Heirot

"You look ill at ease, my dear. Should Sinead not have told us?" Arond asked quietly.

At about that moment, Vlad teleported casually into the center of the room. He was wearing a black tunic with red and gold embroidery on the sleeves and collar. The dark fabric made his skin look even paler than usual, though it was very striking on him. His presence startled a few advisors who were closest to where he'd appeared, and it drew unpleasant stares from the rest of the room. Even Arond didn't look especially pleased to see the vampire.

"Looks like you guys missed me," Vlad smiled as he walked into the uncomfortable room. Bunch of tightwads.

Tenele forced a smile. "No, its fine. It's just I was hoping to tell my brother before the castle did." She partially turned in the direction of the disgruntled sounds, an visibly relaxed her tense body at the sight of her fiance. Was he still able to feel her, as she slightly felt him. The connection they made last night was so strong, that even after the hours had passed in sleep she could still subtly feel the tingle of his mind. Had he sensed her uncomfrtablity, or simply just came because he was finally ready.

What took him so long was beyond her, given the fact that she had alot more to put on than he did. No, she suspected he was merely being fashionably late as always.

Vlad walked calmly into the room to stand beside Tenele. The movement was almost protective, though his expression looked very relaxed. "So you've all heard, then?" he asked the room, crossing his arms. "I suppose their enthusiasm wore off already," he pondered to Tenele innocently. "I should have gotten up earlier."

"This is not some kind of joke," one of the advisors snarled. "It's bad enough the whole castle needs to put up with your sadistic behavior, but to shamelessly propose to a Queen's Maiden! You could be throwing the entire country into jeopardy," he accused coldly. "One of Sinead's maidens is said to be the unnamed heir to the kingdom. We had all assumed it would be you, but you can't possibly govern this righteous country with that demon at your side. Really, Miss Raider, this is completely irresponsible behavior. No other maiden is half as qualified."

"I don't remember naming an heir," Sinead's voice came smoothly from across the room, where she was stepping in through the back door in a long blue gown. A white shawl draped elegantly around her shoulders and billowed behind her as she approached the disgruntled advisors. "Everyone, please, close your mouths and open your minds. We have much to discuss here."

Tenele was thankful to see Sinead, and her lips twitched to smile when she told the advisers to close their mouths and open their minds. Her green eyes flashed to Vlad, and then Sinead, as she shifted, smoohing her skirt beneath her as she took her seat, hands clasped in her lap, her legs crossed at the ankles beneath her. "You are late," she whispered to Vlad, glancing up at him, smiling sweetly. "But, better late than never."

The truth was, there were not many choices among Queen's Maidens for the role because most of them Arken had sought out and burtally murdered in war, or assassinations. They were viewed as trophies to most Arken generals. A Queen's Maiden was a symbol of Ighten. They were good, pure, kind, strong, leaders, mothers, fighters, soldiers... A Queen's Maiden was essentially apart of the royal family. They viewed it as a blow to the queen, another notch on their list of accomplishents in the name of Shea. The ones that were left were young, just starting out, or old... teachers and mentors. Her generation was a fastly dying breed.

Vlad seemed oblivious to the wary stares of their company as he moved from Tenele's side calmly to the conference table, pulled back a chair, and made himself comfortable. He waited with sparkling red eyes as the advisors grudgingly followed his example, until they were all seated around the table. Sinead took up her place at the helm and looked over the rather difficult group. "The issue of heirs can be dealt with at another time. I would like to bring everyone up to date on the events of the past month. To start, Tenele, is it true that the Outerlands have now reached some sort of political stability and can be considered our ally?"

Tenele looked up to Sinead, and then the advisers littered around the room. "The new Maharja, Atul Azalan, is ready and more than willing to sign a treaty with us and discuss terms of trade. He has proven to be a very good friend, as well as an ally."

Sinead nodded approvingly. "I assume he will need some time to rebuild his own domestic front, but the time is coming soon when we should arrange for another, less perilous visit with him. In the meantime, as you know, we are at war. Our armies have flanked out over the Ighten coast and other key geographic locations, but the area taking the most damage, and where our people are receiving the brunt of the damage, is along the Border. Stretching our forces over such a long area is impractical at best, so we have done our best to guard those passages that are most easily traversed through the border peaks. For those who cannot relocate to the few safely guarded areas, there has been an unfortunate amount of raiding a looting from Arken soldiers and, I regret to say, and increasing population of local rogues who have lost their own homes in Arken's raids.

"The church has taken up the role of providing shelter and medical care for the homeless and wounded, but recently, even Cathedral walls have not been immune to acts of violence and looting. Reinforcements are badly needed, particularly those who are....less devout to the pacifistic ways of the church. Tenele, I would like you and Vlad to head there without delay and provide security for the large main Cathedral outside the former city of Hepian. The smaller churches we may be able to afford to lose, but if that haven falls, I fear the entire zone may fall into anarchy soon."

Vlad smirked. "You really want me to babysit a bunch of priests and clergymen?" he scoffed. The other advisers in the room looked similarly skeptical.

"And the civilians they are protecting, yes. And if you expect your marriage to be granted, I suggest you do it politely," Sinead said firmly, although something in her blue eyes flickered with amusement at the idea.

"Tenele, do you understand? This mission is diplomatic as well as tactical. It is crucial that you keep a rein on Vlad," Sinead said.

The vampire cast his queen a disapproving look. It was the first time he'd heard Sinead imply Tenele was to be some sort of tamer for him.

Tenele tried to not to chuckle at her words, or show that she was amused, but her lips tugged into a smirk. "I think we'll manage," she told the Queen with a smile. "When would you like us to leave and how many men are we to take with us?" She brushed strands of lose silver hair that tickled her cheek.

