Hotaru had sat in steaming silence the entire way to the swamps of Cornaille. her seething anger having no proper outlet. Normally Hotaru would have engaged in small talk of her new ‘Container’ but their choice had outraged her. The Lumurai had picked a man to contain her power lest she lose herself to it...again, a man what did she need of such a man. Her Hazel eyes darted back and forth rider, road, rider, road. She was being babysat by someone who knew so little of their order, and as rumor had it a con man.<span style="font-style: italic">”Do they really find a man such as this suitable for a person like myself”</span>. She let out a heavy huff at the thought.<br/><br/>Trying to deter her disgust of the Orders choice, her hazel eyes landed on their leader Xiu. He was well feared and known among the order. A strong and fearful man, this seemed more appealing to  Hotaru then for her ‘Container’. She couldn’t even think his name without another skowl planting itself on her face. A rumble echoing in her chest as she tried to take a deep breath. Another heavy sigh as her steed made it through the winding and crowded roads.<br/><br/>Her eyes looked out over the masses, their worried faces. Bags and carts thrown about small family’s huddled together to not lose one another. A small girl with brown locks caught her eye, a small toy bunny in her arms. The small girls gaze watching Hotaru without a flinch, the gaze entranced Hotaru, she couldn’t help but smile as the girl. The girl smiled back but just as the crowd moved from the city Hotaru ventured further in losing sight of the child. That moment had quelled the anger in her letting her gaze settle on the rest of the area. The city was a wasteland of it’s usually bustling self, the encroaching danger of the  Solarins taking it’s toll on there people.<br/><br/>Xiu had stopped at a picket to rest the horses, Hotaru slid gently down landing on her feet with ease despite her early upbringing of a sheltered life. Gently she soothed the animal as she tied it’s rein’s to the picket. Walking around the best she made her way beside Xiu “Where do you want to start Xiu?” she asked.<br/><br/>Elsewhere in Cornaille…<br/><br/>“I forbid it!” the man yelled his fist landing heavily into the wooden table Clay’s Golden eyes remained the same, unflinching. “Father I am able to marry but your forbid me to take care of our land? How does that make any sense?” he inquired. His usual stance, arms crossed one another hip out on one side relaxed. His posture always infuriated his father’s moods. But Clay felt it best to always be the one being able to gauge the scales and now which way to sway to get the most profit. “I am the head of this of this family you will do as I command” his father bellowed.<br/><br/>Clay shook his head lightly a smile on his face, “Father yell all you like I am staying, you and I have done too much here for me to just abandon it.” he said plainly. His father’s mouth pressed into a hard line. He hated how Clay was right, they would never be able to afford this particular piece of land again if they lost it now. They had become so much more profitable when Clay had been placed within the family business of Innkeeping. Even now his Mother was out cleaning the linens for the beds that had once been filled. Clay there only son, they had both felt the need to flee, but not Clay he had stared out the window his golden eyes never betraying his ever busy mind. It baffled him to watch his son. “I can tell by your face i have won, thank you father”he said gently a hand landing gently on his father’s shoulder. “I will go help mother and make sure she is safe” he said in a soft reassuring tone.<br/><br/>With that Clay made his way outside the Inn, the echoing muffle of the crowd in the streets still lingered in the air. He found his mother at the side of the building placing large blanket’s along the line clipping them in place. Gently his hand placed itself on her shoulder, reacting to the sudden touch Clay’s mother let go of the large blanket from her hands. Quickly Clay’s hand outstretched and grabbed the blanket before it could hit the ground. “There there mother it’s only me, Father has agreed to let me stay. But he has insisted to stay as well”he said through his blanket filled mouth. Clay’s mother laughed gently “My son you are such a stubborn man” she said gently as she took the blanket from his mouth helping him lay out the blanket along the line. “No I just don’t want to see all our effort’s be for nothing, not after all our hard work” he said his tone determined.<br/><br/>The light whine of horses caught his  attention making him lean over to catch a view his eyes narrowing on the small group. “And good thing I convinced Father it seems we are in luck to have patron’s he said in confidence” as he peered up at his mother in delight. “When we’re done here, let’s work on dinner” he said with a determined tone.