Afternoon Escape (Shea)

[Zero]

It was a cool day, but not really cold, not for the very early spring. The sky was overcast, but there was no rain or snow in the air. The air was fresh and sweet, with the scent of spring grass and the first flowers beginning to bloom on the gentle breeze that danced among the rocky hills of Tirial. The fields and hillsides of the Lancaster estate were alive with the bleating of sheep, new lambs were taking their first steps. The flock was mingled with a small herd of sturdy highland ponies; sheep and ponies, the two main exports and source of the wealth of the ancient, but declining, Lancaster house.

It was a great day for making an escape from the manor and from the constant disapproval of her grandmother, even if it was only for a little while. The challenges and pressures of managing the estate were falling more and more on Nadya's shoulders. The task should have fallen to her brother, but with his death, everything had been placed upon her, the very future of the family was in her hands. Her grandmother was dying and that would leave only one member of the once proud house left.  Definitely the perfect day for an afternoon retreat.

Dressed in a finely woven wool dress of a beautiful violet shade to match her eyes, the bodice was laced and slashes of light, creamy lavender were on the skirts, which were split for ease of riding. Golden embroidery of roses and thorny vines lined the hems of her skirts and sleeves and encompassed the bodice, which was high enough to be modest, but not by much. Matching slippers, mittens, and silver fox lined cloak completed the ensemble, with little golden bells attached to her hood jingling lightly as she moved.

Her hair was pulled up into a loose, curly bun and a gold-thread net with tiny, sparkling amethysts set at the joints kept the hair tamed and in place. As was the style, her earrings were gold and dangling with more amethysts and about her delicate throat was a gold and amethyst choker-style necklace. Nadya's maid had helped her apply make-up, not a gaudy amount, like the jewels her grandmother insisted she wear, but a touch of eye shadow to really emphasize her large violet eyes, a breath of blush upon her pale cheeks, and a soft kiss of pink lipstick.

The elaborate dressage was not simply for an outing, of course, she had been entertaining company all through the morning. A neighboring lord had been visiting, was in fact, still visiting. Sneaking away would be terribly rude, but Nadya couldn't stand even another minute of the pompous strutting and preening. Her grandmother loved fan-fare and had a flare for the dramatic. All she wanted was quiet, but nobody had ever cared what she wanted. Let her grandmother deal with the politics she so loved, Nadya would accept the consequences later.

Moving quietly and discreetly as possible through the manor she managed to get down to the stables, from there it was easy to convince a groomer to saddle her dappled grey mare. The animal was gentle as a rabbit, and made of the sturdy stock of the highland ponies her grandmother bred and sold. Her name was Shadow Dancer, but Nadya just called her Dancer. Mounting easily she left the stables at a slow trot, the servants in the stables given clear instructions to forget they had seen her.

A half-hour later Nadya found herself beyond the sight of the manor, hidden away by the jagged hills. Even if her prison were still so close, just the absence of its presence within her vision granted her some sense of freedom. Finding a lovely spot, she dismounted; removing her fur-lined mittens she tucked them away in a pouch at her waist. There were gorgeous little lavender flowers growing up among the rocks and she picked a few before bringing them to her face and inhaling their subtle aroma. The thought that she might not be alone out in those rocky hills never once crossed her mind. There had never been problems with bandits on Lancaster grounds and no one important knew she was out there.

Confident in her solitude, she sang softly to the flowers as she walked. Decended from siren blood mingled in the Lancaster line, her voice was soft and sweet, that of an angel. Truly one of her talents, but one so often ignored.

"I wish I could fly
And I wish I could die
I wish I was the cross in othello's eye
I wish I was a stone
In those castle walls
So I could be a thousand years old
And a hundred feet tall
I wish I could fly
I wish I could fly...

I wish I could fly
And I wish I could die
I wish I was the cross in othello's eye
I wish I could fly
I wish I could fly...
I wish I was a flower
Blowin' in the wind
So I could fly away but come back
Again and again
Again and again...
Or will I always be alone standing
Staring at the sky
Or will I learn to fly
Or will I learn to fly..."

[miss_sanguine]

Money, money, money. How could he gamble without any money? Stealing food and clothes and baubles, he could always get by doing that. Money, however? Well, he couldn't very well steal piles of cash just to gamble it away--that was counter-productive!

