Hail, Well Met

It had been three days since Sebastian had almost literally thrown himself into a world out of a story book. Three days of trudging down an old road alongside Oktavia Von Hagelkrone on his way to what was apparently a territory her family ruled over.

“Y’know that probably makes her the most important person I’ve ever met.” Was the thought that came to him after that consideration, as he followed after her, seeing her silver curls swaying along with her hips as she led the way.

“Not…not that I’m looking there that closely.” He thought, catching himself and shifting his gaze to the clouds and away from her.

That wouldn’t be too polite, or anything. Just because he was stressed, that didn’t mean he should be distracting himself like that. There were better ways to push his now well-cemented confusion over his situation away.

With that said, the last three days had been spent in near silence, sleeping on the roadside. So he’d taken to toying with his magic, trying to get a better feeling for the Orgone inside of him. Granted though, he wasn’t entirely sure what he was doing just yet.

“So ah…I’ve been meaning to ask.” He began, a swirl of ash drifting from one of his finger tips, “ why were you heading out…where-ever you were going anyway?”

Oktavia’s lower body tensed slightly, the only indication that apparent something about his question caught her up…and reminding him to stop letting his vision get stuck where it shouldn’t be resting.

“As a consequence of recent events, the House Von Hagelkrone endeavored to seek an alliance with the House Il Barogua, one of the royal houses of the Principalities of Ilromnia.” She said, voice clear, “As such, a betrothal was arranged. I was to meet my with intended so that we could spend a brief time together in advance of the betrothal being formalized as an engagement.” She explained.

“Ah…I guess I really shouldn’t be looking that closely.” Sebastian thought, the image of some armored noblemen swinging a sword at him with fire in his eyes striking him.

He rubbed his neck uncomfortably, and swallowed. Faintly, he heard the wind picking up, and it sent a slight chill down his spine as she turned her head to the side, silver curls falling about her face, but she didn’t look his way with her narrowing gaze, merely taking in the cloudy sky for a moment.

“So…ah…sorry to hear that. ‘S awful you couldn’t see your beau and get all that done.” He said, trying to commiserate with her. He’d never been in a relationship that serious, a few girlfriends maybe, but still he could only imagine that planning to have someone propose to you and the like only to get attacked and have it cut short…couldn’t be great. “Hope he’s not too worried for you.”

“What kinda line was that, Seb? “Hope he’s not too worried.” my ass…she’s basically missing right now!” He thought to himself, wincing as soon as he said it.

“My…beau?” Oktavia trailed, as if testing the word on her tongue, though she seemed to quickly grasp his meaning, “I suspect that he will be only moderately concerned. This was to be our first meeting, as such his focus will like my own mainly be directed on the considerations of a more practical manner that stem from my failure to arrive as was agreed.” she said dully.

So it was rather than a close relationship, more like something out of a history book then. Sebastian had been a decent enough student, but then America’s history was more wild gunslingers and rebels than it was nobles and so on. So he knew more about the practice from…well, videogames or storybooks.

“She never even met this guy…but she did say he was royal or something, so I guess that’s a good deal, getting to be a queen or something like that?” Sebastian thought, “I know gals didn’t always get the best options back then. ‘Course guys didn’t always get much more say in it I guess.”

“Well…ah…’least you’re alright? No harm, no foul.” He offered as reassurance as they continued down the road.

And then the wind continued to pick up, building to a low moaning sound. Involuntarily, he felt the warmth of his magic picking up as he tried almost instinctually to ward off the chill. He kept walking though, only to come to her side as Oktavia had stopped in place.

“Eh? Something wrong? We didn’t take a wrong turn, did we?” He asked her, seeing a conflicted look on her face.

Evidently, that was the wrong thing to say at that moment, as Oktavia’s face twisted into a sneer as she snapped at him.

“No, you ignorant peasant! This is a straight road until it rejoins the Marchenroad at the border! How would we take a wrong turn, you absolute…..” She snapped, her normally flat tones turned sharp as she rounded on Sebastian, and he raised his hands defensively.

“Oi oi oi, I was just asking ‘cause you stopped. Kinda worrying. Ain’t like I know were we’re going.” He said, and Oktavia stopped herself, taking a steady, low breath.

“...I….forgive me.” She said, “I have….my failure to arrive as promised is a serious matter. I…it is a wound to the honor and dignity of my house that I cannot allow.” She told him, and for a moment…

“Those are some tired eyes right there.” Sebastian thought.

“Alright, I get it. You’re on edge and its ‘cause of a lot of important stuff. Its fine.” He told her, waving it off.

“Thank you, but no it is not.” She said, giving a slight inclination of her head, “That was unseemly of me. You were merely expressing concern.”

Once more, Sebastian waved it off.

“Pfft, no big deal.” He said, letting out a puff of ash and smoke from his mouth, “People yell at me plenty with way less reason. Usually with swear words and insults. Ain’t no skin off my nose.”

“I can hardly imagine why. You may not be of noble birth, but you have been nothing but courteous.” She told him as she started walking again.

“Ershe-” She began, before seeming to stumble half way through the name, once more tensing below the waist even as her face stayed perfectly serene,”....the commander of my personal guard, often had little to complain about with men with far more foibles than you have displayed thus far.”

