Song on a Breeze|New Anarlina

[Darastrix]

"I am Midnight Moonwing," he replied. "One of the royal guard. What brings you to Anarlina?"

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Zack sighed and drained the rest of his glass. "Yeah, Twi," he called back setting the empty glass down as he walked over to open the door. "I just needed a breathe...er...." His voice trailed off and his eyes widened as he saw who was with Twilight.

"Az'...?"

"You know I hate that nickname," Zira muttered, though he was smiling widely now.

"Az'!" The bard seemed to move like lightning, launching himself at his friend and nearly knocking Zira back to the opposite wall as he hugged him tightly.

"Dammit Zack!"

[Kender Bard]

Twilight chuckled deeply at the sight. "I'm glad to see you so happy, Zack. If you like, I'll leave you to enjoy some private time with your friend while I attend other matters."

[Darastrix]

Zira looked from Twilight to Zack. "Well, we do need to ta--"

"It's too early in the day for serious conversation," Zack interrupted firmly. "Come back to the court with me."

"Zack, you know I--"

"Hate court, yeah. I'm surprised you presented yourse--" Zack interrupted himself, guessing at his friend's unusual attire. "Wait, your father would expect you to and knowing him, he's probably planning business here soon. Did you threaten the herald with feeding him his horn?"

"You know I've neve--"

"No, but you've mentioned wanting to enough times. Come anyway, the courtiers don't bite that I'm aware of."

"They just goss--"

"People are always going to talk no matter who they are. And the only real difference between a courtier and a bard is that bards get paid to gossip, and you've been around enough of us." He paused and eyed Zira. "In fact, there's one there now that claims an acquaintance with you. A Marion Kelly?"

"Marion's here?" Zira asked, finally getting a word in now that Zack didn't actually know what he might say. His brows knit in confusion. "I knew he was going to Maelstrom. What he's doing here, I've no idea."

"Well, come find out. And take that thing off; it's not that bright in the hall," Zack said, reaching up to undo the knot holding the silk to Zira's eyes.

Zira sighed as the cloth slipped from his face, blinking a bit in the light. He knew there was no arguing with Zack. The man was like a force of nature sometimes. "You win; I'll go" he murmured, taking the silk from Zack and tucking it into a pocket.

"Besides, if someone starts bothering you enough, you can just threaten them with your cane," Zack said with a grin. "I'll even show the scar you gave me with it to make it believable."

"That was an accident," Zira said, smacking his face with the palm of his hand. "And I was thirteen. I hope you don't believe everything he might have said about me," he said to Twilight. "He is rather given to exaggeration."

[Devon]

"Ah well, I only came here by chance," Marion replied. "I was on my way to Talen'sul from Maelstrom and I just happened to stop by. How long have you been a guard here?"

[Kender Bard]

"So I noticed," Twilight said lightly, amused at the banter between the friends. "But I truly do feel like a third wheel. Zack will ensure you have a marvelous time, I'm sure." Bowing, he made a hasty retreat down the hallway, heading towards the end of the castle that would become the royal gardens come spring.

[Darastrix]

"I've been a palace guard for several years now, since I was eighteen." Midnight said, knowing that his youthful face made him appear more like a boy fresh out of training.

Maybe I should just cut my hair short...
_________________________________
Zira blinked at Twilight's sudden departure. "He's in a hurry," he murmured.

Zack shrugged, though he was puzzled as well. "Dunno what for. Oh well, I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to get to know
Twi. He's one of the best men I've had the pleasure of meeting, so I'm sure you'll like him. Sunny, too. I daresay the King likes books almost as much as you do," he said, stepping back into his room to retrieve his instrument before starting back towards the court.

"He likes to read?" Zira asked, perking at the news. He always enjoyed getting to talk to book lovers.

"Forces, yes. You can meet their sisters later, too--Snowflake and Emerald. Snow's the High Priestess of Love and Em runs the guard and army. Well, you ready?" he asked, pausing at the door.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Zira said, bracing himself to re-enter the hall.

Zack just laughed and put an arm around Zira's shoulders as he ushered him back into the sea of courtiers.

[Devon]

Marion nodded and replied back, "It must be nice working for the royal family. And as a guard you do sometimes get that element of adventure." Marion smiled wistfully and continued, "Whats the royal family like by the way?"

[Darastrix]

"Honestly, I prefer it when there's no adventure to be had," Midnight said. "The family? They're all good people; I'm happy to serve them." He smiled. "And to be joining them. My twin sister is to wed King Sunray. He's rather quiet and reserved. Prince Twilight is his opposite. Emerald is practical, doesn't care much for ceremony and frivolity. She's a good commander. And Snowflake...."

