A Soul for a Secret (8)

Nella Fantasia · #31 4th March 2009, 06:22 AM

Maura walked down the hall of the palace in the direction of Rizzo's room. She hadn't seen him in a couple days, and decided tonight it might be nice if they could have dinner together. Mainly because she missed him. He'd been gone an awful lot. Where, she had no idea, but hopefully he'd be in his room that night.

As she turned the corner though, she saw him striding towards the stairway. She blinked. Where was he going? "Rizzo!" She called out, waving one hand while quickening her pace to catch up to him. Once there, she looked up with a smile. "Where are you off to?" And he was indeed going somewhere; he had on his boots, knives, and flute.

MissCellaFane · #32 4th March 2009, 06:43 AM

At the sound of the voice behind him, Rizzo's heart thudded against his chest in delight. Maura! He hadn't seen her for days! He'd tried going to see her yesterday, but then had a message delivered to him from work, asking him to come in early because one of the other bartenders had fallen ill. He'd tried again today, but Maura hadn't been in any of her usual spots, and when he inquired where she was...the servants simply told him she was with family.

Rizzo turned towards her with a grin, his eyes resting on her green ones. "Where are you off to?" she asked with a smile of her own. She was always so cute when she smiled! How did she do that?

He chuckled and tugged one curl lightly. Bad timing, sweetheart. He would like nothing more than to stay here and spend time with her. But he needed the money. And just what are you going to tell her? "I'm not sure yet." He fibbed, giving a shrug and twirling her curl around his finger now. He hated lying to her, but he wanted his money to be a surprise. He had the scene all planned out in his head. He'd get a nice romantic dinner together in some secluded area of the palace, then pull out his hefty coinpurse filled to the brim and tell her he'd been working all this time to save up money. Then, he'd take her hand in his and grow serious, telling her it was for his future...their future. And at that point? He'd confess he loved her. How he'd loved her even before he realized it. Rizzo got excited just thinking about it. Just a little longer, Rizzo. A little longer.

Bringing his attention back to Maura, he decided he'd better come up with something fast. "I was out in the city the other day and ran into an old friend of mine. We're going out to dinner tonight to relive some old times." He unwound her curl and then fingered it gently. "Please tell me you're free tomorrow. I was looking for you today."

Nella Fantasia · #33 4th March 2009, 07:02 AM

Maura's stomach dropped in disappointment at Rizzo's response. He was going out? Looks like he already has plans for dinner. She tried not to show how she was feeling though, and kept a small smile on her face while she thought. It might have been different had she actually been able to spend some time with him, but lately it hadn't been that way. And now she was losing another night. She could always invite herself to go with, but that wasn't very nice...Oh golly, why not?

"I see," She said, still enjoying the feel of his fingers in her curls. At least that hadn't changed. "Well, why don't I go with? I'd love to meet this friend of yours!"

MissCellaFane · #34 4th March 2009, 07:23 AM

Rizzo groaned inwardly at Maura's response, though his outward demeanor only changed slightly. He sighed, dropping his hand from her hair. Oh, Maura. Don't make me refuse you. He hated doing that. "I wish you could, hun." He said, giving her a sympathetic look, his mind racing for a reason for her not to come. "But he said he had something he wanted to talk to me about." He raised one eyebrow, feigning confusion now. "I have no idea what it could be, since we haven't seen eachother since I was a teenager." He blinked, shaking his head. "But it sounded like he almost didn't want anyone to know about it. So it might be a bit awkward if you come." He tilted his head to the side, apologizing now, "I'm sorry, Maura." He felt bad. Not only for her, but for himself too. He'd much rather spend an evening here with Maura than tend bar any day.

Nella Fantasia · #35 4th March 2009, 07:30 AM

Maura hesitated. So she shouldn't be tagging along; all right, she probably shouldn't have asked anyway, but she hadn't been able to help it. She just missed him so much! "I understand," She said with a slow nod, her mind deep in thought. Well, she couldn't see him now, but what about later? A slow smile spread across her face at the idea. "Oh, hey! What about after then? Dinner is only, what? An hour? Two hours? We can hang out afterwards."

MissCellaFane · #36 4th March 2009, 07:44 AM

My, but she was a persistent one! And while that fact amused him, it was also keeping him from leaving. He needed to go if he was going to be at work on time. Reaching up, Rizzo scratched the back of his neck with one hand, lowering his gaze to the floor. Crap, Maura. Why do you make me lie to you? "Well, I'm not sure how long I'll be gone. I think we're going to go head on over to a pub afterwards and have a few beers. So I might be kind of late."

