A Lesson in the Law [Jaelyn]

by **Victor Lark** on July 2nd, 2011, 5:34 am

26 Summer, 511

Days of wandering had inevitably lead Victor’s exploring feet to the underground market. Though not usually a man to shop without a purpose, he browsed the isles tirelessly, unable to sate his eyes’ thirst for new sights. Colors and smells and conversations moved around him like breezes in the still air; occasionally, he even forgot his distaste for shadows and ceilings. The sun had only just begun its descent into afternoon, but he could not know the time down there, only the consistent flicker of torchlight and the incessant peddling of wares.

It was not often that he stopped for very long. The constant stimulus of passing faces and merchandise had become addicting, and he swept through the place with eyes on everything. When he finally did plant his feet in front of a stall, it was to glance at his own reflection in a display of mirrors. He moved his hair out of his eyes, pouting, then glanced at the delicate stacks of reflective glass on the table. Most included shining metal embellishments winding around their edges, but Victor found himself fond of a simpler one with a sleek silver finish. He picked it up, glanced at his reflection again, considered it like a potential buyer.

And when the merchant behind the table looked away for one second to long, he ducked back into the crowd.

It was not abnormal for a man to keep his hands locked to his sides as he wove consciously through the peopled chaos. To the best of his ability, Victor adopted an unassuming look, which would have seemed abnormal to anyone who had glanced at his shining, fascinated countenance chimes earlier. He could not hear whether the thing’s true owner noticed or called after him. It would ruin the charade to look back. He was just another face in the crowd, an unremarkable human with no criminal motives, and he was headed towards the sunlight that signaled the Bazaar’s exit.

by **Jaelyn Baroth** on July 6th, 2011, 8:37 pm

Jaelyn had come back down the Great Bazaar in the hopes of finding the same jewelry merchant she had been looking at on the day she met Seven again, but so far she had had no real luck. Either that or the divine was trying to tell her something.

With a soft sigh to herself she turned to make her way back out of the market and back to he training. After pressing her way through and along with the crowd for a little while though she caught sight of an incredibly handsome young man, and her forward progress slowed.

This young man, much like Seven, brought to mind Kendall, and how she had felt when she first saw him. The fluttering in her stomach, the nervous worry about having him notice her, and the wonder that someone so attractive was standing in front of her. She thought about going to talk to him, but hesitated as she noticed him contemplating buying a mirror. Maybe he was buying it for his girlfriend? It would certainly make sense for someone as attractive as him to be in a relationship.

The movements of the crowd briefly hid the dark haired young man from her view, and when she shifted to try and catch sight of him again he was gone. Wondering if perhaps it was for the best, with her luck regarding attractive men lately, Jaelyn gave a soft sigh and turned to continue her path out of the market. She hadn't gone three steps before she heard the merchant talking, "Wait, where did that mirror go?"

Jaelyn's eyes widened as she connected the dots. The handsome, dark haired, man had walked off with the mirror. Stretching her neck up to try and see over the crowd she caught a glimpse of dark hair heading towards the nearest exit of the market. Taking a deep breath Jaelyn began to follow after the young man with strong and purposeful strides, apologizing to those she bumped into along the way.

With her quickened pace compared to the young man's calmer strides Jaelyn was able to close the ground gradually. By the time he reached the base of the stairs heading up she had finally caught up with him, and she reached out to lightly tap him on the shoulder, "Excuse me sir? I believe you forgot something."

Though she was smiling softly as she waited for the handsome man's response Jaelyn's heart was starting to pick up pace. She hoped that he had simply walked off mistakenly with the mirror, but she couldn't deny the possibility that he was a thief and that this might come to a confrontation. She just hoped it wouldn't come to her drawing her sword which rested at her hip as usual.

by **Victor Lark** on July 10th, 2011, 11:09 am

By the time the fresh air of the outside began to swarm into his nostrils, Victor had almost fooled himself with his own feigned nonchalance. He departed from the dwindling crowd and was planning his quiet route home, when the soft touch of an intruding finger woke his rightful anxieties. He started.

But then he turned around and saw a girl. Her brow was weighted and her jaw was stiff for something like uncertainty, or maybe nervousness—he could not tell. There was an opportunity in that hesitance, and he took it.

A wide smile, full of happy charm, grew at her warmly. Though she was taller than he, his height on the stairs offered a comfortable advantage to his stature’s insecurities. Smooth, feminine grace bent him at the waist so that he might meet her eyes without relinquishing his position above her. He hugged his silver prize close to his side, almost out of any eye’s grasp. If she had not seen it, it would remain above her notice, and if she had, then perhaps he could make her forget about it.

His arms did not leave his sides, but his smile reached out to touch her face. “And what might that be?” He replied. He paused to look around for a sign, to her ear, her lips, her shoulder. With a flash of teeth and added, “And who might you be?”

Then his gaze strayed further to glance over her long, muscle-toned body, where he found a long blade at her side. With a small gulp, he straightened again.

by **Jaelyn Baroth** on July 10th, 2011, 4:59 pm

As the young man turned around Jaelyn's eyes caught a brief glimpse of silver, mostly hidden by his hand against his body, but it might not have been the mirror. Still, it was enough to keep her suspicions in mind even as he turned his handsome face to her and looked into her eyes.

