Succession: Heir to the Empire

Carlisle

"Great." Carlisle said as he sat up.
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Kegan

"Oh ha ha, tease the doomed companion." Kegan replied before he laid down on the grass. "If my clothes do fall off, it better be in here where no one else will see."
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Rhys

Rhys galloped through the rain as he tried to make good time. If he stopped now, it would take him a whole 'nother day, and who knows what that could mean.

(Agreed.)

Nebi smirked at her and followed her into the tent, "Sounds like fun."

*

Evelyn smirked as she watched the bowl of water, keeping track of the progress of the Heirs. She raised an eyebrow at the images of C.C. and Nebi.

So the old hag has found herself another boy-toy. Interesting. Why a human, though? she thought to herself before her eyes drifted over to Maul. She preferred someone more... exotic. More... athletic.

Rein

"Hey, I'll still see. Don't forget that. Though, I probably wouldn't mind." Rein said. It took her mind a second to process what she had said. A blush overtook Rein again and she looked away from Kegan. Well...she certainly had good luck. Apparently, the gods weren't done messing with them yet....

Tsuba, Maul

Maul let the meat cool down some before dividing it properly amongst themselves. "Be careful, it is hot."

Tsuba nodded at his warning and let it cool off some more before taking a bite out of hers. Hm, not half bad. She'd tasted better, of course, but it was pretty good, considering where they were.

((I'd so laugh if Carlisle burned his tongue, even after Maul warned him.))

(Carlisle may be pathetic and naive, but he's not a complete fool.)

Brighe

Brighe walked through the main room of the grand observatory after she had finished looking for Syrien, unsuccessful in her attempts to find the Elf. It would seem he wasn't here, and if he was, then he was excellent at hiding from her.

The room was almost completely dark at this point, except for the glowing pool at the end of the room. "Huh, thank the Gods, their all gone...Wait." Brighe thought as she walked towards the pool silently, noticing that there was another person that she didn't recognize looking into the waters of the pool. "Hello there." Brighe greeted as she walked up to the edge of the pool.
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Kegan

"Really?" Kegan asked coyly as he glanced up at Rein.
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Carlisle

"Yeah, ok...." Carlisle replied as he rolled back onto his back, not very interested in the food.

((True.))

Rein

"Er....y-yeah." Rein managed to squeak out, still to embarrassed to look back at Kegan. Well, it seemed the gods really did see her and Kegan as amusing playthings. After all, she normally didn't say so many things that could be misinterpreted or was an embarrassing comment. Darn it, why did they have to mess with them the most!? Couldn't they pick on someone else for a change?

((Forgot to put this with my post last night.))

Tsuba

"What's wrong Carlisle?" Tsuba asked, sounding concern. She paused from eating her food. "Do you not like your food?"

Carlisle

"I'm not very hungry...but thank you Maul, it does look delicious." Carlisle said as he tried not to offend the Kaleesh. "So what are we going to do tomorrow? Continue up the river?" Carlisle asked as he laid on his back and looked up at the tent's ceiling.
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Kegan

"It's fine, I was just kidding around." Kegan reassured Rein as he tried not to show how amused he was with seeing her act so flustered. "If it makes you feel better, it's almost time to go to sleep."

Tsuba, Maul

"No offense is taken, Carlisle." Maul reassured.

"Most likely. Seems the only logical choice, unless you have any ideas." Tsuba added.

Rein

"O-Oh, ok. So um...are...do you..." Rein trailed off, too flustered to continue. She was trying to ask Kegan if he wanted to share a bed with her tonight, just to see what it'd feel like, but she was too embarrassed to completely ask it.

Carlisle

"No, no I must confess, I don't see myself being very useful in the planning department. ...Well, any department, actually." Carlisle admitted, blushing as he said so.
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Kegan

"Only if you're comfortable with the idea."

Evelyn blinked upon hearing a voice behind her, an Elvish voice. She turned around, revealing the features of a Dark Elf. She smirked and bowed her head.

