Taking Care of Business (Icehold Throne Room)

*The Queen of Aurora strides down the corridor with her entourage of soldiers not far behind. Angel had been busy all morning and now she was ready to sit down in the throne and discuss daily affairs of the two realms. The two guards are the main wooden doors pushed them open to reveal the throne room within. They gasped at her appearance change, the white hair, the sharp blue eyes.

Angel ignored their reaction and continued forward into the room, not pausing until she reached the grand yet cold and harsh throne. There she removed her own cloak and handed it to a nearby servant. She felt better, more so than she had in years.

"Any business to declare?" She spoke up, her tone unmoving and lacking it's usual emotion. Angel was not in the mood for joviality. Seeing that no one answered, she leaned to her servant and requested a pen and scroll. Looking up, she added "Very well...then consider yourselves dismissed. You are free to speak among yourselves."*

=Kinsen steps besides the throne, his own appearance shocking enough to those who had grown to know him. His white armor shone like new fallen snow, his black cloak drinking in the light. His arms crossed at the wrist as he observed the room.=

*Angel noticed the reaction from the courtiers present who had gone from talking to themselves to a long pause of silence. A few audible gasps could be heard. Angel turned her head in Kinsens general direction, already knowing where he would be. Mind Linking Kinsen, Angel addressed him "You'll be talk of the town. It appears no one has warned them..."

Angel looked across the room and spoke loudly. "Pay no heed to Admiral Kinsen and his apearence. We all have to make sacrifices to realm and his sacrifice was greater than most."

=Kinsen turns towards Angel with a grin and a nod, his pronounced canines adding a feral aspect to the friendly gesture.

ML:They are Aurorans. Many will know the histories, or when they speak of it, their parents and grandparents will know.

He turns back to the room, his pale silver eyes flashing. Slow waves of shimmering air rose where the heat of the room met the cold that surrounded his body. He met every stare intensely until the eyes turned away uncomfortably, or fearfully.

As Angel speaks he bows his head in acknowledgement, speaking so only Angel can hear. "There will be many questions."=

Angel nodded directly to Kinsen, her mind wondering in thought as he mentioned the history and stories that will be told. Speaking again through her mind, she addressed that issue first "It did not occur to me that we would have such a reaction...." she paused briefly and watched the crowds before her eyes finally turned back to Kinsen, her tone was reassuring as she spoke to him privately in his mind. "They can ask all they like, I do not owe them an explanation and nor do you."

=Kinsen smiles coldly, his teeth showing, pearly white and sharp. "I'm not worried about their questions. It's their prejudices, old fears, and blades that concern me. This is no longer my place." His words are quiet, not bothering to speak to her mind. His eyes move around the room again, and the observant would notices the edges of water where his aura of cold met the warm air, leaving condensation in a circle around him. The stone under his feet was lightly frosted. he turns back to Angel. "I shall have to take my order elsewhere."=

Angel already didn't like what she was hearing and slowly she shook her head. Looking up at the courtiers in the room she told them "Leave us.." and got up from her throne, gliding down the steps without sound. The moment the last courtier left and the guard had shut the door - Angel spoke aloud. Her voice echoed across the cold and harsh room.

"Kinsen, you have always belonged here. None shall speak ill of you in my presence. It does not make sense for you to go, it is not practical." She stood behind him, her arms folded casually behind her and rested in the curve of her back.

=Kinsen smiles, shaking his head. "It is not practical for me to stay. I have new duties. There will be a new admiral soon, and the silver rose sits back at the council. Neither I, nor mine will be welcome here. Icehold is not for Winter, Angel. This is not her place, and neither is it mine now. This is not about speaking ill. The people will wag their tongues, and bare their prejudices. That is the way they deal with fear: contempt." He smiles, the familiar gesture made oddly feral by the obvious sharpness of his canine teeth. "Let them speak. It isn't them, or their words that concern me. These walls are not home to me, and can't be home to my order."=

Angel nodded and paused briefly, the silence feeling like an eternity. She knew in her mind that he was correct, his duties to the realm had greatly changed. Aegis was and never could be Aurora. Yet the thought of him leaving still didn't bode well with her. "I do not know who the new admiral will be - if you have any recommendations, please be sure to tell me. I personally do not find you replaceable."

Taking a few steps around him, Angel took another moment of reflection a small smile beginning to dance on those cold lips. "Speaking of recruitment - choose those who will protect me wisely. We cannot afford any further deaths." She meant her own and his, of course, and so to clarify this Angel added with a small laugh "I have nothing left to bargain with our fickle mistress of winter and nor do you..." with this, she looked him squarely in the eyes. She trusted Kinsen understood what she meant.

=Kinsen nods his head. "Jaric has already received my list of suitable replacements and recommendations for each. A new Commander should be found to oversee Cape Salarain as well, but I trust that decision will be left to you and the counsel. I have no recommendations on that matter. I am a warrior, not a politician."

His smile turns to a grin, his teeth shining with an opalescent sheen. "I have been carefully choosing from among the orphans an infirmary. I shall take the lost, the dying, an infirm, and I shall forge them the knights of Winter. Fear not, they will be ready when the time comes. Those who survive."=

Angel gently rocked back and forth on her heels and nodded, listening as Kinsen spoke of his recommendations to Jaric with regards to the new Admiral. "I trust Jaric will deal with the matter wisely." Her eyes lowered. Where had Jaric been of late? Always busy, never home.