Even as a faint blush touched her cheeks Jaelyn took a slow breath to calm herself before she responded to his pleasantly voiced questions, "I am Jaelyn Baroth, Squire of the Syliran Knights," she brought a faint smile to her lips as she offered the young man a polite, roughened, hand in greeting, "And I believe you forgot to pay for that mirror you were looking at earlier. At least the merchant seemed to think so. It would probably be best to clear things up with him before he talks to the Knights about it."

Watching the young man's face as she was Jaelyn couldn't help but notice as his gaze wandered over her body. She was unsure on how she felt about such appraisal from someone so handsome, but Jaelyn's mind seemed to settle upon embarrassment as her blush grew a little brighter on her cheeks.

by **Victor Lark** on July 12th, 2011, 4:57 am

His eyebrows rose into his hair at the title that followed her introduction. The knot in his throat tightened. He moved his hands discreetly behind him, giving a marginal bow as he tucked the little thing between his tailbone and the grip of his trousers. “Victor Lark,” he replied, amiable.

As fussing with his shirt to hide the item would be too conspicuous, it was perfectly visible to anyone who stood behind him; he risked the possibility of a stranger’s discovery in those few moments in order to free his hands for Jaelyn. He took hers with embellished softness, trying to appeal to any soldierly sense of supremacy she might have had. As much as Victor liked the power he had in the pink of her cheeks, he needed desperately to lull all suspicions from the armed squire. He could act the subject for a short time, at least.

Victor held both her hand and her gaze a moment too long. Without dropping the smile, he added, “It’s a pleasure to meet you!” Dark eyes darted downward at her belly for a split second, then moved up to wander her faltering countenance again. As he lied, he did not meet her eyes. Instead he fidgeted with his shirt, masking the careful covering of his hidden treasure with a sort of nervous courtesy. “And... I am terribly sorry, but I think you are mistaken. Maybe the merchant was confused, but I did not buy anything here—well, I mean that I did not get anything. Nothing to my taste today, unfortunately! I would not want to trouble the Knights with a misunderstanding, or worry you, kind Sera.”

Then he looked back at the two pools of dotted steel on her face and continued, “I hope you are not worried. You seem flushed. Do you need some water?”

by **Jaelyn Baroth** on July 13th, 2011, 3:38 pm

Victor's incredibly soft touch as he took Jaelyn's offered hand caught her by surprise. She was reminded of Seven and his charming manner, and the flush on her cheeks grew a little wider. In any normal situation she would have been completely drawn in by his incredibly good looks and charming demeanor. This was not a normal situation however, and her desire to do her duty helped her to maintain some small amount of self control.

"It is a pleasure to meet you as well Victor," Jaelyn replied with her soft smile, now tinged with a hint of shyness, "And I am fine," Victor's calling out of a flush did little to help her calmness, and she floundered for a few moments as she struggled to focus on the reason why she had approached someone in the first place.

"If you did not get anything here," she finally managed to continue, her smile and gaze regaining a bit of strength, "Then it is even more important that we go and speak with the merchant before he talks to the Knights. Otherwise they might distribute a drawing of you, and you'll be arrested or worse," the grim reality of her words helped her to push back against the fluttering feeling of trepidation and embarrassment in her chest and stomach, "Come, this way," taking Victor's hand in a slightly firm grip Jaelyn turned and started to lead him back into the crowd and market, intending to lead the way back to the aforementioned merchant as quickly as possible.

by **Victor Lark** on July 17th, 2011, 5:43 pm

“Of course,” he agreed smoothly, but the smile that accompanied the remark pained his cheeks. Before he could think too seriously about the repercussions of talking to this merchant (who had apparently noticed him enough to identify his face), a tug on his arm led him back into the fray. He remained explicitly behind her as they walked, so that no stray glance or gesture could notice the contraband at his back. Sometimes he tugged back at her under the guise of being caught up in the crowd, intending in vain to delay their passage.

Still, he wanted to know her—or, in anticipation of a conflict, at least get on her good side. “Are you on duty today, Jaelyn, or do you just enjoy the colors of the market? I, personally, couldn’t stand staying in such a closed space for long. I’m not from around here, you know.” He tightened his hand around the grasp that bound them for only a second. If she he turned back to look at him at any time, he would instantly meet her eyes with a grin.

His moving legs occasionally loosened his belt’s hold on the mirror, requiring a peculiar adjustment by his free hand. He was in the midst of such a correction when they arrived at the booth in question. Victor thought it was for the clammy air of the underground that his mouth seemed so dry; he gulped again. Glancing over his shoulder, he remained carefully behind the squire as he waited for her to speak first.

by **Jaelyn Baroth** on July 19th, 2011, 7:11 pm

"I... Well," Jaelyn hesitated to respond to Victor's question, embarrassed by the fact that she had been in the market browsing, but hesitant to lie and shame herself in front of Tyveth, "I was hoping to find a merchant I had come across the other day, but I did not have much luck," she finally admitted, glancing back and offering a faint smile to Victor, her heart beating a little faster at the grin Victor returned her, "You are not from Syliras? Might I ask where you are from then?"

