For the rest of your life. [Wreckles & Cal]

[Wreckles]

The salty smell of sea mingled with that of fishermen's catch of the day as Turyn read the small piece of parchment he had received from the captain of The Maiden's Breeze. Seagulls were cawing loudly, and the general busy schedule of the docks made the small gathering stand out even more. Albeit sporadic visits from the captain of the guards were common in the docks, the people had grown accustomed to the fact that it was their Prince to boot. It was the King's idea, not Turyn's. Father's own way to keep track of his first-born son no doubt, if Turyn were to choose he would most likely be found far away from the capitol, perhaps out on adventures in a far off land where they had not heard of the name Daroni.

The captain of the ship shifted nervously from foot to foot, not an expression could be read on Turyn's face as he crumpled up the parchment and gave it to the man next to him, wearing almost identical garb as the Prince, only that his shoulderplate had a single distinguishable stripe on it, while Turyn had two. "You may leave." As the Prince spoke the words the captain and his first-mate bowed deeply and backed away a little too quick, unable to conceal their worried nature.
Turyn's gaze was already turned and going with determined steps up the steps and to their horses. His silvery armor caught reflections of the mid-day sun and the suit looked more heavy than it was in reality, it was made to inspire confidence and order into the citizens of Audelin. The longsword resting at his hip certainly added to the effect, but that was not why people respected him, and feared him. During his two year reign as captain of the guard Turyn found that his past deeds on the fields of war did not leave peoples minds so easily.

It was Ser Meril - his lieutenant - who broke the silence "Good or bad news from the north, my prince?" Turyn was a head shorter than Ser Meril, simply due to the fact that Meril was one of the tallest men -towering at six feet and seven inches - Turyn had ever seen in his life. "Apparently the old lord of Lernis had more virility in him than I've given him credit for." When the puzzled look on Meril's feature lingered Turyn added in a even smoother voice; "Merissa is pregnant. Come, let us get back to the palace before father sends out the kingsguard to fetch me." The contempt in his voice was apparent but Meril had been his lieutenant for years now, in a bond forged in battle, he knew who to trust.

Sitting up on his horse Turyn pressed his gelding forward and steered it through the masses that attended the daily markets, it was a busy time but they all formed a path for the captain. Turyn did not wear a helmet and was thus recognized by all who had the sense to memorize their lords, some bowed, some knelt while others just hurried away from him and Meril. Turyn had good features, a sturdy jaw and no facial hair. His dirty blonde hair was more akin to brown than blonde and he would be considered handsome by many, if his facial expression was more susceptible to breaking out in smiles more than once every fortnight. Now his brown eyes had grown almost listless, filled with thoughts only him and him alone was privy to. Turyn did not make eye contact with the rabble, peasants were beneath him, regardless if he was sitting on a horse in shining armour or not.

When they got out of the market the only noise keeping them company was the sound of iron hooves against cobbled stone as they climbed the broad pathways leading up to the palace, banners of a white watchtower with black backgrounds filled the scenery as men in armor stood at attention on either side of the road, the gates to the exterior palace swung open as the Prince approached and two stable boys hurried out to mind the horses just as Turyn and Meril swung down on solid ground again. The sergeant at watch approached them and made a quick bow, "Prince Turyn, your father has--" more than that did he not have time to say before Turyn interrupted him in a bored voice "I am fully aware of whatever ails my father, I shall go see him at once." He even managed to beam a very apparent false smile towards the sergeant before heading into the palace grounds.

The Daroni was particularly fond of extravagant features, sculptures and monuments - something his father had happily embodied with the textures around the palace. You couldn't walk twenty meters without catching a view of an elaborate statue in marble, a eloquent painting, often resembling the lineage of the Daroni. Heavy pillars jutted out of the marble floor and formed great halls that made up for the bulk of the palace, their heavy steps echoed along the hallway as men and women in different robes and attires bowed deeply from his passing.

