Closed What's The Catch (Aello)

[Accolade]

Timestamp 89th of Spring 513

It was a normal day in the city and the citizens within were going about their day as they normally did. The markets were busy, Knights and squires were out patrolling, and the over all tone was good, but busy. It was no different for the officials of the city, in the First Tier of the domain of the Grandmaster's offices, Grandmaster of the Syliran Knights, Loren Dyres sat at his desk getting an early start on his day.

It was a day for petitions, and several people had shown up and asked to speak with him on matters of importance. Of course these were important matters to them, but Loren was a smart man, and he would wait until he had heard the full story before he decided what was important and what wasn't. The young Grandmaster sat at his desk, eyes peeled as he listened to the first person to enter his office.

It was an older gentlemen who lived in the Illythian District. He was a business man, and a very petty cheep one at that. In the recent season he had acquired a ship that he later used to collect cargo from other cities in order to bring a bulk of merchandise to the city. By owning the ship he could cut out the middle man, as the saying was and keep those profits for himself along with whatever he sold. But what was worse is that he didn't think that he should be forced to pay to dock either.

The Syliran Knights of course, gained a profit from any and all ventures handled in the city, and the business man believe that it should have been included in their share without him paying extra. Perhaps he had a point, but this was nothing close to being truly important. On this day Loren Dyres would have his hands full with another standing outside with a similar problem, and another with a possible serious one.

OOCOkay so just make your way there, get in line and his personal guard will show you in.

[Aello]

Aello stood silently in the back of a long corridor. Slanting walls of dark grey stone stretching towards the ceiling; curling above her head. The creases between each glowing ominously in the light of flames resting in laden sconces. Shadows creeping along their length; jumping, with each of their flickers. Lazily, seductive dances whenever a body hurried by. Regretfully, their weren't many of those, seeing as the line moved slowly. Petitioners, for a lack of a better word. Several dozen, behind every one, she stood. Her long blue dress cascading over the heels of her brown suede boots. The fabric rippling over her flesh, although, it hung more limply on her left thigh, where Lily rested in her pocket. Standing alongside her concealed dagger. Aello's thumb trailed over the supple curve of her father's old bow as she eased herself onto the balls of her feet. Seeking to peer over the young and old which stood in a huddled mass before, waiting to see Loren. "Can you see the front of the line Aello?" Lily asked. The huntress shook her head. "Then how long do you think it will take for us to get up there?" "I don't know Lily. Perhaps all day," the huntress replied. "Or maybe we will be asked to come back tomorrow." "Do you want me to run up there and look?" Lily asked. "Look at what?" "All the people. See how many there are." "No, that's ok. We'll just wait like the rest of them." "Ok Aello," replied the pycon as she sank back into the girl's pocket. Obviously displeased with the answer she had been given.

[Accolade]

It was turning out to be an interesting day to say the least. Person after person, some noble, others commoners and even those from outside the city headed one by one into the office of the Grandmaster and pleaded their cases. Not all were complaints, nor were all the request petty or unreasonable.

But there was one story that seemed to calm Loren Dyres of the mild headache he was getting and appealed to his heart. An older woman entered asking about her son. The boy was a new squire and had gone out with a few more to hunt and hadn't returned since. She was worried that something had happened to him and wanted someone prepared for the wilds to go out and search for him. Lorens made his decision, deciding to wait another day to see if the boys returned before he would send someone out.

Time was likely passing very slowly for the huntress who waited outside at the back of the line. Again and again she watched as Loren Dyres personal guards appeared and escorted another person in and walked them out later. Ticks turned to chimes and chimes to bells. Finally, as the last of the people were saw, the guard returned to see Aello. As they did with the rest, they checked the woman for any weapons, poisons, or other odd items and put them aside before they allowed her to enter where the Grand master awaited her.

[Aello]

