Post by chantalrose on May 28, 2009 21:58:36 GMT -6
Chantal: How often was it of late that they wander out of doors? Not often in truth. Even Chantal knew that the children were becoming cooped up in the house on Bryante Row. It was a lovely enough place, the money that was once Mikhail's now being hers, and not small in size. Yet her children were used to the cottage in the valley where they could roam around outside as they pleased. The city was a change for all of them. During the attack upon Turas Lan it'd be terrifying for them all, but that was not why they were locked up inside. Mikhail, her dead husband, was the reason. His greedy machinations had put their lives in danger and Chantal still hadn't fully recovered from the sight of the brutal murder of her sister...and sister's children. At night those sockets, empty of eyes, would haunt her dreams. It was safer to stay indoors than go out, even if she had guards, but today the children were not taking no for an answer. Synnovea and William, the 10-year-old twins, were at the lead with Haji, the 2-year-old, in between them and Isadora, only 3 months, on her hip. The startling difference between Synnovea and William compared to Isadora and Haji was the shade of their skins. They were fair-skinned as Chantal was while Haji was a brown so dark it was almost black. Isadora's was a lighter shade of brown that was a mix of brown and gold. Yet none could question that they were all family. Behind them followed three guards, Seamus amongst them, and who knew how many hid in the shadows, as they moved through the market place.
Alexander: The insides of his chambers had gotten the better of him, and having seen the sun shining bright in the sky outside the glass paned windows, he'd been unable to deny himself the opportunity to peruse the marketplace, and replace the possessions he had lost, when he'd been arrested. He'd gone back to the inn where he had been lodged, but as he had foreseen, his belongings had been sold when he had never showed to pay his debt. That was fine, since there had been nothing of any real value amongst those bags. No, Alexander had learned many years before that it was better to travel with little money, and to keep all of your debts paid with direct transfers in crown currency, and written notes in his own signature. It'd been how he'd managed to get money, when all he had on him was the ring of his father. Even here in the city of Turas Lan, he could enter a broker and get any amount he required, merely by writing and signing a ledger paying back the amount, plus a ten percent tax ... and then the seal of York was placed upon the paper, and it was a binding contract that worked to his favor. The debts were always paid, and there were no creditors on his trail ... merely the two armed guards that followed him everywhere he went now. Those heavy steps having carried him through the market all morning, had gotten him a new wardrobe, as well as boots, a trim to that dark colored beard, and numerous other items that had been sent to delivery upon his chambers. So it was that he stood silently outside of the shops, his hands resting on his waist, where a wide black leather belt was bare of any weapons, and wore only a tooled leather pouch which held his money now that he'd signed the notes. His broad shoulders covered in a white linen shirt, and a black leather vest. The vest having finely crafted, and intricate chain mail sewn into it, so that it'd turn any knife or arrow that didn't know exactly where to strike those links. It was a brawlers protection, and even here in Turas Lan, it was his safe bet. So, Alexander stood in silence, flanked by two men who were bigger and stronger then him, but who he figured had about half his brain put together. ... Least wise, he had figured as much by their idle conversation when they thought he wasn't paying attention.
Chantal: At this hour the market was crowded especially due to the lovely weather. Winter was past and many had been anxiously awaiting a time of more joy than those ruined by horrible events. Months that held memories of troubling times for all those in Turas Lan or Skye. For most such concerns were over and done with as the weather cleared, but not..for Chantal. Though her children knew they must be careful, that they were not to wander off or be without a guard, she'd not explained to them everything. In their young lives they had suffered enough ugliness that Chantal was loathe to expose them to more. She hadn't even told them how their cousins and Aunt had died. Instead it was listed as one of the many innocent casualties of such wars. As the children laughed and giggled, Chantal couldn't help the paranoia that constantly skittered up and down her spine. The imagination played many tricks when under duress and so sometimes it seemed that what was merely a curious glance became threatening. Instinctively she cuddled Isadora closer. "You two slow down. You're dragging your brother along like a piece of cloth." Doing her best to inject humor in her tone, Chantal gave a shake of her head that made blonde curls sway about her shoulders. Her clothes were nothing overly fancy, a mere blue silk gown, and she wore no jewelry upon her. She was more for comfort than fanciness especially for such a casual outing. And it kept any from thinking to attempt to attack for less than altruistic reasons- such as to steal jewelry. Just another way to ease her mind. The feel of Isadora's chubby little hand grabbing at her blonde hair made Chantal wince and she turned her head to look at her little one, laughing softly as she began to loose her hair. And that was when it happened. All it takes is...one moment...one tiny second. Chantal looked away to free her hair and when she looked back Synnovea was standing next to William at a sweets stall...and Haji was nowhere in sight. Hysterics was not the way of Chantal, she was a woman who'd looked upon the dead bodies of family including her barely a year old niece with their eyes cut out and not screamed....nor fainted. "Synnovea and William..where is your brother?" She kept her voice as level as possible, but it was their wide-eyed looking around that made her stomach grow sicker. Seamus was already moving with the other guards to look. How had he wandered off? Where was he? "Haji?" She felt Seamus's hand on her shoulder, but was above caring now...her son was missing. "Haji?!"
