Tomarsen Family/Kirstyn Tomarsen/The First Tournament
Only 2 more days until the tournament...
"Any signs of anyone?" Kirstyn whispered. Cassie shook her head.
"I heard someone practicing, but when I got there, they had already retired to their tent," she reported. "According to the other ladies-in-waiting, that's where most of the nobles spend their time."
"Unbelievable," her mistress complained. "I'll bet you I could walk from one end of the camp to the other wearing nothing but sash and a couple of finger bowls, and no one would be the wiser."
A sly look came to Cassie's eye. "I'll bet you could, too," she said, as she poured her lady another glass of wine.
Serge Calanar: Serge called out across the mostly empty bar to Lady Kirstyn. "Speak for the others! I've been hanging around waiting for people almost every day!" He stood up and walked over to the new noble. "I am Serge Calanar. May I hear the name of the lovely noble before me?" 'And only noble he absently added.' He waved to the bar keep. "Anything else she wants will be on me as recompense for her lack of entertainment at this tournament." Serge offered a smile and briefly scratched the back of his head in nervousness, slightly messing up the short brown hair.
"Oh!" she giggled. "Another free drink for me?"
She slammed back Sir Serge's offering and grabbed the fresh one.
"The men do ssheem to know about how to treat a Lady!"
Kirstyn looked over the man in front of her.
"Pleassshed to meet you, I'm ssshure," she slurred. "I am Kirsshtyn Tomarsshen, of Talex, although I make my home here now."
"Well, not here, here," she said, taking the proffered glass of wine. "I mean on thisssh island. In Hetland. The main shhity - Crezzer, or Creature...sshomething like that. Haven't been there long."
Telmar invites everyone for a round of drinks at the local taverns, a great show of his lavishness and hospitality.
Sir Telmar Wentwood: Lady Kirstyn I would join you for a drink in this quiet alehouse. It is strange that it is so empty. Usually there are at least some nobles present.
Still, it will give us a chance to become acquainted as we have not yet done so since you arrived in Hetland.
"Oh, I know you!" Kirstyn said, pointing an accusing finger at him. "You're our General! You're the one that keeps telling ussh to go to that yakky place!"
She steadied herself against the table.
"I don't think I like you!" she said with a scowl.
Sir Telmar Wentwood: Indeed. Perhaps we may have to leave the serious discussions for a later time.
I think I shall quaff a few ales.
"Oh, don't shink I don't know how to be ssherious!" she said, leaning heavily against Serge's shoulder.
"Thank you," she said to him. "I'd like you to meet our General. General, thissh issh Sshir...Whatsshyernameagain?"
Serge laughed lightly. His bright green eyes took in everything as he studied the noble for a moment. "I am truly sorry you are feeling so alone here. I am noble of this realm and city. If someone isn't enjoying themselves, particularly, someone like you, then I feel like our city is failing at hosting a tournament."
He grabbed a chair from the table, and pulled it out to sit. "If my presence bothers you Kirstyn, I will leave, however, I must ask this." He smiled warmly. "Is there anything I can do for you? I'd like you to remember this tournament, or at least enjoy it. Otherwise, I think I may take my leave and go practice. This tournament has been rather dull and it's a true shame."
Hokaru invites everyone for a round of drinks at the local taverns, a great show of his lavishness and hospitality.... x10...
Kirstyn's eyes widened at the row of drinks laid out before her.
"The gold is not mine, but rather that of Bara'Khur, as a welcome to all the fine nobles of all realms that have joined us here in Wudekin."
"Hey, General," she whispered quietly enough that only people in the immediate region could hear her. "These Bara'Khurian folkssh have a lot of gold. Whatsshay we invade them?"
Sir Telmar Wentwood: You are indeed generous Hokaru!
Thinks that his quiet drinking is now not going to be possible
Serge smiled. He didn't know that Telmar served alongside Night Hawk in Eston, but he didn't seem like a bad sort. "Nice to meet you, sir Telmar. I am Serge Calanar."
Kirstyn smacked Serge hard against the chest.
"He's notta 'Sshir'," she said. "He's a 'Lord General'."
"Sshee?" she whisper-shouted to Telmar. "Lotsa gold, and disshresshpectful. What more do you need?"
Hokeru "But, since we have so much gold, that means we can have incredibly large units. Not a bright idea to invade people with high walls and very large units."
Kirstyn jumped. The man had appeared out of thin air. A wizard? A daemon? Better not to take chances.
"Can you forgive my disrespect Lady Kirstyn?" asked Serge, busy holding her from toppling over on the floor.
"Such a nice man," she thought. "Bought me drinks."
"No," she said, returning her gaze to Hokaru. "No, not bright." She leaned over to Serge again and whispered,
"Will you take me back to my pavilion?"
A young boy raced into the room, carrying a message. He ran up to a noble in the corner and handed it to him.
"Old Grehk has declared war on Fronen," the noble said aloud, and stood up to leave.