This mission would mean going against Arken soldiers as well as turn coat Ightenians, which made the trip there and the mission itself all the more dangerous.

"Normally I would sent a squadron to do this job, but given your resumes, I think I can entrust this task to the two of you alone. I have very little resources that I can take away from the main battlegrounds, and I believe this mission requires a more personal touch than regular old manpower. The two of you are growing rather famous, or possibly notorious, so sending you will reassure the people there that my thoughts are with them. Regardless of what opinions they might hold about you, sending you will let them know I am serious.

"However, it will be too dangerous to travel alone. I don't want to take any risks. I have a battallion marching out tomorrow morning for the Border. They are not heading for the Cathedral compound, but they will be passing somewhat near there. You can travel with them and then branch off on your own when there is a safe distance remaining. I will send a servant with you to help attend to your needs."

Tenele nodded. "Thank you, that is fine," she told the queen. She thought that it might have been more dangerous than Sinead was letting on if she was asking them to travel with an army to get there. She wondered just how horrible things had gotten in her absence. "I only request that the servant be somewhat able to hande themselves, so that we do not have to watch over them."

"I can arrange for that," Sinead agreed, almost too easily. "The chances of harm befalling this lad from an enemy are quite low. He's got an honest disposition, and it would be good for him to....get out of the castle for a while."

Vlad smirked. "Good for him, or good for you?" he asked, catching her odd emphasis on 'enemy'.

Sinead feigned attention toward something at the far wall behind Vlad, raising her chin slightly. "The rest of the staff could use a break," she noted cryptically. Before they could ask any more questions she obviously didn't intend to answer, the queen rose and gave a graceful nod to them and her advisors. "Thank you for your attendance. I'm sure there is much to be done before tomorrow's march, so let us allow Vladimir and Tenele the day for their errands," she said with a twinkle in her eye.

After replying in unison to acknowledge her dismissal, the advisors began to stand and talk amongst themselves. A few still cast skeptical glances at the betrothed couple, but they were not nearly so vocal about their disapproval after Sinead's rebuke earlier. That didn't mean it wouldn't continue amidst the cold haze of gossip or other palace snobbery, but it was at least less overt.

Tenele glanced to Vlad as the advisers got up from the table and mingled around them. She watched him for a moment before leaning over the arm of the chair and tilting her head at him. She was opening her mouth to say something when there was suddenly the presence of black fabric next to her. She tilted her head up, and then followed the fabric to a pair of silver stern eyes that were looking down at her rather unhappily.

“Talon…” Tenele breathed, a strange sort of smile suddenly springing to her face. “I was just about to visit you. We got back yester-“

“You are getting married?” he asked, arching an eyebrow. “I know you got back yesterday, because this morning I heard maids snickering in the hall about…. Well, never mind what it was about. My point is you are getting married… and didn’t tell me. I had to find out through…. A story I dare say was not meant for a brother to hear. And not even that, but the fact your marrying him right away after what-”

“What story is that?” Tenele asked, arching an eyebrow in confusion.

“I’m not repeating it,” Talon told her quickly. He looked pale, and tired… no exhausted.

“I was going to tell you this morning but I woke up late, you fool,” she pushed the chair back and stood up.

Talon looked down at Vlad for a very long and a little awkward moment. The last time Talon had heard anything about Vlad and Tenele’s relationship, it was the story Tenele had recanted to him after returning from Verin’s private form of hell. She’d been broken, and in pain, and thought she was with child. He was finding it hard not to punch the vampire square in the face, so while he was talking as calmly to Tenele as he could possibly keep his voice, on the inside he was fighting very hard to restrain himself.

“I see that everything has worked out, then?” Talon asked her, turning his eyes to her again. “I assume you are safe now, from whatever it is that happened in Verin’s realm?”

“He is,” Tenele told him. “He’s his old self.”

Talon sighed heavily. “Well, that’s good to hear…”

“Talon, are you alright?” she asked, he did seem very tired.

“I’m fine, just worried, but… Everything is going to be fine,” he told her, smiling then. “Vlad has proven many times to be very protective of you. I’m sure you will be safe as his wife.”

Wife… Tenele thought about the word, her eyes looking to Vlad, and she smiled.

Vlad tilted his head at Talon with a curious stare. Without explanation, he reached out his hand just in front of the man's face, hooked his forefinger against his thumb, and flicked him hard in the forehead.

Talon blinked, his head cocking back and his eyes following Vlad's hand after he was thumped on the forehead. It was so completely random and strange that he hadn't a clue what to say about it. His eyes narrowed in mild irritation. "Well," he muttered glancing to Tenele. "I think he's fine after all."

"Told you," Tenele smiled, shifting over to Vlad and draping her arm around his shoulders, her other arm locking around his waist.

"Well..." Talon muttered, suddenly feeling unomfortable. "I'll let you get to your preperations. I hear you are leaving... again... in the morning. Be careful, Tenele. It is chaos and anarchy the closer you get to Hepian."

"We'll be careful," Tenele sighed. "You worry too much."

"And you don't worry enough." He ran a had over his head, his hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. "I need to go, I have some work to do for the military before they leave tomorrow. Try not to leave withouth saying good bye this time."

Tenele laughed. "Okay."

Talon turned his eyes to Vlad, smirking, and when he was gone Tenele sighed heavily. "He's acting strangely," she told him softly, watching where her brother had left. "He does worry too much." She turned her eyes on him. "Well... do you have anything to do before we leave tomorrow?"

"Find out who is impersonating your brother," Vlad said as if it were a serious theory. He followed Talon's back with his eyes suspiciously as the silver-haired man left the room. "I figured you'd talk him into it, but it shouldn't have been that easy," he mused.