Tamiera du Gent's Story

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• x handmaiden x • xgypsyx •
# 4 0 4 0 8 0 x • x a t t i r e

Evangelina sighed at the mask she was given. She was supposed to be working this night, not attending but it had seemed she was a guest in the name of the Prince. Though she had a feeling it was more to do with the Prince's best friend than anything else. She looked down at herself, her arms still gloved up to the biceps to hid the discoloration, the blue dress that hugged her frame exquisitely, again gifted by the Prince matched the mask, a lovely blue and black butterfly with exalted wings though it would be obviously who she was, with the skin she wore and the hair she had.

Honestly, she didn't know what to make of any of this. It was too much for so little. Beorn was great he truly was so she wished she felt the same, but she didn't. Foolishly, the man that always entered her thoughts in the way that Beorn should have, was one she wasn't sure she even liked let alone had feelings for. Yet, he was never far from her mind. The fire in the gardens changed things and his avoidance meant it changed something for him too. She realized then that the King would be wearing two masks this night.

She made her way to the King's chambers, she had to prepare him for this dance as well. she entered without a knock as she usually did. She wore her mask atop her head, and a traitorous voice wanted to know what he thought of what she wore. His eyes always lingered, and now she didn't mind so much. "Your Grace." She said as she entered, glad he was alone. Now maybe she could talk to him about the fire and thank him properly. "And perhaps give him that kiss he asked for before," that traitorous voice said in her head. "Your guests are arriving." She said as she approached the clothes she'd laid out for him and the mask. It was gold and shaped like the face of an animal she didn't recognize she frowned curiously.

"Why do they call you Brynjar the Bear?" She asked, looking at the mask, running her fingers over the gold trim. Where she was from, they had no bears, she had no idea what that animal was, or what it even looked like. She assumed it was this animal here but she couldn't be sure. "where I am from, we don't have such an animal, at least not that I am aware of," she went on setting down the mask and approaching him to change his shirt. She hoped she could get him talking to her again. It was strange and almost colder that he hadn't. "What does that mean?"

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• x bodyguard x • x sellswordx •
# 5 a 5 a 5 a x • x a t t i r e

Meanwhile, sitting atop an Arabain, Jordane Marco rode beside the Lady's carriage. He took a deep breath as Bryndian loomed into view, a few short moments, they would arrive and whatever the lady's plans were would be set in motion. How many men would fall into this web of hers, how many before they realized what she was behind that beautiful facade? How many would he have to kill to keep her secret? " My Lady," He called. "Are you prepared for the mascarade?" He asked, his accent thick on the last word, she gave him the mask of a bandit, thinking herself clever. she was clever, but the joke wasn't funny. He knew not what mask she wore but his guess, knowing her, likely a spider. That was her name was it not? The Black Widow. If they were wise, they would know it to not to be a misnomer, he'd seen all but two of her husbands die. to think she didn't do it, would be a woeful mistake.

Elska stared at her reflection breathing deeply and trying to calm her nerves. She hadn’t been sure what to think when word spread that they were holding a ball in honor of Ser Morgane, but as an honored guest of the king she was expected to attend. The whole royal family was expected to attend as well and it gave her a small comfort to know there would be familiar people surrounding her. She was intrigued with the mask concept and stared at the delicate mask upon her face. The wire was spun and twisted from fine silver and while it did a poor job of disguising her appearance it did lend her an air of grace.

She flattened the material at her waist and shifted uncomfortably. It was extravagant on a level that she would not wear, but Brynjar had sent it to her and requested she wear it for the evening. While the giver upset her a great deal, she was pleased with the effect and was rather impressed with the high quality of making.

”Elska?” the sound of her name and the rapping of knuckles on her door made her jump. She turned, the swish of fabric reminding her she had to lift her skirts. She took one step forward before she froze. ”I realize we never discussed this, but I was wondering if I might accompany you tonight. To the ball. I understand if you don’t, but I thought I would offer.” Why did her stomach have to betray her and flop over at his offer?

She quickly hastened her step, her hands fisting the dress as she finally opened the door. Tyr stood before her dressed simply but elegantly. His tunic was exceedingly fine and the mask wasn’t garish. “No, we didn’t.” She said softly and felt touched he had gone out of his way to come here. “I would like that.” A small smile graced her lips. “I’m just about ready, come on,” she turned from him and walked across the room. She lifted a pair of glittering shoes from the small round table and sat on the edge of her bed. She bent down to put them on but quickly discovered she was incapable as too much gown stood between her and her feet. She felt exasperated and huffed in distress before looking up at Tyr. Her cheeks flushed and she dropped her gaze. “Tyr, would you mind?” she asked barely above a whisper as she gestured to the delicate shoes.

