"If you've met my nephew, you should already be familiar with how curt and short he can be." Reldegan growled and jabbed a thumb in his chest, "Got that from me he did, but it means I have no time for flattery and flowery buffoonery since that boy can practically disappear into thin air if he gets bored of a conversation."

The girl was right though, he had spoken a little too loud, but instead of being embarrassed and lowering his voice, he stood up straight and glared at everyone in the room with a flat unfriendly look that mirrored Aldyne's from brow to chin except for a few extra wrinkles.  Everyone in the tavern quickly looked away, pretending not to be paying any attention. The tavern wench gave a yelp when she saw the glare and scurried towards the tavern keeper.

When he was sure that no one will bother him he stretched his neck and returned to Emmeline with an unfriendly look. He did speak in a lower voice though.

"Child, I can see that you have had some formal upbringing before you became some lady adventurer, but I have no time for this ridiculous posturing." He drew closer to her and sniffed her.

"What is your relation to Aldyne, girl? He has even touched your bare skin." He sniffed again, this time fixing his glare to her hips, "I can even smell his scent near your.... lower regions" he amended before he said a vulgar word. Reldegan was not one for formalities but he knows how to be polite.

The tavern wench however gasped audibly and blushed a deep red. There were even a few uncomfortable coughs around the room.

Reldegan ignored them and continued, "Did you have sex with Aldyne, girl? Has he planted his seed within you?" Reldegan continued his quarries with all seriousness, each question more direct and graphic than the last. The tavern wench had finally fled to behind the counter with hands pushed on her reddened cheeks, she still peeked out from behind the tavern keeper every once in awhile when curiosity finally overcame her. Some of the male patrons were also blushing but all of them were keeping an ear open for Emmeline's answer.

(you like?)

ALDYNE:

"So how are the two of them getting along?"

Two hooded figures hiding in the shadows outside the tavern busy themselves with listening to the exchange between Emmeline and Reldegan.

"Terribly... Lord Reldegan's... directness has annoyed the girl and..." The two of them suddenly realize that there was a third party with them, they drew their weapons and pointed it towards the sound of the voice. To their dismay, they found themselves pointing at nothing.

"At ease, boys!" The voice said again now to the side. The two jerk their head towards the sound and sees Aldyne leaning on the wall eating a freshly baked loaf of bread. The two of them were pretty young, Aldyne thought, probably not more than twenty. As Imperial Scouts go, they carried their weapons with great proficiency, but before them stands the greatest of their time. The two quickly sheathed their weapons and saluted Aldyne.

"I said again. At ease." Aldyne said almost lazily as he continues to eat his breakfast. The two drop their hand but still stood at attention.

"Report."

"Sir, Lord Reldegan has failed in diplomacy with a girl suspected to have... er, an intimate moment with you. His bluntness was his downfall."

Aldyne choked back a grin and a laugh. He imagined his uncle bombarding Emmeline with crude questions and her reactions. It must have been quite a sight. He takes a glance into the window and sees Emmeline leaving the scene in a fit and his uncle left alone at the table in one as well.

"I better go do some damage control." The gazed at the two young scouts who eyed Aldyne nervously. "Even if the two of you are in an alleyway, you should still keep out of sight or at least disguise as a beggar... Do not repeat this mistake again."

The two nodded their answers enthusiastically. "Oh... and you did not see me." Aldyne said as he jumped up onto the roof.

"Not at all, sir!"

"Did not see you at all, sir!" the two said before they seem to vanish into thin air, hiding among the debris and the shadows.

Aldyne stood by the stairway waiting for Emmeline. He climbed over the railing to see if she was there, and notices her walking up the stairs. He continued his climb down to meet her.

"So, how was my uncle?" Aldyne said and hands her a loaf of bread. It did not seem to bother Aldyne very much that he seemed to have appeared out of nowhere or that he is talking to Emmeline while hanging upside down from the stairwell ceiling.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RELDEGAN:

Reldegan took a moment to calm himself down. Such disrespect from a little girl. Does she not understand that these kind of question are best asked straightforward? 

