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To keep busy was to keep sane, and with not a single thing seemingly going to plan on what was supposed to be a straightforward trip to Athenia, Hector thought he was surely losing his mind along with the rest of the world.
Riot. Blood. Chaos. Injuries. These were all things a soldier prepared for, but it was bitter to have that taste so close to home, and to those he loved. While the household staff at Archontiko Antonis had done their duty in caring for their injured and ailing guests, Hector and Lord Alehandros had been working closely with Master Cicero and Princess Emilia to right all that had been wrong over the passing weeks.
It was a Herculean task, but much to the relief of all involved, progress had been made. Hector had collapsed into the first available bed in the hours after they had returned from their meeting with the Princess, and upon waking, made a request for parchment, pen, and ink so he could make some long-overdue missives.
As a Captain, he should rightfully have been in Arcana, but none of these changes and delays could have been predicted. Still, he had a duty to fulfill and, with the decisions made in the passing days, a heavy load of orders to issue to the White Shields. His Lieutenants were more than competent to execute what was needed...
...and thankfully, they could read his atrocious script.
Hector was able to commandeer a desk in a lower-level drawing room, and though many passed, he was not disturbed from his work. It was only when his head started to ache behind his eyes and his hand cramped that he leaned back in desk chair, crossing his arms across his chest and pinching his eyes closed for a moment to offer the relief of some strain.
That was his mistake.
Though he slept in a bed nicer than any he had slept in before, sleep took him quickly where he sat, his neck tilted back awkwardly and off to the side as he had slumped down into the chair. There was no telling how long he slept there, living through dreams that were replays of the events from the past day and plans for the future, wispy and out of reach.
Yet, some sense of awareness from the waking world crept in. Some instinct formed as a soldier who never truly slept in times of stress and strain. Something that had him taking in a deeper inhale that crept through his body, slowly waking...
Something that startled him as he opened his eyes slowly, then all at once.
Just over him hovered the face of young Lady Hebe.
With a gasp and a jolt, Hector startled, his body jerking away. In doing so, his knee lifted just high enough from its awkward perch beneath the desk to clatter loudly against the wood, jostling the glass vial of ink and rattling the decor that had been placed there.
"Shi-.." was blessedly all that escaped his lips before he bit them closed to keep from further embarrassment. Taking a few breaths, Hector took a more controlled approach to straightening himself out from the slumped state he was in, all while eyeing the youngest Antonis warily.
"Lady Hebe," Hector started, tamping down the strained tone in his voice as best as he could, "Can I...be of some service?"
It was as polite as he could manage in that initial moment, though the more he rejoined the waking world, the more he assessed the situation. Without realizing it, he drew his lower legs further beneath the chair, as if recoiling from potential blows from her sandal-shod feet.
Glancing towards the desk and the nearly-written missive, a slight smirk tugged at his lip in amusement before he teased, "Worried that I will steal all of the inkwells next? They fetch a pretty price in Arcana..."
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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To keep busy was to keep sane, and with not a single thing seemingly going to plan on what was supposed to be a straightforward trip to Athenia, Hector thought he was surely losing his mind along with the rest of the world.
Riot. Blood. Chaos. Injuries. These were all things a soldier prepared for, but it was bitter to have that taste so close to home, and to those he loved. While the household staff at Archontiko Antonis had done their duty in caring for their injured and ailing guests, Hector and Lord Alehandros had been working closely with Master Cicero and Princess Emilia to right all that had been wrong over the passing weeks.
It was a Herculean task, but much to the relief of all involved, progress had been made. Hector had collapsed into the first available bed in the hours after they had returned from their meeting with the Princess, and upon waking, made a request for parchment, pen, and ink so he could make some long-overdue missives.
As a Captain, he should rightfully have been in Arcana, but none of these changes and delays could have been predicted. Still, he had a duty to fulfill and, with the decisions made in the passing days, a heavy load of orders to issue to the White Shields. His Lieutenants were more than competent to execute what was needed...
...and thankfully, they could read his atrocious script.
Hector was able to commandeer a desk in a lower-level drawing room, and though many passed, he was not disturbed from his work. It was only when his head started to ache behind his eyes and his hand cramped that he leaned back in desk chair, crossing his arms across his chest and pinching his eyes closed for a moment to offer the relief of some strain.
