Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind & Neroon]
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Neroon on 23-07-2009, 19:21:45</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Neroon</strong> on <strong>23-07-2009, 19:21:45</strong>
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				Richard Louis de Marney, fifth Baron of Calne, looked out of the window of his bedchamber and sighed.&nbsp; It was a glorious sunset but the beauty of the reds and golds of the sky were lost on the baron, for his mind was far, far too occupied with matters of state.&nbsp; The old king was dying- of that Richard was certain- and now the country looked to him for guidance.<br><br>The king was without either a son or a daughter and so the succession was complicated.&nbsp; It was ordinarily a matter for the Royal College of Heralds, Richard thought, but this time the heralds had not proven themselves worthy of the task, leaving the succession a matter of dispute between two great houses that had split from the royal line three generations back.&nbsp; Like all rivalries between relatives, this one was bitter indeed.&nbsp; The daffodil of the House of Lune, with holdings in the West of the land strove against the bluebell of the House of Ebour to assert a preeminent claim.&nbsp; Already, minor skirmishes between the supporters of each house had been dubbed the "War of Flowers".<br><br>And between the two stood the Barony of Calne, with enough influence that Richard was already being called Calne the Kingmaker.&nbsp; He alone of any of the barons held enough influence to decide the choice.&nbsp; He was the magnate that both houses wanted and, for these brief months until the king finally died, he, Richard de Marney, was the most important man in the country.<br><br>He turned from the window, with its view of the nation whose fate he was to decide, and decided to get an early night's sleep.&nbsp; He was, despite the awesome responsibility laid upon his shoulders, still a young man, not yet thirty.&nbsp; His clear blue-grey eyes were bisected by an almost predatory aquiline nose and he stood tall among his peers being almost six feet in height and athletically built.&nbsp; He stalked to the door of his chamber and bade the knight without go and relax in the common room.<br><br>For this brief moment in his life, Richard was simply too important to be a target, he was needed by both sides in the coming conflict.&nbsp; As a result, he was going to relish this power.&nbsp; The stories that would be told of the "baron who fears no attack and thus has no guard" would only enhance his prestige.&nbsp; And all in all, he would be in a position to gain much from whichever side he finally chose to favour with his support.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rider of Wind</strong> on <strong>23-07-2009, 21:09:56</strong>
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				&nbsp; Lilith paused at the darkened archway of the long corridor, her slender frame was outlined briefly by the moonlight before she aligned herself with the wall and slipped among the shadows. Her clothes were simple, a lady's maid, unassuming. As they were intended to be. Deep honey-colored hair was gather at the nape of her neck by a ribbon of blue.<br>&nbsp; <br>&nbsp; She was here for a very simple purpose, the death of a very powerful man needed to occur. Her family had sent her. With dark blue eyes framed by long lashes in an otherwise unremarkable face, Lilith was the best agent they had. Getting into the household had been fairly simple, a knock at the kitchen entrance and a short conversation with the head of the servants and she was settled into her own little room adjoining the matron's of the house. The old lady was kind and easy to attend to. Which left her with plenty of time to explore and determine the best course of action.<br><br>&nbsp; In truth, her family was pushing for the Baron's death but Lilith wasn't so sure. The man could be of use to them and no one was yet sure that he had sided against them. Known as 'Lily' to those closest to her, she was neck deep in plotting against the House of Lune. Her family demanded results in their favor and she would ensure that events occurred in such a way to be use to them. If the Baron wasn't with them then he was against them and those that stood against her and hers had a tendency to die quietly and abruptly in their sleep.<br><br>&nbsp; Her innocent eyes and creamy skin peered into the darkness as she heard the footsteps of the guard trod in the other direction. She slipped down the corridor and closer to the rooms that belonged solely to this powerful man that could change the course of her family's future with the utterance of a few sentences. The well-trained part of her mind cringed at the dismissal of his guard. The assassin cackled with glee. He was overconfident and she would use that against him. Power was an illusion that only a few could maintain for any length of time.<br><br>&nbsp; Her slight frame moved from shadow to shadow without sound until she was at his door, she put an ear to it and just listened, breathing slowly until her heart beat with the doddering pace of clock.<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Neroon</strong> on <strong>23-07-2009, 22:36:08</strong>
