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Hector felt significantly torn by everything before him. The chilling visual of a dead and mutilated girl not much younger than his own daughters in the water, a sudden fear that the girl was in fact the Crown Princess of Athenia, the shocking revelation that the Princess was not dead but alive and screaming in terror at the poolside, and the hold he had not yet relinquished on Demi's arms, everything seemed to beg his attention at once.
Once the clearcut orders from Princess Circenia echoed across the Loutra did his mind seem to clear of the extraneous and give him a task. Hector, for all he worried and fretted when it came to decisions in his own household, knew how to take an order and complete a task.
As macabre as it was, this task was simple enough.
But first, he needed to see to Demi.
As the Princess gave her orders, Hector hauled himself up onto the edge of the pool, with more blessed space made by the various orders for movement away from the Loutra. Reaching his hands down, Demi accepted his and without any visible effort, he hauled her from the water, lifting her clear from it until her feet touched the ground. Hector masked a comforting, affectionate touch to her side and her shoulder as a means of chivalrous steadying her stance on the slick floor. However, it brought them close enough for him to see her eyes, where they lingered a moment too long.
Silent questions floated between them, as they always did, but this was neither the time nor the place for this, and he glanced around to ensure that the attention was flung in all directions but theirs.
"Go. Wait for me at the boarding house by the market," he murmured swiftly, offering the the softest brush of his thumb on her damp shoulder as a promise before separating from her and kneeling down to perch on the balls of his feet beside Elysia as he stood over the girl.
Hector made the mistake of looking back up to Demi once again, meeting her eyes again and letting his own fall to her quivering lip, before silently mouthing 'Go' once again before looking to the task at hand.
Kneeling beside Elysia, he met the courtier's eyes briefly, murmuring quietly as Princess Circenia completed her orders and turned the room into a dull roar of chaos, "The Master Informer may want to be there as the royal physician attends to her, Mistress."
As he spoke, his eyes continued to take in their surroundings.
There were significant comings and goings, guards entering and leaving, the scramble for people to find their belongings. It was then Hector remembered that his one dry attire was now soaked through. It would begin itching soon. Wonderful. His eyes continued to look around until they saw the crimson on the wall again. His eyes narrowed slightly. If there was no blood in the water, there was no guarantee that the writing on the wall was made with the girl's blood...or blood at all.
"How fresh is that?" Hector asked, glancing back to Elysia with a raised brow for a moment before he turned his face back down to the covered body of the girl.
Discreetly.
Now, how the hell was he to do that with rumors of murder burning through the streets like wildfire? A man in a doused tunic surrounded by guards and carrying a suspiciously human-shaped bundle wrapped in cloth would draw the attention of anyone looking.
Hector closed his eyes and winced at the words that were to spill from his lips as he looked down almost apologetically at the lifted profile of the girls face, before his prominent voice commanded, "Bring here the largest woven linen basket you can find....or a launderer's sack...and some linens."
If this were to work, well, they did not have much time before doing so would leave her body rigid in whatever shape it took as they smuggled it from the Loutra on the Princess' orders.
In the moments it took them to gather his requested items, he glanced around, observing those remaining in the room and those who were leaving a moment before looking down and taking a deep breath. He pulled back the covering from the girl's face for a moment, swallowing down bile as his jaw tightened. Her eyes were still open, unseeing and glazed with the fear of her last thoughts.
The guards approached with the requested items and he covered her face again, once again scooping her body up gently as if she were sleeping and not dead, then gently folding her limbs into the basket with great care, leaving her curled in a post reminiscent of the way that his daughter, Ariadne, slept - making herself as small as possible.
Hector covered her with the linens.
With a bow of his head to the Princess as he made his way along, he led the guards by the men's loutra, gathering his affects and holding them away from his soaked clothes for a moment. The sweltering Athenian sun would take care of the rest as they stepped into the streets, the guards carrying the basket between them.
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Hector felt significantly torn by everything before him. The chilling visual of a dead and mutilated girl not much younger than his own daughters in the water, a sudden fear that the girl was in fact the Crown Princess of Athenia, the shocking revelation that the Princess was not dead but alive and screaming in terror at the poolside, and the hold he had not yet relinquished on Demi's arms, everything seemed to beg his attention at once.
Once the clearcut orders from Princess Circenia echoed across the Loutra did his mind seem to clear of the extraneous and give him a task. Hector, for all he worried and fretted when it came to decisions in his own household, knew how to take an order and complete a task.
As macabre as it was, this task was simple enough.
But first, he needed to see to Demi.
As the Princess gave her orders, Hector hauled himself up onto the edge of the pool, with more blessed space made by the various orders for movement away from the Loutra. Reaching his hands down, Demi accepted his and without any visible effort, he hauled her from the water, lifting her clear from it until her feet touched the ground. Hector masked a comforting, affectionate touch to her side and her shoulder as a means of chivalrous steadying her stance on the slick floor. However, it brought them close enough for him to see her eyes, where they lingered a moment too long.
Silent questions floated between them, as they always did, but this was neither the time nor the place for this, and he glanced around to ensure that the attention was flung in all directions but theirs.
"Go. Wait for me at the boarding house by the market," he murmured swiftly, offering the the softest brush of his thumb on her damp shoulder as a promise before separating from her and kneeling down to perch on the balls of his feet beside Elysia as he stood over the girl.
Hector made the mistake of looking back up to Demi once again, meeting her eyes again and letting his own fall to her quivering lip, before silently mouthing 'Go' once again before looking to the task at hand.
Kneeling beside Elysia, he met the courtier's eyes briefly, murmuring quietly as Princess Circenia completed her orders and turned the room into a dull roar of chaos, "The Master Informer may want to be there as the royal physician attends to her, Mistress."
As he spoke, his eyes continued to take in their surroundings.
There were significant comings and goings, guards entering and leaving, the scramble for people to find their belongings. It was then Hector remembered that his one dry attire was now soaked through. It would begin itching soon. Wonderful. His eyes continued to look around until they saw the crimson on the wall again. His eyes narrowed slightly. If there was no blood in the water, there was no guarantee that the writing on the wall was made with the girl's blood...or blood at all.
"How fresh is that?" Hector asked, glancing back to Elysia with a raised brow for a moment before he turned his face back down to the covered body of the girl.
Discreetly.
Now, how the hell was he to do that with rumors of murder burning through the streets like wildfire? A man in a doused tunic surrounded by guards and carrying a suspiciously human-shaped bundle wrapped in cloth would draw the attention of anyone looking.
Hector closed his eyes and winced at the words that were to spill from his lips as he looked down almost apologetically at the lifted profile of the girls face, before his prominent voice commanded, "Bring here the largest woven linen basket you can find....or a launderer's sack...and some linens."
If this were to work, well, they did not have much time before doing so would leave her body rigid in whatever shape it took as they smuggled it from the Loutra on the Princess' orders.
In the moments it took them to gather his requested items, he glanced around, observing those remaining in the room and those who were leaving a moment before looking down and taking a deep breath. He pulled back the covering from the girl's face for a moment, swallowing down bile as his jaw tightened. Her eyes were still open, unseeing and glazed with the fear of her last thoughts.
The guards approached with the requested items and he covered her face again, once again scooping her body up gently as if she were sleeping and not dead, then gently folding her limbs into the basket with great care, leaving her curled in a post reminiscent of the way that his daughter, Ariadne, slept - making herself as small as possible.
Hector covered her with the linens.
With a bow of his head to the Princess as he made his way along, he led the guards by the men's loutra, gathering his affects and holding them away from his soaked clothes for a moment. The sweltering Athenian sun would take care of the rest as they stepped into the streets, the guards carrying the basket between them.
Hector felt significantly torn by everything before him. The chilling visual of a dead and mutilated girl not much younger than his own daughters in the water, a sudden fear that the girl was in fact the Crown Princess of Athenia, the shocking revelation that the Princess was not dead but alive and screaming in terror at the poolside, and the hold he had not yet relinquished on Demi's arms, everything seemed to beg his attention at once.
Once the clearcut orders from Princess Circenia echoed across the Loutra did his mind seem to clear of the extraneous and give him a task. Hector, for all he worried and fretted when it came to decisions in his own household, knew how to take an order and complete a task.
As macabre as it was, this task was simple enough.
But first, he needed to see to Demi.
