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Post by Joe on Nov 1, 2023 18:40:17 GMT -5
Cartel frowned despite himself. His dreams of late were of an entirely different nature.
"Sadly, I've not dreamt of this." He reached down and rubbed his thumb over the engravings.
His imagination began to run wild. "Who knows how many more such relics could be hidden here and within the many backhalls and chambers of Duskwell. Andal would often idly muse on the riches of the former royal family, as well as the wonders of the Golden Kingdoms' craftsmen."
He crossed his arms, thinking. "Magick like this though... I've not heard of."
The speak of magick reminded him again of his dream. He turned to the gathered knights.
"Thank you all for your help. Please leave us."
With an open-handed salute, the small contingent departed, shutting the doors behind them.
Cartel strode to the fireplace, once again leaning on the mantle, staring at the symbol that had revealed the passage.
"Serena, there's something I must tell you."
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Post by Jenny on Nov 1, 2023 18:53:20 GMT -5
Her smile faded into some bafflement as Cartel's smile turned into a frown. Her brow furrowed and she turned away to set the sheathed rapier carefully down on the small desk in the room. She brushed her fingers over it once more as the knights left them alone.
She turned again at the sobriety in Cartel's voice. She walked to the mantle to draw close beside him. "Is everything all right, my love?"
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Post by Joe on Nov 1, 2023 19:18:49 GMT -5
"You asked of my dreams. I had one most troubling last night. Though I daresay it's less of a dream and more some sort of... vision."
Cartel placed one hand on the hilt of his blade.
"Those many moons ago, when we were separated on the road. When I returned to my family's kingdom of Dire's End. There, under our capital is a source of... shadow. I know not even its name. It has long had its claws in me, in my family, for as long as I can recall. Its power is what let us steal you away that day so long ago. That horror you saw in the throne room was but a shade of its strength."
Cartel shifted uncomfortably.
"Whatever happened to me on that great spire has kept it from controlling me, but it knows me, seeks me. Haunts my dreams with threats and dismay. Just this night past it came to me in my sleep."
The beleaguered consort sighed.
"I must return there, to Dire Hall. We must destroy the source. I did not think it possible until... the gifts we have received."
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Post by Jenny on Nov 1, 2023 19:37:18 GMT -5
Her face paled as he spoke with a growing horror. She did not recoil from him, for she had every trust in him. It was rather, the thought of the power she had witnessed in a greater strength. She reached out to grasp ahold of the mantle herself.
"Do you mean to return alone?" She looked absoutely shattered at the mere thought. "I would come with you, if you would permit it, but... Are your dreams that terrible, truly?" She asked softly, her eyes with much distress. With him sleeping beside her, she found much comfort. It was dreams of Light that found her in sleep, and the visions.
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Post by Joe on Nov 1, 2023 20:16:43 GMT -5
Cartel gave Serena a comforting smile.
"The journey would be much easier with you at my side. Though it may take some convincing for Eyan to allow it... there will be some danger. The dreams do not always come, but they persist. I know it must mean something."
He stole a glance at the rapier on the desk.
"Before we depart, perhaps I should teach you a thing or two about combat. It may be necessary... in the end."
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Post by Jenny on Nov 1, 2023 20:33:01 GMT -5
She looked quite relieved that he'd allow her to go with him. "With you by my side, naught will touch me, I am sure of it."
Serena breathed in and out, realizing that she had been holding it in suspense, and took in another breath before she smiled. "There would be few better to teach me, I should think, my love. Is the rapier a difficult weapon to even begin to master? It was light enough to wield, at least."
She shifted away from his side, and took a seat at the desk, drawing the rapier again from it's sheath, setting the rapier itself down, and examining the sheath for more sigils, wondering at it's origins. She looked for anything she might recognize. The patina too began to fade the longer she held it, and began to gleam just as bright as the hilt. There were a few gems along the braid of the sheath, but she paid no mind to them. The sigil at the hilt was not repeated on the sheath, but there were others, but less familiar. She knit her brow in concentration, trying to recall them from half-waking memory.
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Post by Joe on Nov 3, 2023 16:55:56 GMT -5
"I will do all within my power. Still... I cannot always be there."
Cartel smiled at her compliment. "I'm a decent fighter, it's true, though the rapier is a unique weapon in its fighting style. We may need to seek one versed in this particular area. In fact, I think I know one such." He seemed to muse on this thought for a moment.
Cartel walked to the desk, leaning on it as she examined the weapon.
"I've only fought with one a handful of times, and even then, it was only sparring. It requires a great deal of skill to use against a seasoned opponent, though you'll find it easy to poke holes in most adversaries easily enough."
He watched with amazement at its seeming ability to renew itself.
"The kings of old must have had quite the grasp on magick. These enchantments are remarkable. I'd thought magick of this sort to be lost to us."
