Lightstar Family/Adaria/Roleplay 14
Dear Aunt Reia
Adaria approached the family mansion nervously, considering whether she should really be asking her dear aunt for gold. Cousin Xarnelf should have more than enough to spare, right? But he had hinted to her in his latest letter about how she should pay a visit to the Lightstar estate to check on his parents, and her own father as well. Xarne had also suggested that she should accompany him on his next voyage; that would mean putting aside her training for a while, but the girl did not really mind the idea. She was starting to grow tired of the bureaucratic work anyway, and still did not see much of a relationship between paperwork and infiltration.
And so it was that Adaria, being a good daughter and niece, spent time with the family. She dreaded asking the question of her dear old aunt, but the matron must have sensed the true, underlying intention of her niece's visit; after the men had left the room to talk about hunting, sport, or other manly stuff, she motioned for the girl to approach her side. Obediently, Adaria did so with a pounding heart, for this was as good a time as any to blurt out the request.
However, before she could say anything, Aunt Reia smiled that warm smile of hers and slowly withdrew a jingling pouch from a drawer at her side. The woman handed the gold over a wink, and Adaria stared wide-eyed for a brief moment before rushing forwards to hug the elderly matron, who nodded against her shoulder and patted her back.
"There, there, dear... Don't spend it all on one place!"
"Hehe, um, I'll try not to, ma'am!"
The next day, Adaria returned again to the mansion, with just as much nervousness--and as empty of a purse--as the previous day. She left again with a full, jingling pouch and another bounce in her step.
The day following that, the girl felt a bit more trepidation while paying yet another visit to her dear old aunt, who raised her eyebrows considerably at the sight of Adaria again, in such a short period of time. Shaking her head, Reia chuckled as she eyed the timid girl. This time, instead of starting out with idle chatter and gossip, the woman cut to the chase with a surprising remark that had Adaria gasping in shock.
"My, my, dear girl... Did my son put you up to all this, that rascal? He's raising another army, isn't he? Yes, I heard about his silly, hmm... what did they call it? Ah yes, 'foray', into the southern lands."
The girl blushed and remained silent, as the matron paused, her eyes growing distant. Then the lady continued in a softer voice.
"That vengeance of his will get him killed one day, the fool... Killing them won't bring 'Leina back..."
With a heavy sigh, she shook her head to clear away the depressing thoughts and turned back to Adaria with a strained smile.
"He must have a guardian Aenil watching over him, with all the insane antics he's pulled over the years. And now he's dragging you with him, isn't he, Ada?"
Noting the girl's reluctance to offer any response one way or the other, Xarnelf's mother sighed again and continued talking.
"Yes, I know my son. Well, you try to keep him out of trouble now, you hear? And do take care, my dear. You're so young and full of promise..."
For the third time, the girl left the estate with another bulging purse, but it would not be the last time this week...
