Riddles: Tales from Tailte IC {PG 13}

[BumblingBee]

Aoife watched the sun rise over the tree tops and light up the leaves like fireflies. She began to hear the convoy of caravans below her wake up and greet the new day. Then something suddenly nudged her in the back, she turned and faced her companion: Topthorn. She sighed sadly and rubbed his neck, slumping forwards, she rested her head upon his.
"Oh Topthorn, I don't want to go"
Topthorn whinned at her softly in response. Her ears perked up as she heard approaching footsteps from behind her, yet she did not move. She knew who it would be anyway.
"Why do I have to go anyway? I don't want to be a wimsy little lady of court"
She grumbled under her breath
"Sounds awfully dull if you ask me"

Her Uncle frowned. He was a tall man, with sharp features and broad shoulders. He took a long sigh before moving forwards to stand beside her and overlook the convoy below. Without looking at her he began to speak
"It's not up to us to decide, you know that. Besides, it's in the name of your family honour to travel to Sareas"
He frowned a little, raising an eyebrow and looking at her
"I thought you liked seeing your Father anyway"
Aoife scoffed as she began to lead Topthorn back down towards the Convoy.
"I do. WHEN he visits, which is once a year and that's plenty enough for me"

The rest of the morning passed in a incredibly slow and dull blur. She packed her few belongings and was made 'presentable'. As her auntie took her furs away she felt as if a part of herself was being torn away with them. She was simply being dressed up and made to be something she clearly was not. Her auntine looked at her proudly all decked out in her new attire.
"Perfect!"
She clasped her hands together and hurriedl stode towards the paddocks.
"Now just wait here for a moment while I just ... go and get somethng. Then you'll be ready to go!"
Aoife gave her a fake grin as she left, it instantly fell back into a frown once she was gone. For awhile she shuffled around awkwardly, scuffing a nearby fence post and twiddling with her hair impatiently. Aoife looked out over the familiar horizon of her home.
"I'll return to you, one day"

She vowed to herself. And she never broke her vows.

[AvisCrown]

Caleb looked out over the water from the ship. The waves were calm, which was nice considering the last couple of days on the water had been rough and had delayed them quite some time. Caleb was happy to have been able to shed the heavy furs he had to wear while in Fhrainc now that he was under the saib sun. He felt like the months he had stayed in the cold waste land his skin had almost gone as gray and sickly as those native to its land.

He hated Fhrainc but the journey was necessary. Even if the people of Fhrainc were sleazy cheats, they still brought a lot of trade into Saibhreas, and it was important to try and remain on good terms with them or else Saibhreas would suffer a great lose of profit.

The prince however was happy to be along the sea, though now closing into the River of Riches. He had grown up along the river and had many of times been at sea. Perhaps he would have preferred to be a sailor or a merchant rather than a prince.

Now they could see the city of Sareas from their ship. The walled in city seemed to shine like gold in this light. Caleb was happy to be returning home. He worried for his father well being and his mother's health. Rurik, his younger brother, came onto deck. He put his arm around Caleb's shoulder and looked out towards home. The palace could be seen clearly atop the rest of the city. Rurik was only a couple years younger than Caleb, at age 23. The two were fairly close and often traveled together, though it usually ended with Caleb having to drag Rurik out of trouble. Rurik was quite the wild child, which in some ways Caleb was rather pleased with, it made his own actions seem tame. This moment was no different than any other. Caleb could smell the heavy scent of wine on his brother's breathe.

"Home again dear brother." Rurik smiled. Caleb frowned at him.

"Do try to sober up a bit before we dock." Caleb said. Which might have sounded rather cold but Rurik knew it was a sign of endearment from his brother.

[BumblingBee]

Calloch had been told by Lock of Caleb and Ruriks return that day. Himself and Lock had agreed to greet them at the docks. It was a good job they were returning too. Cadman was begining to drive him insane, and not for the first time either. He dismounted his horse and began to stride through the busy docks, bustling past merchants, traders and fishermen alike before Lock could even place the horse in a stable. The noise of the place was almost deafaning in parts. Eventually Calloch found himself at the correct port. He stood and waited patiently as the large ship came into port. As the gangplank was lowered he waved Caleb and Rurik over.
"Thank the bloody gods you're here, look I'll have to be quick"
He turned to face Caleb
"I'd tell your Father myself but he's driven me to near insanity and I really need to get going"
He held his hands behind his back with a heavy sigh.
"I'll be out of court for a day or two, my daughter arrives in Sareas today and I must help her settle"
He looked at Caleb completely serious
"I'm telling you as I fear the other advisors may seize the opportunity to..."
He waved his hands a little searching for the right word. He settled with,
"Corrupt the Kings mind while I am gone"
He placed a friendly hand on Calebs shoulder
"Could you kep an eye on them?"

By this point Lock had caught up. He remained a little ways away, simply keeping a watchful eye on them from a distance. He was leaning against a wall with his arms folded and a mild look of boredom upon his face.

[CryoLilly]

Yvalla woke up to the usual sounds of morning in the forest. The birds sang softly flying around in the morning light as the sun filtered through the green leaves, casting dappled light onto the forest floor. She opened her eyes, looking down from the hammock like structure she had built to keep her off of the forest floor as she preferred to wake up without ants and other small creatures all over her. She climbed out onto a branch, grabbing her bow and quiver from where they hung on another branch. She decided that it was about time that she patrol the area again, the last group of hunters had taken more... drastic measures to remove from the area. She looked at the bundle of arrows in her quiver, realizing that soon enough, she'd have to make more.

