The Ashes of Allmau: The Orfolk of Allmau

Chapter 7

"Aw," crooned the sickly sweet voice standing behind the observer, "Look at them."

He remained nonplus while scanning the dunes and dales, focusing on the Melody Mill. Its blades marked an X on the map denoting the secretive village of Concordance. This was their last stop, and his last chance to bring the people of Allmau inline.

Not one to be ignored, she shunted his shoulder, Ahna retreated to the dunes as other children appeared, "Do you suppose they think we're some terrible sea monster, here to gobble them up?"

He heaved a deep breath. There was no peace when the effervescent, ever-present Evelyne De'Marche was on stage. He snapped the spyglass shut and passed it to a peon, who bowed and left the pair on the viewing deck.

As twins, the siblings shared physical features of blonde hair, blue-grey eyes and sculpted, pretty faces. Both were young adults, and smaller in frame – though that's where the similarities ended.

He was dressed in the forest green and burgundy of an officer of Langsine. Upon his shoulders was a mantle decorated with a few minor merits, feverishly polished and proudly worn. They announced him as he walked about, chest-first, head held high. His hair was cut short and swept back, kept meticulous during their voyage by a personal barber. He was a prim, proper, disciplined traditionalist.

Far bolder than he, his sister confidently strode into every situation with a charismatic theatricality. Where he feigned confidence and direction, she simply lived it. Her gregarious, flirtatious nature made her well known throughout Langsine and much of Eymier and she knew just how to play it. With the aid of a personal tailors, she overlaid the traditional conservative styles of the homeland with her own flair to create something that would make her stand out.

The pair stood at the viewing deck, a narrow ledge that ran the circumference of the glass-domed bridge of the great ship. He continued to stare at the beach, setting his goals and reciting his plans. Meanwhile she struggled against the wind, using a thin veil to keep her bouncing blonde curls together.

"This is the last one." He said.

"There's not much here, is there." she commented.

"It's the smallest of the Seven." He replied, "But the alderman here is the most influential. She's well respected amongst the others."

"So, your last chance to win them over and impress the boys back at home, Eini?" Evelyne teased.

That nickname struck a nerve every time she uttered it. Like a deep, sharp pinch of the ego. He screwed his eyes shut but remained quiet, knowing how she fed on drama. Before she could provoke him any further, a third person joined Evelyne and 'Eini' on the viewing deck.

Light armour embellishments overlayed the azure and burgundy uniform of Langsine's Guildsmen's Guard, entrusted with protecting the Guildsmen and their families. This guard was atypical of the rest in so much that he was one of the indigenous people of Eymier, the Dai'er. Tall, sculpted and athletic in build, with sharp features. The old empires invasion of their lands had drawn a scar through the continent, dividing it into imperial Eymier and indigenous Etto. It seemed being trapped this side of that scar had placed upon this man a sombre stoicism. Despite this though, he had a strong unspoken rapport with the children, and upon his arrival Evelyne's attention, much to Eini's relief fell upon him.

"Sabian!" delighted the young lady, taking his arm as he arrived, "Look at the wild children scurrying about. Perhaps we can take one home?"

"You're not abducting a child," her brother frowned.

"Oh, don't be so dramatic." She dismissed him before declaring, "It's adoption, not abduction. They're poor, and therefore miserable. It'd be the charitable thing to do."