followed Azariah and the other elf into the next room. She crossed her arms, her staff poking between her arms. She watched as they bickered – argued… her eyes glanced to the few that peered to her. She could feel their eyes staring to her, her bluer robes, her staff… Rosina then stepped over the Prince and nodded. “Let’s go” she spoke and followed her through the hallways.
“We can do anything… Azariah…” she spoke and then smiled briefly. Rosina opened the door and poked her head in.. “Come on” she spoke and led her forward into the room. Rosina turned swiftly – the panic room was empty. “We will get the artifact, and then the captain. Don’t do anything crazy – let me do it.” She spoke and then approached the next door. She opened the door and instantly a guard turned. Rosina shut the door and backed up, her arm pushing Azariah back slightly. She created a portal directly in front of the door.
The door swung open and the guard stepped forward “Who’s there?” he grunted – and then stepped right into the portal. Rosina quickly closed it and then chuckled. She slipped through the door and into the next room – it was a hallway that had rooms to the left and right. “Lead me to where this room is…” she spoke.
They continued forward until they came upon their destination. “Alright… the key to every great adventure is… the element of surprise” she spoke and then morphed into a white fuzzy bunny rabbit. The rabbit wiggled it’s small tail and slipped into the next room. She hopped forward into the center of the room and two of the guards turned. “You hear that?”
The guard looked down and glanced to the rabbit. “Ohhhh look how cute it is!!!” he coo’d and then knelt down. The rabbit flicked it’s ears slightly and shifted, rubbing it’s head into his gloved hand. “Awww, I wonder if this is the Princess’s rabbit? It is so fluffy and cute.”
“Shut your mouth you damn sap” the other guard spoke and stepped over… both leaned over and stared to the fluffy bunny. In an instant two daggers stabbed through into their jaws. Rosina laughed and kicked them back into a portal.
“Surprise” she muttered and then turned to the door, waving Azariah in. “I’ll stand guard, you get the artifact” she spoke and sheathed her daggers back on her thighs.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 8, 2017 19:27:10 GMT -5
“This panic room was an addition my great great grandfather made to the castle. During the war of Nasrithe. It was a preparation for the worst, just in case the humans over took all of Nythhemel’s soldiers. Consequentially, he was the king to Nouvis…” She took in a breath and sighed slightly, “You know what ended the war, Rosina?” She ran her fingertips along the spine of an old history book that had been kept in the family for years. “A fiery explosion…” She glanced to Rosina, “Only one soldier died in a result to that fire…I’ve read the story so many times, it was a bedtime story as a child, a heroic story that nearly everyone in this kingdom knows. Elistar.” She shook her head slightly. “The soldier was Elistar.”
She followed Rosina from the room, leaving the history book on the table. She gave a nod, “I’ll follow your lead, I’ll point you in the right direction.” She kept close to Rosina as she opened the door. Azariah’s eyes widened when she saw the guard. Her heart pounded as he came through the door and disappeared into the portal. “I’m not sure what I would do without you here.” She let out a soft chuckle as they continued into the castle. She watched from around the corner as Rosina tricked the two guards by morphing into a rabbit. A chuckle escaped over her lips as she ran forward. “That was amazing.” She grinned as she walked over to the torch on the wall and pulled it down. The wall slid away. “I’ll be back in a moment.” She slipped into the tiny corridor.
Azariah slipped into the artifact room. She looked up at all of the scrolls, the books, the amount of text in this room. She ran her fingertips over a few weapons and pieces of armor before she looked to Elistar’s armor, as perfect as can be. It was said in the history books that the explosion came outward from his body, yet he was unharmed. She wondered if he’d meant for his life to end like that. Had he used so much magic that it caused him to die? Could that happen to her? Or was he already injured. The different texts that she’d read on the war of Nasrithe didn’t agree. Each had their own hero tail. It was all in the eye of the beholder, so to speak.