In the form of a hawk Kabe soared over the rolling hills and rocky crags. Sheep and small horses dotted the landscape near a singular estate, but he ignored them. Animals, while valued in the poorer towns, weren't good gambling material. He doubted the bartenders would enjoy him bringing a sheep inside and laying it out on the table with the other offered goods.

Old Dammon would birth a cow, he thought, mentally smirking. He'd ban me all over again. And he'd worked so hard to get back into the man's good graces! No, he'd find something else.

Not that he could imagine finding anything useful out here. Other than the rich building out on the hills, he didn't see anything of value. Unless his betting mates suddenly developed a taste for lavender, which grew aplenty in this area.

They might enjoy women. Women lavished in jewelry and looking quite well-to-do. Now that might be something from which he could reap benefits--of two different kinds! And how convenient that one such a woman stood just beneath his flying form. From where he glided on the air currents, he could easily make out the glint of her wares, among other more carnal things.

With a hawk-like cry, he circled around a few times, then dropped toward the ground. Just before he hit, he shed his feathered body and steadied himself on his two legs, but a few feet away from the singing beauty.

"Greetings!" he said, waving. "Couldn't help but hear your beautiful voice. Had to come get a better listen. Does that song have a name?"

[Zero]

Even after such a short while away from her grandmother, Nadya was already starting to feel much better, as she sang to herself, her nerves settled and she found some calm at last. However, it was unfortunately short lived. Her voice faltered as she heard what sounded like a hawk somewhere above her. Looking up in the overcast sky she could clearly see it circling far above her. At first there was no concern for alarm. A hawk certainly didn't pose a great danger to her and likely wouldn't bother any of the new lambs either.

Then the creature descended rapidly, at first she simply watched the hawk with curious violet eyes, but as it neared the ground it changed from a hawk into a man. Serendipity was a kingdom full of magic and wonders, but it was just so unexpected she couldn't help but stare at him dumbfounded for a few moments. Although she was looking at him, Nadya didn't really see the man. She was just a bit shocked and so didn't really notice individual details about his person. Only that he was tall and speaking to her.

"The song? I don't know the name of it..." She was still gawking at him, like a complete ninny. Finally the situation really registered with her. Blinking, she felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment. This man had been listening to her sing? Had he been spying on her? For how long? She wanted to shrink away to nothing and just hide. Someone had heard her singing. Lifting her chin and standing straight she tried to appear surer of herself than she felt. "Who are you and why are you on my property?"

Her heart was beating furiously and her mind was racing. What if he was some kind of bandit? That would be disastrous. No one even knew she was out here, and no guard could have come to her aid in time should she scream. Now that she thought about it, an escort would have probably been the wisest thing. But she had just wanted to be alone...

[miss_sanguine]

From above she had looked an easy target with her shining trinkets and solitary figure. Up close she looked even easier. Grinning under her nonplussed gaze, as if used to such a reaction (which he was), he held his arms out in a gesture of peace, small colored strings dangling from his loose sleeves.

"I guess it doesn't matter," he said. "Since even if I were to find the song for myself, I wouldn't be able to sing it as wonderfully."

She was a pretty thing, made all the prettier when she blushed, a rush of red rising to her face. Her wide, violet eyes enticed him, drew him closer. At the sudden show of defiance, which he didn't buy at all, he laughed. "I told you why I came," he said. "One can't resist that voice of yours. And as for my name," he bowed deeply, hair falling around his face, "I am Kabegami. Kabe for short. Might I ask yours, pretty lady?"

[Zero]

Nadya felt her cheeks burning again as the stranger laughed at her attempt to be self-assured and commanding. Violet eyes fell as she shrank back slightly from him, intimidated. Her hands were clutching the flowers fiercely, which were held to her chest like a pathetic shield.

He wasn't behaving like a common bandit or thief, but she hardly trusted flattery or a silver tongue. The man gave her a name, but how could she be sure it was really his? Did it matter? His appearance was striking, easily memorable and would be passed to her guards, but if he could take the form of an animal...

"You didn't hear me singing miles away, which means you were already here," She insisted stubbornly, despite her timidness. "And I am Lady Nadya Lancaster, granddaughter of Lady Marielle Lancaster. You shouldn't be here, you're trespassing."