Figuring he'd better cut this short, Rizzo shook his head. "I have to get going or else I'll be late." Dropping his hand to his side, he gave her a small smile. "But I'll be here all day tomorrow." And that was the truth. His day off was tomorrow. "Can we spend some time together then?" Please, Maura. Just drop it. The last time she'd wanted to go somewhere with him, he'd snapped at her. He wasn't going to do that this time, but he really needed to get going.

Nella Fantasia · #37 4th March 2009, 07:56 AM

Maura was becoming a little suspicious of Rizzo's responses. First he said he wasn't too sure where he was going, then his friend needed to discuss something important with him so she couldn't go along, and now they were going to be out late at a pub drinking. Was he purposely trying to...avoid her? Her brow furrowed. No way. Why would he feel the need to avoid you? He did before.

But his suggestion that they see each other tomorrow pulled her away from those thoughts. If he was avoiding her, he wouldn't be offering to be with her the next day, now would he? See, you're just being paranoid. Feeling slightly better, she smiled. "Sure." She leaned forward on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Have fun."

MissCellaFane · #38 4th March 2009, 09:13 AM

Pure relief flooded through Rizzo at Maura's answer, and his heart swelled as she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. He grinned. How he wished he could stay here with her! Those bright green eyes and that beautiful smile, the freckled nose. But you can't, Rizzo. So get to work. "I will." He responded with a nod to her statement, then turned and began striding past her down the hall. He hadn't gone ten steps though, when he hesitated. A kiss on the cheek and an "I will"? That's all you're going to give the woman you love? He turned back, noticing Maura was still in the same spot. No, get to work. Stop dallying! Right. He spun back away from her and took another couple steps, only to have another voice chastise him. You're acting like an old married couple! Go show her you'll miss her.

Making up his mind, Rizzo spun back to Maura once more and then strode purposefully towards her until he was standing in front of her. Then, in one fluid movement, he reached out and grabbed her upper arms, pulling her to him and giving her a firm kiss on the mouth. His heart warmed in his chest and he pulled back, grinning and then giving her a quick kiss on the nose. "I'll see you tomorrow." He whispered, raising his eyebrows once and then finally turning and striding down the hall the way he was supposed to go.

Now, time to get his mind off Maura and onto his job. Easier said than done, however. He found himself thinking of her the entire walk to the front gate, and he only nodded absentmindedly at the guards on either side as they parted and one opened the gate for him to step out into the city. Her smile, her touch, her voice. Boy, Rizz....you've got it bad! He did. And he knew it. But somehow? He didn't care.

"Rizzo!" A female voice behind him caught his attention and his brow furrowed. Maura? No, the voice wasn't Maura's. He frowned and looked back over his shoulder to see a woman hurrying towards him. "There you are."

"Jasmine?" Rizzo tilted his head to the side. She was a barmaid where he worked. Beautiful, as most of the barmaids in that pub were, with white-blonde hair and almost silver eyes, they were such a light blue. Because he was so big, he acted as somewhat of a bouncer when need be as well, and would frequently have to throw out customers for harrassing Jasmine or for getting in fights over her attention. What in the world was she doing here? After he was unable to come up with an answer on his own, he asked. "What are you doing here?"

Jasmine smiled and came to stand beside him, looking up at him through her lashes with a mischievous smile. "I followed you home last night, just to see where you lived." Rizzo blinked. She had? Why? But apparently she felt her explanation of wanting to see where he lived, would suffice. She stepped forward with wide eyes. "You didn't tell me you lived in the Rimedur palace."

Rizzo shrugged. Strange woman. "Just temporarily. I have a job there too." Somehow he found it more agreeable to lie to this woman. Maybe it was because he wasn't really lying. He did have a job there. To help Hajari and Black with their hunt for the Dark one. Of course, his main reason for being there was Maura. He shook his head. "Should we go?" He gestured her forward. He'd already lost valuable time. No doubt he'd be showing up late to work.

"I'll walk with you. I have the same shift tonight." She suggested. She nodded with a smile and then and without warning...took his arm. He glanced down at her, but she didn't seem to notice his hesitation for she went right into a monologue of sorts, talking to him, but not really expecting an answer or a response. He listened and gave all the right responses, but wasn't really paying attention. He just wanted to get to work. And...he had to hope this wasn't going to be a regular occurrence, her stopping by. She was a nice woman, but the fact that she had followed him home was a little...creepy.