Her eyes moved upwards and she smiled, returning the one that Kinsen had granted her. Ah, so he has been selecting new recruits. "Excellent...I look forward to seeing them when they are ready. No doubt that will take you years...given that you are picking them young. What kind of training will they receive?"

Talking about the troops felt better than talking about his pending absence. Kinsen was one of her only friends and Angel wasn't eager to lose him. Change wasn't one of her favorite things.

Ava Bathory made her way past the guards and into the throne room, her long red velvet figure hugging gown looking stark against the stone walls of the castle. Her eyes of emerald greed shone as Ava smiled and swept into a small bow before the holy throne and the two people stood before it.

"Ah, your...majesty" Ava began, her eyes drawn to Kinsen...noticing his change in appearance as she turned and glanced back to Angel yet her gaze didn't stay there long. She returned her focus on Kinsen again and smiled "It seems you have recovered well since the Ursine attack."

Ava remembered THAT ordeal far too well. "and you also, Ang-your majesty." Urgh, formalities should only be applied to the really important people in this realm. Still, she never said more than that, wishing to be addressed first before she continued.

Angel's comfort and ease with Kinsen stiffened as Ava entered the room and changed the atmosphere. She narrowed her eyes, almost visibly exhaling. Her voice is calm and firm, definitely unwavering.

"I am in a private conversation with private company, what presumes you to interrupt me, Ava? Surely there are better things you can be doing than bothering me in my own home."

Angel didn't care for this woman, not in the least. Ava was a part of Jarics' family that she wish she had nothing to do with. Not turning her back on the woman, Angel turned and walked back up the throne room steps and sat in the throne, a nice and firm reminder of who is in charge.

When Angel said she was in private company, Ava raised her eyebrow again and glanced across to Kinsen, biting her tongue to hide her thoughts with a knowing smirk. However, she didn't appreciate the talking down to, given by a girl who was simply a born bar wench and nothing more.

Ava's tone was soothing, her voice as sweet as honey. "I did not mean to interrupt...forgive me. I came to check on the progress of the child."

Angels' eyes flashed with confusion then recognition of what Ava was saying. She turned and made her way back up the throne steps and sat down. "I do not know the status of your child....I have not been to see.."

Her fists clenched against the arms of the throne which froze underneath her grip. Angel cleared her throat. "I shall keep you informed..Good Eve." She waved her hand dismissively as Ava, before mind linking Kinsen "This woman is nothing but trouble. She needs to find a rock and stay under it."

Ava stood there, eyebrow raised and her arms crossed. "I did not think you were so frozen in your heart, your majesty. I came simply to know...as a mother might..a few things. Let us talk privately, if you will. Do not turn me away so easily, you might find me a valuable asset with time."

Ava's eyes glanced across to Kinsen and it was the first time that she could see the appearance in him. She compared it to Angel...and noted...that something wasn't right about him. A chill went down her spine. What in the devils name was going on here?

=Kinsen met Ava's gaze as if he could read her thoughts, offering her a smile made slightly more sinister by the obvious fangs in his mouth. His already pale skin had the translucent appearance of mother of pearl, the opalescent sheen almost seeming to shine in the light as he gets Angel's ML. He nods, eyes still on Ava, the silver runes etched on his face glowing in the light. He knew what she was seeing, the different armor, the aura of cold around him. "You seem put off, my lady. Does my appearance trouble you so?"=

Perhaps Ava's gaze had lingered upon Kinsen a second too long. His smile made her uneasy, what did he have to smirk about? Ava narrowed her eyes, surprised that the paladin was speaking.Ava was no stranger to magic, but couldn't dis-concern herself from his new found appearance.

"You are not the same as I remember, Kinsen. You have come a long way since your mortal days. Pray tell, what has happened to you?" Perhaps it was too personal a question for many to ask, but Ava didn't consider herself among the humble.

=Kinsen allows himself a small chuckle and deferential nod to Bathory. "You're very perceptive, my lady, though one must wonder why the whispers from the court haven't quite reached your ears yet. I have changed, though I'd hazard to say I am still very much mortal. I enjoy the sun as much as any man. There were just circumstances well beyond my control."=

Now Ava was truly intrigued. She granted him a small nod of her own, her red lips curved into a knowing smile. "Ah, I see...I must admit, there have been matters that have kept me away from the Royal Court. I am not current in affairs of state however, you simply must inform me. If you do not have duties, might I invite you for a walk around the garrison? I'm not familiar with it." She paused, awaiting his answer.

=Kinsen steps forward, smiling. "It would be my pleasure, my lady, if I have the Queen's leave."=

Angel had drifted off into other thoughts, watching with mild interest at the new exchange between Kinsen and Bathory. Angel could never see what Ava's apparent "charm" was, but this was harmless enough. With a small and somewhat forced smile Angel replied with "Of course..." before mind linking Kinsen "Please be cautious, the woman is not to be trifled with. A shark hides behind those stupid hats she wears. Alert me if she does something suspicious or traitorous. Otherwise, have a good time."

Seeing that the Queen had spoken in approval, Ava smiled at Kinsen and looped her arm casually through his so that she could be properly escorted. A small laugh escaped her lips "Thank you, my Queen. No doubt Kinsen will take good care of me. Most are afraid of my company...as if, somehow, they think I am capable of something. A strange notion, I must say."

Ava turned and began to walk with Kinsen towards the grand double doors of the throne room that was the exit. "I have heard you take on bigger and greater enemies than that of a woman, Kinsen.." She patted his arm.