Seeking The Truth, Part 1

Posted on Mon Nov 9th, 2020 @ 6:05am by Sir Ryuan de Locke & Lord Prince Asvard

Mission: Deep Winter, 2137 of the Endless Winter
Location: Approaching the Lyrids Estate
Timeline: Aurember 3, 2137

Prince Asvard, aboard his steed, wore his armor, but carried his helmet. His sword, tied to his saddle, ready for him. His shield, also attached to his saddle.

Behind him, his groom, Korena, riding her horse, with their pack mule behind her, carrying their supplies.

They had been traveling for weeks. It was bitterly cold. Their breaths froze as it came out of their mouths, The snow was deep, making travel hard.

Through the driving snow, they saw a gate, guarded by a knight.

They approached slowly.

Cold meant little to de Locke. His armor kept him warm enough and as it covered his face, no part of him was really exposed to it. As the travellers grew close he held up a hand, snow clinging to the heavy beskar gauntlet. "Ho! What brings you to Lyrius, traveler?" His voice seemed to boom inside his helmet.

Asvard, stopped his horse, and looked at the knight. "We have been traveling for a very long time, and we are in search of the legendary land known as Lyrius. It's lord is well known for truth and never turning away a guest."

"You have arrived at the gates of the Lyrius Manor," de Locke said walking up to the horse. "By order of the Lady Amalthea we turn none away. Follow me and we will see about getting you a room until at least this storm passes. We can see about the rest."

"Thank you, sir knight." Once the knight started walking, Asvard spurred his horse on to follow. He kept glancing around, looking at the estate.

Walking through the snow took effort, but de Locke showed no sign of tiring as he escorted the man, his wife, and the horse toward the main entrance of the manor. Upon arrival he beckoned over a couple of his men. "My men will take the horse to the stable. For now I will take you to see the Lady of the Manor. She can assign you chambers."

"My page will see to the animals if you please, and I will follow you." Asvard responded.

"As you wish," de Locke said and held up his hand, a single guard stepping forward. "My man will escort your page. I will not allow visitors to go unattended before their intentions are made clear." His voice was deep, some hidden threat lost inside it. "Now come with me." He began to walk up the steps, pausing on the highest one to look back.

Asvard looked at the knight standing on the stairs above him. "I ask that once I have chambers, that my page be escorted there, to assist in removing my armor."

"Should the Lady of the Manor approve, I will see it done," de Locke replied.

One of the guards moved to the side of the horse, looking over the page for a moment.

"Now, follow me and you may speak with the Lady of the Manor yourself," de Locke said and turned to walk through the massive Manor doors and into the Great Hall of Lyrius.

Before following the knight and passing through the doors, he gave Korena an assuring nod, which she returned. Korena took the reins of Asvards horse, leaving her horse and mule for the guard to lead.
Once Asvard passed through the Manor doors, he removed his helmet and carried it under his arm.

Sir de Locke lead the visitor into the main hall and up to the empty throne and bowed low.

The Lady Amalthea stood beside her father's throne in a dress the color of the sun on a cold morning. "Rise, de Locke," she said in a voice like the tinkling of silver bells. "What have you come to report."

"Visitors, my lady," he replied and gestured to the people who followed him.

The Lady Amalthea turned her gaze to the newcomers. "Come closer," she said and gestured.

Asvard walked forward, then knelt before the Lady. "Thank you, my lady, for allowing my small party to reest here."

"My home is open to those who need rest. What brings you this far north good sir?" Amalthea asked in a gentle voice. She gave him a curious look, peering into him for a moment, but saying nothing else.