Azariah stepped up to a case and slid the glass piece back, exposing an old scroll. She lifted it from the cast and unraveled it, looking over the map, the ancient text. She rolled it back up and then stepped from the room, she lifted the torch back into place, concealing the artifact room once more. She then stepped forward to Rosina, “Alright I have our map….now to save Ruven…I recognized the room that the Captain was being held in, when he looked through the orb…it isn’t in the dungeons, like I would have imagined. He is somewhere in the living quarters…one of the knight’s rooms, I believe…it’s on the other side of the castle…” She let out a soft sigh. “I hope we are not too late.” Azariah paused as she heard the sound of armor clattering in the hallways as a few knights moved about.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 9, 2017 13:13:21 GMT -5
Rosina looked to Azariah as she slipped into the room. She moved over to a chair and sat down, relaxing for a moment. She glanced to the table before her and touched the scroll that was rolled up. She glanced around and then unrolled it, pressing it down against the wooden table. The agreement with the Kingdom, marriage proposal and contract… she turned it over and glanced to the seal. She set it back down and then stood up as Azariah came back out.
“Well, I am sure it is interesting to learn of your heritage. The man who saved your kingdom is your grandfather” she chuckled and nodded. Rosina then lead her to the door “Alright then – We have to be sneaky, if we kill too many then it will be noticed.. even though their bodies are gone… Out the way we came. I have an idea” she spoke and led Azariah back through the hallways.
Finally they came back out at the wall. “Alright…. “You ready?” she then stepped back and held her staff out. Her eyes closed and then let out a slow breath. With a flash of white – she morphed into an all white Gryphon. Her tail flicked slightly as she flexed her huge wings out – it had been a while since she had taken this form. She then brought her wings back in and kneeled her eagle head downward – allowing Azariah to climb on.
Once she climbed on she shifted and then stepped forward. With a slight caw – she then leaped into the air with great strength and her wings spread outward – giving one huge downward flap. They thrusted into the air and then flew forward. Easily she slipped over top of the castle and then glide down. She found a balcony on the other side of the castle and pushed her wings down – shoving Azariah off. She then morphed mid air – to keep her from landing on the balcony loudly. She transformed back to her human self and landed on the ground directly on her feet.
She held her hand out and her staff formed in her hand. “It as been a long time since I’ve taken that form… exhausting” she spoke and then took a deep breath. “Okay, let’s find your man” she nodded and stepped forward to the glass door….
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 9, 2017 14:11:30 GMT -5
Azariah gave a nod, “I’ve been told stories all of my life, about my family and how we came to be who we are. If only I knew that Elistar was my grandfather.” She smiled, “What he did, how he sacrificed himself, that is truly a heroic cause…” She thought a moment, “Once this is all over, I would like to create a memorial for the soldiers, for him, something to thank him for all of his efforts…” She stepped forward and slipped the scroll into her small bag that hung over her shoulders.
“Okay, but…how will we get to the other side?” Azariah asked as they backtracked through the hallways. She watched Rosina as she asked if she was ready or not, “Ready?” She questioned as she watched Rosina shut her eyes and then she shielded her eyes to the bright white of the flash. Azariah blinked several times and when she could see again her eyes fell upon the beautiful Gryphon form that Rosina morphed into. “Oh….” She gasped slightly as she was beckoned to climb on. She was careful, making sure not to hurt Rosina. Azariah held on tightly, she let out a slight yelp as Rosina thrust into the air, she shut her eyes tightly and buried her face in the back of her neck. She wasn’t one for heights.
Once Azariah gained the courage to open her eyes she looked to the other side of the castle as they glided in. She let out a cry as she was shoved off, she tumbled downward and landed with a thud on her back. Azariah gasped for air, her eyes wide. She pushed herself up slowly as Rosina landed on her feet next to her. The princess groaned slightly and gave a nod. “Right.” She spoke and turned around. She looked through the huge glass doors, “Oh…” She breathed, she found herself looking into her room. “Did you?” She pushed her way inside and ran her fingertips over the beautiful dresser. “This is….” She shook her head. “Was my room.”
Azariah’s head jerked, she furrowed her brows. She heard an agonizing scream from down the hall. “Ruven.” She spoke softly. “We have to hurry, Rosina.” She stepped to her door, Azariah placed her hand on the knob and slowly turned in. She pulled the door back gently and then carefully poked her head out, the screams continued to sound from down the hall. The sound echoed and bounced off of the walls. She glanced in both directions, not a guard in sight. Azariah then took off, her run was nearly silent as she kept close to the wall, the closer they came the louder the screams became.
“Tell me where she is!” Drake ordered, “I’ll end all of this, no more suffering.” He chuckled.