That was his mistake.
Though he slept in a bed nicer than any he had slept in before, sleep took him quickly where he sat, his neck tilted back awkwardly and off to the side as he had slumped down into the chair. There was no telling how long he slept there, living through dreams that were replays of the events from the past day and plans for the future, wispy and out of reach.
Yet, some sense of awareness from the waking world crept in. Some instinct formed as a soldier who never truly slept in times of stress and strain. Something that had him taking in a deeper inhale that crept through his body, slowly waking...
Something that startled him as he opened his eyes slowly, then all at once.
Just over him hovered the face of young Lady Hebe.
With a gasp and a jolt, Hector startled, his body jerking away. In doing so, his knee lifted just high enough from its awkward perch beneath the desk to clatter loudly against the wood, jostling the glass vial of ink and rattling the decor that had been placed there.
"Shi-.." was blessedly all that escaped his lips before he bit them closed to keep from further embarrassment. Taking a few breaths, Hector took a more controlled approach to straightening himself out from the slumped state he was in, all while eyeing the youngest Antonis warily.
"Lady Hebe," Hector started, tamping down the strained tone in his voice as best as he could, "Can I...be of some service?"
It was as polite as he could manage in that initial moment, though the more he rejoined the waking world, the more he assessed the situation. Without realizing it, he drew his lower legs further beneath the chair, as if recoiling from potential blows from her sandal-shod feet.
Glancing towards the desk and the nearly-written missive, a slight smirk tugged at his lip in amusement before he teased, "Worried that I will steal all of the inkwells next? They fetch a pretty price in Arcana..."
To keep busy was to keep sane, and with not a single thing seemingly going to plan on what was supposed to be a straightforward trip to Athenia, Hector thought he was surely losing his mind along with the rest of the world.
Riot. Blood. Chaos. Injuries. These were all things a soldier prepared for, but it was bitter to have that taste so close to home, and to those he loved. While the household staff at Archontiko Antonis had done their duty in caring for their injured and ailing guests, Hector and Lord Alehandros had been working closely with Master Cicero and Princess Emilia to right all that had been wrong over the passing weeks.
It was a Herculean task, but much to the relief of all involved, progress had been made. Hector had collapsed into the first available bed in the hours after they had returned from their meeting with the Princess, and upon waking, made a request for parchment, pen, and ink so he could make some long-overdue missives.
As a Captain, he should rightfully have been in Arcana, but none of these changes and delays could have been predicted. Still, he had a duty to fulfill and, with the decisions made in the passing days, a heavy load of orders to issue to the White Shields. His Lieutenants were more than competent to execute what was needed...
...and thankfully, they could read his atrocious script.
Hector was able to commandeer a desk in a lower-level drawing room, and though many passed, he was not disturbed from his work. It was only when his head started to ache behind his eyes and his hand cramped that he leaned back in desk chair, crossing his arms across his chest and pinching his eyes closed for a moment to offer the relief of some strain.
That was his mistake.
Though he slept in a bed nicer than any he had slept in before, sleep took him quickly where he sat, his neck tilted back awkwardly and off to the side as he had slumped down into the chair. There was no telling how long he slept there, living through dreams that were replays of the events from the past day and plans for the future, wispy and out of reach.
Yet, some sense of awareness from the waking world crept in. Some instinct formed as a soldier who never truly slept in times of stress and strain. Something that had him taking in a deeper inhale that crept through his body, slowly waking...
Something that startled him as he opened his eyes slowly, then all at once.
Just over him hovered the face of young Lady Hebe.
With a gasp and a jolt, Hector startled, his body jerking away. In doing so, his knee lifted just high enough from its awkward perch beneath the desk to clatter loudly against the wood, jostling the glass vial of ink and rattling the decor that had been placed there.
"Shi-.." was blessedly all that escaped his lips before he bit them closed to keep from further embarrassment. Taking a few breaths, Hector took a more controlled approach to straightening himself out from the slumped state he was in, all while eyeing the youngest Antonis warily.
"Lady Hebe," Hector started, tamping down the strained tone in his voice as best as he could, "Can I...be of some service?"
