[h3][center][color=lightblue]Emil Durand[/color][/center][/h3] The Durand Aviary[hr]

The Durand Aviary, settled in just outside of town, was afforded a relatively larger living space than those inside Vaucluse proper. The Aviary itself stretched pretty wide, a large open field in the center, where general work and training took place. On one side of the field stood the main coup and several smaller ones, for the Stryxes. On the opposite side of the field sat the Durand Homestead, a two story building made of a feldstone foundation with plaster and wooden upper floors. Next to it was a second building- a smaller bunkhouse for staff. The top of the house sat a small tower-like structure, wide windows affording it a view of the entire aviary. 

Though their birds were highly sought after throughout Lutaire, the Durand's rarely employed other staff, mostly supplementary trainers and a few fieldhands. Of the half dozen men and women the Durand's employed, only one was a guard. As a result Emil and his older brother Sigmund often helped out as guards. Tonight was not much different. Emil and Tork, their hired guard sat at the top of the tower in the homestead, seated on opposite sides of a short table, a small lamp off to the side illuminating the open-air little gazebo. The two hunched over the small table, a cards in hand, a bottle and handful of coins on the table. Not much happened in this isolated town, so they passed their time with cards and drinks.

"Yer call Durand," Tork drawled as he pulled a pair of silver coins out of his pocket and placed them on the slowly growing pile of copper and silver pieces. He folded his arms and leaned back in his seat, confident.

Emil's eyes narrowed, darting back and forth between his cards and Tork's face, trying to find a chink in Tork's armored persona. His leg bounced up and down lightly. After a minute or so of complete silence, Emil shook his head and threw a pair of silver coins on the pile. [color=lightblue]"You've got nothing Tork,"[/color] Emil replied confidently as he threw his cards down face up. 

Emil allowed himself a small smile as he saw Tork's eyes open wider, and began reaching out for the small pile of coins. Before his hand could reach the coins though Tork swatted him with a hand. "Ah, close little Durand, very close."

Emil cursed aloud as Tork revealed his cards with a flick of his wrist. Tork laughed a loud, guffawing laugh as he casually swept the coins into his purse. "I tell you what Durand, sometimes I think I make more money from these games than the wages you lot pay me."

Not to be discouraged, Emil fished out another pair of coins and was about to put them down on the table when he heard the clacking of a Stryx's beak. Tork heard it too, and he stopped moving, motioning to the window with a finger. The two of them peeked out of the tower, their eyes quickly centering in on a torch nearby the coups. Emil rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, how had they missed that? It was a good thing Sigmund wasn't up, he'd be livid. Emil immediately recognized the Stryx out in the field as his own- Greytail. Greytail seemed to have been accompanied by a man- he couldn't tell in the dim light or distance, but they didn't have any guards other than Tork, so Emil was unsure who it could've been. The man seemed to be holding a pitchfork, which was pointed at the torchbearer. Tork reached over and grabbed a crossbow, pulling the cord back with a click before he slit a bolt into place, meanwhile, Emil tossed his lance out the window and hastily slid down the ladder, scooping the spear off the ground as he made his way across the field.  

As Emil made his way across the field, he saw Greytail rear back, spreading his wings wide- in an intimidating gesture before giving out a sharp, piercing screech. In the dark and relative silence of night, the screech broke through like a thunderclap. Greytail's legs spaced out, and he beat his wings several times as he reared back, ready to stab his steel hard beak through the encroacher. 

[color=lightblue]"Greytail! Heel!"[/color] 

Greytail suddenly stopped mid-charge and reset himself, talons digging up dirt as they skidded to a stop. The large Stryx took several steps back and crouched slightly, his angry yellow eyes glaring intensely at the apparent invader- though seemed perfectly comfortable with the other 'invader'. That information in and of itself was confusing to Emil- Greytail liked very few people, not Tork, few of the trainers, not even his eldest brother. 

[color=lightblue]"Who goes there?!"[/color] Emil demanded, his voice taking on an uncharacteristic bark as he planted one end of his lance into the ground, his right hand gripped around it loosely, but confidently.