His expression softened. "Well, every man in love claims his lady is the fairest and sweetest in the land, and I can claim no differently, so I shant bore you with my rambling on."

__________________________________

The pair of winged Winds were soon accosted by one of the bolder ladies of the court who smiled and bat her eyes at poor Zira. "Oh, I've not had the chance to meet a foreign nobleman before," she gushed. "Such an intriguing sense of fashion. Tell me, Lord Zira, do all Talen'sul's nobility present themselves with their eyes bound?"

Zira shot a helpless look at Zack, who smiled and bowed to the lady. "Forgive my poor manners, Lovely, but I must beg that you excuse us for the moment. We were just on our way to speak to Sir Moonwing and his companion," he said smoothly, his sharp eyes having already picked Marion out of the crowd.

"Princess Snowflake's betrothed? Oh yes, yes, of course," she said, smiling. Did this nobleman know the Moonwings somehow? Maybe he had been invited as a suitor for Princess Emerald! She wandered off, seeking a companion to share her newest piece of "information" as Zack and Zira walked over to Midnight and Marion.

[Devon]

Marion chuckles as Midnight mentions Snowflake, "I won't fault you for that Midnight. I've already seen Princess Emerald and if the two sisters look anything alike then I know your claims aren't false." Turning his head idly, he saw Zira and Zack approach. Smiling he waved to the duo. "I see you found Zira. How are you doing by the way Zira?"

[Darastrix]

Zira blinked at Marion, still feeling out of place in this court setting. "Er, I'm quite well. What are you doing here? I thought you went to Maelstrom."

Meanwhile, Midnight turned and looked at Zack. "You never mentioned your friend was a noble." A twice-over noble, at that.

"I mentioned what was important," the bard said with a shrug, watching Zira speak to Marion. "And I wasn't expecting him to present anyway. He usually doesn't."

[Devon]

"Well I was in Maelstrom, but on my way back I decided to stop here and see what all the fuss was about." Marion grins at Zira, "And I was going to think of someway to apologize for returning later than I said I would, but luck is on my side since you're here as well. I heard your family was doing well, but I never knew it was this well Zira."

[Darastrix]

Zira sighed. "My father is the third Lord of Fell house, and I'll supposedly be the fourth."

"What do you mean 'supposedly,' Az'?" Zack asked, waving at Midnight as he excused himself to continue around the hall. "You planning on refusing the title?"

"No, but I may not be the only possible heir." He paused. "I hope I'm not."

Zack blinked, confused, then his brow wrinkled in concern. "Your mom....again? You didn't have to come right away, you know. You could've waited."

"Efil and Taed will decide whether I'm at home or not. Besides, she insisted I go, even though I know she's at least as worried about me as I am about her."

[Devon]

Marion grew silent, he knew next to nothing about Zira's family life after all. "I wish your mother the best," he murmured. "I think I'll uh, take a walk around the court a bit more. When things around here are quiet the three of us should get together somewhere." Smiling to the duo he took a few steps back and went off into the crowd.

As he walked through the crowd, he spotted Princess Emerald and approached her. "Good evening," he said with a smile and a polite bow.

[Kender Bard]

Emerald eyed Marion warily. Wordlessly she took a half step to the side so her vision of the room and the courtiers went as unimpeded as possible. "Good day to you, sir," she said woodenly. "Is there anything you require?"

Sunray looked over and, with an annoyed frown, poked her in the side. "Em..."

Emerald blushed, but with a bit more naturalness than before, she amended, "Can I help you?"

[Darastrix]

Meanwhile, the exchange between Zack and Zira had not gone unnoticed, and the room was fairly abuzz with gossip.

"I hear Lord Zira is here to find a wife!"

"He's here to court Princess Emerald, I'm sure of it! Zachriel knows him, look. And they went right to Sir Midnight...probably to introduce the young lord to his soon-to-be brother."

"His mother is very ill; he must need to produce an heir of his own soon to put her mind at rest. Have you ever seen anyone so pale? He must be ill as well...."

"Oh, pish-posh. He doesn't act ill. And look at his eyes!"

Zira groaned to himself, catching bits and pieces of the rumours that fairly flew around the hall. "Zack...."

"Easy, Zira. Tales get bigger in a person's absence, you know."

"I know, but I wish I didn't have to hear the 'small' ones in my presence."

"Well, let's make up some of our own. Why's your friend back over there in front of Em and Sunny, hmmm?"