Post by StarShine on Apr 19, 2010 13:55:01 GMT -5
She had thought she would simply pass out as soon as her naked body hit the bed, but that hadn't quite been the case. Zephyra found herself staring out the window of this strange place, her mind spinning as she considered the day's events. It wasn't possible, what had happened, what had been said, but it was true all the same.
It took her just a few minutes to sleep, only long enough for the moonlight to move a scant few inches over her face, but as sleep found her it was in a whirl of thoughts and upset. She felt she had more fallen into sleep than anything else, caught in a tornado of confusion and impossibilities.
She dreamed, deep and long, strange things that morphed and shifted together. In her last she saw Silvanos slipping into her room, taking her hand as she slept and leaning down to brush his lips over hers. Then the high king became Komus, who looked at her with anger and hurt, betrayal glinting in his eye - only for him to be revealed as her father in a mask, leaving her to scream as he quickly tied her and opened the door, a familiar scent wafting in as she screamed..
Zephyra woke with a start, quickly muffling a scream as her chest heaved. Flopping back into the cool, soft pillows, she closed her eyes and reassured herself it had just been a dream. She was safe in her room, with none of her father's guards to terrorize her outside the door, but the dreams would never leave her in peace.
A quick glance at the stars told her that only a few hours had passed, as she had expected. It was two in the morning and she found herself swinging her legs out of bed and slipping into a very large, warm sleeping gown, tucking her toes into soft cotton slippers as she reached for the door. Time to use the lavatory, just like every other night.
She jumped in surprise as it swung open silently and revealed Silvanos' guards. For a moment she'd forgotten that he had assigned them as protection, something she was slightly wary of and yet saw the use in. The guards from her kingdom couldn't try and betray the command of the high king if these two, or others like them, were around.
Still, she guarded her expression as she looked at them, pausing just long enough to see if they would hinder her - they did not. So she stepped out of the room and started walking, letting her feet guide her for a while as she rallied her thoughts. She was being followed by armed men, yet again, still. And it didn't bother her... Too much. These were Silvanos' men, loyal to him, and they would keep her as safe as he himself.
He was probably sleeping now. She was sure Komus would be. The man was nothing if not a creature of habit.
She was still tired, herself. Hadn't she passed a restroom on her way into the castle? She wasn't sure... Zeph had been so focused on setting herself up to hate this king. Now, he knew all about what went on in her sick little life, promised her a chance to see Komus, confused her as she found herself looking to him in ways that made no sense for someone that just wanted to repair what had been broken. To breathe life into a life that had died.
Her bladder felt like it was about to burst.
And there wouldn't be anyone around at this time, wandering like she was.
She had almost forgotten her guard, they moved so silently. These were good men, right? They wouldn't eye her and Komus like secret criminals...
She honestly couldn't remember them looking at her much at all, since she left the room.
"Excuse me, ah....?"
"Laikrin," the taller of the two smiled, motioning towards his companion as he continued "And Bradley."
Zeph nodded, mentally tucking the names away in her mind. She was great at remembering names, always had been. She could almost see them in someone's eyes, once it was learned.
"Where would the nearest lavatory be?"
"Ah, right this way," Bradley said, snapping his shoulders back as he hurried down the hall. The last thing he needed was to see the princess leave puddles in the hall..
She nodded again as Laikrin opened the door for her, a small smile of thanks touching her lips before she slipped inside. Just in time. There was nothing like a toilet, only a hole in the floor and an intricate system of pipes, as well as some water that constantly trickled down the opening, keeping it clear. Irrigation was a marvelous thing.
By the time she stepped out again the two men were in position by the door, as she had expected. Part of her wanted to try and talk to them, for company and a distraction from her thoughts, but she worried that they would get in trouble with Silvanos for it. It was an automatic thought, now, even if they didn't flank her with the attitude of guarding meat.
So she walked. Her feet lead the way, her eyes wandering to the windows and wondering, vaguely, if there would be any objection to leaving the castle. Was there a limit to the freedom the high king would give her - she would keep his guard that would protect her from the demons that threatened her, so long as she complied to his wishes?
