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Rain fell over them in gentle sheets. It did not dissuade Gavriil from his purpose and the horse clopped on, keeping her ears mostly pointed back, rather than swiveling this way and that. Evie’s sodden form was in front of him in the saddle, her back against his chest. The effect was to make them both drenched but with their bodies close like this, he was warm for the time being. The sealskin cloak he wore kept the rest of him dry and protected her from the storm as they advanced up the relatively short distance.
The Leventi manors, the Dimitrou manor, and the Condos manor all occupied the same long, picturesque road. It was part of the older part of the city, the families of each being of old bloodlines. When the Dimitrou had been on the throne generations ago, they'd made their estate fairly large but since then, other families had risen to prominence. The walls surrounding the manors all competed with each other for space until they could go no further, forced to stop by the city that had sprung up around them. Along this way, ancient trees lined the road, their roots threatening to break up the stones of the road but not quite having managed it yet. The stones were slick and his horse's hooves dragged loudly, probably alerting servants of their coming long before they'd be seen.
Out of the gloom, Condos manor glittered, brightly lit and beautiful, like its occupants. It was a place designed to dazzle the senses and for entertaining where as Gavriil’s manor was decidedly not and on purpose at that. But Nikolias and his family were famous for their wines and their parties, their luxuriant tastes. It was a shame that NIkos would never be master of this house since he’d be dying tonight on those lovely flagstones.
They passed through the gate with no issue and were in the courtyard within moments. Evie squeezed his hand, quietly thanking him for letting her come with him. Gavriil might have made a deep sound that he’d heard her but not now. Now he was angling himself out of the seal skin cloak so that it draped solely on her as she sat in the saddle. He swung himself down but did not yet unclip the sword affixed to his belt. Wryly he thought, as he stalked across the flagstones, that Evie hadn’t exactly given him a choice about bringing her along. That bore more rumination later. The task at hand, now, lay in slamming his fist against the door.
Bang, bang, bang. Three curt, hard pounds on the door and Gavriil stepped back, waiting for the door to be opened. He didn’t look back at Evie. He assumed he wouldn’t need to. If she stayed demurely on that horse then he was pretty sure someone else had taken possession of her body and lifted her own temperament straight out of it. Of all the things he’d learned tonight, it was that she was both fragile and incredibly willful, which gave her a strength that others might envy.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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Rain fell over them in gentle sheets. It did not dissuade Gavriil from his purpose and the horse clopped on, keeping her ears mostly pointed back, rather than swiveling this way and that. Evie’s sodden form was in front of him in the saddle, her back against his chest. The effect was to make them both drenched but with their bodies close like this, he was warm for the time being. The sealskin cloak he wore kept the rest of him dry and protected her from the storm as they advanced up the relatively short distance.
The Leventi manors, the Dimitrou manor, and the Condos manor all occupied the same long, picturesque road. It was part of the older part of the city, the families of each being of old bloodlines. When the Dimitrou had been on the throne generations ago, they'd made their estate fairly large but since then, other families had risen to prominence. The walls surrounding the manors all competed with each other for space until they could go no further, forced to stop by the city that had sprung up around them. Along this way, ancient trees lined the road, their roots threatening to break up the stones of the road but not quite having managed it yet. The stones were slick and his horse's hooves dragged loudly, probably alerting servants of their coming long before they'd be seen.
Out of the gloom, Condos manor glittered, brightly lit and beautiful, like its occupants. It was a place designed to dazzle the senses and for entertaining where as Gavriil’s manor was decidedly not and on purpose at that. But Nikolias and his family were famous for their wines and their parties, their luxuriant tastes. It was a shame that NIkos would never be master of this house since he’d be dying tonight on those lovely flagstones.
They passed through the gate with no issue and were in the courtyard within moments. Evie squeezed his hand, quietly thanking him for letting her come with him. Gavriil might have made a deep sound that he’d heard her but not now. Now he was angling himself out of the seal skin cloak so that it draped solely on her as she sat in the saddle. He swung himself down but did not yet unclip the sword affixed to his belt. Wryly he thought, as he stalked across the flagstones, that Evie hadn’t exactly given him a choice about bringing her along. That bore more rumination later. The task at hand, now, lay in slamming his fist against the door.
Bang, bang, bang. Three curt, hard pounds on the door and Gavriil stepped back, waiting for the door to be opened. He didn’t look back at Evie. He assumed he wouldn’t need to. If she stayed demurely on that horse then he was pretty sure someone else had taken possession of her body and lifted her own temperament straight out of it. Of all the things he’d learned tonight, it was that she was both fragile and incredibly willful, which gave her a strength that others might envy.
Rain fell over them in gentle sheets. It did not dissuade Gavriil from his purpose and the horse clopped on, keeping her ears mostly pointed back, rather than swiveling this way and that. Evie’s sodden form was in front of him in the saddle, her back against his chest. The effect was to make them both drenched but with their bodies close like this, he was warm for the time being. The sealskin cloak he wore kept the rest of him dry and protected her from the storm as they advanced up the relatively short distance.
The Leventi manors, the Dimitrou manor, and the Condos manor all occupied the same long, picturesque road. It was part of the older part of the city, the families of each being of old bloodlines. When the Dimitrou had been on the throne generations ago, they'd made their estate fairly large but since then, other families had risen to prominence. The walls surrounding the manors all competed with each other for space until they could go no further, forced to stop by the city that had sprung up around them. Along this way, ancient trees lined the road, their roots threatening to break up the stones of the road but not quite having managed it yet. The stones were slick and his horse's hooves dragged loudly, probably alerting servants of their coming long before they'd be seen.
Out of the gloom, Condos manor glittered, brightly lit and beautiful, like its occupants. It was a place designed to dazzle the senses and for entertaining where as Gavriil’s manor was decidedly not and on purpose at that. But Nikolias and his family were famous for their wines and their parties, their luxuriant tastes. It was a shame that NIkos would never be master of this house since he’d be dying tonight on those lovely flagstones.
They passed through the gate with no issue and were in the courtyard within moments. Evie squeezed his hand, quietly thanking him for letting her come with him. Gavriil might have made a deep sound that he’d heard her but not now. Now he was angling himself out of the seal skin cloak so that it draped solely on her as she sat in the saddle. He swung himself down but did not yet unclip the sword affixed to his belt. Wryly he thought, as he stalked across the flagstones, that Evie hadn’t exactly given him a choice about bringing her along. That bore more rumination later. The task at hand, now, lay in slamming his fist against the door.
Bang, bang, bang. Three curt, hard pounds on the door and Gavriil stepped back, waiting for the door to be opened. He didn’t look back at Evie. He assumed he wouldn’t need to. If she stayed demurely on that horse then he was pretty sure someone else had taken possession of her body and lifted her own temperament straight out of it. Of all the things he’d learned tonight, it was that she was both fragile and incredibly willful, which gave her a strength that others might envy.
Most of the time, Evangelina would have been compelled to fill the silence of the ride with some sort of conversation, but as the rain fell over them and the reality was settling deeper into her bones she found herself quietly scheming. She understood Gavriil’s motives, truly she did. Nikos had touched something that wasn’t his to touch. He’d left marks on her skin and had violated her person; although not in the deepest sense but enough that it had left her shaken and feeling disrupted and uneasy.
Her mind drifted momentarily from her schemes to the reason she was needing to scheme in the first place. Evangelina’s fingertips grazed over her left wrist. The beach. His hands. That moment she’d felt herself robbed of control. That very moment that she realized if he’d wanted to he could have taken her so entirely and there wouldn’t have been anything for her to do. The brief moment she’d laid limp and scared and he’d pushed her deeper into the sand. Her throat tightened with fear and perhaps even disgust that she’d so easily stepped into a position that could have happened, disgust that she’d laid there limply even for those brief moments. All of it together left her cold and numb.
Yes, she could understand Gavriil’s motives. Even if all she really wanted in that moment was to be wrapped up in a blanket and be given a glass of his strongest wine. She wanted to forget about all of that and just drown her fear and disgust.
They passed the various stately manors that lined the same road, but they were just objects that weren’t really seen despite her knowledge that they were there. She sat quiet and silent knowing each clopping step was drawing them closer to the Condos manor. While her exterior was a quiet calmness her insides were being twisted tighter and tighter and tighter like someone turning the strings on a lyre.
And then, there it was. The Condo’s manor.
She blinked her wet eyelashes and stared at it. Were they really going up there to talk to Nikos? Did they have to? She wanted to sink her heels into the ground, to protest, to just go home. Her mind stopped at that thought. When had Gavriil’s home become ‘home’? She swallowed, it was just one more example of how deeply she was being drawn into the older Dimitrou’s world.
He transferred the seal skin cloak from himself to her and swung himself down. She sat there soaking in her options. Oh! She wanted to just go back but he had that obdurate set to his shoulders and was already stalking across the flagstones.
Bang, bang, bang.
Each time his fist hit the door, she winced. Compelled by some force, she was off the horse and passed him off to an unfortunate servant before she scurried over to Gavriil. The small palm of her hand came out and laid gently on his back. Maybe they weren’t home. Maybe they were out? Maybe they’d gone back to their estates? Her breath hitched at that thought. That was an awful lot of maybes.
“Perhaps they went back to their estates…” She murmured quietly, pulling the cloak a little tighter around her as she blinked back rain droplets that had accumulated on her eyelashes and were rolling down her cheeks like tears, except these were most definitely not tears. She sniffed indignantly, it was the rain.
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Most of the time, Evangelina would have been compelled to fill the silence of the ride with some sort of conversation, but as the rain fell over them and the reality was settling deeper into her bones she found herself quietly scheming. She understood Gavriil’s motives, truly she did. Nikos had touched something that wasn’t his to touch. He’d left marks on her skin and had violated her person; although not in the deepest sense but enough that it had left her shaken and feeling disrupted and uneasy.
Her mind drifted momentarily from her schemes to the reason she was needing to scheme in the first place. Evangelina’s fingertips grazed over her left wrist. The beach. His hands. That moment she’d felt herself robbed of control. That very moment that she realized if he’d wanted to he could have taken her so entirely and there wouldn’t have been anything for her to do. The brief moment she’d laid limp and scared and he’d pushed her deeper into the sand. Her throat tightened with fear and perhaps even disgust that she’d so easily stepped into a position that could have happened, disgust that she’d laid there limply even for those brief moments. All of it together left her cold and numb.
Yes, she could understand Gavriil’s motives. Even if all she really wanted in that moment was to be wrapped up in a blanket and be given a glass of his strongest wine. She wanted to forget about all of that and just drown her fear and disgust.
They passed the various stately manors that lined the same road, but they were just objects that weren’t really seen despite her knowledge that they were there. She sat quiet and silent knowing each clopping step was drawing them closer to the Condos manor. While her exterior was a quiet calmness her insides were being twisted tighter and tighter and tighter like someone turning the strings on a lyre.
And then, there it was. The Condo’s manor.
She blinked her wet eyelashes and stared at it. Were they really going up there to talk to Nikos? Did they have to? She wanted to sink her heels into the ground, to protest, to just go home. Her mind stopped at that thought. When had Gavriil’s home become ‘home’? She swallowed, it was just one more example of how deeply she was being drawn into the older Dimitrou’s world.
He transferred the seal skin cloak from himself to her and swung himself down. She sat there soaking in her options. Oh! She wanted to just go back but he had that obdurate set to his shoulders and was already stalking across the flagstones.
Bang, bang, bang.
Each time his fist hit the door, she winced. Compelled by some force, she was off the horse and passed him off to an unfortunate servant before she scurried over to Gavriil. The small palm of her hand came out and laid gently on his back. Maybe they weren’t home. Maybe they were out? Maybe they’d gone back to their estates? Her breath hitched at that thought. That was an awful lot of maybes.
“Perhaps they went back to their estates…” She murmured quietly, pulling the cloak a little tighter around her as she blinked back rain droplets that had accumulated on her eyelashes and were rolling down her cheeks like tears, except these were most definitely not tears. She sniffed indignantly, it was the rain.
Most of the time, Evangelina would have been compelled to fill the silence of the ride with some sort of conversation, but as the rain fell over them and the reality was settling deeper into her bones she found herself quietly scheming. She understood Gavriil’s motives, truly she did. Nikos had touched something that wasn’t his to touch. He’d left marks on her skin and had violated her person; although not in the deepest sense but enough that it had left her shaken and feeling disrupted and uneasy.
Her mind drifted momentarily from her schemes to the reason she was needing to scheme in the first place. Evangelina’s fingertips grazed over her left wrist. The beach. His hands. That moment she’d felt herself robbed of control. That very moment that she realized if he’d wanted to he could have taken her so entirely and there wouldn’t have been anything for her to do. The brief moment she’d laid limp and scared and he’d pushed her deeper into the sand. Her throat tightened with fear and perhaps even disgust that she’d so easily stepped into a position that could have happened, disgust that she’d laid there limply even for those brief moments. All of it together left her cold and numb.
