The Solution, Part 2

[TerokNor]

((Continued from: http://journeyofteroknor.blogspot.com/ - Days 11-13 - The Solution))

Terok sat in quiet solitude, writing in his journal. His recently acquired warhorse stood silently nearby. The sun had just begun to set, the twilight glow of crimson light reflecting off the clouds overhead.

"Things are uncertain. Thadan Ramus had come around minutes after the fight, spitting curses and swearing vengeance. Lord Bloodvalor, while safe from direct acts, has earned himself no small amount of political trouble for his part in the encounter. His path to promotions in the order will likely be blocked, much as mine will."

I hate politics.

He closed his journal, sighing as he carefully tucked it into his pack. The thought of what lay before him weighed heavily on his shoulders. Lord Bloodvalor was right: Only by acquiring a title of his own could he hope to make his way further in the Blood Knights... not to mention survive.

Only one name had come to mind when Bloodvalor had spoken. The letter written shortly before departing Silvermoon for Sunstrider Isle had been brief, but necessarily so. Terok could only wait. Reaching into his bag he removed a small ration of food and water, staring out over the tranquil waters into the north, as the redish rays of the sun disappeared from view.

[Eladis]

Eladis stared out the clouded aldor made window, lost in his own thoughts for only a moment before a little annoying voice snapped him back into reality. He had been reading some childish book or another to his half-witted assistant, as he did every night when his brother decided he didn't feel like being around. However, this time the two decided to go looking for the missing blonde rather than sit around and wait for him to return whenever he felt he wanted to. Their home for the weekend being two small hotel rooms in Shattrath, but Bir would complain about nightmares and he would end up sneaking into the Eladis' room anyway. Someone would have to look after the boy, light knew he was good at looking after himself. It wasn't like tending to children was something he wasn't familiar with and this particular 'child' was more dim than the rest. Dim, dumb, disturbed, intellectually deprived, any of those would rightfully describe him.

"Well! What happened next! Heeeyy!" Bir rolled over onto his back, stretching his legs off the side of the bed to give the healer's knee a light kick.

"..And the king never believed her, the end." Eladis' hands met with a snap, the book he half finished reading between his palms. Normally he would have finished the book, but tonight he had something to attend to besides his brother's trash.

The air hung heavy after the healer finished speaking. His only sign of weakness were his ears, which slowly moved back against his skull as he expected the rogue to scream and cry in anger. Otherwise, his pale face held the passive expression it always did.

"Whaat? Well that was a stupid story, can I have another one?" There was something not quite right about his retort, then again, something was always off.

"No, you may not have another, it is well past your bed time."

Their eyes met for a split second, for that second it almost looked like the rogue was going to say something smart or normal. Then he gave a stupid grin, jerked back onto his side and pointed out the window. "Nuh-uh the sun is still up! See!"

"The sun is setting, that means you have to get ready for bed. Usually you can't wait to get to sleep, something the matter? Do you need help brushing your hair?" Eladis stood slowly and pattered to the nightstand where he had left the boy's hairbrush.

Bir stood too, quietly following the taller male. He clicked his tongue in his cheek as he spoke with words carefully chosen and even more delicately presented. "Where are you going? You can't hide stuff like that from me y'know.."

"I'm going for a walk. If you don't get your rest you will be grumpy tomorrow. Do you want to be a little grump when we find Kovan?" Eladis raised both his hands up, letting go of the brush as it caught in the rogue's hair while he shook his head.

"Naw I won't be grumpy, I wanna walk too." Bir went straight for the door, forgetting all about the brush caught in his hair.

Eladis yanked the small elf back by his shoulders, gently turning him around and recoiling one arm to give the top of his head a reluctant pat-- like one would pat a small animal. He frowned, giving the boy an all too stern look, one which he had forced a million times for the twins when they were young to convince them he was upset, usually for teaching's sake. "You will so be grumpy, why not write Kovan a letter? I'll put it in the mailbox when I return."

"I.. guess. If you go get something to eat, bring me something too, ok?" Bir smiled, in hopes it might get rid of the frown he hadn't known was forced. At this point he was walking backwards, stopping suddenly as the backs of his knees hit the edge of the bed.

"I will. Be good. Don't draw in any more of my books, I gave you a special one for that." Eladis also forgot all about the brush, bending over the happy little rogue to tuck him in. He both hated and loved to leave the little idiot alone, every time he did something went wrong, but at least he wouldn't have to deal with it.