No, she thought, her nose wrinkling characteristically in a frown, that isn't right. It wasn't like that.
She had a hard time, lately, on limiting what the evils in her life reached to. Her thinking had changed entirely, often leaving her in moments where she found herself placing the same darkness on others, wondering if they, too, would attempt to harm her. It was so hard to relax, to trust. Her mind was tainted.
At least she had managed to purge herself of the worst of the poisons in her heart.
Zephyra blinked in surprise as she realized where her feet had taken her. She was standing in front of the library door once again, her hand already resting on the door knob. A smile curved her lips and she stepped inside, quickly striding out to the terrace.
The guards moved with her.
"Your feet must be hurting by now," she sympathized, absently swinging her legs over the railing to sit on the edge. One of the guards, Laikrin she thought, moved as if to catch her and she looked up in surprise. He blushed and she grinned.
"Please, sit," she said, motioning to a nearby chair in the library, the railing, the floor. "It makes me nervous if you stand while I relax, and I feel guilty."
The two traded glances, apparently considering for a moment. They wouldn't risk sitting, not while guarding her - but they did lean against the railing, one on each side of her. Bradley seemed to have reservations about doing that much.
Zeph stared up at the stars as the pair grew still, her eyes glittering as her thoughts turned over. She was free of the guard, had a chance to see Komus - soon, as soon as she wanted - and all she could think of was the way it had felt while Silvanos had held her. He was.. So different. So cool, so calm, so gentle and strong. Komus, he was fierce, and they had had marvelous times playing and relaxing together. He had a flame in his eye to rival the sun itself.
But not Silvanos. He was so quiet, so... Icy, in a way. The only indication of rage she had seen had been in his eyes, and even then it had been a cold rage, a decisive one. She had known better than to talk about that rage, about what he would do. It was decided before he even spoke a word.
Night and day, she thought, lowering her gaze to let it wander over the ivy that climbed the terrace walls. Komus rages like the sun, and Silvanos is as cool as the moon and stars. I only feel peace at night, when there are no others around and I'm safe, alone. But I long for the light, to know that someone is there if I need. Will I regain what I had? Can I conquer this fear and be one with the day, once again? We are so different now, Komus and I, that much is clear from the few moments we've had. I have to figure out how I fit with him, now. I know I do - he is my love, the one I'm supposed to be with. I just need time with him to figure it out.
And yet here she was, in the middle of the night, with her thoughts straying to the one who was as the moon and stars.
On an impulse she swung her hips around and gripped the outside railing, making her guards jump as she quickly began to climb down. Within minutes she was on the ground, and after a quick glance they followed, landing seconds after her. Zephyra didn't even seem to notice. She turned and started towards a large patch of trees - the gardens - her arms wrapped around her stomach as she wandered in the gentle light, legs moving swiftly.
"Hello?"
Passing under the shade of a peach tree nearly made her have a heart attack, jumping so bad that her feet left the ground as a voice called from above. Glancing up revealed the culprit, moonlight filtering through the branches to strike his handsome features - Daganus.
He smiled at her as she offered a timid return, quickly swinging down and landing among her guards. He had been thinking as well, enjoying time in the trees to appreciate the wind and study the stars, as he always did when he needed a moment and Silvanos wasn't available.
But what was the princess doing out here, and with personal guards of the castle, now?
"Are you well, lady Zephyra?"
Great, she thought, quickly masking her eyes to hide her thoughts, he must think me insane now, to go wandering around at night. The last thing I need is the trouble that's bound to come from that.
Yet... He was out at night as well. For a moment dark thoughts flickered across her mind - secret meetings, dangerous plots - only to be banished in an instant. She had seen the way this man looked at his king, earlier that day. The two were true friends. There was nothing sinister going on here.
"Space and time to think, sir Daganus, and a chance to enjoy the night, is all. Though admittedly a trip to the lavatory started it."
He smiled at her, gently, reassuringly, noting once again that she was refusing to meet his eyes. She looked at his nose, quite often, but never his eyes.
