Lightstar Family/Xarnelf/Roleplay 69/Epic Saga 17
Part 12: The Gazing Rumination
Irdys's compliment regarding the duke's swordsmanship did not pass unnoticed, but Xarnelf's wary expression did not budge either. However, upon hearing the commoner's words about Soliferite brutality, the noble's eyes did soften then, and he visibily relaxed, allowing the tip of the blade to drop down so that it now rested upon a leather boot.
Then the daring adventurer's gaze shifted upwards to meet that of the duke, and he perceived something in those light blue eyes that he could not quite put a finger on... Was it bravado? Or perhaps defiance? Either way, for a commoner to stare at a noble like that was not the wisest move. But wait... Xarnelf stared deeper and closer into those orbs half-hidden beneath that hood, as he found himself trying to give a name to that something which he saw within, that emotion, that feeling, that... resemblance?
And suddenly, a thought struck him without warning, as his mind connected various pieces and details together, and his mouth parted slightly in shock. He had seen such a look before, such an intense and proud gaze that brought back memories about which he had forgotten for quite some time. Indeed, the duke's late sister Yleina had given him such a stare once upon a time, when he had tried one year to convince the girl that attending the Winter Masquerade was in her best interests. Of course, he was only doing so because their mother had hoped the girl would find a few respectable suitors at the ball and thus insisted that Xarnelf talk some sense into Yleina.
But why would this young man remind him of his sister? Unless... Hm, what was his name again? Quickly, the duke recalled that the fellow's name was Irdys, which was actually quite a strange name... a... delicate name? Now, Xarnelf was no expert of southern appellations, but even he could tell that this commoner's name seemed to have no specific gender attached to it. Then again, maybe he was getting tired, or the torchlight may have been playing tricks on his eyes, making him see things that were not truly there.
And so, Xarnelf brought himself back to the present and decided that Irdys was being sincere in his explanation.
