Dovore lied against a willow tree, the cool air was harsh against the old weathered bark, she strung the cord of her bow, the hum echoed throughout the surrounding area. She gazed out into the expanse, Who awaits us on our journey to Griand Rhakri? Her destinctive white hair of House Riage flowed down her back and pooled on the ground in a rough mess. She'd hardly had time to wash it since she'd left Phoenix Hall all but three months of now, she began to imagine what it would be like to feel warm water running through her hair as she heared hooves trudging getting closer.
Elissa and Marwyn rode up with some horses that seemed not too fond of the idea of the long treck ahead. Dovore got up and moved towards the horse without a rider. The elegant white mare reeled away as Dovore attempted to rub it's mane,"Easy girl" she murmured, leaning forward to where her lips were just inches from the horse's ear, she murmured some old Arvoric lullaby, then the horse's demeanor changed, it nuzzled into her touch. Willing to be more accommodating for Dovore the horse bent low onto it's two knees, to allow Dovores elegant frame to saddle onto the horse. As Dovore straightened herself up on the horse, Marwyn glanced half heartedly "I never did understand how you could, speak with horses" his tone was condescending. Dovore responded grinning "Brother, if you're jealous just say it. It is okay, not everyone is as talented and wonderfully kind as your sister" she punched Marwyn's shoulder softly, she sighed before moving her eyes back to the road ahead "Come on we have a long way to travel yet, we best not start bickering over who's the more talented sibling, even though you know it's me".
*The Land of Eternal Winter in the Far North*
The clash of steal can be heard in the courtyard, Grey's gaze fell away from his window back to the letter at hand, Lady Anlynese Ball wrote. "To Queen Jane Crakewood, we regret to inform you that your soon to be betrothed Ser Dustin Ball was killed when a moose caught his breastplate whilst out on a hunt and split him in two, he got a befitting end to a befitting man, though I do not wish to condole you as you may me, I have five son's and he was the third. He was an expendible tool for my future. May good fortune be upon you my Queen Jane as you may need it in finding a suitor, yours sincerely Lady Anlynese" he sighed. Damn she really does have no sympathy even after loosing her own son he thought to himself. "Typical for Jane just to lose her husband, how many is that now?" He tapped his chin a habit he did retain from his mother even if he never knew her "three no four our... maybe five, damn it I've lost count on how many suitors she's had, don't you agree Sir Lyonel".
Lyonel nodded, he was a man of few words which made Grey uncomfortable, he stood just shy of six feet, not a bad height for a knight, with a auburn beard and grey hair, he often wore just chainmail deeming it more robust than knightly armor, his longsword strapped to his side. Grey wished he was a knight, their shiny armor and great longsword were so cool and the women they would swoon at first sight of Grey 'The Valiant '.
Though he was only a sickly boy of eleven, he became sick shortly after his birth, the same time his mother died, his father resented him for it, he would often beat Grey, Grey remembered every time, every hit and ever mark yet to disappear, although his father was gone too now he would carry the scars for life. Lyonel spoke seemingly acknowledging that the boy was lost in his own world "Young Grey should I fetch your sister Queen Jane", "No" Grey said abruptly "I will go myself" he wanted to see his sister fight she looked so tuff when she fought none of the boys or knights could beat her, she competed in a melee at a tournament once, she won that day and it changed her fate. Though I do suppose she was always a rebel. She was crowned 'The Shield Maiden', his father hated that name, Grey knew he hated Jane fighting, he wanted her to be a dutiful daughter and do her birth right. That was, be prepared for marriage, but no she wouldn't and that's why Grey wasn't heir, his father did something no King had ever done before, name a female heir. It was because I killed my mother Grey thought, he was right overcourse.
The sound of sword fighting had died down by the time Grey reached the courtyard, the sun was shining upon the iron gates and the smell of coals in a furnace was warming on the harsh winter's day. "What is it little brother?" Jane asked, she was his elder by seven years, five and a half feet and the most beautiful woman Grey had ever seen, though Grey rarely left the castle, so the face of stone wall's had become his companion and dulled his image of beauty. She had her dark brown hair tied up in a bun with a warrior style braid down her neck as far as her shoulders, her hands were calloused and rested on the hilt of her blade. Grey hadn't realised he was day dreaming when Jane asked, "So little brother what have you interrupted me to ask"?
*Griand Rhakr*
"In all my time... I have never met someone as weak and pathetic, as this creature that kneels before me" Ferdinand gestured to the crowd's of Rhakri standing in the largest Coluseum in the world, with mock enjoyment on his grinning face. The Coluseum was where man and beast fought, slaves fought dogs and warriors fought mages. The arena was two hundred metres long, had one large entrance, the stands could house over two hundred thousand people and was made entirely of yellow stone. It was a magnificent beauty. "Half-man!, Half-man!, Half-man!" The crowd screamed back at him, they were standing tall pumping their fists into the air, clapping their hands and laughing at the spectacle below them.
"Finish him!" the black hair, red coloured Rhakri that was over nine feet tall shouted at Ferdinand with a pleasing smile. The crowd went silent when he spoke. He sat in a box high up in the Coluseum wearing a traditional delicate emerald silk robe with blood red rubies sewn at the hem and two Rhakri women that were over seven feet tall in his hold, clad in cloth that left nothing to be imagined. His arms wrapped around each of them pulling them closer to himself. Emperor Quylarok Ferdinand thought. Quylarok exuded power, wealth and simplicity that Ferdinand wanted, but knew he could never have without conflict. As a half bred Rhakri he stood shorter than average at six and a half feet tall, with traditional black Rhakri hair. But his skin was not red it was brown tanned. It tainted his reputation before people ever gave him a chance, it made his life a living hell, and he understood it. The way people glanced at him and kept their distance. Not wanting to entertain filth like him, born from a slave, a stupid mistake made by his father Tristaok with a woman from Ulkos that Ferdinand never knew. Those who were gifted power and influence like him, will flaunt their toys. But people like me who are born from a crying mother that was left for dead as soon as she birthed me. Die pointless deaths everyday. Ferdinand looked up at Quylarok and nodded. But I'll forge my own path through pain and gain, and conquer his empire when he grows old and fat and sips his wine whilst I slit his throat. I have to prove my loyalty first though, I have to kill this man for the sake of my life. Though I'd kill him regardless of whether it was the case.
Ferdinand opened the palm of his left hand, mana began to circulate in his palm drawing from both nature and himself. It was white in colour and a halo in shape. It was flickering lapping at anything it could touch and would have burned Ferdinand's skin if he wasn't resistant. Mana user's are used for entertainment so I'll give them a show. The halo then began to glow a golden colour and then with a flick of his wrist it disappeared from his palm and now elevated over the man kneeling before him. "Death comes quick if you don't resist it" Ferdinand's voice was stern and unyielding. Then it expanded until it could fit the man through itself before slowly closing around the man's neck. "Night, night" he smirked and with a snap of his fingers the circle sliced the man's head off. The crowd erupted in screams of blood hunger Basilisks, but it all went silent when the emperor rose from his high seat, his gaze falling on Ferdinand "very impressive indeed Half-man, it's seems ordinary men are wasted on you instead we must bring out more of your kind" the emperor smirked and pointed at the larger yellow stone pillars where the entrance to the Coluseum stood "Bring forward 'The Hollow'". Ferdinand felt a shock of fear run down his spine.