6 July, 2001

Strat, at one time thought to be a Hendrake, is told by the cruel Ophelia, that he should go see her new husband, Dalt, for discipline. Since Dalt is Lisle's uncle, she decides to go with him, hoping to sway Dalt from hurting him. Instead, Lisle finds herself judging Eric for the first time, and not favorably..

You have established contact with Dalt.

Lisle's eyes go vague. It's her subtle, more formal smile.

To the image of Dalt, Lisle smiles, the subtle and formal variety. "Uncle. Are you busy? I have Strat here."

Strat crosses his arms, chin up, waiting in silence.

The image of Dalt says "Just about to trump the boy. Pull me through."

To the image of Dalt, Lisle says, "I'd rather we come there. I'm in the ways of v'Luchesi visiting my brother."

Lisle says, "I'd rather we come there. I'm in the ways of v'Luchesi visiting my brother."

The image of Dalt offers to pull you through.

The image of Lisle is touched by Strat, who is now sharing the Trump conversation through physical proximity.

The image of Strat nods, "Greetings m'lord Dalt."

To the images of others, Lisle motions for Strat to take Dalt's hand. She is reaching for him, herself.

Strat moves forward and vanishes, leaving behind a rapidly fading afterimage.

The image of Strat grasps Dalt's hand, and is pulled through to him.

You grasp Dalt's hand and he pulls you through.

Master Solar, Capethorn Castle (Begma)

This sitting room is well lit with a multitude of lanterns shedding a soft, warm contrast to the harsh grey-brick walls and floor that offer nothing but cold. A lone oak door leads into this room beside a fire pit, causing one to face an enormous desk that would take four men to lift. The wall behind holds a shield with a coat of arms: the Lion of Begma on hind legs. To either side of the shield are two pole arms, one of iron one of silver. To the side of the desk a plush rug is spread with two leather couches situated upon it, facing each other. In between is an oak coffee table.

(+view available)

Contents:

Strat

Dalt

Wulf

Obvious exits:

Oak Door

Wulf stands near the door, arms crossed.

Lisle steps through right after Strat, fine silk of her skirt rustling crisply.

Strat takes a step back and gives a proper bow that flows like water. He rises to glance at the corners of the room, his attention mostly on Dalt.

Dalt reaches to snare Strat by the scruff of his neck, seeking the back of the boys fine silk shirt.

Strat is caught up, dangling, his neck muscles tighten, face redding, but he doesn't make a sound.

Dalt lifts the boy with casual ease, arm outstretched.

Lisle frowns even as she puts her card away. "Dalt," she says, as if somehow gentle words could figure out this gesture of his.

Dalt glances at Lisle.

Dalt tosses Strat towards a wall.

Lisle looks incredulous. She has to stop and stare, before she glances at Strat to see what state he might be in.

Strat simply raises an eyebrow. He does take this opportunity to glance about the room. Strat gets slammed into the wall and slinks to the base of it. He stands and then turns. He struggles to gather his breath, but not so that it will show outwardly. He looks then at Dalt. Waiting.

Dalt comments to Lisle. "Boy has become a burden to his mother."

Dalt says "Makes him burden to me."

Once Strat stands, Lisle also looks to Dalt, waiting. Her mouth is drawn in a straight line. She comments back to Dalt, "If he's so much trouble to you, he can just come and live at my father's house in Amber, where he lived long before he knew Ophelia was his mother."

Dalt says "He Hendrake. Not Amber."

Dalt turns his cruel eyes to Strat.

Lisle says, "Do we know who is father was? The boy is smarter, stronger, than a shadow. He could have our blood, and it would not surprise me."

Dalt says "Chaosites strong and smart."

Strat looks at Dalt. His face unreadable. He does not appear afraid though. He seems calculating.

Lisle says "He would not be the first to bear the blood of both." She looks pointedly at Dalt. "Like your own children with Ophelia.""

Dalt says "You can watch, Lisle, or you can leave."

Dalt says "You can't comment."

Lisle seems calm, but she is studying every movement, ever expression, of Dalt. "I can comment. He was mine before he was Hendrakes. I -care- about this. A lot." There her chin comes up, her demeanor imperious, and in that moment she looks much like her father.

Lisle adds, archly, "He's sworn to Eric."

Wulf steps towards Lisle, but Dalt lifts a staying hand.

Dalt turns to Strat. "You sworn to Eric, boy?"

Strat says in a voice that is calm, "In a manner, you are correct."

Dalt shows Strat his teeth, an ugly grin. "Don't buy you nothing with me."

