D-017: Servants' Quarters

It was with a great amount of trepidation that Eira and Avantika approached the sprawling St. James manor in Corli. ‘Manor’ seemed a small word for the palatial complex of buildings. The pair ambled up a central driveway from the main gate, gravel crunching beneath boot and hoof. Massive trees lined the drive, offering tantalizing glimpses of the gardens beyond, and the main residence loomed ahead. It was a chill day, the promise of frost in the air, but the residence was well lit from outside, the picture of a cheerful spring day. The work of Light magic, most likely; it was still far too cold for the butterflies that occasionally flitted through the air.

“You won’t be allowed in,” began Eira, stepping aside to let an automated cart loaded with goods pass. “The St. James’ family make accommodations for their dragons, but you… well. You’d make even those vast hallways seem small, I’d wager.”

Hearing Avantika’s footsteps pause behind her, Eira turned, and she was flooded with foreign feelings - discomfort, wariness, and perhaps a tinge of offense. She gave a slight chuckle. “I guess I don’t blame you. But… if Silas is in his usual spot, there’s a window there. That way you’re close without being right next to me.” Closing her eyes, Eira concentrated as she walked - no easy feat, with the uneven gravel - and focused as hard as she could on the location of Silas’ study. It was on the west wing of the great mansion, still on the first floor, with an easy view of the setting sun.

Her dragon seemed reassured by this information, and chuffed, thrusting her head forward and bumping her nose against Eira’s shoulder affectionately before resuming the journey.

As the pair of them approached the steps leading to the massive front door, it swung open to greet them. What emerged seemed to be, for all intents and purposes, a large dog clutching a ball in its mouth as it happily fled the manor - only to run headlong into Avantika’s many legs. It took only a moment to ascertain that the doglike creature was in fact a male, and a dragon - the feathered crest, horns, and eyeless sockets rather gave that away. Eira pondered briefly how such a creature could manage to see and whether or not he was truly blind, or if he could view the world through the fisheye lens of the globe he was carrying.

The smaller dragon, after crashing to his hindquarters, gave a bark of protest at the dragoness in his way, dropping his star pearl with a heavy thunk. Avantika, in turn, gave a groan of what Eira presumed to be distress before lowering her muzzle to nose at the smaller dragon. Her rider had to duck out of the way of the suddenly lowering and shaking horns, and she loosed a small glare at her dragon. Avantika seemed unrepentant, however, and was making a great fuss over the appearance of the canine dragon.

Eira felt the muscles around her eyes soften slightly as she looked at the pair. Could Avantika talk to another dragon? Or was she simply making noises? The other dragon seemed to be responding, but she wasn’t sure of whether it was to any telepathic speaking or simply the noises the two were making at each other. A shout sounded within the doorway and Eira flinched at being caught so off guard - and both the dragons swiveled their heads to look towards the source of the sound as well. She had to duck yet again as Avantika’s forward-pointing horns swung narrowly past her head.

“Harr - oh.” In the doorway stood a young man, covering the lower half of his face with a hand - probably suppressing a smile. Eira peered at him, but couldn’t quite place him. To be fair, she didn’t interact much with the younger generations - except Claire, of course. The young man before her didn’t seem like a St. James - he wasn’t carrying himself arrogantly, and his clothing showed the sort of wear that came from honest work.

The smaller dragon launched off yet again, dancing around the man with mouth open and tongue lolling out, looking for all the world like an energetic wolfhound. He was making nearly barking noises in his excitement, and his apparent owner laughed. “Down, idiot. Down! Where’d you put your ball?”

As the dragon raced off to fetch his ‘ball’, the man’s piercing gaze was set upon Eira. She felt strangely bare as he took her in. Her face warmed in anger as his eyes lingered upon her scars, but the feeling faded - he didn’t seem to be pitying her. Instead he seemed to be… profiling her? She caught a glimpse of a badge at his hip and it suddenly made sense - a member of some police force, but for city or family - or both - she couldn’t tell. “Can I help you?” he finally asked, no small amount of suspicion in his voice.