As the Princess gave her orders, Hector hauled himself up onto the edge of the pool, with more blessed space made by the various orders for movement away from the Loutra. Reaching his hands down, Demi accepted his and without any visible effort, he hauled her from the water, lifting her clear from it until her feet touched the ground. Hector masked a comforting, affectionate touch to her side and her shoulder as a means of chivalrous steadying her stance on the slick floor. However, it brought them close enough for him to see her eyes, where they lingered a moment too long.
Silent questions floated between them, as they always did, but this was neither the time nor the place for this, and he glanced around to ensure that the attention was flung in all directions but theirs.
"Go. Wait for me at the boarding house by the market," he murmured swiftly, offering the the softest brush of his thumb on her damp shoulder as a promise before separating from her and kneeling down to perch on the balls of his feet beside Elysia as he stood over the girl.
Hector made the mistake of looking back up to Demi once again, meeting her eyes again and letting his own fall to her quivering lip, before silently mouthing 'Go' once again before looking to the task at hand.
Kneeling beside Elysia, he met the courtier's eyes briefly, murmuring quietly as Princess Circenia completed her orders and turned the room into a dull roar of chaos, "The Master Informer may want to be there as the royal physician attends to her, Mistress."
As he spoke, his eyes continued to take in their surroundings.
There were significant comings and goings, guards entering and leaving, the scramble for people to find their belongings. It was then Hector remembered that his one dry attire was now soaked through. It would begin itching soon. Wonderful. His eyes continued to look around until they saw the crimson on the wall again. His eyes narrowed slightly. If there was no blood in the water, there was no guarantee that the writing on the wall was made with the girl's blood...or blood at all.
"How fresh is that?" Hector asked, glancing back to Elysia with a raised brow for a moment before he turned his face back down to the covered body of the girl.
Discreetly.
Now, how the hell was he to do that with rumors of murder burning through the streets like wildfire? A man in a doused tunic surrounded by guards and carrying a suspiciously human-shaped bundle wrapped in cloth would draw the attention of anyone looking.
Hector closed his eyes and winced at the words that were to spill from his lips as he looked down almost apologetically at the lifted profile of the girls face, before his prominent voice commanded, "Bring here the largest woven linen basket you can find....or a launderer's sack...and some linens."
If this were to work, well, they did not have much time before doing so would leave her body rigid in whatever shape it took as they smuggled it from the Loutra on the Princess' orders.
In the moments it took them to gather his requested items, he glanced around, observing those remaining in the room and those who were leaving a moment before looking down and taking a deep breath. He pulled back the covering from the girl's face for a moment, swallowing down bile as his jaw tightened. Her eyes were still open, unseeing and glazed with the fear of her last thoughts.
The guards approached with the requested items and he covered her face again, once again scooping her body up gently as if she were sleeping and not dead, then gently folding her limbs into the basket with great care, leaving her curled in a post reminiscent of the way that his daughter, Ariadne, slept - making herself as small as possible.
Hector covered her with the linens.
With a bow of his head to the Princess as he made his way along, he led the guards by the men's loutra, gathering his affects and holding them away from his soaked clothes for a moment. The sweltering Athenian sun would take care of the rest as they stepped into the streets, the guards carrying the basket between them.
Oh, she knew she had so much explaining to do. But it seemed miniscule right now as compared to the larger picture. Someone's sister, daughter or niece had just died, and Demi did not want to imagine the reaction to the news. She may not be the proper carer for the daughter's of Hector, but in her own way she's grown attached to them, and she could not imagine this happening to either of them.
Her shivering half from the cold and half from the trepidation of being in the same space with a dead body was momentarily uplifted when Hector pulled her out of the water and stood up. The touch of her lover was comforting, did better to warm her then any shawl or himation could, but the instructions being yelled from who Demi could only assume was a member of one of the royal families did quick to remove that touch.
The moment Hector pulled away, she found herself shrinking into herself. The city suddenly felt far too large for a girl used to small provinces.
A part of her wanted to stick with Hector, but she was far too sensible to know that to be impossible. The man had a job, and Demi had always remained neutral enough for him to do his job, that she wasn't about to start being a bother now. So instead, the brunette merely watched as her lover swiftly moved to the side of a beautiful, wise-looking lady.
She only lingered a moment longer, before starting to move towards the exit once Hector firmly instructed her to - only, she could not move fast enough. Briefly, Demi saw the visage and figure of the client she had come to service in Athenia, the one whose handsome pay she had great plans for now lay destitute due to her inability to find carriage home to Arcana. Now back at square one, Demi cursed the Gods and their ways of messing up her plans, but ducked quickly to avoid the client seeing her, before leaving out an entrance to find the boarding house Hector had asked to meet her at.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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Oh, she knew she had so much explaining to do. But it seemed miniscule right now as compared to the larger picture. Someone's sister, daughter or niece had just died, and Demi did not want to imagine the reaction to the news. She may not be the proper carer for the daughter's of Hector, but in her own way she's grown attached to them, and she could not imagine this happening to either of them.
Her shivering half from the cold and half from the trepidation of being in the same space with a dead body was momentarily uplifted when Hector pulled her out of the water and stood up. The touch of her lover was comforting, did better to warm her then any shawl or himation could, but the instructions being yelled from who Demi could only assume was a member of one of the royal families did quick to remove that touch.
The moment Hector pulled away, she found herself shrinking into herself. The city suddenly felt far too large for a girl used to small provinces.
A part of her wanted to stick with Hector, but she was far too sensible to know that to be impossible. The man had a job, and Demi had always remained neutral enough for him to do his job, that she wasn't about to start being a bother now. So instead, the brunette merely watched as her lover swiftly moved to the side of a beautiful, wise-looking lady.
She only lingered a moment longer, before starting to move towards the exit once Hector firmly instructed her to - only, she could not move fast enough. Briefly, Demi saw the visage and figure of the client she had come to service in Athenia, the one whose handsome pay she had great plans for now lay destitute due to her inability to find carriage home to Arcana. Now back at square one, Demi cursed the Gods and their ways of messing up her plans, but ducked quickly to avoid the client seeing her, before leaving out an entrance to find the boarding house Hector had asked to meet her at.
Oh, she knew she had so much explaining to do. But it seemed miniscule right now as compared to the larger picture. Someone's sister, daughter or niece had just died, and Demi did not want to imagine the reaction to the news. She may not be the proper carer for the daughter's of Hector, but in her own way she's grown attached to them, and she could not imagine this happening to either of them.
Her shivering half from the cold and half from the trepidation of being in the same space with a dead body was momentarily uplifted when Hector pulled her out of the water and stood up. The touch of her lover was comforting, did better to warm her then any shawl or himation could, but the instructions being yelled from who Demi could only assume was a member of one of the royal families did quick to remove that touch.
The moment Hector pulled away, she found herself shrinking into herself. The city suddenly felt far too large for a girl used to small provinces.
A part of her wanted to stick with Hector, but she was far too sensible to know that to be impossible. The man had a job, and Demi had always remained neutral enough for him to do his job, that she wasn't about to start being a bother now. So instead, the brunette merely watched as her lover swiftly moved to the side of a beautiful, wise-looking lady.
She only lingered a moment longer, before starting to move towards the exit once Hector firmly instructed her to - only, she could not move fast enough. Briefly, Demi saw the visage and figure of the client she had come to service in Athenia, the one whose handsome pay she had great plans for now lay destitute due to her inability to find carriage home to Arcana. Now back at square one, Demi cursed the Gods and their ways of messing up her plans, but ducked quickly to avoid the client seeing her, before leaving out an entrance to find the boarding house Hector had asked to meet her at.
There was so much to take in.
Elias of Stravos couldn't help the shiver of pleasure that poured down his spine at it all, but he exaggerated the resulting tremor. It was best to appear phased, his face contorted into disgust and his wide eyes suffused with a deep sense of fear. Azrael had served him well to warn him of this brutal tragedy, for each moment he drew the princess closer, each moment that his fingers sifted into her hair and she rested against his chest was a moment that drew her into the vise-like trap that was adoration.
Every moment she draws near is a moment spent within my web. Suffer princess. Suffer directly into my arms, he mused, all the while hiding the true depth of his elation. Fingers kneaded into the scalp of Emilia of Xanthos for several moments longer, for no words were needed to exchange with the woman. His embrace about her with the other arm grew tighter still, up until moments later when the gladiator, Lesley, deigned it appropriate to separate them. Of course, Elias had heard his mother speak. His senses were distinctly attuned to the world around him, all but touch. He could hardly feel the breeze through the warmth that was her against him.