Finally at the heavy doors of the throne room, two of the statues almost seemed to come to life, they blended in well with the background and they were known as the Vipers, the kingsguard. Without a word they opened the doors for Turyn who stepped inside, followed by Ser Meril only a step behind. The throne was at the end of the hall, and upon it sat his father, proud and confident the old fool. Turyn concealed his contempt and strode forward into the gathered crowd, nobility of many walks attended and the king had an audience with two men Turyn did not recognize, diplomats from another kingdom no doubt, although there were no other kings than his father - the war had made sure of that.

With a gesture of his hand the king dismissed the dissidents, as he spotted Turyn. "When I appointed you to Captain of the Guard, I was confident that punctuality would be one virtue you would not forsake so easily, apparently I was wrong in this." As Turyn stepped forward to the now vacant circle - cleverly built in a small slope so the attendant would have to look up to the throne and the man sitting on it. Turyn spotted his sister in the corner of his eyes and wondered if she had figured out what their father wanted of them, he knew damn well that she was not keeping a network of spies at her service, too busy trying to improve the lives of the dandelions or whatever folly she wasted her time with.

With ice in his veins Turyn locked gaze with his aging father, their mother -half the age of her spouse - tried to look fondly upon him like she always did. "Your concern of my whereabouts is gracefully noted, father. I assure you--" his taunt had worked, the king sneered and interrupted him. "Little do I care about your petty excuse for an excuse. I did not summon you here to listen to your tales, I called you before the throne as your king." Finally the old fool relented, sunk back into his seat and placed both arms on their rests, taking a short pause before resuming. "You are to go on a diplomatic mission to our neighbours in the north, the lord of Lernis will expect you within a week. Oh and bring your sister. That is all, dismissed." With a wave of his hand, the matter was concluded. All the while Turyn did not change his facial expression one bit, simply bowed his head in acknowledgement and stepped out of the circle. Catching the eyes of his sister in the crowd, Turyn smiled something that might come off as a fond smile, to a intoxicated observer, before making his way out of the throne room again.

 

[Cal]

She winced as she felt the small body shudder underneath her administrations. The child was young, his body riddled with famine and disease. Calyce sighed from beneath the facemask covering her mouth and most of her nose. She often ventured outside Audelin to the nearby villages, accompanied by a dreadful number of guards and servants. Her father, the King, had continuously underestimated her strength and while her brother was given free reign, she was met with resistance and bureaucracy whenever she set out to help those who needed it. The guards kept curious children at bay, while the servants saw to it that her hands were thoroughly cleaned after every encounter, her face suffocatingly wrapped in the mask whenever she spoke to a villager.

She handed the child a cup of warm herb infused water. It would eliminate most of the parasites in his body, but it would still leave him in a weakened state. She doubted he’d make it through the day. The child’s mother, obviously concerned, hovered over them like a hen protecting her eggs. Calyce raised herself to her feet, standing at her full height, which wasn’t much to begin with. She had inherited her mother’s stature, nearly always a head shorter than her peers. She raised her slender fingers to the face mask and pulled it down, taking in a deep breath. Her lips then curled into a reassuring smile as she looked at the mother, brushing a strand of dark red hair from her own face. It had come loose from its elaborate, thick braid, another tradition her mother insisted on partaking in whenever she ventured outside the Kingdom. She was a representative of her people, a princess, and she would bring shame upon her family should see look like anything else but royalty.

It was already frowned upon that she partook in these humanitarian missions she assigned herself, but she had argued that it would reflect badly upon them if they just let people die like this, even though they did not reside within the Kingdom of Audelin. It was a technicality, she knew it, her parents knew it, and it was on that argument that she had been allowed to venture outside. Unfortunately, not without the servants, guards and royal regalia. The dress was intricate, the skirt ornately decorated in her House’s colours. The bodice was tight and form-fitting, showing a curvaceous body that she also ‘inherited’ from her mother. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to it and embraced her sexuality. She had grown into a confident young woman, who could do without the bells and whistles of being a princess sometimes.