Nella Fantasia · #39 5th March 2009, 12:40 AM

Castle in Floresco: Two Days Later
Seventeenth Day in the Month of Uktoober

Irelin strode purposely down the hall, her robe flowing elegantly behind her and a book resting in one arm, her finger holding a place between the pages. She was on her way to see Ciara, Ethan, and Jamie. Why? Because she'd made a decision. She was going to be Queen of Rhytium.

The idea had been nagging at her for the last few days since Ciara brought it to her attention. There was so much to consider--capabilities and traditions mostly--that Irelin didn't know where to begin. But eventually it all came down to two things. The first was fear. She'd been too afraid to consider her life going any place then where it had been the last twenty years because from the time she was born her destiny had been chosen as Governess of Brynne. She loved the town, she loved the people, she loved her work, and most of all, it had been her way of holding onto Darius. Maybe if she continued caring for the town he took pride in then he would know how sorry she was for what she did.

But it was useless. Darius was dead. He was dead and buried, and he was never coming back. Holding on was like holding onto air; completely futile. She would be better off using her passion for something greater. Which brought her to the second point. One could try and learn everything about someone else, but when it came down to it the only things you ever knew about them was what was capable of being shown. Those two men might very well be good kings, but how would they know for sure? There were no absolutes with other people, not like there was with her. Irelin knew herself, knew what her reasons were for wanting to rule, and knew that she would do her best to guide the kingdoms. So in the end, there really was no one better in her mind...than her.

Irelin came to the room Ciara was currently using as her office, tapped lightly on the doorframe, but since the door was already open, entered and shut it behind her. All three were there. Wonderful. Ciara was situated behind the desk, and Irelin moved forward with a smile. "Let me read something to you," She said before anyone could say a word, and lifted the book, opening it to the page she had marked with her finger. "If there is no wife nor son nor daughter to succeed the throne after a king's passing, and a woman not of blood so wishes to rule the crown, there must be a substantial helpmate available whom the woman should marry in approximately one month after her inauguration." Pausing, Irelin set the book down in front of Ciara, pointed to the passage and looked up. "For the past two days I have searched high and low in Rhytium's law books to find any sort of reason why a woman, such as I, could not take the throne. This is the only thing I can find, and according to this, a woman must marry within one month of becoming Queen in order for her title to be recognized." She straightened and held up a finger. "But it's talking about women of nobility, not women related to the former king, or in this case, the former lord. It's a loophole." Feeling confident and suddenly giddy, Irelin smiled with her hands on her hips. "Therefore, there is no lawful reason why I cannot become Queen."

MissCellaFane · #40 5th March 2009, 02:05 AM

Ciara had been on pins and needles for the last two days. After having completed her mission of planting the seed in Irelin's mind to take the throne, Irelin hadn't said another word about it. She had seemed somewhat distracted ever since, but Ciara didn't have any guarantees that was why. The cloaked man was due tonight, as it had been three days. He would no doubt want an update, and Ciara wanted desperately to be able to tell him that she'd been successful in convincing Irelin to become queen.

Which is why Ciara could barely control her excitement when Irelin called for a meeting with her, and asked that Ethan and Jamie be there as well. She tried not to get her hopes up too much, but couldn't help feeling the reason might be because Irelin had made a decision. It would no doubt affect all three of them. Ciara would then be advisor to Rhytium's queen. Jamie would become a prince, Irelin's successor for the throne. And Ethan would now be protecting a queen, a far more difficult job than protecting a governess of a small town. She sat behind her desk, her outward appearance portraying confidence and serenity, her hands folded on her desk and a patient expression on her face. But inside? Her heart was doing somersaults, along with her stomach.

Finally, Irelin came in, holding a book that Ciara immediately recognized as one of the lawbooks of Rhytium. Her pulse took off. Could it be? Had she really decided to do it!? Ciara watched Irelin as she spoke, not even greeting them but going right into her reason for calling them there. And to Ciara's unimaginable delight...it was the exact reason she had been hoping. It seemed Irelin had been thinking about her suggestion...and was now taking it. She hadn't said it in so many words, but the meaning was there. She'd been researching the roadblocks and had found a loophole instead. And what was even better? She was smiling, her hands on her hips, triumphant. "Therefore, there is no lawful reason why I cannot become Queen." She finished, and Ciara allowed herself a smile as well.

Calm down, Ciara. That's only the first part. Now you have to convince the Council. No, now she had to make sure that's what Irelin was really saying, that she was definitely going for the position and not just thinking about it because she'd found it wouldn't be against the law. "And is that what you're going to do?" She asked, looking up at Irelin and raising her eyebrows. "Put your name in the candidacy for ruler of Rhytium?"