"I find myself doing the same, as well. Perhaps we could share thoughts, if they're not too personal in nature? Good company is often the wine to finish the meal, in such cases."
She blinked at him, surprised by his eloquence. He simply smiled, a small cautious expression that gave her time to consider an answer.
As far as he was concerned, Zephyra was just another princess. Politically, the fire princess would be the best choice, repairing relations between the two nations and gaining aid to defeat Caracalon. That land had been suffering long enough, and the king was actively causing problems for Silvanos and the others. Personally, he wanted his friend happy again. The man would have to keep his head, but it was time he found someone new to love and let himself heal from he pain of his loss. Whoever it was that could do that would have his blessing.
Until that was clear to him, his job would be to help keep relations and tensions as smooth as possible, as well as helping to keep things running while Silv was occupied playing match maker. He didn't mind keeping things smooth with the various guests, and looked forward to spending as much time as possible with Silvanos to help him figure things out. They would have to do that soon, as well, as Daganus had a few choice words for the man regarding his actions with that fire princess... He was losing his head there, quite badly.
"Thoughts of night and day," she said, finally seeming to relax as she started walking through the trees again. "The sun and moon, how similar they are while being utterly different. The deceptive flash of the stars, so soft and delicate in appearance, such burning, distant suns in actuality. Those are my thoughts, may they please you."
"Similar to my own," he admitted, falling in step and letting his gaze wander the trees. "Few things are ever as they seem. There is so much more, always."
"You ponder the stars, then?"
"Nay, nary a star nor the moon, but what lays beneath. The trees, they need the sun to grow and thrive, and yet only so much. The moon gives them rest, a haven from the burning light, and yet she does glow with the sun's radiance. Such a strange balance, there is, so all things. The challenge is finding the balance within."
"You can't see within, is what makes it so hard," Zephyra murmured, quickly losing herself in the conversation. "You have to continue blindly. Would we know of the balance of sun and moon if we couldn't see? I think not, no. We would feel the warmth of the sun or the cool night air, but know nothing of the dancing cycle. Only feel the temperature changes."
"So how do you find the balance, while so hindered? Between pleasure and pain, day and night, logic and lust?"
"Trial and error," she said, turning her face to the sky. "Catch yourself, as you discover that something does not add to the balance but to chaos within, and try something new. And hope that the natural balance is found before all the world ceases."
Daganus eyed her as she spoke, curious now. He, too, was an observer, and he could see the way she looked as she contemplated these things. She was searching for her own balance. He felt for her, as he had watched his best friend struggle the same for some time now.
Logically it could be said that only one who had found this balance could help Silvanos, yet he knew this was not so. What worked for one did not work for all, or even any other at times. He knew - he had tried to help his friend, to the best of his abilities.
Disregarding all of that, the woman now had him curious.
"Even in that, you have to be careful," she continued, lowering her gaze and flashing the guards a smile. "If there is far too much sunlight, without enough of a rest under the moon, then suddenly swinging into a direct balance would still be cause for alarm. You can't just go to the balance point and stop - there is swaying, uncertainty, vertigo. It would feel as if there was far too much moonlight now, too much time to rest, only to swing back because of momentum."
"You have a unique mind," Daganus commented, lifting his gaze to the sky once again. "And I agree with it."
Sighing, Zephyra picked up a handful of pebbles off the ground and jumped in the low branches of a tree, absently tossing them along the thick bark. "Would that it be still, so I may rest. Is that what keeps you up?"
"Nay, this is my rest," the man smiled, jumping into a nearby branch and chewing on a leaf. "I relax under the moon, as the trees themselves do, taking peace after a long day under the burning sun."
"And doze in and out while you're at it, I would bet," she added, a playful note to her voice. She was relaxing now, accepting that she was safe. Being herself.
Daganus smiled, though he admitted nothing. He did, however, prop his head up and cock a brow a her. "Are you usually up at this time? You'll have difficulty functioning in the morn, dear lady."
