The Music of Steel [Finn]

[Talisman]

When Finn yielded, Vespera lifted the blade away, moving it to her free hand and offering Finn a hand up from the sand. "Well-fought, Finn Farstrider." There was satisfaction in knowing he had made the young Princess have to think and adapt, and he had held his own for longer than most could against her. He had come a long way in a fairly short time, and it was sadly a pity that he was with the Umbrian royal family.

Even if he was a human.

For all of her race's racism, the Moonborn was realistic enough to see the skill and value the young man had, especially as Avaerys had seen fit to bestow His Emblem upon him. He was decidedly important as an ally, and with the number of Runes he possessed, not to mention his Mastery of them, he certainly qualified as a Magnatus. It was good to have him in Solunarium, one way or another. Even if relations soured further between Upper and Lower Cities, then they would just have to be prepared. Certainly, he learned some of her tricks, but she was also learning his.

With the sparring session at its end, water was necessary in the unrelenting heat. Neither of them was Vastian, and once they both drank their fill, Vespera set the onlookers to their next tasks before heading for the temporary sunshade. Her servus brought over a satchel for her that he had been holding. She took it from him with thanks, and motioned Finn over. "This is for you. You've mentioned your interest in some of our native instruments, and this one is one that I have enjoyed before." If he opened it, he would find an ornate lyre wrapped in padded silk, intricately crafted, golden, and polished to a high shine. The strings were immaculate and already tuned to his masterful ear. While it was Runeforged, it was also heavily Warded against damage and destruction by Vespera herself. "It is a good start to the harp and the grand harp." Those he had seen her play, the massive one needing Kinetics to actually succeed with due to its sheer size. Her lips twitched into a smile... suggesting that that instrument that he now held might well be more than it was.

[Finn]

Even getting a hand up from the ground was an opportunity to learn. She placed her feet just so, shifted her center of gravity such that she wasn't pulled over by his greater mass. He knew there were mathematics involved in calculating such things, but he wasn't educated like that. But learning to intuit such things was helpful, and he hoped he was learning. Accepting her help, he used her hand for a bit of leverage and balance, but used his own power to get up.

"Gratias, præceptor."

If Finn was unsure where on the Pyramid he was meant to abide, in the practice ring, she was supreme. He thought that might have greased the wheels between them, too. They mostly interacted within an educational framework, wherein he was inferior. So, when he showed her deference, there was less chance for her to be upset by an uppity human putting on airs.

It didn't seem to matter what Aværys decreed: some Re'hyæan elves continued to see him as lesser even as half of their pantheon raised him above them. Well, not above Vespera, perhaps. Truly, he had never spent more time considering power and importance than he had in Solunarium. His God had awakened a hunger for power in him, but he was more concerned with knowing how to act within the byzantine power structure of the Dual Empire. So did most of its residents anymore since the return of the draconic dynasty, but that was hardly his fault.

People who didn't feel firm on their foundations were likely to lash out. He didn't want to be on the receiving end of such things.

He drank his water as Hilana had taught him: in a measured pace. Staying hydrated was important, but too much water too quickly could cause problems as well. Everything in life seemed to be a balancing act, and he still didn't have the mathematics to calculate much.

His eyes widened slightly, and then wider as he pulled out the bundle and unwrapped it. He couldn't semble, but with the magic he did own, he could almost sense it thrumming with something Other.

Unable to help himself, he ran a quick arpeggio over the strings. It sang. He smiled, a softness and eagerness in him that was not present when they trained. He could not maintain the subtle mnemonics and meditations to prepare his soul to reincorporate his pact weapons, but that could wait.

"Thank you," he said again, simply and without flourish. He was sincere, though. She knew that well enough by now.

Finn could already play the lyre, albeit not expertly. There was a certain level of mastery with one stringed instrument that made it relatively easy to play other stringed instruments, though nothing would be so seamless a blend of skill and soul as the lute for him, perhaps.

He didn't ask about the magic. An Assessor would tell him later if he asked. The instrument was finely crafted whatever magics were woven through it.

"A princely gift."

[Talisman]

The Moonborn had found him interesting enough to seek him out, and throughout their association, he had yet to disappoint her. That he was respectful without being sycophantic or meek played well for him with her - that he was also in general quite mild-mannered and earnest. Even with his Rune of Command, though he seemed to know better than to try that with her...even if he could get around her wards. That His Divine Radiance saw fit to gift him Eminence - despite being a Peregrine human - spoke volumes. The Rex Regum saw something in him, and the magnetism that he radiated was just as undeniable.