Azariah slipped into a room as she caught eye of four or more guards standing outside the door. The stone guards. She found herself in the small living quarters library. She’d spent many hours here. Azariah cringed as she heard another scream. “We have to stop this.” She whispered and paced back and forth. “We…we can’t stop it…can we?”
Another cry and then silence. “I’ll leave you to think about it then. This should help.” A groan of pain followed. “Just, let my men know when you’re ready for me.” He snickered. “Oh…wait, you can’t. Can you?”
Azariah had tears in her eyes. “This…whole…thing…” She whispered, “This is all my fault…I ran….” She listened then as she heard the footsteps making their way down the hallway. She glanced to Rosina. “We have to save him.” She spoke. Azariah held her hand out and her bow appeared in her grip. She slipped from the room and stayed crouched. She carefully crouched as she moved forward, the knights were gone, they’d left with Drake.
Her breaths shook as she gripped onto the knob of the doorway. She turned it and pushed the door in. Instantly she drew an arrow and released it, it cut through the air and took out the knight that was in the room. She rushed forward to the Captain, his head was slumped forward. “Captain?” She questioned. Blood dripped from his mouth onto his lap. He had several cuts in his skin from a whip. He wasn’t moving. “Ruven?” She carefully lifted his head, his skin was pale. “Rosina….he isn’t breathing…” She searched over him and found a hilt of a dagger that was stabbed into his right chest. Drake wanted him to suffer. The hilt of the dagger had a strange black aura coming from it. Magic?
Azariah turned and took a step. “You’re not going anywhere.” A voice sounded and from the shadows Drake stepped forward, 8 of his stone knights appeared around him. He grinned devilishly. “I knew you’d come for him.” He smirked. “You’d left him to die. How horrible of you. Though, I’m certain death would have been a whole lot easier on him. Wouldn’t it?”
Azariah stared to him, the glow of her ember eyes seemed to intensify. “What did you do to him?” She snapped.
Drake only grinned wildly again. “I can almost taste the power you hold.” He took a step forward, his knights were surrounding the three now. He then looked to Rosina and smirked, “Your power is magnificent as well.” In one swift motion Drake disappeared into the shadows and reappeared behind Azariah. His arm was around her waist, his other snaked around and gripped onto her jaw. Azariah struggled against him, though he had her arms pinned to her sides. “When I pull this dagger from the Captain’s chest, princess, he will die.” He whispered into her ear. “You know where the scroll is, don’t you?” He asked. “All of the heirlooms all of that power.” He licked his lips, he glared to Rosina. “Don’t try anything mage.” He snickered then. “I’ll kill her. It’s that simple.” Azariah’s eyes fluttered. He was doing something to her with his magic. “Tell me where the map is, Azariah.” He growled.
Azariah felt weak, everything was foggy. “Stop…” She gasped, she tried to fight against him. Then suddenly a burst of energy came from her body, flames singed up Drake’s front. She collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. She struggled to her feet as the guards came in at Rosina and her. She focused and her sword appeared. Azariah shoved her sword into the stomach of one of the soldiers, he only chuckled and gripped her around her throat, choking her.
Drake stood up dusting himself off, he chuckled. “Did you fail to notice that my soldiers are not of the living? My knights are, unfortunately.” He shrugged and stepped forward toward the captain, he placed his hand on the hilt of the dagger. “Tell me where the map is, or I will kill him.”
Azariah struggled and kicked the soldier in his chest, causing his grip to loosen from around her neck. She fell to her back on the floor then. She scrambled to her feet, her eyes glowing. She didn’t have enough understanding of her magic to fight him, she knew it. She felt the fog washing over her body again. She felt powerless around him. She tried to bring her bow back but nothing happened. She glanced to Rosina.
Drake twisted the dagger within Ruven’s chest. “I’ll give you five more seconds to give up the information.” He spoke and chuckled.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 9, 2017 15:57:56 GMT -5
Rosina froze when she heard the voice – the man… Drake. She grit her teeth and watched as he walked about the room… The Stone guards stood in their place, they seemed untouched by the sword that Azariah created. She glanced to the orb on her staff – the Dragon inside was doing circles, he slammed his claws against the glass of the orb and a burst of fire left his mouth. The fire circled back in the orb and filled the small room with his own rage.