Asvard stood, facing the Lady. "I seek alliances, my lady. I seek to depose my father from the throne." He looked at her to gauge her reaction. "Years ago, before I was born, a great Orc army threatened the kingdom and the surrounding lands. My father negotiated an alliance with the Elves and the Dwarfs. Together with the Kings army, the three groups formed a massive army, that destroyed the Orc invaders. For there help, the Dwarfs were given mines in the North. The Dwarfs found gold and precious metals worth a fortune. They did send tributes to the King once a year." He still watched her. "The Elves were given land to the East. There they build mighty castles in the hills...temples to beauty and peace. If threatened, a signal would be sent, and 2 armies would come to help."
"Then my mother died, and the Kings heart turned cold. He took several mistresses, and sired many bastard children...pretenders to the throne. When he became bored with a mistress, he sent her away.....rags on her back. Then the king, my father, sent his soldiers to find young girls to become one of the king's playthings. The soldiers left a bag of gold for their daughter. As the years went by, the girls the soldiers brought started becoming younger and younger." Asvard turned his head, obviously disgusted by what he said. "The Royal Guards were replaced by Black Knights. Any of the people who call the king a beast...the Black Knights arrived and killed them. I have many guards loyal to me and would follow me, but we need an army to defeat the Black Knights.....and free my people."

"I have no army and the affairs of those beyond my borders are of little concern," the Lady Amalthea replied, her voice emotionless. She had not reacted at all when he had spoke, her face frozen in a pale expression that seemed like the cold chill of a winter morning. "I do not have the means or motive to aid you in your quest, however I can feed and cloth you and your companion. You will be safe while you reside in my walls."

Asvard bowed. "I apologize if I offended you, Lady. I thank you for your hospitality. You have been generous." He looked at her and marveled what a lovely woman she was.

"My house is a house of peace, while you are here you and all others are expected to abide by that," the Lady Amalthea added softly, her tone distant. "de Locke, see they are given quarters. Perhaps a cottage near the stables, so they may attend their horses."

de Locke gave a single nod. "At your leave, my Lady," he said in his usual deep booming voice.

"Do not fret brave Prince, all is not lost, but perhaps it is not an army you seek," the Lady Amalthea added and then turned. "There are more ways to crush darkness than a sword, I do think." And with that she walked out a door behind the throne and into private chambers.

Asvard watched her leave. Then he turned and followed de Locke. "The lady is as wise as she is beautiful."

"Well spoken," de Locke replied as he led the visitors out of the Manor and down a path to a cluster of small buildings, each with their own chimney, though most did not have smoke rising. He led them to one such and turned at the door. "I can hove a chambermaid come and prepare the room if you wish, there is a sitting room in this cottage should you wish to wait there."

"I will do that. Also, am I free to go to the stables to check on my companion? And is there a place where I may bathe?" Asvrad asked, while he looked around the rooms.

"There is a bath house yonder," de Locke replied gesturing to a large stone building set between the cluster of cottages and the manor itself, the walkway from the building to the manor being covered in a low roof to hold in warmth. "And you may attend the stables at your leisure."

"Thank ye." He waited for de Locke to leave, and when the chambermaid arrived, "Would you assist me in removing my amour?" He wanted to bathe before going to the stables.

"My Lord," the chambermaid said bowing her head as she began to help him undo the fastens on his armor. She had some experience with armor, but it was usually one of the servants who worked in the guardhouse who would handle such thing.

The chambermaid was a pretty young girl, at any other time, Asvard would be romantically interested in her, but he didn't want to do anything that might offend the Lady Amalthea.
The girl removed the chest piece of the armour, exposing his chest and back, which were covered with scars.

The chambermaid did not seem to react to his scars, instead setting his armor to the side as it was removed. "Would you like me to have this cleaned?"

"Yes, please." He watched as she picked up his armour and left the room. He changed into some old clothes, wrapped a bear skin rug around him and walked to the bathe house. He carried his dagger with him, more out of habit that fear for his safety.

He entered the bath house and saw a large open area, a large steaming pool in the center it. Along one wall was a bank of stone showers in the shape of large wild beasts. Near the showers were a number of rows of shelves covered in towels and wash clothes. A number of nubile boys and girls helped bathe those there.

One of the girls spotted him and quickly moved to him. She was young, but she was also Elf, so it was hard to tell exactly how old she was. "Would you like my assistance today, my Lord?"