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Brynjar was surprised to find Evangelina walking in already dressed for the masquerade. His eyes narrowed slightly as he realized Lelinus had probably extended the invitation as well as supplied her with the outfit. He doubted she had enough money to make the purchases on her meager salary. It irritated him a bit to know she would be there. He hadn’t spoken nearly a word since rescuing her from the fire. He didn’t want to examine those feelings so he had locked them away and had done an excellent job ignoring her. He needed everything to go according to plan tonight, if it did then it would drive a nasty little stake into Tyr’s heart. Brynjar couldn’t afford to be distracted and he was sure the simple knowledge that Evangelina would be there would divide part of his attention.

She was trying to make conversation. He simply stared at her with a hard expression as she helped him change into the crimson tunic with golden embroidery. “It means I am not afraid of ripping my enemies apart and shredding them to pieces.” His voice was cold. “I have no empathy. I have no mercy.” He let that threat hang in the air between them as he lifted the mask and settled it into place.

Despite what Lelinus may have expected Brynjar was dressed tastefully. It was apparent he had spared no expense, but the mask wasn’t over the top and the gold was an accent that made his hair seemingly shine.

“Enjoy your night off.” His tone was clipped as he swept from the room and made his way to the grand ballroom without looking back.

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Tamiera sat in her carriage with her long and sharp nails rapping restlessly against the wooden armrest. It had been a long time since she had come to the court in Byrdain. She had been occupied amassing wealth and titles through husbands she had quietly and discreetly disposed of. She was starting to get bored of that game and it hadn’t taken long for her to set her eyes on the biggest prize.

The crown.

She had managed to secure an invitation to the prestigious masquerade and had spared no expense in her attire. The mask while made from a variety of pheasant feathers embodied the fox. Jordane may have been expecting something darker, but a fox was known for being sly and cunning and those were two words that aptly described the black widow. Her gown on the other hand was extremely lavish and the layers were splayed around her taking up the near entire space of the open carriage. She glanced over at her personal guard and smirked.
Jordane Marco, through unfortunate circumstances, had ended up indebted into her service. While Tamiera had a great host of henchmen and men willing to do her bidding, she kept him around and close for two reasons. The first was basking in the power she held over him and the second was that he was actually a rather competent lover. He was young and strapping and it was fairly often she would take in the pleasures of flesh with him.
“Come now, you’ve got to be as curious as I am what our new king will do to corral the opinion of his court.” Her voice was smooth as silk. “Of course I am prepared, have you ever known me to not be prepared for any outcome?” she tsked slowly and wagged her index finger at him. “Do not give me so little credit.” Her eyes swept over his strong from as he rode the arabian with natural grace. “It is too bad there wasn’t enough space in the carriage for you to join me.” She eyed him as she let the seductive suggestion hang in the air. “I think we will have great fun.” She grinned revealing perfectly straight and very white teeth knowing they would be arriving soon. The rest of her guard would remain outside, but she would take Jordane inside with her. He was something of a pet for her and she wanted to keep him close at hand. You never knew when you needed a handsome young man to cause jealousy to burn.

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• x handmaiden x • xgypsyx •
# 4 0 4 0 8 0 x • x a t t i r e

“It means I am not afraid of ripping my enemies apart and shredding them to pieces.” Brnyjar said and Evangelina watched him, his eyes. They seemed to avoid looking into hers. “I have no empathy. I have no mercy.” He told her and she watched him place the mask on and sighed. He was lying. He knew he was lying. If that were true, she wouuld have burned to death days ago. He knew his mask had slipped and he knew she saw behind it. Her resolve was renewed. She had to figure out what changed him, why washe the man he is today, and why did he rely so heavily on the monster he hid behind. His father had been right, and she would prove it.

"Enjoy your night off." He said coldly nd Evangelina watched after him. He was pushing her away, but she wouldn't give, in fact, she had every intention on pushing back.