Vespera was happy that he liked it. It was certainly a princely gift, but it was also fitting for a musician of Finn's calibre. "You are welcome. I would have preferred to have given it to you in a less... shall we say formal... environment, but with the Conclave of Electors, it isn't proper and it would have been frowned upon." The young Princess hadn't had any of her little parties that Finn - and sometimes Arvaelyn - was invited to since the Conclave had been called and Thalya removed from the throne, and most of their meetings were here in the training grounds. This was open enough, even if she had one of her little silencing wards within the shade of the canvas to keep her soldiers from listening in.

"I've written out some notes for you for it, or we can meet up somewhere later and I can show you. But if the opportunity does not come, you've at least got instructions at hand to help you master it. You are a master of music already, but we both know how important the acoustics are and how sound can be limited to how far it can travel. This will help your reach... and perfect your playing area, be it indoors or outdoors." That was risky, knowing Arvaelyn's jealous streak, but Vespera did not seem to be too worried about the Princeps Draconum.

[Finn]

Finn tried to examine the instrument fully without ignoring she who had gifted it to him. He was fairly certain he could figure it out on his own, especially with some instructions written down, but he wouldn't say no to a lesson from someone already well versed in its use, and certainly he would want to play a duet at some point, whether in private or at one of her parties when he was once again invited.

He daren't listen in on her symphony, and he wasn't so practiced a political animal as she; still, he thought he could intuit a few ways she might feel and he could read between the lines of her words.

"Again, I thank you, Your Highness, for the gift of music as well as the gift of—if I may be so bold—your friendship. I understand the political ramifications as well as any foreigner could, and I appreciate the efforts you have made to patronize me within Luxian society and to help me hone my skills. To help someone be better is a noble thing indeed."

The one-time bard bowed as formally as the occasion required to keep her safe from glances askance from others in the Curia.

"I shall endeavor to have mastered it by the time it would be meet to invite me to your parties again." His smile was a touch coy, but entirely sincere. Her parties were more entertaining than many of her class'. While they were still shark-infested waters—or crocodile-infested waters as the local case may be—they were warmer and he was accorded some protection by her favor.

He was willing to play the ignorant peregrinus and use that to charm, but he strove to his utmost not to reflect poorly upon his husband.

[Talisman]

"You are welcome. I am glad you made your way here, and further, that we have become friends," Vespera smiled at his words, inclining her head to to him. His arrival may have shaken things to the foundation of their home with Arvaelyn, but all it did was expose the chasms underneath paper-thin earth. "We have a common cause, you and I, which is the betterment of our homeland. I may have been born here, but you chose Solunarium... and it has chosen you. The chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and the stronger we are... the stronger the chain." What may have started originally as an interest in having him play at one of her parties had definitely turned into something more - friendship. And it was refreshing in many ways - novel and unexpected from those who had been raised here, the balance and dance of familiarity and learning and exceptions.

"I think that this will help you with your goals... and hopefully, it gives you opportunities to enjoy that which you have missed when you don the black." She had no real way of knowing where his missions would take him, and what he did when he was not in her training exercises. That was part of the benefit of being a member of the Vigilia Argenti - they were one, they were legion. Once the veil was drawn, they were indistinguishable. For a bard, that was a death knell. For a Sentinel, it was a necessity.

"I look forward to the hearing you play once more. And when we can... we shall play together. Music, on the strings, or with the steel... it is such a beautiful melody." The Princess raised her water to him with a smile. The Empyreal Lord was something special indeed... His Divine Radiance had chosen well.

[Talisman]

Review

Name: Finn

XP: 15 Points, may be used for magic
Bonus XP: 5 Points Negation
Injuries/Ailments: Might be a little sore from the spar, but nothing a good bath wouldn't fix.
Loot: The Radiant Lyre

Notes: This was a great thread and a fun round of combat. I really do like the way that Finn utilized Negation on the fly in a creative way, and as such, I have awarded 5 bonus points for Negation for his imagination.

The Lyre is your gift for the Birthday Redemption. The write-up for the Radiant Lyre will be forthcoming and sent to your Inbox.