"No more difficulty than is normal, I'm afraid."
He glanced at her there, curious, but she stretched cat-like and jumped from the tree, landing directly between her guards. Bradley helped her to her feet as Laikrin settled some of his weapons, both of them looking rather intrigued.
"Yet my mind had moved on from such things as the moon and stars. I wish you a fair night, sir Daganus."
With that, she turned and promptly proceeded to climb back up the terrace, leaving Daganus to laugh silently across the vast grounds as he watched the two guards follow her. If he hadn't been curious before, he certainly was now.
He climbed after them, utterly silent, glancing over the railing as she stopped in the library and scanned the shelves. A few moments passed in silence and then she plucked out a book with a rather decisive motion - not just a book, but what Daganus had began to think of as the book.
Well, now.
He jumped over the rail as she settled in a massive, overstuffed and overly comfortable chair, smiling in approval as he noticed the guards had known of his presence and merely nodded to him without actually looking. Silvanos would be proud.
"far be it from me to leave a fair maiden to wander on her own in the night," he said, smiling in a friendly manner as she looked up at him in surprise. "You do have good tastes in reading, I must say. What do you know of that book?"
"Only that it has received some favored revues," she said candidly, tucking her legs next to her as he grabbed another near by and settled in another chair.
"I've been reading this one for a while now - do you know it?" She tilted her head as he held it up for her to see, nodding in approval as Laikrin moved about, lighting some lanterns for them to read by.
"Oh, that's a classic," Zephyra said, her eyes sparking to life for a moment. He saw it, he was sure, though in a blink the moment was gone and she was carefully masked once again - herself, but still hiding, still reserved. Cautious.
He would have to work harder to put her at ease.
"I may finish it tonight, and then perhaps we could trade notes," he said genially, smiling to himself as she visibly relaxed. She was safe here and, with these men, could be herself. It was new, compared to what she had left just the day before, and she couldn't help but wonder how long it would last - but until then she could at least enjoy it.
Daganus buried his nose in the book and hid another smile, wondering what it was that made the woman so cautious; wondering at the strength that must lay under the surface to continue on, in spite of the perceived need for guarding herself so. And then he was lost in the book once again - for a while, any way.
It took her just a few minutes to sleep, only long enough for the moonlight to move a scant few inches over her face, but as sleep found her it was in a whirl of thoughts and upset. She felt she had more fallen into sleep than anything else, caught in a tornado of confusion and impossibilities.
She dreamed, deep and long, strange things that morphed and shifted together. In her last she saw Silvanos slipping into her room, taking her hand as she slept and leaning down to brush his lips over hers. Then the high king became Komus, who looked at her with anger and hurt, betrayal glinting in his eye - only for him to be revealed as her father in a mask, leaving her to scream as he quickly tied her and opened the door, a familiar scent wafting in as she screamed..
Zephyra woke with a start, quickly muffling a scream as her chest heaved. Flopping back into the cool, soft pillows, she closed her eyes and reassured herself it had just been a dream. She was safe in her room, with none of her father's guards to terrorize her outside the door, but the dreams would never leave her in peace.
A quick glance at the stars told her that only a few hours had passed, as she had expected. It was two in the morning and she found herself swinging her legs out of bed and slipping into a very large, warm sleeping gown, tucking her toes into soft cotton slippers as she reached for the door. Time to use the lavatory, just like every other night.
She jumped in surprise as it swung open silently and revealed Silvanos' guards. For a moment she'd forgotten that he had assigned them as protection, something she was slightly wary of and yet saw the use in. The guards from her kingdom couldn't try and betray the command of the high king if these two, or others like them, were around.
Still, she guarded her expression as she looked at them, pausing just long enough to see if they would hinder her - they did not. So she stepped out of the room and started walking, letting her feet guide her for a while as she rallied her thoughts. She was being followed by armed men, yet again, still. And it didn't bother her... Too much. These were Silvanos' men, loyal to him, and they would keep her as safe as he himself.
He was probably sleeping now. She was sure Komus would be. The man was nothing if not a creature of habit.
