[hr][hr][center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/50VBWNfh/63507c917b644ae085a53d695ad43269.png[/img]
[img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/2fa3b68ea7ccb5e241580009fa3f8dfe/tumblr_nrjjdcXvK71uq1wtvo1_500.gif[/img][/center][hr][hr][h3][b][i][center][color=8519A2]Arc I - Terreille in Trouble[/color][/center][/i][/b][/h3]
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[center][h3][color=8519A2]Location: Winton[/color][/h3]
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The old Priestess did not rise from the steadily rocking chair as she continued knitting. In truth, it seemed that her fingers knew the motion well enough that she need not put any thought into the action to perform it. As Mikhail and Gennar bowed and Fatima curtsied, Olenna cocked her head slightly. "Beautiful? Perhaps in the way the past is beautiful, dressed up in the ribbons of what once was remembered. The glories of its day. No, Lady. This place is falling to ruin even as I sit here. Slowly fading to obscurity with all rituals having to be overseen by the Queen and no, not to any good end." There was a sad sigh, as she moved one needle to join the other in a hand and drew the mug to her to drink of it's contents. "You wish to speak of my altar? And what if I don't want to speak of it? There is hardly any Queen in Kaeleer would tolerate the misuse of the Bloods' Law as what goes on here. Their Warlord Princes would rise to the killing edge. Do you still wish to speak of it, Queen from Hayll." In truth, the woman was a crone. She had lived a long life and seen much with little of it being untainted by the spawns of Hayll. Olenna did not hate those from Hayll but she resented them. She resented what they had brought to Winton. 

Gen remained silent, unsure that acting outside of the brutish Eyrien role he had partaken would do any good. This Priestess was a kindly looking woman, but Fatima was taking the lead and Gennar was happy enough to let that be. Though he did rustle his leathery wings a bit impatiently. Already upset over the spat with his brother and Faeril, he did not wish to be gone too long and leave Faeril with fewer protectors. It was perhaps with Fatima cavorting about the area surrounding Winton. Which was unfair, she was hardly doing that. It was mostly his own worry, Gen thought glumly.
~
Alice sat back in the stylish, though hardly comfortable armchair. The newest fashion, the Queen thought, was far too soft. She sunk into the thing, making her appear all the smaller. One would think that a Queen could just make the fashion what she chose it to be, but it was not so when you were the mere Queen of a village like Winton. Setting fashion was for the Territory Queen or a powerful Provincal Queen. As the five other young aristocrat witches were arranged about in similar chairs around a low coffee table, the blonde Queen looked over towards her cousin. The only 'sensible' one in the group, and who in such a sensible agreement gave a small nod while the rest of the group chattered on about who the possible 'guest' was. Raising a delicate finger and gleefully smiling as the conversation died, Alice looked to the mousey haired witch who had spoken out of turn. "Laseen, go tell my guest to come in. We shall receive this guest." Laseen looked about to argue, but wisely thought against it. She was already on thin ice with the Queen. Much more and it could be the ruin of her. Alice sat back and continued to sip tea, while the mundane speculative guesses as to who it could be, the next fashion that was coming, a few whispering, which was nothing of the sort, about the handsome Sybl. Oh, this would be amusing! Fluffing her hair, she let her features take on doll-like innocence as Elle poured her another cup of tea. Perhaps Laseen was the wrong one to send, with her big mouth and inability to curb it, Alice thought, but it would give her an excuse to dismiss the witch if she did step out of line.

The door opened with little noise as a brown mousey haired girl poked her head in to spy both Jandar and Sybl. "Lady Alice will receive you now." She informed the guest, giving the Dhemlan a speculative look. Not that Laseen would notice the difference between Hayll and Dhemlan. The girl had maybe gone out of Winton a handful of times with her mother. "You may find yourself feeling a bit lonely if Alice takes him on as a new favorite, Prince Syble." She said in what was an attempted at a seductive croon, but the tone was far too high pitched as she batted doe-like eyes at the servant. "Perhaps you could find other favors. Favors enough to keep you about with those tricks you picked up from Sadi." Her smile was like a sharks as she tried to look down a far too short nose on a far too short a person at Jandar. "Then again, maybe you'll be the boring one needing favors. Doubt you were trained by Saetan Sadi through, you don't have Sybl's good manners. Well, come on, she's waiting." Not waiting for the two of them as was proper, Laseen turned about and hurried back into the grand room which served Alice as her 'sitting room' for receptions. As the two entered it they would hear the curious chatter of the young witches and the various topics. Lady Alice's attention however was on the newcomer who had entered, while Laseen thankful for the Queen's distraction hurried back to her seat.
~
Denvar looked up as heard the door closed and raised a brow as Dareen came down the stairs. That was... less than fortunate. [color=Tan]"Did she bite your head off over something?"[/color] His tone was concerned as he collected a bottle of scotch from the rack behind the bar. Dropping the appropriate number of marks onto the bar. Denvar was all too thankful the old innkeeper had left to deal with a few matters called shopping and Thom had been too eager to go with the woman. Get away from the tension which the boy felt, and rightly so, that he caused. Dunny however had opted to join his young friend, who was having a hard time of it. It wasn't the boy's fault Faeril had taken a liking to him. Faeril adored children. [color=Tan]"Don't think too badly of her. Gen said... He shot her in the heart. Brought up an old heart wound that didn't bear mentioning."[/color] The Eyrien Warlord Prince sighed and pulled out two glasses offering to pour Dareen one as well as himself.