Ursine [M:5:25:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=377&page=1#14973]Time is a roiling ocean, and yours is naught but a tear into the maelstrom.
Ursine smiles, watching Garud walk to the bar before looking back to Bohn. "I suppose drink could make any man happier, no? Or at least think it. And my name would be Ursine, and no, before you ask, I do not turn into a bear." She sighs and wipes a hand down her face, shaking her head. "Honestly, why a name cannot be just a name, I have no idea."
“Well, Miss-Ursine-who-does-not-change-into-a-bear, that is an interesting question. I have never thought about it before. Though, now that you mention it, I suppose it might come from the belief that names hold power. You will find many in Karlshamn that have chosen a mage name to use instead of the one they were given at birth. Mages. Paranoid lot. That said; I do not find you to be bearish. Strong willed, perhaps…”
Bohn’s voice came to a halt and his eyes were twinkling at her.
-------------------
The Prince’s cousin smiled at Serenity.
“That is very kind of you, Lady Serenity. I will tell my cousin of your offer. But, I do not expect him to accept it. He would not wish a guest of his house to, well, get her hands dirty. I am sure you did not come here to burrow through burned buildings or traipse about in the wet and cold. And speaking of the cold…” He gestured to the castle, “…shall we go back inside?”
And that was that, he did not say anything more and gently but firmly escorted her back to the party.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Ursine [M:5:25:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=377&page=1#14973]Time is a roiling ocean, and yours is naught but a tear into the maelstrom.
One corner of Ursine's mouth quirks up, taking a step towards the bar, holding one hand out in front of her. "Oh, turning off the flattery already?" she chides, following him to the bar and taking a seat. "Come on now, surely you've got more. Why, you haven't even called me radiant yet."
The chatter in the tavern died down as they moved closer to the bar. The onlookers of the fight regained their seats, liquor, food, or whatever it was they had been doing before. Bohn gave Ursine a sharper look. The easy humor fled his face and he studied her with a serious mien before replying.
"No. I have not. I've stuck my foot in my mouth, haven't I? You wouldn't perchance be a mage would you, Ursine?"
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
"Of course," she said simply, putting on a smile to satisfy him.
However, Serenity still wasn't convinced, there was obviously something wrong with this whole ordeal and she had a mind to see through it. She chose to continue on with this party and not question further to avoid arousing suspicion. After all, valued guest or not she would probably be frowned upon if she got too curious over the matter.
If there was time left she would opt to venture out onto the streets herself to see more of the city, before retiring to bed.
Ursine [M:5:25:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=377&page=1#14973]Time is a roiling ocean, and yours is naught but a tear into the maelstrom.
Ursine turns to him, one hand on the bar, the other hanging at her side. "Well," she begins, worrying at her bottom lip. "I...am, yes. Not half bad either, or so I like to think," she finishes, still biting at the inside of her lip a bit. "In truth, part of the reason I'd come here was Karlshamn's reputation in the magical community. I've been wandering a long time," she says, voice growing ever slightly more distant, "and was thinking that, maybe, this wouldn't be such a bad place to settle."
The first of the sleighs from the city had begun arriving at the castle. When Serenity returned to the banquet hall dozens of rosy cheeked visitors were milling about the banquet tables. The atmosphere was full of jovial excitement, too. A damn sight better than the tension Serenity had felt earlier. Her companion was hailed by a half a dozen men immediately all talking at the same time.
“Gunnar!”
“Where have you been?”
“The Prince has been looking for you.”
“You cannot monopolize all of Lady Serenity’s time!”
“What are you doing?”
“Come on! Hurry up!”
Serenity was surprised to see a look of hostility on his face. He was unfailingly polite, always, or had been to her. His mouth tightened and he answered them in a tone she recognized from earlier. Stiff.
“Give me a minute.”
He turned back to her with a weary smile.
“I will return shortly to escort you back to your rooms, Lady. Please, excuse me.”
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
If Bohn’s expression had been serious before it was doubly so this time around. His hand dropped to her shoulder and he took up the space next to her at the bar. Bohn kept Ursine between his body and Garud’s separate from the rest of the patrons.
“A few months ago you would have been correct. A few months ago I would have recommended it to any mage. Högskola was a spectacular place to study or learn, or so I’ve been told. Not anymore.”
Bohn took a quick glance around the full tavern then leaned closer.
“You know the castle is having a huge banquet tonight. Garud and I were headed up that way. How about you join us for the evening?”
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Ursine [M:5:25:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=377&page=1#14973]Time is a roiling ocean, and yours is naught but a tear into the maelstrom.