"Oh, good!" Kirstyn clapped. "More war! I love war!"
She leaned over to Serge's ear, and whispered confidentially,
"I'VE BEEN IN A FEW OF THEM, YOU KNOW."
"I'm afraid I don't know where to escort you. If you wouldn't mind giving me directions, I would be much obliged."
She considered for a moment. Of course, she had a pavilion, but she couldn't quite think of where she had left it.
Suddenly, she had a thought.
"I know!" she said. "Let's ask my lady-in-waiting. She knows where it is - I just sent her there!"
Serge looked to Hokaru and grinned. "If you can get enough people to restrain me I will gladly refrain. Otherwise, I will rely on my honorable nature to keep me from doing anything I shouldn't."
The young noble laughed lightly and smiled. "And I am quite glad you survived them. I can't say I've been in many wars, but I've killed enough monsters and undead to make a few armies. Now, where are we going," he asked politely as they stepped out of the tavern.
Serge smiled, but in his head thoughts were racing. 'She's not the brightest after a few too many drinks... Then again, who is?' He took her arm in his to keep her upright and then gave her a curious look. "Er... Won't we need to go to your pavillion to find your lady-in-waiting though?"
Kirstyn considered. There seemed to be a certain logic to his words.
"Your right," she said. "My pavilion seems pretty lost. Maybe we should go to yours? Do you have a bathtub?"
Kirstyn frowned. Walking didn't usually bother her, but her legs did feel a bit...not up for walking.
Still, there was a bathtub there, and he even seemed to know where it was, which was more than she could claim.
Well, only one thing to do...
"Oh!" she exclaimed dramatically in her most feminine squeak, and collapsed heavily into his arms.
Serge nodded. "Of course I'll help you. I did say I would." He carried her easily, and walked softly to not bounce her much. About five minutes later they were standing in front of the doors to his home. He set her on her feet and smiled as he opened the door for her. "After you milady."
Inside seemed empty of anything ornate, but at the same time, he had a collection of objects from all across Beluaterra, and several from Dwilight and the Far East too. He caught a servant and had them go prepare a bath. He looked over at Kirstyn and smiled. "Would you like anything while they prepare the bath? It's up those stairs, and it's the first door on the right."
Kirstyn walked up the stairs, stopping halfway up to turn and smile at him.
"Perhaps you could bring a bottle of wine," she asked. "Just give me a few moments to get my clothes off and into the water..." She continued up the steps without looking back to see how he reacted.
Serge stood stunned for a moment as he tried to make sure that he'd heard properly. He went out to the kitchen to request some good wine. When he had it, and a pair of glasses, he made his way upstairs and knocked. He stood outside with a smile on his face. She wasn't one for being very proper. "Lady Kirstyn, I have the wine you requested."
.....
The day of the tournament...
"M'lady! you made it back in time!" Cassie exclaimed. "You were out all night...I was worried you wouldn't..."
"Please don't shout," Kirstyn begged, wincing. "It's my head..."
---
"He's just a child, m'lady. He should be no trouble at all," Cassie said, looking at the young opponent from Enweil.
"Please don't shout," Kirstyn asked, pulling her helmet on.
Kirstyn from Hetland -beats- Chaldreth from Enweil
---
"My gosh!" Kirstyn exclaimed. "The Lord General went down like a sack of potatoes. First round! How humiliating!"
Jord from Avalon -beats- Telmar from Hetland
---
"Oh, damn!" Kirstyn whispered. "It's that wizard fellow again. The one with the big unit."
"Don't worry," Cassie assured her. "They're not allowed to use magic at tournaments."
Kirstyn from Hetland -beats- Hokaru from Bara'Khur
---
"That's Sir Aramis," Cassie said in a hushed tone. "They say his only weakness is a low shot to the back of his left leg. See if you can get him there."
"His where?" Kirstyn asked, staggering forward in her armor.
Aramis from Thalmarkin -beats- Kirstyn from Hetland
---
"Serge," Kirstyn said, playfully tracing a finger along the top of his shield, "that Aramis fellow just beat me. You don't think you could whack him upside the head with your sword for me, do you? I'd be sooooo grateful."
Serge from Bara'Khur -beats- Aramis from Thalmarkin
---
"I'd say his chances are pretty good," Kirstyn explained. "He's ve-e-ery relaxed this morning."
Serge from Bara'Khur -beats- Dark from Avalon Serge from Bara'Khur -beats- Kaylan from Enweil Winner: Serge
---
"He won 200 gold?" Kirstyn asked. "But he's such a simple man - he'll have no idea how to spend that. I'd better go congratulate him..."
Kirstyn held herself up properly, without the least sign of impropriety.
"Hello, again, Sir Serge," she said. "I wished to congratulate you on your victory."
She leaned forward and whispered, "I hope I will be seeing more of you soon?"
With a barely discernible wink, she turned and left the camp.
