Though eyes watched, nothing was spoken but in soft murmurs, the maids of the room looking with great interest upon the scene of the two.  Still it was not so outlandish that the knight take interest in the new face of the castle, it was all business of course.<br/><br/>As they would walk outside she would offer  a nod "   ah that explains why you were so quick to join me again."<br/><br/>Setting the basket down upon the grassy lawn,  stopping before the ropes rigged up for clothes lines. She would start dispensing the linens and pegging them to the line to let the free flowing winds do their task.<br/><br/>A smile curving her lips as she would breath deep the fresh air as the light air currents would tease and toss her hair, like a taunting friend.<br/><br/>" Aye, I was sent here, "  she would reply bending down to the basket at her feet to retrieve another linen to be put up.  A slight stiffness entered her muscles as Reynick sought more information about her past....had she not already given enough?<br/><br/>"  Count Tegan,  my uncle,  owns  a large plot of land just on the western border that divides the lands.  "   she would start her explanation, but her words were guarded.<br/><br/>"  My parents died when I was young, my Uncle and his wife took me in and raised me as their own...as well as taking over my Father's place as Count."<br/><br/>A frown formed upon her face as she would continue to pin up the laundry and adjust it to settle right to dry evenly.<br/><br/>"  Not very many people are fond of my Uncle,  he is a very harsh man but he does what is needed to be done.  Those lands are my dowry,  as part of my parents will,  however he has been enjoying ruling the land greatly and doesn't want to see that power go."<br/><br/>Turning she would face  Reynick with those dark eyes of hers, stormy with emotion as she would fold her arms.<br/><br/>" He is trying to marry me off to his head knight,  a beastly vile snake of a man"  A shuddering cringe rolled through her as the very thought of him disgusted her.  "  He wants me to marry him so that he will still have power and say while I am shoved off to the way side."<br/><br/>Anger roiled through her,  looking mad enough to spit again.  "  In any case,  I declared I would not ever marry the neanderthal,  and the bishop refused to  over see the marriage when both parties were not willing.  Thanks be to the gods"  shed flash a glance at Reynick and look away. "  to god...that he was a very spiritual and virtuous man,  for he would not even accept bribery.."<br/><br/>Turning she would start fussing with the laundry once more,  "  so in a fit of rage he gave me over to the kingdom saying I will learn my place as a dutiful daughter, niece and future wife....or if, once my term is done here and I am still found lacking....I will be sold into slavery to the Drakimin"<br/><br/>A dark laugh would escape her lips as she would shake her head, fingers smoothing the edges of the linen.  "  A harmless threat said in a fit of rage"  she would muse.<br/><br/>The parts she had left out however was that her family was the one to be rumored to be in contact with the Drakimin. Not necessarily that the family was conspiring with them to over throw the King but that the family had blood ties with them.<br/><br/>The story went that Count Treyon, Az's father, had often had lots of trouble with the Drakimin attacking his lands, burning his crops etc. He had called upon his younger brother Tegan to help battle until the kings aid could be sent.  There was a very vicious and bloody battle that ensued and for a while there was a time when Count Treyon was rumored to be dead.  Three months time passed and the battles continued,  Treyon was thought to be truely dead but upon the begining of the fourth month the Drakimin retreated.<br/><br/>It would seem odd as the Drakimin had been within inches of victory,  they had laid seige to the keep and had breached its outer walls when a great wail of horns errupted from the trees.  Mysteriously,  the Drakimin retreated, and from the forest Treyon appeared with a wild eyed, pale haired woman at his side.<br/><br/>When later questioned, he would tell that the woman's name was Liona, and that she had found him upon the battle field and nursed him back to health within her hut that was hidden within the trees.  There was alot of speculation as the woman behaved in odd manners, it was said she was of the Drakimin,  a princess of them. At least it explained the ceaseing of attacks made upon the peoples there, and the woman was always kind if not spirited.  Her only down fall was violent out bursts when ever another showed interest to her love,  spoke ill of her or her family, or showed disrespect.<br/><br/>Years passed and none questioned it anymore, though they all had some kindling of understanding of who this woman was.  She bore their Count a beautiful daughter,  and life was grand but something changed.  Revolts began to occur against this Countess said to be of the barbarian peoples...though why was anyones guess.<br/><br/><br/>The riots began, the people started to war amongst one another, some against and some in protection of their fair Countess and Count.  It was not long after that that the Countess and Count were found murdered within their chambers, leaving behind their wailing baby girl to the world.<br/><br/>That was when Tegan had stepped in,  the Drakimin in supposed outrage began attacking again until it was made known that the daughter had survived.  Again the attacks ceased and all was quiet once more,  though nothing more was ever heard about the daughter.<br/><br/>That daughter, now stood before Reynick but there was a problem the baby girl in the tale was said to have the pale blonde hair of her mother along with the wild eyes, while this woman had dark hair.<br/><br/>"  As I said before, I will serve my time here.....perhaps if I am found to be in the Queens good graces she will grant me the power to choose my own husband at my leisure...if not then I shall simply not return to my Uncles...let him have my dowry and lands."<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>