Elias allowed his gaze to lift to meet Circenia of Stravos. Leave it to the woman who birthed him to immediately take control of the situation. The Stravos could do it himself, but he decided to relegate himself a specter, a mere participant in the chaos that ensued. He suspected that it'd be suspicious for him to be so calm, a young man unblemished by the horrors of war nor the sacrifice of service to be so staunch in his convictions in the midst of such terror. No, he'd allow his mother, a woman who'd languished through the literal fires of her house's destruction, to take the reigns here. It was, in his not-so-humble opinion, the prerogative of a future king of Athenia to delegate tasks to those who would best serve to accomplish them.
So, he did.
Elias nodded at the commands issued by his mother. It was his place, in the moment, to obey every word she said. Her counsel was invaluable to him, but her tone did not beget one that would accept refusal. Elias of Stravos had to deny himself the smile of pride, the beaming within his eyes that might show the woman his appreciation for her presence. Instead, when he looked upon her, the ghost of his false horror was all that she might see. Then, it wilted away immediately to a stalwart resolution. For the moment, it seemed that Circenia was finished giving him commands. Elias of Stravos watched as Lesley pulled the princess back, nodding as Lesley pulled away without attempting to relieve him of his guardsmen. These two men did not bear the mantle, but they were his Hydra's Men, wearing the guise of palace guards. Brutal thugs laden with the sort of training deemed appropriate for assassins, they were unfailingly at his side.
"Tarus, Alexis. Disperse. There are no immediate threats in our vicinity but they may be nearby. Hover around my mother and I, and keep yourselves vigilant," he commanded. Elias knew that the men were well enough trained to do what needed to be done, but the Stravos needed to say something, to let himself be heard rather than simply continue to be a spectator. Elias intended to see through it that the orders his mother issued were followed. Intently, he made his way out from the Loutra, following quickly after Lesley in an effort to be additional eyes to oversee the movements of the guard and his princess ward. He allowed himself to breath, the ease welling itself anew as he dropped the illusion of panic and allowed a sense of calm to wash over him.
Even when Elias had left immediately, the two nodded, bowing their heads to their Stravos overlord before setting about to follow his demand of them. Once Lesley dispersed with the company in tow, he narrowed his gaze. He was taking the carriage Circenia and Danae had entered in? The Stravos motioned to the adjacent guard, fully intent upon not risking his mother or sister for anyone, let alone the Princess. A 'tch' escaped his lips, and the guards would stop Lesley from entering the carriage.
"Sir, Princess Circenia demanded of you to take the Crown Princess, but this is not yours to take. Recruit us, if you wish us to join you and increase her guard, but the ladies of Stravos need this carriage to return home in."
Elias of Stravos let a flicker of smug satisfaction at the obedience of his guardsmen. So loyal the loyalty that he'd instilled in them was that they'd refuse the princess passage before bowing to the demands of her guard. The pride was fleeting, however, for the guardsmen prepared themselves to leave in the event that Lesley asked for it. One final look was all that Elias of Stravos gave to travesty at hand. Elias looked to Demi of Arcana and Hector, more than happy to learn of the affection that existed there. Enemies gathering with whores he was certain they couldn't afford. It was impossible for a man as supremely invested in the reactions of others to see, and he wondered just how he could use this information.
Elias waved off his guard before he moved over to, at long last, place a hand on the shoulder of his sister, Danae. He let himself lower briefly to wrap his sister in an embrace before he sought to coax her into movement towards the carriage his mother and sister had come in. He'd join them, intent on joining with his mother in a brief conversation in which he'd discuss how the corpse in the loutra would affect their plans for the future.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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There was so much to take in.
Elias of Stravos couldn't help the shiver of pleasure that poured down his spine at it all, but he exaggerated the resulting tremor. It was best to appear phased, his face contorted into disgust and his wide eyes suffused with a deep sense of fear. Azrael had served him well to warn him of this brutal tragedy, for each moment he drew the princess closer, each moment that his fingers sifted into her hair and she rested against his chest was a moment that drew her into the vise-like trap that was adoration.
Every moment she draws near is a moment spent within my web. Suffer princess. Suffer directly into my arms, he mused, all the while hiding the true depth of his elation. Fingers kneaded into the scalp of Emilia of Xanthos for several moments longer, for no words were needed to exchange with the woman. His embrace about her with the other arm grew tighter still, up until moments later when the gladiator, Lesley, deigned it appropriate to separate them. Of course, Elias had heard his mother speak. His senses were distinctly attuned to the world around him, all but touch. He could hardly feel the breeze through the warmth that was her against him.
Elias allowed his gaze to lift to meet Circenia of Stravos. Leave it to the woman who birthed him to immediately take control of the situation. The Stravos could do it himself, but he decided to relegate himself a specter, a mere participant in the chaos that ensued. He suspected that it'd be suspicious for him to be so calm, a young man unblemished by the horrors of war nor the sacrifice of service to be so staunch in his convictions in the midst of such terror. No, he'd allow his mother, a woman who'd languished through the literal fires of her house's destruction, to take the reigns here. It was, in his not-so-humble opinion, the prerogative of a future king of Athenia to delegate tasks to those who would best serve to accomplish them.
So, he did.
Elias nodded at the commands issued by his mother. It was his place, in the moment, to obey every word she said. Her counsel was invaluable to him, but her tone did not beget one that would accept refusal. Elias of Stravos had to deny himself the smile of pride, the beaming within his eyes that might show the woman his appreciation for her presence. Instead, when he looked upon her, the ghost of his false horror was all that she might see. Then, it wilted away immediately to a stalwart resolution. For the moment, it seemed that Circenia was finished giving him commands. Elias of Stravos watched as Lesley pulled the princess back, nodding as Lesley pulled away without attempting to relieve him of his guardsmen. These two men did not bear the mantle, but they were his Hydra's Men, wearing the guise of palace guards. Brutal thugs laden with the sort of training deemed appropriate for assassins, they were unfailingly at his side.
"Tarus, Alexis. Disperse. There are no immediate threats in our vicinity but they may be nearby. Hover around my mother and I, and keep yourselves vigilant," he commanded. Elias knew that the men were well enough trained to do what needed to be done, but the Stravos needed to say something, to let himself be heard rather than simply continue to be a spectator. Elias intended to see through it that the orders his mother issued were followed. Intently, he made his way out from the Loutra, following quickly after Lesley in an effort to be additional eyes to oversee the movements of the guard and his princess ward. He allowed himself to breath, the ease welling itself anew as he dropped the illusion of panic and allowed a sense of calm to wash over him.
Even when Elias had left immediately, the two nodded, bowing their heads to their Stravos overlord before setting about to follow his demand of them. Once Lesley dispersed with the company in tow, he narrowed his gaze. He was taking the carriage Circenia and Danae had entered in? The Stravos motioned to the adjacent guard, fully intent upon not risking his mother or sister for anyone, let alone the Princess. A 'tch' escaped his lips, and the guards would stop Lesley from entering the carriage.
"Sir, Princess Circenia demanded of you to take the Crown Princess, but this is not yours to take. Recruit us, if you wish us to join you and increase her guard, but the ladies of Stravos need this carriage to return home in."
Elias of Stravos let a flicker of smug satisfaction at the obedience of his guardsmen. So loyal the loyalty that he'd instilled in them was that they'd refuse the princess passage before bowing to the demands of her guard. The pride was fleeting, however, for the guardsmen prepared themselves to leave in the event that Lesley asked for it. One final look was all that Elias of Stravos gave to travesty at hand. Elias looked to Demi of Arcana and Hector, more than happy to learn of the affection that existed there. Enemies gathering with whores he was certain they couldn't afford. It was impossible for a man as supremely invested in the reactions of others to see, and he wondered just how he could use this information.
Elias waved off his guard before he moved over to, at long last, place a hand on the shoulder of his sister, Danae. He let himself lower briefly to wrap his sister in an embrace before he sought to coax her into movement towards the carriage his mother and sister had come in. He'd join them, intent on joining with his mother in a brief conversation in which he'd discuss how the corpse in the loutra would affect their plans for the future.
There was so much to take in.
Elias of Stravos couldn't help the shiver of pleasure that poured down his spine at it all, but he exaggerated the resulting tremor. It was best to appear phased, his face contorted into disgust and his wide eyes suffused with a deep sense of fear. Azrael had served him well to warn him of this brutal tragedy, for each moment he drew the princess closer, each moment that his fingers sifted into her hair and she rested against his chest was a moment that drew her into the vise-like trap that was adoration.