Calyce handed the mother a basket of supplies. Food and fruits found only in the inner castle walls, herbs and spices to fight and defeat various illnesses. The village would be set for at least a few weeks, until she would make her rounds again. Just as she was about to speak, a trumpet sounded, followed by a cloud of dust as the horseman pulled up beside them. He was one of her father’s scouts and he began to speak instantly. “Princess Calyce, your presence is required.” She began to object, her bright green eyes narrowing instantly, but she was cut off yet again. “Your father demands it. Right now”. They locked eyes for a moment, but she knew it was better than to openly defy her father’s scouts. Additionally, she felt slight concern bubbling up in her chest. It must be important, for her father to pull her away like this. She complied.

The journey was a quick one, and passed uneventfully. Before long, she stood before her parents in the grand, lush throne room. Her father expressed his contempt for her appearance by snapping his fingers. Instantly, two servants came up to clean the dirt from her face, straighten her hair and dress, and make sure she looked presentable. Calyce only flashed her father a sheepish smile by way of apologizing. She knew he meant well.

A crowd started to gather, and she was introduced to two diplomats from a neighboring country she had no recollection of. Before she could speak, she was interrupted by the grand doors swinging open again. She raised her head silently in a greeting to him, a ghost of a smile playing around her lips again. She and Turyn weren’t close by any means. He was her elder, heir to the throne and involved with completely different matters than her. He rarely attended family dinners anymore, and when she did see him, they exchanged little words. Still, he was her brother, her family.

Her attention was snapped back to the conversation when she heard her father’s booming voice. Calyce nearly winced when she heard the King’s disapproval about her brother’s punctuality. What made her eyes widen with unveiled shock was the taunt and sneer that came afterwards and the promise of a mission. She was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. She never was asked on missions before, never considered to be a crucial part in it. This was Turyn’s forte! For a moment she felt giddy. Perhaps they finally meant for her to do great things as well. Surely this meant they trusted her?

Her green eyes dragged themselves to her brother again, and as he caught her eyes, she took it as an invitation to run after him, her heels clicking on the marbled stones beneath her. He had already made his way out of the throne room when Calyce finally caught up to him, knowing fully well that she could not shout after him to stop. The consequences would be dire. Instead, she placed her hand on his shoulder, grudgingly admitting he was taller than her by a full head and that she actually had to reach for shoulder. “Hey!” her hand lingered for a moment until her brother would stop moving, and then it dropped again to rest on the curve of her hip.

She smiled up at him and tilted her head slightly, stubborn strands of hair coming lose from the braid once more and brushing against her cheeks and jaw. “So, a diplomatic mission? Are we to leave by vessel or carriage?” It was clear she’d never been allowed on a mission and she seemed excited enough about the prospect of spending a significant amount of time with her brother and venturing out into the world. She knew it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, her work in the neighboring villages was proof of that. Realistically, she knew she couldn't save everyone. She was idealistic, not stupid. But, she was convinced there was good in people and that everyone deserved a chance to be saved. Hence, this would be a perfect opportunity to save those who needed saving.

 

[Wreckles]

In silence Turyn contemplated father's orders about the 'diplomatic' journey he was supposed to be undertaking. The light brisk steps increasing behind him and he could actually feel his sister's presence. Energetic and full of life his sister's eyes met his when he turned around, Turyn reciprocated her smile by sighing, feeling slightly nauseous and waving lazily with his hand towards Ser Meril, who bowed to the both of them before backing off and disappearing into the vast hallways. With the two of them being left alone, Turyn turned around and spoke "Walk with me". Being taller than her Turyn refused to slow down on the tempo, forcing her to walk quickly to keep up with him.

His thoughts dwelled on the exact purpose for which their father would send both of his children to, no doubt he knew that the lady up north was pregnant but surely that was not the reason why. Snapped back to reality by the presence of his sister Turyn came to an abrupt halt and turning to his sisters shorter stature. "Listen well Calyce, we are Daroni, we don't go on diplomatic missions. The reason father is sending the both of us there is to instill fear into their hearts, fear of our might and that they should consider themselves lucky that we saw fit not to put their heads on spikes." There was no warmth in Turyn's voice, there rarely was, and his words left little room for debate. Easing up on the harsh tone Turyn eyed his little sister from top to toe, adding a faint smirk to his lips and said "You are fit to bear children, perhaps father wants to marry you off to some Lernisian cunt." The cold tone he treated his sister was betrayed slightly by his own scoffing, a Daroni of pure blood being wedded of to a conquered and broken people? The thought alone was enough to make him vomit. He made a pause and locked eyes with his sister, looking sternly into them, forcing her to bend away from his gaze. "You will do what I say and act how I tell you to, is that understood? I won't have you embarrass our house in front of the lesser ones."

