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jamjarElian was waiting in front of the main door, dressed in a pale grey suit that matched his hair exactly. The air shimmered around him, power almost visible without any preternatural senses. He looked timeless, completely at home, with the pale grey stone of his home echoed in his wings, spread out behind him like a frame.
Elian had moth's wings, wings that Markkas disliked on principle. TThey were pretty enough, but other than that they were useless, decorative but essentially a disadvantage. Unlike Mark's own set, which could carry him even without glamour, at least if the winds were right, Elian's were fragile and couldn't have been of any practical use. They certainly weren't strong to fly with. Any flight that Elian managed was achieved by magic only. Elian was obviously proud of his wings, but Mark viewed them as he viewed any other weakness, with contempt.
"Ah, Markkastanen. I hope your journey was pleasant. I know some people find it uncomfortable coming through the wards on my land, even when they've been welcomed."
"Really?" Mark said. "I didn't feel a thing." And was rewarded by Sir Elian's brief frown, quickly smothered. "My brother, Adavidarian si Rhaegal Sartain."
Davy took a step forwards, letting go of Beatrix, who immediately went to stand behind Sir Elian. Davy nodded his head, obviously reluctant to offer his hand or even bow properly. Mark smiled. Maybe his brother was a better judge of character than he thought. Even better, he was keeping enough distance between him and Mark for Mark to be unaffected by Davy's null field. He'd accepted that Sir Elian would find out about Davy's curse, but if Davy kept his distance from Elian...
A hope that was abruptly crushed when he felt Sir Elian extend his power, not enough to be a threat, although a little more than was polite. Obviously disquieted, Sir Elian moved closer to Davy. As nice as it would have been to keep Davy's problem secret, there was a certain satisfaction in seeing Sir Elian flinch as he encountered the null-field. He almost tripped moving backwards and turned to Mark.
"What did you bring into my home," he hissed, trying to cover fear with anger. Davy, used to this reaction, hunched down, bringing his wings around like a cloak. Beatrix obviously didn't know what was going on and Mark was witness to a moment's hesitation, protective instincts warring with loyalty before she made her decision to stay next to Elian.
"Just my little brother, like you asked," Mark said, deliberately casual. He raised an eyebrow. "Why, is something the matter?"
"Is..? What did you do to him? What..." Sir Elian trailed off to stare at Davy. Davy hunched deeper in.
"I did nothing to him," Mark said, no longer amused. "Davy is as he always was."
Sir Elian pulled himself together, the effort clearly visible. "You like surprising people, Markkastanen. I'll have to remember that."
"Really? I'm surprised you didn't know that already. It was your demand-"
"Request," Sir Elian corrected."
"Request, then, that I bring Davy. You said something how it was good for children to be involved in business from an early age. That your eldest had been sitting in on meetings since he was a toddler, so he could absorb the atmosphere. I thought you wanted Davy there as a hostage to good behaviour."
"Having a child in the room can keep adults from losing their temper," Sir Elian said, almost to himself. "Although I didn't realise how... young he is. Perhaps he'd be better off playing by himself. I can have one of the servants look after him."
Markkas frowned. "I don't like leaving him with strangers."
"You have my word that he'll be safe."
"I can look after him, sir," Beatrix said. Sir Elian had obviously forgotten she was there and turned to look at her in surprise. "I used to look after my little brothers all the time."
"That would be acceptable," Mark said. "Sir Elian?"
Elian frowned, then nodded. "Very well. Beatrix, make sure you leave the notes for the meeting on my desk."
"Already there, sir. Davy, would you like to see the aviary? Sir Elian has a wonderful collection of birds..."
"I've prepared some rooms for you and your brother," Sir Elian said after Beatrix and Davy had left. "I hope you'll find them comfortable."
"As appealing as staying here overnight would be," Mark said, faking absolute sincerity almost perfectly, "I was hoping we could finalise the contract negotiations quickly, so I could take Davy home tonight."
"The rest of the board won't be here until tomorrow," Sir Elian said. "So I'm afraid..."
"The rest of the board will go along with whatever you decide," Mark interrupted. "Really, their presence is a mere formality. And as nice as it was of you to ask us to say, I should point out that Davy's control over his null -field disappears completely when he's asleep."
He let that thought seep into Sir Elian's mind. "Why don't we get started right away."
They walked to Sir Elian's drawing room. Elian kept his wings out and so wide they almost touched the walls of the corridor, forcing Mark to walk behind him.
"You know, I wouldn't have pegged you as having much family feeling," Elian said over his shoulder. "To take on such a burden..."
It wasn't a question, so Mark didn't bother answering it. Disappointed at the lack of reaction, Elian frowned and went on. "I had heard that he's glamourless, though I didn't know the extent of it.." Elian smiled sympathetically. "It must be difficult for him, a drakthos unable to hide his nature. and you too, of course."
