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Ruger · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 68

Altair appears satisfied and answers quickly in return.

"Many reasons as well. Among all of them, possibility presents itself here in ways that it does not elsewhere. And besides that, there is always bound to be some entertainment going on."

He chuckles lightly, "You may find that with such events you are fit to serve more than you know."

Arkadios · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 78 Location: Good old Yookay

Kade nods and smiles, "Let us hope we are all fit sir... and I will allow that some entertainment would not go amiss."

Glancing off toward the stairs and then the stables Kade comments, "It seems we both needs must wait upon the pleasure of our Captain-General, do you know much of our talented Lord Finn?"

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

The sound of hooves on cobblestones precedes Rebecca's return. Walking beside her is a chestnut mare, saddled and ready for riding. Rebecca stops when they are even with Demon, and the stallion whinnys a greeting to the cinnamon colored horse.

"Kade, this here's Sha'lee," she announces, giving the horse an friendly pat on the side of her neck. "She's been out with Caine, so ya know she's ready fer 'bout anythin'." Rebecca's hand reaches into a pocket and produces a handful of wrapped hard candies. She hands them to Kade. "She likes butterscotch. All horses like pepp'rmint, jest so ya know, but a few got some particul'r tastes."

Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

Finn stood in his suite for a moment, and considered the ride that lay ahead. He had been on Hellrides since the appearance of the Black Road, and had some sense of what to expect. In a word; trouble. He would not be alone this time, and Eric's words seemed to indicate that Kade was capable from a military perspective. Finn would keep them to wooded Shadows, and that would allow Faylinn to provide the warriors with her particular brand of support.

He proceeded to change his clothes, which meant leaving his cowboy hat behind. It was a gift, and he'd rather not see it damaged. He clipped an armband into place on his left bicep; it had become something of a token over the years. Then he went on to don his armor, he'd yet to have a chance to clean it, and chose his weapons. With a final look around his room, he snatched up his saddlebags, and headed down to the Courtyard

Finn enters the Courtyard armed and armored, as he would have been were he returning to Arden's front. It consists of dark green and black mail and leather, and looks well and recently worn. The mail is dark green and matte, with a black leather pauldron protecting his right shoulder, black leather vambraces and gloves. He bears a red-tasseled chinese broadsword at his left hip, and a handful Numidian-style javelins in a quiver on his back, along with a heavy dirk on his right hip. Anyone that knows Finn also knows very well that those were simply the weapons they could see.

A pair of pages jog up behind him, carrying his saddle and saddlebags.

"I see Faylinn will be the last." Finn states as he walks up to the group. "I'd best get Blake ready." He gestures for the pages to follow him to the stables. "Rebecca, I'm not sure if Faylinn has a favorite from here or not, but could you ready a horse for her arrival?"

He nods to Kade, and then to Altair as he moves past them, "I thought you would be halfway to the docks by now, my friend."

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

Rebecca rolls her eyes at his tardiness. "Lordy. It's like waitin' on Flo, I tell ya," she mutters to Demon. The stallion makes a noise that can only be described as a laugh. Rebecca gives him such a look when he sends her after a horse for Fay, but she merely sucks her teeth briefly before turning with a flare of her duster and heading back inside the Royal Stables.

Ruger · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 68

As Finn passes, Altair turns back to Kade. "Oh, I know a few things about him to be sure. Time will be able to answer your question better than I can."

He takes up strides to catch up with Finn. "I am on my way, that is to be sure. But before I get there, I just needed to speak to you about a few things."

Arkadios · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 78 Location: Good old Yookay

Shaking his head Kade moves over to the mare provided by Rebecca. Unsure of whether Sha'lee is actually Sharlee or Shaylee he contents himself with the non-specific.

"Here girl." he says offering a lump of butterscotch, and moves closer intent on making friends with her.

OOC: I'm no experience with horses in RL so please excuse any mistakes.

sandrayln · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 244

Faylinn arrives shortly thereafter; she's changed clothes, from her bodice and skirt into breeches, boots, and a loose blue and gold shirt. She has also pulled her dark hair into two long braids that are nearly the same size as her wrists, one of which she's just tying off with a simple leather thong as she appears. She's carrying her own saddlebags over one shoulder and humming a snatch of something that sounds suspiciously like birdsong.