Reldegan sat at the table grumbling. He had to mobilise the entire faction to find Aldyne and even finding him was by pure luck. Some disgruntled merchants were saying they were accosted by a large scarred and intimidating man in a tattered cloak that fit the description of Aldyne's cloak. The information had reached a passing scout's ear who was returning from an expedition from across the seas.

Reldegan drummed his fingers on the table as the tavern finally returned to its usual bustle. He needs to quickly get Aldyne back for more reasons than one. He needs to bring Aldyne back to calm down the King. Although they are now in a state of peace, the Kingdom and its people needs a heroic figure to look up to. And Aldyne was more experienced about foreign policies than the Foreign Minister since he actually has been to those kingdoms and countries. Aldyne is also the heir to the Grand Duchy of Lancaster, he sure as hell was not going to give it to his sons who would probably spend their days wasting away the wealth both Reldegan and Aldyne has attained through the years.

But to officially be considered an heir, he needs to have a wife. To a noble if possible but that is not a necessity. He was somewhat against having an adventurer as a niece but when it comes to his nephew he cannot be picky. If she did in fact sleep with Aldyne, it could finally solve a problem that has prevented Reldegan's retirement for a long time.

Reldegan sighed. Of course that was not all of it, Aldyne was the son Reldegan never had. And to finally see him alive after two years, he nearly broke down in tears. But Aldyne is now so terribaly scarred, both in body and mind, and he looks so tired. He wants to also put him out of harms way. He would not abide to it and let himself be kept behind thick wall of stone but Reldegan still has to try. He was not going to lose Aldyne again. However, it seems as if Aldyne really needed this trip, away from all the fame and glory of his name, away from his duties and peoples who would recognize him.

Reldegan's waved for the tavern wench to bring him some food and drinks. He must really talk to Aldyne when he finally comes down.

Aldyne, still upside down, gave Emmeline a tired look, he raises a scarred hand and touches Emmeline on her cheek  "Now why in the world would you want to be associated to a disfigured monster in that way. I am sure you can do much better than that."

He stroked her cheek only once before he turned around and climbed back up the ceiling and changed the subject.

"I know he means well, but that old bat's mouth always gets him in trouble. What's worst is that he's got the skills to back him up. He is the second strongest combatant in our division, even at his age. It also does not help that he always has a platoon of imperial scouts guarding him wherever he goes. I have already saw 30 of them and met 12 of them so you should be careful."

Aldyne looked into her eyes with a smile, such fire this one has he thought to himself and in a twist and a flip, he flies over Emmeline's head and lands on the floor behind her without so much as a sound.

"My scars do not bother me as much as you think, Emmeline. They are but merely another marks to me, it is the stories behind them that beholds my monstrosity" was all he said and he gave a quite chuckle as he walked on back towards the window at the end of the corridor. " Besides, I'm more worried for you about the 'other' form of association which is probably the talk of the tavern right now."

Aldyne wolfed down the last loaf of bread. "But enough about me, Emmeline. What are your plans now to visit your father?"

(Maybe you would like to create another character?)

"Well if you are looking for money with a risk to it..." Aldyne's eyes grew distant as he began to recite a few jobs. "Help to flush out a group of brutal group of robbers that have already robbed and killed in four separate incidents: Reward 200 Gold Pieces. Slaying of Orc Encampment that has been raiding passing merchant bands: 500 Gold Pieces. Chasing the Thief and retrieval of a Gem stolen from the local church: 450 Gold Pieces.  The hardest would be, Investigation of Lycanthropy within the City: One Thousand Gold Pieces" Aldyne then grew a little serious, "There is also an on-going investigation about an evil cult that has been causing some trouble within the city.... the reward for its location and removal is 3000 Gold pieces but there are rumors that there has already been a few casualties and a request has been sent to the Imperial Knight and Imperial Scout Garrison."

Aldyne gave Emmeline an inquiring look.

"But if I may ask, why do you need supplies?" He asked earnestly, "If you are going through the mountains, you can get all you need there. Food, wood, water and cover."

(Nothing really. Just meant make a second character to populate the story a bit more)

(Glad to see you're back and doing well. )

<<Ill have something posted up soon. Yay I can RP again ^_^>>