[miss_sanguine]

Ah, that blush! It called to him as loudly as any siren. He did not move any closer upon seeing her small retreat, instead moving his focus to the flowers in her hands. Lavender, which she'd apparently plucked from around here. The purple plants blossomed around him in clumps of bushes, tucked between rocks and boulders.

"You're right," he admitted. "I only just heard your singing. I happened to be flying overhead--for no reason other than I could. Wouldn't you fly to your heart's content were you able to?"

He mentally repeated her name, letting it dance about in his mind. A Lady, huh? That explained the riches and fancy attire. And just his luck, too!

Stooping down with as much grace as he possessed, he swept his arm out and snatched a whorl of lavender from a shrub near his feet. When he straightened, he brought it to his nose and took a light sniff, widening his smile as he stared out over it into her violet eyes. "Trespassing? Would you say that were I still a hawk? I'm not here to steal any of your land or sheep or ponies, Miss Nadya. How could I, being one man?"

This time he took another step closer. He delicately offered the flower to her, holding it an inch or so away from her tightly gripping hands, head ducking and shoulders arching into another, less intricate bow. "Flower?"

[Zero]

Timid as a mouse, how she hated herself for blushing. Her grandmother wouldn't have blushed, she thought bitterly. Marielle would have been the image of composure, and likely would not have been stupid enough to put herself into this situation to begin with. Nadya still felt afraid, she was out here alone with a strange man. It was inappropriate if nothing else. Her grandmother was going to throw such a fit when she found out.

A slight scowl came to her pretty features and she opened her mouth to argue, but then clicked her teeth shut. She really didn't have a counter-argument to that. If she could fly she would probably fly until her wings were too tired to do so any longer. Hardly proper thoughts for a young lady.

Violet eyes watched him as he plucked a lavender from the ground with more than a little show, was he showing off? She wasn't sure, and hardly thought she was someone to show off to anyway. At first she had been too distracted by the shock of being discovered out where she shouldn't be to really notice details about this strange man. Now she couldn't stop noticing things about him.

He was tall, had long hair, as long as hers, even, and as he smiled at her from over the flower she couldn't stop herself from thinking he had the loveliest shade of blue eyes. No, he didn't look like a common ruffian, that was for sure.

"Of course I would not think you were trespassing if you had just stayed a hawk, if you had just stayed a hawk then there would have been no reason to think anything of your presense. You didn't, though." Oh how she wished he would have just stayed a hawk and left her alone.

She'd have pointed out to him that a lone man could still cause quite a bit of mischief all on his own if he took the notion, but then he stepped closer and it took everything she had not to step back. Almost owlishly she blinked and looked down at the offered flower. Nadya hadn't realized how tightly she'd been holding her own flowers and she forced her hands to relax.

It wasn't right to accept things from strangers, but she had just watched him pick the flower herself, and technically, it was already her flower anyway since he'd gotten it from her land. Smiling, despite herself, she reached out one hand to take it. "Thank you?"

[miss_sanguine]

He took his time drawing his hand away, allowing her fingers to brush against his as she took the flower. Her skin felt soft, as fine as velvet. He wanted to run his own fingers down her arms, up her neck, to test every other part of her body.

Flashing her the briefest of smiles at her thanks, he quickly straightened himself once more. "No reason to think anything of my presence?" he repeated, feigning a sudden look of shocked misery. "You wound me. Did you not appreciate my exquisite hawk form?"

His formal words fell off his silken tongue without thought. Women usually appreciated when men spoke with embellishment, something he'd come to adopt whenever first meeting someone of the opposite sex. This Nadya seemed to no different.

Unable to hold his act for long, he laughed. "But this means you think something of me now. Might I say that," his eyes ran over her a moment, lingering only the slightest on her jewelry, "you're very pleasing to the eyes yourself. Why are you out here in the hills singing to flowers instead of at home courting handsome lords?"

[Zero]

The contact of their fingers was brief, but it was enough to make her deeply uncomfortable. It was an innocent enough gesture, their fingers touching as she took the flower from his hand, but still it was more than she would have liked.

