someone who reaches out to my weakness and won't let go

[sosilversoexact]

It's one late afternoon when they reach the convent itself, and Martel's deteriorating mood hasn't improved since they arrived back in the country he's spent years away from, but by this point it has at least levelled out, and unexpected bursts of temper are limited to necessity (as defined by 'is this person in my way and what will be the flow on

Comments

[onlyhalfwild]

"I can promise you that," she says, eying the doors in front of her with a dark expression, "I don't want to stay there any longer than necessary, either."

It's less that she objects to the nuns and more aware that her own inability to hide her nature will probably not endear her to them, after a while. Of course, women of faith like theirs are more forgiving, and had done her a great favor. Maryani puts the thoughts of worrying about how her daughter will react out of mind, because she will deal that when they're safely away from the city and the Pandion motherhouse in particular.

This is so dangerous, but everything in their lives tends to go that way. Maryani marches toward the doors, and knocks. The nun who greets her doesn't recognize her, but she explains her purpose and is escorted inside after a moment to meet with the mother superior.

[sosilversoexact]

Martel ... lurks, for lack of a better word, the hood of his cloak up over his unmistakable hair as he keeps the horses company. He's antsy--they might get in and out without a fight, but he must work on the assumption that someone knows he's in the country, here in Demos.

It's likely. There is no comfortable place for him any more, he sometimes thinks, but Elenia is worse than others and Demos is near suicidal.

Meanwhile, of course, Maryani has her meeting to make. The mother superior remembers her face as well as she remembers Martel's, for very different reasons. She seems, somehow, unsurprised. "Welcome again."

[onlyhalfwild]

"Thank you. I am so sorry to arrive without giving you any notice, beforehand, but the traveling has been terribly hectic..." Maryani trails off, and sort of laughs, rueful. "I'm going to be honest with you: I think it's best if I take Nourelle with me from now on. My accommodations are different, these days."

Also, Arissa is existing in too close a proximity. Maryani won't be surprised if she actually ends up saying that, because it's not like she cares what Princess Arissa thinks of her, frankly. (This is a girl who'd tell a king to shut up if it suited her, though, she saves her reverence for the gods and no one else.)

[sosilversoexact]

Nobody remotely sane cares about Princess Arissa's opinion on...anything, ever, unless it's somehow useful or relevant. (At which point 'care' is still not really the word to use, as it doesn't adequately convey the amount of contempt involved.)

"When will you be taking her?" The aging sister has a look in her eye that suggests she might not be terribly surprised when she hears the answer she's going to get.

[sosilversoexact]

The 'man in Thalesia' turns out to be Milord Stragen, Emsat's Prince of thieves. A mercenary with an existing noble background is a nice catch for the self-styled lord's "court", particularly one with the kind of contacts that could raise an army out of the dust if he so chose.

Particularly one who comes with Maryani, arguably equally as valuable.

He hasn't quite managed to stop twitching when Stragen drawls 'Sir Knight', but there's time, and Martel's vanity and efficiency are behind a rather nice homestead. It's as close to safely settled as he expects them to ever get.

[onlyhalfwild]

Maryani enjoys annoying Stragen, albeit good-naturedly, as much in kind, possibly somewhat on Martel's behalf. She's taught some of the "courtiers" some interesting new dances, although possibly the uses of bellydance in women are best not investigated too deeply (nor is where she picked up that particular skillset).

She does like it here. Most of the time she's alternately charming and challenging much of the court (and anyone else in Emsat who crosses her path), and possibly she needs to be a little more careful about how much and what sort of charm she applies, but what's important is her daughter likes it here, too. Nouria's learning to steal, and Maryani ...doesn't mind a bit, she thinks it's quite useful.

They spend a lot of time together, which is nice. This lull can't last, but it's enjoyable for the time being.

[sosilversoexact]

The lulls never last, Martel's aware, but as they go this one isn't awful. He can't say he intends to properly put down any roots, but he's a vain, proud man who doesn't easily take direction any more, with no real inclination to shoehorn Stragen out of his own operation.

(He's considered a few ways of doing it, though, because he has a strange idea of 'idle rainy afternoon contemplation'.)

The routine presenting of oneself isn't for hours yet, later tonight, and he's fascinatingly domestic in his study with his book, now.

[onlyhalfwild]

There's a knock at the study door. It's probably not Maryani, who doesn't knock, she just appears and starts demanding things.