Turyn glared at his sister in silence for a brief moment before two maids came into view, one of them carried a basket full of sheets. The servants had noticed them before long and slowed down in their stride, both beginning to make a bowing motion when Turyn snapped with his fingers. "You two, my sister requires a bath, see to it that she gets one..." making a brief pause and put on a sneering expression he continued "She's even starting to smell like a commoner, wash it off." his tone was commanding, like it often was and with that said he turned around and walked away.
It was a short walk to Turyn's own chambers, and when he arrived he found his personal servant Manfrel waiting for him. Manfrel was a orphan with a club foot that Turyn enjoyed tormenting, to the point where he made him his personal servant so he could constantly pick at the poor boy's mind. That was years ago though and Manfrel did not have much personality left, a hurried get-up-to-it act and a rushed bow foretold that the servant was not keen on another lashing, countless as they had been.

Closing the heavy wooden door behind him Turyn ignored the presence of his insignificant servant and walked over to the open window overlooking the gardens of the inner walls, a pleasant scent originiated from the rose-shrubberies and it was only then Turyn noticed that faint smell of the docks lingering upon his person. With a grunt he instructed his servant to remove his armor, the club footed boy rushed over and quickly but carefully began the process of picking the armor off. Naturally it was not a battle suit but it was still heavy. All the while Turyn was contemplating the significance of the journey he had been assigned. Why was Calyce being involved at all? And did the cunt Lernisians think that they had not noticed the vast reconstructions of their city that the lord has been overseeing? The lesser people shall be kept in check, no matter what. He would have to set an example when he got there...

Feeling twenty pounds lighter when Manfrel had removed all of his armor Turyn rubbed his wrists, the clothing he kept beneath was simple yet fitting of a prince. A dark green flax linen garb tunic with matching pants, it clung slightly to his well toned body - being captain of the guards had not left him weak, taking care of his own body was of paramount importance. Putting on high boots before exiting his chambers and heading to the bathplace only royalty used.

 

[Cal]

She had inclined her head in a bow and quirked her lips upwards into a smile towards her brother’s lieutenant, Ser Meril, before he disappeared. Calyce had never exchanged words with the lieutenant, not having had the opportunity to, and because it was not considered courteous to do. She briefly wondered what the sound of his voice would be like, or if he could even speak to begin with, before she was snapped out of her reveries by her brother’s words. She complied easily enough and followed her brother, having to quicken her pace despite her long, slender legs. Calyce was no match for Turyn’s stature.

Her thoughts trailed off to the mission at hand again, wondering why she was to join her brother. Deep down inside, she knew her parents disapproved of her own little projects, which might be the reason why she partook in them in the first place. Apart from genuinely believing that these people needed help, she felt it was something that was hers and hers alone. A slightly rebellious streak in her, perhaps. She did not know why she was thusly rewarded. Her thoughts nearly made her bump into her brother’s back when he came to an abrupt halt. Instead, she leaned forward on her toes slightly, diminishing most of her momentum. Calyce instantly tilted her head upward to look at her brother, attentively. His words sent a chill down her spine, and slowly her face fell, the smile vanishing from her lips, the warmth retreating from her eyes. Before she could think of a reply, she saw the smirk appear on Turyn's features. She felt his eyes trace her form and she nearly took a step back, feeling the heat rush to her face instantly when she heard him speak next, her cheeks a deep colour of crimson.