Yes, she could understand Gavriil’s motives. Even if all she really wanted in that moment was to be wrapped up in a blanket and be given a glass of his strongest wine. She wanted to forget about all of that and just drown her fear and disgust.
They passed the various stately manors that lined the same road, but they were just objects that weren’t really seen despite her knowledge that they were there. She sat quiet and silent knowing each clopping step was drawing them closer to the Condos manor. While her exterior was a quiet calmness her insides were being twisted tighter and tighter and tighter like someone turning the strings on a lyre.
And then, there it was. The Condo’s manor.
She blinked her wet eyelashes and stared at it. Were they really going up there to talk to Nikos? Did they have to? She wanted to sink her heels into the ground, to protest, to just go home. Her mind stopped at that thought. When had Gavriil’s home become ‘home’? She swallowed, it was just one more example of how deeply she was being drawn into the older Dimitrou’s world.
He transferred the seal skin cloak from himself to her and swung himself down. She sat there soaking in her options. Oh! She wanted to just go back but he had that obdurate set to his shoulders and was already stalking across the flagstones.
Bang, bang, bang.
Each time his fist hit the door, she winced. Compelled by some force, she was off the horse and passed him off to an unfortunate servant before she scurried over to Gavriil. The small palm of her hand came out and laid gently on his back. Maybe they weren’t home. Maybe they were out? Maybe they’d gone back to their estates? Her breath hitched at that thought. That was an awful lot of maybes.
“Perhaps they went back to their estates…” She murmured quietly, pulling the cloak a little tighter around her as she blinked back rain droplets that had accumulated on her eyelashes and were rolling down her cheeks like tears, except these were most definitely not tears. She sniffed indignantly, it was the rain.
The day had started off with a sense of excitement as Nikos had snuck out early to meet with Evangelina at a familiar cove along the beach. But that excitement and elation had been dashed when Evie had revealed the reason she’d asked him there. She was getting married to Gavriil Dimitrou. The Condos lord had been shocked, had been angry, had been… hurt and confused. Nikos had tried to talk her out of this folly, for surely beautiful Evangelina did not truly wish to tether herself to someone so much older, someone that could not appreciate the fire and spunk within her. She had not listened to his words, insisted that she loved Gavriil. So Nikos, as a last ditch effort to make her see reason, had kissed her.
That had not gone over well in the least.
The two had parted that morning sporting both physical and emotional injury.
Nik had spent the better half of the day riding the countryside on his favorite black stallion, Frixos, trying to sort through the turmoil in his mind, the anger at feeling betrayed. Not by Evangelina. No… never that. But by Gavriil. For taking dear Evangelina, for convincing her she wanted him. Finally, having at least settled the angry on the surface, Nikos had returned to the Condos estate here in the city with the intention of holing up in his chambers the rest of the day and tending to his wounds. But Arete had been there, and so he’d found solace in her arms instead.
Now the sun was down, and the storm that had been blowing in on the clouds that morning was raging outside. After having explained away the scratches upon his face as a disastrous end to trying to tame a wile feline and hoping the Head of House Condos did not see the lie for what it was, Nikos was now in the study with his father, going over various affairs pertaining to the Condos trades and deals, and how things were being impacted by the ongoing war with Egypt. Nikolias of course was concerned with the general state of affairs in the kingdom with the King being away at war. Nikos was silently hoping the king was taken out in battle, but at the same time he wished Mikaelidas rival made it home safe – because if the Egyptians were strong enough to take out someone like Achilleas, then Taengea could well see fighting upon its shores in a short time. It was a complicated thing, war.
Outside, servants were scrambling to accommodate unexpected visitors in the pouring rain. The gate was opened, the horse was rushed off to the stable, the door to the manor was opened with haste – even though the apparently intent Dimitrou lord had stalked to the door and knocked before the door could be properly unbarred. But the young man who was pulling this duty tonight respectfully apologized for his failure to open the portal sooner and swung it wide to allow the lord and lady entrance. And why not? Regardless of the unexpected hour and unfavorable traveling conditions, Gavriil Dimitrou was not an entirely uncommon site at the Condos estate, as he and the Head of House Condos were reportedly friends and on good terms.
While the young man that had greeted Lord Dimitrou and Lady Leventi secured the door once more, an older woman rushed from another room with clothes with which the couple could attempt to dry themselves. ”Please, come get close to the fire, my lord. My lady.” she said in a motherly tone, motioning to the hearth in an adjoining area to the entranceway, where visitors were normally received. An older man was already building a fire there. ”Lord Nikolias is being told you are here as we speak, I’m certain he will be delighted to see you, my lord,” the motherly servant continued.
Meanwhile, the young man that had opened the door was now knocking on the lord’s closed study door. He waited for a call to enter before pushing his way in. ”Please excuse my interruption, my lords. Lord Gavriil of Dimitrou and Lady Evangelina of Leventi have just arrived.”
Nikos, who had been sitting in a plush chair and languidly sipping at a goblet of whine while conversing with his father, now tensed and nearly choked on his drink. He sat up straight and set his goblet down on the small table before him. His entire demeanor was now changed, more alert. This was not good. After the event of that morning, this was not good at all! Had Evie told Gavriil what he’d done? Had she been so very hurt and angered by his attempt on her affections as to run off and rat him out to the man she was professing to love? Despite his sudden inner turmoil and worry, Nik said nothing though, did his best to not outwardly react anymore than he had already as he looked to his father.
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The day had started off with a sense of excitement as Nikos had snuck out early to meet with Evangelina at a familiar cove along the beach. But that excitement and elation had been dashed when Evie had revealed the reason she’d asked him there. She was getting married to Gavriil Dimitrou. The Condos lord had been shocked, had been angry, had been… hurt and confused. Nikos had tried to talk her out of this folly, for surely beautiful Evangelina did not truly wish to tether herself to someone so much older, someone that could not appreciate the fire and spunk within her. She had not listened to his words, insisted that she loved Gavriil. So Nikos, as a last ditch effort to make her see reason, had kissed her.
That had not gone over well in the least.
The two had parted that morning sporting both physical and emotional injury.
Nik had spent the better half of the day riding the countryside on his favorite black stallion, Frixos, trying to sort through the turmoil in his mind, the anger at feeling betrayed. Not by Evangelina. No… never that. But by Gavriil. For taking dear Evangelina, for convincing her she wanted him. Finally, having at least settled the angry on the surface, Nikos had returned to the Condos estate here in the city with the intention of holing up in his chambers the rest of the day and tending to his wounds. But Arete had been there, and so he’d found solace in her arms instead.
Now the sun was down, and the storm that had been blowing in on the clouds that morning was raging outside. After having explained away the scratches upon his face as a disastrous end to trying to tame a wile feline and hoping the Head of House Condos did not see the lie for what it was, Nikos was now in the study with his father, going over various affairs pertaining to the Condos trades and deals, and how things were being impacted by the ongoing war with Egypt. Nikolias of course was concerned with the general state of affairs in the kingdom with the King being away at war. Nikos was silently hoping the king was taken out in battle, but at the same time he wished Mikaelidas rival made it home safe – because if the Egyptians were strong enough to take out someone like Achilleas, then Taengea could well see fighting upon its shores in a short time. It was a complicated thing, war.
Outside, servants were scrambling to accommodate unexpected visitors in the pouring rain. The gate was opened, the horse was rushed off to the stable, the door to the manor was opened with haste – even though the apparently intent Dimitrou lord had stalked to the door and knocked before the door could be properly unbarred. But the young man who was pulling this duty tonight respectfully apologized for his failure to open the portal sooner and swung it wide to allow the lord and lady entrance. And why not? Regardless of the unexpected hour and unfavorable traveling conditions, Gavriil Dimitrou was not an entirely uncommon site at the Condos estate, as he and the Head of House Condos were reportedly friends and on good terms.
While the young man that had greeted Lord Dimitrou and Lady Leventi secured the door once more, an older woman rushed from another room with clothes with which the couple could attempt to dry themselves. ”Please, come get close to the fire, my lord. My lady.” she said in a motherly tone, motioning to the hearth in an adjoining area to the entranceway, where visitors were normally received. An older man was already building a fire there. ”Lord Nikolias is being told you are here as we speak, I’m certain he will be delighted to see you, my lord,” the motherly servant continued.
Meanwhile, the young man that had opened the door was now knocking on the lord’s closed study door. He waited for a call to enter before pushing his way in. ”Please excuse my interruption, my lords. Lord Gavriil of Dimitrou and Lady Evangelina of Leventi have just arrived.”
Nikos, who had been sitting in a plush chair and languidly sipping at a goblet of whine while conversing with his father, now tensed and nearly choked on his drink. He sat up straight and set his goblet down on the small table before him. His entire demeanor was now changed, more alert. This was not good. After the event of that morning, this was not good at all! Had Evie told Gavriil what he’d done? Had she been so very hurt and angered by his attempt on her affections as to run off and rat him out to the man she was professing to love? Despite his sudden inner turmoil and worry, Nik said nothing though, did his best to not outwardly react anymore than he had already as he looked to his father.
The day had started off with a sense of excitement as Nikos had snuck out early to meet with Evangelina at a familiar cove along the beach. But that excitement and elation had been dashed when Evie had revealed the reason she’d asked him there. She was getting married to Gavriil Dimitrou. The Condos lord had been shocked, had been angry, had been… hurt and confused. Nikos had tried to talk her out of this folly, for surely beautiful Evangelina did not truly wish to tether herself to someone so much older, someone that could not appreciate the fire and spunk within her. She had not listened to his words, insisted that she loved Gavriil. So Nikos, as a last ditch effort to make her see reason, had kissed her.
That had not gone over well in the least.
The two had parted that morning sporting both physical and emotional injury.
Nik had spent the better half of the day riding the countryside on his favorite black stallion, Frixos, trying to sort through the turmoil in his mind, the anger at feeling betrayed. Not by Evangelina. No… never that. But by Gavriil. For taking dear Evangelina, for convincing her she wanted him. Finally, having at least settled the angry on the surface, Nikos had returned to the Condos estate here in the city with the intention of holing up in his chambers the rest of the day and tending to his wounds. But Arete had been there, and so he’d found solace in her arms instead.
Now the sun was down, and the storm that had been blowing in on the clouds that morning was raging outside. After having explained away the scratches upon his face as a disastrous end to trying to tame a wile feline and hoping the Head of House Condos did not see the lie for what it was, Nikos was now in the study with his father, going over various affairs pertaining to the Condos trades and deals, and how things were being impacted by the ongoing war with Egypt. Nikolias of course was concerned with the general state of affairs in the kingdom with the King being away at war. Nikos was silently hoping the king was taken out in battle, but at the same time he wished Mikaelidas rival made it home safe – because if the Egyptians were strong enough to take out someone like Achilleas, then Taengea could well see fighting upon its shores in a short time. It was a complicated thing, war.
Outside, servants were scrambling to accommodate unexpected visitors in the pouring rain. The gate was opened, the horse was rushed off to the stable, the door to the manor was opened with haste – even though the apparently intent Dimitrou lord had stalked to the door and knocked before the door could be properly unbarred. But the young man who was pulling this duty tonight respectfully apologized for his failure to open the portal sooner and swung it wide to allow the lord and lady entrance. And why not? Regardless of the unexpected hour and unfavorable traveling conditions, Gavriil Dimitrou was not an entirely uncommon site at the Condos estate, as he and the Head of House Condos were reportedly friends and on good terms.
While the young man that had greeted Lord Dimitrou and Lady Leventi secured the door once more, an older woman rushed from another room with clothes with which the couple could attempt to dry themselves. ”Please, come get close to the fire, my lord. My lady.” she said in a motherly tone, motioning to the hearth in an adjoining area to the entranceway, where visitors were normally received. An older man was already building a fire there. ”Lord Nikolias is being told you are here as we speak, I’m certain he will be delighted to see you, my lord,” the motherly servant continued.
Meanwhile, the young man that had opened the door was now knocking on the lord’s closed study door. He waited for a call to enter before pushing his way in. ”Please excuse my interruption, my lords. Lord Gavriil of Dimitrou and Lady Evangelina of Leventi have just arrived.”
Nikos, who had been sitting in a plush chair and languidly sipping at a goblet of whine while conversing with his father, now tensed and nearly choked on his drink. He sat up straight and set his goblet down on the small table before him. His entire demeanor was now changed, more alert. This was not good. After the event of that morning, this was not good at all! Had Evie told Gavriil what he’d done? Had she been so very hurt and angered by his attempt on her affections as to run off and rat him out to the man she was professing to love? Despite his sudden inner turmoil and worry, Nik said nothing though, did his best to not outwardly react anymore than he had already as he looked to his father.
Nikolias stood up when it was announced that Lord Gavriil and Lady Evangelina had arrived. A smile graced his face for once, despite being concerned for the injury to Nikos' face. He and his son had been enjoying a much improved relationship as of late now that both seemed to understand each others' concerns.
With that in mind, he had made up his mind not to hound Nikos about anything he decided was unimportant, for now. But when Nikolias arrived to greet Gavriil and Evangelina, he could see that all was most likely not as usual. Of course, the noise at the door could have told him that, but it was confirmed anyway after looking at everyone's faces.