"It was a lovely hawk, but it was still a hawk. Strange men are much more worrisome than a hawk." Her guards wouldn't arrest a hawk, for instance. An unknown man, however innocently, speaking with the Lady's granddaughter? That might warrant at least a temporary take into custody.

Strange men were worrisome indeed! A familiar flush crept across her skin as his eyes roamed over her. That certainly wasn't appropriate. Fear began to gnaw at her again, but he had also reminded her of something. "Oh no, grandmother is going to kill me. I'm not supposed to be out here at all, let alone by myself. I'm supposed to be entertaining Lord...ah..."

A look of horror came over her face. Good lord, she'd forgotten his name! First abandoning him and then forgetting his name; she was a terrible hostess.

[miss_sanguine]

A thrill of excitement rushed through him. Noblewomen were usually off-limits, protected by the airs and customs surrounding their primped lives. The fact that she happened to be forbidden made her all the more desirable. Add to that her apparent beauty, well. How could he resist?

Already he could imagine them rolling about in the grass, their bare bodies collecting crushed leaves and soft earth. Enveloped by the sweet smell of lavender, they would be lost to their passions. It was enough to make him nearly forget the main reason he'd come down from the sky.

"Well!" he said. "You can't keep Lord Ah waiting!" Whoever this lord happened to be, he must have been a real boring man for Nadya to have forgotten his name. He could tell by the look of horror on her face that she felt bad about it, nonetheless. "But, ah . . . before you go."

He allowed his lips to fall into a apprehensive frown before he continued, his thoughts coming together to form a plan. "I admit I didn't come down just because I heard your singing."

[Zero]

It wasn't so much that Lord Bryson was boring, just that Nadya didn't really know him or even care to know him. Her grandmother had a constant procession of lords parading through the estate. Ladies too, of course, but her grandmother was more concerned with lords. Nadya knew exactly what she was up to, and didn't care for it one bit. At least it wasn't like Connlaoth, her grandmother couldn't actually force her to accept a suitor.

A wave of relief swept through her suddenly. He was going to let her go and nothing bad had happened. Perhaps he was really just a passing stranger that had admired her voice. It was a terribly comforting thought, even if she was embarassed about someone hearing her singing.

She almost turned to run back to her horse to get home as quickly as possible, her grandmother was going to be angry enough, but he spoke again and she blinked at his frowning face. Hadn't he said it was her singing that had brought him down? A feeling of unease returned. "Then what did you want?"

[miss_sanguine]

To him, Nadya came off the sort who cared too much. She hadn't blatantly told him to go away, hadn't refused his flower offering. Even now, though her disquiet rang through loud and clear, she continued to speak to him. He wanted to laugh, holding the action back by nodding solemnly.

"Putting it bluntly, I'm cursed," he said. "That wonderful hawk form of mine isn't my doing. A wicked witch cursed me for bumping into her--can you believe that? And now," he held out his hands, palm up as a sort of pleading gesture, "the only way to remove the curse is to pay her."

Yes, yes. That sounded pitiable enough, and believable enough. Plenty of people got themselves cursed by grumpy witches and wizards all the time!

"But I'm currently broke. Not a single coin to my name! When I saw a lovely, kind woman with more than enough means to help, I thought I would come and beg your assistance. I've been stuck turning into a hawk at random for so long." He tried to look as pitiful as possible, lips pouting just enough. "Would you help me, Lady Nadya?"

[Zero]

Nadya did care too much. She couldn't help herself; it was in her very nature to be kind and generous. It was in her upbringing to be the pinnacle of politeness. Of course she'd also been raised to be meek and spineless. Her grandmother never tolerated even a smidgeon of defiance from her.

So as the strange man stood there and spilled out his sorry tale, the girl merely stood there and listened to him with rapt attention. Her face was unreadable as he finished, but her large violet eyes blinked owlishly. After a moment she finally frowned and chewed on her lower lip before sighing softly and shaking her head.

"That's quite a story, Kabe. It would be very dreadful to be cursed by a witch. If you wanted money why didn't you just say so to begin with? And why make up such a fantastical tale? All you had to do was ask." She hated when people lied to her, did they think she was completely stupid? Yes, perhaps she was a bit sheltered and naïve, but she was not dumb. At least he wasn't forcibly robbing her. That was something, at least.