The line finally dwindled into nothingness before her, although, it still seemed to stretch for an eternity in her wake. This, however, mattered little to the huntress, who was now being inspected by Loren's personal guard. Their gauntleted hands glowing in the light of torches as they patted the girl down, after having forced her to hand over her father's old bow and quiver filled with arrows. They nearly missed the iron fan in her boot; but even this, Aello was forced to hand over in order to be permitted entrance into the grandmaster's solar. The girl obliged, although with some reluctance, seeing as the bow and quiver was all she truly had left of her family, and being without weapons made her feel strangely exposed; naked. When everything had been accounted for, the guards led her inside. Once within, they shut the door against the world outside them, and strode forward a few steps, before gliding to her sides. Flanking her, before stepping back, revealing the grandmaster Loren Dyres himself, sitting calmly behind his desk. Tentatively, the girl glided a few pace's worth forward, before coming to a halt about three feet from Loren's desk. A position by which he could survey her as she did him- his tanned skin, darkened by the lack of light within the room, his eyes hollowed, almost haunted as though by lack of sleep, or perhaps the weight he had to carry upon his shoulders. But the irises themselves, they were light enough, a sort of honey mixed in with the deeper brown her own eyes bore. It was somewhat intriguing to say the least, more so than is simplistic attire, anyway. "Hello Loren," the huntress said as colored tendrils rose from the cracks between each of the stones that lined the floor. Their bodies flitting; circling each other hungrily, as a vulture may fly overhead of a spotted carcass. "I suppose I've come to offer you my... services," the Treaver continued, her voice low; calm, yet strangely firm. As though ringing with a sense of authority borrowed from the man who sat before her, himself. "I've met a few of your knights and squires in my travels. Not many, but enough I guess..." Her voice trailed off for a bit. "None of them seemed to know much of what goes on outside this place. Of how to tend to themselves when alone in the world, faced with its obstacles," Aello went on, pausing, as she stepped forward, pressing a palm on the table before thinking better of it. Swirling her finger lazily over the wood. Her eyes cast down, following it, before growing distant, as though she were in a trance. "I was wondering if you would like someone to train them in the field of hunting and wilderness survival. The ones that leave here... just in case their guide should fail them. Grow ill, die... there is always the risk." She paused, pulling her hand away from the table. "I could teach them other things too, if that doesn't interest you. The shortbow, and by extension the longbow, for they don't seem all that different.... daggers..."

[Accolade]

It was an interest day to say the least for the Grandmaster, but this was to be expected with petitions and request from the people in the city. There was much to be desired in the world and much people expected from the leaders of Syliras. Still, there were good and bad request, and others that was odd. The next woman to come in was of the third soft. Upon her entrance Loren Dyres noticed a pride and confidence in her features and in the way that she walked. But this was not a crime, nor a reason to dislike her, and so he waved her in and awaited her words.

Loren Dyres was surprised by what she said, what she assumed, and what she boldly offered. The first thing that caused his brow to arch, and his teeth to click uncomfortably against the rest was that she called him by his first name, as if she knew him. Even the average unranked Knight didn't allow people to call them by their first names. She spoke of knights and squires who didn't know much about what goes on outside of the city, or how to handle themselves when they are alone. She also offered to train them in hunting and wilderness survival. This was an odd thing to hear and he wasn't sure if she was serious or if she was truly delusional.

The Grand Master knew that his Knights patrolled the bronze woods, they patrolled the Kabrin Road and around the boarder of Syliras. Surely this wasn't possible without them understanding how to take care of themselves in the wilds. Every Knight knew how to use a ranged weapon, and while all didn't use bows, a great many of them did. So it begged the question of by who and where did this woman learn this information that she came to him with.

The Grandmaster didn't correct her as of yet, instead he wanted to know more about the woman and if this was truly what she came there for, or if there was another purpose behind her arrival and strange request.

"First..I would ask that you address me as Grandmaster Loren Dyres." he spoke with authority, and a bit of irritation at the lack of respect shown from the woman. "Secondly, I'd like to know who you are. Where you came from,and I'd like to hear all about these Knights and squires that you encountered who couldn't handle themselves?"

[Aello]