Coupled with the scratches on Nikos' face, Nikolias grew a little concerned. Perhaps more had gone on than what he supposed might have happened. Then again, he suspected no one would have banged on the door like that for just any reason. Maybe there was some sort of wild animal on the loose. Nikolias' stomach did a wild flip, seeming to combine nervousness- the need for caution, that was- and joy. Maybe he'd finally get a chance to kill a lion or bear, like he had wanted to do to bring glory to House Condos for quite awhile now.
Nikolias looked from Nikos' face back to Gavriil and Evamgelina. "Yes,good day, my lord and lady. Please come in and make yourselves comfortable. Is there anything I can have brought for you?" He offered, hoping they would join him for a drink to make discussion a bit less tense.
The way Nikos had almost seemed to him to choke on his wine just now suggested that he might be nervous, too, and that seemed unusual. Nikos usually seemed so sure of himself. Now Nikolias knew for certain something was amiss. However, for now, he was not entirely certain his son was to blame.
"Son, are you certain you're all right? Those could get infected. And if it's possible there's a wild animal near here...."
He let his voice trail off, not wanting to sound too jubilant. Nikos had been injured, after all. But a possible hunting excursion might go a long way towards restoring Nikolias' sense of mental balance lately.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
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Nikolias stood up when it was announced that Lord Gavriil and Lady Evangelina had arrived. A smile graced his face for once, despite being concerned for the injury to Nikos' face. He and his son had been enjoying a much improved relationship as of late now that both seemed to understand each others' concerns.
With that in mind, he had made up his mind not to hound Nikos about anything he decided was unimportant, for now. But when Nikolias arrived to greet Gavriil and Evangelina, he could see that all was most likely not as usual. Of course, the noise at the door could have told him that, but it was confirmed anyway after looking at everyone's faces.
Coupled with the scratches on Nikos' face, Nikolias grew a little concerned. Perhaps more had gone on than what he supposed might have happened. Then again, he suspected no one would have banged on the door like that for just any reason. Maybe there was some sort of wild animal on the loose. Nikolias' stomach did a wild flip, seeming to combine nervousness- the need for caution, that was- and joy. Maybe he'd finally get a chance to kill a lion or bear, like he had wanted to do to bring glory to House Condos for quite awhile now.
Nikolias looked from Nikos' face back to Gavriil and Evamgelina. "Yes,good day, my lord and lady. Please come in and make yourselves comfortable. Is there anything I can have brought for you?" He offered, hoping they would join him for a drink to make discussion a bit less tense.
The way Nikos had almost seemed to him to choke on his wine just now suggested that he might be nervous, too, and that seemed unusual. Nikos usually seemed so sure of himself. Now Nikolias knew for certain something was amiss. However, for now, he was not entirely certain his son was to blame.
"Son, are you certain you're all right? Those could get infected. And if it's possible there's a wild animal near here...."
He let his voice trail off, not wanting to sound too jubilant. Nikos had been injured, after all. But a possible hunting excursion might go a long way towards restoring Nikolias' sense of mental balance lately.
Nikolias stood up when it was announced that Lord Gavriil and Lady Evangelina had arrived. A smile graced his face for once, despite being concerned for the injury to Nikos' face. He and his son had been enjoying a much improved relationship as of late now that both seemed to understand each others' concerns.
With that in mind, he had made up his mind not to hound Nikos about anything he decided was unimportant, for now. But when Nikolias arrived to greet Gavriil and Evangelina, he could see that all was most likely not as usual. Of course, the noise at the door could have told him that, but it was confirmed anyway after looking at everyone's faces.
Coupled with the scratches on Nikos' face, Nikolias grew a little concerned. Perhaps more had gone on than what he supposed might have happened. Then again, he suspected no one would have banged on the door like that for just any reason. Maybe there was some sort of wild animal on the loose. Nikolias' stomach did a wild flip, seeming to combine nervousness- the need for caution, that was- and joy. Maybe he'd finally get a chance to kill a lion or bear, like he had wanted to do to bring glory to House Condos for quite awhile now.
Nikolias looked from Nikos' face back to Gavriil and Evamgelina. "Yes,good day, my lord and lady. Please come in and make yourselves comfortable. Is there anything I can have brought for you?" He offered, hoping they would join him for a drink to make discussion a bit less tense.
The way Nikos had almost seemed to him to choke on his wine just now suggested that he might be nervous, too, and that seemed unusual. Nikos usually seemed so sure of himself. Now Nikolias knew for certain something was amiss. However, for now, he was not entirely certain his son was to blame.
"Son, are you certain you're all right? Those could get infected. And if it's possible there's a wild animal near here...."
He let his voice trail off, not wanting to sound too jubilant. Nikos had been injured, after all. But a possible hunting excursion might go a long way towards restoring Nikolias' sense of mental balance lately.
Rain fell in splatters behind them on the cobbles. Hooves scraped as his horse pawed the ground and then snorted at it. She shook her head, jingling the buckles on her bridle. He didn’t hear the mad scramble behind the door that perhaps he’d wanted to. All he heard were rustling trees and his own breathing. Quiet stretched on for a few long seconds and then Evie’s voice broke the tense stillness with, “Perhaps they went back to their estates…” He’d have considered that if the windows were’t blazing with light. Servants didn’t use that many lamps on their own.
All at once, he heard footsteps behind them. Turning, he found stable hands melting out of the shadows. His mare, more used to these servants than Gavriil, knew them and allowed the young man to take hold of her reins to lead her away and out of the rain. He glanced at Evangelina as she sniffled but never considered that she might be crying. She didn’t seem the sort, to him; the sort of woman to break down into angry or fearful tears. She seemed like someone who’d run a man through before she’d ever resort to tears.
Then there were footsteps ahead. Wood grazed wood as the door bolt was undone and a servant opened the door. Golden lamplight sprang upon them in a narrow, ever expanding block as the servant’s eyes widened, seeing the two of them together on the stoop. They were bowed to and admitted entrance. Gavriil was not unaware of the water pouring off him in puddles on the floor. In here, the air was colder and he was grateful for the lady servant who rushed in and trundled them towards the fire, but he did not smile and he did not speak. Instead he looked to Evangelina, wanting her closer to the fire than he, and turned to face the doorway he was sure the masters of the house would pass through.
Lord Nikolias is being told you are here as we speak,” the servant was saying, but Gavriil merely looked at the doorway. ” I’m certain he will be delighted to see you, my lord.” To that last part, Lord Dimitrou’s sharp gaze found the woman and he held her there for a moment. She faltered a very little but like any good servant, took no outward offense.
Gavriil looked at Evie, thinking he might say something to her. Something like ‘let me handle it’ or ‘don’t claw Nikolias’ or ‘Let me behead Nikos’ but thought better of it in the end. He could physically stop her from doing any of those things but the fallout was something he didn’t want to deal with. Unless absolutely necessary, he was more inclined to let her have her own way than not. Her uncle seemed to fear her getting out of line and the longer she was around the ‘savage’ Dimitrou clan, the more likely that was to be. The family were by no means cruel, but they did not cow to social conventions they did not like, either.
If she wanted to be a wildling, he’d let her.
In the next room, he could hear the low droning of a male voice. As is often the case, he could not hear exactly what was being said but picked out his own name easily enough. Certain sounds almost always carry whether meant to or not. He didn’t hear Nikos nearly choke but the corners of his mouth would have twitched upwards if he had. As it was, he stood solemn and gave, hand on his sword hilt, watching the doorway as though a doe was going to pass by it at any moment, ready for an arrow to sink into her heart.
Nikolias was the first to enter the room. Gavriil did not nod to his friend, nor did he greet him immediately. He simply watched him, trying to ascertain what Nikolias knew and what he did not. Whatever man Nikos thought him to be, Gavriil was a fair man. He held Nikolias not in the least bit responsible for the day’s events but he wasn’t unaware that there would be a quarrel between them regarding the boy.
“Yes,good day, my lord and lady. Please come in and make yourselves comfortable. Is there anything I can have brought for you?” Nikolias’s hospitality sounded forced to Gavriil’s ears and may well it have been. He and Evangelina, wet and bedraggled as they were, could not have come for a social visit at this hour or in this weather. Steam rose off them now in smoky tendrils. Gavriil’s eyes narrowed and his mouth downturned, giving him a fierce, harsh expression.
“Son, are you certain you're all right? Those could get infected. And if it's possible there's a wild animal near here....” Nikolias called and that was when Gavriil finally spoke.
“Bring your son to me,” he said without emotion. “I’m going to give him the chance to be a man and defend himself or he can die like a dog, pinned to that chair.” Here he gripped his sword hilt harder so that Nikolias would not be able to miss the meaning. His growling words would be loud enough for Nikos to have heard. He almost wished Nikos would slip out a window and run. He could do with a good hunt.
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Rain fell in splatters behind them on the cobbles. Hooves scraped as his horse pawed the ground and then snorted at it. She shook her head, jingling the buckles on her bridle. He didn’t hear the mad scramble behind the door that perhaps he’d wanted to. All he heard were rustling trees and his own breathing. Quiet stretched on for a few long seconds and then Evie’s voice broke the tense stillness with, “Perhaps they went back to their estates…” He’d have considered that if the windows were’t blazing with light. Servants didn’t use that many lamps on their own.
All at once, he heard footsteps behind them. Turning, he found stable hands melting out of the shadows. His mare, more used to these servants than Gavriil, knew them and allowed the young man to take hold of her reins to lead her away and out of the rain. He glanced at Evangelina as she sniffled but never considered that she might be crying. She didn’t seem the sort, to him; the sort of woman to break down into angry or fearful tears. She seemed like someone who’d run a man through before she’d ever resort to tears.
Then there were footsteps ahead. Wood grazed wood as the door bolt was undone and a servant opened the door. Golden lamplight sprang upon them in a narrow, ever expanding block as the servant’s eyes widened, seeing the two of them together on the stoop. They were bowed to and admitted entrance. Gavriil was not unaware of the water pouring off him in puddles on the floor. In here, the air was colder and he was grateful for the lady servant who rushed in and trundled them towards the fire, but he did not smile and he did not speak. Instead he looked to Evangelina, wanting her closer to the fire than he, and turned to face the doorway he was sure the masters of the house would pass through.
Lord Nikolias is being told you are here as we speak,” the servant was saying, but Gavriil merely looked at the doorway. ” I’m certain he will be delighted to see you, my lord.” To that last part, Lord Dimitrou’s sharp gaze found the woman and he held her there for a moment. She faltered a very little but like any good servant, took no outward offense.
Gavriil looked at Evie, thinking he might say something to her. Something like ‘let me handle it’ or ‘don’t claw Nikolias’ or ‘Let me behead Nikos’ but thought better of it in the end. He could physically stop her from doing any of those things but the fallout was something he didn’t want to deal with. Unless absolutely necessary, he was more inclined to let her have her own way than not. Her uncle seemed to fear her getting out of line and the longer she was around the ‘savage’ Dimitrou clan, the more likely that was to be. The family were by no means cruel, but they did not cow to social conventions they did not like, either.
If she wanted to be a wildling, he’d let her.
In the next room, he could hear the low droning of a male voice. As is often the case, he could not hear exactly what was being said but picked out his own name easily enough. Certain sounds almost always carry whether meant to or not. He didn’t hear Nikos nearly choke but the corners of his mouth would have twitched upwards if he had. As it was, he stood solemn and gave, hand on his sword hilt, watching the doorway as though a doe was going to pass by it at any moment, ready for an arrow to sink into her heart.
Nikolias was the first to enter the room. Gavriil did not nod to his friend, nor did he greet him immediately. He simply watched him, trying to ascertain what Nikolias knew and what he did not. Whatever man Nikos thought him to be, Gavriil was a fair man. He held Nikolias not in the least bit responsible for the day’s events but he wasn’t unaware that there would be a quarrel between them regarding the boy.
“Yes,good day, my lord and lady. Please come in and make yourselves comfortable. Is there anything I can have brought for you?” Nikolias’s hospitality sounded forced to Gavriil’s ears and may well it have been. He and Evangelina, wet and bedraggled as they were, could not have come for a social visit at this hour or in this weather. Steam rose off them now in smoky tendrils. Gavriil’s eyes narrowed and his mouth downturned, giving him a fierce, harsh expression.
“Son, are you certain you're all right? Those could get infected. And if it's possible there's a wild animal near here....” Nikolias called and that was when Gavriil finally spoke.
“Bring your son to me,” he said without emotion. “I’m going to give him the chance to be a man and defend himself or he can die like a dog, pinned to that chair.” Here he gripped his sword hilt harder so that Nikolias would not be able to miss the meaning. His growling words would be loud enough for Nikos to have heard. He almost wished Nikos would slip out a window and run. He could do with a good hunt.
