Wildfires and Weeds
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“Mm.” She was not wrong. The Imperial palace had gardens to die for – although Tiberius would chalk up much of his current affinity for the place to an overabundance of lingering homesickness. He’d gotten lost here as a child. Kissed Enzo in the Archon’s hedge maze as a young man.

And he might yet live to kiss his wife here someday, if not his fiancee tonight. Arvina had appeared calm and curious about their circumstances. That was the best introduction Tiberius could have hoped for. A clear signal that their House wasn't going to be shunned from society over his bad luck to be trapped on the other side of the barrier. It was a start; he could build on this.

“You did well tonight.” Perhaps it surprised him that that wasn’t a flattering lie? Tiberius cracked a wry smile and glanced down at the top of her head. Lyric had not made a good impression on him in that first inauspicious meeting and he was sure the reverse was also true. He’d thought that there was no way such a silent, submissive creature could survive the Tevene Court.

In a way, he’d been right. Because that hadn’t been Lyric at all.

“I’ve been to many and they’re all much the same. Except for the cats – those are unique to Archon Arvina, I think.” A voice floated up behind them. Tiberius winced mentally; he should have heard someone walking up. Lyric turned before he did, the surprise and warmth on her face enough to give him an unpleasant inkling. With his back to the trellises, holding very still and carefully blank in his expression, Tiberius took in the new arrival.

This Akibrus person was handsome and annoyingly tall. One would think he would have stood out in the ballroom and yet Tiberius felt this was the first time he’d laid eyes on the man.

“This is one of the admirers you told me about.” It was not quite a question. Tiberius knew the word was not entirely right, either. Only that admirer might do less harm to a lady’s reputation than lover when overheard in a public garden.

“I hope you are not here to cause a scene, ser. That would go very poorly for all of us.” He shifted his gaze to look at Lyric, hopeless, almost incurious. She had not fled on the road when she could have – instead she’d saved his life. No doubt it was only the same impulse that had moved her to save Nadia from that trap.

She would take this offer of rescue.

@Akibrus Blaine @Lyric Oatshield


Messages In This Thread
Wildfires and Weeds - by Tiberius Umbra - 05-13-2024, 09:40 PM
RE: Wildfires and Weeds - by Akibrus Blaine - 05-24-2024, 06:36 PM
RE: Wildfires and Weeds - by Lyric Oatshield - 06-04-2024, 06:56 PM
RE: Wildfires and Weeds - by Tiberius Umbra - 06-04-2024, 09:25 PM
RE: Wildfires and Weeds - by Akibrus Blaine - 06-08-2024, 08:36 PM
RE: Wildfires and Weeds - by Lyric Oatshield - 06-13-2024, 10:56 AM
RE: Wildfires and Weeds - by Tiberius Umbra - 06-14-2024, 06:15 PM
RE: Wildfires and Weeds - by Akibrus Blaine - 06-16-2024, 10:10 AM
RE: Wildfires and Weeds - by Lyric Oatshield - 06-19-2024, 05:04 PM
RE: Wildfires and Weeds - by Tiberius Umbra - 06-19-2024, 07:56 PM
RE: Wildfires and Weeds - by Akibrus Blaine - 06-21-2024, 05:47 PM
RE: Wildfires and Weeds - by Lyric Oatshield - 06-22-2024, 04:11 PM
RE: Wildfires and Weeds - by Tiberius Umbra - 06-24-2024, 04:20 PM