"Greetings, Lady Brighe," she told her, for she knew much about what was happening within the palace, "What brings you here?"

(I'm going to assume Dark Elves and regular Elves might not exactly be friends if that's okay.)

Tsuba, Maul

"True, but you are a useful fighter. At least if we encounter any more beasts or traps, I know I can count on you. So, tomorrow, we continue to travel up the river. Agreed?" Tsuba asked. Maul gave a nod of agreement.

Rein

"I'm comfortable with it, don't worry. Just a bit...nervous." Rein admitted. She smiled a moment later though, after thinking of something. "However, I must warn you. I've been known to kick in my sleep. Or so I've been told by the female maids."

Brighe

"I just decided that I would check up on my Nephew, hope you don't mind." Brighe replied with a bitter taste in her mouth as she realized what she was talking to. No matter though, perhaps this one was different from the other Dark Elves her people spoke about in their history. "Yeah right."
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Carlisle

"Umm, I see no reason not to." Carlisle commented as he rolled over and looked away from the other Heirs, a light smile on his face as he realized that Tsuba had actually just complemented him. "Maybe she isn't so mean after all, one you gain her respect." The Doctor thought to himself.
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Kegan

"Well...I'm kind of nervous too.... and I snore in my sleep, from what I've been told by past roommates." Kegan admitted to Rein.

"Oh, Kegan correct?" Evelyn asked her, obviously enjoying the other Elf's discomfort. She licked her fangs, "His type doesn't usually last this wrong in the games. I'm sure you're very proud. Of course, he'll be killed off eventually. That or he'll sit upon the throne. Then the fun will really begin. Maybe he'd turn into a Dark Elf like myself when the power corrupts him."

Rein

"Well, I guess we're both a little hesitant about this. Still, I'm up for it. But don't blame me for any bruises you find on yourself in the morning." Rein teased, trying to ease the somewhat tense situation.

Tsuba, Maul

"Good. If we're all done eating, I suggest we go ahead and get some sleep. We'll need as much rest as we can get for the challenges of tomorrow." Tsuba suggested. Maul gave another nod in agreement.

Brighe

"You obviously don't know my Nephew. He is both moral and he ha a strong sense of will-power. Combined with the fact that the girl you see him cuddling with in the pool, and myself of course, make sure that he stays on the right path." Brighe replied, pretending to be unphased by the Dark Elves comments. And to be honest she was almost relieved to hear just how wrong she was, it made her realize that the Dark Elf obviously didn't know much about her and her Nephew.
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Carlisle

"Umm yeah, you're right." Carlisle mumbled in agreement.
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Kegan

"I'll cope, somehow." Kegan replied, a smile on his face as he slowly stood up. "So would you prefer that we sleep in the room I prepared for you, or the room I had prepared for myself."

Evelyn felt herself erupt in a fit of laughter, "Poor, naive Light Elf... You do not know how many Emperors were once upstanding moral men with strong will-power before they took the throne. Your nephew will either be corrupted or he will die."

She smiled sweetly, as if this was a normal conversation over the state of the weather. She laughed a little more and left, leaving Brighe alone.

Tsuba, Maul

"I will take watch, to make sure we are not ambushed at night. The Order has taught me a type of meditation that I can use to rest myself, but also be completely alert and aware at the same time." Maul offered. Tsuba nodded at the Kaleesh, accepting his offer.

"Very well. Well, goodnight everyone. Have pleasent dreams." Tsuba said. Finishing her meal, she stood back up and went over to her side of the tent.

Rein

"Whichever you want to do. I'm fine with either. Just make sure you don't make me deaf with that snoring of yours." Rein teased, smiling brightly. She stood up a moment later.

Kegan

"Your room it is. I did make the bed a bit softer in that one." Kegan admitted as he reached his hand down so he could help Rein up.
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Brighe

Brighe did not return Evelyn's smile, deciding that there was no reason to pretend that she had to like this girl anymore. She was relieved when the Dark Elf left, but her words still hung about Brighe like a bad odor.