[miss_sanguine]

He got another rush hearing his name on her perfect lips. Her voice had a wonderful lilt to it, caressing his ears with soft fingers. He couldn't help but smile, lowering his head to hide his face amid the fan of his long hair.

And then he started to chuckle. Softly in the beginning, until he could hold it no longer and drew himself up, bursting with laughter. One hand clutched his middle while another rested on his forehead. "Ha! I'm that easy to see through, am I?"

Either his tricks were suddenly lacking, or this girl happened to be smarter than he took her for--and since he still happened to be in his prime of life, it had to be the latter. What would he have done had he really been cursed, to have this girl go and tell him his tale couldn't be true? He could play it up more, but he found the whole thing too funny as it was.

When he'd settled some, he looked back at her from under his hand. "Usually outright asking for a woman's jewelry and riches doesn't end the way one would want, believe it or not," he told her. "But, if you insist." He cleared his throat, batted his eyes at her, and said, "Think I could have some of your pretty wares, Nadya?"

What else could he get just by asking? His thoughts went to her bottom, hidden somewhere under the lower region of her clothes, but his eyes moved to her lips. "And what if I were to ask for a little kiss, too? A romp in the grass? Would you give me anything I wanted were I just to ask?"

[Zero]

His laughter was met with a scowl. Nadya didn't know what was so funny. Why was he laughing at her? Was it that hard to believe that she could see through such a ruse? It infuriated her that everyone assumed she was just a silly little girl that didn't understand anything. Was it because she was a noble? Or maybe because she was pretty? Probably a combination of the two; pretty noble girls were supposed to spend all day dreaming about their future husbands or something equally as stupid.

Then she felt a bit silly, because he was right. Just asking for someone's gold and jewelry probably wouldn't get you very far. How was he to know if she would be generous or simply yell for her guards? Well at least now he knew that all he had to do was ask her. Knowing that he was probably a scam artist of some kind, she knew that she shouldn't give him money, but still, if that was how he made his living, so be it.

Her hands had moved to her belt and she'd unfastened a coin purse from it before freezing, her eyes going wide and her face blushing more than ever before. For a moment she could only stare at him, but then her pretty features turned into outrage. "How dare you! I'm a lady, not some common street whore. To even suggest such a thing!"

Taking the coin purse, which was not light, she threw it at him as hard as she could. "Take it and go, you, you, you wretch. Out of my sight before I scream for my guards and have you arrested." She should have called for her guards the moment he'd appeared before her. She might have been terrified if she wasn't so furious. Turning on her heel she began to stalk back to her horse.

[miss_sanguine]

Either a blush or a scowl, both brought out the best in the young woman. Kabe enjoyed the way he face scrunched just so, trying to look displeased while still maintaining her dignity and that brush of color on her cheeks. She reminded him of a bird, puffing up under insult.

And what a bird, too! To willingly hand over her money to a man she'd barely met and knew nothing about. He wouldn't have believed it had someone told him, but there she went, reaching for her coin purse with every intent to give it to him.

When she stopped to suddenly glare burning daggers at him, he nearly burst out with laughter again. Definitely a bird! he mused, one hand moving to his forehead again to push back on his hair in amused exasperation. Women always jumped to outrageous conclusions.

He caught the purse with a low oomph as it slammed into his stomach, then hefted it with one hand to weigh its worth. There had to be enough for him to gamble the next week away, if he wanted! And with this realization, his smile widened and he came forward to grab Nadya by her arm before she could escape.

"Since when does wanting a kiss from a pretty young woman mean I take her as a whore?" he asked, tugging her toward him. "Besides, I think I owe you something for this fine gift. All I have to offer is myself--which, come to think of it, would make me the whore, wouldn't it?"

He gave a light chuckle and pulled himself close to her, breathing in her clean scent while his grip moved from her arm to her shoulder, his other arm coming gently around her middle. The coin purse lay on the ground where he could grab it later.

[Zero]

Nadya whirled to face him as he grabbed her arm. Had she really expected him to just let her walk away? Apparently she had and her violet eyes glared up at him in indignation. How dare he put his hands on her! That smoldering anger was slowly fading away, replaced by goose bumps and a tingle of fear.