[Kovan]

It was hazy in the World's End, and the sweet scent of Bloodthistle mixed with Shimmerweed and gods knows what else that was being partaken of in a the darkened alcoves in the back of the noisey tavern permeated the air.
Kovan was sitting with his back to the wall at an out of the way table, nursing a short glass of the smokey liquor the Broken seemed to specialze in.

Bir would love it here...
Letting his thoughts drift Kovan forgot his companion for a few moments before a lifted brow and a softly cleared throat brought him back to the present.
" Ah, sorry about that, you were saying?"
The knight flashed his most charming smile in apology, even while cursing himself mentally. It wasnt that the Accolyte was bad looking, brilliant white teeth flashed in a deeply tanned complection, the robed figure was deliciously androgynous despite his short cropped mane of chestnut hair.

A year ago I would have had him back in one of those alcoves fighting to keep himself silent...

Kovan had succumbed to the tenative overtures earlier, thinking perhaps he was tired enough of being alone it wouldn't matter, but somehow his thoughts kept straying, and wishfull thinking had his companion looking much paler in the dim light, with long black locks.

..amazing when clean, who would have thought it would be so soft when you wrapped it up around your fist-- DAMMIT!!

Kovan stood abruptly, a pang of guilt at the look of confusion on the adept's face. " I should go.."

" I'm .. sorry? Did I say something wrong? If was mistaken about your prefrences... forgive me."

Kovan shook his head sharply. " There was no mistake on your part, You have done nothing wrong I.. just can't do this.."
Bowing low in apology he stepped close, brushing his lips across the forehead that was still furrowed in confusion before making his way to the bar, and leaving enough gold to pay for any further drinks the man may desire for the rest of the night before he slipped out into the street.

It was sunset, and Kovan stretched in the waning light, closing his eyes to inhale deeply as he took a few steps away from the noise of the tavern spilling into the street.

Mnnnn sausage rolls...

The question of his frustrated libido forgotten, the knight let his nose lead him into the market where the breadseller was just wrapping the finall sales of the day in a brown wax paper, only too glad to be rid of the last few and close shop.

Kovan munched semi-contendedly for a moment, finding a seat on an abandoned wooden crate as he continued to relax in the deepening twilight, letting the mixture of deep forest noises and a city settling in for the night wash over him.
He was nearly finished with his first roll, the egde taken off his ravening appetite when the movement of hand-to-mouth was abruptly halted by the sensation of being watched.
Kovan turned his head, blinking in suprise to find himself under the intense scrutiny of two small sets of softly lumious eyes.

Well well well.. what have we here mnnn?

" Djan!! ke hesrash tinok!" The small male stepped back, tugging sharply on his companion's hand as Kovan turned his dark green eyes on the pair of aldor children. They looked remarkably alike, even to the knight's untrained eye in the generally ragged state of being they were both in.
" Bur? " The little girl ignored the tugging on her arm, meeting his eyes without fear, and mustering a winsome smile as she held out a grubby hand..

Awww hell. I'm not -that- hungry right?

Glancing around to see that no one was witness to his moment of absolute weakness in the face of juvinille charm, Kovan unwrapped the rest of his dinner, dropping to one knee and holding the wax paper out as if it were a platter, winking at the two as his conquerer grabbed up the remaining rolls with a wrinkle-nosed giggle before darting off with a clatter of hooves on the broken pavement.

Shards yer getting soft in yer old age...

Grinning to himself the knight turned his steps tword the flat he called home, beginning to whistle a cheerfull lil chanty to which the lyrics were only half-remembered, and still enough to make his ears burn.

[Bir]

Bir rolled around, shifting his position in the heap of thick blankets. He folded one arm over his shoulder, grabbing the brush and twisting it up through his hair to leave a messy black mop with a handle at the top of his head. His pale face scrunched up as he tested it, yep, tangled in just enough. An amused snort followed by a deep masculine chuckle rang out in the empty room. Bed time? This early? Yeah right. That middle-aged-Kovan was going somewhere, but he definitely wasn't going alone.

There were many things he had endured on his everlasting quest to make every person in his life at least look happy at all times, a hairbrush not being all too bad compared to past endevours-- Well a hairbrush in his hair anyway. Thinking on it, there really wasn't too much he wouldn't do to see those Thornel men smile, they both looked the same, so making one smile was like seeing both of them at the same time. But making one of them frown had the same effect. Acting a certain way for one of them to fill in the role they wanted, in this case, a caretaker, was something that came naturally to him. Every man wanted to protect what was weak, teach what was stupid. Man, woman, either way that effect was the same too and it was very easy to take advantage of.

