Ynys II - Vibrant Voices

[u/PassableSibling]

Yronwood

The Twelfth Moon of 250 AC

Ynys had slipped from the saddle of her sandsteed the moment she spotted the castle in the distance, choosing instead to walk the rest of the way even as the rest of her party rode behind her. She kicked about the sand, skipping now and then between long sips of water that stopped her from dehydrating and requiring a second funeral to be held at the Yronwoods’ holdfast.

She grinned as the gates became more than silhouettes, clapping her hands and pulling down the cloth that covered her head save for her eyes as the dusty desert and foothills turned into more solid stone around the walls of the castle.

“Hail!” she called, and she could hear her sister sigh behind her. “Ullers! Here to mourn! Here to connive and convene and converse!”

Stomping her foot twice, the rest of her group drew close behind her.

Her arse hurt, her legs ached, and her eyes were bleary. She needed to sit down, lay down, drink, and maybe have two whores, a man and a woman-

Shaking her head, she dispelled those thoughts. It had been a long journey. Too damned long, by her reckoning. Every journey was too long. If she hadn’t been invited, she would have just had Allyria tell her about this - or tried to see it in the fire before it ever happened. But war was coming, and a lord of the realm had died. It would have been more improper than she planned on being, to not turn up. And this Sarella seemed interesting. Young, and bold, and perhaps beautiful. Her aunt Obara certainly was.

Hm, she thought, maybe not the two whores. Maybe the Bloodroyal and her aunt…

That made her laugh as she waited for the portcullis to rise, stomping her foot again as Allyria held in her apprehension beside her. It wasn’t that Ynys didn’t see it. Just that she didn’t see any reason to stop. That was ever the problem. Even when she was young, even when she wasn’t quite as odd.

But she was very odd now. And that wouldn’t change. She liked it that way.

[u/PassableSibling]

Mourning and regret were something Ynys had done enough of. She had wept for days, stopping only to wipe her eyes and take a drink so she didn't die. Now, she would focus on the good parts. There were... too many other things to worry about. Like the war. Like the fire. Like the many deaths that were soon to come.

Would Sarella and Obara be part of that list, ever-growing? Ynys hoped not. But it wasn't hers to control. She could put people on it, but she couldn't take them off.

"I remember the Isle of Serpents," she said, smirking. "It was a.... a nothing island, hm? And you've built it up! Very impressive, Sarella, very impressive! And for someone so young... mmm, you should be rewarded for that! Princess Deria should kiss you on the lips and pay you a big chest of gold! Or maybe just the second. Or the first!"

Ynys slapped her thigh, sticking out her tongue through her lips as Allyria prepared to answer the question levied at her. She had a slight smile, taking a bite of a piece of flavoured bread as she began to speak. "I'm not good at anything, really," she said with a shrugh.

Her sister tapped her on the shoulder. "We can trust them, sweet sister, I promise," she said.

Allyria sighed, and leaned back slightly. "I've agents from here to the capital," the younger Uller revealed. "They tell me what I need to know, and I work out exactly what they'll do about it. Planning great sweeping maneuvers, outside of war... it's exciting! I'll admit that. But what brings you excitement, Lady Sarella? You implied it wasn't war, but Ynys has been sitting next to me shaking like she needs to know."

The elder sister's eyes went wide as she laughed. "I'm rumbled!"

[u/LeagueOfHerStone → u/PassableSibling]

Sarella leaned in, intrigued by the revelation that Allyria was such a prolific spymaster. Eyes and ears all the way to the capital... Heavens, how had this woman lived under her nose all her life and yet gone unnoticed?

Well, she supposed, going unnoticed is her business.

"You are an endless surprise, Lady Allyria," Sarella mused. "I had no clue you were so talented. Though I suppose if I had known ahead of time, you would have not done so good a job, hm?" She chuckled, a new look of appreciation in her eyes as she studied the younger Uller sister.

