#prythians.event02

[faedusted]

ＷＨＥＲＥ: outside the ballroom ＷＨＯ: open to all

atlas paced beneath an alcove , his hands clasped behind his back as his brain worked tirelessly to try and think who could have done this. who could have made it past his wards into his room, who would have dared to steal from him? the prince's first instinct was to blame their gracious hosts, clearly their court wasn't the safe place they'd let his father to believe. perhaps even this was all the high lord's doing, seizing the opportunity he saw to take power for himself. not something he would put past the ambitious high fae. it seemed clear to atlas why his sword has been stolen, a spell or curse of some kind was sure to follow in the wake of its absence.

he looked up to find another had been staring at him as he paced abut feverishly and mumbled to himself occasionally.  ❝ well then? have you something to say? ❞ he half demanded stopping in his tracks to face them.

[faedusted]

ＷＨＥＮ: during the ball ＷＨＥＲＥ: balcony off the ballroom/hall ＷＨＯ: @rcbclliouscourt

 he'd had enough, granted the evening had only just begun, but already asril had enough. there was work to be done, but instead he was forced to be party to some cover-up so the real thief could get away with their stolen treasures. that's what they were, weren't they? something precious or sentimental to each fae, many of the items had no monetary value at all. they were things of importance and it didn't bode well for any of the courts. he clenched his fist, a small ball of ice began to form in his palm. as he opened his hand it grew larger in size until the dense ball was the perfect size to throw.

he took aim at a statue not too far off below in the garden and launched the ball of ice, it made contact with stone figure sending a terrible sound echoing through the garden as the marble crumbled. asril fixed his target on another statue even further away and repeated the process, finding more joy than he anticipated in watching the day court begin to crumble, literally. as he created a third ball of densely packed ice, he heard someone approach and took pause to turn and see who it was. asril snorted, almost so silently it couldn't be heard. of course, he mused silently as he nodded in her direction.  ❝ my lady,❞ he greeted her curtly, but said nothing else before turning back around and winding up to take aim once more. asril wasn't sure whose face he might have been imaging the statue belonged to, the king's, delilah's own father, some unknown figure altogether? whoever it had been, the high lord saw to it there was nothing left but rubble and dust. now if only all enemies could topple so easy, he thought to himself.

[faedusted]

ＷＨＥＮ: before the ball ＷＨＥＲＥ: the winter court quarters ＷＨＯ: @faetbound 

 ❝ have you ever read it? ❞ asril finally said breaking the silence that had been lingering far too long. though that was often his way after one of his fits, to try and calm himself by being still and silent. to help calm his heart and his mind. the walls were iced over and with sharp icy spikes jutting out from random spots, some far more dangerous and precarious than others. the fire that had been burning brightly in the hearth not long ago was no more and in it's place was a block of ice, the wood that had been burning deep inside. the room was cold, so much so that every breath he exhaled could be seen clearly, and part of him wanted to apologize to his brother for the mess he'd caused within their quarters. but he didn't. asril rather enjoyed the changes, feeling more at home than he had in a week.

[faedusted]

ＷＨＥＮ: shortly after the celebration begins ＷＨＥＲＥ: the ballroom/hall ＷＨＯ: open to all

talia knew better than to put her emotions on display, to indict that the events of the day had affected her in any way. she could be there for those who had lost something, express empathy and ensure that all would be well soon enough. but she couldn't let them see just how concerned she truly was by it all. there was no question this was an attack. carefully calculated, planned using information that was limited to a select few. it set the high priestess nerves on edge, but she danced to the lively music as though this were any other ball. as though there wasn't a high lord clinging to life only and a suspect still roaming free. 

the music ended and talia smiled at her partner graciously, clapping with the crowd to show appreciation for the band.  ❝ you'll have to pardon me, ❞ she began, bowing her head slightly. ❝ i need to step out for some air. ❞ it might have been an excuse to step away from the crowd, but nor was it a lie.

[faedusted]

ＷＨＥＮ: during the ball ＷＨＯ: @highfaeborn

the evening wasn't that much different from any other he'd experienced since the start of the summit. many of the high lords and ladies too busy masking their true intentions and feelings, however, there were others who felt less inclined to do so. some who'd support hybern and still actively called for the traitors to be punished. but he didn't see how the people who refused to give up what was rightfully theirs could be such things. they were the traitors, the ones who'd turn their back on their homeland. but that was exactly the type asril needed to align his own court with—his family with, now.

asril approached the table the high lady of the spring court was seated at, she was alone, but that didn't come as a surprise to the lord. she seemed to prefer things that way, something he could understand. everything was easier that way for him, but he was no the only person he was needed to think about.

he sat down, not waiting for an invitation or wasting time with unnecessary small talk. ❝ do ever worry about the future of your family, your house? ❞ the lord asked, leaning forward in his seat and resting his arm on the table. there had been rumors, mumbles really, but all it took was one person talking a little too much for matters to escalate. and escalate they had. he could remember the high lady centuries ago, before she'd been overtaken by the grief and misery of her loss. but she hadn't been the only one to lose something so dear and if they didn't begin to act, she would be far from the last. he needed that high lady now, not this one.

[faedusted]

ＷＨＯ: @faetbound

it had been a number of years since talia had last seen isak, how many precisely she couldn't quite say, but she couldn't deny she'd missed the fun they'd had together.  ❝ i hope all has been well, my lord, ❞ the priestess purred as she approached and closed the gap that remained between them. she placed a hand on his chest, her fingers splayed out flat as she admired the thick muscle beneath the fabric.  ❝ it's been too long. ❞ she smiled up at him the way she'd used to when they were a tangled mess of limbs and sheets and hoped it would stir something within him.

[faedusted]

ＷＨＥＮ: several hours into the ball ＷＨＯ:  @fxerily

time seemed to move slower than usual, perhaps simply because asril would have preferred to have been anywhere but at the ball. had his father bothered to make a lasting appearance, then he would have tried to escape hours ago, but unsurprisingly he'd been nowhere to be found. and it left the high lord to fulfill a commitment that was not truly his own.

he grabbed a filled glass of fairy wine off a tray as it passed him and eagerly took a gulp. it was sweet and refreshing as it went down his throat and the liquid warmed his belly. his eyes scanned the room as they had so many other times that evening, however, this time his gaze settled on a face they'd been praying to the gods he could avoid. lucky enough for him, up until that very moment, asril hadn't crossed paths with any of emira's remaining family members. but there theodoros was and it pained him to know it was the closest he'd ever be again to seeing her. her features had been so similar, the eyes and the jawline were incomparable and it only brought back an unwelcome flood of memories. times he'd found himself getting lost in her sparkling eyes or the way her soft skin felt beneath his fingers.

it took everything within him to avert his gaze from him and push the unwanted recollections from his mind. it pained asril to remember her but believed to forget her would be even worse. the high lord took another large gulp feeling a panic begin to take hold of his mind.

[faedusted]

ＷＨＥＮ: during the ball ＷＨＥＲＥ: the corridor ＷＨＯ: @cscension

atlas had been waiting, for what seemed like an endless amount of time, just so he might confront the great high lord of the day court. he couldn't say how long it had been, but the prince had been watching him closely. waiting for the opportune time to strike, to be alone with him so he could get the truth.

and the time had comes. atlas didn't know where he might be going or if there might be someone he was off to see, but none of that mattered now. ❝ had this been your plan all along? ❞ he called after him, not caring who might be around to hear or witness the accusations that would soon come. atlas could feel his blood boil hotter with every step closer he took.