Alexander: The sun, it felt glorious upon the bronzed skin of his face. He'd stand in silence, his broad shoulders shrugging ever so slightly as he shifted the vest. He'd spent a few days now deep under ground, where the light had not touched his muscled frame. He groaned at the warmth of the sun. His hands running over his facial features slowly, caressing them with the pads of his fingers. However, it was a moment lost as he stood upright. There was the hint of panic starting to spread through the crowd. It was how it always happened. She had started to look about frantically, and it had caused the women and men in the immediate area to start panicking as well. Mass hysteria was something that was a fickle thing. In moments there would be a wide ring of people about them, all of them blocking site of the rest of the marketplace. Slowly, Alexander would step down, away from the building where he had been standing. Slowly he'd start to move across the marketplace, catching the hint of a cried name ... Haji ? He'd stop, those dark brown brows furrowing as he cast deep set gray eyes around the room slowly. He let those silvery pools waft over the people gathered, coming to rest on the olive skinned youth, who was at that point in time thoroughly enjoying a game of wrestling with what Alex assumed was an Irish Wolfhound Pup. So, he'd step across the pathway, moving with smooth movements to sweep up the child and the pup in one quick movement. The powerful strides, and the two guards bearing the colors and arms of the Duchess would part the crowds around them, as Alex came striding silently through the opening, with her son bouncing on one hip, and that massive puppy cradled in his other hand. His strides were slow and confident as he strode towards her, his well muscled frame coming to a rest a few strides off. Where he'd glance from the boy, that smile growing over roughly hewn features, towards the immediately frantic mother. "Your son seems to have been more interested in this pup than the sweets on the cart ..." He'd give a sagely nod towards her other children, near the sweets cart as they were.
Chantal: The crowd had begun to panic too which was in truth never good. It could cause chaos that was unnecessary. Perhaps that was why Seamus kept trying to calm Chantal down. Except all she could picture was those bodies upon a cart, eyes missing and necks slit, and instead of a niece she saw her sweet little Haji. All of her children were precious to her and the idea of losing any of them...she couldn't even think about it. It was the calming of the crowd as they began to part and Synnovea pointing that had Chantal turning around quickly. Isadora was still on her hip, looking ready to burst into tears as children are so attuned to feelings, and so Seamus took her for the moment. "Oh thank you...thank you..." What did she say? How did you thank someone with mere words for finding your child? It seemed not enough. Tears pooled in sapphire eyes as she looked upon the laughing face of her son. He had not a clue....the innocence of children... Doing her best to smile, she reached out to let him slip into her arms,"You scared Mama." He was completely unaffected, little lips pressing to her cheek, and Chantal turned again to the man. "You have...done me great service, sir. I do not know how to repay you..."
Alexander: The Knight stood silently, his back straight and shoulders broad. He held the child loosely, and twisted to let the boy leap into his mothers arms as he approached her, the crowd immediately began to disperse, the threat having been shown to be nothing at all. So Alexander stood in silence, as the woman took her child and rejoiced about the reunion. He'd grin as he stood in silence, watching the overjoyed reaction with that small smile plastered across roughly hewn features. He'd quietly shift his weight as he stepped towards them, coming to a halt near her guards, and nodding to them with a slow movement. "There are no thanks required ... the boy was merely out of your sight, and all that I did was bring him back into your sight ... I apologize for any fear that he may have caused you." He'd grin ever so slightly, twisting as he glanced towards his own guards. He'd nod towards them, and they stopped the jog they'd taken, having not noticed he'd started to walk away while they argued over which tavern had the best ale. So, Alexander would turn back towards her. Smirking ever so slightly as he folded those powerful arms across that muscular chest, eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he noted her own guards. A slow tilt of his head as he contemplated them. "So, you're a prisoner of the Crown as well ?" It was a ready enough assumption, considering his own current dilemma.