Every moment she draws near is a moment spent within my web. Suffer princess. Suffer directly into my arms, he mused, all the while hiding the true depth of his elation. Fingers kneaded into the scalp of Emilia of Xanthos for several moments longer, for no words were needed to exchange with the woman. His embrace about her with the other arm grew tighter still, up until moments later when the gladiator, Lesley, deigned it appropriate to separate them. Of course, Elias had heard his mother speak. His senses were distinctly attuned to the world around him, all but touch. He could hardly feel the breeze through the warmth that was her against him.
Elias allowed his gaze to lift to meet Circenia of Stravos. Leave it to the woman who birthed him to immediately take control of the situation. The Stravos could do it himself, but he decided to relegate himself a specter, a mere participant in the chaos that ensued. He suspected that it'd be suspicious for him to be so calm, a young man unblemished by the horrors of war nor the sacrifice of service to be so staunch in his convictions in the midst of such terror. No, he'd allow his mother, a woman who'd languished through the literal fires of her house's destruction, to take the reigns here. It was, in his not-so-humble opinion, the prerogative of a future king of Athenia to delegate tasks to those who would best serve to accomplish them.
So, he did.
Elias nodded at the commands issued by his mother. It was his place, in the moment, to obey every word she said. Her counsel was invaluable to him, but her tone did not beget one that would accept refusal. Elias of Stravos had to deny himself the smile of pride, the beaming within his eyes that might show the woman his appreciation for her presence. Instead, when he looked upon her, the ghost of his false horror was all that she might see. Then, it wilted away immediately to a stalwart resolution. For the moment, it seemed that Circenia was finished giving him commands. Elias of Stravos watched as Lesley pulled the princess back, nodding as Lesley pulled away without attempting to relieve him of his guardsmen. These two men did not bear the mantle, but they were his Hydra's Men, wearing the guise of palace guards. Brutal thugs laden with the sort of training deemed appropriate for assassins, they were unfailingly at his side.
"Tarus, Alexis. Disperse. There are no immediate threats in our vicinity but they may be nearby. Hover around my mother and I, and keep yourselves vigilant," he commanded. Elias knew that the men were well enough trained to do what needed to be done, but the Stravos needed to say something, to let himself be heard rather than simply continue to be a spectator. Elias intended to see through it that the orders his mother issued were followed. Intently, he made his way out from the Loutra, following quickly after Lesley in an effort to be additional eyes to oversee the movements of the guard and his princess ward. He allowed himself to breath, the ease welling itself anew as he dropped the illusion of panic and allowed a sense of calm to wash over him.
Even when Elias had left immediately, the two nodded, bowing their heads to their Stravos overlord before setting about to follow his demand of them. Once Lesley dispersed with the company in tow, he narrowed his gaze. He was taking the carriage Circenia and Danae had entered in? The Stravos motioned to the adjacent guard, fully intent upon not risking his mother or sister for anyone, let alone the Princess. A 'tch' escaped his lips, and the guards would stop Lesley from entering the carriage.
"Sir, Princess Circenia demanded of you to take the Crown Princess, but this is not yours to take. Recruit us, if you wish us to join you and increase her guard, but the ladies of Stravos need this carriage to return home in."
Elias of Stravos let a flicker of smug satisfaction at the obedience of his guardsmen. So loyal the loyalty that he'd instilled in them was that they'd refuse the princess passage before bowing to the demands of her guard. The pride was fleeting, however, for the guardsmen prepared themselves to leave in the event that Lesley asked for it. One final look was all that Elias of Stravos gave to travesty at hand. Elias looked to Demi of Arcana and Hector, more than happy to learn of the affection that existed there. Enemies gathering with whores he was certain they couldn't afford. It was impossible for a man as supremely invested in the reactions of others to see, and he wondered just how he could use this information.
Elias waved off his guard before he moved over to, at long last, place a hand on the shoulder of his sister, Danae. He let himself lower briefly to wrap his sister in an embrace before he sought to coax her into movement towards the carriage his mother and sister had come in. He'd join them, intent on joining with his mother in a brief conversation in which he'd discuss how the corpse in the loutra would affect their plans for the future.
At last Hector answered her with the exact phrase Elysia liked to hear most. "You're right," he said and she nodded, answering with a, “Yes.” There was no need to sugar coat it. Hector’s attention moved away from her to the crowd and Elysia followed in the same fashion, but she wasn’t quite as annoyed by the onlookers as he was. She couldn’t fault them, after all. She’d come in for the very same reason they had; to look. Thank the gods she wasn’t already naked like some of these woman, who stood by, clutching towels, goggling at Hector and the body.
Hector’s visible agitation made Elysia edge back a little bit and his voice resounded off the walls in this bathhouse, asking for more room that the people who were pressing forward simply couldn’t give him. They were being pressed forward by those still attempting to come in. She’d understood his orders inside the sentiment that these people had to go, but she did not move to obey. If he could not make people move, then she could make them leave even less. And then...someone fell into the pool.
Elysia’s nose wrinkled in revulsion. In the water? Where the body had been? Disgusting.
"The Master Informer may want to be there as the royal physician attends to her, Mistress." Hector said as he came back and Elysia nodded.
“He will,” she promised. There was no way in the world Cicero would not attend such a thing, though, Elysia couldn’t promise that her husband would hold the same level of interest in a body that everyone else did. He’d likely be more interested in the ‘why’ after he spent three seconds with the ‘how’. When Hector asked how long the message had been on the wall, Elysia shrugged, frowning, not looking at the words but the color of them. “Less than six hours?” she guessed. “But that is a guess,” she impressed upon him.
The body was bound up in linens and Hector left with it. Elysia stood, straightening her dress.
"Elysia. I should have known you would come." The familiar voice made Elysia turn, but she did not smile. This wasn’t the time.
“But of course,” she drew in a breath and watched the body being moved away. “I wouldn’t miss this sort of thing for the world, though I will confess that I didn’t know about it until I was already here.” Brushing a stray hair from her face, she sighed, somewhere between relief and agitation. “The Fates are kind in this way, to me.” Kind in that she had knowledge. Cruel in that she had to see something this unsettling.
"A threat?" Meilin asked and Elysia followed the girl’s gaze.
Elysia lightly crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her head and observing the words. “I think that’s safe to conclude,” she agreed.
"I told you the people were unhappy."
“They are,” Elysia agreed again, though she narrowed her eyes. Crowds didn’t do this. Specific people did. People with plans. “They are,” she said again, not betraying her thoughts here. Her attention landed back on the doorway as Elias came through and her eyes narrowed further. He looked...undisturbed. No, now his face was contorting into the proper look of disgust. She watched him take Emilia into his arms, seemingly to comfort her, but Circenia’s barking voice brought Elysia round to the matron of the Stravos clan and she hid her dislike by dipping into a short curtsey once she was addressed.
“You. Do you think your husband might be able to track down whoever is responsible for this? Seems to me the Master Informer ought to start doing a little informing.”
“It will be as you say,” she said, pushing Meilin behind her a little bit while she spoke to Circenia. She found it a little amusing that Circenia assumed Cicero might have cosmic powers in order to know all. From the sounds of it, the princess fully expected Cicero to have known this would happen far in advance. That would mean he could have or would have stopped it and hadn’t. But, that was a royal for you. Always wanting things they had no right to expect.
At the last order of out, Elysia tugged on Meilin to come with her out into the street. She did not attempt to get close to anyone else that she knew, and once out in the street, decided that she wouldn’t be needed for Emilia at the moment. Perhaps later in the day, but for now, she needed to get home. With a quick promise to Meilin to stop by the shop later, Elysia decided to follow the body to see where it was they were carrying the girl. She fully planned to speak to his lordship Elias later. She had a few suspicions she wanted confirmed.
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At last Hector answered her with the exact phrase Elysia liked to hear most. "You're right," he said and she nodded, answering with a, “Yes.” There was no need to sugar coat it. Hector’s attention moved away from her to the crowd and Elysia followed in the same fashion, but she wasn’t quite as annoyed by the onlookers as he was. She couldn’t fault them, after all. She’d come in for the very same reason they had; to look. Thank the gods she wasn’t already naked like some of these woman, who stood by, clutching towels, goggling at Hector and the body.