Rain fell in splatters behind them on the cobbles. Hooves scraped as his horse pawed the ground and then snorted at it. She shook her head, jingling the buckles on her bridle. He didn’t hear the mad scramble behind the door that perhaps he’d wanted to. All he heard were rustling trees and his own breathing. Quiet stretched on for a few long seconds and then Evie’s voice broke the tense stillness with, “Perhaps they went back to their estates…” He’d have considered that if the windows were’t blazing with light. Servants didn’t use that many lamps on their own.
All at once, he heard footsteps behind them. Turning, he found stable hands melting out of the shadows. His mare, more used to these servants than Gavriil, knew them and allowed the young man to take hold of her reins to lead her away and out of the rain. He glanced at Evangelina as she sniffled but never considered that she might be crying. She didn’t seem the sort, to him; the sort of woman to break down into angry or fearful tears. She seemed like someone who’d run a man through before she’d ever resort to tears.
Then there were footsteps ahead. Wood grazed wood as the door bolt was undone and a servant opened the door. Golden lamplight sprang upon them in a narrow, ever expanding block as the servant’s eyes widened, seeing the two of them together on the stoop. They were bowed to and admitted entrance. Gavriil was not unaware of the water pouring off him in puddles on the floor. In here, the air was colder and he was grateful for the lady servant who rushed in and trundled them towards the fire, but he did not smile and he did not speak. Instead he looked to Evangelina, wanting her closer to the fire than he, and turned to face the doorway he was sure the masters of the house would pass through.
Lord Nikolias is being told you are here as we speak,” the servant was saying, but Gavriil merely looked at the doorway. ” I’m certain he will be delighted to see you, my lord.” To that last part, Lord Dimitrou’s sharp gaze found the woman and he held her there for a moment. She faltered a very little but like any good servant, took no outward offense.
Gavriil looked at Evie, thinking he might say something to her. Something like ‘let me handle it’ or ‘don’t claw Nikolias’ or ‘Let me behead Nikos’ but thought better of it in the end. He could physically stop her from doing any of those things but the fallout was something he didn’t want to deal with. Unless absolutely necessary, he was more inclined to let her have her own way than not. Her uncle seemed to fear her getting out of line and the longer she was around the ‘savage’ Dimitrou clan, the more likely that was to be. The family were by no means cruel, but they did not cow to social conventions they did not like, either.
If she wanted to be a wildling, he’d let her.
In the next room, he could hear the low droning of a male voice. As is often the case, he could not hear exactly what was being said but picked out his own name easily enough. Certain sounds almost always carry whether meant to or not. He didn’t hear Nikos nearly choke but the corners of his mouth would have twitched upwards if he had. As it was, he stood solemn and gave, hand on his sword hilt, watching the doorway as though a doe was going to pass by it at any moment, ready for an arrow to sink into her heart.
Nikolias was the first to enter the room. Gavriil did not nod to his friend, nor did he greet him immediately. He simply watched him, trying to ascertain what Nikolias knew and what he did not. Whatever man Nikos thought him to be, Gavriil was a fair man. He held Nikolias not in the least bit responsible for the day’s events but he wasn’t unaware that there would be a quarrel between them regarding the boy.
“Yes,good day, my lord and lady. Please come in and make yourselves comfortable. Is there anything I can have brought for you?” Nikolias’s hospitality sounded forced to Gavriil’s ears and may well it have been. He and Evangelina, wet and bedraggled as they were, could not have come for a social visit at this hour or in this weather. Steam rose off them now in smoky tendrils. Gavriil’s eyes narrowed and his mouth downturned, giving him a fierce, harsh expression.
“Son, are you certain you're all right? Those could get infected. And if it's possible there's a wild animal near here....” Nikolias called and that was when Gavriil finally spoke.
“Bring your son to me,” he said without emotion. “I’m going to give him the chance to be a man and defend himself or he can die like a dog, pinned to that chair.” Here he gripped his sword hilt harder so that Nikolias would not be able to miss the meaning. His growling words would be loud enough for Nikos to have heard. He almost wished Nikos would slip out a window and run. He could do with a good hunt.
Emotions curled around Evangelina, lapping at her like hot flames. If you’d asked her what she’d been feeling she wouldn’t have known what to answer. Feelings were swirling around out of control in her mind. Things she’d thought she had locked away in a chest and dug a deep hole and buried had risen up and were now flickering up and burning her from the inside out. She hated it. She hated the fact she couldn’t control her trepidation. She couldn’t control the way she wanted to step into the shadow on the doorstep and out of the lantern light of the front steps. She hated the way, when she and Gavriil should have been celebrating something happy that they were standing here in the rain. And she hated that despite being wrapped up in his jacket, she was… without a doubt soaked through to the skin.
She shivered, her skin goosebumping up. The heavy weight of the wet, gold fabric felt more like a second skin and all she truly wished to do was shed it and crawl under a warm blanket and stare into a crackling fire as her body warmed up and she was able to soak in everything. She wanted to sit and sort through all these emotions that had been drudge up, pick through them, tuck them away in their neat little box, and then bury the bastards. With the back of her hand she wiped away her tears, no, the rain from her cheeks.
Why hadn’t she just let Gavriil come on his own? Gods be damned. If he was going to make her a widow before they were even married she should be rid of him. Either by Nikos killing him or when Nikolias ran him through for murdering his heir… and if not Nikolias then the courts for killing Nikos. Her jaw clenched but she felt her gnash against one another. No. They weren’t gnashing, they were chattering softly. Wrapping her arms around herself, she’d been about to turn out and start for the horse again. This was senseless.
The sound of wood sliding against wood made her muscles freeze and her gaze shift to the door silently pleading with every God she knew of that the door wouldn’t open and the sound was just her imagination. It failed though and the door opened. Pressing her lips tightly together, she shot a dark look at the servant who’d dared open the door.
Since it was too late to withdraw at this point, the pint sized Leventi stepped through the Condos threshold. There was a warmth spread through her as a guiding hand directed her in and subtly positioned her where he wanted her. Without a second thought her body reacted, guiding her in towards the hearth and between her Dimitrou betrothed and the fire.
The words that passed from the servants mouth earned her another narrow eyed scowl. You fucking twit! You should have left the door closed. It wasn’t exactly rational, but Evangelina had to lay the blame at someone’s feet and it seemed that the servant was just the person to have her glaring wrath aimed at. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the look Gavriil gave her and she felt a few of her emotions starting to sort themselves out and anger starting to rise. She didn’t say anything though, and jerked her face towards the fire in a petulant temper tantrum.
Even at this distance she could hear the inhabitants of the house and a chill washed over her. This was really going to happen. This was going to happen and it was her fault because she’d had to tell Nikos herself and she’d known better. She pressed her lips even tighter and crossed her arms across her chest.
‘Yes,good day, my lord and lady. Please come in and make yourselves comfortable. Is there anything I can have brought for you?’
Closing her eyes she sucked in a hiss of breath from between her teeth and forced her gaze to soften almost apologetically as glanced at Nikolias. The look in her dark eyes shifted first from her future husband to Nikolias and her lips parted to answer something equally polite but she wasn’t given the opportunity too as Nikolias spoke up again, this time directing his words to… Her breath hitched and she looked past Nikolias to glance at Nikos and her gaze widened.
‘Son, are you certain you're all right? Those could get infected. And if it's possible there's a wild animal near here....’
Her eyebrows drew together and she was momentarily at a loss for words. He’d told his father that he’d been mauled by a wild animal? Was there no end to his shame? He couldn’t even confess what had truthfully happened? Her nostrils flared and she really, really wanted to break something… preferably over someone’s head.
‘Bring your son to me,’ Gavriil wasn’t exactly the most sensitive man, emotions didn’t seem to come easy to him. She knew for a fact she had a hard time reading him, but right then… there was something in his voice that made her uneasy. It was a voidness. Finding herself looking over the hard planes and angles of his weathered face, she didn’t, for the first time, feel comforted. ‘I’m going to give him the chance to be a man and defend himself or he can die like a dog, pinned to that chair.’
Evangelina didn’t miss the way his hand tightened on the hilt and she internally wanted to scream. That was, however, not what she did. Standing there with equal coolness, her face entirely impassive as she spoke the single word in warning to her future husband. “Gavriil,” The word slipped out in a throaty warning, deep and silky but unmistakably a warning to the Dimitrou.
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Emotions curled around Evangelina, lapping at her like hot flames. If you’d asked her what she’d been feeling she wouldn’t have known what to answer. Feelings were swirling around out of control in her mind. Things she’d thought she had locked away in a chest and dug a deep hole and buried had risen up and were now flickering up and burning her from the inside out. She hated it. She hated the fact she couldn’t control her trepidation. She couldn’t control the way she wanted to step into the shadow on the doorstep and out of the lantern light of the front steps. She hated the way, when she and Gavriil should have been celebrating something happy that they were standing here in the rain. And she hated that despite being wrapped up in his jacket, she was… without a doubt soaked through to the skin.
She shivered, her skin goosebumping up. The heavy weight of the wet, gold fabric felt more like a second skin and all she truly wished to do was shed it and crawl under a warm blanket and stare into a crackling fire as her body warmed up and she was able to soak in everything. She wanted to sit and sort through all these emotions that had been drudge up, pick through them, tuck them away in their neat little box, and then bury the bastards. With the back of her hand she wiped away her tears, no, the rain from her cheeks.
Why hadn’t she just let Gavriil come on his own? Gods be damned. If he was going to make her a widow before they were even married she should be rid of him. Either by Nikos killing him or when Nikolias ran him through for murdering his heir… and if not Nikolias then the courts for killing Nikos. Her jaw clenched but she felt her gnash against one another. No. They weren’t gnashing, they were chattering softly. Wrapping her arms around herself, she’d been about to turn out and start for the horse again. This was senseless.
The sound of wood sliding against wood made her muscles freeze and her gaze shift to the door silently pleading with every God she knew of that the door wouldn’t open and the sound was just her imagination. It failed though and the door opened. Pressing her lips tightly together, she shot a dark look at the servant who’d dared open the door.
Since it was too late to withdraw at this point, the pint sized Leventi stepped through the Condos threshold. There was a warmth spread through her as a guiding hand directed her in and subtly positioned her where he wanted her. Without a second thought her body reacted, guiding her in towards the hearth and between her Dimitrou betrothed and the fire.
The words that passed from the servants mouth earned her another narrow eyed scowl. You fucking twit! You should have left the door closed. It wasn’t exactly rational, but Evangelina had to lay the blame at someone’s feet and it seemed that the servant was just the person to have her glaring wrath aimed at. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the look Gavriil gave her and she felt a few of her emotions starting to sort themselves out and anger starting to rise. She didn’t say anything though, and jerked her face towards the fire in a petulant temper tantrum.
Even at this distance she could hear the inhabitants of the house and a chill washed over her. This was really going to happen. This was going to happen and it was her fault because she’d had to tell Nikos herself and she’d known better. She pressed her lips even tighter and crossed her arms across her chest.
‘Yes,good day, my lord and lady. Please come in and make yourselves comfortable. Is there anything I can have brought for you?’
Closing her eyes she sucked in a hiss of breath from between her teeth and forced her gaze to soften almost apologetically as glanced at Nikolias. The look in her dark eyes shifted first from her future husband to Nikolias and her lips parted to answer something equally polite but she wasn’t given the opportunity too as Nikolias spoke up again, this time directing his words to… Her breath hitched and she looked past Nikolias to glance at Nikos and her gaze widened.
‘Son, are you certain you're all right? Those could get infected. And if it's possible there's a wild animal near here....’
Her eyebrows drew together and she was momentarily at a loss for words. He’d told his father that he’d been mauled by a wild animal? Was there no end to his shame? He couldn’t even confess what had truthfully happened? Her nostrils flared and she really, really wanted to break something… preferably over someone’s head.
‘Bring your son to me,’ Gavriil wasn’t exactly the most sensitive man, emotions didn’t seem to come easy to him. She knew for a fact she had a hard time reading him, but right then… there was something in his voice that made her uneasy. It was a voidness. Finding herself looking over the hard planes and angles of his weathered face, she didn’t, for the first time, feel comforted. ‘I’m going to give him the chance to be a man and defend himself or he can die like a dog, pinned to that chair.’
Evangelina didn’t miss the way his hand tightened on the hilt and she internally wanted to scream. That was, however, not what she did. Standing there with equal coolness, her face entirely impassive as she spoke the single word in warning to her future husband. “Gavriil,” The word slipped out in a throaty warning, deep and silky but unmistakably a warning to the Dimitrou.
Emotions curled around Evangelina, lapping at her like hot flames. If you’d asked her what she’d been feeling she wouldn’t have known what to answer. Feelings were swirling around out of control in her mind. Things she’d thought she had locked away in a chest and dug a deep hole and buried had risen up and were now flickering up and burning her from the inside out. She hated it. She hated the fact she couldn’t control her trepidation. She couldn’t control the way she wanted to step into the shadow on the doorstep and out of the lantern light of the front steps. She hated the way, when she and Gavriil should have been celebrating something happy that they were standing here in the rain. And she hated that despite being wrapped up in his jacket, she was… without a doubt soaked through to the skin.