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# 5 a 5 a 5 a x • x a t t i r e

“Come now, you’ve got to be as curious as I am what our new king will do to corral the opinion of his court.”She said and Jordane fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Of course I am prepared, have you ever known me to not be prepared for any outcome?” She said with a tsk and to her credit, she had a point. She was as cunning as she was beautiful, too bad it was only skin deep. “Do not give me so little credit.” She told him and then looked him over. He turned toward the road, how many nights had he been a fly in her web, he knew not anymore. He wasn't proud of it, but she was stunning and at first he thought himself lucky since she had it in her rights to take his head. “It is too bad there wasn’t enough space in the carriage for you to join me.” She said dangerously and Jordane merely grunted. She eyed him as “I think we will have great fun.”
"I am fine where I am, My Lady," He said, while thinking, I should have just let you kill me, it would have been better than this... He'd been a sellsword in his past life, a good one too, mastering like the of swordsmanship like a bird mastered flight, and his honorable ways granted him the will to fight for those he could not fight for themselves, and then landed him in her venomous grasp, when he killed her men, men who'd been attacking young girls and robbing the poor for what little they already had. Since he was a better swordsman than all of them combined, as equal pay, he had to work for her, if not, he would have been hung for his "crimes". If given the opportunity again, he would take the noose, it was much more painless.
"I hear this King has the Feelboran's on his back now, with his brother and their princess being wedded, I suppose you have a plan for the boy prince and his warrior bride?" He asked, hoping to change the topic from him as they approached the gate. He leaned down to a herald to told him to alert the King of her arrival. He wondered then what pretense -because there always was with her- did she have for arriving at this ball and would Brynjar the Bear see past it? He hoped not, he did not want to kill a king on her behalf, he'd done enough already.

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“Don’t you think I would make a great queen?” She asked and Jordane said nothing. She didn't want an answer to that question, espeically not from him. Heavens help them all, if she became Queen. Thankfully, the herald returned granting them entry and he was spared having to listen to anymore. Something sharp pinched his skin and he looked down at his arm. Her nails.. “Now behave, won’t you?” He glared. “We need to make a good impression,” He rolled his eyes to that as they entered.

Before long, they were approached by the King himself. Jordane kept quiet, listening idly, scanning the room for exits should they need one, and knowing her, there was a good chance they would need to make a hasty retreat. His eyes noticed a dark skinned woman in a butterfly mask and wondered how she ended up here. He hadn't seen such a color in these parts.
Just then he heard the Lady say. “That is true, I must say I have the worst luck in finding young and abled husbands. These old men can’t really hold up very well with my own youth.”Jordane fought the urge to roll his eyes. He used to kill bad men for a living and even then it was never an easy thing to talk about let alone laugh about. How could something so vile dwell within such a lovely package? She was like one of those poisonous flowers. Beautiful but fatal.

They went on for a while before the King's eyes found a woman who while breathtaking looked mighty uncomfortable. His eyes went to his lady and he smirked. She hated not being the center of attention and hated it even more, when attention was taken from her. “How terribly rude of him.” She huffed like a child. “Who is that gaudy woman anyway?” She asked with a whine and Jordane chuckled. He had to admit, he was enjoying this. "Your rival, it seems." He told her then what she said registered. "Gaudy?" He asked, and gestured to her mess of a dress. He knew nothing of fashion, but she looked as if she gotten tangled in tulle.

"Yes, I suppose you are right. Forgive me." He told her. Though a servant, Beorn was still rather privileged compared to many others in the palace. Thanks to his affiliation with Lelinus and the church, he was shielded from most people who would happily squash him for any perceived slight against them, but Evangelina was both a woman and a foreigner. He sometimes forgot what that meant.

"Our ways are not so bad," he continued, placing a hand around her waist and leading her on to the ballroom floor as the music played. He smiled brightly as new notes joined the melody and in a sudden movement, he brought her into a slight dip before bringing her back up and giving her an apologetic look.

"Sorry, I should have warned you."



"Oh, this is a surprise. I had only been jesting. I am Lelinus Augustus, Prince of Byrdain and this is Princess Ingrid Jorvikdatter, Princess of Fjellborg and Byrdain, my lovely wife," he told them. It was better that he should put her heritage front and center rather than dancing around it. Knights, real knights, appreciated honesty.

"I am happy that you have decided to visit the capital. The court is awash with your legend. I hope that you may see the fruits of your labor in the this time of peace ahead," he told them with a smile. It was a calculated probe. If this priestess was willing to leave the war with Fjellborg in the past, then she could be a valuable ally indeed. She'd have to see Brynjar for what he was, however. A virtuous knight would not brook rebellion. Not without just cause.