"Soo..." Ursine begins and trails off, bringing up the hand at her side and holding it out to him, gesturing at him vaguely, "you tell me that this place has gone sour for magi, your tone is telling me to run far, and run fast...and now you invite me to a party at a castle?" Her eyes glint under tilted eyebrows, cocked in curiosity. "You must know how crazy that sounds, yes?" She continues to meet his eye for a moment, then breaks it off to look somewhere over his shoulder, throwing her hands up and sighing heavily. "Damn it, I've never been good at saying no to a party," she huffs, hanging her head. She starts for the door, then turns on her heel and points at Bohn, "But gods help you, if there isn't any good wine, I will skin you alive."
Serenity wondered if she would be allowed to leave her room considering she was an honored guest and perhaps the streets weren't safe at night, not that she cared. Either way she wasn't going to go out in ballroom clothes to attract an unwanted element.
The lady went over to one of the guests, one whom she passed coming back inside and who had spoken up. She wasn't extremely picky about who she mingled with at these things, not anymore anyway.
"I don't suppose I could trouble you before his Highness' cousin returns?"
Bohn took a half step back but he was smiling when he spoke and waving the hovering bartender away.
“And you say you don’t change into a bear. But, the warning has been duly noted. There has always been enough wine at the festival to satisfy even a lush like Garud here…”
Bohn took another look at Ursine - a thorough one. Then he made a gesture toward his friend. Garud had turned around to face the occupants of the tavern and his rotund belly testified to his love of ale and food.
“You couldn’t possible hold as much. And, for your information everyone hereabouts is already convinced I am crazy.”
“You are crazy.”
Garud’s tone was surly but he was smiling, too.
---------------
The young man Serenity had chosen to speak to glanced around as if he was looking for the person she was addressing. When he realized her eyes were on him he stammered out a few courteous words his comportment instructor drilled into his head.
“It… i..is no t..trouble at all, Lady S… serenity. H…how may I help you?”
Panic shone in his eyes; panic he had no idea how to hide. This was his first season as an adult and the transition from boy to man was not going well. He had been staring at the games of the older children wistfully since the banquet started.
His voice had been the respectful one that had told Gunnar the Prince was looking for him. He was very uneasy in this rowdy mob of sycophants, as well.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Ursine [M:5:25:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=377&page=1#14973]Time is a roiling ocean, and yours is naught but a tear into the maelstrom.
Ursine sighs again, smiling this time. "Going to a party at a castle in a town that's gone bad for magi, according to the crazy man and his lush friend that I'm going to the party with." She hangs her head and rubs at her temples, trying not to laugh. "Maybe I'm the crazy one here."
Bohn's good humor had been restored. He had the attention of a pretty girl, his best friend was no longer angry, and the biggest party of the year was only a sleigh ride away.
"Well, Ursine, if that is true and I maybe so bold. You are in good company, hm? And we have a party to attend. Garud, man! Lead the way."
Garud headed to the door with several of the remaining patrons of the tavern. Bohn offered his hand to Ursine. He had decided, this very minute, to keep her safe. He barely knew her. But, she was lovely, quick witted, and he wanted to learn more. That might never happen, too, if recent events continued.
Mages were being hunted in Karlshamn. Yes. Rumors abounded as to why, how, and who, but it had not been an accident. Bohn kept his ear to the ground. For an man that stood out because of his dark skin and hair he was remarkably good at blending in, too.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Serenity smiled at the lad to put him at ease. It used to be the sport of Highever women to make young men blush at parties like this one. The Howl mage would tease her peers, saying that if she had participated all the men wouldn't dare look at another besides her. Yes, she was confident enough that her outward look was the cause of this young man's distress, but her days of twirling her finger around little boys was long gone.
Or perhaps her arrogance was beginning to shine again, Serenity wasn't entirely sure on that note.
"You may be my escort for the rest of the evening for one, at least until Mr. Gunnar returns to escort me to my chamber."
The lady eagerly wrapped an arm around his, "It's been so long since I had a handsome young man escort me so," she said beaming at him, ostensibly excited.
The young man, of course, stopped thinking about the games he was missing as soon as Serenity wrapped her arm around his. Escorting the visiting lady mage was quite a feather in his cap. He walked away from his companions unable to hide his surprise or pride.
The other five watched his departure with the hidden spite of any toady in court. Eventually, he would stumble. They were sure of it and each one waited for the chance to replace him as they had Gunnar.
The new guests had, by now, become ensconced in temporary chairs and tables set up for the event. The food was free, the liquor was free, the entertainment in the main hall was packed with as much to watch as a circus; four bards, a traveling dog and pony show, a fragile looking girl swallowing swords, and whole dancing troupe. It was fair to say that everyone was here, unless they were on their deathbed.
The boyish man, whose given name was Lain, finally found the courage to say something that approximated conversation.
“What would you like to see, Lady?”
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”