Chantal: The little one in her arms gave a bright smile to the man, his precious face lit up, before wiggling to be free of his Mother's arms. His eyes were already on the pup again. It didn't take long once he was on the ground for his older siblings to be at his side and then Isadora was passed back to be placed upon her hip. Stepping forward, noting that now her guards were watching the man, she gave a good glare and purposely shifted her gaze at the little ones. Ah, silent order: Watch the children and not her. That glare was easily replaced by friendly warmth as she looked back at him,"Oh, the guards? Not quite. They are here for my protection." Sapphire eyes moved to his own guards, amusement upon her face as they seemed to finally catch up with their charge. Grinning at him, she'd whisper teasingly,"Are you a dangerous criminal, sir? Should I be alarmed?" Ah, to find humor in a moment formerly laced with worry.
Alexander: Alexander had watched as the children began to crowd around her, and he arched a brow skywards. Slowly he'd twist as he dropped to one knee, pressing the other into the ground so as to twist and lower that puppy down onto the ground. He let the puppy go, so that it could play with those children, as he allowed those deep set grays to glance upwards towards her slowly. Oh, then she'd whisper those words and he couldn't help but laugh ever so softly. Slowly he would twist, pushing upwards to stand upright before her once more. He'd reach down and brushed the dirt from his knee, as he shifted a glance back towards his guards. "... Well, actually ... Yes. I'm the Duke of York. I'm perhaps one of the most dangerous men on the Island at the moment ... except, I don't have a weapon." He'd grin, those broad shoulders giving a slow shrug of those powerful shoulders. Oh, well it was as if it were really that simple. He'd quietly shift his stance, turning and looking towards the guards who were stepping forwards, to flank him. "Ironically enough ... my guards think that they're here for your protection as well ... although, the reason I was caught ... was because I refused to kill any women or children." So it was stated, as he turned his glance back upon her. Those dark brows furrowing ever so slightly, awaiting her reaction.
Chantal: One slim brow lifted, blue eyes looking upon him in curiosity, as she murmured,"Oh, I cannot say that name rings any particularly bell." That had to be a first. Yet, Chantal had been cut off from much outside of focusing on her current problem. Plus her guards had this irksome habit of limiting what news she received unless she went out to get it herself. Sometimes she wanted to throttle them. Watching the way the guards of his moved closer, she laughed. It was a soft, warm sound and in no way offensive,"You do not seem threatening, to be honest. A man who is a threat would not rescue a small child lost in a crowd. I have met men...more worrisome...in my time. Ones that would not hesitate to kill woman or child." Chantal indeed had. Her own husband had tried to do so. Realizing that they were sitting here having a conversation and did not know each other, she murmured,"Forgive my manners, sir Duke. I am Chantal Rose, lowly inn-keeper and widow of merchant Mikhail Petrov." God how she loathed saying that name. The man was a monster and he'd been working on the side of William Maubrey. "You have already met Haji, the other two playing with him are Synnovea and William, and this..." One hand went to gently brush the chin of the baby on her hip watching him quietly now,"is Isadora." At this point, Chantal put the guards out of her mind. This man did not seem any kind of a threat to her.(d)
Alexander: He'd stand silently, and when she stated that she had no honest idea of who he was. He'd arch those brows even higher, and he'd give a slow nod of his head. Well, that was honestly perfectly fine by him. So it was that he'd stand there with a broad grin plastered over those roughly hewn features. "Well M'lady Chantal, my name is Alexander O'Connor ... and please, call me by my name so that I am not ousted amongst the would be assassins of the world ... for I've slewn many a man, and most of them were of some sort of noble blood ..." He'd grin ever so slightly, his hands shifting to rest on his hips. He'd laugh ever so slightly as he twisted and shrugged those powerful shoulders ever so slightly. "I'm much more dangerous when I have a sword, but I've been informed that it's really not a very good idea for me to wear weapons within the city itself ... it makes it better for the simple reason that, well ... these two men would probably have me manacled and locked away once more for my intent to harm." He'd laugh, and then he was introduced to the children playing with that rogue puppy. He'd extend a hand towards Isadora, grinning as he let the babe wrap a hand around one massive finger, and give it a tight squeeze. [x]
Chantal: : Isadora was not shy in the least and reached out to grip his finger. Unfortunately that same hand had just been in her mouth. Chantal prayed the man did have an aversion to baby slobber. Isadora was still too little to care about polite manners. "Sometimes a man has not a choice in the decisions he must make. We all have done things that some would fine distasteful. Yet in it we find a light that none may understand and we'll always be judged for it." Indeed. Chantal's own eyes went to Isadora, her smile widening. Chantal was judged for the fact that two of her children were bastards and of mixed race. Did she truly care? Not one whit. "Sir Alexander, do you plan to reside in Skye once you are free of your...companions?" Chantal raised a brow, that was a subtle way of putting it.