It was as polite as he could manage in that initial moment, though the more he rejoined the waking world, the more he assessed the situation. Without realizing it, he drew his lower legs further beneath the chair, as if recoiling from potential blows from her sandal-shod feet.
Glancing towards the desk and the nearly-written missive, a slight smirk tugged at his lip in amusement before he teased, "Worried that I will steal all of the inkwells next? They fetch a pretty price in Arcana..."
Hebe wished she could forget the riots that nearly killed her sister, but they haunted her day and night. The aftermath was all around her. Her family was caring for the injured commoners whom she had led into the manor as well as their own daughters. When they had first arrived, she had insisted on staying with Marietta, but at some point the pain in her feet and in the arm that hung helpless by her side had overcome her and she had passed out.
When she awakened, her arm and shoulder were bandaged and strapped across her torso. Her feet were encased in bandages as well. Helios was curled up beside her. The pain was gone and she felt as light as a feather. Best of all, knowledge didn’t rush through her head anymore. Her head seemed empty. She had no thoughts or memories at all. Was she still asleep? Was she dead? She didn’t know. She didn’t care.
How long she remained in the state between waking and sleeping, she did not know, but eventually the pain returned and with it, her recollection of the chaos that had filled the streets that day. Marietta! Was she all right? Hebe jumped out of bed and immediately slipped on her bandages and fell to the floor. She instructed her handmaiden to help her walk and after what seemed like forever, she made it to Marietta’s room. Her entire body seemed swathed in bandages, but at least she was alive.
The youngest of the Antonis sisters found out that Marietta was in a coma and wouldn’t wake up, which was probably a blessing considering the extent of her injuries. As for herself, she had dislocated her shoulder and broken a few toes on her shin-kicking rampage. She had to wear her arm in a sling and walk on her heels, but at least she was able to get around. The pain became a dull ache which she learned quickly to ignore.
During the next few days, she spent most of her time sitting by Marietta’s bedside, reading to her from the books she loved or just talking to her softly. Hebe was surprised that her sister couldn’t hear Helios howling at the door. The four-month-old lynx followed her everywhere, as if sensing that his mistress was not well. He wasn’t allowed in Marietta’s chambers and wouldn’t shut up until Hebe came out. The slaves and servants were all wary of him. The cub had already surpassed the size of a full-grown cat but was as playful as a kitten.
Today, he had decided that he wanted to bound down the halls. “Wait up, Helios!” she called, hobbling after him. Usually she ran with him but her toes were still too sore to walk on. He darted around a corner and when Hebe finally got there, he had disappeared from sight. Hide and seek was one of his favorite games. Rolling her eyes, she began looking in every room with an open door, but there was no sign of her lynx.
At length she found him in a parlor that was rarely used. He was staring at something, and as she neared him, she saw that it was that peasant who had tried to kidnap Marietta, asleep in a chair. Hebe knew he was staying with them since his daughter was being taken care of here, but she had managed to avoid him so far. The young brunette didn’t trust him as far as she could throw him and would be glad when he was gone.
She moved toward him and stared down at him. Helios loped over to her and did the same. The man looked harmless now, but she believed that he would try to abduct Marietta again when she was well enough. Why was he so interested in her sister? It was true that he had saved her life. If she hadn’t been hurt, he would probably have carried her away and they would never have seen her again. But why? He was old, old enough to be Marietta’s father. And he already had a daughter. Maybe he wanted to give her a companion? Hebe was too innocent to think of other reasons a man might want to steal a woman away.
He began to stir. Cocking her head like a curious little kitten, she stared as unblinking and intently as the creature she resembled. Helios mimicked her. The man’s eyes flew open but neither girl nor lynx moved a muscle. She noticed how he recoiled from her, upsetting the objects on the desk he sat behind. For some strange reason, she was glad that she had startled him.
He stammered out a greeting and asked if he could do something for her. Yes, leave, she thought. She didn’t like him. Not at all. Her eyes never left his face. Helios continued to stare at him too. When he drew his legs under him, she smiled slightly. Hebe remembered kicking his shins over and over and over. Could it be that he was afraid of her? That was an interesting concept.