Rosina looked to Blake – who had his hand on the dagger. In an instant – Rosina slammed her staff down on the ground and from the orb – a giant blast of blue fire came from the orb. Dragon’s breath. The fire lit the stone guards up – the rocks began to turn into molten, melting to the ground in the intense heat.
“Push him back!” Rosina shouted to Azariah and then shot a blast of power toward the remaining guards. Once Blake was away from the captain – Rosina reached over and grabbed Azariah, slamming their bodies onto the captain’s chest. A portal appeared directly ontop of them, then it instantly closed.
Rosina cried out – a dagger sticking out from her back. They were in the middle of the temple. The queen ran up and placed her hand on her back – both the Captain and Rosina had a glowing black dagger lodged in them. “What where you thinking?” The Queen shook her head and then waved a few people over.
“Had to..” Rosina whispered and then her vision began to get blurry. “What is this?” she muttered and shook her head. She slowly pushed away – only to fall over. Her limbs began to feel numb, like blood wasn’t getting to them or something… A few guards ran up, finally, and lifted her. They then began to peel the captain from his restraints…
***
“3 Horses… some of that… Elven bread you taught us – HydroConjure and … I think we are ready” Rosina spoke and strapped a bag to her horse.. They stood outside of the city, at the stables. “So, this is your journey… We are your guardians. Where to?” Rosina spoke and then climbed onto her horse.
She had a sword strapped to the saddle, and her staff rest on her back. She glanced over to Ruven, he climbed upon his horse and nodded. “After you, my lady”
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 9, 2017 17:03:12 GMT -5
When Rosina attacked Azariah rushed forward as she was instructed. She slammed her hands into Drake’s chest, flames burst from her hands as she did so. She made to step forward just as Rosina slammed into her, Azariah let out a cry as she was shoved onto Ruven. In the next moment they landed roughly in the temple. Everything was a jumble of confusion. Azariah was lifted and taken away to the medical wing with the others. She tossed against the guards, the whole world sounded as if it were underwater.
Azariah sat at Rosina’s bedside the next day, she stared to the dagger. “What is it?” She asked.
Kyrie came over, she had an old book in her hands. “I’m trying to find it. Reitor is trying to find it. The queen is even trying to figure out what this is that he has done...” She shook her head.
Azariah stepped from the room and came to Ruven’s side. He was unconscious like Rosina. She paced slightly as she looked to his injuries, he looked as though he’d been through hell and back. “I…I can’t just stand here.” She spoke as she stepped from the room.
“Wait…” Kyrie sighed and shook her head. “You’re not going to do any good…we are all trying…” She muttered, though it fell upon deaf ears.
Azariah walked through the city and came to a small waterfall where she sat down. Tears streaming from her eyes. She blamed herself for this. She’d blame herself if Rosina died. Especially if Rosina died. She jumped as she heard a branch snap behind her. Azariah quickly wiped away her tears and sniffled slightly. “You’re the elf I keep hearing about.” The man spoke, he held a staff in his hands. He had short dark hair and a bit of scruff on his face. He wore red robes and had icy eyes. “I overheard the queen and Rosina speaking, you’re Elistar’s bloodline.” He smiled, “Am I right?” He watched as Azariah gave a slight nod. “I heard what happened with Rosina at the castle today…”
“I’m sorry…” Azariah whispered softly.
The mage shook his head, “Rosina is hard headed, she’s strong willed and she would have done is regardless of what anyone told her to do. The queen asked her to protect you, to guide you.” He nodded, “She will make it through this.” He took a step forward, “I am Julius, the queen has asked me to train you, Princess.”
Azariah watched him carefully she looked to his armor that could be seen beneath his robes, he was a battlemage. Much as her grandfather was. “Alright.” She nodded.
With that she set out with him to the training rooms. Julius worked with her from the moment she woke until she couldn’t keep her eyes open anymore. He forced her to use her magic until she was to the point of losing consciousness, and then he would give her a break and have her work more with her powers. He asked a lot of her, but it would turn her into a strong mage like Rosina. Azariah would go to the medical building and check on Rosina and Ruven each and every day…though after three weeks they still hadn’t found a cure. One night Azariah snuck out of her room and slipped into the library. She snuck passed the sleeping Reitor to the looking glass. She stood before it and stared into the image. Slowly the image began to ripple and Elistar stepped into the glass. “Azariah.” He spoke, “Your eyes carry much guilt.” He looked her over for a moment.
