Preparations for a visitation [Tags: Lykos]

The night had been long. Noctrian was tired. His eyes were closed and his head bent, chin forward, as he nodded off. For a short while at least, everyone had ridden in the carriage quietly, perhaps knowing how much these kinds of events really wore on him -large social gatherings, that was. Especially matchmaking parties. So, a moment's rest was a thing which Noctrian was grateful for, as he could temporarily escape the anxiety of reality, lingering in the fantasy of dreams. A place where he could live freely.

In his subconscious mind though, Noctrian could hear the clop of runner hooves and the rattle of carriage wheels as they sped across the stone that paved the streets. The curtain drawn down over the windows did little to drown the noise out. Nor did very primitive suspension do much to buffer the jostle that they would experience when their coach rolled over an unexpected depression in the road.

In an agitated way, the entire carriage jerked, jolting Noctrian from his slumber, at which point he took a slow, deepening breath, bringing a hand up to part the curtain at the window. Peering through the window, his eyes traced after the periodic glow baskets lighting the entry way to a home or place of work. He followed each one until they disappeared into the downpour of rain that had just recently started. Unlike the rattle of carriage wheels below them though, the patter of rain above, was far more relaxing.

After sitting silently like that for another few moments, Noctrian dropped his hand back to the arm rest against the wall of the carriage, sliding his gaze across from him.

Sitting across from him was Lykos. Trying to read his friend's thoughts through his eyes and present manner, Noctrian finally spoke in the same kind of voice that carried that calm composure that he always seemed to possess. Right now, it made him sound a little apathetic. "We haven't passed the Gate Tower yet." Which meant that they'd have a little time to talk privately amoungst themselves. "We haven't planned much in the way of our surprise visit to Rudnikot yet, either. Perhaps we should."

More of a command than an actual suggestion, Noctrian had a way about making indirect demands of those around him. Of course, not everyone understood his words for what they were, but in truth, Noctrian usually expected the little world of Rudnikot and her lesser holds to revolve around him -more or less. At least, one day they would. One day, he would be recognized as Rudnikot's Lord Holder. Until then, it had to suffice that few truly recognized him as they ought, given what he considered his birth right, but that was only temporary inconvenience.

Lykos sat up at Noctrian's voice, dimples appearing as he grinned. "You don't want to talk about pretty Angharad?" he asked, despite knowing the answer very well. The girl had been pretty, and relatively charming, and Lykos had a soft spot for lovely smiles and delighted laughter. The rest of the crowd hadn't been nearly so fun, but so it went with these things.

Granted, it was easier to enjoy when it wasn't him everything was focused on. Which didn't mean he couldn't tease the man who was basically his brother. Someone had to do it. "But we can talk Rudnikot, sure. Any more thought on when you want to aim for?"

The mention of the Lady Angharad brought a bemused smirk to Noctrian's lips. He could only really laugh at things like that in front of these, his closest friends. They understood him.

It wasn't as though he too, hadn't found the girl pretty or charming in her own way, but... well, he didn't want to think about the stuff of more complicated relationships at the moment. Not to mention, it appeared as though Lykos may have taken a little liking to her, and if he did, Noctrian didn't want to stand in his way. Shaking those thoughts from his head then, he set his mind on more important things. Like their return to Rudnikot.

Though he'd obviously heard his friend's question, Noctrian made a habit out of not answering others immediately; whether it was to consider their options, sort through his own thoughts or anything else that might give him reason. That said, such pauses in their conversations would not have been abnormal.

So, while Noctrian considered his own response, his eyes were turned once more through the window where he parted the curtain just enough to see out into the rain.

"Rain."

Wistfully he spoke the words.

"The rain will freeze soon. With more winter weather approaching it will be difficult to travel before long. So, we'll either need to wait out the winter or make our journey back to Rudnikot very soon."

It would take no more than two or three days perhaps by runnerback, to make it all the way to Rudnikot. If that, even. The time would be shorter or longer depending on the weather, but snows would slow anyone down, and depending on how early the deep winter set in, they would be hard pressed to travel at all. For that reason, they could wait until spring. They would simply need to assess just how desperate their need, and what their backup plan would be. It wouldn't do them any good to get caught in winter storms unable to remain there at Rudnikot safely. They'd be trapped having to seek the hospitality of folk in the surrounding countryside until the weather eased or the spring came. Considering that the temperatures hadn't dropped low enough yet for that kind of thing to happen, maybe they were safe to make a quick trip of it.

But still... was that risking it?

"No one will expect us this close to the winter, either. We know the land, we can make it work." Lykos's face darkened briefly; he was thinking of the last attack on Noctrian - they'd blocked it, of course, and they couldn't know for sure it was Noctrian's uncle...but all the same. It seemed unlikely it wasn't the uncle, and they had to figure it out.

Besides, it was always good to go home, and at that thought his grin returned in full, wicked force.

He would, of course, go with what Noctrian decided - it was the other man's birthright they were talking about, after all.

Noctrian turned his gaze back on Lykos at the suggestion.

It was true. It would be relatively unexpected if they returned to Rudnikot at a time like this, and that measure of surprise would certainly work to their advantage.

Peering back out the window, Noctrian mulled over the possibility a bit longer, figuring that if they had to, there were a number of surrounding cotholds and hills they could take refuge at, if they were forced to escape the hold again. There was no telling what might happen. Noctrian however, did not plan on sneaking into his own hold. Rudnikot belonged to him, and their arriving unannounced and unexpected would ensure his uncle was unprepared to take measures to stop them. And it wasn't likely he'd be able to do anything publicly to impede his nephew. They'd have to be on the lookout for subversive attacks. But surely they'd make it inside the hold to see the Steward first.

More than anything, Noctrian needed to dismantle his uncle's influence over the general populace of the hold and have his warder officiate him as the rightful Lord Holder. But once his uncle knew that he was returning to fulfill that purpose, he may try even the most desperate measures to ensure that Noctrian and his friends didn't make it that far. So, they may just end up fighting an uphill battle, even with a little surprise working to their advantage. They'd have to test just how great an advantage it really was. And he'd have to write to his warder Steward to be expecting them.


[I hope that works.. uhhh, i couldn't remember if we'd plotted anything super specific yet about what they were doing when they went back sooooo. I was winging it. If I need to adjust my post i can >D ]

((looks great to me!))

Lykos leaned back comfortably, watching the subtle changes of expression on Noctrian's face. He knew enough to be fairly sure Noctrian had come to some decision, though he couldn't know for sure what it was (his thinking was on the right lines, most of the time, but Noctrian had been known to surprise them with whatever it was the other man had going on in there).

"We can even bring some presents," he offered, glancing out at the rain in turn. Whether those presents were of the 'winning minds and hearts' variety or the 'stick something in the pompous uncle' vein, well. That was up to Noctrian.

Noctrian wondered what kind of presents it was exactly that Lykos had in mind. Whatever it was, they could get everything worked out over the next few days and perhaps plan on leaving for Rudnikot in the next couple of sevendays. They both knew there was a seasonal Gather this time of year, just before the first of the big snows. Perhaps that would create an opening for them to enter the hold unnoticed. They could both dress down in the clothes of common folk and likely blend right in. 

"We'll go soon, then. For the coming gather. We'll have only just more than a sevenday to make all the preparations." But it was doable. Though, once they got there, as they both knew, they may not be able to make it back north to Taerin's Palisade without having to wait out the winter.


[fade out?]