Kerina's Cottage

-=before a roaring fire, curled up on a brace of furs, she quietly writes in her journal about that insufferable warrior who has crept into her life=-

:: the thundering sound of wings cuts the stillness of the night as the massive ebon tarn alights, steel shod talons raping the ground as the great beasts head cants and a shriek is heard ::

-=the quill streaks across the parchment when a tarn's shriek startles her... grumbling at the ruined page, she mutters=- Probably that insufferable lout....

:: the strap undone, he dismounts, jumping to the ground with a dull thud as booted feet plant on the snow, a tarns keeper comes rushing forward, taking charge of his winged mount as he asks where to find the Lady Kerina ::

-=closing the leather bound journal, she sets it on a table and goes to the window, slender fingers part the curtains as she tries to peer outside into the darkness... for some odd reason, her heart beat a bit faster=-

:: striding across the grounds of House Sadus, a few guards stopping him before allowing him to pass, the wind catching on the jet black windscarf that hangs at his neck, blowing it back as he walks, the torch light cast upon him as he passes each glowing pole ::

-=the glow of the fire inside the cottage holds the woman's figure in the window in a dark silhouette as she watches to see who the visitor might be... as he comes into sight, she smiled... a hand lifted to smooth unruly curls of spun gold as she let the curtains close again=-

:: grey-black eyes linger on the figure he saw in the window before the curtains closed, a smile forming slowly and then disappearing into a slight grin as he starts up the path for the door ::

-=stepping away from the window, she waited for the knock on the door... another swipe at a curl that would not stay in place was made, pushing it behind her ear=-

:: worn leather meets the door in a resounding thud as he knocks, glancing behind him to a group of passing guards, seeing them pause as their gaze rests upon him, he turns back, hearing noises behind the closed door ::

-=as the door swung open, she saw the guards and gave them a brief wave... she knew they would be checking on her until the warrior left... turning to Talon, she smiled and gestured for him to enter=- Tal, Sir... please come in...

:: the light seeped out, covering him in its orange glow as the door opened :: Tal, Lady. Thank you. :: he walks past her into the warmth of the cottage, his eyes moving over the interior slowly, so much can be learned from a persons home ::

-=the cottage was simply furnished... her needs and wants were not extravagant... it was a warm room, inviting, not too feminine... there was a half circle of thick furs before the fire with a low table at either end... intricate tapestries were hung on the walls, depicting scenes of Treve... from the main room, towards the back are three doors... one to her sons chamber...one her chamber... the other to the weaving room, it's door was slightly ajar... off to one side was a small servery=-

:: his eyes passed over the wall hangings, as he walked toward one near the fire and near the slightly opened door, his hand rising remove his cloak, drawing the thick black material off his shoulders, his tunic a deep red edged in black, he wore relatively new black leathers and black boots, his sword belt slung over his shoulder, the hilt seen - worn from years of use, he studied the scene before him, glancing to the door before turning around :: I hope I have not disturbed you with my visit.

-=as he removed his cloak, she reached for it so she could hang it up... the outline of her smile could be seen through the house veil she wore=- No Sir... not at all... please make yourself comfortable.

-=she was wearing a simple robe, not the heavy one she wore when leaving the house... it gave a little more of a hint of her slender form than did the other... it was a pale blue, a startling contrast to the midnight blue one she typically wore=- Would you like something to drink?

:: handing his cloak to her as he nodded, his smile returning as he looked at her, able to see the outline of her face once more :: Thank you. :: nodding to her as he walked toward the thick fur, still a slight limp seen as he moved, glancing back, his dark eyes rose from the floor to her face, taking in the sight of her, he had not seen her like this before, so relaxed and comfortable in her own surroundings :: Kalana, warmed if it's not too much trouble.

-=she noted the limp and remembered the spar last night and sighed softly, she knew that had to be painful... looking up at him, her eyes met his and lingered for a moment=- No trouble at all... won't take but a few ehns...