“Grandfather…something horrible has happened.” She spoke, her voice small, it quivered slightly. “I went to gather the map from the castle….the mage that has turned the king and queen to stone stabbed Rosina with a dagger that is engulfed in shadows…”
Elistar watched her for a moment and then gave a nod. “I’ve seen this in my time, from the same mage, when they locked him away, it was just a few days before. The same injury happened. He took a dagger and engulfed it in shadows and stabbed one of my fellow battlemages. He wouldn’t wake, he was barely breathing…it seemed to take over his body, to slow everything down.”
Azariah stepped closer to the looking glass as he spoke she gave a nod. “That…that’s what it is.”
“Look in the book that was my journal, it was given to you by Reitor.” Elistar spoke before he disappeared.
Azariah rushed from the library, she bumped into the desk and caused Reitor to jump awake. “Princess?” He asked and furrowed his brows. “Are you alright?”
“I may have found a cure to what has happened to Rosina and the captain.” She spoke as she rushed from the library.
Azariah rushed across the city, sprinting through the silky glow of the moonlight to her small guest room that she had been given by the queen. She opened up the small chest and pulled out the books and scrolls that Reitor gave her. She flipped through the book and then stopped on a page. Elistar drew the dagger on that page, several notes were written out on it. He’d been the one to save the mage. This was just before he’d left the circle for his love Nouvis. She read over his writing on the pages and then jumped up from her bed. She marked the page and sprinted from her room.
Azariah ran into Julious’ chest and they toppled to the ground. She held the book tightly to her chest and landed with a thud. “Az what are you doing?” He asked with a yawn. “I heard you run in you sounded like a stampede, are you trying to wake everyone up?”
“No…No…I think I figured it out.” She grinned. “My grandfather, he saw this before, the daggers from Drake.” She stood up with his help. “I think I can stop this.” She ran off then.
“Wait up!” Julious ran after her. The two ran into the medical building and she skidded to a stop next to the captain’s bed.
“What is going on?” Kyrie asked as she stepped into the room.
“I think I can end this.” Azariah spoke. “Elistar, my ancestor, he solved this once before, it’s here in his journal.” She opened up the book and set it on the nightstand.
Kyrie took the book and looked over the writing on the page. “This sounds just like it…” She nodded and looked to the strange dagger. “What is this language here?” She questioned.
“Elvish…actually..” Azariah spoke as she took the book back. “He was with Nouvis already, she’d taught him our ancient language.” She then placed her hand on the dagger and began to recite the words that Elistar wrote into the book. She spoke the Elvish language, soon enough the shadows around the dagger began to circle around her arm.
“Azariah….” Julius spoke and took a step forward.
“Let her do this. You’ve been working with her. I trust her judgement.” Kyrie spoke softly.
Azariah continued to speak through the spell, her voice began to tremble as the shadows wrapped around her torso. She shut her eyes tightly and continued the verse, as if she’d done it a thousand times. Ruven’s eyes fluttered open eventually and he let out a groan. Azariah pulled the dagger from his chest then and it fell from her grip, clattering to the floor as she collapsed to her hands and knees, the shadows rushed around her body.
Kyrie rushed forward to Ruven to find that the dagger left no trace at all. It was as if he hadn’t been stabbed. She placed her hand on his forehead and began to heal all of his other injuries. “Julius.” She spoke and looked to Azariah.
Julius lifted her carefully as the shadows dissipated. “Hey, good job, princess.” He chuckled. “Ready for another go? Could you save Rosina as well?”
Azariah’s eyes fluttered she took in a slow breath. “Yeah…” She muttered as he set her down on the ground. She stepped from the room and walked up to Rosina’s bed. She felt tired, drained. Azariah placed her hand over the dagger and began speaking the Elvish lines. The shadows began to crawl up her arm and wrap around her torso, the shadows clawed up toward her head, threatening to suffocate her. She pulled the dagger out and fell back the blade clattered on the ground. She gasped for air as the shadows surrounded her. She whimpered and shut her eyes tightly as she continued the last verse of the spell. Then the shadows disappeared. Azariah’s eyes slipped shut.