She was still tired, herself. Hadn't she passed a restroom on her way into the castle? She wasn't sure... Zeph had been so focused on setting herself up to hate this king. Now, he knew all about what went on in her sick little life, promised her a chance to see Komus, confused her as she found herself looking to him in ways that made no sense for someone that just wanted to repair what had been broken. To breathe life into a life that had died.
Her bladder felt like it was about to burst.
And there wouldn't be anyone around at this time, wandering like she was.
She had almost forgotten her guard, they moved so silently. These were good men, right? They wouldn't eye her and Komus like secret criminals...
She honestly couldn't remember them looking at her much at all, since she left the room.
"Excuse me, ah....?"
"Laikrin," the taller of the two smiled, motioning towards his companion as he continued "And Bradley."
Zeph nodded, mentally tucking the names away in her mind. She was great at remembering names, always had been. She could almost see them in someone's eyes, once it was learned.
"Where would the nearest lavatory be?"
"Ah, right this way," Bradley said, snapping his shoulders back as he hurried down the hall. The last thing he needed was to see the princess leave puddles in the hall..
She nodded again as Laikrin opened the door for her, a small smile of thanks touching her lips before she slipped inside. Just in time. There was nothing like a toilet, only a hole in the floor and an intricate system of pipes, as well as some water that constantly trickled down the opening, keeping it clear. Irrigation was a marvelous thing.
By the time she stepped out again the two men were in position by the door, as she had expected. Part of her wanted to try and talk to them, for company and a distraction from her thoughts, but she worried that they would get in trouble with Silvanos for it. It was an automatic thought, now, even if they didn't flank her with the attitude of guarding meat.
So she walked. Her feet lead the way, her eyes wandering to the windows and wondering, vaguely, if there would be any objection to leaving the castle. Was there a limit to the freedom the high king would give her - she would keep his guard that would protect her from the demons that threatened her, so long as she complied to his wishes?
No, she thought, her nose wrinkling characteristically in a frown, that isn't right. It wasn't like that.
She had a hard time, lately, on limiting what the evils in her life reached to. Her thinking had changed entirely, often leaving her in moments where she found herself placing the same darkness on others, wondering if they, too, would attempt to harm her. It was so hard to relax, to trust. Her mind was tainted.
At least she had managed to purge herself of the worst of the poisons in her heart.
Zephyra blinked in surprise as she realized where her feet had taken her. She was standing in front of the library door once again, her hand already resting on the door knob. A smile curved her lips and she stepped inside, quickly striding out to the terrace.
The guards moved with her.
"Your feet must be hurting by now," she sympathized, absently swinging her legs over the railing to sit on the edge. One of the guards, Laikrin she thought, moved as if to catch her and she looked up in surprise. He blushed and she grinned.
"Please, sit," she said, motioning to a nearby chair in the library, the railing, the floor. "It makes me nervous if you stand while I relax, and I feel guilty."
The two traded glances, apparently considering for a moment. They wouldn't risk sitting, not while guarding her - but they did lean against the railing, one on each side of her. Bradley seemed to have reservations about doing that much.
Zeph stared up at the stars as the pair grew still, her eyes glittering as her thoughts turned over. She was free of the guard, had a chance to see Komus - soon, as soon as she wanted - and all she could think of was the way it had felt while Silvanos had held her. He was.. So different. So cool, so calm, so gentle and strong. Komus, he was fierce, and they had had marvelous times playing and relaxing together. He had a flame in his eye to rival the sun itself.
But not Silvanos. He was so quiet, so... Icy, in a way. The only indication of rage she had seen had been in his eyes, and even then it had been a cold rage, a decisive one. She had known better than to talk about that rage, about what he would do. It was decided before he even spoke a word.
Night and day, she thought, lowering her gaze to let it wander over the ivy that climbed the terrace walls. Komus rages like the sun, and Silvanos is as cool as the moon and stars. I only feel peace at night, when there are no others around and I'm safe, alone. But I long for the light, to know that someone is there if I need. Will I regain what I had? Can I conquer this fear and be one with the day, once again? We are so different now, Komus and I, that much is clear from the few moments we've had. I have to figure out how I fit with him, now. I know I do - he is my love, the one I'm supposed to be with. I just need time with him to figure it out.
