"I... I appologize, Lady," he said, sounding like he meant it. "I... just... Well, even Landens understand that the Blood can speak to each other on the psychic webs. And your psychic scent may be odd, but I can tell for certain that you are no Landen...." the word Landen was said with a slight sneer, but there was a weird hesitation in it too, like someone who was new to sneering at them, whoever they were... or like someone who always sneered and was reassessing. Or trying to.
They were coming close to a small village now. The buildings were in good repair, though in many cases "repair" was the operative word as parts of roofs and walls didn't always match. All the windows were shuttered against the cold.
The roads were cobble at best, packed dirt at worst. He pulled them up to the main street, past the repaired homes. This was a wider road with good even cobbles that were cleared of ice, though some snow stuck stubbornly. The buildings to either side of this road were very different. They all looked newer, or at least repaired with the same materials as the original. Or close enough as to not stand out. Also they seemed to be more businesses. There was one that by the images on the sign seemed to be a music store, except it had a low fence around a front yard, like it was for keeping animals in.
Speaking of animals, as they got to one of the very few businesses that seemed open - there as light coming from the windows and smoke from the chimney - two small dogs came racing up to the horse. They both stopped clear of where the horse stopped. They could have been littermates, probably were, they each had a wide blaze of silvery fur down their nose, one wider than the other.
The man slid from the saddle, helping her down gently, before throwing the reins to one of the dogs. Both dogs gave a short gruff noise before heading off, leading the horse down the road. He turned towards the open business. The sign read "THE LADY'S PLEASURE". Two more of the small dogs stood in the doorway. One was brown and white and wore a collar with an amethyst jewel in it. The other was a patchwork of all sorts of colours, a real hodgepodge. He looked shy and unsure. Just looking at the female she was clearly the bossy sort. Both dogs stared at Aerith.
Her escort looked sheepish. "That's something you'd have to ask her, or the Queen...." he said to the dogs, as if answering a question. "May we please en..." before he could finish the question the dogs stepped politely aside. He coughed. "After you, Lady," he said to Aerith.
If she went inside she'd be created with comfortable warmth, more than should be coming from the small fireplace. It was an inn or tavern, or some mix thereof, full of tables. One of those tables was full of people. Nearly all of them looked like everyone else she'd met so far; skin that was dark from either tanned or natural colouring, dark hair, dark eyes that were usually brown, though there were a few greens. All of them were of similar build. Except for one of the two women present. She looked nothing like anyone else here.
The woman wasn't exactly pretty, leaning more towards plain, except for the freckles all over her pale face. She wasn't fat, but she wasn't lean like everyone else seemed to be here, either. Her eyes were hazel and her sunset red hair was pulled back from her face. One man stood to either side of her, watching Aerith intently. They didn't look related, though they did both have green eyes. Different shades, though.
"May the Darkness embrace you both," the woman said, saying the words as though they were greeting. Or ritual.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2022-08-22 12:18 pm (UTC)They were coming close to a small village now. The buildings were in good repair, though in many cases "repair" was the operative word as parts of roofs and walls didn't always match. All the windows were shuttered against the cold.
The roads were cobble at best, packed dirt at worst. He pulled them up to the main street, past the repaired homes. This was a wider road with good even cobbles that were cleared of ice, though some snow stuck stubbornly. The buildings to either side of this road were very different. They all looked newer, or at least repaired with the same materials as the original. Or close enough as to not stand out. Also they seemed to be more businesses. There was one that by the images on the sign seemed to be a music store, except it had a low fence around a front yard, like it was for keeping animals in.
Speaking of animals, as they got to one of the very few businesses that seemed open - there as light coming from the windows and smoke from the chimney - two small dogs came racing up to the horse. They both stopped clear of where the horse stopped. They could have been littermates, probably were, they each had a wide blaze of silvery fur down their nose, one wider than the other.
The man slid from the saddle, helping her down gently, before throwing the reins to one of the dogs. Both dogs gave a short gruff noise before heading off, leading the horse down the road. He turned towards the open business. The sign read "THE LADY'S PLEASURE". Two more of the small dogs stood in the doorway. One was brown and white and wore a collar with an amethyst jewel in it. The other was a patchwork of all sorts of colours, a real hodgepodge. He looked shy and unsure. Just looking at the female she was clearly the bossy sort. Both dogs stared at Aerith.
Her escort looked sheepish. "That's something you'd have to ask her, or the Queen...." he said to the dogs, as if answering a question. "May we please en..." before he could finish the question the dogs stepped politely aside. He coughed. "After you, Lady," he said to Aerith.
If she went inside she'd be created with comfortable warmth, more than should be coming from the small fireplace. It was an inn or tavern, or some mix thereof, full of tables. One of those tables was full of people. Nearly all of them looked like everyone else she'd met so far; skin that was dark from either tanned or natural colouring, dark hair, dark eyes that were usually brown, though there were a few greens. All of them were of similar build. Except for one of the two women present. She looked nothing like anyone else here.
The woman wasn't exactly pretty, leaning more towards plain, except for the freckles all over her pale face. She wasn't fat, but she wasn't lean like everyone else seemed to be here, either. Her eyes were hazel and her sunset red hair was pulled back from her face. One man stood to either side of her, watching Aerith intently. They didn't look related, though they did both have green eyes. Different shades, though.
"May the Darkness embrace you both," the woman said, saying the words as though they were greeting. Or ritual.