Alexander: He'd smirk ever so slightly as he shrugged those powerful shoulders. That was really the only answer that he had in response to the question she had posed. He'd quietly shift his stance, that hand dropping downwards to wipe the spittle off of his finger. He'd grin ever so slightly as he rested those hands across his chest once more, unsure of what to do with them now that he wasn't wearing that hand and a half sword. So, he'd simply smile. A arch of a brow skywards as he posed his answer as readily as possible. "... Well, I'm not sure. There are many complicated matters that must be considered once I've been released from the companions that shadow my movements. I believe that I will spend at least a short time here, however the will of god moves me like a piece upon the chess board that is the world ..." He'd give her a small, tight lipped smile as he shrugged. However, he'd glance over at the guards, who looked as if they were contemplating saying something. "However, I feel I must take my partings from you, as my companions seem to remind me it's time for our supper ..." He'd laugh as he turned his glance back towards her, extending a hand and roughing up Isadora's hair gently. "It was a great pleasure to meet you M'lady Chantal." He'd twist, bowing at the waist, and sweeping a hand backwards across his torso. A true gentleman as always. "May your path rise to meet your feet." He'd stand upright once more, before turning and starting off. Those guards immediately following after him.
Chantal: : Chantal could not imagine what it must be like to be in such a position as he found himself in. Sure, she was followed by guards but it was to protect her. Not to protect others from her. He was in essence, a prisoner, and that was never enjoyable. A slight frown tugged at her lips before being replaced by a smile at his words,"God likes to play chess with many people as pieces. Perhaps one day we can further discuss what it is like to be slid from square to square?" Hearing Isadora's little gurgle at his ruffling, she chuckled softly, and curtsied slightly. Not able to too much considering the child upon hip. "Good day, sir Duke, and thank you once again for your kind assistance." Chantal had to get the children home and fed anyways. Yet, she knew now where he resided. Or so she thought. She'd have to send a thank you of sorts. And she turned to gather the other children to head home.
Alexander: The insides of his chambers had gotten the better of him, and having seen the sun shining bright in the sky outside the glass paned windows, he'd been unable to deny himself the opportunity to peruse the marketplace, and replace the possessions he had lost, when he'd been arrested. He'd gone back to the inn where he had been lodged, but as he had foreseen, his belongings had been sold when he had never showed to pay his debt. That was fine, since there had been nothing of any real value amongst those bags. No, Alexander had learned many years before that it was better to travel with little money, and to keep all of your debts paid with direct transfers in crown currency, and written notes in his own signature. It'd been how he'd managed to get money, when all he had on him was the ring of his father. Even here in the city of Turas Lan, he could enter a broker and get any amount he required, merely by writing and signing a ledger paying back the amount, plus a ten percent tax ... and then the seal of York was placed upon the paper, and it was a binding contract that worked to his favor. The debts were always paid, and there were no creditors on his trail ... merely the two armed guards that followed him everywhere he went now. Those heavy steps having carried him through the market all morning, had gotten him a new wardrobe, as well as boots, a trim to that dark colored beard, and numerous other items that had been sent to delivery upon his chambers. So it was that he stood silently outside of the shops, his hands resting on his waist, where a wide black leather belt was bare of any weapons, and wore only a tooled leather pouch which held his money now that he'd signed the notes. His broad shoulders covered in a white linen shirt, and a black leather vest. The vest having finely crafted, and intricate chain mail sewn into it, so that it'd turn any knife or arrow that didn't know exactly where to strike those links. It was a brawlers protection, and even here in Turas Lan, it was his safe bet. So, Alexander stood in silence, flanked by two men who were bigger and stronger then him, but who he figured had about half his brain put together. ... Least wise, he had figured as much by their idle conversation when they thought he wasn't paying attention.