And yet here she was, in the middle of the night, with her thoughts straying to the one who was as the moon and stars.
On an impulse she swung her hips around and gripped the outside railing, making her guards jump as she quickly began to climb down. Within minutes she was on the ground, and after a quick glance they followed, landing seconds after her. Zephyra didn't even seem to notice. She turned and started towards a large patch of trees - the gardens - her arms wrapped around her stomach as she wandered in the gentle light, legs moving swiftly.
"Hello?"
Passing under the shade of a peach tree nearly made her have a heart attack, jumping so bad that her feet left the ground as a voice called from above. Glancing up revealed the culprit, moonlight filtering through the branches to strike his handsome features - Daganus.
He smiled at her as she offered a timid return, quickly swinging down and landing among her guards. He had been thinking as well, enjoying time in the trees to appreciate the wind and study the stars, as he always did when he needed a moment and Silvanos wasn't available.
But what was the princess doing out here, and with personal guards of the castle, now?
"Are you well, lady Zephyra?"
Great, she thought, quickly masking her eyes to hide her thoughts, he must think me insane now, to go wandering around at night. The last thing I need is the trouble that's bound to come from that.
Yet... He was out at night as well. For a moment dark thoughts flickered across her mind - secret meetings, dangerous plots - only to be banished in an instant. She had seen the way this man looked at his king, earlier that day. The two were true friends. There was nothing sinister going on here.
"Space and time to think, sir Daganus, and a chance to enjoy the night, is all. Though admittedly a trip to the lavatory started it."
He smiled at her, gently, reassuringly, noting once again that she was refusing to meet his eyes. She looked at his nose, quite often, but never his eyes.
"I find myself doing the same, as well. Perhaps we could share thoughts, if they're not too personal in nature? Good company is often the wine to finish the meal, in such cases."
She blinked at him, surprised by his eloquence. He simply smiled, a small cautious expression that gave her time to consider an answer.
As far as he was concerned, Zephyra was just another princess. Politically, the fire princess would be the best choice, repairing relations between the two nations and gaining aid to defeat Caracalon. That land had been suffering long enough, and the king was actively causing problems for Silvanos and the others. Personally, he wanted his friend happy again. The man would have to keep his head, but it was time he found someone new to love and let himself heal from he pain of his loss. Whoever it was that could do that would have his blessing.
Until that was clear to him, his job would be to help keep relations and tensions as smooth as possible, as well as helping to keep things running while Silv was occupied playing match maker. He didn't mind keeping things smooth with the various guests, and looked forward to spending as much time as possible with Silvanos to help him figure things out. They would have to do that soon, as well, as Daganus had a few choice words for the man regarding his actions with that fire princess... He was losing his head there, quite badly.
"Thoughts of night and day," she said, finally seeming to relax as she started walking through the trees again. "The sun and moon, how similar they are while being utterly different. The deceptive flash of the stars, so soft and delicate in appearance, such burning, distant suns in actuality. Those are my thoughts, may they please you."
"Similar to my own," he admitted, falling in step and letting his gaze wander the trees. "Few things are ever as they seem. There is so much more, always."
"You ponder the stars, then?"
"Nay, nary a star nor the moon, but what lays beneath. The trees, they need the sun to grow and thrive, and yet only so much. The moon gives them rest, a haven from the burning light, and yet she does glow with the sun's radiance. Such a strange balance, there is, so all things. The challenge is finding the balance within."
"You can't see within, is what makes it so hard," Zephyra murmured, quickly losing herself in the conversation. "You have to continue blindly. Would we know of the balance of sun and moon if we couldn't see? I think not, no. We would feel the warmth of the sun or the cool night air, but know nothing of the dancing cycle. Only feel the temperature changes."
"So how do you find the balance, while so hindered? Between pleasure and pain, day and night, logic and lust?"
