Of Freedom and Teamwork
It's Korday, Aestry 28 12:10:05 1018. The full moon is up. The tide is low and rising. The sky is grey and cloudy, and nothing casts a shadow. It's hot, humid, and still.
A16: Nobility District
Ga'Elian wanders up the mountain road from the City below, riding on the back of his griffon companion. As they enter the nobility district, the pair draw not a few gawking stares from the upper-class folks in the place, as if to ask why a savage is riding a monster in this part of town. Ga'Elian seems to be scanning the surrounding mountain peaks, and is humming quietly to himself.
Lucy is wandering out of one of the nicely decorated 'guest houses' towards the edge of the district. Who the owner is is rarely advertised and who the guests are seem to change offen and discreetly. They are the Alexandrian upper-class version of staying at an inn. She glances thoughtfully up the hill, towards the wealthier areas, then down towards the more common areas sprawling out in the shadow of the mountain. Then she blinks and turns back to where Ga'Elian and the griffon are.
Splendor, riches, and finery may be the halmarks of nobility, but neither these nor birthright make one noble. Aya emerges from one of the small side streets. While colorfully decorated with bright banners and regalia and with adjacent buildings well-maintained, they are, nonetheless, not so different from the dank alleyways of the lower city.
As Ga'Elian looks upwards, a pair of griffon-riding cavaliers fly above the Castellum. Erithamiel notices them and calls with a deep sound starting as a roar, but morphing into a screech as it projects skyward from his beak. The riders wave and begin circling downward towards Ga'Elian's mount. The Sylvanori says, "Oh, my friend. You're so ready. I know it." <sildanyari>
The screech gets Aya's attention and draws her eyes to Erithamiel and his pet. "He looks anxious to take to the air with his kind," she comments as she nears them.
Lucy's eyes widen when the griffon calls to its kind. She wanders closer, stopping well past what she judges to be it's maximum beak range. "I've never heard them do that before!" she chirps brightly.
At the mention of 'savage' from some of the nobles, Charlotte rolls her eyes and comes out of one of the nobilities houses. "Just because they don't look like you, doesn't mean....." She then looks to the griffon and it's rider, chuckling a bit. "Hah. Now I get it." She says walking her way over towards the griffon and it's rider, smirking a little at Aya. "Never heard them screech before? The griffons are a treat to behold, and the riders, only slightly less majestic." She then looks up to Ga'elian and waves with her left hand.
Ga'Elian has just enough time to greet Aya before the others land. "Oh. Hi, Aya. He is very eager, as am I." <sildanyari> The two others land and wave to Ga'Elian. One says, "Nice mount you've got there." All three griffon riders smile at Lucy's comment, and Ga'Elian replies, "He is Erithamiel Ironclaws, and your companions are magnificent, too." Again the three smile at Charlotte's comment, Ga'Elian nodding to her as the other cavalier responds, "Dear lady, you flatter us." (Ga'Elian looks pleased, but not "flattered", as if flattery is alien to him.)
"So I see," Aya agrees simply before dipping her head to the arriving griffon riders. A nod follows to Charlotte. "Yes, they are fine beasts, as useful and valued as the sharpest weapon or sturdy armor."
Charlotte says, "it is true. Griffons are beautiful animals....if you want to call them that." She says as she keeps back from the lot of griffons. "That being said, I wouldn't really want to get close to one." She then smirks a little to Ga'elian, whom.....seems to be against her charms, not that she minds."
"Well, Hunter, it was a pleasure to meet you and noble Ironclaws here. It was also very pleasant to drop in on your friends here," he looks around at Lucy, Aya, and more intensively at Charlotte, even winking at her, before continuing, "But we are on a mission of some urgency, and must go." The other rider says, "Farewell." and they turn to launch skyward.
Erithamiel purrs and flutters his own wings as the others take off. Ga'Elian says, "The gods be with ye."
Lucy tilts her head back to watch the Skyguard take off. "I've never heard one of -them- either," she admits, voice slightly awed. Then she glances at Ga'Elian. "Are you going to join them someday?" She says it like it would be the most natural and obvious thing in the world.
Charlotte smirks at the riders and waves to them, even smiling at the one who winks to her. "be safe and may the winds carry you far." She then smiles to Lucy. "I believe so. His wings may not be strong enough yet, or the feathers may not be growing in right." She says walking closer to the griffon and taking a look. "Granted, I don't know much about raising animals..."
"I'm sure he'll join them in the air, at least. some day," Aya provides an answer to Lucy's question. "The rest probably requires a great deal of effort."
Ga'Elian dismounts and pets the griffon's folded wing. "As Aya saith, I shall join them in the air, and judging by Erithamiel's progress, I expect it will be soon, but I shall not join the Skyguard. 'Tis my life to range far and wide as a warden of the wilderness, not so much to serve the causes of city-folk."
Charlotte says, "You choose your own path, yes." She then shakes her head. "At least your dad didn't try to marry you off for convinence." She laughs. "Dad wanted me to be 'protected'. So, he was a little miffed when I chellenged hy 'fiance' to a duel. If he won, I'd marry him. If I won, the marriage was called off, and I'd wander. Obviously...I won."
Lucy looks thoughtful. "I thought they operate everywhere. They guard the skies, and the skies are everywhere," she shrugs after a bit. "Just seems like a perfect fit. And you can do more working as part of a team than you ever could on your own!" She quiets down and listens to Charlotte. "Oh wow...that's...that's like something out of a fairy tale!"
Aya arches a brow at Charlotte. "A smart arrangement. No matter the outcome, you could have been free from wedlock, if you chose to duel to the death."
Ga'Elian looks at Lucy and says, "Perhaps thou art right. 'Tis certain that they are seen throughout the skies, but as for working as part of a team, I shall ponder it, but I like my freedom, and the Ygdrassil Union and the Explorers Guild provide me ample opportunity to collaborate. I do appreciate the suggestion, though."
Charlotte says, "it depends upon how you look at it, ma'am. It wasn't a fairy tale from my point of view." She then looks to Aya. "Well, I don't kill if I can help it. but the outcome had a way of working itself out. Our duel started, I threw a knife at his boot, which stuck to the ground, he triped and smashed his face on a rock. he survived, but was nowhere near as 'pretty' as he once was. And I have a feeling my father wanted him as much as he wanted him to be my husband....something my mother took a little exception to.' She then giggles. "I have a strange family." She looks to Ga'elian. "Sometimes a team is a good thing, other times not. you are already part of a team." She says gesturing to his griffon. "it also depends upon how organized the team, or group is. Some can be ready in minutes, like the Arvek nar. Others are like herding cats......"