saulxs

[saulxs]

( JD PARDO, HOMOSEXUAL, CIS MALE & HE/HIM ) — by the grace of the gods, old and new, i present to you LORD COMMANDER SAUL CORTESS of ESPIVIRA within the lands of SOLLIA. the gods have blessed us with their presence for FORTY years. many know them to be  SKILLED, HONORABLE, STERN, and while it is not always shown, it is said they can also be AMBITIOUS, EXCESSIVE, IRRATIONAL. what will their tale in the story of metia be? only they can write it, so let’s see how their legend unfolds.

son of saul son of saul son of saul son of saul son of saul son of saul son of saul son of saul son of saul son of saul son of saul son of saul son of saul son of saul son of saul

named after his father, he always had a legacy to uphold. his father a low born man, a poor blacksmith, elevated to knighthood out of the talent on his hand. he married a minor lady and thus was born saul. they inherit a castle, they inherit a fortune, they inherit a land. he was just a poor knight, but now he's a lord. he takes his wife's name — a final humiliation, leaving the lowborn man behind. the son had a sword on his hand before he could even walk, because his father knew that the men in their family were only worth if they had something to contirbute to the king. saul had his furnace and hammer and steel. saul had his sword. he's knighted as a teen but it takes long until the opportunity to prove himself comes — he's almost thirty when he manages to do so. and he's a knight, he's a respected soldier. there's not much a man like him can want, so he hones his skill. there's almost an obssession at being a swordsman; it's more than a job, it's his life. he'd die by the honor of his sword. saul has his furnace, saul has his sword and shield. recently, he's been appointed as lord commander, an honor. an honor for a man born where he was, from who he was. he clings at the opportunity, not because he aims for power, but because there is honor and dignity at commanding. and he wants to prove himself, over and over again.

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[saulxs]

the colosseum where: tavern? someone's chambers? brothel?

Despite being a knight, he wasn't a violent person, so it was all a little foreign to him. He came, he followed the royal family around, and he watched the fights, from afar, unsure of what to make of it. Despite that, he liked the event, because it brought many people together. Different people. And who could blame him for wanting to branch out?

He had been invited for a couple of beers and accepting it was the only polite thing to do. "That's my last one," he said, looking down at the third mug of beer, knowing that it was his last. He had work to do and people were still celebrating, although he wasn't really sure what. "I'm not fighting in the arena but I still need to yield a sword."

[goldenbals]

where: astere, argonia when: the earliest fashionable time to arrive who: attendees, host

finally seen in a light that felt like himself, and not like he was formed into a reflection of some previous ruler's husband, baltasar was out in force at the next event to occur. logically, he should be concerned; no news came from the investigation of the attempted murder. but he felt too free to not make a showing.

with the title of queen, went the long robes and hanging sleeves. working (and paying) his tailors overtime, baltasar stood regally in some slightly more rakish attire, inspired by his golden days as a man leaving his mark upon numerous noble necks and backsides. a vest that swung low down his chest, enough chains and necklaces to create a chorus as he moved to fill that gap, and fitted pants tucked into strong boots. let none look at baltasar sollia and see the queen -- only the prince-consort.

even the way he moved seemed with renewed confidence; lifting something to inspect it, returning it to its (assumed) place.

"--you've been staring." whether or not the person he addressed was, baltasar found it more fun to assume, and put said person on the back-foot. "were you waiting for a question, or simply basking in my presence?"

[saulxs]

He had been tasked with escorting the prince-consort into the colosseum, and that would have been a difficult task in itself. The fact that the prince was Balthasar of Sollia only made things harder. Sometimes he wondered how he had been the one to catch the king's eyes, and he couldn't understand. But his job wasn't to question, it was to obey in silence. He followed along, with nods, and yeses and swallowing up the questions he had. Saul didn't understand court matters — even if he had been living there for many years. What was a power in a name? He understood the dirt, blood and sand, whatever men were made of. But what else? All of the rest flew over his head.

Sadly, Balthasar had caught him looking and Saul smiles, a little embarassed. "Just looking, your majesty." He wasn't one to be giving compliments, even if he did think that there was something almost godlike to Balthasar under that sweet yellow sunlight. "That was very nice-" he pointed at the object being put down, which he had no idea what it was. While he lived in court, he had very little interests that weren't swords or shields. Pathetic, yes, but the son of a blacksmith had a limited range of possible outcomes.

Saul had been subejct of long trust by the Sollia house, and he was always curious to see how people would join the family. He knew Lucerys since they were young, but not Balthasar. That was new. Maybe that was why he stared more often than not.

[kinglucerys]

@saulxs

the king paced around his room, gold and orange robes flowing behind him. the ease that he'd so carefully tried to build over the last weeks burned down like wax on dragonfire. the peace he helped build threatened, on the precipice of ruin and his sons... his sons.

"are they all in their rooms?" he demanded, walking towards his lord commander as soon as he entered the king's quarters. he was happy at least one of them remained safe in sollia but the others... the others were quickly bringing him headaches that threatened his sanity as much as this dove concord did. "i cannot let anything happen to them, saul," he confessed, looking away in anguish as his hands found the commander's shoulder. he was unashamed of his state as saul had seen such a sight before, had risked his own life to preserve the king's. there was none he trusted more. "you must leave my side and take over their watch, this attack... they went after the prince, not the king."

of course, saul was but one man. skilled as he may be, he'd need to stick to the crown prince, even if such a choice twisted his stomach. "they are..." everything, "my legacy. and should they be hurt i will be forced to take action."

the thought was not one he wished to dwell on, he felt the urge to take them away at once. to leave this place and go back home where they belonged. if only his dragon was there...

"there is none i could trust more with my sons lives." his tone was lower, the gravity of the situation impressed into every syllable. his hand pressed against the knight's chest, eyes locked together. "protect them like you've protected me. even before it was your duty." he did not say please but it was implicit into the king's eyes, into the lines of his face and the hands clutching at his knight. that, perhaps, was a first time sight for saul.

[saulxs]

He almost can't believe the king is so visibly upset. While he has seen Lucerys in many situations, moments where his sons' lives were at risk are a new thing for both of them, but he doesn't comment on that. Instead, he just nods along, listening to his worried voice. Saul had already taken care of the princes — put his best men guarding their rooms, as well as sending for more knights to escort them back to Sollia. Saul understood the danger they were under right now and wasn't playing games.

Except that the king might disagree with that.

Once he's done, hands on his shoulders, Saul looks down, heavy in his armor, feeling like he must disappoint the man he swore loyalty to, but he must. "I am afraid I can't do just that, your majesty." His vows were clear, and had swore to mantain it even if the King didn't want to. His job as Lord Commander of Sollia was to protect the King. To assure the safety of the Royal House, yes, but he, Saul, was supposed to protect the King. The only man allowed to disobey the King's orders, they said...

"I have knights at the prince's doors, your majesty, and I have men coming to get us out of the city as soon as possible, but-" he pauses, hesitating a little, "I can't leave your side, your majesty, you're well aware of that."