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				Richard closed the door and went to his desk.&nbsp; He lit a candle against the gathering gloom and sat down. The candle's light softened the dark of his hair to a soft brown as he pulled a scroll and examined it, checking his barony's tax revenue against that of previous years.&nbsp; He was wise enough to know that it is best to set one's one house in order before trying to put the land to rights.<br><br>He paused for a moment, sure he had heard something in the corridor without.&nbsp; Was the guard still on duty?&nbsp; No, that was barely credible; what man at arms could resist the lure of freely flowing ale?&nbsp; He swallowed and steeled himself to act.&nbsp; He had been foolish, he thought to dismiss the guard and doubly foolish to wear but his surcoat over his soft linen shirt and not his mail.&nbsp; But he was not so foolish as to ignore the evidence of his ears, and he stood, taking a dagger from the desk and stood in the shadows by the door, with his back against the wall.&nbsp; Precautions were, after all wise and if no attack came he had lost naught.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rider of Wind</strong> on <strong>24-07-2009, 17:09:30</strong>
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				&nbsp; Her breath caught in her throat as she sensed movement beyond the door. Lily's mind raced. She lifted a timid hand and made the lightest of knocks and then pushed at the door without waiting for an answer. She heard nothing. Her eyes were adjusted to the dark so the doorway held no secrets for her.<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;She stepped in, letting the soft whisper of her slipper slide across the floor like a mouse. She knew he was there, his presence had forced her to adjust her plan quickly. She turned suddenly as though catching sight of him from he corner of her eye. Still playing the shy maid her hand flew to her throat and words tumbled from her lips in a breathy whisper as her eyes went wide in perfectly acted out fear, "Mi-milord, sor-so-sorry. Begging your pardon," she knelt as though the thought had just occurred to her, having forgotten in her fright, almost scraping her knee painfully in the abrupt drop.<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;It also allowed her to slip the light dagger she had carried in her hand in the space of her bundled up skirt at the small of her long back. Along with the throwing stars hidden in the bones of her corseted waist and the vial of poisonous liquid secreted in places no nobleman would think to look.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Neroon</strong> on <strong>24-07-2009, 20:31:07</strong>
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				So, Richard thought as the wench fell to the floor before him, he needn't have feared an assassin.&nbsp; Obviously, the lass had thought the room was unoccupied and was not just startled but dismayed to find it not so.&nbsp; He began to chuckle, and he rubbed his chin in thought.<br><br>"So what have you come to my bedchamber for, eh?"&nbsp; he asked her, his eyes idly wandering over her figure.&nbsp; "I told the castellan that I did not require any entertainment tonight."&nbsp; He reached down to lift her up.&nbsp; His words were not so far from the truth, for Spandrell, the castellan did have a tendency to "arrange" for the local village girls to visit him.&nbsp; It was something that Richard found personally distasteful ever since the day in his childhood when his father had explained that his <em>droit de seigneur</em> was not the large hunting hound he had been looking forward to owning.<br><br>"Come, come, there's no need to kneel, lass, I'm no king, just a baron," he said, perching his behind on the desk as he looked down at her.&nbsp; "I can't have people in the castle who won't show me their faces, can I? Now tell me your name, I can't think that I've seen you around here before."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rider of Wind</strong> on <strong>27-07-2009, 22:59:22</strong>