**
Azariah gave a smile as she climbed up onto her own horse, it was black with white socks and a white stripe down his nose. The horse bobbed his head and neighed happily. She wore her family bow on her back, she could now use the bow with her powers, it was an incredible sight to see. Julius had trained her well, she still had much to learn but she was in control of her powers and much better than before. If faced with Drake now, she’d be able to fight back and help get the team to safety. “You love the bread, don’t lie.” She smirked as she looked to Rosina. She pulled the map from the saddle bag of her horse and unrolled it. “Well, it looked like the city of Trivium is to be our first stop. It’s far to the north, in the snowy mountains. We will find a gift from Elistar there, it is only fitting to begin with him.”
“Az.” Julius spoke as he ran down to the stables. He had a bag in his hands. He came up and grinned. “Don’t forget this.” He strapped the bag to the back of her horse. “More supplies for the journey, just in case.”
“Thank you Julius.” Azariah spoke with a smile on her lips. She then nodded to Rosina, “Off we go then?” She looked to Ruven and nodded as she started out into the forest.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 9, 2017 19:06:13 GMT -5
“Why Trivium, I wonder” Rosina spoke as they began forward through the forest. A large collection of pyreflies followed behind them. Ruven turned his head about – looking to the glowing blue whisps that pranced around.
“I heard stories of this forest, but never ventured in myself.” Ruven spoke and looked about to the beautiful flowers that blossomed right as they stepped by.
“Consider yourself lucky that you are an Elf. Humans that lack magic cannot survive the forest, it is like a poison. However your elven roots allowed us to inject you with a special serum, which temporarily nullifies that…” she spoke and glanced over as they trotted along. Soon enough they came to the burnt edges of the forest – the Pyreflies all gathered at the edge, swarming about – moving gracefully around them. Rosina stopped her horse and turned it slightly, looking to the forest.
“This will be the first time I’ve left the forest for more than a few days. It is my home – but I’ve always wished to venture and explore. It sounds like our journey is going to leave us all around…” She smiled and nodded. “Farewell Home” she spoke and turned her horse around and continued forward.
“What we need…. Is someone on the team who has traveled before.. knows the lands, knows the cities and towns. We all are as good as that story… of the princess stuck up in the tower and what not.. long hair…” she shrugged and nodded. They passed the kingdom and headed North, trotting along the road. “I brought a good bit of money, but eventually I will run out. More than likely we are going to also find a way to make coin.. otherwise we will go hungry on this escapade…any ideas?”
“Hired sword?” Ruven presented.
“Hm… we could, but I would be very particular about what sort of jobs we are doing. I would be willing to protect someone, but not an assassin… which is majority of those kinds of jobs..” she ran her hand through the mane of her horse.
“Hm…” He spoke and then glanced to Azariah. “Any ideas, Princess?”
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Post by Blindside Tex on Jul 9, 2017 19:54:46 GMT -5
Azariah had a small smile on her lips as she looked to the Pyreflies. She remembered how they swarmed her when she first entered the forest and how the Pyreflies had helped her to touch the crystal in the tree of life. As they rode on she listened to Rosina and Ruven as they talked back and forth with each other. “Ideas?” She pondered for a moment, “I’m good with the bow, I can catch us food, right?” She looked to Ruven.
He chuckled and gave a nod. “I can skin up a rabbit or a fox…” He shook his head. “We need a way to make coin, for staying in the cottages along the way.”
Azariah gave a nod, she hadn’t thought of that. “I’m not sure…” She shook her head. “I will think of something.” She spoke as she looked to the road in the distance. The temple in which Elistar was buried was that of where his family originated from. He’d grown up there before he came south and met Barali ages ago. Trivium was his home. They rode into another forest, the canopy wasn’t as thick as the magical forest, but it cut out the warmth of the sun. Azariah shivered slightly. “We are going to have to get our hands on better gear for the snow as well.” She spoke. The rest of the day she was quiet. Thinking about everything, she couldn’t stop thinking about the moment that Drake had his hand clasped over her jaw, her arms pinned to her sides.
They rode into a small village around sunset. Azariah rode up to an inn and climbed down off of her horse. “I’ll go inside and see how much it is.” She spoke as she handed the reins to Ruven.
“Princess…” Ruven spoke as she walked off. He sighed slightly, “She’s hard headed. She has always been like that. Her mother used to give her to me when she was a child. I’ve watched her grow up.” He let out a soft chuckle.
Azariah stepped into the inn. A man stood at the bar, wiping a spot down with an old rag. “Good Evening, miss.” He smiled to her. “What could we do you for?”
