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Post by Largo LeGrande on Jan 21, 2004 12:50:08 GMT
Largo looked bewildered for a moment. He had his arms wrapped around Hanny's waist.
"Who told you about that?" Largo asked her, as if he didn't have any ideas.
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Post by Allihania LeGrande on Jan 21, 2004 15:10:15 GMT
Lani smiled. "Uncle Braedon says we're going to Candustine. He showed it to me."
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Post by Largo LeGrande on Jan 21, 2004 17:50:33 GMT
"He did, did he?" Largo asked her, sending a small frown towards the ceiling.
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Post by Allihania LeGrande on Jan 22, 2004 15:28:39 GMT
Lani nodded excitedly. "I want to go with you!"
Hanny Looked over at her daughter. "Be carefull what you wish for, little one," Hanny cautioned. "You might like some parts of Candustine, but it is dangerous there."
The childs excitement dimmed. "It looked so nice from over the edge of the ship. Tarn and Uncle Braedon can go with me!"
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Post by Largo LeGrande on Jan 22, 2004 17:47:32 GMT
Largo sighed. He hadn't been to this place before. He trusted Hanny's opinion on this.
The rumors he had heard about it, and the fact that it could be on the edge of civil war, made it all the more dangerous.
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Post by Allihania LeGrande on Jan 25, 2004 5:51:51 GMT
The Pride soard over the mountains and down to a lake near a bustling city. many inhabbitants screamed when they saw what seemed to be a ship falling out of the sky and ran from the shadow it cast upon the earth.
A moment after the ship splashed to a landing, Hanny was on deck with Andrew in her arms, Lani at her side, and Largo standing behind her. she handed her son to his father and knelt down to her daughter's level.
"Lani, I'm going to ask that you stay on the ship for now with Tarn and Uncle Braedon. We'll be back before dark," she said, seeing the dismay in the leaf-green eyes. "I promise."
Lani's gaze fell to the ground as she moped back to her room belowdeck.
Hanny looked then to her husband. "This is a delicate situation, and I'll need you to act as the submissive party in our relationship. I'm highborn, so that's the way it works here, even though women don't traditionally take the dominant role. That means you carry him," she brushed her fingers through her baby boys's hair, "and let me do the talking."
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Post by Largo LeGrande on Jan 25, 2004 5:56:08 GMT
Largo got a good grip on the baby, and nodded in agreement.
"Ok, thats easy enough." He said.
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Post by Allihania LeGrande on Jan 25, 2004 6:14:34 GMT
The pair passed through the dity with little more than stares from people going about their daily lives. Hanny walked with her head held high, dark hair flowing behind her like a black river, and blue eyes turning to ice in her face, which held the expression of a marble sculpture. She stood out in the way she dressed, in a golden dress with square sleeves which made her seem taller than she really was, and a delicate silver chain with a black pearl resting on her chest.
She marched proudly to a high stone structure that rose out of the city like the sun through a fog. Largo was always one step behind her. They soon stood in an emty hall, facing a tall wooden door with black iron handles. A sharp-featured man dressed in a long gray robe sat at a desk by the door, bent over a book with his pen scratching across a blank page. he looked up at the pair as they entered.
"May I help you?" he asked, a note of boredom in his tone. He did not stand when he asked.
Hanny looked down at him with a cool gaze. "I am here to speak with the King," she answered.
"And you are?"
"I am Allihania Septantine-LeGrande, daughter of the late Prince Martin Septantine."
His dull brown eyes flew open and for a moment there was silence.
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Post by Largo LeGrande on Jan 25, 2004 6:28:05 GMT
Largo blinked, and tried not to smile.
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Post by Allihania LeGrande on Jan 25, 2004 19:39:56 GMT
The man managed to stumble out of his chair and run, neary tripping over his robes, around a tall marble collumn. "Just a moment, my Lady!" he shouted over his shoulder, his voice echoing through the hall.
Hanny turned back to Largo and her smile melted away the ice in her eyes. She seemed to almost be surpressing laughter. "He'll go tell Nathan that I'm here, and if he can see me, they will open the doors from the inside."
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Post by Largo LeGrande on Jan 25, 2004 23:05:36 GMT
Largo let his pent up smile form, and nodded.
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Post by Allihania LeGrande on Jan 27, 2004 4:03:25 GMT
Andrew looked around with big blue eyes, but didn't seem very interedted in his surroundings. Hanny gave him a kiss on top of the head and Largo one on the cheek.
"Judging by that look, Nathan is still very much in the one in power here." The doors began to creek open, and Hanny immediately took her stone face again. as she marched into the crowded hall.
Save the carpet-bright red, and wide enough for four grown men to walk shoulder to shoulder-the room was packed wall-to-wall. Many were talking and arguing, some simply waiting their turn in line to speak to the man who sat on the dias.
He was old and gray, though he did not shrivel the way so many of the eldarly do. He was leaned to one side in his throne, carved of both stone and wood by a master craftsman. Upon entering, her name was announced: "Allihania, of the House of Septantine!"
A hush fell over the room as she strode the length of the flame-colored carpet.
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Post by Largo LeGrande on Jan 27, 2004 18:40:05 GMT
Largo once again took the smile off his face, to make sure he gave the impression of meaning business.
He followed just behind her to her left.
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Post by Allihania LeGrande on Jan 28, 2004 1:04:28 GMT
All eyes were on the two of them. The aged king sat up, eyes wide with disbelief. In the corners of the room a murmur began to rise. A wave of whispers washed through the room.
"It has been many long years since I have looked upon the only grandchild of the last King of Candustine." An aid helped the old man to his feet. "And I order you now not to falsely identify yourself. Many have come before claiming to be the long lost Allihania Septantine. What proof have you?"
Hanny lifted her hand to her necklace and took a step forward. "On the day Prince Martin married my mother, you yourself gave her this necklace," she answered, allowing him to see the pearl.
"Many know that, and have used it before," came a voice from the line to her left.
"But what is not known is what was said over it," Hanny continued. "You said to my mother just as she said to me, 'Darkness may come and darkness may pass, but we only draw strength by embracing our own.' This riddle or proverb has been recited over it for nearly three centuries, but only those of royal blood can read the final line, which I will utter only to you, my Lord." Hanny cast her eyes upon the gound.
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Post by Largo LeGrande on Jan 28, 2004 2:23:57 GMT
Largo tried simply to hide the look of questioning on his own face. Why had she never told him any of this before?
Largo gave an inaudiable sigh. Secrets still seperated them after all the time they had been together.
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