Hector’s visible agitation made Elysia edge back a little bit and his voice resounded off the walls in this bathhouse, asking for more room that the people who were pressing forward simply couldn’t give him. They were being pressed forward by those still attempting to come in. She’d understood his orders inside the sentiment that these people had to go, but she did not move to obey. If he could not make people move, then she could make them leave even less. And then...someone fell into the pool.
Elysia’s nose wrinkled in revulsion. In the water? Where the body had been? Disgusting.
"The Master Informer may want to be there as the royal physician attends to her, Mistress." Hector said as he came back and Elysia nodded.
“He will,” she promised. There was no way in the world Cicero would not attend such a thing, though, Elysia couldn’t promise that her husband would hold the same level of interest in a body that everyone else did. He’d likely be more interested in the ‘why’ after he spent three seconds with the ‘how’. When Hector asked how long the message had been on the wall, Elysia shrugged, frowning, not looking at the words but the color of them. “Less than six hours?” she guessed. “But that is a guess,” she impressed upon him.
The body was bound up in linens and Hector left with it. Elysia stood, straightening her dress.
"Elysia. I should have known you would come." The familiar voice made Elysia turn, but she did not smile. This wasn’t the time.
“But of course,” she drew in a breath and watched the body being moved away. “I wouldn’t miss this sort of thing for the world, though I will confess that I didn’t know about it until I was already here.” Brushing a stray hair from her face, she sighed, somewhere between relief and agitation. “The Fates are kind in this way, to me.” Kind in that she had knowledge. Cruel in that she had to see something this unsettling.
"A threat?" Meilin asked and Elysia followed the girl’s gaze.
Elysia lightly crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her head and observing the words. “I think that’s safe to conclude,” she agreed.
"I told you the people were unhappy."
“They are,” Elysia agreed again, though she narrowed her eyes. Crowds didn’t do this. Specific people did. People with plans. “They are,” she said again, not betraying her thoughts here. Her attention landed back on the doorway as Elias came through and her eyes narrowed further. He looked...undisturbed. No, now his face was contorting into the proper look of disgust. She watched him take Emilia into his arms, seemingly to comfort her, but Circenia’s barking voice brought Elysia round to the matron of the Stravos clan and she hid her dislike by dipping into a short curtsey once she was addressed.
“You. Do you think your husband might be able to track down whoever is responsible for this? Seems to me the Master Informer ought to start doing a little informing.”
“It will be as you say,” she said, pushing Meilin behind her a little bit while she spoke to Circenia. She found it a little amusing that Circenia assumed Cicero might have cosmic powers in order to know all. From the sounds of it, the princess fully expected Cicero to have known this would happen far in advance. That would mean he could have or would have stopped it and hadn’t. But, that was a royal for you. Always wanting things they had no right to expect.
At the last order of out, Elysia tugged on Meilin to come with her out into the street. She did not attempt to get close to anyone else that she knew, and once out in the street, decided that she wouldn’t be needed for Emilia at the moment. Perhaps later in the day, but for now, she needed to get home. With a quick promise to Meilin to stop by the shop later, Elysia decided to follow the body to see where it was they were carrying the girl. She fully planned to speak to his lordship Elias later. She had a few suspicions she wanted confirmed.
At last Hector answered her with the exact phrase Elysia liked to hear most. "You're right," he said and she nodded, answering with a, “Yes.” There was no need to sugar coat it. Hector’s attention moved away from her to the crowd and Elysia followed in the same fashion, but she wasn’t quite as annoyed by the onlookers as he was. She couldn’t fault them, after all. She’d come in for the very same reason they had; to look. Thank the gods she wasn’t already naked like some of these woman, who stood by, clutching towels, goggling at Hector and the body.
Hector’s visible agitation made Elysia edge back a little bit and his voice resounded off the walls in this bathhouse, asking for more room that the people who were pressing forward simply couldn’t give him. They were being pressed forward by those still attempting to come in. She’d understood his orders inside the sentiment that these people had to go, but she did not move to obey. If he could not make people move, then she could make them leave even less. And then...someone fell into the pool.
Elysia’s nose wrinkled in revulsion. In the water? Where the body had been? Disgusting.
"The Master Informer may want to be there as the royal physician attends to her, Mistress." Hector said as he came back and Elysia nodded.
“He will,” she promised. There was no way in the world Cicero would not attend such a thing, though, Elysia couldn’t promise that her husband would hold the same level of interest in a body that everyone else did. He’d likely be more interested in the ‘why’ after he spent three seconds with the ‘how’. When Hector asked how long the message had been on the wall, Elysia shrugged, frowning, not looking at the words but the color of them. “Less than six hours?” she guessed. “But that is a guess,” she impressed upon him.
The body was bound up in linens and Hector left with it. Elysia stood, straightening her dress.
"Elysia. I should have known you would come." The familiar voice made Elysia turn, but she did not smile. This wasn’t the time.
“But of course,” she drew in a breath and watched the body being moved away. “I wouldn’t miss this sort of thing for the world, though I will confess that I didn’t know about it until I was already here.” Brushing a stray hair from her face, she sighed, somewhere between relief and agitation. “The Fates are kind in this way, to me.” Kind in that she had knowledge. Cruel in that she had to see something this unsettling.
"A threat?" Meilin asked and Elysia followed the girl’s gaze.
Elysia lightly crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her head and observing the words. “I think that’s safe to conclude,” she agreed.
"I told you the people were unhappy."
“They are,” Elysia agreed again, though she narrowed her eyes. Crowds didn’t do this. Specific people did. People with plans. “They are,” she said again, not betraying her thoughts here. Her attention landed back on the doorway as Elias came through and her eyes narrowed further. He looked...undisturbed. No, now his face was contorting into the proper look of disgust. She watched him take Emilia into his arms, seemingly to comfort her, but Circenia’s barking voice brought Elysia round to the matron of the Stravos clan and she hid her dislike by dipping into a short curtsey once she was addressed.
“You. Do you think your husband might be able to track down whoever is responsible for this? Seems to me the Master Informer ought to start doing a little informing.”
“It will be as you say,” she said, pushing Meilin behind her a little bit while she spoke to Circenia. She found it a little amusing that Circenia assumed Cicero might have cosmic powers in order to know all. From the sounds of it, the princess fully expected Cicero to have known this would happen far in advance. That would mean he could have or would have stopped it and hadn’t. But, that was a royal for you. Always wanting things they had no right to expect.
At the last order of out, Elysia tugged on Meilin to come with her out into the street. She did not attempt to get close to anyone else that she knew, and once out in the street, decided that she wouldn’t be needed for Emilia at the moment. Perhaps later in the day, but for now, she needed to get home. With a quick promise to Meilin to stop by the shop later, Elysia decided to follow the body to see where it was they were carrying the girl. She fully planned to speak to his lordship Elias later. She had a few suspicions she wanted confirmed.
Damnit.
Lesley generally wasn't a fool - well, he liked to think not. He wouldn't have taken liberties for no real reason beyond being petty if Elias had been right on his heels, but the man managed to come out before he'd actually left - ah well.
"Of course, my lord. I assumed it would take long enough for - ah, nevermind." Give the impression of man who was not thoughtless, but was also aware that he was aware Elias was not paying him to think. "We will walk then - and no, thank you," he added to Elias's personal guard, as the lord headed back inside. "It was not concern of her safety so much as thinking my lady is delicate enough she should be returned to the care of her ladies as soon as possible. I am sure we will be fine."
To Emilia, he added gently, "My apologies. Come along, my lady."
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Damnit.
Lesley generally wasn't a fool - well, he liked to think not. He wouldn't have taken liberties for no real reason beyond being petty if Elias had been right on his heels, but the man managed to come out before he'd actually left - ah well.
"Of course, my lord. I assumed it would take long enough for - ah, nevermind." Give the impression of man who was not thoughtless, but was also aware that he was aware Elias was not paying him to think. "We will walk then - and no, thank you," he added to Elias's personal guard, as the lord headed back inside. "It was not concern of her safety so much as thinking my lady is delicate enough she should be returned to the care of her ladies as soon as possible. I am sure we will be fine."
To Emilia, he added gently, "My apologies. Come along, my lady."
Damnit.
Lesley generally wasn't a fool - well, he liked to think not. He wouldn't have taken liberties for no real reason beyond being petty if Elias had been right on his heels, but the man managed to come out before he'd actually left - ah well.