She looked around, wondering if Diala had decided to come back yet, but seeing nothing of her dark grey fur, Yvalla turned away from her small home, pulling up her hood to conceal her face in shadows. She ran silently through the trees, leaping from branch to branch when necessary, it was much easier to move through the trees than to try to work through the thick undergrowth on the ground. As she went deeper into the forest, towards the coast, she noticed a silence creeping over the woods. The chirping of the birds faded away, until she could no longer hear them. The slight rustling as small creatures foraged for food disappeared as well. It came upon her very suddenly that there were no longer any natural sounds. It was silent. Something was wrong.

She climbed up on the tree in which she stood, trying to get above the thick leaves. As she emerged above the sea of trees she noticed that ahead of her, there was much less green. The trees that should have been flourishing were darkening, leaves rotting on the trees and then falling to the earth. Farther away, the trees were lifeless, blackened fingers reaching to obscure the sun. She descended quickly, going all the way down to the ground. She walked slowly, and as quiet as she could, approaching the border of the dying trees. The earth as she walked grew less and less firm, becoming dark and wet, the mud grasping at her heels, trying to pull her down. As she went further, she began to see just how bad it had become. This was not a natural death.

She turned immediately and ran, caring little to remain quiet any more. The forest was infected, poisoned, and she had no idea how to stop it. She ran back to her home climbing up into the trees when it became necessary. As soon as she got back she pulled together her few possessions. She needed to warn the rest of the Atonians, because no matter how much she was repulsed by them, she would rather not see a whole people die.

[AvisCrown]

As the ship came into dock Caleb spotted Calloch waiting for them. This unnerved Caleb a bit. He wondered what had gone wrong in court. Caleb and Rurik were quickly greeted as the got back on land. Rurik seemed to get lost in the crowd, like child, he was easily distracted. Caleb however greeted Calloch, who rushed through what he needed to say. He remembered Calloch telling him of his daughter. The arrangement of her care seemed rather strange to him but it wasn't his place to question it.

Caleb understood Calloch's worries. Caleb shared them for his father. Over the years the other advisors took any opportunity to manipulate his father, and his father seemed to make it easy for them. Unfortunately these same manipulative advisors were the ones his father had come to trust most. His father had become blind to his own people's suffering, because he was lead to believe they didn't suffer at all. His father held good intentions, he cared for his people but unfortunately the people he took council with cared little for them and cared only for their own pockets.

Caleb gave Calloch a weak smile and put his hand on Calloch's shoulder.

"Of course. You do what must be done with your daughter. I'll can keep an eye on my father at court. " Caleb sighed.

"Though I doubt there is much I can do." Caleb might have more influence over his father than Calloch but even his opinion meant little to his father. His father seemed only to ask for his opinion to amuse him.

[BumblingBee]

A sudden weight seemed to lift from Callochs shoulders. He sighed in relief and patted Caleb on the back.
"My thanks"
As quickly as he had arrived he began to leave. As Calloch mounted up he called out.
"I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise"
And with that said he left.

Lock sauntered up to Caleb, a lazy smile covering his face.
"Have a nice trip then?"
____________________________

Aoife was saddled and ready to go. Her bags were packed, Topthorn had been fed and the two were ready and waiting. Aoife hated the waiting really, if she did have to go she'd much rather just do it already than drag it out like this. She groaned in complaint to her aunt but she only shushed her in response. Her Auntie was looking to the horizon expectantly, tapping her foot on the ground with impatience. Suddenly she smiled and waved her hand madly in the air Aoife assumed as a signal. Soon enough two red headed young lads appeared seemingly from nowhere.

It was obvious from their appearance that the two were identical twins. Both were tall and very lanky, with a slim figure and freckles dotted across their pale skin. They smiled at Aoife and she simply frowned at them in response. Her Auntie turned to her all smiles.
"Well then, now that you have your escort, you can be on your way!"

[AvisCrown]

Caleb sighed when Lock approached and asked about his trip.

"Truthfully it was awful." Caleb said honestly. Caleb didn't mind travel but he hated Fhrainc with a passion, he'd rather walk through Diabhal barefoot.
"Now what kind of trouble have you gotten into while I was gone?" Caleb asked rather light-heartedly.

[BumblingBee]

Lock rolled his eyes as he began to walk through the crowd once more
"Oh you know, just the usual"
The Princes were not an unusual sight within the docks yet still people whispered excitedly as they passed
"Edin's been asking after you, Callochs girl is arriving but you already knew that"
he came to a stop before the horses and sighed heavily
"Other than that, not much has gone on I'm afraid"
He suddenly frowned a little and looked around them
"Where's Rurik anyway?"

[AvisCrown]

Caleb shrugged and glanced around.

"Gods know where. he'll find his way back to the palace. You know him." Caleb mounted his horse.

"How insufferable has father been? From Calloch's attitude I got he's been rather difficult."

[BumblingBee]

Lock merely grunted as he mounted his own steed.
"Not the best really. I tell you, It's those damn so called 'advisors' of his"
He scoffed loudly
"I tell you If I were him I'd have them all fired and sent packing"
He glanced over at Caleb, a smug smile on his face
"mind you, I suppose you could, one day"