There is a single dagger in a sheath at her belt; it's only remarkable in that it is the only obvious weapon she's carrying... or, indeed, apparently the only weapon she's carrying. She pauses, surveys the group, and then continues past them towards the stable with a slight smile.

Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

"Bide a moment, Altair." Finn asks, as he continued into the stable. "If Blake gets excited he'll take a bite out of someone."

He walks into the stable and sees that Blake is all but ready, in need of only his saddle and the saddlebags that would be attached to them. He gives the hybrid Tiger-Horse a scratch between the ears, and bit of petting. Blake nudges him, and he glanced in the direction a quirked equine-feline ear pointed. Finn nods, "Alright, let these lads finish up then. No biting. I'm sure there will be meat along the way."

Finn finds Rebecca in the line and says, in the general direction that Blake had indicated. "Thank you for getting him ready, and the others." He smiles slightly, and then walks back to Blake to let him out into the courtyard. Blake promptly trots over to Faylinn and rubs his head against her for attention. It would have been very much like a house cat demanding petting, except Blake was a war horse, and of the proper size to be one. Finn only shakes his head, smiles his subtle smile, and gives Faylinn a brief wave before turning to Altair.

He leads the other man aside, "You had something on your mind?"

sandrayln · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 244

Faylinn stops, smiling, when the striped horse reaches her and obediently pets him. "Hello, Blake," she says courteously. "It's nice to see you." She pauses for half a moment in her petting to wave to Finn, and then finds that one particular spot to scratch, the one just behind the jaw that has the horse leaning into her fingers.

Ruger · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 68

Altair's face becomes very stern and focused as he speaks, "It is nothing that could be considered of grave importance, but it is something that I few to have worth. Your arrival before myself and the rest of the diplomats provides us with an opportunity to better negotiations. I am saying this with the complete assumption that you are met with some sort of welcome and allowed some time among the troops and the people."

He glances around to be sure that no ears are turned their way before continuing, "I plan on meeting with you as soon as we arrive in Greymoor and I must know a number of things. Of course there will be such things as troop numbers and tactics, but I also need to know about troop morale. How the troops are holding up with it, and how long they believe they can hold on. Also, the attitudes of the people will play a huge roll. Do they agree with the the actions of their king and army? Do not just observe them, ask them. Even if you can only gain a little information, it will be of great help."

He looks around one more time, "Believe me, it is not that I do not trust King Eric or his lovely Rebecca, it is just that I trust you."

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

Rebecca just grunts in reply to Finn and goes back to waiting for the stable hands to finish readying Fay's horse.

Rebecca reappears shortly after Finn's return to the yard. This time she is walking with a buckskin quarter-horse mare; pale buttery colored coat and dark maned, with steely nerve and an almost nanny-like personality. Appropriately named Poppins by some well read individual with a sense of humor. The mare already seems to know where to be as she trots over to Fay.

Her Highness returns to her own horse as a Page comes out bearing waterskins and bundles from the kitchen. Rebecca thanks him and packs the bundles in her saddlebags and hangs the skins where they need to be. After giving the castle an expectant look, she busies herself with checking Demon over for the trip.

Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:46 am Post subject:

A royal guard approaches with a leather bag and a lantern. He makes eye contact with Finn, from a distance and nods as he approaches the congregation.

"Duke. King Eric says you asked for this." He hands him the bag and departs immediately, after throwing a quick 'Your Highness' towards Rebecca. He disappears in the shadows of a nearby porch.

The leather bag contains several arm bands bearing Amber's Unicorn. There are also several seals, letters of passage signed in the King's hand and the such... Nothing else of interest it seems, not in this light.

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

Rebecca nods to the guard in response. Then she slips back in front of Demon and adjusts his bridle. He is very obviously not wearing a bit. Having determined that everyone was there with everything they needed, she swings up in the saddle with an easy grace born of a lifetime of horseback riding.

Pulling on a pair of riding gloves with fringe along the one side of the cuff, she looks pensively up at the castle and then pointedly at Finn.

"Can we shake a hoof here an' git movin'?"