Her hands curled into small fists at her side as her eyes narrowed. She considered herself a kind person, but she knew an insult when she heard one, and being a Daroni meant that she had a certain sense of pride in that, albeit mostly hidden. Her lips parted to rebuke, brother or not, she did not deserve to be treated like this! Before she could speak, yet again, his eyes cut her off rather than his words. With slight defiance, she glared back at him, her green eyes shining brightly with an emotion she was not comfortable with. Anger. She kept his gaze until she felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise. She felt her brother’s warmth radiate from his body and the condescending glare in his eyes. It was too much. Defeatedly and angry with herself, her eyes blinked before she looked away, grinding her teeth together and feeling her eyes water slightly. Why was he treating her like this?

Calyce’s eyes snapped upward again when she heard the command and the insult. She had never had any strong emotions for her brother, but in the heat of the moment she was beginning to feel an emotion akin to hatred. She was, however, muted into silence, unable to think of a witty thing to say. Her eyes followed him until he disappeared, and before she knew it, she was ushered off by the servants to the baths. Calyce was undressed rather unceremoniously and she, rather automatically, raised her arms and legs as her bodice and skirt were removed. It wasn’t really a bath more than a round pool-sized hot spring, giving off a continuous stream of vapors and steam. She wrapped her arms around her chest as the cold air hit her bare skin. The servants undid her braid, took away the ribbons and trinkets, and left her to her bath.

She slid her body in slowly, her body giving a slight shiver as she felt the warm water hit her cold skin. Calyce completely submerged herself then, diving her body down to swim to the center of the pool. The center was deep enough for her feet not to touch the ground. She felt trickles of water run down her face from her wet hair as she swam to the other edge. There, she rested against the pool’s edge rather comfortably, closing her eyes and letting her head rest against the edge as her body was submerged.

Her thoughts wandered. Why was she rewarded by going on a diplomatic mission such as this one, especially the still relatively unexplored northern territories? She could hold her own in a sword fight, something that was mandatory for all women of the royal house, and she had a rigorous meditation and Asht Anga session every single morning. When it came down to pure, gritty fighting, though.. Calyce would be next to helpless.

And more importantly.. why did her brother treat her so? She went over their conversation in her head and slowly came to the realization that he might have had other motives. He probably was under pressure by their father, perhaps Turyn was even concerned about the mission at hand. It might explain his behaviour. He probably didn't mean to act the way he did. Calyce was already trying to make up excuses for him, something she was rather good at. A sigh escaped her lips as the heat of the pool made her limbs and muscles relax, followed soon by her mind. Soon enough, she was drawn into a delightful blank state of mind, feeling nothing but the warm water surrounding her body and kissing her skin. Occasionally, a servant would come in to add a bucket of hot water to the pool. She paid them no attention, keeping her eyes blissfully closed as she floated.

 

[Wreckles]

Shortly thereafter exiting his chambers Turyn spotted Ser Meril in the corner of his eye, the man had talent for appearing whenever the Prince required him to. Albeit the good thing about Meril was that not only was he loyal and adequate for a lieutenant, but for his ways of working behind the scenes - a quality Turyn put high value on. When Turyn nodded towards him Meril approached.
There was no one in earshot, nor in sight, and even if they were the two men could keep a conversation private in the most cramped of situations. "You have a task for me?" Meril began with his usual raspy voice and Turyn turned towards him, keeping his hand on the hilt of his sword and back straightened up as if looking down on his subordinate, it was a difficult feat no doubt considering that Meril was the taller one here. Size didn't matter though and Turyn was the first to acknowledge that, the late queen of Jryl had been about 5 foot tall and still inspired and culled her subjects like a farmer with his dogs. Well she would find it difficult to look down on anything ever since Turyn himself had wielded the decapitating axe which robbed her of that precious head of hers.

"If I was a Lernisian, and knew of this mission, then I would consider myself... Obliged to take action. We will be traveling with caravan by the high road, in good protection indeed but I know what a good forest can do to something considered impenetrable." For a moment Turyn smirked to himself, even talking about such things sent his blood flowing again and he dearly hoped they would indeed get ambushed. "Which is why you will take five of our best scouts and ride out tonight, establish a surveillance on the high road and most importantly the woods. I'm not going to give you more men, I want information and eyes, not swords and loud armors that will give away our position before we even know so." Turyn paused and took a slow deep breath. "That is all, dismissed."
Without waiting for a acknowledgement, or questions from Meril, Turyn turned his back against his lieutenant and steered his steps into his original destination.