Lisle is silent. Her manner is far to queenly to give Wulf a glance.

Strat says with an unreadable face, not even a tremble to his voice, "I wasn't the one that brought it up."

Dalt reaches for his desk, and a pack of trumps in the drawer. he sifts through, selecting one."

Lisle speaks up then, "My father considers this boy to be his servant."

Dalt says "Eric. Got your daughter here. Your vassal too. Maybe you come shed some light on things, huh?"

Dalt says "My castle. Begma."

Eric appears, grasping Dalt's hand.

Eric appears from nothing, one hand in Dalt's, the other behind his back.

Wulf stands near the door, arms crossed over his chest.

Lisle stands by, hands behind her back. But oh, the imperious expression could turn someone to stone. Her chin is up, blue eyes flashing.

Dalt releases Eric's hand. "I swear you peace in my home, Eric."

Strat stands across the room, back to the wall. Hands at his side. His face is a bit red on the left side, but his expression unreadable.

Eric takes a step back, answering, "Very well." The dirk is slid back into place swiftly. He remarks, "you should be honored at such precautions on my part, no?"

Lisle's posture visibly relaxes. She takes a moment to look at the boy, and in that glance there is a world of affection.

Dalt snorts. "You siblings of mine don't offer me no credit. Lot more cagier ways to trap a man."

Eric shrugs.

Eric says "And plenty of time for old grudges...."

Eric says "Now what is this all about?"

Dalt gestures at Strat.

Eric glances.

Strat simply stands there.

Dalt says "He yours?"

Eric says "Why do you ask?"

Dalt says "His momma depending on me to...teach the boy."

Eric quirks a brow, glancing at Strat once more.

Eric says "What does Lisle have to do with this?"

Dalt says "She got a soft eye for the kid."

Dalt says "Came with him."

Strat seems to be satisfied in his silence.

Lisle says, "I still teach the boy."

Eric says "And you want her to hand him over, is that it?"

Dalt snorts again. "Way I figure it, he belongs to Ophelia and Hendrake. You tell me different, here and now, I'm prepared to prove it."

Eric looks at Lisle.

Lisle glance to Dalt and Eric is stoic. When Eric looks at her she says, "Ophelia gave him up as a kid, to some woman. She died. The boy lived through his own wits until he fond our household, father."

You sense Eric sighs very softly.

Eric nods a little.

Eric says "Boy?"

Eric says "What say you in all this?"

Lisle adds, "I don't see why she should count more than his oath to you."

Eric holds a hand up to Lisle.

Strat senses "Lisle gives you a strong look."

Lisle quiets.

Dalt pinches a thumb and finger over his nostrils, wiping. He listens calmly.

Eric senses "Lisle admittedly might look a bit desperate to someone who knows her."

Strat says quietly, "My heritage has been determined that I am the blood of Hendrake. I have not bended a knee to Ophelia, or Hendrake, except to promise to respect the House while I was in it."

Eric says "You are not yet your own man, Strat."

Eric says "you are still a boy."

Strat nods, "As you so say m'lord."

Eric mulls this silently a moment.

Eric says "You mentioned proof, Dalt?"

By now Lise is looking down at the toes of her shoes. She does not look happy.

Dalt says "You tell me you got domain over this boy, I'm gonna challenge you."

Eric tsks.

Eric says "Then it seems we are at an impasse."

Dalt's cruel eyes narrow.

Eric says "He did swear to me, 'tis true."

Lisle looks up, hopeful.

Eric says "But I've no need for his services, capable though they may be."

Eric says "So I shall release him from his oath, here and now."

Eric glances...

Eric says "There, Strat. You are your own man."

Lisle goes completely white.

Strat says, "It is your decision to make, m'lord. I thank you for the time I have spent in your house. I have learned much."

Lisle turns to Dalt.

Eric nods graciously to Strat.

Lisle says, "You touch that boy, you find someone else to help you here in Begma. That's how much I care, and I love Begma's people considerably."

Dalt says "He ain't gonne be seriously harmed."

Lisle says, "I don't want him harmed at all, or I go, and I am not posturing." Lise, in fact, looks furious. Very few people have ever seen her so hot.

Strat now looks to Lisle and speaks up, "M'lady. I will be fine." He turns then to Eric and gives a bow, deep and gracious. He then looks to Dalt. His face turns impassive, unreadable.

Eric says "What you do in your own realm is your business, Dalt. I'm sure I needn't remind you of that."

Dalt walks, rounding his desk towards the chair. "Appreciate you clearing this up, Eric."

Eric inclines his head.