Eira supposed that she didn’t blame the fellow; she wasn’t exactly dressed well, and her entire appearance was rather rugged. “Here to see Silas St. James,” she said, shifting uncomfortably. She still wasn’t entirely sure if she was offending some scion, or if this was someone’s go-to lackey - like she was.

“Ah,” said the man, giving her one last glance. “C’mon then. Your dragon can’t come, but I’ll show you to his study.”

She stifled a sigh of frustration. She knew the way - more or less - but recognized that it would be somewhat improper to have an outsider, much less a lone woman, traipsing through the manor. Turning back to Avantika, she met her dragon’s fiery gaze. “You know where I’m going. You can stand outside that window if you’d like, or you can spend some time in the courtyard. It’s up to you.”

Avantika loosed a wave of indecisive feelings followed by a firm image of the window. Apparently, her dragon would wait for her right outside. Breathing out slightly, Eira nodded at the man with the small dragon. “That would be appreciated. Thank you.”

Wheeling, the young man strode back into the manor with an easy gait, one that wasn’t particularly hurried or tense. His dragon dashed at his heels, occasionally darting ahead and occasionally falling behind, dancing alongside Eira. The small dragon’s ease made his owner’s impression of her quite clear - not a threat.

She wasn’t quite sure whether or not to be insulted.

“So how do you know my uncle,” called the man, whirling on his heel to face her and walking backwards down the hall. “He gets his share of visitors but none… like you.” It was unsaid that she hardly had the appearance of someone seeking a business loan or carrying a financial proposal.

“I’ve worked for him for years,” said Eira. Glancing the lad up and down, she judged his age to be mid-twenties, and continued, “At least half your life, if not more.”

“I don’t recognize you,” countered the man. “Sol, by the way.”

“Eira,” she introduced herself. She was grateful they were walking and that she didn’t have to bow and scrape like she tended to have to do for the older generation to feel appeased. This generation - the younger one - seemed much more laid back about such things. “And I’m usually not allowed in the house,” she added drily.

Barking a laugh, Sol lead on. “Not too surprised. Suppose they think you’d drag muddy footprints through the house, or that you’re not housebroken or some nonsense like that.”

Concealing a smile, she agreed, “Something like that.”

Eventually, the tall doors that led to Silas’ study came into view, and alongside them, Silas’ personal dragon, Helios. She swore that the goatlike creature was tapping a hoof with impatience. “Finally,” the dragon sneered as the group neared. With a tip of his cap and a murmured farewell, the younger man and his dragon retreated to safer parts of the mansion, leaving Eira alone with Helios. “He’s been expecting you. Come.”

The doors swung open easily and silently on Helios’ command, and Eira followed the dragon in. The room on the other side was dim and rather dark, lit from artfully-placed torches and a low fireplace. She knew from experience that when needed, the room could become as bright and sunny as a summer’s day, even in the dead of night - but Silas seemed to be in a mood.

The man himself stood behind an enormous wooden desk, leafing through some ancient tome. Behind him shone the stained glass window she’d directed Avantika to; lit from behind, it glowed with gold and orange tones. As she entered and the doors swung shut behind her, he glanced up. “Eira,” he greeted her, almost amiably.

“Sir,” she responded neutrally. Reaching out with her mind towards Avantika, Eira found that her dragon was indeed right outside, trying to gaze in through the opaque stained window. She resisted the urge to squeeze the bridge of her nose.

Something of her expression must have shown in her face, for when she refocused on her employer’s face, she found him to be faintly amused. “I take it that the dragon is out there?”

His own dragon passed her, settling in to lay at a plush cushion to the side of the desk. Helios sniffed dismissively. “I’m surprised that brute took to you at all. She never did manage to speak right.”

Eira pointedly ignored the snotty remark from the dragon, though her own dragon’s emotions were starting to bleed into hers. Yes, there was definitely some resentment and a simmering undercurrent of anger from Avantika. “Yes. We’re beginning to work well together.”