Chantal: At this hour the market was crowded especially due to the lovely weather. Winter was past and many had been anxiously awaiting a time of more joy than those ruined by horrible events. Months that held memories of troubling times for all those in Turas Lan or Skye. For most such concerns were over and done with as the weather cleared, but not..for Chantal. Though her children knew they must be careful, that they were not to wander off or be without a guard, she'd not explained to them everything. In their young lives they had suffered enough ugliness that Chantal was loathe to expose them to more. She hadn't even told them how their cousins and Aunt had died. Instead it was listed as one of the many innocent casualties of such wars. As the children laughed and giggled, Chantal couldn't help the paranoia that constantly skittered up and down her spine. The imagination played many tricks when under duress and so sometimes it seemed that what was merely a curious glance became threatening. Instinctively she cuddled Isadora closer. "You two slow down. You're dragging your brother along like a piece of cloth." Doing her best to inject humor in her tone, Chantal gave a shake of her head that made blonde curls sway about her shoulders. Her clothes were nothing overly fancy, a mere blue silk gown, and she wore no jewelry upon her. She was more for comfort than fanciness especially for such a casual outing. And it kept any from thinking to attempt to attack for less than altruistic reasons- such as to steal jewelry. Just another way to ease her mind. The feel of Isadora's chubby little hand grabbing at her blonde hair made Chantal wince and she turned her head to look at her little one, laughing softly as she began to loose her hair. And that was when it happened. All it takes is...one moment...one tiny second. Chantal looked away to free her hair and when she looked back Synnovea was standing next to William at a sweets stall...and Haji was nowhere in sight. Hysterics was not the way of Chantal, she was a woman who'd looked upon the dead bodies of family including her barely a year old niece with their eyes cut out and not screamed....nor fainted. "Synnovea and William..where is your brother?" She kept her voice as level as possible, but it was their wide-eyed looking around that made her stomach grow sicker. Seamus was already moving with the other guards to look. How had he wandered off? Where was he? "Haji?" She felt Seamus's hand on her shoulder, but was above caring now...her son was missing. "Haji?!"
Alexander: The sun, it felt glorious upon the bronzed skin of his face. He'd stand in silence, his broad shoulders shrugging ever so slightly as he shifted the vest. He'd spent a few days now deep under ground, where the light had not touched his muscled frame. He groaned at the warmth of the sun. His hands running over his facial features slowly, caressing them with the pads of his fingers. However, it was a moment lost as he stood upright. There was the hint of panic starting to spread through the crowd. It was how it always happened. She had started to look about frantically, and it had caused the women and men in the immediate area to start panicking as well. Mass hysteria was something that was a fickle thing. In moments there would be a wide ring of people about them, all of them blocking site of the rest of the marketplace. Slowly, Alexander would step down, away from the building where he had been standing. Slowly he'd start to move across the marketplace, catching the hint of a cried name ... Haji ? He'd stop, those dark brown brows furrowing as he cast deep set gray eyes around the room slowly. He let those silvery pools waft over the people gathered, coming to rest on the olive skinned youth, who was at that point in time thoroughly enjoying a game of wrestling with what Alex assumed was an Irish Wolfhound Pup. So, he'd step across the pathway, moving with smooth movements to sweep up the child and the pup in one quick movement. The powerful strides, and the two guards bearing the colors and arms of the Duchess would part the crowds around them, as Alex came striding silently through the opening, with her son bouncing on one hip, and that massive puppy cradled in his other hand. His strides were slow and confident as he strode towards her, his well muscled frame coming to a rest a few strides off. Where he'd glance from the boy, that smile growing over roughly hewn features, towards the immediately frantic mother. "Your son seems to have been more interested in this pup than the sweets on the cart ..." He'd give a sagely nod towards her other children, near the sweets cart as they were.