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				&nbsp; &nbsp;Her pert mouth opened and a not-so-false blush rose to her cheeks at his implications, "I'm L-Lilith, my lord," she explained hurriedly in a soft, cultured voice, "A-and I didn't know this was your bedchambers, I swear it." She rose as he had wanted but kept her eyes trained to the floor, glancing up once to meet his eyes before looking away as though frightened. In truth she knew that the deep blue of her eyes revealed more than she tended to want them to on occasion. Her father said it was like looking into the ocean, vaster than one would expect with far too many secrets for a sane person's comfort.<br><br>&nbsp; He was a fairly impressive figure, radiating confidence and surprisingly she felt comfortable in his presence. On a gut level she trusted him, it was no wonder that he so successful in and out of the royal Court. She pushed that nugget of knowledge to the back of her mind and allowed to to brew with the other thing she was learning about him from the servants, most of it confirmed that she should work towards having his cooperation instead of his death on her hands. <br><br>&nbsp; Lily looked up again to get a good look at him, a personage like him would be used to the ogling of maids and at least he was worth looking at. She tucked her hands together in front of her and her back straight with the training of a true lady but her mannerisms were timid, that of a maid but a well born one. She didn't want him to write her off as completely inconsequential but she didn't want to be of too much interest either. It was a fine line to walk, good thing she had excellent balance....and the best aim with a throwing star within ten paces of anyone she had ever met.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Neroon</strong> on <strong>28-07-2009, 01:11:57</strong>
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				"Well, Lilith," Richard said, his lips curling in an amused half smile.&nbsp; "It would be a shame to upset the castellan wouldn't it?"&nbsp; He gestured to the chair by the desk and wandered over to perch on the end of the bed.<br><br>"You can sit there and talk to me," he said, shrugging disarmingly. "I rarely get to hear the views of the common people."&nbsp; As he spoke, he caught a glimpse of her eyes and paused for a moment, taken aback at how blue they were.&nbsp; It was noticing that that led him to look at her anew.&nbsp; She was, he decided, quite lovely, a pearl, perhaps.&nbsp; Did not long term hardship cause the oyster to create a thing of grace and beauty?<br><br>"Tell me of the life of the castle," he said, smiling.&nbsp; "What do the people say of the king's illness?&nbsp; Who do they feel should replace him, the Daffodil or the Bluebell?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rider of Wind</strong> on <strong>28-07-2009, 17:44:42</strong>
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				&nbsp; She perched on the chair, dress falling to outline the slim length of her legs beneath. A subtle sort of thing that she enjoyed noticing about herself, it was rare the man that noticed it as well.<br><br>&nbsp; Her eyes roved the room, looking at everything but him. If possible her voice got a little softer, "I try very hard not to listen to gossip, it is often very cruel," in truth she strove to dig up every slip of knowledge she could get her twisty mind on, "I know our poor ruler is ill, very ill and I know many are worried, myself included and I certainly know little of the Lune or the Ebour," a brief smile touched her lips revealing a small dimple in her left cheek, "besides what ladies might be in need of companions that is and who loves who and why others cannot be."<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;Lilith smoothed the front of her skirt with efficient hands in a nervous gesture, "I myself am fond of the Bluebells, I have sisters that are in their service and they have a great liking for the family." All of which was entirely true. She thought it slightly irritating how fond her family was of flowers. One sister was named Rosalyn, Rose and another Dahlia. Boys had better luck in her family with more traditional names. Lilith, though, was fairly common so she was less noticeable than the others.<br>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; His rooms were very masculine but comfortable. A good place to brood, she thought, she spied weapons on the walls, most usable but others showing years of wear and only good for decoration now. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Neroon</strong> on <strong>30-07-2009, 17:37:20</strong>
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				Richard smiled, watching Lilith carefully, enjoying the the play of of emotions on her face and the way she seemed to adjust her posture automatically into what was the most pleasing view.&nbsp; Sat as she was, the light made her eyes shine, her complexion glow and cast shadows in her clothes that revealed a figure beneath that was comely enough to make him think that he night have been wiser had he not disregarded the castellan's wishes.<br><br>He was, however, an honourable man and, as enticing as she was. he was not going to abuse his status.&nbsp; He looked away, to the side, finding it necessary to suppress a smile as she so easily summed up the value of gossip.&nbsp; The simplicity of her reasons for liking the House of Ebour was, endearing and he looked back at her unale to prevent the smile gracing his lips.<br><br>"You can tell a lot, Lilith, about a noble family by how they treat those in their service," he said and then he shrugged, ruefully.&nbsp; "And for that reason, I really should speak to the castellan in the morning; I thought I had stopped him sending girls to my quarters.&nbsp; It's such an outmoded twelfth century attitude."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rider of Wind</strong> on <strong>31-07-2009, 17:39:32</strong>
