Firiona Vie Everquest

"I have found a suitable prospect to father a child for you, my Daughter." The Matron smiled slightly as she walked around the Shadow Knight kneeling before her. Obeisance was expected by all beneath the Matron in her home just as it was by the Queen in her presence. D`Narr knew her place. She was the First-born Daughter of the House Vel`Dynn, second only to the Matron Mother. "He will be arriving here to meet you this evening." The elder Vel`Dynn continued. "I believe you will find him to be quite acceptable. Oh, and you may rise now."

D`Narr rose to her feet.

"Is he to bond and join our House?"

"No, my Daughter, he is from one of the Noble Houses so I doubt very much that he would become almost a slave here."

"Very well then, Matron, I will prepare myself for his arrival. I do hope he is well trained." D`Narr grinned evilly. "You know I would not even consider a weakling to father a child for this House."

"Just do not kill him."

"Oh no Matron I will only embarrass him if he is not suitable. We would not want a blood war with another House."

In the early evening, Zotreth Myurden and his escort started toward House Vel'Dynn. Zotreth had known that he would one day need a child to take his place as Vlos D'aron in the Qu'ellar d'Veldrin. He had hoped that one of the Nobler Houses would have a suitable mate for him. "We have almost arrived Vlos D'aron," said a Page.

Zotreth looked upon the House Vel'Dynn and grinned. "This will do indeed," he thought to himself. The rear guards stopped several meters from the door to the House and a Herald stepped forward to announce his presence. The sword by Zotreth's side gleamed as he took a step toward the door.

The maidens at the door keep their swords ready as the herald approaches. Many false suitors have tried to gain access to House Vel`Dynn of late and they were dealt with swiftly by these two Sword-maidens. Za`Tair and N`Lestari were two of the best of the House and would brook no disrespect by any even if they thought that they were above one of the oldest Houses of Neriak. On Vel`Dynn land only the Queen ranked higher than the Matron Mother and all else ranked lower than the youngest Daughter, N`Lestari.

Za`Tair eyes the herald as he stops in front of her and awaits his obeisance and message. The maidens' violet armor reflect the glow of their blades casting a rather eerie yet regal glow in front of them.

For months now the Assassin had kept a low profile, and spent much of her time in Neriak. The King did not question her on her extra curricular activities provided that she returned to his side once in a while to give him a report. Xar'zith was pretty sure that he knew about her neutral House, and that her answers to his questions were vague at best, but she had kept mostly to herself since Yolanir's disappearance.

She roamed the streets unhindered, her reputation enough to scare off any potential attackers. She spotted an escort led by a Knight of obvious standing, and followed out of curiosity. She thought she knew who this young Knight was, a Knight whose reputation was beginning to rival Mogadeche's, and wondered where he was going. Her curiosity was soon sated when he stopped outside of the Vel`Dynn residence. She smiled to herself at the memory of a young man from this house who tried to court her long ago. She seemed to recall that he was one of the few men that the Qu'essan Anaka had not killed, but she had not seen him since.

But the guards did not know her now. The Princess had been 'dead' for some time now, and all they saw now was the King's pet Assassin. This House was loyal to the Queen, and Xar'zith didn't even think her mother knew she lived, nor had she any desire to see either of her parents. But the only way to be allowed the peace to do her own thing, was to obey her father once in a while. Although she had still not provided him with the pure-blooded heir he so desired from her. Neither of her parents even acknowledged Tajer, and had it not been for the High Priestess seeing potential in the child, she would have been slain. And Xar'zith had simply kept the existance of Kestal secret, for her second child looked like her Erudite father.

Xar'zith turned away from the scene before her, having an inkling of the reason he was there and feeling her loss more so for it. In silence she slipped back into the shadows.

The Herald gives a deep bow to both the Sword-maidens and then takes out a parchment. "The Vlos D'aron Zotreth Myurden was summoned by the Matron Mother Vel'Dynn, and he now seeks audience with her and her Daughter, Mistress D'Narr Vel'Dynn." announced the Herald.