As he strode through the hallways his thoughts flowed into the direction of the lady of Lernis, Merissa. Pregnant was she? Lernis had been no small kingdom and no small feat to conquer, while the king and queen were supplanted since long he remembered Merissa well, a beauty, both in appearances and ways. Did the lord and lady think that they were about to give birth to some rebellious leader perhaps? It was not the idea that she would give birth that bothered him, but because he knew that the people of Lernis yearned for retribution against the humiliating blow dealt against them. He would have to go there and bring order, admonish the people of their failure.
Just as he finished his inner thoughts he found himself staring at the decorated wooden door - depicting a naked woman bathing in a hot spring. He swung it open and entered only to be greeted by a restrained shrill of one of the maids. Cocking an eyebrow Turyn ignored her, wearing quite little clothing as was custom for a servant in the baths - there was actually a small room for the servants to change clothing in. She rushed towards him, blushing with either anger embarrassment or something else Turyn could not put a finger on. "Your highness! Please leave immediately, your sister is using the bath--" Turyn interrupted her by placing his hand on her mouth which effectively silenced her, bored with her musings Turyn lazily replied "I am aware of that fact, I was the one who sent her here."

That was all Turyn would ever say to the maid, dismissing her out of his mind he turned corners into the royally decorated marble chamber and finding the naked shape of his younger sister in the hot waters. No doubt she had heard him arrive but he acted as if it was of no consequence, in truth he couldn't remember the last time they had bathed together. Glaring down at her, the faint smirk on his features barely visible, he began to undress, unbuttoning his linen tunic. "Turns out that I was indeed correct in my initial deduction, Calyce. You ARE a woman." Turyn scoffed and shook his head, as if the idea had only now lingered on his mind. Yet he made no pause to undress, he wasn't interested in protests or anything she had to say, thus he dismissed her words. Taking off his shirt and pushed it into the arms of the now blushing and silence maid from before. "Oh no, please, by all means stay and accompany me Cal. We are going on a trip together! How fun it shall be to get out of the walls again, to a northern barbaric area no less!" He made another scoff and with ease he got out of his boots before unbuttoning his pants, a slight yelp from the maid could be heard when he was completely naked in front of the two women. No doubt the maid was torn between getting flogged by the Princess for allowing such a thing to happen to her. Or flogged, whipped and beaten by the Prince for speaking out against him, she feared the Prince, she did not fear Calyce.

Turyn carried himself with a deadly grace about him, like a panther prowling, always ready to pounce. Which only became more and more apparent by the lack of clothing to restrain his movements. The steam picked at his skin but it had been heated by the hot water Calyce was submerged in and for the moment it just felt soothing. If Calyce had inherited her mothers shapes and forms, which were alluring to every man with desire, then Turyn had inherited a good quality from his father - a large penis. Even in a flaccid state it held a length of six inches and a pleasant girth to boot. Stepping inside the hot waters at the opposite end of Calyce, Turyn felt the pleasant heat rushing through his body and enveloping his shapes. Staring at her with his unyielding gaze, not at her curvaceous yet lithe form of body but directly into her eyes. Silence fell over the sibling pair. After a few moments Turyn broke it, refusing to look at anything else but her with that penetrative gaze of his. Then he took to words, in an almost casual tone "Tell me little sister, are you a virgin?" cocking an eyebrow at the question, Turyn had not been keeping tabs on his sister like he had on their father with his spy network. Somehow he felt Calyce was simply too orderly to step out to something like that, it was not considered proper for a Princess before she had found a suitor. Turyn however was the stark contradiction to that, having had females from all backgrounds, from barmaids and servants to high ladies of other cities and kingdoms. It was one thing him and his father could relate to, their incredible libido and unsatisfying urges.