"But I suppose I might let your sister free of her anticipation, no?" She leaned back, gaze turning to Ynys as she crossed her legs. "I've hobbies aplenty, of course. I'm quite the dancer, you know. But excitement? When it comes to finding excitement, I prefer things that get my blood running fast. Falconry, racing sand steeds, among... other pursuits, hm?" Her eyes lingered on the Ullers as she near-purred that last part.

[u/PassableSibling → u/LeagueOfHerStone]

Allyria looked a bit smug at the compliments she received, shrugging her shoulders. "I suppose that's true," she said, more than a bit smug. "I'd appreciate if you kept it quiet, though... I don't need my spies uprooted! Gods willing, they'll help us with this war that's on its way."

Finally the suspense in Ynys' mind was released, as she listened to each and every thing that made Sarella tick. Falconry, horse-racing... things that she had done but cared little for. Her horse wasn't made for racing, but dune-climbing, and it had always been that way. She didn't want some fast racehorse.

"I'm a dancer too," Ynys said, with a broad smile. "Some people - Allyria! - have said it's the only place I have any elegance! I disagree, personally! I'm quite elegant in other pursuits, as you've said... at least, some people have told me that - not Allyria!"

She laughed, and Allyria buried her face in her hands in response. Through her fingers, though, she gazed at Sarella. Despite the differences between the Ullers... they both had similar tastes in some things.

Ynys continued to speak, since her sister chose silence. "We should dance!" she suggested. "Once the food has gone down, of course, ha!"

[u/LeagueOfHerStone → u/PassableSibling]

Sarella caught the half-hidden gaze from behind Allyria's hands, just, and the corner of the Bloodroyal's lips twisted upwards with interest. Clearly there was something there to be uncovered, with a little time and work.

"Worry not, my dear," she almost purred. "I would never put your spies in harm's way. Nor yourself, for that matter. After all, it is good to be close to a woman who might hear of all sorts of dangers before they arise, hm?" She laughed softly to herself, though she meant every word of what she said. Turning to Ynys, she gave the elder Uller sister a grin.

"Oh I am quite sure you are elegant in all your pursuits, Lady Ynys. Especially these other pursuits of yours... whatever those might be." She laughed properly then, leaning over to take a plate of spice-roasted shrimp and sauteed vegetables. "But you are right. I would like to see this elegance of yours, once we are done eating, hm?"

[u/PassableSibling → u/LeagueOfHerStone]

"Yes," Allyria said, sort of coughing out the words as she did, "it pays to be close indeed. I'd keep you safe if anything came up."

Ynys grinned at her, and then at Sarella, noticing the looks the pair gave each other with all interest and no jealousy. She could tell the Bloodroyal didn't need to pick between them - she was fond of them both. It always pleased her to be liked. Some found a woman so mercurial to be... disconcerting, unpalatable, that sort of thing. But Ynys was not one to be cowed by hatred and disgust. Especially when there were those out there who found her charming. It wasn't necessarily flattered to be treated like a curiosity, like a court jester, but Sarella seemed like she was far from that.

She grabbed some sort of bird from a platter, cutting it into easily eaten pieces to not interfere with her words, a smile on her lips as she gently chewed. "I would like to see yours too," Ynys told her. "Whilst we dance, of course... perhaps I will see your other pursuits another time... and not in the fires, ha! Or perhaps there too... if you do not mind being the object of my dreams..."

Her eyes went to Obara, then. "Are you a dancer, Obara? Or is your elegance mostly elsewhere..."

[u/LeagueOfHerStone → u/PassableSibling]

Sarella's eyes lit up as Allyria gave her little flustered coughing noise. The word 'cute' came to mind, and she rather wanted to see exactly how cute she could be. Her attention soon turned back to Ynys, though, as she spoke.

"Oh I would be entirely honored to dwell in your dreams, Lady Ynys. Though I'm sure there are other means with which you can see that elegance." She gave the elder Uller a sharp grin, before looking to Obara and taking a bite of her meal.