:: nods, taking a seat cross-legged on the furs before the fire, he removes his gloves and sets them on the low table before he draws the windscarf from his neck and lays it over his thigh, his hand resting on it as he watched her ::

-=turning from him, she crossed the room to the servery and pulled a bottle of kalana from a rack... after examining it for a moment, she returned it and selected another... working the cork free, she poured the kalana into a small kettle and set it on a hook, swinging it over the cooking fire to heat as she prepared a goblet=-

-=while the kalana was heating, she pulled a platter from another shelf and prepared a light snack of breads and cheeses with some fruit on the side=-

::before he retired to the House and to get healed he steps to the cottage to make sure his intend Daughter had all she needed, he knocked on the door::

:: grey-black eyes followed her as she moved around the servery before he turned to look over the room once more, turning to the sound of the knock, he glances to the servery and then stands, going for the door while Kerina was busy, he draws it open, looking at the man standing outside :: Tal

::he waits knowing he wouldn't be staying long, looks to the Man that opening the door:: Tal

-=hearing the knock, she assumed it was the guards checking up on her as her wave to them had indicated should be done... keeping things proper and all... hearing Talon answer it, she continued with what she was doing...=-

Where is my Daughter Kerina?

-=when she realized who it was, she wiped her hands off and returned to the main room=- Tal, Sir

Your daughter? :: arcs a brow and then opens the door wider, letting the man enter as he glanced back to Kerina upon hearing her :: 

Please come in....

::nods to Kerina, steps in:: Tal Kerina. I will not be long, just wanted to check up on you.

:: closes the door, looking from the man to Kerina as they talked ::

-=smiling at both men=- I'd like you to meet a sword of House Darkke... Osric Sage... meet Talon Mace... -=glances to Talon=- He is my mothers intended...

::he looks to Talon, extending my left arm, while holding my ribs:: well met Talon

:: extending his arm to him and grasping his as he nodded :: Well met Osric. :: releasing his grip as he walked toward Kerina, now standing beside her :: 

Were you sparing tonight?

::having seen his application:: I will not take up any more of your time Kerina, everything okay?

Everything is fine, Sir...would you like to stay for some warm kalana?

::nods as he was earlier then got into a fight with a stupid male that pulled a blade on him then grins hearing her:: No, I will be return to the House and wait for you Mother ::steps back to the door, nodding to them:: Be well Kerina and Talon.

How is Mother? I haven't seen her since the night we talked.

Busy with healing the Men.

Please give her my best...

Be well, I hope we meet again when you have more time to relax and talk. :: nodding to him as he watched him go for the door, he glances to Kerina and then walks back toward the furs, letting them have some privacy to speak ::

::nods to Talon:: look forward to it. Kerina I will

Connor wants to play with Loki tomorrow... I'll send him to the main house after he eats breakfast...

::smiles:: sure I will send a slave to get them both to give you some time.

Is that all right or did Mother have plans for Loki?

No, we will just be in the Tarn Cots.

All right... I know he'll be excited to hear Loki is available.

:: nods with a rare smile to Osric as he retakes his seat on the furs, the windscarf that had fallen from his thigh when he stood, set back as he watched the flames ::

::opens the door and steps out after nodding to her::

Be well Sir

Be well Kerina

-=as he left, she turned to Talon and smiled=- My mother's intended... I'm sure he heard I had a visitor and decided to play father... -=laughs softly=-

Ah :: nodding as his gaze went to her, the scent of her perfume lingering it seems throughout the cottage :: I'm sure those guards mentioned it.

-=she returned to the servery and poured the warmed kalana into a goblet, setting it and the plate of food on a tray, she carried it out to him=-

:: watching her yet again, it seemed perhaps he was always watching her when they were together, though he didn't do it knowingly ::

-=as she entered the main room again, her eyes met his again... she couldn't help but smile as she drew near and held the tray out to him, the rich aroma of the heated kalana wafting to him in the rising steam=-

:: the kalana taken from the tray, he smiled, it was rare for him but she drew it out of him as he watched her lips curve beneath the sheer house veil :: Thank you for going to the trouble of making it for me. 