It didn't take a firm understanding the mentality of a human to see that this conversation and actions of his brother clearly bothered Calyce, which Turyn only took as an invitation to keep pushing at it. Finally he let go of his gaze and stared at the roof instead, the servant came back and poured a bucket of hot water into the pool while Turyn went on. "Has it ever crossed your mind that we might not be the only children inheriting the Daroni name?" Turyn put his well toned arms around the marble edge of the pool, he was like a king in here and this was his domain. "I mean surely you must have heard how much mother and father were fucking all the time when we were younger? I can't remember how many times I've walked in on them while mother was moaning like a bitch in heat and father pounding her from behind." He put a emphasis on the word fucking, and while mentioning the degrading posture of their mother he turned back his eyes to his sister again, a content smirk very visible on his features. In a menacing tone he added "You look JUST like her".

A moment passed and now the unyielding gaze from Turyn's eyes had transformed into something different, something predatory and Calyce was his prey. She was no match for him, never had been and he enjoyed tormenting her like this. Pureblooded and beautiful, Calyce had become a fine woman now. Slowly he got up, his chest heaving up and down with every breath, the water trickled off his shapes as he stood up and observed her. Turyn knew that his cock had become slightly more rigid, barely noticeable but he knew, and Calyce knew. Breaking the tensity by shifting to his normal tone of voice Turyn said "Well we can't stay in the baths until our skin comes off, we're having a family dinner tonight - upon mother's request - and she would be furious if one of us were to be late.
With that said he took a agile step out of the pool, the servant rushed up to him with fresh clothing, almost identical to what he had been wearing previously and helped him fit into it, the blushed cheeks never ceasing to exist. When he was fully dressed Turyn struck the servant with the back of his palm without warning, quick like a viper. Immediately the servant lost balance, cried out and fell to the floor and started to sob. "You should treat your Prince with more respect, servant. And be thankful that I let you keep that head of yours." Without looking back Turyn exited the baths.

 

[Cal]

She was absolutely reveling in the feeling of the water and heat on her skin, feeling her limbs relax as she took a breath and dipped her head under water again. She swam in a shallow circle before she got back to her spot at the edge of the pool. Calyce stayed under water until her lungs started aching and burning for air. And then she waited a bit longer. It had been another of her little projects. She wanted to expand her lungs, and every week she could stay under a bit longer, stretch the time spent under water. She came up when she couldn’t take it anymore, her long hair slick and darkened to a much more deeper red. As she was in the process of smoothing her hair back, she heard the noises and arched her head into the general direction.

The shrill scream belonged to her servant, and she knew instantly something was wrong. Her brows furrowed in a frown as she backed up against the edge of the pool, putting a hand on the edge so she could jump out the water instantly should it be necessary. And then her brother appeared around the corner, her face instantly going from curiosity to outrage. Her arms came to cover the upper half of her body as she sank it low into the water, hoping that the steam and vapors would hide most of her features. “TURYN! This is not right, you need to leave. Now!” They have both come of age. While it had been perfectly acceptable to use the baths together when they were but children, now it was simply morally wrong. Calyce made a sound which resembled a yelp when she saw her own brother start to undress in front of her, and then closed her eyes instantly, childishly, as the heat rose to her cheeks. She kept her arms wrapped around her upper body, absolutely mortified by his actions and words. Why would he do this!?

She then felt the water move around her, and knew her brother had stepped into the pool. Her eyes snapped open and she stared incredulously at her brother. They could be hanged for this! It was written in the Scriptures. None shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. Such a folly was punishable by death. She was muted into silence yet again, staring into her brother’s eyes from the distance between them, unable to wrap her mind around the situation. And then his words cut through the air, and her lips actually gaped open in shock. The situation was entirely too surreal and immoral, that Calyce felt beyond uncomfortable. But those words, her brother’s implied statement about her sexual escapades, was enough to spark her anger yet again. Something she did not feel very often.

“That is none of your business, brother.”