Choking down the fear she tried to remain calm. She would be okay, there was a way out of this situation, there had to be a way to just escape. That's all she had wanted to do when she left the castle, and that's all she wanted to do now. "Are you that dense or did you conveniently forget suggesting a romp in the grass?"

He had pulled her close to him; just the hand on her arm had been far more contact that she was comfortable with, now she was practically pressed against him as his arm moved around her waist. Feebly she put her hands on his chest and pushed, trying to wiggle out of his grasp. "What if the lady doesn't want anything from you? "

Every moment was bringing her closer to panic and already she had begun to tremble in his grasp. This was not happening to her. This couldn't be happening to her. Nadya gave a soft, almost whimpering sound as her large eyes looked up at him fearfully. "Please don't hurt me."

[miss_sanguine]

In his time around bars and towns, he'd met women who would have given their legs just to lie with him. He had the looks, the charm, the personality that most swooned under. Something he'd come to truly appreciate and expect. There were, however, those few who took his advances as something to hate--called him perverted of all things.

Which, yeah. Okay. He was, he admitted with a smile. Nothing like grabbing a nice round bottom when the chance came. The slaps to his face were worth it, almost comically rewarding. Even attempts to injure his more precious parts made it all the most amusing.

But this . . .

Kabe frowned as she shivered in his arms, pleading with her round eyes as much with her words. He felt as though she'd stabbed him with a dagger, straight into his chest. Could she honestly think he was the sort to . . . to do that? To rob her of what pleasures came from the mentioned romping?

A possessive urge to hold her close and comfort her as he would a smile child came over him. Had some man previously done her harm, to make her think that? It couldn't possibly be . . . Well, yes. Now that he thought about it, halting her escape and pulling her to him might come off forceful to some. Oops.

With a sigh, he slowly released her, etching her scent into his mind for later recall. "You've insulted me again," he said with a wry smile. "I'm a pervert, not a damned cur. I'd have preferred if you'd slapped me. You're welcome to, by the way," he added deviously, leaning forward and pointing at his cheek, "right here is where they usually like to."

[Zero]

Oh he was handsome enough, Nadya wasn't blind, but she was so reserved, so fearful of being touched, that it wouldn't matter how handsome, how charming, or how personable his personality. Years of listening to her grandmother put her down, the scars that had damaged her not only physically, but psychologically as well, had not given her to be receptive of attention from anyone, let alone men. Indeed, she found herself so fearful it could paralyze her.

Her grandmother told her about vagabonds and ruffians that would force themselves on women. Stories to make her behave and try to ensure that Nadya stayed away from anyone her grandmother didn't approve of her being near. So yes, Kabe's approach had certainly frightened her. It wasn't his fault as much as her debilitating terror. 

When she was released, she immediately staggered back a few steps to distance herself, but she was obviously surprised at first. It wasn't so much that she wanted to think poorly of him and to label him as the sort to do such a thing, but she'd been told that men would if she wasn't careful. Visibly relieved, she still clutched at her skirts, trying to keep her hands from shaking. Her pale skin was flushed from the contact they had shared, and also because of his words.

Violet eyes were cast down in shame. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I mean...Just that a lady alone accosted by a strange man and..." She blinked again, just realizing that he'd offered to let her smack him. Her eyes widened as her head lifted and she looked at his cheek where he directed. "Slap you?" That would require touching him again. And while she'd thought him inappropriate, and he had certainly given her a scare, she didn't find herself wanting to slap him. Shouldn't she want to, though? "Oh no, Kabe I couldn't."

[miss_sanguine]

Again with the strange. Why couldn't he be the handsome prince who popped up in fairy tales, lifting the beautiful lady off her feet and whisking her away? Why couldn't she call him what he clearly was? Dashing, graceful, charming--downright sexy. He couldn't argue with strange, though, because he liked being different. She, however, almost said it like it was a bad thing. Silly.

"No?" He pulled back, poking finger moving to his chin as if in thought. He liked that she continued to call him by name, telling him he hadn't crossed too much of a line, yet, all things considered. At least she understood now that he wasn't that kind of person.

Giving the silence a few more moments to continue his charade of thought, he let another smile pull at his lips. Then he reached out with both hands and squeezed the air with them. "Would it be easier if I fondled your breasts?"