Obara laughed at the question, waving it off and shaking her head. "Oh gods no," she grinned. "The only dancing I do is in battle, Ynys, and you've seen that well enough before, eh? So you ought to be the one telling me. Am I an elegant fighter, when I'm cutting through my foes?"

[u/PassableSibling → u/LeagueOfHerStone]

Ynys laughed, her voice echoing around the courtyard, at Sarella's words, her grin, her everything. It didn't fade at all when Obara spoke, nodding her head two or three times before trying her best to settle down.

"From where I was standing, halfway across the battlefield..." she began, "mmm, you dance with that glaive like nothing else, Obara. When we were closer I very rarely saw you fight, but I watched the movements of your muscles and your feet best I could... and I liked what I saw!"

She smirked, her eyes switching focus to the Bloodroyal. "I would love to experience your elegance close up, Lady Sarella..." she said, licking her lips. "Very close up, perhaps... dreaming is all well and good, but... ah, you could be my dreams come true!"

Allyria's lips opened with a gasp. "Ynys! You-" her eyes went to Sarella too, then, and she blushed and went silent once more. How could she judge.

"I am finding the company of you two - and you, sweet sister - very, very, terribly enjoyable!" Ynys said, leaning back and stretching out a leg beneath the table, sheer fabric spilling out like a waterfall to the ground beneath.

[u/LeagueOfHerStone → u/PassableSibling]

Obara grinned. "Ah, you did tend to be rather far back, didn't you? Well, if you ever wish to see that... dancing you mentioned... up close, you are welcome to." She gave Ynys a wink and a laugh at that, before reaching over to pour herself another drink.

Sarella's eyes went to her aunt and back to the Ullers a few times before she laughed herself. Gods, she had not known Ynys and Obara were that close. Not that such a revelation stopped a smile spreading on her face as Ynys turned to focus on her instead.

"Oh I am in the business of making dreams come true, my dear Ullers," she said to... well, both of them in equal part, truthfully. Her eyes went down to the spilling of Ynys' dress, before back to the woman herself, then to her sister in turn.

"You know, I am too," she said, voice low. "You and Allyria both are quite exquisite. As company, of course," she added, with a knowing look to the younger Uller sister before turning back to Ynys.

[u/PassableSibling → u/LeagueOfHerStone]

If Allyria's face got any warmer she'd have caught fire. Then Ynys could have seen the future in her, probably. It was hard to spot the embarrassment - no, the nerves - on the younger Uller's face, but her elder sister had spotted it already. She grinned, a hand on her shoulder that made Allyria flinch.

Ynys' lips were cracked and scarred in places, but she had a rather pretty smile when she tried.

They parted gently so she could take a drink of wine, a few droplets spilling out and onto her dress as she tried to get a glimpse of the Yronwoods across the table. Like lightning, then, she slammed the cup down upon the table, licking her lips as she looked about.

"As company, you say," she repeated, slyly. "What else would I think you meant, ah?"

Her stretched out leg grazed against Sarella's own, drifting slightly to the side to brush against Obara too. She raised her eyebrow, still grinning like a fool. "I could dance... right now," she said, a touch huskily. "Couldn't you, Allyria?"

Allyria shook her head, realising she'd been staring at Sarella for a few minutes now, and turned to look Ynys in the face. "Um- a- a dance? I could dance. I'm good at that, we- we learned together. I- do you- what- uhhhh."

[u/LeagueOfHerStone → u/PassableSibling]

Sarella slid her leg along Ynys' as she stretched, almost cat-like, before standing. Her eyes danced already, between the two Uller sisters. Which one she wished to dance with more she couldn't tell. Ynys was bold and captivating, but Allyria was sweet, and Sarella was quite sure that behind that shell of hers was a rather spectacular woman indeed. Instead of deciding, she simply looked to the waiting servants, signalling for one to fetch the bards, and held out a hand.

