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+--- Thread: [G] [P] 738.09.08 | Written In The Stars (/showthread.php?tid=3966)
738.09.08 | Written In The Stars - Kaylira - 23.Apr.18
The stars were twinkling so brightly tonight.
Kaylira lay on her back on the grass, gazing up at the night sky. Perhaps she shouldn't have come out here with such an important guest staying with them, but she had not been able to resist. While temperatures never dropped too low in the tropical climate of Southern Boll, it did get chilly enough in the winter that it wasn't comfortable to study the stars outdoors. She needed to take advantage of the warm evenings while she could.
As she watched the glittering constellations, she thought about Lord Therion. He had come to court her sister Selyana and she had envied her for having the chance to become a Lady of a major Hold. When he had arrived, her father had introduced both of his daughters to him, and Kaylira had thought that he was quite handsome, despite being twenty years her senior. Selyana would be lucky indeed if he decided to marry her.
Though he had been cordial to both of them, she had sensed a deep sadness within him that he was obviously trying to hide. During dinner, she had told funny stories hoping to cheer him up and she had been rewarded by a few slight smiles. Afterward, he had asked Selyana if she would like to hear him play his violin. They had retired to the music room and she had not seen either of them since.
They would both be in their separate chambers now, getting ready to retire for the night. How had they gotten along, she wondered? Would Lord Therion make arrangements to marry Selyana tomorrow morning? Or had there been no sparks between them? She rather hoped that her sister had not charmed him, but she didn't know why and felt guilty for even thinking it. Yet it was the truth, no matter how much she tried to deny it.
The steady cadence of footsteps brought her out of her reverie, and she sat up just as Lord Therion himself rounded a sculpted topiary and came into view. What was he doing in the garden at this time of night and what would he think of her being outside so late? He would probably believe she was completely daft. “My lord,” she said, her voice a bit breathless. “I didn't think anyone else would be in the garden tonight. Do you often take late night strolls?”
RE: 738.09.08 | Written In The Stars - Therion - 27.Apr.18
After his disappointing encounter with Selyana, Therion was too restless to retire. He and Lord Kelrick got along quite well, and he had seen the hope in the older man's eyes when he had asked Selyana if she wanted to hear him play his violin. An alliance between the two Holds would be advantageous, but unfortunately he found Kelrick's eldest daughter far too dull to spend the rest of his life with. She had listened politely to his playing and had told him that she liked it, but she didn't seem to have any great love for music.
Or for anything else really. When he had asked her what she liked to do, she had told him about things her servants did for her, not things she did herself. He got the impression that she was lazy and had few interests of her own. What did she do all day, he wondered, sit in a parlor and look pretty while her servants attended to her every whim? It was clear that she wanted to become his Lady by the way she looked at him, but Therion felt absolutely nothing for her but a mild contempt. It was too bad that Kelrick's other daughter was only sixteen. She was vivacious and charming and had even made him smile during dinner.
He eventually found himself in the gardens, walking aimlessly while contemplating how to break the news to Lord Kelrick that he didn't want to marry Selyana. He hoped his refusal didn't hurt relations between the Holds, but he didn't think she would be happy with him and he knew that he wouldn't be happy with her.
As he rounded a beautifully-sculpted topiary, his thoughts were interrupted by the sight of young Kaylira sitting on a blanket and staring up at him, a bright red flower tucked behind her ear. Therion was surprised to find her out so late all alone. And she seemed equally surprised to see him. He noted her startled voice when she asked him if he was prone to taking late night strolls. “Actually I do,” he replied. “At home, I often study the stars at night.”