"Of course, my lord. I assumed it would take long enough for - ah, nevermind." Give the impression of man who was not thoughtless, but was also aware that he was aware Elias was not paying him to think. "We will walk then - and no, thank you," he added to Elias's personal guard, as the lord headed back inside. "It was not concern of her safety so much as thinking my lady is delicate enough she should be returned to the care of her ladies as soon as possible. I am sure we will be fine."
To Emilia, he added gently, "My apologies. Come along, my lady."
Circenia's commanding words was like a dull thud in Emilia's ears, her vision and hearing ringing. All she could see was the blood streaked words across the wall that screamed to her, and would most definitely haunt her nightmares for days to come. As silly as it may sound,s uddenly the tightening of Elias's arms around her seemed the only thing that anchors her to her kingdom, that she was still okay, because Emilia wasn't even sure of that anymore. What was she to do? She can't keep the kingdom in limbo, but neither did she wish to take any step forward- not when she still had no clue where her sister was, or whether she was alive or not. She wasn't taught for this situation, never had been. Emilia was not born to lead.
She could feel the panic rising in her chest, the anxiety that gripped her almost every other day now, as long as she allowed her thoughts to dwell far too long on what was to happen next. What she had to do. It was why Emilia needed Labros by her side. The dog offered her comfort and most of all, was a sense of distraction she needed.
But in the face of such obvious displeasure from the commoners of Athenia, a display so public for all to see, Emilia could not run away from reality.
Allowing herself to be guided outside by whichever or whoever it was that held her, only when the warmth of the sun overtook the chill of the bathhouse that had seeped into her skin, did color begin to return to Emilia's cheeks and pallor, the ringing in her ears fading away to logic and reason. Slowly, the princess begin to realize the guards of Elias leaving, and the fact that Lesley was nearby. She was to walk?
She had not heard Elias's words to Lesley, but surprise flickered across her eyes when her guard indicated they were to walk. Emilia's knees felt weak, and she curiously wondered for a moment how had she arrived there - before giving in and following Lesley's instructions, but not before throwing a brief, confused look at Elias who had dissapeared into the bathhouse again. If he had been so concerned for her wellbeing, would he have left her alone? So what was she to make of that?
Belatedly, she nodded to her guard, and allowed him to take her by the arm as she followed his lead, silence seeping in between them for a moment before she asked in a meek voice. "That was to me, was it not? That was my name. On the wall."
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Circenia's commanding words was like a dull thud in Emilia's ears, her vision and hearing ringing. All she could see was the blood streaked words across the wall that screamed to her, and would most definitely haunt her nightmares for days to come. As silly as it may sound,s uddenly the tightening of Elias's arms around her seemed the only thing that anchors her to her kingdom, that she was still okay, because Emilia wasn't even sure of that anymore. What was she to do? She can't keep the kingdom in limbo, but neither did she wish to take any step forward- not when she still had no clue where her sister was, or whether she was alive or not. She wasn't taught for this situation, never had been. Emilia was not born to lead.
She could feel the panic rising in her chest, the anxiety that gripped her almost every other day now, as long as she allowed her thoughts to dwell far too long on what was to happen next. What she had to do. It was why Emilia needed Labros by her side. The dog offered her comfort and most of all, was a sense of distraction she needed.
But in the face of such obvious displeasure from the commoners of Athenia, a display so public for all to see, Emilia could not run away from reality.
Allowing herself to be guided outside by whichever or whoever it was that held her, only when the warmth of the sun overtook the chill of the bathhouse that had seeped into her skin, did color begin to return to Emilia's cheeks and pallor, the ringing in her ears fading away to logic and reason. Slowly, the princess begin to realize the guards of Elias leaving, and the fact that Lesley was nearby. She was to walk?
She had not heard Elias's words to Lesley, but surprise flickered across her eyes when her guard indicated they were to walk. Emilia's knees felt weak, and she curiously wondered for a moment how had she arrived there - before giving in and following Lesley's instructions, but not before throwing a brief, confused look at Elias who had dissapeared into the bathhouse again. If he had been so concerned for her wellbeing, would he have left her alone? So what was she to make of that?
Belatedly, she nodded to her guard, and allowed him to take her by the arm as she followed his lead, silence seeping in between them for a moment before she asked in a meek voice. "That was to me, was it not? That was my name. On the wall."
Circenia's commanding words was like a dull thud in Emilia's ears, her vision and hearing ringing. All she could see was the blood streaked words across the wall that screamed to her, and would most definitely haunt her nightmares for days to come. As silly as it may sound,s uddenly the tightening of Elias's arms around her seemed the only thing that anchors her to her kingdom, that she was still okay, because Emilia wasn't even sure of that anymore. What was she to do? She can't keep the kingdom in limbo, but neither did she wish to take any step forward- not when she still had no clue where her sister was, or whether she was alive or not. She wasn't taught for this situation, never had been. Emilia was not born to lead.
She could feel the panic rising in her chest, the anxiety that gripped her almost every other day now, as long as she allowed her thoughts to dwell far too long on what was to happen next. What she had to do. It was why Emilia needed Labros by her side. The dog offered her comfort and most of all, was a sense of distraction she needed.
But in the face of such obvious displeasure from the commoners of Athenia, a display so public for all to see, Emilia could not run away from reality.
Allowing herself to be guided outside by whichever or whoever it was that held her, only when the warmth of the sun overtook the chill of the bathhouse that had seeped into her skin, did color begin to return to Emilia's cheeks and pallor, the ringing in her ears fading away to logic and reason. Slowly, the princess begin to realize the guards of Elias leaving, and the fact that Lesley was nearby. She was to walk?
She had not heard Elias's words to Lesley, but surprise flickered across her eyes when her guard indicated they were to walk. Emilia's knees felt weak, and she curiously wondered for a moment how had she arrived there - before giving in and following Lesley's instructions, but not before throwing a brief, confused look at Elias who had dissapeared into the bathhouse again. If he had been so concerned for her wellbeing, would he have left her alone? So what was she to make of that?
Belatedly, she nodded to her guard, and allowed him to take her by the arm as she followed his lead, silence seeping in between them for a moment before she asked in a meek voice. "That was to me, was it not? That was my name. On the wall."
The princess’s orders were carried out with haste, Circenia nodding in satisfaction, even if there was a certain grimness pasted on her face. The body was wrapped up and placed in a laundry basket, and though she doubted that would fool anyone, it was a smart solution. Besides, she didn’t really want anyone fooled. She just needed people to think that’s what she wanted.
After all, this situation perfectly served the ends that she and her family were trying to meet. But she certainly couldn’t let it appear that way.
Her eyes lingered on Lesley and Emilia as the gladiator led her niece from the building, shaking her head in a falsified sorrow that the young princess should have had to face such a thing. Truthfully, it was good that the girl had borne witness to such an event; let her see how the people felt and let it ruminate within the shallow depths of her silly little mind. If she thought her people hated her, perhaps she’d be more amenable to the poison that Circenia sought to drip into the girl’s ear. Let her psyche be a little damaged. It only made her job that much easier.
Once the pair had vanished beyond her view, she turned instead to watch Hector and the other men carry the unfortunate girl from the Loutra, bowing her head in a show of respect as they passed her. She, too, would be interested in attending the examination of the girl, but she doubted that would be something women were permitted to see. No matter that she was a royal; there were certain lines even she couldn’t cross. But even if she couldn’t have her own eyes in the room, she had no doubt she could find some paid ones.
Once the bathhouse was relatively empty, she rejoined her children, placing hands on each of their shoulders as Elias wrapped Danae in his arms. Catching her son’s gaze, her brow lifted ever so slightly, just enough to show a question she couldn’t dare to voice aloud. Was he responsible for this? Had he known this would happen? They were words too dangerous to be spoken in such a public forum, but once they were back home…
“Elias, perhaps you might actually accompany us back to the archontiko before you head to the Palati,” she suggested, though it was more of an order, even if it was phrased as a request. “I think I might make my own inquiries later. This has been a trying morning for your sister and me. I’m sure we’d both appreciate the comfort of your company.”
Truly, she was not so affected by the spectacle, but she did want to speak with her son without any prying ears overhearing what she had to say. Without waiting for a response either way, she simply assumed his compliance and started ushering them both toward the carriage, the perfect picture of a concerned and doting mother.
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The princess’s orders were carried out with haste, Circenia nodding in satisfaction, even if there was a certain grimness pasted on her face. The body was wrapped up and placed in a laundry basket, and though she doubted that would fool anyone, it was a smart solution. Besides, she didn’t really want anyone fooled. She just needed people to think that’s what she wanted.