Chantal: The crowd had begun to panic too which was in truth never good. It could cause chaos that was unnecessary. Perhaps that was why Seamus kept trying to calm Chantal down. Except all she could picture was those bodies upon a cart, eyes missing and necks slit, and instead of a niece she saw her sweet little Haji. All of her children were precious to her and the idea of losing any of them...she couldn't even think about it. It was the calming of the crowd as they began to part and Synnovea pointing that had Chantal turning around quickly. Isadora was still on her hip, looking ready to burst into tears as children are so attuned to feelings, and so Seamus took her for the moment. "Oh thank you...thank you..." What did she say? How did you thank someone with mere words for finding your child? It seemed not enough. Tears pooled in sapphire eyes as she looked upon the laughing face of her son. He had not a clue....the innocence of children... Doing her best to smile, she reached out to let him slip into her arms,"You scared Mama." He was completely unaffected, little lips pressing to her cheek, and Chantal turned again to the man. "You have...done me great service, sir. I do not know how to repay you..."
Alexander: The Knight stood silently, his back straight and shoulders broad. He held the child loosely, and twisted to let the boy leap into his mothers arms as he approached her, the crowd immediately began to disperse, the threat having been shown to be nothing at all. So Alexander stood in silence, as the woman took her child and rejoiced about the reunion. He'd grin as he stood in silence, watching the overjoyed reaction with that small smile plastered across roughly hewn features. He'd quietly shift his weight as he stepped towards them, coming to a halt near her guards, and nodding to them with a slow movement. "There are no thanks required ... the boy was merely out of your sight, and all that I did was bring him back into your sight ... I apologize for any fear that he may have caused you." He'd grin ever so slightly, twisting as he glanced towards his own guards. He'd nod towards them, and they stopped the jog they'd taken, having not noticed he'd started to walk away while they argued over which tavern had the best ale. So, Alexander would turn back towards her. Smirking ever so slightly as he folded those powerful arms across that muscular chest, eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he noted her own guards. A slow tilt of his head as he contemplated them. "So, you're a prisoner of the Crown as well ?" It was a ready enough assumption, considering his own current dilemma.
Chantal: The little one in her arms gave a bright smile to the man, his precious face lit up, before wiggling to be free of his Mother's arms. His eyes were already on the pup again. It didn't take long once he was on the ground for his older siblings to be at his side and then Isadora was passed back to be placed upon her hip. Stepping forward, noting that now her guards were watching the man, she gave a good glare and purposely shifted her gaze at the little ones. Ah, silent order: Watch the children and not her. That glare was easily replaced by friendly warmth as she looked back at him,"Oh, the guards? Not quite. They are here for my protection." Sapphire eyes moved to his own guards, amusement upon her face as they seemed to finally catch up with their charge. Grinning at him, she'd whisper teasingly,"Are you a dangerous criminal, sir? Should I be alarmed?" Ah, to find humor in a moment formerly laced with worry.
Alexander: Alexander had watched as the children began to crowd around her, and he arched a brow skywards. Slowly he'd twist as he dropped to one knee, pressing the other into the ground so as to twist and lower that puppy down onto the ground. He let the puppy go, so that it could play with those children, as he allowed those deep set grays to glance upwards towards her slowly. Oh, then she'd whisper those words and he couldn't help but laugh ever so softly. Slowly he would twist, pushing upwards to stand upright before her once more. He'd reach down and brushed the dirt from his knee, as he shifted a glance back towards his guards. "... Well, actually ... Yes. I'm the Duke of York. I'm perhaps one of the most dangerous men on the Island at the moment ... except, I don't have a weapon." He'd grin, those broad shoulders giving a slow shrug of those powerful shoulders. Oh, well it was as if it were really that simple. He'd quietly shift his stance, turning and looking towards the guards who were stepping forwards, to flank him. "Ironically enough ... my guards think that they're here for your protection as well ... although, the reason I was caught ... was because I refused to kill any women or children." So it was stated, as he turned his glance back upon her. Those dark brows furrowing ever so slightly, awaiting her reaction.
