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Sage had just slipped into the shed looking think when he heard a commotion outside. He peered through one of the small holes in the wood of the small area, sighing when he saw a few guards chasing...someone. Their back was to him, so he couldnt see who it was, but he also knew that the guards wouldn't be very fair if they caught the girl. At least, it looked like a female figure. He wasn't for sure though. He set the clothes down, not changing into the dry clothes yet despite being frozen nearly solid. If he got dirty or got blood on him, which seemed likely since he knew he was going to intervene like he always did. Mostly for the fun of it. He slipped through the shadows, coming up behind the guards and using the pommel of his dagger to knock on out, and when the body of his partner falling caused the other guard to turn, he offered him a quick grin before pretty much just launching himself at the guy, since he was at least two of him size wise. It didn't take much for the other guard to make a hasty retreat, and sage let him drag his partner with him since it was rather amusing to watch, before turning to leave. He didn't particularly care what happened to the other person...he'd honestly just needed something to get his mind off everything else. And some entertainment of some kind. |
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Elara ran still,bumping into somebody and keeping forward.She darted into a shed,shutting the door behind her.She sighed,sitting against the wall and starting to eat the apple,thinking of the days events.Elara finished,walking out and seeing the sun rising.She started walking back to the castle,head held high as she walked,not caring if a guard spotted her.She made it back to her quarters,dressing in a gown and heading out. --- "What crime?" She asks,pointing at a man kneeled infront of her. "I murdered my brother,your highness.He killed my wife." Elara thought for a moment,eventually deciding. "Free him.Crime?" "I stole,ma'am.Stole so I can feed myself and sell it." The man said hoarsely,Elara's face slightly dropping. "Jail him for a month or two,set him free once more afterwards." She declared,walking out. |
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Sage had wandered back into the shed he'd stashed his clothes in, changing quickly, grateful to be in warm clothing once more. Waiting to dry off always sucked...but now he at least had something to change into. He moved to hang the wet clothes up on a barrel after dusting them off and making sure all the nails were ponded in so it wouldn't rip anything. He couldn't afford to lose any clothing. Even a small tear could be devastating at this point. Once he was comfortable though, his stomach rumbled and he sighed, not wanting to spend any money but also not wanting to risk stealing again in one day. Or for a while. He sighed after a moment and pulled a coin out of his pocket, eventually deciding to just chew on some straw for a bit. He'd wait for the forest to dry in the sun for a while and then go see if he could hunt something. Until then, he'd get a few hours of sleep. He'd found an old horse blanket, so he threw that on top of a small pile of hay he'd found, and lay down on it with a content huff of air. He could sleep for a few hours at least....no one would bother him. No one had gotten into this place for what looked like years. |
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"Princess Elara,you're father has declared you must have a defender,by order." A guard infromed,Elara snapping back with eyes that could melt money. "What?!I am not a child!I do not need so such thing,if needed go capture somebody off the streets for all I care,i'll make them pay you more if you don't." She bargained,the guard shaking his head and walking off. |
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Sage had quickly slipped out of the shack he'd found, making sure no one was around to see him, and then moving on his way. He wanted to find a decent bit of forest to find a squirrel or something to eat, though there wasn't much forestry on this side of town, so he had to walk for a while to get to another patch. As he walked through the town, he spotted more guards than usual. That was odd... normally, they didn't care about anything other than catching criminals and beating them up, and dragging them off to be killed or imprisoned. He darted behind a cart, watching what they were doing, and once they'd left, he crept towards the small poster they'd left behind. He squinted at it, attempting to figure out what it said. He'd never really gone to school, so his reading wasn't the best, but he'd figured it out. A defender for the princess? That would be easy enough, and pay well. It would be more long term than a quick job here or there too. He snatched the paper after a few minutes of pondering, wandering down to the castle with poster on hand. This time, he walked right past the guards at the gate, flashing them the poster with a roll of his eyes when they asked what he did as doing, continuing on his way without stopping. One of them moved to escort him in, though he already knew his way around fairly well already. He'd had plenty of time to figure the layout of the place. Whatever. |
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Princess Elara stormed into the large, ornate chamber, her expression a perfect blend of defiance and annoyance. The room was full of men and women—guards, warriors, mercenaries, and some with an air of nobility—all gathered in neat lines, awaiting her entrance. She could feel their gazes on her as she strode across the room, her heels clicking sharply on the marble floor. They watched her like a collection of vultures waiting for a kill, each silently sizing her up, probably already considering the riches they would demand for such a task. One of the officers, a tall man with dark hair and an air of stern professionalism, stepped forward and bowed low. “Your Highness,” he said respectfully, “These are the candidates who have answered your father’s call. They have come to serve as your personal defender.” Elara crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at the group. “Defender? You mean bodyguard, don’t you? This is utterly ridiculous,” she snapped. “What in the realms makes you think I need protection? I can protect myself just fine. So, tell me—why do you all need this job?” The candidates shifted uncomfortably, glancing at one another. The officer, sensing her frustration, spoke up again, trying to maintain an air of calm. “Your Highness, it’s not about your capability,” he said with a measured tone. “The King’s decree is clear. It is the safety of the royal bloodline that is in question. With recent tensions rising in the kingdom and growing threats against the crown, it has been deemed necessary for you to have someone by your side—someone who will be devoted solely to your protection.” One of the men near the back of the room, a burly figure with scars lining his face, stepped forward, his voice