Markkas shrugged. "At his age, he doesn't have much nature to hide. He's hardly going to be walking the streets alone and unprotected, so his lack of glamour isn't an issue yet. Besides, even magicless baby drakthos are not entirely without natural protection. His teeth are sharp."
"Still, it must worry you. At that stage, my daughters had enough magic to fly away from most danger. Can the boy even fly yet..." Sir Elian shuddered, the natural reaction of any winged fae at the thought of being flightless.
"He's a little young for that, by our standards," Mark said. "Although his wings are strong enough to offer some protection." He stretched his own wings out in a grand gesture and the sound of it made Sir Elian turn around. Mark's wings were larger than Sir Elian's, strong and powerful. Just stretching them out made enough of a breeze to almost knock one vase over. "Our wings are more than ornamental," he said. "So, shall we get down to business?"
~~~
This place was wonderful! Everything felt alive and glowing, and Mark was too busy to tell Davy what to do. Beatrix was really, really nice, warm and smiling and she didn't mind Davy being near her. They saw some really cool birds, pretty little hummingbirds with wings that moved so fast they were just a blur, parrots and water birds and even this kind of vulture bird that Beatrix called a griffin, but wasn't really, that she said flew as high as *planes*, and wasn't in a cage, but had a geas on it, so it could fly where it wanted but always return here.
All of it made Davy even more eager for flight. He wanted to fly, wanted to follow mark when he jumped off the balcony, wanted to chase the crows that hung around their house and dive bomb ducks in the park.
And then Beatrix had taken him out to the woods at the back of the house. Davy could hear birds and even see the nests up in the trees. He wanted to be up there more than anything.
Huh. Mark had made Davy promise he wouldn't try to fly on his own anymore, under the threat of dire consequences. Davy didn't know what dire consequences actually meant, but he was sure that he didn't want any. Still, Mark had only said Davy wasn't allowed to try and fly. He never said anything about climbing...
Davy looked around to see if Beatrix was around, and when he was sure she was out of sight, he found a nice looking tree and started climbing.
It was easy, getting up. Branches just seemed to be there, when he needed something to hold, and before he new it, he was almost at the top. He heard chirping and saw a birds nest, on one of the branches just below him.
"Davy! What are you doing up there!"
Uh oh, Beatrix had seen him. Maybe she wouldn't tell Mark? "I'm just going to look at the nest..." he yelled down.
"Don't move!" Beatrix sounded as scared as Mark's secretary on tax day. "Davy, just stay where you are."
"S' okay," Davy said, carefully trying to find a foothold. It was harder going down then going up. "I only want to see..." And then his hand slipped, then his other hand and he was falling.
If he'd been out in the open, his wings might have slowed his descent a little. Drakthos had taken first flight from smaller distances than this, and Davy's wings were strong for his age. Spread out, they could have slowed his fall enough for him to get away with a sprained ankle. As it was, they caught on branches, tumbled against the trees, jerked at painful angles as he fell through the branches, bent backwards as he fell forwards, to land with a disturbing crunch on the soft forest floor.
~~~
Mark was indulging in a rather detailed fantasy of sewing iron thread along the patterns of Sir Elian's wings when he felt the first faint trace of unease.
"I'm sorry, am I disturbing you?" Sir Elian said coldly when he realised Mark wasn't listening to him.
Mark held up a hand to silence him, ignoring the gasp at his rudeness and concentrated, wishing that he'd brought a scrying stone with him.
"There's something wrong," Mark said, almost to himself.
"My estimates are as good as anyone can make them," Sir Elian said, lifting up the relevant printout.
"I don't doubt it," Mark said, in a tone which meant exactly the opposite. "But that's not what I meant. Something's..." Davy. Definitely Davy, purely on the basis that only Davy could get himself into trouble after having the word of a land-tied fae, right in the middle of tedious but vitally important contract negotiations.
"Davy. It's Davy. Something's happened to Davy. Where is he?" Mark got up from his seat, knocking the chair down in his haste.
"I can't feel anything where your brother is," Sir Elian said, an expression of distaste crossing his face. "His curse kills my senses And I'm sure he's..."
"You can feel were your magic isn't," Mark said. he leaned over the table, putting every inch of predator he could into his face. "Where. Is. My. Brother."
Sir Elian closed his eyes and Mark could see him shiver as he found that mental numb spot. "Over there," he gestured. "Outside, probably in the woods."