Chantal: One slim brow lifted, blue eyes looking upon him in curiosity, as she murmured,"Oh, I cannot say that name rings any particularly bell." That had to be a first. Yet, Chantal had been cut off from much outside of focusing on her current problem. Plus her guards had this irksome habit of limiting what news she received unless she went out to get it herself. Sometimes she wanted to throttle them. Watching the way the guards of his moved closer, she laughed. It was a soft, warm sound and in no way offensive,"You do not seem threatening, to be honest. A man who is a threat would not rescue a small child lost in a crowd. I have met men...more worrisome...in my time. Ones that would not hesitate to kill woman or child." Chantal indeed had. Her own husband had tried to do so. Realizing that they were sitting here having a conversation and did not know each other, she murmured,"Forgive my manners, sir Duke. I am Chantal Rose, lowly inn-keeper and widow of merchant Mikhail Petrov." God how she loathed saying that name. The man was a monster and he'd been working on the side of William Maubrey. "You have already met Haji, the other two playing with him are Synnovea and William, and this..." One hand went to gently brush the chin of the baby on her hip watching him quietly now,"is Isadora." At this point, Chantal put the guards out of her mind. This man did not seem any kind of a threat to her.(d)
Alexander: He'd stand silently, and when she stated that she had no honest idea of who he was. He'd arch those brows even higher, and he'd give a slow nod of his head. Well, that was honestly perfectly fine by him. So it was that he'd stand there with a broad grin plastered over those roughly hewn features. "Well M'lady Chantal, my name is Alexander O'Connor ... and please, call me by my name so that I am not ousted amongst the would be assassins of the world ... for I've slewn many a man, and most of them were of some sort of noble blood ..." He'd grin ever so slightly, his hands shifting to rest on his hips. He'd laugh ever so slightly as he twisted and shrugged those powerful shoulders ever so slightly. "I'm much more dangerous when I have a sword, but I've been informed that it's really not a very good idea for me to wear weapons within the city itself ... it makes it better for the simple reason that, well ... these two men would probably have me manacled and locked away once more for my intent to harm." He'd laugh, and then he was introduced to the children playing with that rogue puppy. He'd extend a hand towards Isadora, grinning as he let the babe wrap a hand around one massive finger, and give it a tight squeeze. [x]
Chantal: : Isadora was not shy in the least and reached out to grip his finger. Unfortunately that same hand had just been in her mouth. Chantal prayed the man did have an aversion to baby slobber. Isadora was still too little to care about polite manners. "Sometimes a man has not a choice in the decisions he must make. We all have done things that some would fine distasteful. Yet in it we find a light that none may understand and we'll always be judged for it." Indeed. Chantal's own eyes went to Isadora, her smile widening. Chantal was judged for the fact that two of her children were bastards and of mixed race. Did she truly care? Not one whit. "Sir Alexander, do you plan to reside in Skye once you are free of your...companions?" Chantal raised a brow, that was a subtle way of putting it.
Alexander: He'd smirk ever so slightly as he shrugged those powerful shoulders. That was really the only answer that he had in response to the question she had posed. He'd quietly shift his stance, that hand dropping downwards to wipe the spittle off of his finger. He'd grin ever so slightly as he rested those hands across his chest once more, unsure of what to do with them now that he wasn't wearing that hand and a half sword. So, he'd simply smile. A arch of a brow skywards as he posed his answer as readily as possible. "... Well, I'm not sure. There are many complicated matters that must be considered once I've been released from the companions that shadow my movements. I believe that I will spend at least a short time here, however the will of god moves me like a piece upon the chess board that is the world ..." He'd give her a small, tight lipped smile as he shrugged. However, he'd glance over at the guards, who looked as if they were contemplating saying something. "However, I feel I must take my partings from you, as my companions seem to remind me it's time for our supper ..." He'd laugh as he turned his glance back towards her, extending a hand and roughing up Isadora's hair gently. "It was a great pleasure to meet you M'lady Chantal." He'd twist, bowing at the waist, and sweeping a hand backwards across his torso. A true gentleman as always. "May your path rise to meet your feet." He'd stand upright once more, before turning and starting off. Those guards immediately following after him.
Chantal: : Chantal could not imagine what it must be like to be in such a position as he found himself in. Sure, she was followed by guards but it was to protect her. Not to protect others from her. He was in essence, a prisoner, and that was never enjoyable. A slight frown tugged at her lips before being replaced by a smile at his words,"God likes to play chess with many people as pieces. Perhaps one day we can further discuss what it is like to be slid from square to square?" Hearing Isadora's little gurgle at his ruffling, she chuckled softly, and curtsied slightly. Not able to too much considering the child upon hip. "Good day, sir Duke, and thank you once again for your kind assistance." Chantal had to get the children home and fed anyways. Yet, she knew now where he resided. Or so she thought. She'd have to send a thank you of sorts. And she turned to gather the other children to head home.