Not All Who Wander...

4th Domusdae, the 27th day of the month of Semens (Sem), the 3672nd year of Salvation's Landing

The trio of riders made their way along the Summit road through the Iron Wood. The dark grey bark of the evergreen trees that dominated the forest giving it its namesake. The trees did a thorough job of blotting out the sunshine of the day, allowing them to ride in comfort.

Reglin and Yelena rode ahead of the Princess’s handmaid, speaking quietly to one another. He was already tiring of telling of his last five or so years, but he would answer anything she wanted to ask. Oddly enough, he did not get any questions about his time in the palace before leaving for the military

When it came time for Yelena to talk about what had happened in her time, it continued a feel of somberness in Reglin. She spoke of how for the most part she was a loner, finding more of an affinity with animals. The only people she has really felt any spark of kinship was with her sister Cirsha, the Magistricia Tabitha, and Reglin himself. She loved and respected her parents, but her mother was a bit too aloof, much like herself. Her father was incredibly busy and stressed at the state of House Polivander, especially after the birth of Cirsha and that no male heir came to follow.

As they talked for over an hour of riding, Reglin thought that it was pretty incredible that they could pick up in such a fashion, having not spent any real time together since they were ten years of age. He found himself smiling as she told stories of goats nursed, foals raised and trained, even geese led about the estate. She did seem like she was above the fray of humanity, but not without a cost apparently.

It was getting near midday when the small group came out of the density of the wood and had entered the foothills. Though out of the forest proper, there was still plenty of tree cover. They followed the Summit road eastward for just a bit longer, Yelena pointing out fauna tracks and various flora unknown to Reglin. She had a near encyclopedic knowledge of such things as far as he could tell. So, when they came to a game trail, Yelena led them northward.

They had been riding in quiet for a small bit of time, allowing Reglin to perform his duties as a guard. He kept an eye out as his head swiveled around on the search. The vegetation thickened, as did the rock formations, and before long Reglin could hear the sound of running water in the distance. When his eyes fell onto Yelena, she was looking straight ahead but had such a look of contentment that it made him smile.

The sound got louder and louder, making Reglin think that this was no ordinary waterflow until he recognized it as the sounds of a waterfall. So, it came as no surprise when they rounded a rocky abutment that he saw the mist in the air. After about thirty more yards, he could see it all.

A waterfall of fifty feet or so that fell into a fairly large pool that then drained into a stream heading northwest. The stream must feed into the Mule, or another stream that eventually did. The boulders that made up the rockface were enormous and smoothed from the running of water over them. Given that it was springtime, the flowers were in early bloom and the grasses gave it that wonderful smell that they provided.

Yelena sat in her saddle just looking up at the falls with half-lidded eyes, a face of serenity. Reglin watcher as she closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. He completely understood. There really was nothing like the smell of unbridled nature. He found himself doing the same thing out of reaction to the Princess.

When his eyes opened, Yelena was smiling at him, “Come on! It’s lovely to look at and even explore! But it’s no place to have a meal and converse! There is a clearing just a bit around the next outcropping! It’s lovely too!” Reglin nodded and made a mental note of how odd it was to hear Yelena yell. She portrayed such calm that it seemed anathema to her persona.

True enough, the horses stepped through the stream and came around the outcropping to see a gorgeous opening of grass and flowers. Yelena had pulled up with her dapple telling Reglin that this was the spot. Letting go of the reins, Vredii stopped immediately and Reglin hopped out of the saddle while the Princess still surveyed the field. When he approached her leg from the side she didn’t even notice. “Your Highness?...” His voice startled her, but not so much as him offering her aid out of the saddle. Yelena’s face was screwed up in confusion at him. But he persevered, “May I?” She rolled her eyes in an exaggerated way to show that this was all unnecessary but lifted her far leg up and over and placed her hands on the Guardsman’s shoulders. Reglin took her leather-covered hips in his hands as she slid down into them. ‘Gods, she is a little thing.’ He thought to himself, her weight not even being enough to make his arms budge.

Holding her in midair for a moment, Yelena gave Reglin a look that was crossed between bewilderment and astonishment, “Are you going to let me down, Guardsman?” her lips turning up in humor, “I do not know how I feel about being manhandled by a beast such as you are apparently…”

Reglin let her down right away. He might have even blushed a bit in embarrassment too. To cover for it, and to avoid the gaze that the Princess was giving him, Reglin turned back and went to the easily forgotten handmaid, Oliyah. More than a few times, he had to remind himself to account for her, given the fact that she liked to hang back and that her mount followed the horses reflexively. This allowed her to continue her needlework and not interfere with her charge’s day. Maybe if he treated her in the same fashion, Yelena wouldn't attach any special meaning to it.

Coming to the handmaid, Reglin noted that she was what he would call average in most senses of the word. Brown hair, brown eyes and a smallish mouth. His appearance at her side was perhaps the first sort of reaction he got from her. She appeared surprised to see the guardsman offering her aid down, "M'lady..." After regaining herself, her demeanor returned to that of toasted bread, she followed the same actions of Yelena in allowing Reglin to bring her down. In no time the two of them were into the saddlebags and pulling out the various items the two women had packed.

At the end of it, the three of them had set out blankets and unwrapped clothes of bread, cheeses, and sliced meats. A bottle of wine, as well as three earthenware cups were place out as well. Once all was out they wasted no time in feasting on the meal.

Once they had eaten to their contentment, Oliyah had filled their cups and retired to the farthest reach of the blankets. Yelena took a sip of her drink and looked nowhere in particular, "Reglin, a lot has happened to you. You have seen a great deal of what life has to offer. I envy you that... But it in that time, Did you ever find someone special?"

~This is knowledge for the Reader~

The Affection Multiplier

~Mana: 226 (+25) 251~

~Mana Channels: ~Labiae Passionii (Lips of Passion) free, ~ Corpu Vigorii (Vigorous Body) 100, ~ Uirtau Proelium (Martial Prowess) 100, ~Mensu Lucidae (Bright Mind) 100, ~ Tactu Beatae (Blissful Touch) 100, ~Plurem Amatrixae Normalii (The Normalcy of Many Loves) 500, ~Corpu Libidaem (Lustful Body) 100, ~Corpu Spectabilum (Intimidating Body) 100, ~Mentulae Potencii (Potent Cock) 150

~Tabitha~ Affectionae: 100 Erosii: 88 Libidae: 100 (Effective 42)
~Lim~ A: 37
~Boll~ A: 23
~Grahm~ A: 33
~Day's Shift Guards~ A: (+19)
~Lina~ A: 34
~Asha~ A: 68 (+2) 70 E: 15 (+2) 17 L: 24 (+3) 27
~Princess Katya~ A: -52
~Maiden Caterina~ A: 18 E: 1 L: 2
~Maiden Gwynfuir~ A: 15
~Maiden Erynna~ A:5
~Lady Wilmyna~ A:17 L: 5
~Maiden Freighla~ A: 11 L: 3
~Lady Falina~ A: 12
~Maiden Deela~ A: 9
~Lady Vidala~ A: 6
~Maid Camilla~ A: 6 L: 4
~Night's Shift Guards~ A: (+6)
~Govren~ A: 2
~Princess Yelena~ A: 30 (+15) 45
~Maiden Oliyah~ A: 1 (+3) 4