They continued through and along the road, even as the wind continued to pick up, a cold front rolling in that chilled the flesh. Sebastian found himself grateful for the cloak he’d looted then, helping to guard against it as much as his automatic, instinctive use of magic to brace himself.

“Ah…damn…kinda wish I had fire, ‘stead of just ashes.” He said, casting his eyes over Oktavia’s own far less bulky manner of dress, “Anything I can do though, you want this cloak?” He offered.

The reaction was immediate, a complete 180 from her prior tension. She laughed at his words, hand coming up to cover her slight smile with the back..

“Ohohoho. A Von hagelkrone…cold…ohoho..that is a funny thought.” Oktavia said, a quiet, weak mirth, but a pure one, in her voice.

“I assure you…as humble as my value to the name Von Hagelkrone may become in the days yet… I cannot be chilled by so meager a breeze.” She assured him, a confidence that had been lacking before, an arrogance, clean and innocent, returned to her voice like a missing piece.

“Ah, ‘cause of the ice magic? Lucky.” Sebastian said, tearing his eyes away from the sudden shift in personality, the little bit of joy that shone through in her eyes. “Must be nice not getting cold. ‘Pose that explains why y’didn’t grab a cloak yourself.”

“Quite. The very idea is…” She said as the stout, wooden gates took shape in the distance towards the end of the road…and then she clenched a hand, before adjusting the choker and broach she wore.

“Well…it was once ludicrous. But such a minor thing is still too little to do much.” She finished, more quietly.

Before Sebastian could ask what was wrong, though, a horn sounded up ahead.

“That would be one of the men on watch, sighting us.” She said, turning his attention to the small fort ahead, “Allow me to handle speaking, if you please.”

“Sounds alright t’me.” He told her, following as her stride picked up in pace, never running, but moving quickly enough that he had to make sure to not be left behind with his lumbering steps.

And then she stopped, as the gates came open, a few yards short. Rather than ask again, he stopped as well, only to see her sweep into a curtsy, despite her wearing breeches, slow to the ground and her eyes downcast.

He swung his head up, to see two men, one slightly older than him, one old enough to be his father, astride white lizards that reminded him somewhat of a cross between an alligator and a gorilla. Flanked by men in armor.

He tensed briefly, heaving out a huff of ash, trying to puzzle out what to do even as that chill settled about his shoulders, earning a burning hiss from Sebastian’s Blessing, flurries of snow starting to fall down from the sky, before Oktavia’s hand on his arm caught him and pulled him down to a knee.

The younger man was dressed in silver plate with one oversized gauntlet and pauldron made from layered plates, a spear hanging at his side. The older man meanwhile wore pure white plates across his body, a thick ruff of fur around his neck.

Both, however, bore faces white as milk and hair a brilliant silver, with eyes of rich violet with a familiar, calm gaze. The younger glared from beneath loose locks, eyes seemingly alight in the shadows cast, while the older of the too had a steely gaze, a face as cold and unmoving as an ice-shelf.

The elder man dismounted, face as if carved from ice. Fitting, for as he approached it became clear that the cold grew more intense, the snow falling thicker around him.

“Greetings, Great Lord of the Southern Reaches, Oh Blood of the Heavenly King of Wisdom who stood at the right hand.” Oktavia intoned, formal and stiff, not looking up, “This humble servant is honored by the presence of the Archduke, the Master of the House Von Hagelkrone.” She told him, “My sincerest regrets, but the task this one was sent to carry out was left unfinished. My failure is my deepest regret. I will take any punishment you see fit.”

“So that’s family then. Guess she’s…really worried, damn.” Sebasian thought, before suddenly the man swept down, and he flinched, fingers flexing as…the man pulled Oktavia into his arms, resting his chin atop her head.

“Daughter, thank the Goddess and the Holy Messenger that you are safe.” The man said, voice deep and low, thick with emotion as he pressed armored fingers into her curls. He clutched her to his chest and visibly trembled.

“Speak nothing of it for now…all that matters is that you are safe.” He told her, before releasing her with a kiss to the forehead that left her flustered, visibly flustered, before looking to Sebastian.

“You…were you the one who saved my dear Oktavia?” the Archduke rumbled out, and Sebastian nodded numbly, and the man looked to Oktavia as she recovered, smoothing her hair, to see her nod in turn. And then the man clasped Sebastian’s forearm and pulled him into a hug as well, thumping an armored fist on his back.

“Thank you! Come, come. Radimir! This man saved your sister! See to it that a spare drake is found for him! We ride to Kaltwold at once!” The archduke said, and the other man nodded, saluting with his spear.

“Of course father.” the newly named Radimir said with a voice like thick silk, brushing a lock from his face and giving a close-eyes, teeth bearing smile.

“Ah….alright…never rode one of those before.” Sebastian said as the Archduke released him, and he saw another of the lizard-apes brought around, before he looked to Oktavia, seeing her close her eyes and exhale slowly.

“I suspect you may have to become used to them quickly.” She told him simply, and he heaved a sigh.

"Right...hope it's like riding a horse or driving a car." He said to himself.

It, as he would find, was not.