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				&nbsp; All sorts of unladylike words burst into violent being in her mind, when aroused to a point of passion beyond reason she could curse worse than a sailor. She was far more creative. Her face remained blank but she let a bit of tension stiffen her shoulders and a maidenly blush steal into her cheeks. It was better to reveal a lie oneself than to have another dash it into dust.<br><br>&nbsp; "Well, see," she sputtered a bit, her face flushing a bit brighter, "I really wasn't supposed to go here at all but I get...restless at night and I like to wander. A bit intrusive of me I know," she stared hard at the rug as though trying to memorize the exact pattern in an effort to seem embarrassed even though inside she was chuckling at herself looking like a bumbling maid, it was just too contrary an image. A girl that woke at dawn to go riding across the countryside after attending a feast late into the night and still managing to leave her hunting party of youthful men scrambling behind her as she galloped on the feistiest stallion through the woods was trying to look timid. And actually succeeding fairly well.<br>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp; &nbsp;The thought entertained her so much that she looked up to invite him to join in her merriment, it danced in the depths of her eyes almost putting lie to her cover, she had to stumble a little to recover herself, "It is difficult to sit patiently sometimes."&nbsp; She hoped it was enough to prevent any suspicion but from the intelligence in his gaze she hoped he was one of the few that realized that beneath most women's down-turned lashes actually lay a human being. After caring for the his infirm mother, who was one of the most dignified she had ever come across, she certainly hoped so. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Neroon</strong> on <strong>31-07-2009, 20:58:53</strong>
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				"You're adventurous, Lilith, I'll give you that," Richard said, his twinkling with amusement at what he saw.&nbsp; She was not like a lot of the castle servants, in that she seemed to possess a spark of intelligence and independence in her.&nbsp; She would go far, this one, he thought.<br><br>"So to stave off the boredom, you decided to visit my bed chamber did you?" Richard's chuckle was good natured and indulgent.&nbsp; "I don't know what's worse, that the castellan thinks I need help getting a wench or that you only came here because it was less boring than sitting alone?"<br><br>He tilted his head, looking at her and then broke into a good natured laugh.&nbsp; He stood and walked over to an alcove in the wall.&nbsp; He took the wine pitcher there and poured two goblets of the dark red wine, offering her one of them.&nbsp; If only the ladies at court were so intrepid, he thought.&nbsp; Then the castellan might not be tempted to keep offering him peasant girls to ward away any suspicion of infirmity.<br><br>"I'd say your enterprise deserves reward, wouldn't you?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rider of Wind</strong> on <strong>01-08-2009, 20:25:43</strong>
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				&nbsp; &nbsp;She grasped the glass as a reflex, her long nimble fingers closing around the stem surely but with feminine delicacy. Lilith cursed again silently, she should not have accepted a drink from this man nor in the middle of the night but she had been trained in manners and one simply did not a refuse a lord when he was kind enough to offer something nice.<br><br>&nbsp; She nodded in silent agreement, a corner of her mouth tilted up and she looked him over again wondering why on earth the castellan sent girls to his room at all, they should already be there without any help. He wasn't bad-looking, fairly attractive in fact and power such as his had a draw all it's own. Her examination was brief but thorough, she gave it the same detailed attention she would give to looking over a stallion. A strong face, intelligent and not unkind, a well kept body and an ease in his movements that showed a certain assurance in society that made his nobility as plain as the nose on his face. <br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;Her eyes had squinted while she analyzed him and they widened hurriedly and looked away when the met his on their intense path up his body. She wasn't usually so careless but it was late and she was too comfortable in his presence, for once she spoke what was on her mind, a new plan of how to gain his assistance forming as she acted, it came out as a hasty murmur "I don't understand why the castellan thinks you need any help in that department."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Neroon</strong> on <strong>03-08-2009, 16:55:09</strong>
