Post by Aurelia on Dec 1, 2010 2:36:40 GMT -8
Two years had slipped away, years she could not reclaim. Not idle years by any means, her research had been successful, more than successful in truth, despite the uncooperative nature of the natives. Still those months had been far from as productive as she might have hoped, forcing her into near exile on that island while she completed her research. All the while she had felt felt those intangible threads of the ages racing by, as keenly as if they were razor wire swirling round her dragging her slowly toward the abyss. Her estates sat idle and nearly ungoverned by her careful hand. Her servants and slaves were loyal, but even the best would shirk their duties and grow slack with her not there to guide them. It had been unavoidable, despite its cost.
Stepping off the ship she welcomed the feel of solid ground beneath her boots once more. They were new, tailored just for her homecoming, soft and warm they were lined with a fine gray fur and trimmed with muertos feathers from the island. They of course, matched her new great coat, which draped her figure, thick with feathers, and held tight against the wind by a set of four mithril clasps. It was not nearly as revealing as most of her garments, with a high neckline, she had long ago realized the impracticality of bared flesh in this region. It still did hint at her curves, with a carefully tailored belt of matching fabric and mithril buckle. The set were but a small token she had chosen to remember her journey by. Carefully, methodically she drew out a mirror and checked herself in it. One never knew what lock of hair might have fallen astray, or touch of makeup might have been accidentally brushed away by an unthinking gesture during a trip. After so long away, it was important that she live up to their every memory of her, anything else and she might be diminished in their eyes. She would have to make a few examples. Yes, examples would remind those shirking dwarves who it was they served.
Turning to one of the beautiful men beside her, she nodded and and waved a hand for him to be about his duties. It was a wordless gesture, simple and effortless on her part, but it spoke volumes to the young dark elf. With all the formality of a soldier he straightened and then struck his clenched fist to his chest before performing a deep bow that caused his purely obsidian locks to momentarily obscure his dark eyes. He did have such beautiful eyes. She thought he might be her favorite, despite the fact he was senior to all her other escorts by nearly ten years. He was the oldest to ever hold a position among her guards. Still age had not diminished his features, if she had not known his age she would never have suspected it. It would be a shame if the years ever caught up to him. She wondered what his name was as he began to bark orders to the other three young men that now encircled her. Two of them moved off to assist the others on the ship, leaving him and another dusky young dark elven man at her side.
The dock was alight with motion. Men and women, human and dark elf alike, scurrying in all directions. It was a wonder they did not collide. The young soldiers in her guard were carrying her trunks and bags from the ship, occasionally rescuing her things from the crew's clumsy bungling. Meanwhile the ship's crew darted in and out of her sight, carrying barrels and crates from the ship's hold with surprising grace, all the while under the gaze of their own taskmaster. She observed it all with a cool gaze touched just lightly with a hint of boredom. It was easy to spot her men in the midst of all the turmoil. Each was dressed in a suit of heavy nightmare armor. The bright red on black of the plate-mail set them apart from the subdued tones of the sailors and commoners that bustled about the wharf.
“My Lady” One of the nightmare clad soldiers stated as he approached, repeating the same fist to chest bow that the other had only moments ago. “It is all in order as you directed. The prisoners from the island will be unloaded tonight under the cover of darkness.”
She smiled coolly her eyes already looking past the man, to other plans in the making “Excellent. See that facility 14 will be ready by then. We cannot have any mishaps.” She dismissed him with a wave, not even bothering to watch him salute or listening to his response. Her eyes were already drifting beyond the dock, to the hillside, where already her runners were carrying the rest of her orders ahead of her. It was good to be back on the mainland once again, and far past time to check on her projects.
Stepping off the ship she welcomed the feel of solid ground beneath her boots once more. They were new, tailored just for her homecoming, soft and warm they were lined with a fine gray fur and trimmed with muertos feathers from the island. They of course, matched her new great coat, which draped her figure, thick with feathers, and held tight against the wind by a set of four mithril clasps. It was not nearly as revealing as most of her garments, with a high neckline, she had long ago realized the impracticality of bared flesh in this region. It still did hint at her curves, with a carefully tailored belt of matching fabric and mithril buckle. The set were but a small token she had chosen to remember her journey by. Carefully, methodically she drew out a mirror and checked herself in it. One never knew what lock of hair might have fallen astray, or touch of makeup might have been accidentally brushed away by an unthinking gesture during a trip. After so long away, it was important that she live up to their every memory of her, anything else and she might be diminished in their eyes. She would have to make a few examples. Yes, examples would remind those shirking dwarves who it was they served.
Turning to one of the beautiful men beside her, she nodded and and waved a hand for him to be about his duties. It was a wordless gesture, simple and effortless on her part, but it spoke volumes to the young dark elf. With all the formality of a soldier he straightened and then struck his clenched fist to his chest before performing a deep bow that caused his purely obsidian locks to momentarily obscure his dark eyes. He did have such beautiful eyes. She thought he might be her favorite, despite the fact he was senior to all her other escorts by nearly ten years. He was the oldest to ever hold a position among her guards. Still age had not diminished his features, if she had not known his age she would never have suspected it. It would be a shame if the years ever caught up to him. She wondered what his name was as he began to bark orders to the other three young men that now encircled her. Two of them moved off to assist the others on the ship, leaving him and another dusky young dark elven man at her side.
The dock was alight with motion. Men and women, human and dark elf alike, scurrying in all directions. It was a wonder they did not collide. The young soldiers in her guard were carrying her trunks and bags from the ship, occasionally rescuing her things from the crew's clumsy bungling. Meanwhile the ship's crew darted in and out of her sight, carrying barrels and crates from the ship's hold with surprising grace, all the while under the gaze of their own taskmaster. She observed it all with a cool gaze touched just lightly with a hint of boredom. It was easy to spot her men in the midst of all the turmoil. Each was dressed in a suit of heavy nightmare armor. The bright red on black of the plate-mail set them apart from the subdued tones of the sailors and commoners that bustled about the wharf.
“My Lady” One of the nightmare clad soldiers stated as he approached, repeating the same fist to chest bow that the other had only moments ago. “It is all in order as you directed. The prisoners from the island will be unloaded tonight under the cover of darkness.”
She smiled coolly her eyes already looking past the man, to other plans in the making “Excellent. See that facility 14 will be ready by then. We cannot have any mishaps.” She dismissed him with a wave, not even bothering to watch him salute or listening to his response. Her eyes were already drifting beyond the dock, to the hillside, where already her runners were carrying the rest of her orders ahead of her. It was good to be back on the mainland once again, and far past time to check on her projects.