After all, this situation perfectly served the ends that she and her family were trying to meet. But she certainly couldn’t let it appear that way.
Her eyes lingered on Lesley and Emilia as the gladiator led her niece from the building, shaking her head in a falsified sorrow that the young princess should have had to face such a thing. Truthfully, it was good that the girl had borne witness to such an event; let her see how the people felt and let it ruminate within the shallow depths of her silly little mind. If she thought her people hated her, perhaps she’d be more amenable to the poison that Circenia sought to drip into the girl’s ear. Let her psyche be a little damaged. It only made her job that much easier.
Once the pair had vanished beyond her view, she turned instead to watch Hector and the other men carry the unfortunate girl from the Loutra, bowing her head in a show of respect as they passed her. She, too, would be interested in attending the examination of the girl, but she doubted that would be something women were permitted to see. No matter that she was a royal; there were certain lines even she couldn’t cross. But even if she couldn’t have her own eyes in the room, she had no doubt she could find some paid ones.
Once the bathhouse was relatively empty, she rejoined her children, placing hands on each of their shoulders as Elias wrapped Danae in his arms. Catching her son’s gaze, her brow lifted ever so slightly, just enough to show a question she couldn’t dare to voice aloud. Was he responsible for this? Had he known this would happen? They were words too dangerous to be spoken in such a public forum, but once they were back home…
“Elias, perhaps you might actually accompany us back to the archontiko before you head to the Palati,” she suggested, though it was more of an order, even if it was phrased as a request. “I think I might make my own inquiries later. This has been a trying morning for your sister and me. I’m sure we’d both appreciate the comfort of your company.”
Truly, she was not so affected by the spectacle, but she did want to speak with her son without any prying ears overhearing what she had to say. Without waiting for a response either way, she simply assumed his compliance and started ushering them both toward the carriage, the perfect picture of a concerned and doting mother.
The princess’s orders were carried out with haste, Circenia nodding in satisfaction, even if there was a certain grimness pasted on her face. The body was wrapped up and placed in a laundry basket, and though she doubted that would fool anyone, it was a smart solution. Besides, she didn’t really want anyone fooled. She just needed people to think that’s what she wanted.
After all, this situation perfectly served the ends that she and her family were trying to meet. But she certainly couldn’t let it appear that way.
Her eyes lingered on Lesley and Emilia as the gladiator led her niece from the building, shaking her head in a falsified sorrow that the young princess should have had to face such a thing. Truthfully, it was good that the girl had borne witness to such an event; let her see how the people felt and let it ruminate within the shallow depths of her silly little mind. If she thought her people hated her, perhaps she’d be more amenable to the poison that Circenia sought to drip into the girl’s ear. Let her psyche be a little damaged. It only made her job that much easier.
Once the pair had vanished beyond her view, she turned instead to watch Hector and the other men carry the unfortunate girl from the Loutra, bowing her head in a show of respect as they passed her. She, too, would be interested in attending the examination of the girl, but she doubted that would be something women were permitted to see. No matter that she was a royal; there were certain lines even she couldn’t cross. But even if she couldn’t have her own eyes in the room, she had no doubt she could find some paid ones.
Once the bathhouse was relatively empty, she rejoined her children, placing hands on each of their shoulders as Elias wrapped Danae in his arms. Catching her son’s gaze, her brow lifted ever so slightly, just enough to show a question she couldn’t dare to voice aloud. Was he responsible for this? Had he known this would happen? They were words too dangerous to be spoken in such a public forum, but once they were back home…
“Elias, perhaps you might actually accompany us back to the archontiko before you head to the Palati,” she suggested, though it was more of an order, even if it was phrased as a request. “I think I might make my own inquiries later. This has been a trying morning for your sister and me. I’m sure we’d both appreciate the comfort of your company.”
Truly, she was not so affected by the spectacle, but she did want to speak with her son without any prying ears overhearing what she had to say. Without waiting for a response either way, she simply assumed his compliance and started ushering them both toward the carriage, the perfect picture of a concerned and doting mother.
Lesley left his arm wrapped around the princess's shoulders comfortingly for a while, and hummed quietly when she finally spoke. "It was, but... I do not think it was addressed to you, exactly." He was about to add, I know very little about politics, but stopped himself. Politics? On the surface, there was no indication at all it had anything to do with politics, yet at the same time, it was not the sort of demonstration angry citizens typically made. The mob that had stormed Archontikó Stravos recently, and the riots last month... that was the expected sort of thing, under the circumstances. "You know, just last month I had a conversation with someone, and it came up that Greeks would be more likely to desecrate a temple than damage a bathhouse," he commented finally. "I would almost rather they had. Then we could simply stand aside while the gods smited them, and get on with our day." A quiet hmph escaped him, shaded by a wry smile. "Ah, don't mind me when I'm talking nonsense. I do wish Lord Elias had let us take the carriage. It wouldn't have taken that long to send it back for the others." He shrugged philosophically. "We will increase your guards, of course, until I have the chance to review things. I would personally rather put you in the care of the best men than simply more men. I've seen what happens when men unused to fighting together trip over each other, and it's not terribly pretty. But I do not wish you to worry, my lady. We must take it seriously, but this was neither an attempt on your life nor a direct threat."
If he was actually worried, he wouldn't now be walking down the street with her shoulders occupying his sword arm. Then again, he might just be trusting the other guards surrounding them would delay any attack by the couple of seconds delay it would cause him - and with his hand already on her shoulder, he could very easily shove her to the ground in whichever direction he needed to without needing to waste words or rely on her rather less impressive reflexes. She hadn't progressed far with her self-defense lessons, and he'd focused on 'how not to get in your bodyguards' way'. She hadn't been a failure at that, at least, but he guessed she was too upset to think about those sorts of nuances right now.
He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "I am sorry you did not get the chance to bathe. Will you be content to wait a day, or do we need to do something about that, too?"
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Lesley left his arm wrapped around the princess's shoulders comfortingly for a while, and hummed quietly when she finally spoke. "It was, but... I do not think it was addressed to you, exactly." He was about to add, I know very little about politics, but stopped himself. Politics? On the surface, there was no indication at all it had anything to do with politics, yet at the same time, it was not the sort of demonstration angry citizens typically made. The mob that had stormed Archontikó Stravos recently, and the riots last month... that was the expected sort of thing, under the circumstances. "You know, just last month I had a conversation with someone, and it came up that Greeks would be more likely to desecrate a temple than damage a bathhouse," he commented finally. "I would almost rather they had. Then we could simply stand aside while the gods smited them, and get on with our day." A quiet hmph escaped him, shaded by a wry smile. "Ah, don't mind me when I'm talking nonsense. I do wish Lord Elias had let us take the carriage. It wouldn't have taken that long to send it back for the others." He shrugged philosophically. "We will increase your guards, of course, until I have the chance to review things. I would personally rather put you in the care of the best men than simply more men. I've seen what happens when men unused to fighting together trip over each other, and it's not terribly pretty. But I do not wish you to worry, my lady. We must take it seriously, but this was neither an attempt on your life nor a direct threat."
If he was actually worried, he wouldn't now be walking down the street with her shoulders occupying his sword arm. Then again, he might just be trusting the other guards surrounding them would delay any attack by the couple of seconds delay it would cause him - and with his hand already on her shoulder, he could very easily shove her to the ground in whichever direction he needed to without needing to waste words or rely on her rather less impressive reflexes. She hadn't progressed far with her self-defense lessons, and he'd focused on 'how not to get in your bodyguards' way'. She hadn't been a failure at that, at least, but he guessed she was too upset to think about those sorts of nuances right now.
He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "I am sorry you did not get the chance to bathe. Will you be content to wait a day, or do we need to do something about that, too?"
Lesley left his arm wrapped around the princess's shoulders comfortingly for a while, and hummed quietly when she finally spoke. "It was, but... I do not think it was addressed to you, exactly." He was about to add, I know very little about politics, but stopped himself. Politics? On the surface, there was no indication at all it had anything to do with politics, yet at the same time, it was not the sort of demonstration angry citizens typically made. The mob that had stormed Archontikó Stravos recently, and the riots last month... that was the expected sort of thing, under the circumstances. "You know, just last month I had a conversation with someone, and it came up that Greeks would be more likely to desecrate a temple than damage a bathhouse," he commented finally. "I would almost rather they had. Then we could simply stand aside while the gods smited them, and get on with our day." A quiet hmph escaped him, shaded by a wry smile. "Ah, don't mind me when I'm talking nonsense. I do wish Lord Elias had let us take the carriage. It wouldn't have taken that long to send it back for the others." He shrugged philosophically. "We will increase your guards, of course, until I have the chance to review things. I would personally rather put you in the care of the best men than simply more men. I've seen what happens when men unused to fighting together trip over each other, and it's not terribly pretty. But I do not wish you to worry, my lady. We must take it seriously, but this was neither an attempt on your life nor a direct threat."