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				Richard took a long sip of his wine and pondered her question.&nbsp; It was certainly a little more forward a comment than he was used to from the castle servants. Then again, he reasoned, he had opened the door to such by offering her the wine and to step behind the fortifications of his station, once more, would not just ill-mannered but cowardly too.&nbsp; After all, he should be able to cope with the words of a castle maid, shouldn't he?<br><br>"You think so, do you?" he said, with a smile, returning to his seat.&nbsp; "That sort of thing is always pleasant to hear Lilith.&nbsp; However, the fact remains that I am still unwed and the castellan would be a happier man were there an heir, even a bar sinister one."&nbsp; He looked at her, tilting his head to the side and then he laughed self deprecatingly.<br><br>"Would you believe that none of the noble ladies I've met has impressed me?" Richard asked.&nbsp; "Simpering idiots all of them, unburdened by anything so much as an original thought."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rider of Wind</strong> on <strong>05-08-2009, 02:56:24</strong>
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				&nbsp; Her first reaction was defensive anger at his dismissal of her entire gender and her eyes flashed to his face as she bit her tongue but then her fair and logical brain kicked in and she had to conceed the point. Many ladies were spiteful, small minded, useless mice. Those that were competent, smart and trained to run the estates in the absence of their lords were rare and usually hidden from most of the world anyway.<br><br>&nbsp; Despite herself she uttered what on a lesser lady would have been titled as a snort, she put the glass to her mouth and let the red liquid run slowly past her full lips as she pondered his words.<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;Her eyes were downcast as she spoke, the picture of feminine modesty, for one such as her would of course never disagree with one such as him, "Perhaps original thoughts are difficult to come by and a lady isn't supposed to impress a man, she is supposed to meet his needs in a wife." Lily ran a finger around the rim of the glass primly catching a drop on the tip and pressing it between her lips, it was an act meant to look casual and unplanned. She never looked up, avoiding his gaze once more, hoping he didn't bring her to task for impropriety.<br><br>&nbsp; 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Neroon</strong> on <strong>06-08-2009, 21:56:25</strong>
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				"Piffle!" Richard snorted, derisively, tossing back the remains of his wine and returning to the pitcher to get a refill.&nbsp; His eyes glinted with something akin to anger, though it was plain that it was anger directed at the opinions of society and not at her.<br><br>"I imagine there are lords out there who prefer a partner who will not say boo to a goose," he said, "Bur really, Lilith, I ask you, what good would a woman like that be running the household when her husband is off to war?&nbsp; What sort of conversation could they have?&nbsp; How would she be able to advise or stimulate him?"&nbsp; He shook his head and sat down.<br><br>"No, the ladies of court are simply vapid shadows," Richard grumbled, looking at Lilith just as her finger met her lips. "And alas, bright adventurous lasses like yourself could not gain acceptance at court."&nbsp; He took a long sip of his wine and shrugged.&nbsp; "So why should I chase something that will either fall short in spirit or lack the station for it ever to be more than a roll in the hay."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rider of Wind</strong> on <strong>25-08-2009, 02:16:10</strong>
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				&nbsp; He made an excellent point. But he was wrong about one thing, Lilith was magnificent at court, her fiery and stubborn nature focused into making her more vivacious and flashy than she was usually. She could influence the room by dancing with one man. There was a line of marriage offers, despite her family's lack of fortune and rather shady reputation, blood as blue as hers was always wanted by those of lower station. At the slightest hint of a frown from a suitor's mother a healthy blush could instantly stain her cheeks and she became the most demure creature ever to be looked upon, fanning herself vapidly behind a painted fan.<br><br>&nbsp; She glanced down at the serviceable dress she wore and the artistic use of color on her face that downplayed it's best assets and the barest hint of a smile flashed over her lips before she hid it away, "One cannot dispute a man as great as yourself but one wonders whyever a roll in the hay is not a perfectly acceptable way to pass the evening," she averted her eyes back to the floor, "at least for a lord." A man had needs, didn't he?