It was no trouble at all, Sir... -=as the tray was emptied, she set it out of the way and returned to where she had been sitting and again took up her mug of tea, watching him over the rim as she sipped the now cool drink=-

:: drinking the warm wine slowly and enjoying the richness, he could tell it was a good brand, perhaps something taken on a raid from Ar and the Surnoft vineyards, the goblet lowered and set on the table as he looked at her :: How do you like the work that House Darkke has you doing so far?

I've enjoyed it... there hasn't been a great deal to do but I suspect, it will pick up shortly... I've really enjoyed getting to know the house members... -=her tone was soft, this was her place... where she was able to relax much more than in a group of people... drawing her legs under her on the furs, she shifted till she was sideways, facing him as they talked=-

:: it was almost obvious that he had come here for a reason, the small talk coming hard for him but he liked the quiet her home afforded them, away from other people and the fights of the last few days, he nodded as she spoke and picked up the goblet again, drinking slowly once more :: That's good, those in the house are nice from what I have seen so far.

-=as she shifted, she noticed a ball of red embroidery yarn, with a slight sweep of her hand as if she were smoothing her robes, it was under the furs she was sitting on=-

:: his other hand still rested on the windscarf laying across his thigh, his fingers smoothing it absently as they talked, almost as if it held the reason for his visit this night :: Your work is very detailed. You honor your caste with your skills.

I've had some excellent mentors over the years... -= her gaze drifted to the windscarf and another smile formed, it pleased her that he liked it =- Have things calmed down at the House?

It shows. :: catching the glance and the smile that formed, his hand stilled briefly before he began speaking again :: Yes, I think so. Though I haven't really seen Esa over the past day and Nadia and Kayden have been hard to track down as well.

-=she wasn't good at making small talk and as her gaze returned to study his features as he drank, she wondered if there was a reason for his visit=-

:: setting the goblet back on the table, he slowly rose to his feet, walking around the room for lack of knowing what else to do, the windscarf held in his hand at his side :: Your perfume... is unique. :: said with his back to her as he looked at the same wall hanging he had looked at before :: You mentioned someone had it made for you?

-=she had forgotten that all she was wearing was her house veil and that it did not hide her smiles the way the others did=- Yes... it's a signature scent made by a woman of Treve many years ago the Lady Delicia does wonderful work.

It lingers in the air. :: his hand lifts with the windscarf, brought to his nose, he inhales the scent left upon it and then slowly turns to her as he nods :: She was skilled as well. 

Many of the women in Treve have her scents... -=she watched as he walked around the small room and the way he held the scarf... she hid another smile behind the mug as she emptied it=-

I just came by to make sure you were alright. Last night ended rather strangely even after taking you home. :: again his voice speaks the words he doesn't holding something back with everything he says :: I see. :: said in reply ::

-=softly=- The past few nights have ended strangely Sir... tonight, I decided to remain at home for some quiet... I... I'm glad you came to visit....

I don't wish to take up anymore of your time Lady, and I have to meet Kry to go over some things about the house. :: walking across the room toward the door as he spoke, his hand slipping into his tunic, a small package drawn out without her seeing it, it's set to the chest by the door as he draws his cloak back over his shoulders, the package left, wrapped simply in red cloth, he turns to her and nods :: I hope to see you again soon, Lady.

You're leaving... so soon? -=words were blurted out before she could stop them and a blush crept into veiled cheeks=-

Thank you for the wine, I have tried to find someone in Treve that could prepare it right and you did perfectly. :: nodding to her, his gloves forgotten on the table near her, his hand resting on the door and pulling it open :: I must go to the house for a while. Perhaps later we will see each other again...?