Lisle glances at Strat, apologetically. "I'm sorry you have been betrayed."

Eric says "Might I suggest that if the boy manages to remain here long, that you treat him kindly."

Eric suddenly frowns, and turns this expression upon his daughter.,

Lisle looks at Eric, as if she also has been betrayed. She is white as a sheet, and fierce.

Dalt says "Lisle."

Strat looks sharply to Lisle at that. He shakes his head no. He smiles then, "Your love is most kind lady, but your heart is speaking faster than your mind."

Dalt says "Your old man did the right thing. Strat will prosper. You ain't being excluded."

Eric's tone is flat, a bit of anger kept in check, "Lisle, let us take our leave immediately."

Lisle says, "I'm plagued by my heart, its true." But she looks at Eric when she says this. Dalt gets a glance, but it is not respectful in the least.

Dalt shows Lisle his teeth. "Play with the big boys, sometimes you gotta play ball."

Eric approaches Lisle, hand outstretched.

Strat looks sharply to Lisle at that. He shakes his head no. He smiles then, "Your love is most kind lady, but your heart is speaking faster than your mind."

Strat looks sharply to Lisle at that. He shakes his head no. He smiles then, "Your love is most kind lady, but your heart is speaking faster than your mind."

Lisle does not appear able or willing to take Eric's hand. She is as still as a statue, hard as marble, implacable.

Dalt sits down upon his large chair, it reclines with his weight.

Eric takes Lisle by the arm, then, and begins to escort her from the chamber.

Lisle goes, but not before saying to Dalt, "I am as good as my word." She never raises her voice, but her expression is earnest. "I told you Ophelia would change everything. Goodbye."

Eric opens the oak door and exits the solar.

You open the oak door and exit the solar.

Capethorne Castle, Begma(#980RL)

Burning torches line the stone walls here in the central main hall, casting shadows to the vaulted ceiling. One torch every five feet to be exact, with a castle guard standing under each one. A long narrow forest green rug stretches the length of floor between the portcullis and the massive throne sitting against the opposite wall. Additional guards stand on both sides of the throne as well as the entrance. Hallways and doors made of heavy oak branch off throughout the main hall walls.

(+view available)

Contents:

Eric

Matthew

Obvious exits:

Portcullis Kings Solar

Eric senses "Lisle is trembling she is so furious. One cannot see it in her, but the hand on her arm, Eric will surely feel it."

Matthew stands somewhere in the main hall, looking around with the look of one reacquainting themselves with something.

Eric escorts Lisle down the long hall, then pauses and steps into an alcove withe her. A barely contained voice echoes softly.

Eric mutters to Lisle, "How..."

Eric whispers "How dare you!?"

Lisle comes out of the solar with Eric. She is very pale.

Eric senses "Lisle tears her arm away, "How dare you? Betrayed!""

Eric mutters to Lisle.

Eric whispers "You would name me betrayer??"

Lisle attempts to leave this alcove.

Eric puts his arm out, impeding her.

Eric mutters to Lisle, "... duel him,... throne..."

Eric whispers "Would you have me duel him, then, hmm!?! In his own throne room?"

Eric says "Are you mad?"

Eric drops his voice once more.

Eric senses "Lisle says, "Of all the things I would do for you. All the times I admired you. You handed him over to -them-. It's a point of honor. He was sworn to you!""

Eric mutters to Lisle, "... not paint this..."

Eric whispers "You'll not paint this with the colors of honor, Lisle."

Eric mutters to Lisle, "... Dalt... enemy..."

Eric whispers "I can ill afford to make Dalt an enemy just now."

Matthew seems to keep to himself, not caring a lot of other people in the hall.

Eric senses "Lisle is struggling to get away, her regard of you, whom she always loved, is one of disgust. Eric may never have seen her look at the way at anyone, let alone himself. It's only at the last word that she goes still."

Eric mutters to Lisle, "Do you understand... Do... worlds... your... pray... and... day..."

Eric whispers "Do you understand now? Do you? The worlds do not revolve around your sentiments, Lisle. I pray you learn this one day, and i pray the day arrives soon."

Eric pulls back his arm, then - she may depart if she chooses.

You whisper "No, I don't understand. You never let me understand." Her voice is shuddering, "But I am quite sure that my own sentiments do not matter in the slightest. I've given up expecting it."" to Eric.

Lisle tears herself away from Eric and walks off. Her pace is not slow and sedate, but neither is it swift. Her shoulders are squared.

Eric mutters to Lisle, "... to... then."

Eric whispers "Damn it all to hell then."

Lisle only waves a hand behind her, dismissively.