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Neroon</strong> on <strong>26-08-2009, 15:16:38</strong>
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				"Perhaps," Richard replied, once more noticing her pleasing face and figure.&nbsp; "But then, the wenches that catch my interest are always the sort to want more than being a bedmate for the night."&nbsp; He drank some more of his wine and shook his head.&nbsp; "Would you, for example, be content to be little more than a walking bedwarmer?&nbsp; Of course not, I can tell that by the fire of wit that lights your eyes and the pride that animates your face."<br><br>He shrugged and set his goblet on the table before walking to the window and looking out.&nbsp; The land lay dark in the evening gloom beneath the castle and here and there the lights of various dwellings studded that darkness to mirror the constellations above.&nbsp; He turned back to Lilith and lifted an eyebrow.<br><br>"The people out there depend on me," he said, looking her up and down.&nbsp; "They depend on my firm and decisive leadership.&nbsp; When I became baron as a lad of fifteen, I had to strive damn hard first to hold my place and then to serve these people here.&nbsp; I could- I can- ill afford the distraction that would result from such entanglements, tempting as they may be."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rider of Wind</strong> on <strong>30-08-2009, 21:05:51</strong>
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				&nbsp; &nbsp;The respect she had for him was growing, he had an honest caring for those that were his responsibility. So many nobles tended to forget that they were responsible for anything let alone the people beneath them.<br><br>&nbsp; She stood and walked over to him, brushing past to lean her elbows on the window sill, letting her hands cradle her face as she looked out, trying to see as he saw, "You take too much on youself, Milord," she looked at him from the corner of her eyes, fifteen seemed so young, and he was still young but very worn about the edges. Responsibility can be a heavy burden. She bumped her hip against his and chuckled deep in her throat, "It is late and it seems we are discussing the philosophical implications of whether to fall in bed together or not. I did not expect to have such a conversation this evening."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Neroon</strong> on <strong>07-09-2009, 22:53:45</strong>
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				"And what did you expect?"&nbsp; Richard replied as he stood beside her, looking out into the night.He was very aware of her closeness and he turned to her, his lips quivering.&nbsp; &nbsp;"You've visited enough lords' bed-chambers to form expectations?"<br><br>He turned away and walked into the middle of the room, turning to face her once more.&nbsp; His eyes narrowed and his expression grew cold for a moment before softening into something approaching amusement.<br><br>"The look on your face is beyond price, m'lady," he said, his voice rippling with a suppressed chuckle.&nbsp; "I'm sure you had not expected such from one as I, but the sad truth is that the wise ruler is judged not by what he does, by what he takes but by what he does not and takes not."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rider of Wind</strong> on <strong>08-09-2009, 16:57:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp; She was working very hard to determine if she should be insulted or not, she was fairly certain he had implied she was a harlot. Her expression was puzzled for a moment before the hilarity in the situation struck her and curved her lips up and then finally spreading them to reveal an even, white smile, the first genuine laugh bubbling up from her throat in ages. Her back straightened as true emotion flitted across her face.<br><br>&nbsp; "I was just thinking, milord. One, that you are a very good man. And two: whether or not to take offense at you implication," her lips pursed and eyes twinkled as she held back another laugh, "and then it occurred to me that one really can't be offended at the truth," she hurried to explain, "I do not visit many lords' chambers but I am fully willing to lay with any I choose, lord or no, and none could take what I have to offer, it can only be freely given. And I try not to expect anything from any man, my ladies tell me they have all been sorely disappointed when they do so."&nbsp; Her eyes fairly danced in merriment at her jibe towards his gender.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Neroon</strong> on <strong>10-09-2009, 22:35:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Then it is as well that you have no expectations," he said, "For I should surely fail to meet them.&nbsp; I have little time for the bedroom aside from sleeping, after all."&nbsp; He laughed, a little bitterly, and returned to his perch at the desk, watching her with lidded eyes.&nbsp; He sighed and shook his head.<br><br>"I've never tried to be a good man, or even a bad one."&nbsp; He chuckled with a sigh.&nbsp; "Indeed, I found it hard enough to be a man at all- I had to survive fifteen murder attempts before I reached my twentieth year."&nbsp; He shook his head.&nbsp; "You know, that sort of thing makes intimacy difficult.&nbsp; It is virtually impossible for me to put myself in another's hands."<br><br>And then, he laughed, his voice clear with honest merriment.&nbsp; "But why am I telling you?&nbsp; You're a maid and not a priest confessor!" Richard said with a wry smile.&nbsp; "Yet, whatever you may be, you're easy to talk to."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Spheres of Influence [Rider of the Wind &amp; Neroon]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rider of Wind</strong> on <strong>12-09-2009, 19:46:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp; It almost made her feel bad should she be forced to slide a blade between his ribs. The light faded from her face to be replaced with something deeper and a little dark. She drew close to him and then closer, bracing her lithe form just a little from his with two arms on the desk on each side of his waist. Her face was mere inches from his, the blue of her eyes brilliant and almost eclipsed by the black of her pupils.<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;With an outward sigh she sank her body against his and wrapped herself onto him, burying her face against his shoulder. But she wasn't flinging her entire weight into his arms, her stance was strong and sure, holding him softly without surrendering herself to him in the least. It would almost have been the hug of a mother if she hadn't been intensely aware of the muscling and body hidden beneath his clothes.<br><br>&nbsp; "I am glad that you survived, fearing death is never fun, " she sounded sure of this, "and this world would be less without a few good lords." 
			</dd>
		</dl>
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