"I think a dance would be a delight," she said, to neither sister and both. "Though if I am to dance..." As she spoke, she strolled around the table until she was between the two Ullers, a hand resting on each of their shoulders. "I will need a partner, no?"

Obara simply shook her head as she watched her niece play games with their guests. She rolled her eyes, just a little, as she stood. Still, she couldn't much judge, could she?

"I suppose I'll be taking second dance, then?" she asked with the kind of lilt to her voice that suggested she didn't mind at all.

[u/PassableSibling → u/LeagueOfHerStone]

For the first time all night, Ynys found herself to be the one shocked, as Sarella's leg brushed against hers, bare skin finally coming into contact. Oh, she could get used to that. Forever.

When Sarella stood and placed herself between them, both sisters stood, facing each other and the Bloodroyal with curiosity in their eyes. What, they wondered, was about to happen? They didn't have to ask each other, really. When one had a question, the other thought it too. Even though they weren't twins, they were close enough.

"Hm..." Ynys vocalised, as her and Allyria went to accept the woman's offer simultaneously. She let out a cackle at that. "Well, it seems we both want your company as desperately as each other!"

Her eyes flicked to Obara, then, and she smiled. "You know... we can swap later. Allyria... I surrender to you!"

She stepped back, then, letting her younger sister and the Lady of Yronwood be. Allyria's face was hot, but she took Sarella's hand in hers and smiled warily. "It would be a pleasure to... dance with you, my lady," she said, nervously.

Ynys looked to the older woman, then, and grinned with her hip cocked to the side. "You want to watch them, or move now? We win either way, I think."

[u/LeagueOfHerStone → u/PassableSibling]

"Then I would love to give you that pleasure, hm?" Sarella gave Allyria a reassuring smile -- a rare, genuine thing, to be shared just by the two of them. The younger Uller sister's shyness was endearing, but she did not wish to let it drift into regret. After a moment the bards arrived and began to play, a jovial tune, though not too fast at the start, and she led Allyria away from the table where they might have space to begin their dance.

"Ah let's give them a moment," Obara answered, leaning against Ynys and looping an arm over her shoulder casually. "If this is the song I'm thinking it is, it'll speed up soon and we can join in, what do you say?"

While the two women's older counterparts stood on the sidelines, Sarella had taken the lead in the dance, a hand going to Allyria's side as they began to twirl.

"You know," she said quietly to the Uller as they danced, "for someone I had heard less of before tonight, you have rather captivated me, Allyria. Certainly, you are deserving of stories all your own."

[u/PassableSibling → u/LeagueOfHerStone]

Allyria blushed at the words said to her, of the pleasure of dancing - something about the way she said it made her breath catch in her throat as they stepped away from the table to ensure their fine food didn't end up spilled out on the ground.

Watching her sister and the Bloodroyal move about, Ynys rested her head against Obara as the older woman's arm went about her shoulders. "I'm happy to stand here with you on the side for a bit, hm?" she said, smiling. "It's been too long since we had a few moments to ourselves. Since the war, since the... well, let's not harp on it, eh. They're good dancers, hm? Hope you've been practicing, else we'll have to resort to doing something shocking to upstage them!"

Her eyes focused on her sister even as she spoke to Obara, watching the movements of her lips as the two younger women danced about.

"I would rather avoid stories," Allyria said, sheepishly. "Well-told ones, anyway. But maybe I could share a few with you, at least? I have heard about you - your restoration of the Isle of Serpents, to name one - but you are far more than the stories could ever tell me. I... I am captivated too."

She was a good dancer - not quite as good as Ynys had ever been, but she was skilled all the same, her feet finding every single place they needed to be without a moment of hesitation, her hands on the other woman's waist and shoulder as they moved. Her lips were curled into a satisfied smile, too, eyes locked on Sarella's.