His laughing didn't stop as he rolled out of the bed, hitting the floor with a thud. It was great, the act had gone on so long he didn't even know what was so damn funny anymore. That occurred a lot, each time almost as wonderful as the next. Who needs bloodthistle, right? Right. Catching his own reflection in the mirror, Bir shook his head. He ripped up the side of his thin shirt, then went to the nightstand, making a quick attempt to sew it back together. It didn't matter how far he took it, trying too hard wasn't an issue.

Smiling away, he looked at himself again. Success, just pathetic enough for the time given. He whistled cheerfully through his teeth, slamming the door behind him. He blurred into the shadows, dipping low near the ground. There really was no way of knowing where the middle-aged-Kovan-look-alike went, so he would go on an adventure.

The streets were dying down a little, as they usually did near the end of the day. People closing up shop, trudging their way home. The concept of routine and holding an actual job was alien to Bir, he would have thought on it more if he didn't suddenly get caught in a bind. Ah-ha! There he was, walking at a hurried pace to the terrace of light no doubt... And turning his head, there the real Kovan was, giving food to children? His never ending quest had priorities, Kovan being number one. Screw that old bastard, there's no way he missed his brother, in fact, it looked like he was running from him.

Bir shook it off, there was probably a good reason Eladis was avoiding Kovan, not that he would ever want to hear it. For brothers, those two fought a lot over stupid things. One of them might suggest it isn't his business, but if anything made Kovan leave home, it definitely was his business. He quietly approached the taller male, hooking his thumb in his belt loop.

"Hey, I'm a hungry kid too. Let's go get something to eat." Bir spoke in an unusually deep voice, becoming visible as he tugged his lover back a step.

[Eladis]

Eladis opened the door to the hotel room, not bothering himself to step inside. "Bir? Bir, are you awake? I found Kovan. Come on, let's go."

No reply. Poor little idiot was probably fast asleep, or thought it funny to waste time. He slowly entered the room, elegant brows low. It didn't take him long to realize the boy wasn't in sight. The room was a mess and he hadn't been gone ten minutes.

"Bir?" The healer questioned again, raising his voice. "Are we playing sneak again? I'm not in the mood for games. Don't you want to see Kovan?"

It was never ever a good idea to bend down when there was a stealthed and playful rogue about. The last time that happened the poor boy got himself a swift elbow to the face and a bloody nose. But if anything would get him to come out, it would be making himself vulnerable to a good pinching. He slowly dipped to pick up the heavy blankets, tucking them over his arm. Any second now.. Nothing. Nobody pinched his hips this time.

All he could do was wretch while he continued to clean the room, absentmindedly putting the low quality sewing kit the inn provided back in the drawer. He didn't have time for this, not any of this. His fiance expected him home days ago, he had planned a picnic for the two. Poor woman was probably still eagerly awaiting his return.

What was he doing anyway, going to meet an adept he hardly knew? For a reason which 'could not be disclosed in writing'? Looking after a mental patient? These weren't things the heir of a house would trouble himself with. He was too used to being the faithful discarded bastard half-brother who would do every petty errand for little to no thanks. Enough was enough. He heavily sat on the newly made bed, grabbing his journal from behind Bir's pillow and tearing a single page from it. Who could he request an errand from.. Who would actually appreciate his new authority? He only considered one person, though this task seemed much too petty even for him.

[Braell]

Braell's dark, auburn brows furrowed low over his clear green eyes, scanning the torn and somewhat haphazard letter one more time in the fading light. His lightly worn shoes; not made for travel, made little noise on the tightly laid cobblestone road, the ruins Silvermoon falling away in the distance. A bridge, elegant, yet practical stretched the deep narrow river that severed Sunstrider Isle from the mainland.

Isle? Poorly labled. Not much more than a Peninsula.

Pausing for a moment, the long-haired male let his eyes drift downwards to the calm river beneath him, mouth twisting in disapproval. It wasn't the name, truly. Such fickle thoughts only served to distract the Sin'dorei from his sincere distemperment. His master, Lord Vant- Lord Va'Thornel rather, had personally requested him to see to this... adept of his order. Braell Rin Davren was Steward to the noble house of Thornel, not some common errand-boy. Did his new master really think him so disengaged that he had the luxury to leave the house-grounds on some trivial task as this?