The power in her voice shocked herself, but only briefly. He had no right to ask these question! He knew very well that she, despite her intentions and her own urges, was not allowed to consume any sort of relationship until she was married by their church. She was not made out of stone, she knew the looks some of the townsfolk men gave her. She had toyed with the idea of slipping out at night, but that’s just what it was. Thoughts, not actions. Her eyes flashed angrily when he mentioned the possibility of other offspring. Again, her pride came into play. No child, legit or illegitimate, bore the Daroni name other than themselves. It was again, not proper. To even suggest that..

Calyce was snapped out of her spiraling thoughts when the degrading words followed. If any more heat rushed to her face, her cheeks would be as crimson as her hair. Never had she been spoken to like this before, and she felt completely and utterly useless. The implication that Calyce would ever let her humiliate herself such as her mother was an insult. And the fact that he said she looked just like her mother.. despite herself, she broke their gaze, looking at the water instead. At that moment, she wanted to do nothing more than flee. Her brother’s words stung and made her uncomfortable, his gaze made her self-conscious. She had never been in this close proximity to a man in a state of undress, and perhaps that was why the heat in her face lingered a bit too long, why her words fell silent before they could make it past her lips and why a very cold shiver ran down her warm back when she saw his unyielding, predatory gaze. Yet this was her brother. She shared his blood.. the taboo was unimaginable.

He was gone quickly after that, and Calyce wasted no time in hoisting herself up from the pool and run towards her servant. Despite the fact that the servant had been disobedient, she knew her brother’s strength. It would have hurt. Calyce would be ushered into her attire for the evening quickly afterwards, her still damp hair twisted in a simple braid as her skin was clothed in a simple lilac lace and silk dress.

She briefly considered being absent from dinner, but knew fully well their mother would not stand for this.

With a sigh she looked herself over in the mirror of the dressing room. Chagrined, she realized that she did inherit her mother’s curves, the dress doing little to conceal this. All of a sudden, this trip seemed like a bad idea. Her brother had pushed some boundaries today, but would he actually..?

No. She told herself harshly, shaking off the uncanny thought that her brother had enjoyed himself too much during their encounter. She knew, somehow instinctively, that her brother had been.. aroused? The word, even said in her head, made her falter. It made her ill, briefly, before she spoke harshly to herself again. Turyn just tried to push her buttons, as he had done for many years with her parents. She could stand a little banter.

She turned away from the mirror, unable to look at herself, and moved down the corridors towards the dining hall. She contemplated her brother’s actions yet again. She had heard stories about his bloodlust, his strength, but somehow she knew he would never turn them on her. While what happened in the baths was uncanny, he had not actually done anything to her. Not physically. That barrier was something that wouldn’t be broken, especially because they were siblings. She was convinced of this. After all, their parents would have them killed.

It was, therefore, a very interesting dinner. Calyce spent most of her time staring at her plate, hardly touching her food, before her father gruffily asked what was wrong with her. She’d smile a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes and assured him everything was fine. She did not look at her brother, not once, actively avoiding his gaze. After dinner she excused herself and went back to her chambers. She’d pack some of her personal items in a separate duffel bag, as her clothes and accessories would be packed down by servants. Eventually, she took a small dagger she had received from a nobleman, a close friend of her father’s. She thought against bringing it, as it was not customary, but eventually decided to pack it with the rest of her items anyway.

~~

Morning would come after a fretful night of sleep. A faceless body plagued her dreams, taunting her, jeering her on and doing horrible, dreadful, delightful things to her. It wasn’t an out of the ordinary dream, sometimes her hormones simply took over, but something about this one made her wake up in a sheen of her own sweat and a terrible unnerving feeling. For some reason, she instantly blamed Turyn, and it put her in a bad mood for the rest of the morning as the servants dressed her and prepared her for the journey to come. Her hair was bound tightly, as was the rest of her body, in black and red cotton. It was a reserved outfit, a long flowing skirt and a bodice that covered most of her skin. She was to be representable, and she had an inkling of doubt why her mother wanted her to dress like this. Could her brother be right, was she to be married off to those Lernisian mongrels?

Her trunks were carried down to the caravan, which Calyce couldn’t help but revel at. Her stomach fluttered briefly and she felt a smile crawl across her lips. The butterflies returned, and she felt excited once more to depart.