gruff. “I’ve fought in the eastern wars. I know how to guard a life worth protecting. I would take the job, Princess, if you’ll have me.” Elara eyed him warily, but her gaze shifted quickly to another figure, a woman clad in silver armor, her posture straight and proud. “And you?” she asked, her voice sharper than she intended. “What makes you think you’re suited for the role?” The armored woman gave a slight bow, her eyes unwavering. “I’ve served as the Captain of the Queen’s Guard for over five years, Your Highness. I have experience in protecting those who matter most to the crown. I am loyal, capable, and understand what it takes to ensure the safety of those in peril.” Elara bit her lip, her mind racing. She didn’t want to admit it, but there was a part of her that knew her father wasn’t wrong in wanting her protected. As much as she hated the thought of needing anyone’s help, the unrest in the kingdom was real, and the dangers were growing. Still, she wasn’t about to make it easy for them. Elara’s eyes scanned the room one last time, as each defender tried to convince her with their boasts. But then, her gaze landed on one individual near the back—a man who stood out not for his size or charisma, but for his weariness. His shoulders slumped ever so slightly, and there were deep lines under his eyes that spoke of exhaustion. He wasn’t standing tall like the others. Instead, he leaned against the stone wall, his arms crossed, as though he’d seen far too much to still care about impressing anyone. She crossed the room in a few swift strides, her steps echoing in the now silent chamber. The other candidates eyed her curiously as she approached the tired figure. Without a word, Elara reached up and grabbed his chin with surprising force, tilting his face toward hers. His eyes flickered in surprise, but he didn’t resist. She studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable, before speaking with a sharpness that matched the situation. “Now, how about you?” she asked, her voice low and steady, with an edge that demanded an answer. |
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Sage had wandered into the palace, nose wrinkling slightly as he peered around at all the decorations. It seemed a bit overkill really. Like....who needed their walls embedded with rubies and sapphires, or halls lined with crystal chandeliers. The crystals really didn't go with the colored gems anyway, decorative wise. He wasn't very well educated, but he knew art. And that decorations clashed a little bit. Sure, it all looked impressive, but it also gave the impression that they were trying to hard. Speaking of too hard, everyone else jn the room seemed to be trying to hard to get the princesses attention. He couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself as the girl snapped at them, figuring she wasn't too happy to be assigned a bodyguard. Well, he wasn't exactly happy to be serving the crown, so the feeling would be mutual. But he would get the job done, one way or the other. He was broken out of his thoughts though, when the princess appeared in front of him. He didn't like being touched, especially not like this, where he didn't have a say in the matter. But he didn't flinch away. Instead, he met the princess's gaze steadily, something literally everyone had been trained not to do. He studied her face as she spoke, pausing as he took in all the information he could gather in a second or so. "I know how to see a job completed," he said simply. "If a job isn't here, they'll be more elsewhere," he added with a shrug, removing his chin from her hands but not breaking eye contact. It was clear he really didn't care much for her...in fact the guards all seemed to reach for their weapons, and the rest of the job candidates started to clamor. He didn't much care. "I don't sit around and wait," he added after a moment. "You'd best decide what you're going to do," he added, all but dismissing the girl. It was probably stupid, and he could definitely be hung for this....but he could always escape. He gotten in and out easily before. He could do it again. |
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Elara studied him as he spoke,eyes sharp.When he finished speaking her eyes flickered with reckognition.She smiled softly before straightening her face once more and facing everyone else. "Everybody,you all have failed with providing me with you biggest acheivements,not providing examples of being able to fight or defend somebody.Only you wins,and apparently,you all despise talking about losses since I heard all but none.You all are dismissed." She said sharply,waving off the group and the guards. "Princess are you sure you-" "I said i'll be fine.Now get out." She snapped,the guard sighing and walking out. "My god these guards are annoying sometimes." Elara muttered,turning back to the man from earlier. "You're the one who broke into my quarters,correct?" She asks,her face softer then it was. "Another one,you're needing the money,also correct?" |
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Sage simply waited as the girl thought, seeming as though he didn't care. In reality though, his pulse was hammering and his stomach had knotted itself into some sort of hard ball. He did need this job...it would pay decently and it would be more permanent. He wouldn't have to worry so much month to month. He felt his shoulders relax slightly when the girl seemed to dismiss the rest of them, simply grunting when she said the guards were annoying. She was right, though he'd never admit that. He still didn't necessarily like the girl. But he could use her money. His eyebrows shot up in surprise when she asked if he was the one who'd broken into her quarters, a small chuckle escaping his lips after a moment. "At least I know you're not entirely stupid," he mused after a moment. At her next comment, he knawed at the ring on his lip, heasitant to share any personal information with her. "I have a daughter. The place that watches her keeps raising the price and the jobs I could get aren't enough any more," he noted after a moment, a small shrug moving his shoulders. |
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Elara studied him for a long moment, her eyes unwavering. The silence between them was thick, filled with the weight of her unspoken thoughts. She could see the tension in his posture, the way he tried to hold back just enough, but she wasn't easily fooled. After a beat, she spoke again, her voice calm but laced with the subtle power that always seemed to linger in her words. "So, what do you need? Money? Somebody rid of? It's all at my fingers." Her gaze sharpened, and she leaned forward slightly, the quiet intensity of her words underscoring the offer. "I'd rather my people be able to afford things and keep things together rather than crumbling." She let the words hang in the air between them, a quiet challenge. Whether or not he wanted to take the offer, she made it clear: the choice was his. |
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Light Rain then Clearing Overnight