Zotreth then walked beside his herald and bowed to the two Sword-maidens showing his respect toward them and the House they protected. He smiled when he saw the two swords and his own blade began to gleam with a fiery readiness for any tests he might have to pass.

"Am I welcome then?" he said and grinned at the two.

"You may enter alone." Za`Tair says coldly as she bows slightly to Zotreth and steps aside.

"I will escort you into the presence of our Matron Mother." N`Lestari intones as coldly as her sister as she bows slightly as well and turns to lead the way.

Za`Tair takes a step toward the herald and quickly removes his head with a single stroke of her blade.

"This one's life is forfeit. He should have been on his knees before us. Perhaps you will train your next servant better and do remember that your place here even as a guest is beneath the Matron Mother and our eldest sister. We two will consider you equal to us."

Za`Tair resumes her place by the massive doorway as N`Lestari opens it and leads the way inside.

Zotreth motions for his escort to remain outside and follows N'Lestari inside quietly. He looks around at the walls, impressive by the imposing House and making a note to himself to try and make his own House a little more intimidating.

As he walks he places his hand on a sheath that is slung on his back to make sure the treasured sword still lay there. A deep, rhythmic sound comes from his own sword, warning him of someone with cruel intentions. He places his hand on it and it goes quiet as he continues following N'Lestari to meet the Matron Mother.

N`Lestari leads Voltreth through several hallways adorned with ornate tapestries, shields and swords. At the end of the last hallway she stops before a set of large double doors and whispers to the sword-maiden standing guard there. The young lady knight opens the doors and stands by.

"You may enter but your weapons remain out here." N`Lestari points to an ornate table covered with a violet silk drape. "The Matron Mother will meet with you shortly."

The Knight smiles as he removes his great sword from it's sheath. He then takes another shorter sword out of his leg plates and puts them both down on the table. "Is this truly necessary? For the sword on my back is a gift for the Matron Mother. I would prefer to present it myself Sword-Mistress. Unless of course that is a problem? " He continues smiling as he says this.

"It is a rule of the house that no man may enter into Mother's presence bearing weapons. I will carry it in for you and present it to her on your word." N`Lestari picked up a violet silk to wrap the blade in.

Zotreth scowls at the request and pulls the sword in the sheath off of his back. "Very well then..." he continues watching the Sword-Maiden suspiciously as he hands it over.

N`Lestari carefully wraps the blade in the silk and holds it respectfully as she leads the way into the chamber. The sword-maiden motions to an ornate pattern on the floor near the front of the Matron's seat and takes a position behind and to the right of it from that seat. N`Lestari kneels and lowers her head looking at the floor.

"The Vlos D'aron Zotreth Myurden of Qu'ellar d'Veldrin has arrived and seeks an audience with The Matron Mother." N`Lestari speaks out clearly. A male servant wearing only a loin cloth opens a beautifully carved door and enters the room to announce Voltreth's arrival to the Matron.

D`Narr watches the scene in her seeing orb. R`Lith, though no longer among the living, had passed on the knowledge of using some of his arcane devices to D`Narr.

"This one will do nicely... I wonder what he wants in exchange for fathering a daughter to me."

Zotreth bows his head slightly, awaiting the presence of the Matron Mother. He glances at N'Lestari and then returns his sight to the ornate pattern in front of the Matron Mother's chair.

"About time this is over with" he thought to himself. "I truly tire of all these formalities."

"You should assume a position like mine if you wish to stay in the Matron's good graces." N`Lestari whispered. "This House is one of the eldest of Neriak hence all the traditions that we carry on. In this House, Matron is like the Queen and commands the utmost respect even from her Daughters."

The Knight rolls his eyes sarcastically and kneels down, his eyes toward the floor. He shifts uneasily, unaccustomed to kneeling before someone who has not necessarily earned his respect. "Lets get this over with," he mumbles.