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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 28, 2016 16:20:39 GMT -5
Eve nodded. "Of course, Leona," she said, and left.
//
Jakob is at the docks awaiting her. He's in a light summer shirt and two guards are near him. The private docks of House Redwyne attach to the castle so it is a short walk for Leona. "Sister," he said with a smile that is sincere for once; the two are not particularly close, being far apart in age and sharing only a father. "I have a surprise for you!"
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Post by Leona Redwyne on Jul 28, 2016 16:26:10 GMT -5
"Oh?" She was rather surprised since they were not in the habit of planning surprises for one another. Even their nameday gifts were carefully chosen, to make sure each got the other something they would actually like. Surprises just weren't part of their relationship.
"What is that, Jakob?" She asked, curious.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 28, 2016 16:29:36 GMT -5
He waved to the ship behind him, a true, sleek beauty. "The Sunset Red," he said. "Part of your dowry," he added. "A small part, but this came from the shipwrights three days ago. She's ready for her maiden voyage. Would you care to go for a sail?" He asked. "We have much to discuss."
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Post by Leona Redwyne on Jul 28, 2016 16:33:31 GMT -5
She gazed at the ship in wonder. "She's beautiful, truly. I never expected..." She simply stared for a moment, speechless, then she said "I would love to go for a sail, but we'll have to send someone back to tell the stableboys to let my horse rest. I was about to go for a ride when Evelynn said you wanted to see me."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 28, 2016 16:43:29 GMT -5
Jakob nodded. "An hour, then," he said. "A sunset ride for the Sunset Red." He bids her leave for the moment. "I'll take care of the wine and dinner. Don't," he added as a final thought, "tell your sister. Not yet."
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Post by Leona Redwyne on Jul 28, 2016 16:57:41 GMT -5
"I won't," she promised. "But may I ask why all the secrecy>"
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 28, 2016 17:02:40 GMT -5
"No," he said, "but it mostly involves her love of talking and that gossipy maid of hers." He smiled. "Her turn will come but you're the elder sister and you deserve the first pick of opportunities."
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Post by Leona Redwyne on Jul 28, 2016 17:07:18 GMT -5
"Oh, yes." She laughed a little nervously. "That's true, I suppose. I'll be back soon enough. I#ll see you then."
She wasn't particularly looking forward to the dinner since she and Jakob weren't close, but it would be wonderful to try out the ship.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 28, 2016 17:13:31 GMT -5
Her brother is a fantastic sailor and with only a few crew the ship still glides easily over the smooth waters. Leona feels the wind and the salt in the air, and after a half hour or so, her brother allows the other sailors to do their normal tasks and he has a table set out for them near the bow. "I hope you like her," he said in his charming manner. "Queen Joanna's tourney, you have heard of it, right?" He asked. Without awaiting her answer. "Of course you have, it's all the ladies talk about. Many of our knights have already made plans to attend." He leaned in, "I want to send you and your sister with our cousin Lyonel to this tourney, and I want you to find a husband worthy of our status," he said. He gestured to the door leading to the tiny cargo hold. "I saw the letter from Ashemark." He shook his head with a smile. "There are much bigger cats in the West...and I have it on good authority Lady Arania wishes you to meet her son quite dearly. Apparently, despite his...one eye," he made a gesture of the evil eye, "he is handsome enough, and that father of his up north has turned him into a feared warrior." He smiled. "That is what we aspire to."
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Post by Leona Redwyne on Jul 28, 2016 17:23:44 GMT -5
She listened, nodding once or twice. "A Hightower would be an excellent match, though I wouldn't have turned my nose up at a Marbrand either. But Oldtown is said to be the most beautiful city in the world and the Hightowers are very rich. I could do with a rich husband to cater for a few of my expensive tastes," she said truthfully. "And I suppose there are worse things for a man to lose than an eye."
Though of course, being a girl with a somehwat romantic heart, she hoped the young man was comely.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 28, 2016 17:38:07 GMT -5
"One of the richest families," he agreed. "But not quite the richest." Her brother tapped his wine glass with two fingers while he held it. "My more foolish Knights, when they have too much wine, have informed me you are quite beautiful," he said. "Do you think, given a dowry of appropriate worth, you have the...ability to snare the affections of an altogether more rich family? You do like blonde hair, yes?"
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Post by Leona Redwyne on Jul 29, 2016 11:03:40 GMT -5
She shrugged., realising that Evelynn's comments might not be so far off the mark after all. "I like it well enough. But it depends on the man beneath, truly. I cannot say whether I can snare a man without having met him."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 29, 2016 11:14:56 GMT -5
Jakob listened with an impassive expression. He poured her a nice glass of good, sweet red. "We have competing purposes," he admitted candidly. "You're my younger sister, and I have a duty to you as my family to ensure that I try guaranteeing your happiness, but I have a duty to the Arbor and my children to ensure your marriage gains our family as much as possible." He sighed. "We have never been the closest of siblings, Leona, I know that. Nine years and being half siblings...but I do have affection for you," he said. "Lyonel is my personal representative in this matter," he concluded, "so he has my authority to agree to your betrothal in my absence. Make his task as easy as possible. Any dresses you need, any wines or jewelry or...whatever you need will be funded." He smiled. "And please for the love of the gods keep your sister's maidenhead intact. She nearly killed herself trying to get that Oakheart lad into bed two months ago."
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Post by Leona Redwyne on Jul 29, 2016 13:28:59 GMT -5
Leona rolled her eyes. She couldn't understand why her sister was so wild to lose her maidenhead. Leona was not particularly interested in the prospect of sexual intimacy, though she accepted the inevitability of it when she was married.
"I know my duty," she said. "I'll do what I must, for our sister, for myself, and for our family. But it depends on how much the men I meet want to marry me, doesn't it? I can hardly hold a dagger to their throat and demand they accompany me to the sept. No matter how rich and handsome they are." Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 29, 2016 13:49:22 GMT -5
Jakob shook his head. "If your red hair and a hundred gold dragon dress won't impress the men, then impress their parents. They'll have the final say after all anyhow. And if you need a dagger, well," he said, a rare humor end tone in his voice, "then we can find you a very fine sapphire jilted one I'm sure." Leona, as she looks about the ship, can't help but notice she doesn't recognize most of the crew. They look foreign for the most part.
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