Aello offered a delicate smile. "Apologies grandmaster Dyres for my informality. It has been quite some time since I've been around people. I meant no insult by it," she offered before pausing, considering her words. "I'm Aello, and this is Lily, my companion," she went on, gesturing to the pycon who merely waved but kept herself silent. "I grew up in Zeltiva, but have traveled much since then." She shrugged, unsure what else to say about the subject. "For the last year or so, nearly two full, I have spent a great deal of time traversing the Widlands. Largely alone, learning the ways of the forest. How best to keep hidden; when to fight for a place to sleep, where everything goes in times of hunger. I've hunted much; killed much, some things I still can't quite put a name too." Again she paused. "The forest is quiet at times; and others, graced with a mysterious few," the huntress wore on. "I will not pretend to have met many in my travels. Nor will I pretend to know everything about the world outside, and what I have seen. All I can do grandmaster, is interpret all that I have encountered." She sighed. "I met three of the knights in my travels. Their ranks remain uncertain to me, unless they used them specifically in conversation. But their armor- that is a memory of mine from childhood," Aello explained. "The first, if I recall, was an Alalak named Xalet. We met after the snow had fallen, and if I may say so Sir, he was the most gifted of the three. Well off with a blade; although not particularly quick, which, I assume is an effect of his being armor laden. Fair with a crossbow, although he needed practice loading more quickly; taking aim quickly..." She sighed. "There was another Akalak too, Imass I think. Met in the hotter seasons. Spring I believe. Please don't take this the wrong way Sir- but I believe he had taken to delusions. He... prayed to me as though I were some spirit of the forest," she said uneasily. Shuffling her feet. "I don't believe he knew much of how to survive out there on his own. He..." She ran her free hand through her hair. "Must have had something off to drink, or not enough for his form at all." She shook her head, obviously uncomfortable. "The last was Markus... a blonde man, met him shortly after Imass if I am not mistaken. He was strong enough, but not one to expect the unexpected if I may be so bold. Such can be deadly out there." Again Aello paused. "Knights, I have seen in groups around here. Riding. I don't believe they noticed me, for I didn't reveal myself. But who is to say?" She realized then that she wanted him to say something. But in any case, she hadn't finished yet, and he likely would sense that. Likely wouldn't. "In the cases by which I spent time with the squires, or knights, Sir, I realized that they were trained in a few weapons. One ranged, and one for close combat, such as myself," Aello continued. "Which is good, I suppose, although, I didn't see them as being trained in how to use those weapons to hunt, or how to track. Wherein would lie a problem Sir, if this observation extends- for killing people, and killing animals, although similar, does have its differences. Their own techniques." She looked up. Her eyes a muddled ball of countering emotions. "That's all..."

[Accolade]

Loren Dyres nodded his head, seeing no reason to judge the woman for a simple mistake. She changed her tone and readdressed him and that was enough. Plus he was more concerned with what else she had to say. He had to wonder why a woman who, upon her own statement choose to live in the forest away from people, would suddenly want to return and be a part of a city that was always busy with people?

He didn't ask her yet however, as she had more to add. She spoke of the Knights that she had met so far, each one an unranked Knight, each one mostly untested by the trails that others had been through in their time. He did find it odd that a Knight would pry to her, but there was no use in thinking on the actions of a slain and failure of a Knight.

Once she finished talking, the Grand Master sat back in his seat and thought over her words before he decided to respond. "First, I would like to hear why you choose to leave the world of man and hide yourself in the forest. Living alone in the forest isn't' an any thing to do by any means. Surely there has to be a reason?"

He lifted his hands and clasped them together as he watched her and added a second question. "I would also like to know what made you decide to come back, and to this city? The Knights here are passionate about this city and about upholding it with honor. What reasons do you have for wanting to work with them?"

[Aello]

A delicate smile danced across Aello's lips. "I'd suppose it has more to do with my work than anything else," she replied. "What better way to learn one's trade than to immerse oneself entirely within the playing field?" The woman paused. She didn't like how this man had so many questions. But it seemed, despite her distaste, she would have to answer. "Originally, my stay was to be short. Simple. Allowing just enough time to sell my latest catch," Aello began, "but traveling grows tiring. The threads have torn; points grown worn, blunted blades." She licked her crackling lips as she shrugged her shoulders. "It seemed wise to take a break from the outside world. Replenish my stores; regain some strength." She rubbed her thighs, as though patting down creases within the folds of her attire. "And as for your last question," Aello finished, "suffice it to say that we share enemies." She smiled, a friendly enough gesture; although, unlike before there was a wicked edge to it that came and went within the blink of an eye. "Is there anything else you would like to know, grandmaster?"

[Accolade]

Loren Dyres listened intently to what the woman was saying and her reasons for doing what she did. Her reasons seemed a bit off, and he wondered if he should send for one of his konti advisers to learn if she was being completely honest or not. But for the moment, he was more concerned with what she said last, share enemies?

"I see, well I would like to hear more about the enemies that we share? This is very interesting to me. Please continue."

He waved over one of the guards in the room and whispered into the man's ear, before turning his gaze back to the huntress. The guard stared at her for a moment and then took his leave of the room. "Now then, you were saying?"

[Aello]

She was listening to his steps; the way they grated against the stone. She was watching him out of the corner of her eye as he obeyed his master; leaning into a form, before reverting, gliding away. So he fears me, the huntress thought to herself as she stood before the master of knights, as he rightly should. Her eyes glistened as they settled on the older man; seated calmly enough at his desk. Although she did sense an occasional bead of sweat upon his brow. "I'd suppose it would be," she whispered, her eyes appraising him. His stance; the weakness he presented with such. With the removal of a single guard. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "The death of your opposite. I know of him and his brothers. The god who marked them. Their puppet master." Aello paused. "Chaos. Endless death and destruction; do you suppose it could bring peace?" She took a step closer. "If you could grandmaster, would you kill the Druvin? The leader of your order's enemies?"