“We are in need of a room, sir. I have two others with me.” Azariah replied as she stepped up to the counter. A few men played chess in one corner, others yelled and hollered as they drank beer.
The barkeep leaned forward with a smile on his face, he looked her over for a moment. “Where are you from?” He asked, “Or better yet, where are you traveling to?”
Azariah took in a breath, “Killington, just south of Nythhemel. It is a small town. We are traveling north to the snowy mountains.”
The barkeep smiled and gave a nod, “That’s a long trip. How many days are you staying here, love?” He asked.
Azariah furrowed her brows slightly, “Tonight, sir.”
The barkeep thought for a moment and then gave another smile, “Run this bar for me tonight, I’ll pay you $300 and you and your friends can stay here for free. I lost my last barkeep, she moved away. I haven’t had a pretty lady run the counter in oh….10 months or so. The boys, they pay well. You’ll make well over the $300.” He grinned.
Azariah thought for a moment, that amount of money would get them food and cover them for awhile. “Sure, it’s a deal.” She spoke and nodded.
“Fantastic.” The barkeep grinned. “Get your friends, I’ll show you to a room then.”
Azariah nodded and then stepped outside, she gave a sheepish smile. “I found a way to make money…” She scratched the back of her head slightly. “The owner wants me to run the bar for him tonight. Says we stay free and he will pay me in the morning.”
“What?” Ruven climbed down off of his horse and tied it to the hitching post. He tired hers and Rosina’s up as well.
“That’s a lot of money, it would last for a short while, at least maybe it could get us to Trivium.” Azariah spoke.
“A night in a cottage is around $300, princess.” Ruven spoke and then shrugged. “Alright. That’s better than being a hired assassin.”
Azariah sighed slightly as they walked inside. The bar keep smiled and led them up to the room. It had two large beds. “We close this place down around 2am, so a good 6 hours of work and free stay.” He smiled. “I’ll see you down at the bar soon, miss. Oh, here.” He handed her a pile of folded up clothing. “To keep the bar you must wear the uniform.” He chuckled and walked off.
Azariah took in a breath and sighed. She gave a smile to the two. “Off to keep a bar, it isn’t hard right?” She smiled and stepped into the bathroom. She changed and stepped back out. “How do I look?” She asked. She’d never worn clothing like what he’d given her. She wore a white top with the sleeves bunched up to her elbows. She had on a vest that acted much like a corset, accenting her curves. She wore brown pants and leather boots.
Ruven looked to her and gave a nod, “You look like a bar keep.” He smiled. “Here.” He stepped forward and ripped a piece of cloth from a towel. He took it and helped her tie up her hair in a messy bun. “That’s better.” He chuckled. “Most bar keeps do that, your hair will get in the way otherwise.”
Azariah looked to herself in the mirror and gave a nod. “Okay.” She stepped from the room and walked down the stairs. She stepped behind the counter and looked to the barkeep. “Alright, I’m ready.” She spoke.
He grinned to her, “Ahh you remind me of the girl who left. She was a beautiful one too.” He smirked. “You know how to pour it?” He asked as he held up a glass and showed her. “That’s all there is to it.” He pat her on the shoulder. “What’s your name?”
“Az.” She spoke and looked to him. “Why?”
He chuckled and then smacked the counter. “Alright boys! I’ve got you a new barkeep for the night. Her name is Az, give her a kind and warm welcome!” The men in the inn cheered and whistled at Azariah. The barkeep turned and chuckled to her, “Alright, have a good night.” He pulled his bowler hat off the top of his head and set it upside down on the counter. “For your tips.” He smirked before he walked upstairs.
Azariah looked as the men in the bar approached her holding up money and giving it to her, left and right. She poured glass after glass. She smiled and laughed with the men, joking with them, she flirted like she would with the men at the masquerades. The bar eventually began to thin out, only a few were left. One man stepped up to the counter and smiled to her. “It was a great night.” He leaned on the counter and dropped several large bills into the hat. “Maybe I’ll see you around?”
Azariah chuckled and smiled to him, “Maybe.” She spoke as she washed up a few glasses and wiped down the counter. She stepped forward and locked up the doors. Azariah then climbed up the stairs and quietly slipped into the room. She took her boots off and then sat down on the edge of the bed. She slipped under the blankets and soon was fast asleep.
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