Silas gave a thin smile. “A good investment, then.” He placed the tome gingerly on the table, seating himself at the desk. He continued to leaf through it, but Eira had no doubts that while his attention seemed to be elsewhere, he was keenly observing her.

Knowing that he would speak whenever he desired, Eira allowed her gaze to unfocus. She had a hunch about light magic, and… aha! Yes, there was a definite ‘shimmer’ to the book he was so closely paying attention to. Figuring it to be an illusion, she allowed herself to briefly wonder what he was actually reading and why he felt the need to hide it, even from her. It wasn’t exactly like she could tell anybody.

Finally Silas glanced up from the book. “There’s unrest at the Colony. Moreso than usual. If it’s not an escape attempt, it’s an attempted riot or…” He continued on, describing the plights of the compound where the debtors dwelled.

The negative feelings that Avantika was bleeding into Eira heightened. The dragoness had made her feelings about the Colony and its’ practices quite clear; she hated it.

“...perhaps a new overseer…”

‘Stop,’ she tried to send to her dragon, but the feelings still flowed over her. She clenched her jaw, trying not to let them affect her. It felt like the room swayed. She tried to focus on what Silas was saying.

“...of course, considered having your dragon removed, but…”

The world blurred. Silas’ words had been flowing over her like water, but Avantika - listening through her ears - had picked up that phrase and had snapped. And somehow, that had meant that Eira was powerlessly swept along the foreign emotions like a twig caught up in a river. Her hands clenched to fists at her side, and the study seemed oddly distorted, as if seen through the haze given off from a fire. Sounds muted, and all she could hear was the pounding of her heart and Avantika’s urges to fight, to destroy the one that threatened to seperate them.

Eira struggled to suck in one breath, and then another. She was vaguely aware that Helios had lept to his feet and was aiming his horns at her threateningly. With great effort, she somehow managed to pull her mind from her dragon’s, the action leaving her strangely exhausted. She slumped slightly while standing, and slowly, she willed her hands to relax and flatten. Finding her emotions and thoughts her own once again,her gaze then flew to Silas, horrified. The man gave her a flat, passive glance, and then promptly shattered into several hundred sparkling pieces.

“A wise decision,” murmured a silky voice in her ear.

Whirling, Eira came face to face with Silas - what she now realized was the real Silas - holding a long, thin dagger and something else in his left hand - something she suspected might have to do with the tracking implant in her flesh she’d gotten one day, something with the potential to do something very unpleasant.

It was easy to underestimate Silas St. James. He was an aristocrat, a thin spidery man with no seeming strength - but he could move swiftly and silently - and apparently was masterful with Light illusion magic. She’d genuinely had no idea that the Silas she’d seen with the book was nothing but air. Eira gaped foolishly for a moment at her employer’s veiled rage. “I didn’t -- that wasn’t --”

As she stammered, Silas expression slipped into something more relaxed. “Ah. I wondered if that might be it.” With a flick of his wrist, the dagger somehow folded onto itself, becoming a tiny square that he slipped into his pocket. The item in his left hand disappeared inside his jacket, and he beckoned her towards the pair of chairs before the fireplace, dropping heavily in one.

As she nervously sat down, Helios strode from his cushion to settle now in between the two chairs. His horns and body provided a rudimentary barrier, and an unspoken threat - if she went for his rider again, she’d have to go through him.

A thudding crash resounded, and Eira winced. Silas shot her a warning look. “If your beast breaks that window…”

Nodding hurriedly, she reached out with her mind, trying to find her dragon again. Her mind slipped against Avantika’s time and again; it was akin to trying to grab a bar of soap in a sink full of water. Finally, however, she made contact and grasped at it. ‘Stop,’ she insisted as firmly as she could. ‘You nearly got me killed, you idiot. Calm down.’

Avantika’s palpable relief at hearing from her made her feel guilty for severing their link, even if briefly. She sent several fearful images of Eira’s body laying on the ground, blood spreading, and of faceless men leading Avantika away.