Rein

Rein took his hand and got back onto her feet. "Ok then. Lead the way, my lord." Rein said, giving a mock bow.

Syrien

"In my experience with Evelyn, I have often found her to be a blunt woman." Syrien commented, appearing beside Brighe with no warning.

Brighe

"Hmm, I noticed." Brighe said, relief washing over her as she realized that Syrien had actually come with the rest of them. It was nice to know that there was someone here that she could trust. "So how long have you been here?"
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Carlisle

"Maul, you therel?" Carlisle asked after a few minutes of silence and boredom.
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Kegan

Kegan chuckled at Rein's formalities as he returned the grand gesture. "Well then here we go." The Half-Elf stated before he led Rein to their quarters, which were just a few yards away.

Syrien

"I just arrived, actually. I had some business to take care of in the capital." Syrien replied. His eyes soon focused on the pool of water, and of the current image it showed. Specifically, the image of Rein and Kegan in their tent. After a few silent moments of observation, and seeing where exactly Kegan was leading Rein, Syrien spoke again.

"I am going to make Heir Kegan an eunuch when this challenge is over. If that is alright with you, Lady Brighe."

Rein

Rein giggled a little as Kegan led her to their quarters.

"Well, here we are." she said after they arrived. She walked over to the bed and felt it. "Hm, it does feel comfortable. Much better than the beds the servants are issued."

Maul

The Kaleesh cracked one eye open at Carlisle's query. He still held his meditative pose. "Yes, Carlisle?"

Kegan

"You like it? It's a combination of grass and daisies, grown in a way that wouldn't have been possible without some magic." Kegan explained As he followed Rein onto the bed.
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Carlisle

Carlisle bit his lip, regretting almost immediately what he had done. "It's kind of weird, isn't it? Th-the storm, I mean. It was a clear sky this morning, and storms usually don't come from the north this time of year...." Carlisle said, not saying what he'd like and instead just making small talk.
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Brighe

"It's fine with me, Syrien. Kegan doesn't strike me as someone who would be a responsible Father anyways."

Syrien

"Curious. I thought you would object." Syrien stated with a raised eyebrow. "He is, after all, your nephew."

Rein

"Thanks. I really appreciate it." Rein said, taking a seat on the bed. "So, ah, which side do you want?"

Maul

"I agree. A trick caused by Baruti, no doubt. The question is, however, what the rain's purpose is if that is true. For all we know, it could change the very landscape of the forest when we go out in the morning. Or the rain could enlarge the size of normally harmless pests or animals, making them into, pardon the pun, 'bigger' problems. Or Baruti just could be trying to mess with our minds. With that man, anything is possible." Maul stated rather calmly.

Carlisle

"Well then, what should we do about it?" Carlisle asked as he sat up and looked at Maul, no longer tired.
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Kegan

"I don't really care...but I guess I'll take the left side..." Kegan decided, noting that that would make him closer to the edge of the tree's exit.
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Brighe

"You'd thinks so, wouldn't you? But to be honest, I've been watching Kegan and Rein for almost twelve hours today, and it has been...embarrassing, to say the least."

Syrien

"Oh? How so?" Syrien asked with a curious tone. He knew there was some kind of tension between his adopted daughter and Heir Kegan, but surely it couldn't have been that bad? After all, what was the worst that could happen, with two teenagers alone in the forest?

.....ok, he had to admit, many, many things could happen. Each more worse (in his view) than the last. Still, whatever had happened between Rein and Heir Kegan couldn't have been that bad.

Rein

Rein nodded and pulled back the covers from the bed. She paused for a moment, looking around.

"Considering our luck today, I would think this would be the moment were something bad or embarrassing happens to one or both of us."

Maul

"There is nothing we can do. Unless we knew what type of spell Baruti has cast into the storm, if he cast one at all, we can do nothing but wait. We can only hope for the best, but expect the worst for tomorrow." Maul replied.