Stepping away from the railing, the finely dressed steward silently admonished himself for wasting time watching the lethargic flow of water pass beneath the bridge and out to sea. The sun had dipped below the distant horizon now, the sky a darkening grey. Stepping into a evenly paced stride, finely threaded cloak billowing behind him, Braell left the bridge behind him. Eyes set firmly ahead, the Sin'dorei crumpled the scrap of paper in a hand and discarded it beside the path.

The "letter" had come only hours before, delivered unhurriedly by one of the Forsaken. The guards had not let the hired creature into the grounds of course, but had summoned him when it had been deduced the wretched thing had a message for him, and was expecting payment for it. Braell had the guard's remove the scrap of paper from the cretin before he paid it, assuming the unsightly fiend was attempting to scam them into a coin or two. Surprisingly, the misshapen letter was indeed from his lord, the hand-writing and signature unmistakable. Parting with a few coins, he had ordered the guards to deposit the messenger on the street and lock the gate again.

The opulent scrawl looked horribly out of place on the scrap of parchment, torn from some book no doubt. The words were quite clear and concise, however, leaving little room for misinterpretation. Lord Va'Thornel requested him to go to this adept waiting for his master on Sunstrider Isle and simply inform him that he had no time to meet the aspiring paladin. This Terok'nor would either have to wait for Eladis to return to Silvermoon or if he so desired, he could join him in Shatt'rath. Braell had played with the idea of sending one of the house carriers, eventually discarding the idea, not wanting to disobey the direct order.

Having been steward to the house for many years, Braell was intimately aware of many protocols and social courtesies even Lord's and Lady's tended to forget. It was his duty, after all. The verbal messenge was, of course, all that was required, but it would not do for a Lord of such a noble house to not send such behests without written documentation. Being fresh to his new duties as head of the house, Braell took it upon himself. On fine, gilded parchment of the house, Braell had hastily, yet efficiently mimed his Lord's hand and composed a formal letter to the adept, sealing it in an envelope with a drip of wax and a house seal. Quickly finishing an order for twenty legs of lamb for the kitchens, the steward had excused himself of the rest of his evening duties and slipped out the gate, letter in hand.

Passing Falthrien Academy, the well-dressed Sin'dorei headed to the main compound of the island. All traces of the day had passed, the open sky dark and moonless, lit only by the slowly unveiling stars. Pale blue light guided the elf down the narrow, stoned path, lamp-posts spaced well apart, but close enough that one could always see the ground before him.

"Halt and declare yourself."

Two shadows, between Braell and the next dull beacon along the path. The voice was deep and firm, the words in silken Thalassian. Twin Spellbreakers, of course, patrolling the road from the city. Braell quickly greeted the armored men, revealing his intentions and inquiring as to whether they might know of the man he was searching for. His master had not mentioned where, or how to find the paladin. Warblades held in light grips, the guards hurried him on his way, no clue as to where he might find this Terok'nor. Cursing under his breath, the Steward strode quickly up the path and into the first structure he came upon, slowing only as he crossed the structure's arching threshold.

"Greetings... can I help you, sir?"

A woman called, standing from a velvet cushioned seat just inside the door.

"Yes, you can. I'm looking for one master Terok'nor, an adept of the Blood Knights. He was said to be waiting here for Lord Eladis Va'Thornel."

The woman's eyes glanced over to a table at the far side of the rather spacious common-room, revealing the man before her ensuing voice could. The steward thanked the woman graciously, watching the young, ebon-haired Sin'dorei seated calmly, observing the exchange between him and the woman. Eyes locked, Braell closed the distance between the two men. Preforming a shallow bow; eyes never leaving the youthful adept, he flicked the hair that had fallen forward, back from his face. Speaking clearly after allowing a moment for the man to fail to introduce himself, Braell dropped the letter he had prepared onto the table.

"I am Braell Rin Davren, steward to his gracious Lord Eladis Va'Thornel and the illustrious glory that is the noble house of Thornel. I bear a messenge from my lord to one master Terok'nor of the Blood Knights. My lord, in his interminably assiduity, cannot spare himself to meet your person and so has graciously requested your presence at his home in Silvermoon, or if that does not suit, to venture to meet my lord in Shattrath."