She shivered, her skin goosebumping up. The heavy weight of the wet, gold fabric felt more like a second skin and all she truly wished to do was shed it and crawl under a warm blanket and stare into a crackling fire as her body warmed up and she was able to soak in everything. She wanted to sit and sort through all these emotions that had been drudge up, pick through them, tuck them away in their neat little box, and then bury the bastards. With the back of her hand she wiped away her tears, no, the rain from her cheeks.
Why hadn’t she just let Gavriil come on his own? Gods be damned. If he was going to make her a widow before they were even married she should be rid of him. Either by Nikos killing him or when Nikolias ran him through for murdering his heir… and if not Nikolias then the courts for killing Nikos. Her jaw clenched but she felt her gnash against one another. No. They weren’t gnashing, they were chattering softly. Wrapping her arms around herself, she’d been about to turn out and start for the horse again. This was senseless.
The sound of wood sliding against wood made her muscles freeze and her gaze shift to the door silently pleading with every God she knew of that the door wouldn’t open and the sound was just her imagination. It failed though and the door opened. Pressing her lips tightly together, she shot a dark look at the servant who’d dared open the door.
Since it was too late to withdraw at this point, the pint sized Leventi stepped through the Condos threshold. There was a warmth spread through her as a guiding hand directed her in and subtly positioned her where he wanted her. Without a second thought her body reacted, guiding her in towards the hearth and between her Dimitrou betrothed and the fire.
The words that passed from the servants mouth earned her another narrow eyed scowl. You fucking twit! You should have left the door closed. It wasn’t exactly rational, but Evangelina had to lay the blame at someone’s feet and it seemed that the servant was just the person to have her glaring wrath aimed at. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the look Gavriil gave her and she felt a few of her emotions starting to sort themselves out and anger starting to rise. She didn’t say anything though, and jerked her face towards the fire in a petulant temper tantrum.
Even at this distance she could hear the inhabitants of the house and a chill washed over her. This was really going to happen. This was going to happen and it was her fault because she’d had to tell Nikos herself and she’d known better. She pressed her lips even tighter and crossed her arms across her chest.
‘Yes,good day, my lord and lady. Please come in and make yourselves comfortable. Is there anything I can have brought for you?’
Closing her eyes she sucked in a hiss of breath from between her teeth and forced her gaze to soften almost apologetically as glanced at Nikolias. The look in her dark eyes shifted first from her future husband to Nikolias and her lips parted to answer something equally polite but she wasn’t given the opportunity too as Nikolias spoke up again, this time directing his words to… Her breath hitched and she looked past Nikolias to glance at Nikos and her gaze widened.
‘Son, are you certain you're all right? Those could get infected. And if it's possible there's a wild animal near here....’
Her eyebrows drew together and she was momentarily at a loss for words. He’d told his father that he’d been mauled by a wild animal? Was there no end to his shame? He couldn’t even confess what had truthfully happened? Her nostrils flared and she really, really wanted to break something… preferably over someone’s head.
‘Bring your son to me,’ Gavriil wasn’t exactly the most sensitive man, emotions didn’t seem to come easy to him. She knew for a fact she had a hard time reading him, but right then… there was something in his voice that made her uneasy. It was a voidness. Finding herself looking over the hard planes and angles of his weathered face, she didn’t, for the first time, feel comforted. ‘I’m going to give him the chance to be a man and defend himself or he can die like a dog, pinned to that chair.’
Evangelina didn’t miss the way his hand tightened on the hilt and she internally wanted to scream. That was, however, not what she did. Standing there with equal coolness, her face entirely impassive as she spoke the single word in warning to her future husband. “Gavriil,” The word slipped out in a throaty warning, deep and silky but unmistakably a warning to the Dimitrou.
Nikos composed himself well enough to follow his father out of the study to the sitting room where their unexpected guests were waiting by the now blazing fire. Nikos hung back though, just out of sight – though where he could see into the room - for a moment, allowing Nikolias to greet the lord and lady, and to give himself a moment to garner what exactly this business was about. Gavriil had his sword with him. Perhaps Nikos should slip away to his room to retrieve his own sword. The younger Condos was still debating that decision when Nikolias turned to regard his son with further concern about the scratches upon his face. Nikos took a deep breath and stepped forward into the light of the room. ”I am fine, Father,” he said in as casual a tone as he could muster, despite the sudden tenseness in his shoulders.
’Bring your son to me. I’m going to give him the chance to be a man and defend himself or he can die like a dog, pinned to that chair.’
”Though perhaps not for long,” he muttered under his breath, low enough that it was likely none in the room heard him, save perhaps his father, who stood closest to the baron. Nikos cleared his throat and stepped forward, holding his head up, not willing to show fear. ”I am here, Gavriil,” he said, his gaze shifting from the Head of Dimitrou House to Evangelina, standing soaking wet behind the man. Regret flashed in his blue eyes, but only for a moment, for he couldn’t show weakness before Gavriil. He’d come to challenge Nikos, it seemed, to defend the woman he was betrothed to the baron supposed. He wondered again how much Evie had told the older man. Nikos had not meant to hurt her, had not meant to cause her any pain. He’d honestly thought she was making a mistake, and he was simply trying to make her see reason. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding together, Nik took note of Gavriil’s grip on his sword. ”Is this to be a duel, then? Shall I fetch my blade?” The tension was thick in the air between them. His father was surely growing confused as to what all this was about, but Nikos had no idea how to explain to him the events of that morning. They already had a strained relationship, this would likely only cause the rift that had just begun to mend to become a festering wound once more.
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Nikos composed himself well enough to follow his father out of the study to the sitting room where their unexpected guests were waiting by the now blazing fire. Nikos hung back though, just out of sight – though where he could see into the room - for a moment, allowing Nikolias to greet the lord and lady, and to give himself a moment to garner what exactly this business was about. Gavriil had his sword with him. Perhaps Nikos should slip away to his room to retrieve his own sword. The younger Condos was still debating that decision when Nikolias turned to regard his son with further concern about the scratches upon his face. Nikos took a deep breath and stepped forward into the light of the room. ”I am fine, Father,” he said in as casual a tone as he could muster, despite the sudden tenseness in his shoulders.
’Bring your son to me. I’m going to give him the chance to be a man and defend himself or he can die like a dog, pinned to that chair.’
”Though perhaps not for long,” he muttered under his breath, low enough that it was likely none in the room heard him, save perhaps his father, who stood closest to the baron. Nikos cleared his throat and stepped forward, holding his head up, not willing to show fear. ”I am here, Gavriil,” he said, his gaze shifting from the Head of Dimitrou House to Evangelina, standing soaking wet behind the man. Regret flashed in his blue eyes, but only for a moment, for he couldn’t show weakness before Gavriil. He’d come to challenge Nikos, it seemed, to defend the woman he was betrothed to the baron supposed. He wondered again how much Evie had told the older man. Nikos had not meant to hurt her, had not meant to cause her any pain. He’d honestly thought she was making a mistake, and he was simply trying to make her see reason. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding together, Nik took note of Gavriil’s grip on his sword. ”Is this to be a duel, then? Shall I fetch my blade?” The tension was thick in the air between them. His father was surely growing confused as to what all this was about, but Nikos had no idea how to explain to him the events of that morning. They already had a strained relationship, this would likely only cause the rift that had just begun to mend to become a festering wound once more.
Nikos composed himself well enough to follow his father out of the study to the sitting room where their unexpected guests were waiting by the now blazing fire. Nikos hung back though, just out of sight – though where he could see into the room - for a moment, allowing Nikolias to greet the lord and lady, and to give himself a moment to garner what exactly this business was about. Gavriil had his sword with him. Perhaps Nikos should slip away to his room to retrieve his own sword. The younger Condos was still debating that decision when Nikolias turned to regard his son with further concern about the scratches upon his face. Nikos took a deep breath and stepped forward into the light of the room. ”I am fine, Father,” he said in as casual a tone as he could muster, despite the sudden tenseness in his shoulders.
’Bring your son to me. I’m going to give him the chance to be a man and defend himself or he can die like a dog, pinned to that chair.’
”Though perhaps not for long,” he muttered under his breath, low enough that it was likely none in the room heard him, save perhaps his father, who stood closest to the baron. Nikos cleared his throat and stepped forward, holding his head up, not willing to show fear. ”I am here, Gavriil,” he said, his gaze shifting from the Head of Dimitrou House to Evangelina, standing soaking wet behind the man. Regret flashed in his blue eyes, but only for a moment, for he couldn’t show weakness before Gavriil. He’d come to challenge Nikos, it seemed, to defend the woman he was betrothed to the baron supposed. He wondered again how much Evie had told the older man. Nikos had not meant to hurt her, had not meant to cause her any pain. He’d honestly thought she was making a mistake, and he was simply trying to make her see reason. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding together, Nik took note of Gavriil’s grip on his sword. ”Is this to be a duel, then? Shall I fetch my blade?” The tension was thick in the air between them. His father was surely growing confused as to what all this was about, but Nikos had no idea how to explain to him the events of that morning. They already had a strained relationship, this would likely only cause the rift that had just begun to mend to become a festering wound once more.
"Excuse me?" Nikolias choked out, taken off guard- hopefully understandably- by Gavriil's request. He looked warily from Nikos to Gavriil and back again. Exactly what information was he missing? He got the feeling now that Nikos had not been honest with him, but he was used to questioning his son's motives. That wasn't what bothered him now. Unease slithered its way down his spine. No, it was the degree to which Nikos had not been honest that Nikolias wondered about.
He cleared his throat and tried again to speak, more calmly this time.
"Tell me what this is about, please. Slowly. I have a feeling there may be something I am not aware of going on here." Nikolias took a deep breath to steady himself, making the determination that there would be no more outbursts of surprise on his part before Gavriil and Nikos were done talking.
He didn't like the tone in which Lady Evangelina said Lord Gavriil's name. It seemed to imply that she, too, was wary, and that surprised Nikolias as well. Suddenly the air seemed to take on an eerie, almost otherworldly quality. It was nothing new to occasionally have a spat with his son. It was different to have his good friend involved as well, though. What in the world could his son and his friend have in common to have a disagreement over?
He glanced at Lady Evangelina again. She looked poised enough, but the tone in which she had spoken probably meant that she meant business.
Of course.
It had to do with Evie, somehow, and Nikolias now seemed to know that. Poor girl. She must feel very uncomfortable, somewhere underneath the veneer it seems we nobles always have to wear. There were, no doubt, some girls who might secretly enjoy being fought over, but Evie might not be one of them. He would have smiled at her sympathetically if he thought it might improve matters. But it seemed that the issue was mostly between Gavriil and Nikos, or else Gavriil probably wouldn't have made the request he did.
Still, Nikolias felt that he should hear both sides of the story before things got out of hand- though in his opinion, they nearly were already!
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"Excuse me?" Nikolias choked out, taken off guard- hopefully understandably- by Gavriil's request. He looked warily from Nikos to Gavriil and back again. Exactly what information was he missing? He got the feeling now that Nikos had not been honest with him, but he was used to questioning his son's motives. That wasn't what bothered him now. Unease slithered its way down his spine. No, it was the degree to which Nikos had not been honest that Nikolias wondered about.
He cleared his throat and tried again to speak, more calmly this time.
"Tell me what this is about, please. Slowly. I have a feeling there may be something I am not aware of going on here." Nikolias took a deep breath to steady himself, making the determination that there would be no more outbursts of surprise on his part before Gavriil and Nikos were done talking.
He didn't like the tone in which Lady Evangelina said Lord Gavriil's name. It seemed to imply that she, too, was wary, and that surprised Nikolias as well. Suddenly the air seemed to take on an eerie, almost otherworldly quality. It was nothing new to occasionally have a spat with his son. It was different to have his good friend involved as well, though. What in the world could his son and his friend have in common to have a disagreement over?
He glanced at Lady Evangelina again. She looked poised enough, but the tone in which she had spoken probably meant that she meant business.
Of course.
It had to do with Evie, somehow, and Nikolias now seemed to know that. Poor girl. She must feel very uncomfortable, somewhere underneath the veneer it seems we nobles always have to wear. There were, no doubt, some girls who might secretly enjoy being fought over, but Evie might not be one of them. He would have smiled at her sympathetically if he thought it might improve matters. But it seemed that the issue was mostly between Gavriil and Nikos, or else Gavriil probably wouldn't have made the request he did.
Still, Nikolias felt that he should hear both sides of the story before things got out of hand- though in his opinion, they nearly were already!
"Excuse me?" Nikolias choked out, taken off guard- hopefully understandably- by Gavriil's request. He looked warily from Nikos to Gavriil and back again. Exactly what information was he missing? He got the feeling now that Nikos had not been honest with him, but he was used to questioning his son's motives. That wasn't what bothered him now. Unease slithered its way down his spine. No, it was the degree to which Nikos had not been honest that Nikolias wondered about.
He cleared his throat and tried again to speak, more calmly this time.