-=she rose from the furs and approached him as he headed to the door=- I'd like that... I don't get many visitors here... in fact, you're the first.

:: the cool night air filtered into the warmth of the room as he opened the door, he finds her gaze again :: I'm honored to be the first, Kerina.

-=her robes swirled as a gust of wind blew in with the opening of the door, she smiled at him as her gaze met his=-

-=she noted a passing guard and waved to him as he stopped, letting him know all was well=-

:: nodding to her as he started to walk out of the door :: Then if the Kings favor me, I will see you again this night.

I'll be here...

:: the windscarf drawn back around his neck, her perfume greeting him as he smiled to her and then turned, striding out into the chill of the night toward the cots, his cloak whipping back from his body as he moved across the house grounds and disappeared from sight ::

-=sighs softly and hopes the Kings do favor him tonight, as the door closed, she leaned against it and smiled=-

:: the small package lay out in the open, the red cloth faded, nothing very bright to catch ones eye ::

-=as she returned to the furs, she noticed the package and gently picked it up... she had not seen it here earlier nor had she seen Talon leave it... she also noted that he had left his gloves... perhaps she would use them as an excuse to go to the house tonight if he didn't return=-

:: it was long but thin, oddly shaped perhaps at first glance like it contained nothing ::

-=slipping to the furs, getting comfortable with long legs curling beneath her, she held the package for an examination... it was light weight and when shaken gently, it seemed as if there were nothing in it=-

:: but something was within the faded wrappings, the cloth itself seemed to be old, as if it was kept for a long time and its owner could not part with it ::

-=a finger brushed over the cloth as she noted it's aged appearance...  lowering it to her lap, she gently began to peel the cloth from the box=-

:: as the cloth was peeled back, the faded insignia of Treve was seen, one similar to those set upon tunics, the cloth peeled back revealed a thin temwood box, an etching worked into the top, not anything fancy, almost as if someone had done it with the tip of a blade, but it showed a cliff and a mountain scene ::

-=smiles softly when the box was revealed...the insignia, although faded was clearly of Treve... one she had seen on old documents and on a long deceased Ubar's tunic... tipping the box towards the light of the fire, she saw that it was engraved with scenes... the scene one that made her soft smile brighten=-

:: as the lid was opened, more of the faded red cloth came into sight ::

-=she traced the etching with a fingertip for a moment before pulling the lid off... more of the same, faded red cloth was found and for a moment, she thought that was all the box contained=-

:: upon the cloth rested a writing stick, the color of the outside a bright blue closely matching the jewels that hung from her neck, there was no note, and nothing else... simply the writing stick and the faded red cloth ::

:: outside through the dark of night, a shriek cuts the night sky as the reins were pulled and a tarn lifted off in flight ::

-=turning back the cloth, she then saw a writing stick, rich blue nestled against faded red... her hand lifted to the jewels that hung from the chain... the color closely matched that of the writing stick... she searched for a note but found none... puzzled by the gift, she looked up as the tarn shrieked and smiled...=- Talon...

-=lifting it and opening her journal once more... she began making another entry for the night... telling of her visitor=-

  

:: the small package lay out in the open, the red cloth faded, nothing very bright to catch ones eye, it was long but thin, oddly shaped perhaps at first glance like it contained nothing, but something was within the faded wrappings, the cloth itself seemed to be old, as if it was kept for a long time and its owner could not part with it, as the cloth was peeled back, the faded insignia of Treve was seen, one similar to those set upon tunics ::       :: the cloth peeled back revealed a thin temwood box, an etching worked into the top, not anything fancy, almost as if someone had done it with the tip of a blade, but it showed a cliff and a mountain scene ::      :: as the lid was opened, more of the faded red cloth came into sight, upon the cloth rested a writing stick, the color of the outside a bright blue closely matching the jewels that hung from her neck, there was no note, and nothing else... simply the writing stick and the faded red cloth ::