[Kedyn Rowien]

Perhaps she had been too long among the lesser races in this poor excuse for a nation. Every vein in the pale Quel’anthasan’s delicate face flushed a deep crimson as the Lord Undromil gestured his servant toward her bag. Quickly she released her hold on the straps and allowed the smaller Elf to take on the burden, acutely aware of the faux paus she had just committed. Here she was, the first daughter of Kard en i’Rowien of Eledhwen, and she was carrying her own luggage.

She stifled a sigh. If Kisa had been here, her twin would have pinched her to remind her of her manners…though more often than not it had been Kedyn reminding the other of the proper decorum.

The young woman docilely allowed Tala’nayn the freedom to lead wherever he wished, merely resting her hand on his arm out of formality more than an attempt to guide. As he pointed out various landmarks and architectural structure, Kedyn paid polite but not quite genuine attention to his explanations. It was true; Syl’rosya, as a city, pleased the eye to a much greater degree than Imperia or even Diana had. Still, Kedyn couldn’t help a growing sense of homesickness deep within her belly. It wasn’t Talelena. It wasn’t home.

Turning the deeply emerald orbs toward Tala’nayn, the Elf also turned her full attention onto the nobleman, recalling every portion of her consciousness to respond to his words. She smiled brightly with only the barest hint of insincerity in the corners of her delicate lips. “Politics are not unfamiliar to me,” she lilted in her native Old Trelorean tongue. That statement was, indeed, entirely true. From her birth Kedyn had been taught that every word, every action, every motive had a consequence. The trick was to make that consequence beneficial to one’s House.

Smiling softly, she turned her head a bit and dropped her gaze from Tala’nayn’s. “I am certain that with proper instruction I will grow to understand the subtle nuances.” Her free hand went to tuck a small thread of red hair back behind her delicately pointed ear before her eyes followed Tala’nayn’s outstretched hand toward the turrets in the distance and nodded. To be quite honest she had absolutely no interest in law or politics, but politeness required her to at least respond to his description.

Her eyes glittered as the two Quel’anthasans approached a break in the city which Tala’nayn had identified as the Emerald Gardens. She, as much as any of the children of the Ke’trala, appreciated a well-groomed wood or a carefully kept flower bed. Fluttering her eyes closed, Kedyn released her hand from the Lord’s arm and inhaled deeply, reveling in the scent of the earth. A genuine smile crossed her pale face as she returned her gaze toward Tala’nayn.

“I thank you for bringing me here, my lord.” The grace of the Goddess Carmelya was apparent here, filling Kedyn’s senses with a tantalizing run of pleasure that had been so foreign since she had relocated from the island of Trelore. Perhaps she could make such a city her permanent home…it was certainly better than any other Aelyrian city she had previously visited.

Her attention turned back to Tala’nayn as he voiced his question. Her cheeks blushed slightly, although it was hard to tell whether it was the effect of the sunshine or the direct nature of his words. What could she say? She wasn’t about to admit that she had been shunned from her own House for her lack of minor magick. But anything less appeared bland and painted her as a listless, wanderlusting juvenile with no sense of familial responsibility. “A complicated tale, I fear,” she finally answered.

Stretching out her hand, Kedyn let her fingers play against the soft petals of a flower nearest her, enjoying the velvet touch on her skin. “My honorable uncle left the Kingdom for Medonia when the magic barrier fell between the lands due to a misunderstanding. Since he is my father’s brother, my lord father thought it best that I be sent to make amends to restore peace to the House. After finding and speaking with my uncle, I found myself stranded on this continent. The Gods have not been kind in guiding me back to my home.” The Gods had never been kind to the young Elf, but that was beside the point.