"Tell me what this is about, please. Slowly. I have a feeling there may be something I am not aware of going on here." Nikolias took a deep breath to steady himself, making the determination that there would be no more outbursts of surprise on his part before Gavriil and Nikos were done talking.
He didn't like the tone in which Lady Evangelina said Lord Gavriil's name. It seemed to imply that she, too, was wary, and that surprised Nikolias as well. Suddenly the air seemed to take on an eerie, almost otherworldly quality. It was nothing new to occasionally have a spat with his son. It was different to have his good friend involved as well, though. What in the world could his son and his friend have in common to have a disagreement over?
He glanced at Lady Evangelina again. She looked poised enough, but the tone in which she had spoken probably meant that she meant business.
Of course.
It had to do with Evie, somehow, and Nikolias now seemed to know that. Poor girl. She must feel very uncomfortable, somewhere underneath the veneer it seems we nobles always have to wear. There were, no doubt, some girls who might secretly enjoy being fought over, but Evie might not be one of them. He would have smiled at her sympathetically if he thought it might improve matters. But it seemed that the issue was mostly between Gavriil and Nikos, or else Gavriil probably wouldn't have made the request he did.
Still, Nikolias felt that he should hear both sides of the story before things got out of hand- though in his opinion, they nearly were already!
"Excuse me?" Nikolias’s squeak might have been humorous at any other time but Gavriil didn’t even notice the pitch other than to rightly understand that his friend’s anxiety was surging upwards. The Condos lord’s head swiveled this way and that as he tried to gain understanding on how his evening had just flipped so totally upside down.
”Gavriil…” Evangelina’s low warning didn’t escape him, but he didn’t turn his head towards her, either. If she’d delighted at the thought of bloodshed, they wouldn’t be together at all. It was no great surprise that she would want a non-violent outcome. Generally, he was of the same mind but having been the one to pick her up from outside his house, where she’d been sitting in some sort of shocked stupor, to seeing her bruised up as she’d been, and all from a man who hadn’t the slightest right to touch her in the first place...there was no letting that slide.
Nikos finally appeared in the doorway, looking the worse for wear to Gavriil’s estimation but the Dimitrou lord’s grim expression did not change to one of outrage or smugness. His features remained stony and impassive. ”I am here, Gavriil,” Nikos said and for a single moment, there seemed to be some sort of softening of emotion in Nikos’s eyes. Of all the insults - not even Gavriil was above the flash of rage that stabbed through his body like arcing lightning.
”Is this to be a duel, then?” The tone was one Gavriil took to be haughty and insolent. ”Shall I fetch my blade?”
“If you have a shred of honor,” Gavriil replied evenly. Here, he withdrew his sword from its sheath and stood facing Nikos. "No shield."
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"Excuse me?" Nikolias’s squeak might have been humorous at any other time but Gavriil didn’t even notice the pitch other than to rightly understand that his friend’s anxiety was surging upwards. The Condos lord’s head swiveled this way and that as he tried to gain understanding on how his evening had just flipped so totally upside down.
”Gavriil…” Evangelina’s low warning didn’t escape him, but he didn’t turn his head towards her, either. If she’d delighted at the thought of bloodshed, they wouldn’t be together at all. It was no great surprise that she would want a non-violent outcome. Generally, he was of the same mind but having been the one to pick her up from outside his house, where she’d been sitting in some sort of shocked stupor, to seeing her bruised up as she’d been, and all from a man who hadn’t the slightest right to touch her in the first place...there was no letting that slide.
Nikos finally appeared in the doorway, looking the worse for wear to Gavriil’s estimation but the Dimitrou lord’s grim expression did not change to one of outrage or smugness. His features remained stony and impassive. ”I am here, Gavriil,” Nikos said and for a single moment, there seemed to be some sort of softening of emotion in Nikos’s eyes. Of all the insults - not even Gavriil was above the flash of rage that stabbed through his body like arcing lightning.
”Is this to be a duel, then?” The tone was one Gavriil took to be haughty and insolent. ”Shall I fetch my blade?”
“If you have a shred of honor,” Gavriil replied evenly. Here, he withdrew his sword from its sheath and stood facing Nikos. "No shield."
"Excuse me?" Nikolias’s squeak might have been humorous at any other time but Gavriil didn’t even notice the pitch other than to rightly understand that his friend’s anxiety was surging upwards. The Condos lord’s head swiveled this way and that as he tried to gain understanding on how his evening had just flipped so totally upside down.
”Gavriil…” Evangelina’s low warning didn’t escape him, but he didn’t turn his head towards her, either. If she’d delighted at the thought of bloodshed, they wouldn’t be together at all. It was no great surprise that she would want a non-violent outcome. Generally, he was of the same mind but having been the one to pick her up from outside his house, where she’d been sitting in some sort of shocked stupor, to seeing her bruised up as she’d been, and all from a man who hadn’t the slightest right to touch her in the first place...there was no letting that slide.
Nikos finally appeared in the doorway, looking the worse for wear to Gavriil’s estimation but the Dimitrou lord’s grim expression did not change to one of outrage or smugness. His features remained stony and impassive. ”I am here, Gavriil,” Nikos said and for a single moment, there seemed to be some sort of softening of emotion in Nikos’s eyes. Of all the insults - not even Gavriil was above the flash of rage that stabbed through his body like arcing lightning.
”Is this to be a duel, then?” The tone was one Gavriil took to be haughty and insolent. ”Shall I fetch my blade?”
“If you have a shred of honor,” Gavriil replied evenly. Here, he withdrew his sword from its sheath and stood facing Nikos. "No shield."
She couldn’t blame Nikolias’ sputtering about what all of this was about, if she hadn’t been privy to it… she’d of had a similar reaction. The thing was, she had been privy to it… she knew the intricate little details as well as his son did… details that even Gavriil wasn’t aware of. Details that if Gavriil had been aware of would not have saved Nikos’ skin one little bit.
Flicking her dark, morose eyes from her future husband to the man she’d once believed she’d been in love with a sigh escaped her at the issuance of the challenge. It didn’t seem they were going to tell Nikolias anything and more to the point it didn’t seem like she was going to tell him anything. This was something for the son to tell his father… not something that needed to be heard from her.
Closing her eyes, she shook her head and stepped away from this wearily retreating to the side of the room and out of the way.
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She couldn’t blame Nikolias’ sputtering about what all of this was about, if she hadn’t been privy to it… she’d of had a similar reaction. The thing was, she had been privy to it… she knew the intricate little details as well as his son did… details that even Gavriil wasn’t aware of. Details that if Gavriil had been aware of would not have saved Nikos’ skin one little bit.
Flicking her dark, morose eyes from her future husband to the man she’d once believed she’d been in love with a sigh escaped her at the issuance of the challenge. It didn’t seem they were going to tell Nikolias anything and more to the point it didn’t seem like she was going to tell him anything. This was something for the son to tell his father… not something that needed to be heard from her.
Closing her eyes, she shook her head and stepped away from this wearily retreating to the side of the room and out of the way.
She couldn’t blame Nikolias’ sputtering about what all of this was about, if she hadn’t been privy to it… she’d of had a similar reaction. The thing was, she had been privy to it… she knew the intricate little details as well as his son did… details that even Gavriil wasn’t aware of. Details that if Gavriil had been aware of would not have saved Nikos’ skin one little bit.
Flicking her dark, morose eyes from her future husband to the man she’d once believed she’d been in love with a sigh escaped her at the issuance of the challenge. It didn’t seem they were going to tell Nikolias anything and more to the point it didn’t seem like she was going to tell him anything. This was something for the son to tell his father… not something that needed to be heard from her.
Closing her eyes, she shook her head and stepped away from this wearily retreating to the side of the room and out of the way.
Gavriil’s attention, until Evangelina’s sigh, was pinned on Nikos. He didn’t look anywhere else. The room, the fire, Nikolias and Evie might as well have not existed. His entire focus was on the sword in his hand and the man he planned to drive it into. Or, it had been, anyway. Evie’s sigh, soft and resigned, wormed its way into his consciousness and he finally looked away from Nikos and towards the person this was all to avenge. She looked tired. As she turned, the firelight cast her face in long shadows and then her face was entirely hidden, her hair screening it and all he could see was her back.
He lowered his sword and straightened, not having realized he was already in the crouch to take on Nikos if the man flew at him. Now he was turned away from Nikos entirely, watching Evangelina’s progress across the room and to the corner where she appeared to him to fold herself up. That reaction confused him and it was worse than anger. In the face of rage, it was easy to build up defenses and dig in one’s heels, stubborn about how right he might be. With resignation, there wasn’t a fight. It didn’t enter his head that she might feel sorry for Nikos but he could understand that she maybe didn’t want his blood splattered across her feet.
Giving her a long look, he turned back to Nikos. He worked his jaw and finally sheathed his sword. “Apologize,” he said. If Evangelina wasn’t going to speak to him after this, there was very little point in killing Nikos. Every single nerve in his body was screaming for a fight but with her one sigh, that slow walk across the room...somehow was louder than her shouting before. Gavriil’s fierce scowl remained, but the urge to murder was fading. “Apologize and we will never speak of this again but my opinion of you has dropped to such a degree that I cannot see it ever returning up to its previous state.”
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Gavriil’s attention, until Evangelina’s sigh, was pinned on Nikos. He didn’t look anywhere else. The room, the fire, Nikolias and Evie might as well have not existed. His entire focus was on the sword in his hand and the man he planned to drive it into. Or, it had been, anyway. Evie’s sigh, soft and resigned, wormed its way into his consciousness and he finally looked away from Nikos and towards the person this was all to avenge. She looked tired. As she turned, the firelight cast her face in long shadows and then her face was entirely hidden, her hair screening it and all he could see was her back.
He lowered his sword and straightened, not having realized he was already in the crouch to take on Nikos if the man flew at him. Now he was turned away from Nikos entirely, watching Evangelina’s progress across the room and to the corner where she appeared to him to fold herself up. That reaction confused him and it was worse than anger. In the face of rage, it was easy to build up defenses and dig in one’s heels, stubborn about how right he might be. With resignation, there wasn’t a fight. It didn’t enter his head that she might feel sorry for Nikos but he could understand that she maybe didn’t want his blood splattered across her feet.
Giving her a long look, he turned back to Nikos. He worked his jaw and finally sheathed his sword. “Apologize,” he said. If Evangelina wasn’t going to speak to him after this, there was very little point in killing Nikos. Every single nerve in his body was screaming for a fight but with her one sigh, that slow walk across the room...somehow was louder than her shouting before. Gavriil’s fierce scowl remained, but the urge to murder was fading. “Apologize and we will never speak of this again but my opinion of you has dropped to such a degree that I cannot see it ever returning up to its previous state.”
Gavriil’s attention, until Evangelina’s sigh, was pinned on Nikos. He didn’t look anywhere else. The room, the fire, Nikolias and Evie might as well have not existed. His entire focus was on the sword in his hand and the man he planned to drive it into. Or, it had been, anyway. Evie’s sigh, soft and resigned, wormed its way into his consciousness and he finally looked away from Nikos and towards the person this was all to avenge. She looked tired. As she turned, the firelight cast her face in long shadows and then her face was entirely hidden, her hair screening it and all he could see was her back.
He lowered his sword and straightened, not having realized he was already in the crouch to take on Nikos if the man flew at him. Now he was turned away from Nikos entirely, watching Evangelina’s progress across the room and to the corner where she appeared to him to fold herself up. That reaction confused him and it was worse than anger. In the face of rage, it was easy to build up defenses and dig in one’s heels, stubborn about how right he might be. With resignation, there wasn’t a fight. It didn’t enter his head that she might feel sorry for Nikos but he could understand that she maybe didn’t want his blood splattered across her feet.
Giving her a long look, he turned back to Nikos. He worked his jaw and finally sheathed his sword. “Apologize,” he said. If Evangelina wasn’t going to speak to him after this, there was very little point in killing Nikos. Every single nerve in his body was screaming for a fight but with her one sigh, that slow walk across the room...somehow was louder than her shouting before. Gavriil’s fierce scowl remained, but the urge to murder was fading. “Apologize and we will never speak of this again but my opinion of you has dropped to such a degree that I cannot see it ever returning up to its previous state.”
’If you have a shred of honor. No shield.’ ”Very well.” Nikos turned briefly and summoned a servant to fetch his sword from his chambers. Arete was likely in his room, would grow suspicious of why his sword was being retrieved from where it hung on his wall. But the baron couldn’t worry about that now, except to hope that his mistress was not in his room but her own, perhaps working on her latest drawings.
’Tell me what this is about, please. Slowly, I have a feeling there may be something I am not aware of going on here.’ Nikos turned to his father and held out a calming hand. ”It’s alright, Father. There’s just a bit of a… dispute.” His gaze shifted to Evangelina, who was now shrinking into a corner. Nik swallowed, and accepted the sword that appeared before him, held out by the wide-eyed and out-of-breath young male servant. ”Nothing I cannot handle,” he continued through clenched teeth, his blue eyes landing on the Dimitrou lord once more.