This place was too unknown and too filled with anothers magics for Mark to risk 'porting, but the windows were large and he slid one open and took off.
tbc
Elian had moth's wings, wings that Markkas disliked on principle. TThey were pretty enough, but other than that they were useless, decorative but essentially a disadvantage. Unlike Mark's own set, which could carry him even without glamour, at least if the winds were right, Elian's were fragile and couldn't have been of any practical use. They certainly weren't strong to fly with. Any flight that Elian managed was achieved by magic only. Elian was obviously proud of his wings, but Mark viewed them as he viewed any other weakness, with contempt.
"Ah, Markkastanen. I hope your journey was pleasant. I know some people find it uncomfortable coming through the wards on my land, even when they've been welcomed."
"Really?" Mark said. "I didn't feel a thing." And was rewarded by Sir Elian's brief frown, quickly smothered. "My brother, Adavidarian si Rhaegal Sartain."
Davy took a step forwards, letting go of Beatrix, who immediately went to stand behind Sir Elian. Davy nodded his head, obviously reluctant to offer his hand or even bow properly. Mark smiled. Maybe his brother was a better judge of character than he thought. Even better, he was keeping enough distance between him and Mark for Mark to be unaffected by Davy's null field. He'd accepted that Sir Elian would find out about Davy's curse, but if Davy kept his distance from Elian...
A hope that was abruptly crushed when he felt Sir Elian extend his power, not enough to be a threat, although a little more than was polite. Obviously disquieted, Sir Elian moved closer to Davy. As nice as it would have been to keep Davy's problem secret, there was a certain satisfaction in seeing Sir Elian flinch as he encountered the null-field. He almost tripped moving backwards and turned to Mark.
"What did you bring into my home," he hissed, trying to cover fear with anger. Davy, used to this reaction, hunched down, bringing his wings around like a cloak. Beatrix obviously didn't know what was going on and Mark was witness to a moment's hesitation, protective instincts warring with loyalty before she made her decision to stay next to Elian.
"Just my little brother, like you asked," Mark said, deliberately casual. He raised an eyebrow. "Why, is something the matter?"
"Is..? What did you do to him? What..." Sir Elian trailed off to stare at Davy. Davy hunched deeper in.
"I did nothing to him," Mark said, no longer amused. "Davy is as he always was."
Sir Elian pulled himself together, the effort clearly visible. "You like surprising people, Markkastanen. I'll have to remember that."
"Really? I'm surprised you didn't know that already. It was your demand-"
"Request," Sir Elian corrected."
"Request, then, that I bring Davy. You said something how it was good for children to be involved in business from an early age. That your eldest had been sitting in on meetings since he was a toddler, so he could absorb the atmosphere. I thought you wanted Davy there as a hostage to good behaviour."
"Having a child in the room can keep adults from losing their temper," Sir Elian said, almost to himself. "Although I didn't realise how... young he is. Perhaps he'd be better off playing by himself. I can have one of the servants look after him."
Markkas frowned. "I don't like leaving him with strangers."
"You have my word that he'll be safe."
"I can look after him, sir," Beatrix said. Sir Elian had obviously forgotten she was there and turned to look at her in surprise. "I used to look after my little brothers all the time."
"That would be acceptable," Mark said. "Sir Elian?"
Elian frowned, then nodded. "Very well. Beatrix, make sure you leave the notes for the meeting on my desk."
"Already there, sir. Davy, would you like to see the aviary? Sir Elian has a wonderful collection of birds..."
"I've prepared some rooms for you and your brother," Sir Elian said after Beatrix and Davy had left. "I hope you'll find them comfortable."
"As appealing as staying here overnight would be," Mark said, faking absolute sincerity almost perfectly, "I was hoping we could finalise the contract negotiations quickly, so I could take Davy home tonight."
"The rest of the board won't be here until tomorrow," Sir Elian said. "So I'm afraid..."
"The rest of the board will go along with whatever you decide," Mark interrupted. "Really, their presence is a mere formality. And as nice as it was of you to ask us to say, I should point out that Davy's control over his null -field disappears completely when he's asleep."
He let that thought seep into Sir Elian's mind. "Why don't we get started right away."
They walked to Sir Elian's drawing room. Elian kept his wings out and so wide they almost touched the walls of the corridor, forcing Mark to walk behind him.
"You know, I wouldn't have pegged you as having much family feeling," Elian said over his shoulder. "To take on such a burden..."
It wasn't a question, so Mark didn't bother answering it. Disappointed at the lack of reaction, Elian frowned and went on. "I had heard that he's glamourless, though I didn't know the extent of it.." Elian smiled sympathetically. "It must be difficult for him, a drakthos unable to hide his nature. and you too, of course."
Markkas shrugged. "At his age, he doesn't have much nature to hide. He's hardly going to be walking the streets alone and unprotected, so his lack of glamour isn't an issue yet. Besides, even magicless baby drakthos are not entirely without natural protection. His teeth are sharp."