“Worried that I will steal all of the inkwells next? They fetch a pretty price in Arcana...” Now he looked smug and amused, like he was making fun of her.
“No.”
One simple word.
She reached down and scratched Helios behind the ears. The lynx cub purred but kept his eyes on the stranger.
“You're not a thief. You're a kidnapper."
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Hebe wished she could forget the riots that nearly killed her sister, but they haunted her day and night. The aftermath was all around her. Her family was caring for the injured commoners whom she had led into the manor as well as their own daughters. When they had first arrived, she had insisted on staying with Marietta, but at some point the pain in her feet and in the arm that hung helpless by her side had overcome her and she had passed out.
When she awakened, her arm and shoulder were bandaged and strapped across her torso. Her feet were encased in bandages as well. Helios was curled up beside her. The pain was gone and she felt as light as a feather. Best of all, knowledge didn’t rush through her head anymore. Her head seemed empty. She had no thoughts or memories at all. Was she still asleep? Was she dead? She didn’t know. She didn’t care.
How long she remained in the state between waking and sleeping, she did not know, but eventually the pain returned and with it, her recollection of the chaos that had filled the streets that day. Marietta! Was she all right? Hebe jumped out of bed and immediately slipped on her bandages and fell to the floor. She instructed her handmaiden to help her walk and after what seemed like forever, she made it to Marietta’s room. Her entire body seemed swathed in bandages, but at least she was alive.
The youngest of the Antonis sisters found out that Marietta was in a coma and wouldn’t wake up, which was probably a blessing considering the extent of her injuries. As for herself, she had dislocated her shoulder and broken a few toes on her shin-kicking rampage. She had to wear her arm in a sling and walk on her heels, but at least she was able to get around. The pain became a dull ache which she learned quickly to ignore.
During the next few days, she spent most of her time sitting by Marietta’s bedside, reading to her from the books she loved or just talking to her softly. Hebe was surprised that her sister couldn’t hear Helios howling at the door. The four-month-old lynx followed her everywhere, as if sensing that his mistress was not well. He wasn’t allowed in Marietta’s chambers and wouldn’t shut up until Hebe came out. The slaves and servants were all wary of him. The cub had already surpassed the size of a full-grown cat but was as playful as a kitten.
Today, he had decided that he wanted to bound down the halls. “Wait up, Helios!” she called, hobbling after him. Usually she ran with him but her toes were still too sore to walk on. He darted around a corner and when Hebe finally got there, he had disappeared from sight. Hide and seek was one of his favorite games. Rolling her eyes, she began looking in every room with an open door, but there was no sign of her lynx.
At length she found him in a parlor that was rarely used. He was staring at something, and as she neared him, she saw that it was that peasant who had tried to kidnap Marietta, asleep in a chair. Hebe knew he was staying with them since his daughter was being taken care of here, but she had managed to avoid him so far. The young brunette didn’t trust him as far as she could throw him and would be glad when he was gone.
She moved toward him and stared down at him. Helios loped over to her and did the same. The man looked harmless now, but she believed that he would try to abduct Marietta again when she was well enough. Why was he so interested in her sister? It was true that he had saved her life. If she hadn’t been hurt, he would probably have carried her away and they would never have seen her again. But why? He was old, old enough to be Marietta’s father. And he already had a daughter. Maybe he wanted to give her a companion? Hebe was too innocent to think of other reasons a man might want to steal a woman away.
He began to stir. Cocking her head like a curious little kitten, she stared as unblinking and intently as the creature she resembled. Helios mimicked her. The man’s eyes flew open but neither girl nor lynx moved a muscle. She noticed how he recoiled from her, upsetting the objects on the desk he sat behind. For some strange reason, she was glad that she had startled him.
He stammered out a greeting and asked if he could do something for her. Yes, leave, she thought. She didn’t like him. Not at all. Her eyes never left his face. Helios continued to stare at him too. When he drew his legs under him, she smiled slightly. Hebe remembered kicking his shins over and over and over. Could it be that he was afraid of her? That was an interesting concept.
“Worried that I will steal all of the inkwells next? They fetch a pretty price in Arcana...” Now he looked smug and amused, like he was making fun of her.