"Yes, but I would not wish to make you uncomfortable being with a man in a bathe." He looked at her.

"It is my honor to serve," the girl said bowing her head. "Would you like me to wash your back after you shower?"

He looked at her, and saw that she was an Elf, so she's probably older then she looks. "Are you allowed to be in the shower with me?"

"If I am requested to be, I am here to serve," the girl replied with an odd look. "It depends on how comfortable our guests are with my services."

Asvard looked at her. "And what are these 'services'?"

"It mostly depends on what our guests require," the girl said with a sly little smile. She gestured to the shower. "We can figure that out after we get you clean, would you care to begin?"

"Yes, let's begin." He followed her into the shower. The shower was actually a waterfall where the water came through a hole in the ceiling. Asvard took off his robe, and walked into the shower, naked. There was a stool under the water, and so, he took a seat.

The girl moved behind him and took a sponge and got it wet under the falling water. "Are you ready for me to wash your back, my lord?" she asked, rubbing a bar of soap against the sponge and building up a decent lather.

He nodded, then looked at her. "You shouldn't work in wet clothes. It would be better if you removed them."

"If you wish," the girl said as she carefully removed her robe to show her pale, thin form. Her breasts were small, not even a real handful. She had the appearance of youth, but not so young as to be undeveloped. Instead she was beyond the cusp of womanhood, yet remained small.

Asvard watched as she disrobed. He knew he shouldn't be aroused by someone who appears so young, but nonetheless, he was becoming visibly aroused.

If she noticed his state of arousal, she made no sign of it. She picked up the soaped up sponge and began to build up the lather once more. When it was sufficiently built up she moved forward and began to clean his back. The sponge was not rough, but it did it's job of buffing the skin and removing sweat and the stench of travel. "Have you traveled far?" the girl asked as she washed him.

Asvard closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of the sponge on his back. "I have, we came up from the south. I rescued the girl that acts as my groom...she doesn't speak but she is very good with the horses. Have you lived here all your life?"

"I have," the girl said as she lifted his arm and cleaned his armpit and side. "My family has served the Lyrius family for generations."

"Are you a slave then?"

"I am a servant, I may go as I wish and I am provided what coin I need," the girl replied as she moved to wash his other side. "The Lyrius Family holds no slaves."

"I think it's time we go to the baths." He stood up, wrapped a towel around himself, and waited for her to show him where the baths were. "If I was to suggest that you come to my quarters tonight, to spend the night, would that be against the rules? What if I asked that you bring another girl as well?"

"I do not believe it is against the rules to ask," she replied with smile as she led him to a large shared open air bath. Steam rose from the water obscuring the view of others significantly, but there were a number of nobles and guests already bathing.

Asvard found an isolated area where he could bathe in private. He could hear others talking, laughing....and the sounds of people having sex. "So, would you join me in my quarters tonight then?" There were underwater seats that bathers could sit on while the employees would stand around and bathed the nobles and guests.

"I suppose it would depend on what you intend to do once I am in your quarters," the girl said waiting outside the bath. She showed no signs of discomfort and didn't seem to notice anyone else's activities, her focus never left the visitor. "If I did come to your quarters, what would you want me to do?"

"You wouldn't have to do anything if you didn't want to, the choice would be yours." He looked at her, in all her nakedness. "Is it allowed that you join me in the bath? And is it allowed that I can touch you?"

"While I am on duty, I am forbidden to enter the bath," she replied with a slight head bow. "What would you do to me if I let you do anything you wanted? What if I didn't say no to anything? Then what would you do?"

"I would like to touch your body....your ass...your chest. If you didn't want me to, I wouldn't touch you. What would I do if you refused me? I would say or do nothing. At any time, you can stay or you can leave, it's your choice." He responded to her. "If you don't want to come to my quarters, I'm sure I can find someone else who will."

"You would only touch me? You would not desire more?" she asked not moving from where she stood. Her voice was soft, not giving anything away.