Nikos couldn’t know for certain that Evie had not told her betrothed that he had kissed her, had tried to go further until she’d rebuffed him so forcefully. But he had suspicion that Gavriil did not know the entirety of the events of that morning as he was not being drug away in chains and he was still drawing breath. Hopefully, it would remain so, though he would live with what he’d done and how Evangelina had looked at him afterwards forevermore. Nik looked at Evie again, as Gavriil looked at her. Perhaps, the man should run him through…
’Apologize. Apologize and we will never speak of this again but my opinion of you has dropped to such a degree that I cannot see it ever returning up to its previous state.’
Nikos turned a sharp gaze to Gavriil at his demand for an apology. ”Apol-“ Nik started to say, his voice holding the clear tone that he thought the sentiment appalling, demeaning, like he had nothing to apologize for. He’d already assured Evie that he had not meant to hurt her. At this thought he’d looked to the woman again, huddled in the corner with a look of saddened resignation on her fair features. He’d told her that morning that Gavriil would kill the fire within her that Nik had so adored, but it would appear that perhaps he’d been the one to quench that flame. His lips became a thin line, a tic started in his jaw, one hand fisted at his side, the other gripping the pommel of his longsword tight enough that his knuckles became white, though the blade was pointed to the floor. The younger Condos lord looked at his father; out of the corner of his eye he thought he caught movement in the shadows beyond the threshold. He turned his head further to inspect the moment, but saw nothing. He turned his attention back to the people in the room with him, to the visitors to the Condos manor.
His hardened gaze was on Gavriil when he began, ”I am sorry.” The words were biting to begin with, as apologizing was not something Nikos did often, if ever. He shifted his gaze from Gavriil to Evie, and his visage softened considerably, true regret edging his tone as he continued. ”I meant no harm, that was never my intention. Your… announcement… I lost my wits for a moment. It will not happen again, unbidden.” There was sincerity in what he said; he never looked away from the Leventi lady. He wanted to go to her, to speak with her alone. But he knew Gavriil would raise that sword once more his way it he attempted this. So, he stood his ground, tense and aching for something that he could see slipping from his grasp before his very eyes. Evie.
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’If you have a shred of honor. No shield.’ ”Very well.” Nikos turned briefly and summoned a servant to fetch his sword from his chambers. Arete was likely in his room, would grow suspicious of why his sword was being retrieved from where it hung on his wall. But the baron couldn’t worry about that now, except to hope that his mistress was not in his room but her own, perhaps working on her latest drawings.
’Tell me what this is about, please. Slowly, I have a feeling there may be something I am not aware of going on here.’ Nikos turned to his father and held out a calming hand. ”It’s alright, Father. There’s just a bit of a… dispute.” His gaze shifted to Evangelina, who was now shrinking into a corner. Nik swallowed, and accepted the sword that appeared before him, held out by the wide-eyed and out-of-breath young male servant. ”Nothing I cannot handle,” he continued through clenched teeth, his blue eyes landing on the Dimitrou lord once more.
Nikos couldn’t know for certain that Evie had not told her betrothed that he had kissed her, had tried to go further until she’d rebuffed him so forcefully. But he had suspicion that Gavriil did not know the entirety of the events of that morning as he was not being drug away in chains and he was still drawing breath. Hopefully, it would remain so, though he would live with what he’d done and how Evangelina had looked at him afterwards forevermore. Nik looked at Evie again, as Gavriil looked at her. Perhaps, the man should run him through…
’Apologize. Apologize and we will never speak of this again but my opinion of you has dropped to such a degree that I cannot see it ever returning up to its previous state.’
Nikos turned a sharp gaze to Gavriil at his demand for an apology. ”Apol-“ Nik started to say, his voice holding the clear tone that he thought the sentiment appalling, demeaning, like he had nothing to apologize for. He’d already assured Evie that he had not meant to hurt her. At this thought he’d looked to the woman again, huddled in the corner with a look of saddened resignation on her fair features. He’d told her that morning that Gavriil would kill the fire within her that Nik had so adored, but it would appear that perhaps he’d been the one to quench that flame. His lips became a thin line, a tic started in his jaw, one hand fisted at his side, the other gripping the pommel of his longsword tight enough that his knuckles became white, though the blade was pointed to the floor. The younger Condos lord looked at his father; out of the corner of his eye he thought he caught movement in the shadows beyond the threshold. He turned his head further to inspect the moment, but saw nothing. He turned his attention back to the people in the room with him, to the visitors to the Condos manor.
His hardened gaze was on Gavriil when he began, ”I am sorry.” The words were biting to begin with, as apologizing was not something Nikos did often, if ever. He shifted his gaze from Gavriil to Evie, and his visage softened considerably, true regret edging his tone as he continued. ”I meant no harm, that was never my intention. Your… announcement… I lost my wits for a moment. It will not happen again, unbidden.” There was sincerity in what he said; he never looked away from the Leventi lady. He wanted to go to her, to speak with her alone. But he knew Gavriil would raise that sword once more his way it he attempted this. So, he stood his ground, tense and aching for something that he could see slipping from his grasp before his very eyes. Evie.
’If you have a shred of honor. No shield.’ ”Very well.” Nikos turned briefly and summoned a servant to fetch his sword from his chambers. Arete was likely in his room, would grow suspicious of why his sword was being retrieved from where it hung on his wall. But the baron couldn’t worry about that now, except to hope that his mistress was not in his room but her own, perhaps working on her latest drawings.
’Tell me what this is about, please. Slowly, I have a feeling there may be something I am not aware of going on here.’ Nikos turned to his father and held out a calming hand. ”It’s alright, Father. There’s just a bit of a… dispute.” His gaze shifted to Evangelina, who was now shrinking into a corner. Nik swallowed, and accepted the sword that appeared before him, held out by the wide-eyed and out-of-breath young male servant. ”Nothing I cannot handle,” he continued through clenched teeth, his blue eyes landing on the Dimitrou lord once more.
Nikos couldn’t know for certain that Evie had not told her betrothed that he had kissed her, had tried to go further until she’d rebuffed him so forcefully. But he had suspicion that Gavriil did not know the entirety of the events of that morning as he was not being drug away in chains and he was still drawing breath. Hopefully, it would remain so, though he would live with what he’d done and how Evangelina had looked at him afterwards forevermore. Nik looked at Evie again, as Gavriil looked at her. Perhaps, the man should run him through…
’Apologize. Apologize and we will never speak of this again but my opinion of you has dropped to such a degree that I cannot see it ever returning up to its previous state.’
Nikos turned a sharp gaze to Gavriil at his demand for an apology. ”Apol-“ Nik started to say, his voice holding the clear tone that he thought the sentiment appalling, demeaning, like he had nothing to apologize for. He’d already assured Evie that he had not meant to hurt her. At this thought he’d looked to the woman again, huddled in the corner with a look of saddened resignation on her fair features. He’d told her that morning that Gavriil would kill the fire within her that Nik had so adored, but it would appear that perhaps he’d been the one to quench that flame. His lips became a thin line, a tic started in his jaw, one hand fisted at his side, the other gripping the pommel of his longsword tight enough that his knuckles became white, though the blade was pointed to the floor. The younger Condos lord looked at his father; out of the corner of his eye he thought he caught movement in the shadows beyond the threshold. He turned his head further to inspect the moment, but saw nothing. He turned his attention back to the people in the room with him, to the visitors to the Condos manor.
His hardened gaze was on Gavriil when he began, ”I am sorry.” The words were biting to begin with, as apologizing was not something Nikos did often, if ever. He shifted his gaze from Gavriil to Evie, and his visage softened considerably, true regret edging his tone as he continued. ”I meant no harm, that was never my intention. Your… announcement… I lost my wits for a moment. It will not happen again, unbidden.” There was sincerity in what he said; he never looked away from the Leventi lady. He wanted to go to her, to speak with her alone. But he knew Gavriil would raise that sword once more his way it he attempted this. So, he stood his ground, tense and aching for something that he could see slipping from his grasp before his very eyes. Evie.
Nikolias' suspicions that he was not being told the whole story only seemed to be confirmed when he heard part of Nikos' apology, though to his credit, Nikos did seem rather sheepish about it.
'I am sorry. I meant no harm.... lost my wits...'
Nikos did not seem to be like his father in the least, in some ways. Gods only knew what 'losing one's wits' might mean for Nikos. A small tic set in Nikolias' jaw. It was nerves, nothing more than concern for his only son and heir, but what he had just heard did not sound encouraging.
He was tempted to follow the men outside, but knew that would only probably make it worse for everyone involved. He was too confused to be anything more than shocked and nervous, and while he tried to keep a veneer of calm, the fact that he had not been told what all this was about exactly, despite asking just now, only served to increase his sense of unease. Anger at not being told could be dealt with later. but it was more than that.Right now he was also piqued that Gavriil would show up and demand his son take up the sword. No explanations from him seemed very likely at this point, either. He glanced at Evie, but did not demand that she tell him anything either. She was a Leventi, regardless of anything else, and he did not demandthat a Leventi do anything.
While he was confused, he sensed -again- that hovering would only make things worse. But he prayed in his thoughts as he watched the goings on. Gods, please, protect my only son. He smiled at Nikos- just a tiny bit- because yes. his son could no doubt handle himself in a duel.
Yet the worry did not ease entirely, and he did not exactly know what to do with himself. Should he watch- even if the tension drove him mad- or would that be implying in some way that he didn't entirely trust Nikos to take care of this?
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Nikolias' suspicions that he was not being told the whole story only seemed to be confirmed when he heard part of Nikos' apology, though to his credit, Nikos did seem rather sheepish about it.
'I am sorry. I meant no harm.... lost my wits...'
Nikos did not seem to be like his father in the least, in some ways. Gods only knew what 'losing one's wits' might mean for Nikos. A small tic set in Nikolias' jaw. It was nerves, nothing more than concern for his only son and heir, but what he had just heard did not sound encouraging.
He was tempted to follow the men outside, but knew that would only probably make it worse for everyone involved. He was too confused to be anything more than shocked and nervous, and while he tried to keep a veneer of calm, the fact that he had not been told what all this was about exactly, despite asking just now, only served to increase his sense of unease. Anger at not being told could be dealt with later. but it was more than that.Right now he was also piqued that Gavriil would show up and demand his son take up the sword. No explanations from him seemed very likely at this point, either. He glanced at Evie, but did not demand that she tell him anything either. She was a Leventi, regardless of anything else, and he did not demandthat a Leventi do anything.
While he was confused, he sensed -again- that hovering would only make things worse. But he prayed in his thoughts as he watched the goings on. Gods, please, protect my only son. He smiled at Nikos- just a tiny bit- because yes. his son could no doubt handle himself in a duel.
Yet the worry did not ease entirely, and he did not exactly know what to do with himself. Should he watch- even if the tension drove him mad- or would that be implying in some way that he didn't entirely trust Nikos to take care of this?
Nikolias' suspicions that he was not being told the whole story only seemed to be confirmed when he heard part of Nikos' apology, though to his credit, Nikos did seem rather sheepish about it.
'I am sorry. I meant no harm.... lost my wits...'
Nikos did not seem to be like his father in the least, in some ways. Gods only knew what 'losing one's wits' might mean for Nikos. A small tic set in Nikolias' jaw. It was nerves, nothing more than concern for his only son and heir, but what he had just heard did not sound encouraging.
He was tempted to follow the men outside, but knew that would only probably make it worse for everyone involved. He was too confused to be anything more than shocked and nervous, and while he tried to keep a veneer of calm, the fact that he had not been told what all this was about exactly, despite asking just now, only served to increase his sense of unease. Anger at not being told could be dealt with later. but it was more than that.Right now he was also piqued that Gavriil would show up and demand his son take up the sword. No explanations from him seemed very likely at this point, either. He glanced at Evie, but did not demand that she tell him anything either. She was a Leventi, regardless of anything else, and he did not demandthat a Leventi do anything.
While he was confused, he sensed -again- that hovering would only make things worse. But he prayed in his thoughts as he watched the goings on. Gods, please, protect my only son. He smiled at Nikos- just a tiny bit- because yes. his son could no doubt handle himself in a duel.
Yet the worry did not ease entirely, and he did not exactly know what to do with himself. Should he watch- even if the tension drove him mad- or would that be implying in some way that he didn't entirely trust Nikos to take care of this?
There in the corner of Nikolias’ room, Evangelina found the perfect place to blend into the shadows and silently seethe. She didn’t know who she was angriest with at that moment, she was tired and wet and emotionally spent. Her arms crossed over her chest and she lowered her head at the floor, too disgusted with all of this to even glower at the three men in the room.
Did Gavriil even consider for half of a moment who would be crowned with the blame of this? She was so tightly entangled in the middle of this fiasco. There wasn’t a chance that she would walk out of this unscathed by someone's claws. Oh, at that very moment she hated all of them and probably would have burst from the room if she’d had anywhere else to go that other than back into the bone-chilling, wet night.