“I take it you didn’t hear much of what he spoke of earlier,” Helios said drily. Eira got the feeling he was somehow speaking to both her and Avantika at once. “He wasn’t going to take you away from your rider, idiot. He was talking about removing you - the both of you - from the Colony.”

Eira felt a flood of relief that left her weak at the knees. “I -- what?”

St. James eyed her from above the rim of a glass of amber liquid. “I send you out enough on my personal business that you’re not at the Colony nearly enough.” He paused, taking a drink before sneering to himself. “I need you closer to my side, should I require your services. I’m having you - the both of you - move into the manor.”

After silently opening and closing her mouth for a few moments, Silas continued on. “In the servant’s quarters, of course, but still in this wing. Something with easy access to the outdoors, and your dragon. We’ll need to remove a wall.” He gazed at her with a sigh. “You are becoming quite expensive. I do hope I see a return on this. And on that note,” he paused, fixing her with a suddenly blazing eye. “You need to work on your bond with your dragon. Don’t allow her feelings and emotions to turn into your own. I won’t forgive a second attempt.”

Eira gulped. “Of course, sir. And.. I’m sorry, sir. I would never --”

Silas waved a careless hand. “Of course not. Helios - why don’t you see the two of them to their new quarters?”

With a nod and a final suspicious glance at Eira, Helios rose to his hooves, though still hovered protectively between her and Silas. Standing, she cleared her throat. “I, ah. I’m sorry about that, sir. It won’t happen again.”

Helios began herding her bodily towards the door as Silas called out behind them, “See that it doesn’t!”

As the pair exited the room, Eira loosed all the air in her lungs and hung her head, hands clawing into her hair. That had nearly been a disaster.

Helios seemed to agree, waiting until the doors to close before sneering “Fire elements. So rash. I suppose the two of you are well suited. But the next time she influences you to lose your temper, make sure it’s a fight you can win. We’ve worked far too hard on the two of you to lose you in some street brawl.”

It was as close to a compliment as Helios tended to get. “Thanks,” Eira muttered as the pair set off down the hall.

She had no idea where Silas’ personal quarters were, but imagined they weren’t too far away from the study he was usually located in. As a result, the quarters Helios brought her too were also not too far - on the end of the building. As they stood outside a door, the goatlike dragon brought his head with massive crown down in a polite bow. “I trust you will find the accommodations to your liking. Your fellow servants, neighbors, I suppose, can show you where to eat and such. We’ll be in touch. I bid you good night. And your creature.”

With a flick of his silky tail, Helios trotted back down the hallway from whence he came, hooves clicking neatly on the tiled floors. Eira loitered outside the door until he was well away before entering. Inside lay a narrow room. It was somewhat bare, containing a cot, a storage chest, and a wood burning stove in one corner. There was a surprising amount of space; Eira surmised that for a room of this size, generally several people would share, and she felt a flush of gratitude that she could at least enjoy her privacy.

Well. Somewhat. There was a stable door on the far side of the room, the top half being a window that could swing open and led outside. And shoving her head through the window was --

“Avantika!” Eira rushed to her dragon, cradling her large head with a hug. The dragon could barely fit her head in the room, and probably had to maneuver her horns carefully. The pale beast gave a mournful moan, and Eira stroked her nose. “It’s okay. I’m not mad, and I’m not hurt. It went… surprisingly well.”

Pulling away and cupping her dragon’s chin, she fixed a stern glance on those burning orange eyes. “But we need to work on these anger issues. No more fits of rage. Leave that for me.”

Avantika gave a low honk, presumably of agreement, before excitedly showing Eira image after image of her own ‘home’ outside. A covered, three sided stable, built large enough to encompass her whole body easily, and enchanted for the weather. Also a small paddock with a low fence - one she could easily jump, but enough for appearances. She’d already split open a hay bale and made a crude nest for herself, making a huge mess of the previously clean space.

“I guess this is home now,” Eira murmured, stroking her dragon’s face.