Completing the formal half of his duty, the steward relaxed slightly, addressing the man in a much more casual tone.

"I am here to escort you to the Thornel Estate, where you may wait as our guest until either Lord Va'Thornel has returned to us or we can summon a mage to transport you to my master. By your leave..."

The steward finally quieted, one long eyebrow raised above his softly glowing eyes, waiting for an answer.




((Teroknor, feel free to just skip to the estate or straight to Shatt... up to you! Mission accomplished, I'm bowing out of this RP until Eladis drags me back into it... though feel free to use me here and there if you -really- need to.))

[TerokNor]

He glanced to the side, scanning the estate through the veil of rain as he passed, looking for the Thornel name inscribed over the door. Not finding it, he continued on.

Terok pulled his cloak tighter about his body as his mount trudged down the muddy road. With the constant splattering of rain on his hood and in the mud, he could hear nothing save his horse's breathing. When the steward had delivered his message, he had offered to escort Terok to the estate, but Terok had declined, simply accepting directions instead.

I should have made that stiff errand boy walk through this as well...

The rain had not started until he was already well on his way. Some would consider a foul omen, but to Terok it was just a cruel twist of nature. Glancing to his right, Terok spotted his goal. A large set of wooden doors, reinforced with steel, rose up before him. Above, set in elaborate script, was the name of the house: Thornel.

Terok dismounted, his feet landing in the muddy earth with a splash, though every subsequent foot step was like pulling his feet from glue. Leading his horse, he trudged to the door and grabbed the large knocker, rapping it hard three times. Then he waited.

[Bir]

(( Oh shit you actually got around to RPing? Maybe we can do BRD now! ;P ))

[Eladis]

(( O shit it's been a long time. I trust you've kept up with the in-game going ons that is Soap Opera Thornel? :P ))

A hunched and hooded figure crept up to the large gates. Whoever it was struggled to carry a much-too-heavy box, its contents hidden by a long red velvet cloth. He carefully stepped around the horse, not noticing the man. Giving a low groan, he bent his knees to lower the heavy box, placing it on the stairs in front of the door. Without thinking, he turned to take the horses' reigns, mistaking it for a more familiar animal who had decided to wander around in the rain, only to be met with a look of steel from its owner.

"Oh! Oh dear, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there.."

Before the blood knight could respond, the man pulled back his hood to reveal long silver hair and a pseudo-warm smile. His light green eyes throughly appraised the other male, stopping pointedly at his tabard. It must have been the young knight who was expected weeks ago, he certainly fit the description.

His voice was just as friendly as his smile, forced and nothing less expected of an underling. "Ah, Terok'nor. Lord Va'Thornel has been expecting you for quite some time. I must warn you, he is not in the best.. state. Let me escort you in."

The servant fumbled with a large keyring, not taking his time to try each key. Once he figured it all out, he waved the other male inside, forgetting all about his large covered box and the horse. The two hardly got a good look at the high ceilinged grand room. Rather than walking up the plush carpeted stairs in the main hall, he took a sharp turn down a narrow dimly lit corridor. Turning one corner and then another, the slightly hunching man continued, leading the knight down a set of too thin too steep stairs. The long hall the two went down didn't seem to be as decorated or as well kept as the first room they entered. Finally, the two stopped in front of the last door on their right and the servant knocked quietly on the door.

"Ah finally, the herbs... You kept them dry, yes? And the gems? M'Lord is getting restless, Til." The door opened a sliver, the voice meeting them hoarse , accompanied with a low dark laughter in the background. A disgusting rot crept from the room to violate the elven nostrils.

Til looked back to the young knight, then back to the hardly opened door, "I... umm.. we have a guest. Let us in, corpse."

A different raspy forsaken voice spoke up from in the room, "A guetht? Lord Thhornel, are we interethted in any guetht'ths tonight?"

The laughter in the background went silent, replaced with groggy deep muttering, every word strung together in a long slur. In reply, the door was flung open and the two elves were beckoned in by a much too well preserved forsaken. As the hall, this room was lit by few torches, sparing them the somewhat cluttered and shabby decor of the small library and four other rotting animations inhabiting it.

"And to what honor do I owe this visit?" Eladis sat trembling in his huge plush chair, wearing a neck high garment and bundled in a thick auburn animal pelt. He looked just as worn as always, save for the drug induced grin that parted his lips.