The hairs on her forearm stood straight up as she felt Gavriil’s gaze slide over to her and her head tilted just fractionally to meet his and then her lips pressed together and she jerked her eyes back to the floor but not before Nikos caught hers and she could feel the worry seeping out of him. He didn’t know just how much Gavriil knew, or in this case, didn’t know. Her eyes narrowed slightly at him as if she could read his thoughts about running Gavriil through although it wasn’t a far jump after this afternoon’s display from him.
‘Apologize.’
Evangelina’s head came up as she studied her soon to be husband and the way the rage was tempering and he was regaining his control.
‘Apologize and we will never speak of this again but my opinion of you has dropped to such a degree that I cannot see it ever returning up to its previous state.’
The tension in her shoulders softened a little and in two quick steps, she was back across the room and at Gavriil’s side wrapping an arm around his waist and pressing the side of her face into the warmth of his body. The sound of Nikos spewing about the apology lost on her. What a stupid little fool he was not to just rein his mouth in and say what needed to be said of him. He had the opportunity to prevent this from escalating and all he had to do was utter a few words… words that he’d already uttered to her once.
‘I am sorry.’
A deep sigh escaped Evangelina and she finally turned her head to meet Nikos gaze.
‘I meant no harm, that was never my intention. Your… announcement… I lost my wits for a moment. It will not happen again, unbidden.’
Her lips tightened in a silent warning to him not to say anything more than that.
“Fine, now let us be on our way and put all of this behind us.” Her voice rasped out deeply as she looked up at Gavriil and gave a small tug hoping all of this could be forgotten and they could just focus on starting their life anew. She could almost see her escape out of here, it was in her grasp and the only thing she had to do was get the Dimitrou lord out of this house and back on his horse. Her patience was starting to fray, being so close and yet it all depended on Gavriil just walking away in this moment satisfied that Nikos meant his apology.
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There in the corner of Nikolias’ room, Evangelina found the perfect place to blend into the shadows and silently seethe. She didn’t know who she was angriest with at that moment, she was tired and wet and emotionally spent. Her arms crossed over her chest and she lowered her head at the floor, too disgusted with all of this to even glower at the three men in the room.
Did Gavriil even consider for half of a moment who would be crowned with the blame of this? She was so tightly entangled in the middle of this fiasco. There wasn’t a chance that she would walk out of this unscathed by someone's claws. Oh, at that very moment she hated all of them and probably would have burst from the room if she’d had anywhere else to go that other than back into the bone-chilling, wet night.
The hairs on her forearm stood straight up as she felt Gavriil’s gaze slide over to her and her head tilted just fractionally to meet his and then her lips pressed together and she jerked her eyes back to the floor but not before Nikos caught hers and she could feel the worry seeping out of him. He didn’t know just how much Gavriil knew, or in this case, didn’t know. Her eyes narrowed slightly at him as if she could read his thoughts about running Gavriil through although it wasn’t a far jump after this afternoon’s display from him.
‘Apologize.’
Evangelina’s head came up as she studied her soon to be husband and the way the rage was tempering and he was regaining his control.
‘Apologize and we will never speak of this again but my opinion of you has dropped to such a degree that I cannot see it ever returning up to its previous state.’
The tension in her shoulders softened a little and in two quick steps, she was back across the room and at Gavriil’s side wrapping an arm around his waist and pressing the side of her face into the warmth of his body. The sound of Nikos spewing about the apology lost on her. What a stupid little fool he was not to just rein his mouth in and say what needed to be said of him. He had the opportunity to prevent this from escalating and all he had to do was utter a few words… words that he’d already uttered to her once.
‘I am sorry.’
A deep sigh escaped Evangelina and she finally turned her head to meet Nikos gaze.
‘I meant no harm, that was never my intention. Your… announcement… I lost my wits for a moment. It will not happen again, unbidden.’
Her lips tightened in a silent warning to him not to say anything more than that.
“Fine, now let us be on our way and put all of this behind us.” Her voice rasped out deeply as she looked up at Gavriil and gave a small tug hoping all of this could be forgotten and they could just focus on starting their life anew. She could almost see her escape out of here, it was in her grasp and the only thing she had to do was get the Dimitrou lord out of this house and back on his horse. Her patience was starting to fray, being so close and yet it all depended on Gavriil just walking away in this moment satisfied that Nikos meant his apology.
There in the corner of Nikolias’ room, Evangelina found the perfect place to blend into the shadows and silently seethe. She didn’t know who she was angriest with at that moment, she was tired and wet and emotionally spent. Her arms crossed over her chest and she lowered her head at the floor, too disgusted with all of this to even glower at the three men in the room.
Did Gavriil even consider for half of a moment who would be crowned with the blame of this? She was so tightly entangled in the middle of this fiasco. There wasn’t a chance that she would walk out of this unscathed by someone's claws. Oh, at that very moment she hated all of them and probably would have burst from the room if she’d had anywhere else to go that other than back into the bone-chilling, wet night.
The hairs on her forearm stood straight up as she felt Gavriil’s gaze slide over to her and her head tilted just fractionally to meet his and then her lips pressed together and she jerked her eyes back to the floor but not before Nikos caught hers and she could feel the worry seeping out of him. He didn’t know just how much Gavriil knew, or in this case, didn’t know. Her eyes narrowed slightly at him as if she could read his thoughts about running Gavriil through although it wasn’t a far jump after this afternoon’s display from him.
‘Apologize.’
Evangelina’s head came up as she studied her soon to be husband and the way the rage was tempering and he was regaining his control.
‘Apologize and we will never speak of this again but my opinion of you has dropped to such a degree that I cannot see it ever returning up to its previous state.’
The tension in her shoulders softened a little and in two quick steps, she was back across the room and at Gavriil’s side wrapping an arm around his waist and pressing the side of her face into the warmth of his body. The sound of Nikos spewing about the apology lost on her. What a stupid little fool he was not to just rein his mouth in and say what needed to be said of him. He had the opportunity to prevent this from escalating and all he had to do was utter a few words… words that he’d already uttered to her once.
‘I am sorry.’
A deep sigh escaped Evangelina and she finally turned her head to meet Nikos gaze.
‘I meant no harm, that was never my intention. Your… announcement… I lost my wits for a moment. It will not happen again, unbidden.’
Her lips tightened in a silent warning to him not to say anything more than that.
“Fine, now let us be on our way and put all of this behind us.” Her voice rasped out deeply as she looked up at Gavriil and gave a small tug hoping all of this could be forgotten and they could just focus on starting their life anew. She could almost see her escape out of here, it was in her grasp and the only thing she had to do was get the Dimitrou lord out of this house and back on his horse. Her patience was starting to fray, being so close and yet it all depended on Gavriil just walking away in this moment satisfied that Nikos meant his apology.
Gavriil didn’t react outwardly to that ‘unbidden’ comment Nikos made but it solidified his opinion that there was no saving this wastrel of a human being. That he had so little regard for either Evangelina’s own choices, or for Gavriil himself, and was only out to satisfy his own feelings and his own lusts - it was honestly disgusting. To be so base in one’s desires as to have no room for honor or propriety - to use people like they were there specifically when and how he needed them. It was clear that Nikos had never and would never grow up. He might have the body of an adult man but his mind was still childish and filled with foolishness.
Gavriil shook his head and put his sword back into its scabbard with a click. There was no man to fight here. A mere boy was what faced him and Gavriil had nothing to fear from a child. Besides, Evie had so retreated from the ordeal that he finally saw spilled blood wouldn’t satisfy her like it would have himself, had Nikos been worthy of slaughter. It was now evident to Gavriil’s own eyes that Nikos would torment himself far more than Gavriil could do. All that was necessary for that was to let Nikos live and the fool would continue to make his own life a wasteland of misery. Pathetic.
Nikolias, meanwhile, looked like he was at a complete and total loss. It was a pity that Nikolias had raised such a son.
Evie came to his side then, slipping her arm about his waist. Gavriil draped his arm around her shoulders. The way he held her could be taken to be rubbing their relationship in Nikos’s face but it wasn’t. Or, wasn’t meant that way, at any rate. It was simply that Evie was, for all intents and purposes, his, and Nikos had no claim whatsoever.
“Fine, now let us be on our way and put all of this behind us,” Evie said. He felt her cheek move against his chest as she looked up at him and finally his sharp glare left Nikos’s face. Looking down into Evangelina’s worried expression, he softened. Another glare stabbed in Nikos’s direction and Gavriil made a stiff bow to Nikolias but from then on ignored Nikos completely. He deserved no respect and would receive none. Without a word he steered himself and Evie out into the night. Their horse was not ready yet because the leaving was so abrupt and they had to stand on the front porch for a few long minutes but at last the beast was produced and the two of them were cantering into the night. The horse’s hooves echoed on the stones. The incident might be forcibly put behind them but Gavriil was not fool enough to forget it. He would never, ever forget it.
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Gavriil didn’t react outwardly to that ‘unbidden’ comment Nikos made but it solidified his opinion that there was no saving this wastrel of a human being. That he had so little regard for either Evangelina’s own choices, or for Gavriil himself, and was only out to satisfy his own feelings and his own lusts - it was honestly disgusting. To be so base in one’s desires as to have no room for honor or propriety - to use people like they were there specifically when and how he needed them. It was clear that Nikos had never and would never grow up. He might have the body of an adult man but his mind was still childish and filled with foolishness.
Gavriil shook his head and put his sword back into its scabbard with a click. There was no man to fight here. A mere boy was what faced him and Gavriil had nothing to fear from a child. Besides, Evie had so retreated from the ordeal that he finally saw spilled blood wouldn’t satisfy her like it would have himself, had Nikos been worthy of slaughter. It was now evident to Gavriil’s own eyes that Nikos would torment himself far more than Gavriil could do. All that was necessary for that was to let Nikos live and the fool would continue to make his own life a wasteland of misery. Pathetic.
Nikolias, meanwhile, looked like he was at a complete and total loss. It was a pity that Nikolias had raised such a son.
Evie came to his side then, slipping her arm about his waist. Gavriil draped his arm around her shoulders. The way he held her could be taken to be rubbing their relationship in Nikos’s face but it wasn’t. Or, wasn’t meant that way, at any rate. It was simply that Evie was, for all intents and purposes, his, and Nikos had no claim whatsoever.
“Fine, now let us be on our way and put all of this behind us,” Evie said. He felt her cheek move against his chest as she looked up at him and finally his sharp glare left Nikos’s face. Looking down into Evangelina’s worried expression, he softened. Another glare stabbed in Nikos’s direction and Gavriil made a stiff bow to Nikolias but from then on ignored Nikos completely. He deserved no respect and would receive none. Without a word he steered himself and Evie out into the night. Their horse was not ready yet because the leaving was so abrupt and they had to stand on the front porch for a few long minutes but at last the beast was produced and the two of them were cantering into the night. The horse’s hooves echoed on the stones. The incident might be forcibly put behind them but Gavriil was not fool enough to forget it. He would never, ever forget it.
Gavriil didn’t react outwardly to that ‘unbidden’ comment Nikos made but it solidified his opinion that there was no saving this wastrel of a human being. That he had so little regard for either Evangelina’s own choices, or for Gavriil himself, and was only out to satisfy his own feelings and his own lusts - it was honestly disgusting. To be so base in one’s desires as to have no room for honor or propriety - to use people like they were there specifically when and how he needed them. It was clear that Nikos had never and would never grow up. He might have the body of an adult man but his mind was still childish and filled with foolishness.
Gavriil shook his head and put his sword back into its scabbard with a click. There was no man to fight here. A mere boy was what faced him and Gavriil had nothing to fear from a child. Besides, Evie had so retreated from the ordeal that he finally saw spilled blood wouldn’t satisfy her like it would have himself, had Nikos been worthy of slaughter. It was now evident to Gavriil’s own eyes that Nikos would torment himself far more than Gavriil could do. All that was necessary for that was to let Nikos live and the fool would continue to make his own life a wasteland of misery. Pathetic.
Nikolias, meanwhile, looked like he was at a complete and total loss. It was a pity that Nikolias had raised such a son.
Evie came to his side then, slipping her arm about his waist. Gavriil draped his arm around her shoulders. The way he held her could be taken to be rubbing their relationship in Nikos’s face but it wasn’t. Or, wasn’t meant that way, at any rate. It was simply that Evie was, for all intents and purposes, his, and Nikos had no claim whatsoever.
“Fine, now let us be on our way and put all of this behind us,” Evie said. He felt her cheek move against his chest as she looked up at him and finally his sharp glare left Nikos’s face. Looking down into Evangelina’s worried expression, he softened. Another glare stabbed in Nikos’s direction and Gavriil made a stiff bow to Nikolias but from then on ignored Nikos completely. He deserved no respect and would receive none. Without a word he steered himself and Evie out into the night. Their horse was not ready yet because the leaving was so abrupt and they had to stand on the front porch for a few long minutes but at last the beast was produced and the two of them were cantering into the night. The horse’s hooves echoed on the stones. The incident might be forcibly put behind them but Gavriil was not fool enough to forget it. He would never, ever forget it.