“No.”
One simple word.
She reached down and scratched Helios behind the ears. The lynx cub purred but kept his eyes on the stranger.
“You're not a thief. You're a kidnapper."
Hebe wished she could forget the riots that nearly killed her sister, but they haunted her day and night. The aftermath was all around her. Her family was caring for the injured commoners whom she had led into the manor as well as their own daughters. When they had first arrived, she had insisted on staying with Marietta, but at some point the pain in her feet and in the arm that hung helpless by her side had overcome her and she had passed out.
When she awakened, her arm and shoulder were bandaged and strapped across her torso. Her feet were encased in bandages as well. Helios was curled up beside her. The pain was gone and she felt as light as a feather. Best of all, knowledge didn’t rush through her head anymore. Her head seemed empty. She had no thoughts or memories at all. Was she still asleep? Was she dead? She didn’t know. She didn’t care.
How long she remained in the state between waking and sleeping, she did not know, but eventually the pain returned and with it, her recollection of the chaos that had filled the streets that day. Marietta! Was she all right? Hebe jumped out of bed and immediately slipped on her bandages and fell to the floor. She instructed her handmaiden to help her walk and after what seemed like forever, she made it to Marietta’s room. Her entire body seemed swathed in bandages, but at least she was alive.
The youngest of the Antonis sisters found out that Marietta was in a coma and wouldn’t wake up, which was probably a blessing considering the extent of her injuries. As for herself, she had dislocated her shoulder and broken a few toes on her shin-kicking rampage. She had to wear her arm in a sling and walk on her heels, but at least she was able to get around. The pain became a dull ache which she learned quickly to ignore.
During the next few days, she spent most of her time sitting by Marietta’s bedside, reading to her from the books she loved or just talking to her softly. Hebe was surprised that her sister couldn’t hear Helios howling at the door. The four-month-old lynx followed her everywhere, as if sensing that his mistress was not well. He wasn’t allowed in Marietta’s chambers and wouldn’t shut up until Hebe came out. The slaves and servants were all wary of him. The cub had already surpassed the size of a full-grown cat but was as playful as a kitten.
Today, he had decided that he wanted to bound down the halls. “Wait up, Helios!” she called, hobbling after him. Usually she ran with him but her toes were still too sore to walk on. He darted around a corner and when Hebe finally got there, he had disappeared from sight. Hide and seek was one of his favorite games. Rolling her eyes, she began looking in every room with an open door, but there was no sign of her lynx.
At length she found him in a parlor that was rarely used. He was staring at something, and as she neared him, she saw that it was that peasant who had tried to kidnap Marietta, asleep in a chair. Hebe knew he was staying with them since his daughter was being taken care of here, but she had managed to avoid him so far. The young brunette didn’t trust him as far as she could throw him and would be glad when he was gone.
She moved toward him and stared down at him. Helios loped over to her and did the same. The man looked harmless now, but she believed that he would try to abduct Marietta again when she was well enough. Why was he so interested in her sister? It was true that he had saved her life. If she hadn’t been hurt, he would probably have carried her away and they would never have seen her again. But why? He was old, old enough to be Marietta’s father. And he already had a daughter. Maybe he wanted to give her a companion? Hebe was too innocent to think of other reasons a man might want to steal a woman away.
He began to stir. Cocking her head like a curious little kitten, she stared as unblinking and intently as the creature she resembled. Helios mimicked her. The man’s eyes flew open but neither girl nor lynx moved a muscle. She noticed how he recoiled from her, upsetting the objects on the desk he sat behind. For some strange reason, she was glad that she had startled him.
He stammered out a greeting and asked if he could do something for her. Yes, leave, she thought. She didn’t like him. Not at all. Her eyes never left his face. Helios continued to stare at him too. When he drew his legs under him, she smiled slightly. Hebe remembered kicking his shins over and over and over. Could it be that he was afraid of her? That was an interesting concept.
“Worried that I will steal all of the inkwells next? They fetch a pretty price in Arcana...” Now he looked smug and amused, like he was making fun of her.
“No.”
One simple word.
She reached down and scratched Helios behind the ears. The lynx cub purred but kept his eyes on the stranger.