"Trial and error," she said, turning her face to the sky. "Catch yourself, as you discover that something does not add to the balance but to chaos within, and try something new. And hope that the natural balance is found before all the world ceases."
Daganus eyed her as she spoke, curious now. He, too, was an observer, and he could see the way she looked as she contemplated these things. She was searching for her own balance. He felt for her, as he had watched his best friend struggle the same for some time now.
Logically it could be said that only one who had found this balance could help Silvanos, yet he knew this was not so. What worked for one did not work for all, or even any other at times. He knew - he had tried to help his friend, to the best of his abilities.
Disregarding all of that, the woman now had him curious.
"Even in that, you have to be careful," she continued, lowering her gaze and flashing the guards a smile. "If there is far too much sunlight, without enough of a rest under the moon, then suddenly swinging into a direct balance would still be cause for alarm. You can't just go to the balance point and stop - there is swaying, uncertainty, vertigo. It would feel as if there was far too much moonlight now, too much time to rest, only to swing back because of momentum."
"You have a unique mind," Daganus commented, lifting his gaze to the sky once again. "And I agree with it."
Sighing, Zephyra picked up a handful of pebbles off the ground and jumped in the low branches of a tree, absently tossing them along the thick bark. "Would that it be still, so I may rest. Is that what keeps you up?"
"Nay, this is my rest," the man smiled, jumping into a nearby branch and chewing on a leaf. "I relax under the moon, as the trees themselves do, taking peace after a long day under the burning sun."
"And doze in and out while you're at it, I would bet," she added, a playful note to her voice. She was relaxing now, accepting that she was safe. Being herself.
Daganus smiled, though he admitted nothing. He did, however, prop his head up and cock a brow a her. "Are you usually up at this time? You'll have difficulty functioning in the morn, dear lady."
"No more difficulty than is normal, I'm afraid."
He glanced at her there, curious, but she stretched cat-like and jumped from the tree, landing directly between her guards. Bradley helped her to her feet as Laikrin settled some of his weapons, both of them looking rather intrigued.
"Yet my mind had moved on from such things as the moon and stars. I wish you a fair night, sir Daganus."
With that, she turned and promptly proceeded to climb back up the terrace, leaving Daganus to laugh silently across the vast grounds as he watched the two guards follow her. If he hadn't been curious before, he certainly was now.
He climbed after them, utterly silent, glancing over the railing as she stopped in the library and scanned the shelves. A few moments passed in silence and then she plucked out a book with a rather decisive motion - not just a book, but what Daganus had began to think of as the book.
Well, now.
He jumped over the rail as she settled in a massive, overstuffed and overly comfortable chair, smiling in approval as he noticed the guards had known of his presence and merely nodded to him without actually looking. Silvanos would be proud.
"far be it from me to leave a fair maiden to wander on her own in the night," he said, smiling in a friendly manner as she looked up at him in surprise. "You do have good tastes in reading, I must say. What do you know of that book?"
"Only that it has received some favored revues," she said candidly, tucking her legs next to her as he grabbed another near by and settled in another chair.
"I've been reading this one for a while now - do you know it?" She tilted her head as he held it up for her to see, nodding in approval as Laikrin moved about, lighting some lanterns for them to read by.
"Oh, that's a classic," Zephyra said, her eyes sparking to life for a moment. He saw it, he was sure, though in a blink the moment was gone and she was carefully masked once again - herself, but still hiding, still reserved. Cautious.
He would have to work harder to put her at ease.
"I may finish it tonight, and then perhaps we could trade notes," he said genially, smiling to himself as she visibly relaxed. She was safe here and, with these men, could be herself. It was new, compared to what she had left just the day before, and she couldn't help but wonder how long it would last - but until then she could at least enjoy it.
Daganus buried his nose in the book and hid another smile, wondering what it was that made the woman so cautious; wondering at the strength that must lay under the surface to continue on, in spite of the perceived need for guarding herself so. And then he was lost in the book once again - for a while, any way.
