Praeditus

Lyall

        Lyall is tired. She has been up since dawn, preparing to travel to Castel d'Argent, and to meet the King. Lyall smiles bitterly. The King her mother hopes to marry. Lyall sighs, looking around the room. She has not spent much time here since she was a child. Before she was old enough to be included in her mother's plans to be Queen.

        She swings her leather bag over her shoulder. It contains only the necessities -- a leather bound book half-filled with drawings, a few pairs of trousers with tunics to match, and the half-dozen daggers that do not fit on her person. She has not packed anything else. She knows she will not need it. She turns to the bed and perches on it, tightening her boots so that she can feel the reassuring slide of her dagger sheaths on her legs. Then she turns and jumps out the window.

        She lands with a roll, barely getting a glance from the various servants milling around in the courtyard. They are used to her antics by now. However, her mother glares at her reprovingly. Lyall narrows her eyes right back. She takes her mother in. Eleanore is, as usual, beyond reproach. Her green skirts bring out her eyes and set her hair aflame. Her kid-gloved hands are clasped in front of her waist.

        "Lyall," the Senator says, dipping her head, "Come over here, darling."

Lyall tilts her head and walks deliberately past her, to where the girl she loves is holding the head of Ar Dan, the sorrel mare she rides. Lyall gives her a smile, leaning into Ar Dan to talk to her. "Are you alright?"

Aila gives her small smile and places her hand over Lyall's for a fleeting moment.

        "Your mother has not hurt me."

Lyall gives her a look. "But she has threatened you again?"

Aila looks down. Lyall scowls, her mouth pinched. "Are coming with us?"

Aila grins at her, and Lyall thinks she has never seen anything more beautiful. The morning sun has turned her light hair to almost silver, and her blue eyes lighter, to the color of ice. And, best of all, Aila can sit a horse better than anyone, and best the boys in the practice court with a sword any day.

        "I told my mother I wanted to go to the Castel to find someone to marry. She was ecstatic." 

Lyall laughs, loud and free. Aila has been the only person able to coax that sound out of her for a long time.

        "Can you ride with me today?" Aila says, unsure.

Lyall casts a glance back at her mother, who is watching them with her lips pinched so hard together they are white. She turns back to Aila. "Of course."

Aila raises an eyebrow at her. She knows the Senator will have words with Lyall about that later.
"I have to go get my horse."

        "I will come with you. Torres!" She yells at a nearby stable boy. "Hold Ar Dun for me."

They walk the few yards to the stable together. They are quiet. Lyall approaches the stall door holding the black mare Aila rides apprehensively, fingering the fede rings in her pocket. Lyall stops Aila when she goes to open the stall, clasping both her hands in a tight grip.
"You know we are going on a quest." Her voice makes it a statement. She had told Aila everything when Lyall kissed her for the first time. Lyall had thought that if they were going to love and trust each other, they should not keep secrets. Especially one as big as this.
"I know."
Lyall shuffles her feet. She's nervous. "Iwantyoutowearmyring." She blurts out in one breath.
"What?" Aila says laughingly, a wide smile on her face.
Lyall takes a deep breath. "I want you to wear my ring."
Aila's smile goes soft, but she does not say anything, and so Lyall pulls back.
"You do not have to if you do not want to. This was a bad idea, I apologize --"
And Aila grabs the front of her tunic and yanks her forward into a kiss. Lyall snakes her arms around Aila's waist, pressing her closer. Aila pulls back slightly after a few moments.
"Of course I will wear your ring."
Lyall drops one hand and reaches into her pocket. Aila inhales when the rings catch the light. They are silver, inscribed with the words Gra anois agus go deo. Lyall takes Aila's left hand and slides the ring on her fourth finger. Aila takes the other ring and does the same to Lyall.
Aila traces the inscription lightly, and looks up at Lyall, a questioning look in her eyes.
"It means Love, now and always."
Aila gives her a crooked smile and pulls her into another kiss.

"Milady! Aila!" They hear Torres yell. Lyall groans, leaving her forehead pressed agains Aila's. Aila giggles at her.
"Coming!" Aila yells. Lyall reluctantly lets her pull away and take Shadow out of her stall. They make quick work of saddling her, and then they walk hand in hand to the courtyard. Lyall's heart beats faster when she sees an angry look on her mother's face. She has always been afraid when Eleanore makes that face.
Lyall grips Aila's hand tighter. Aila slides closer to her, blocking her from the Senator's view. Lyall's breath eases. Torres brings Ar Dun to her, and they mount up. As they do, their new fede rings catch the light. A smile blooms on Torres' wrinkled face. "Congratulations, milady, Aila." He winks at them.
"Thank you Torres," Aila says happily. They set off quickly, behind the wagon the Senator is in. Lyall beams. Today is going to be a good day.