"Still, it must worry you. At that stage, my daughters had enough magic to fly away from most danger. Can the boy even fly yet..." Sir Elian shuddered, the natural reaction of any winged fae at the thought of being flightless.
"He's a little young for that, by our standards," Mark said. "Although his wings are strong enough to offer some protection." He stretched his own wings out in a grand gesture and the sound of it made Sir Elian turn around. Mark's wings were larger than Sir Elian's, strong and powerful. Just stretching them out made enough of a breeze to almost knock one vase over. "Our wings are more than ornamental," he said. "So, shall we get down to business?"
~~~
This place was wonderful! Everything felt alive and glowing, and Mark was too busy to tell Davy what to do. Beatrix was really, really nice, warm and smiling and she didn't mind Davy being near her. They saw some really cool birds, pretty little hummingbirds with wings that moved so fast they were just a blur, parrots and water birds and even this kind of vulture bird that Beatrix called a griffin, but wasn't really, that she said flew as high as *planes*, and wasn't in a cage, but had a geas on it, so it could fly where it wanted but always return here.
All of it made Davy even more eager for flight. He wanted to fly, wanted to follow mark when he jumped off the balcony, wanted to chase the crows that hung around their house and dive bomb ducks in the park.
And then Beatrix had taken him out to the woods at the back of the house. Davy could hear birds and even see the nests up in the trees. He wanted to be up there more than anything.
Huh. Mark had made Davy promise he wouldn't try to fly on his own anymore, under the threat of dire consequences. Davy didn't know what dire consequences actually meant, but he was sure that he didn't want any. Still, Mark had only said Davy wasn't allowed to try and fly. He never said anything about climbing...
Davy looked around to see if Beatrix was around, and when he was sure she was out of sight, he found a nice looking tree and started climbing.
It was easy, getting up. Branches just seemed to be there, when he needed something to hold, and before he new it, he was almost at the top. He heard chirping and saw a birds nest, on one of the branches just below him.
"Davy! What are you doing up there!"
Uh oh, Beatrix had seen him. Maybe she wouldn't tell Mark? "I'm just going to look at the nest..." he yelled down.
"Don't move!" Beatrix sounded as scared as Mark's secretary on tax day. "Davy, just stay where you are."
"S' okay," Davy said, carefully trying to find a foothold. It was harder going down then going up. "I only want to see..." And then his hand slipped, then his other hand and he was falling.
If he'd been out in the open, his wings might have slowed his descent a little. Drakthos had taken first flight from smaller distances than this, and Davy's wings were strong for his age. Spread out, they could have slowed his fall enough for him to get away with a sprained ankle. As it was, they caught on branches, tumbled against the trees, jerked at painful angles as he fell through the branches, bent backwards as he fell forwards, to land with a disturbing crunch on the soft forest floor.
~~~
Mark was indulging in a rather detailed fantasy of sewing iron thread along the patterns of Sir Elian's wings when he felt the first faint trace of unease.
"I'm sorry, am I disturbing you?" Sir Elian said coldly when he realised Mark wasn't listening to him.
Mark held up a hand to silence him, ignoring the gasp at his rudeness and concentrated, wishing that he'd brought a scrying stone with him.
"There's something wrong," Mark said, almost to himself.
"My estimates are as good as anyone can make them," Sir Elian said, lifting up the relevant printout.
"I don't doubt it," Mark said, in a tone which meant exactly the opposite. "But that's not what I meant. Something's..." Davy. Definitely Davy, purely on the basis that only Davy could get himself into trouble after having the word of a land-tied fae, right in the middle of tedious but vitally important contract negotiations.
"Davy. It's Davy. Something's happened to Davy. Where is he?" Mark got up from his seat, knocking the chair down in his haste.
"I can't feel anything where your brother is," Sir Elian said, an expression of distaste crossing his face. "His curse kills my senses And I'm sure he's..."
"You can feel were your magic isn't," Mark said. he leaned over the table, putting every inch of predator he could into his face. "Where. Is. My. Brother."
Sir Elian closed his eyes and Mark could see him shiver as he found that mental numb spot. "Over there," he gestured. "Outside, probably in the woods."
This place was too unknown and too filled with anothers magics for Mark to risk 'porting, but the windows were large and he slid one open and took off.
tbc
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Date: 2003-03-01 09:07 am (UTC)i have an active dislike of Sir Elian...he seems to hung up on being to pompous lord of the manor type. his reaction to davy amuses me.
i especially like the exchanges between him and mark, tho. the hints and double-speak and the vaguely challenging/threatening? air--not too subtle, and yet, just enough to be considered polite.
Mark was indulging in a rather detailed fantasy of sewing iron thread along the patterns of Sir Elian's wings when he felt the first faint trace of unease.
*cackles*....that's so Mark, i love it.
mark: And if procuring iron thread is a problem, there's always staples....