"Here, I would only touch you." He turned around and looked at her. "Have you ever been with a man?"

"Would it bother you if I had?" she asked with a slight smile. "And come, sir, I would think you would desire more than that. If I allowed you to be as bold as you liked, let you do as you pleased, would you only touch me? Or would you desire to do more?"

"I doesn't bother me that you have been with other men. And since you have been with other men, you know what exactly what I want. I want us to have sex. Now if you don't want to have sex with me, fine, I am sure I can find another woman to be with. It's your decision." He dunked his head in the water, then came back to the surface.

She simply nodded. "I am certain your seduction technique is spoken of throughout the land, sir," she said flatly.

"Show up in my quarters tonight, and I will gladly show you my seduction technique, and you will see why it's known through the land." He got out of the water. "Robe." He waited for her to put his robe on him.

Without a word the girl quickly grabbed a robe and helped him into it. She said nothing more as she helped him dress, her features as blank as if they had been carved in stone.

"I do not have my purse, I left it in my quarters. Come to my quarters in an hour, and I shall pay you for your services today. You have done an excellent job." He cinched his robe, then walked to the changing room.
After dressing, he left the building and returned to his quarters. The fire in the fire place was roaring. Candles lit the quarters. Food and wine had been placed on the table. He sat down to eat.

There was a knock at the door. Not the soft knock of what one have expected if it was the girl, but a loud powerful knock. A knock that was more demand than question.

Asvard stood up from the table and walked over to the door and opened it. "Yes?"

The Captain of the Guard, Sir de Locke, stood in the doorway. His armor had a dull gleam to it, a dark glint of ethereal metal. "I understand you took advantage of your bath house," he said. "I hope if was to your satisfaction."

"It was very good. The shower was pleasant, and relaxing in the bath was perfect. And the people there to assist you, they were very good. I didn't bring my coin pouch, I wasn't expecting servants there to help wash you. The girl I had was very good, and when you knocked, I thought it was her. I told her to come here and I would pay her for earlier." He looked outside. "I wonder what's keeping her." Asvard looked at him. "So, good knight, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Our staff functions without the need for our visitors to pay," de Locke replied. "Indeed such things are discouraged as they tend to complicate things. A gift is, of course, your own to give, however payment is not." He looked in. "I have not seen your assistant. I assume they attended your animal? Would they be obliged to our baths as well?"

"Yes, she does. She prefers to stay with the horses in the stable. She's grown attached to them and the horses like having her around. And I will let her know that she is allowed to use the baths, it would be an improvement on bathing in streams." Asvard looked at the knight. "Would you share my meal and wine with me?"

"It is inappropriate for one in my position to dine with others," de Locke replied coldly. His helmet made his voice sound low and gave it an even colder quality than it would normally have. "However, if you seek company to dine with, there is a dining area in the Manor. It will be time for a meal shortly, I am certain there are those who would dine with you there. Your companion is more than welcome to join you. I am told the meal should be quite excellent."

Asvard nodded. "Thank you, sir knight, that does sound entertaining. I hope I will have the chance to see the Lady again. I shall change into something more... suitable for the occasion. And on the way, I will go find my companion, take her to the baths, and find something suiting such an occasion."

"I will inform the kitchen to expect your arrival," de Locke replied and turned to head back to the manor house.

"Thank you, sir knight." Asvard closed the door when de Locke left. He walked into his bed chambers and pulled out his best clothes from the closet. He dressed quickly, and checked himself in the mirror, before getting his cloak and leaving his quarters.
He made his way to the stable, where he found his companion brushing the horses. "Follow me." he told her. They made their way to the bath house, where he had someone take care of the girl. He stayed in the waiting room. He looked around for the girl that assisted him, he had a debt to pay her.

When his companion was bathed, he tipped her attendant and the two of them left the baths and headed to the launderer, where his companion, he felt he had to either have her tell him her name or he would give her one, was outfitted with a new wardrobe, including a new dress for the evening.

They left the launderer and headed to the manor.