Eventually, Jaelyn having slowed her pace slightly to help Victor out as he seemed to get caught up in the crowd every now and again, they arrived back at the Merchant's stall. Luckily it seemed the man had not called the Knights yet, but his frustration and anger was plain to see. Before Jaelyn could speak he pointed a finger at Victor, "You! You're the one who stole from me, aren't you? How dare you come back to my stall!"

"My good sir," Jaelyn responded, moving a little more in front of Victor in an attempt to deflect the merchant's wrath, "I believe you are mistaken. Victor claims that he has not taken anything, and we came here to demonstrate his innocence."

The merchant eyed Jaelyn for a moment, "And who are you? You don't look like a Knight."

"I am a Squire, sir. Jaelyn Baroth, Squire under Ser Raynard Darcy, and daughter to Ser Atriso Baroth. I am no Knight, but I hoped I could help resolve this problem before it got worse," Jaelyn's voice remained calm, and there was a small hint of pride as she spoke the respected names she was associated with.

"If you want to help then take that man to the Tank and get my mirror back!" the merchant practically spat, jabbing a finger in Victor's direction, "There is no misunderstanding here! I had the mirror when he was here, and when he left it was gone!"

by **Victor Lark** on July 22nd, 2011, 12:58 pm

In his attempt to seem exotic and interesting, he had forgotten the inevitable response to such a statement. Victor had heard a thing or two about the quarrels between the Syliran Knights and Ravok’s less-the-honorable Ebonstryfe, and he reconsidered whether he should tell the truth about his home. Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, they reached the merchant before he was required to decide.

Though he still cowered behind Jaelyn, Victor tried to keep his expression calm and friendly as he met the man’s irate gaze. An almost eager smile crept over his lips as the squire defended the guilty man with composure and eloquence, and it settled into something smug when the man rejoined with idle threats and disproportioned anger. Glancing at the sharp jawline behind a head of long brown hair, Victor wrapped his hand around her waist as he stepped forward. He tried not to make the gesture obvious, for the sake of her reputation. “Sir, please,” he said to him, trying to hard to fill his voice with a begging tone, “Please, calm down. I’m sorry you mistook my dissatisfaction for theft, but I promise I did not take anything. Here,”

His fingers slipped to the small of her back so he could lean sideward against the table, careful to keep his own back out of sight. His opposite arm reached out over the precarious stacks of glass and metal, and he taunted the trader by tenderly tracing a fingertip over each pieces with a look of disapproval. “Which is the one I was looking at? Ah.” He found one that looked similar to his and lifted it up. There was a gaudy flower hewn into one end, but otherwise it was smooth and silver-colored. “See, it’s right here, where I left it. No need to take me to the Tank.” He set it down again and laughed, a single anxious syllable that ended in a distracted cough. Then his eyes turned back to Jaelyn and he asked as if it were a joke, “What is the Tank?”

by **Jaelyn Baroth** on July 26th, 2011, 7:30 pm

Before Jaelyn could say anything more to the merchant she felt Victor's hand wrap around her waist, causing her heart to jump and the short intake of breath of a barely audible gasp, and most thoughts of what she had been intending to say fled her mind. Briefly the thought entered her mind to lean against Victor in turn, but she quickly dismissed it as inappropriate. He was probably holding to her out of nervousness, which was certainly understandable with how angry the merchant was being. She turned her head to observe him with her gray eyes, a slightly bashful smile touching her lips, and wondered if perhaps he was interested in her beyond just the kindess she was offering in helping him?

When Victor's hand moved to the small of her back a thrill went up Jaelyn's spine, and she tensed slightly in nervousness. She'd never had someone touch her in such a way in public. A part of her mind told her that maybe it was just a product of his upbringing from somewhere else, but that was overwhelmed by the rest of her thoughts that wondered if he was interested in her.

"That's not the same!" the merchant snapped back, though there was a bit of doubt in his voice after Victor's display, "That isn't the one you were looking at, I'm sure of it!"

The merchant's angry words, along with Victor's direct question, forced Jaelyn to blink away the dreamy thoughts of her mind and return to the situation at hand, "The Tank is the prison where criminals await judgement and punishment for their crimes," she gave Victor a soft, reassuring smile before she turned her gaze back to the merchant, "But I have a way that should satisfy you that Victor did not take your mirror. I saw him leave your stand, and when I heard you notice a mirror was missing I followed him," her cheeks flushed slightly at the faintly embarrassing admission, "There was nowhere he could have gotten rid of the mirror that I saw, and so if he did take it he would still have it on him. If it will satisfy you, sir, I will search Victor to show he does not have the mirror."

The merchant thought it over a moment, and then gave a small nod, "Fine, search him, here, in front of me, and I'll accept that he didn't take it."

With a relieved smile Jaelyn turned her gaze back to Victor, and softly asked, "Is that acceptable to you, Victor? I promise I will not be rough or... improper."