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Post by Jenny on Nov 3, 2023 17:05:06 GMT -5
Serena was listening, but dually concentrating on the sigils. "Well, perhaps it isn't entirely out of the question. Our experiences with the events my great great grandsires and grandmatrons had long set in motion have been near miraculous."
She glanced up at Cartel at last. "Who did you have in mind?"
She looked around the table and drew towards her a couple pieces of parchment and a quill. She knit her brow as she carefully, and with much concentration, began to sketch out, to the best of her ability, the sigil at the rapier's hilt, inking the lines with care. As she finished the last line, her hand darted back in shock, explosing the parchment in clear view.
The black ink was... shimmering, on the paper.
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Post by Joe on Nov 3, 2023 18:42:40 GMT -5
Cartel chuckled. "I believe you've met. A certain 'Knight of the Blossoms'. Lord Ondreau."
His chuckle was cut short as he noticed the shimmering ink.
"Wh- Did you do that?"
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Post by Jenny on Nov 3, 2023 18:45:24 GMT -5
"W-Well... I'm not sure if it was me, or simply the sign of the sigil itself. Still, it is curious. I had only meant to copy them so that the scholars in our kingdom may see if they can cross-reference them in any old tomes in the library."
She placed down the quill and folded her hands in her lap, looking thoughtful. "I wonder if it is just the one, or if others, too, might do the same. This particular sigil seems to have recurring significance. At least, here, and in my dreams, both."
"Might I make a few copies of these that show on the hilt and scabbard of the rapier? I suggest we return to the castle with due haste in the morrow. There is not much daylight left, and I'm afraid my artistry has it's limitations." She chuckled.
"We must call for Lord Ondreau once we arrive. There is no time to waste. I can only hope that I can gain enough skill in time, I am sure you wish to return to Dire's Hall not long from the morrow so that you may put the matter of this shade, and your nightmares, to an end."
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Post by Joe on Nov 3, 2023 19:07:11 GMT -5
Cartel listened, nodding lightly, though all of the lore was a bit beyond him. "I shudder to think of the time it will take to sift through all the tomes beneath that great citadel."
Cartel rifled through the doors of the desk and produced parchment and quill for her tracings.
"I'll send a messenger to him right away. With luck, he will not have departed Duskwell just yet."
He drew close to her and rested his head against hers.
"End? No, I don't think it will end so easily, but it may strike a blow against that evil and buy us time. I do not even know the origin of this force. Andal only called it "The Outlander". The name itself seems to imply it lies beyond Cairnewn, and of those lands there is less and less known."
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Post by Jenny on Nov 3, 2023 19:19:46 GMT -5
"Which is why we leave it to the experts!" She lit up. "I'm sure they're dying for a challenge such as this."
She raised her hands as he drew close, and placed them on his cheeks, a warm feeling inside her as he placed his head against hers. She closed her eyes and listened.
"Then we strike at what we can," she murmured. "Maybe it will weaken this "Outlander" the more we push, and as shade after shade of It's shade are destroyed. It is my greatest hope that your heart be truly at peace at last. I can only imagine the horrors we will have to face..."
Her voice trailed off into a meek whisper, and she shivered despite her best effort to be brave.
"I mean to help for as long as I am able to stay by your side, but there will be a time where I would will have to part and leave you to the jorney alone. Just please, return to me when this is over."
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Post by Joe on Nov 3, 2023 19:57:24 GMT -5
As he felt her shiver, Cartel wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly.
"When we're apart I'll be counting the moments... but if it's within my power, I will never leave you alone in this world. Now-"
Cartel released her and took a step back, tapping the hilt of his blade.
"Before I give you over to the masters, perhaps we could take to the courtyard and learn the basics?"
His face was bright in a playful smile.
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Post by Jenny on Nov 3, 2023 20:13:43 GMT -5
"Thank you--"
Serena smiled up at him as he made that promise. "I'll hold you to that, you know."
She chuckled and rose to her feet. "Don't make me overly tired, now, my love."
Following him out to the courtyard, she looked around. The sun was not yet setting, but the afternoon heat had waned away for a calm evening. The breeze was pleasant. Servants that were nearby looked their way, smiled, and made themselves scarce.
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Post by Joe on Nov 3, 2023 20:45:16 GMT -5
Cartel drew his sword, engaging in some simple showboating as he flipped it this way and that before taking a fighting stance, waiting for Serena to take her place.
As she did, he closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath, mentally preparing for his next move.
Taking advantage of his far superior knowledge he dashed forward and deftly moved his blade in a circular pattern, disarming her. Sliding behind her he grabbed her roughly and held her in place, bringing the sword against her throat.
"Forgive me, my love. The first lesson is a harsh one. Always remember how fast death can come."
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