If he was actually worried, he wouldn't now be walking down the street with her shoulders occupying his sword arm. Then again, he might just be trusting the other guards surrounding them would delay any attack by the couple of seconds delay it would cause him - and with his hand already on her shoulder, he could very easily shove her to the ground in whichever direction he needed to without needing to waste words or rely on her rather less impressive reflexes. She hadn't progressed far with her self-defense lessons, and he'd focused on 'how not to get in your bodyguards' way'. She hadn't been a failure at that, at least, but he guessed she was too upset to think about those sorts of nuances right now.
He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "I am sorry you did not get the chance to bathe. Will you be content to wait a day, or do we need to do something about that, too?"
Hebe was far too finicky about cleanliness to frequent the public bathhouses. Instead, she had a tub brought into her rooms every morning, whether she was staying at the palace or at home. After it was filled with hot water, scented oils, and sprinkled with flower petals, her servants bathed her and washed her long chestnut hair. After that, she soaked in the water until it began cooling down, closing her eyes and letting her mind go blank. Her bath was one of the few places where the knowledge swirling around in her head did not overwhelm her. And when she had headaches, the fragrant steam floating above the water often calmed her.
She had never even considered going to the public baths, even though she knew that nobles like herself used them regularly. The young girl was not the least bit arrogant, but she didn't want to wash herself in the company of commoners. They probably brought in dirt with them, which meant the water wasn't completely clean. She also wouldn't be surprised if the uncouth types urinated init. Hebe certainly didn't want to bathe in pee. They could also bring in diseases or even bugs. No, she was too meticulous to risk any kind of contamination and so she avoided them like the plague, even though she knew that they were a great place to socialize.
This morning she was at the palace, and as she soaked in her tub, she drew little circles in the water with her fingers while humming one of her favorite tunes. Her servants stood by with fluffy towels to dry her off with when she was done. She was just stepping out when she heard a commotion in the hallway, a few sets of footsteps running back and forth. Sending one of her maids to see what was going on, she held out her arms to be dried from head to foot. The maid returned just as a pale green peplos was slipped over her head. Hebe's eyes widened and terror filled her soul at the sight of the woman's pale face. “What's wrong?” she asked.
“It's Princess Emilia!” Tears streamed down the servant's eyes. “She was murdered and her body was discovered in the baths as soon as they opened.”
Hebe rolled her eyes. “Nonsense. I saw her not long ago, leaving with Mistress Elysia. If she had been killed, the palace would already have been alerted and there would be guards heading there as we speak. It must be some kind of mistake. Who told you this?”
“The mother of one of the kitchen maids. She saw it with her own eyes and ran all the way here to tell her daughter.”
“Well, she's wrong.”
The gossip of servants rarely held a grain of truth, but Hebe was a bit wary nonetheless. When her peplos was secured at the shoulders, she left her room, damp hair and all, and reassured the few servants who had heard the news. Luckily, it had not spread past the kitchens. While she was there, she stole a piping hot pastry and went outside to the front courtyard. Sitting upon a bench, she waited for the princess to come home and prove those rumors untrue herself. Only then would Hebe's mind truly be at ease.
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Hebe was far too finicky about cleanliness to frequent the public bathhouses. Instead, she had a tub brought into her rooms every morning, whether she was staying at the palace or at home. After it was filled with hot water, scented oils, and sprinkled with flower petals, her servants bathed her and washed her long chestnut hair. After that, she soaked in the water until it began cooling down, closing her eyes and letting her mind go blank. Her bath was one of the few places where the knowledge swirling around in her head did not overwhelm her. And when she had headaches, the fragrant steam floating above the water often calmed her.
She had never even considered going to the public baths, even though she knew that nobles like herself used them regularly. The young girl was not the least bit arrogant, but she didn't want to wash herself in the company of commoners. They probably brought in dirt with them, which meant the water wasn't completely clean. She also wouldn't be surprised if the uncouth types urinated init. Hebe certainly didn't want to bathe in pee. They could also bring in diseases or even bugs. No, she was too meticulous to risk any kind of contamination and so she avoided them like the plague, even though she knew that they were a great place to socialize.
This morning she was at the palace, and as she soaked in her tub, she drew little circles in the water with her fingers while humming one of her favorite tunes. Her servants stood by with fluffy towels to dry her off with when she was done. She was just stepping out when she heard a commotion in the hallway, a few sets of footsteps running back and forth. Sending one of her maids to see what was going on, she held out her arms to be dried from head to foot. The maid returned just as a pale green peplos was slipped over her head. Hebe's eyes widened and terror filled her soul at the sight of the woman's pale face. “What's wrong?” she asked.
“It's Princess Emilia!” Tears streamed down the servant's eyes. “She was murdered and her body was discovered in the baths as soon as they opened.”
Hebe rolled her eyes. “Nonsense. I saw her not long ago, leaving with Mistress Elysia. If she had been killed, the palace would already have been alerted and there would be guards heading there as we speak. It must be some kind of mistake. Who told you this?”
“The mother of one of the kitchen maids. She saw it with her own eyes and ran all the way here to tell her daughter.”
“Well, she's wrong.”
The gossip of servants rarely held a grain of truth, but Hebe was a bit wary nonetheless. When her peplos was secured at the shoulders, she left her room, damp hair and all, and reassured the few servants who had heard the news. Luckily, it had not spread past the kitchens. While she was there, she stole a piping hot pastry and went outside to the front courtyard. Sitting upon a bench, she waited for the princess to come home and prove those rumors untrue herself. Only then would Hebe's mind truly be at ease.
Hebe was far too finicky about cleanliness to frequent the public bathhouses. Instead, she had a tub brought into her rooms every morning, whether she was staying at the palace or at home. After it was filled with hot water, scented oils, and sprinkled with flower petals, her servants bathed her and washed her long chestnut hair. After that, she soaked in the water until it began cooling down, closing her eyes and letting her mind go blank. Her bath was one of the few places where the knowledge swirling around in her head did not overwhelm her. And when she had headaches, the fragrant steam floating above the water often calmed her.
She had never even considered going to the public baths, even though she knew that nobles like herself used them regularly. The young girl was not the least bit arrogant, but she didn't want to wash herself in the company of commoners. They probably brought in dirt with them, which meant the water wasn't completely clean. She also wouldn't be surprised if the uncouth types urinated init. Hebe certainly didn't want to bathe in pee. They could also bring in diseases or even bugs. No, she was too meticulous to risk any kind of contamination and so she avoided them like the plague, even though she knew that they were a great place to socialize.
This morning she was at the palace, and as she soaked in her tub, she drew little circles in the water with her fingers while humming one of her favorite tunes. Her servants stood by with fluffy towels to dry her off with when she was done. She was just stepping out when she heard a commotion in the hallway, a few sets of footsteps running back and forth. Sending one of her maids to see what was going on, she held out her arms to be dried from head to foot. The maid returned just as a pale green peplos was slipped over her head. Hebe's eyes widened and terror filled her soul at the sight of the woman's pale face. “What's wrong?” she asked.
“It's Princess Emilia!” Tears streamed down the servant's eyes. “She was murdered and her body was discovered in the baths as soon as they opened.”
Hebe rolled her eyes. “Nonsense. I saw her not long ago, leaving with Mistress Elysia. If she had been killed, the palace would already have been alerted and there would be guards heading there as we speak. It must be some kind of mistake. Who told you this?”
“The mother of one of the kitchen maids. She saw it with her own eyes and ran all the way here to tell her daughter.”
“Well, she's wrong.”
The gossip of servants rarely held a grain of truth, but Hebe was a bit wary nonetheless. When her peplos was secured at the shoulders, she left her room, damp hair and all, and reassured the few servants who had heard the news. Luckily, it had not spread past the kitchens. While she was there, she stole a piping hot pastry and went outside to the front courtyard. Sitting upon a bench, she waited for the princess to come home and prove those rumors untrue herself. Only then would Hebe's mind truly be at ease.