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[peerless_thayet]

There is something very startling about galloping along a coastal road, bent low over a horse's neck, and suddenly riding right into the end of the universe.

For one thing, there are a lot more trees. This could lead to a dangerous situation rather quickly.

For another, when one is a Queen's Rider, one could have been after a very troublesome band of raiders who might now go free.

It could also be very confusing for the other members of one's group.

It's lucky then that the Queen and her riders had already caught the raiders this day, and that Thayet was simply blowing off steam on her way back to Pirate's Swoop. Not to mention that she is experienced enough to adequately slow her mare before they both plow into an oak or get tangled in branches. Once the initial shock passes, Thayet is even pleased to find herself here and canters toward the bar, thinking a drink would be nice.



[OOC: Feel free to catch her outside or in. Slowtimes to be expected, etc.]

Comments

[not_his_pa]

(OOC: Slowtimes through dinner but wanted to get something started.)

Not far behind her another horse comes through the trees, William was enjoying a gallop and slows to a canter.

He tips his hat to Thayet as he slows, "Ma'am."

[peerless_thayet]

Thayet looks amused.

"Good day."

Afternoon? Evening? She isn't sure what it is here. At home it had been nearing sunset.

[not_his_pa]

It had been nearing evening on his side of the woods and now the sun is nearing the lake but still has a little ways to go.

His lariat is hanging off his pommel and he smiles at her look, "Yes, I think it is, ma'am."

[peerless_thayet]

"It usually is here, isn't it?" she says, content.

They ride along for a moment, Thayet reaching down to stroke Nonnie's neck. The trip hadn't seemed to affect her any, but the Queen wants to make sure all is well.

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, ain't always but when its nice, its nice," At the moment it is and things are good at home.

[peerless_thayet]

Interesting. Thayet raises a regal eyebrow at him and looks ahead down the path. They've slowed, allowing for conversation, and she takes a moment to breathe in the fresh air.

"I suppose I wouldn't have been glad to see it an hour past. It can be... inconvenient at times, to suddenly arrive somewhere you didn't mean to go."

[not_his_pa]

Her eyebrow is daunting and he looks down to rearrange the rope, "Yeah, but that's what it does. I like havin' some more time."

[peerless_thayet]

"As do I, believe me," she says, wry humor written all over her face. "My time is very often not my own."

Thayet eyes his rope and the saddle, tilting her head a bit to get a better look at its construction.

[not_his_pa]

The saddle doesn't have much decoration, William's done a little bit of hand tooling, but its all pretty simple and well used, "I know that feelin'."

[student_of_impossibility]

Tavi is not actually in military uniform when Thayet walks into the Bar for her drink. In fact, while the red and blue colors are the same, he is in fact wearing fairly plain linen of the kind a well-to-do scholar might wear.

The ink-stains on his fingers are fairly similar, too.

He is chewing his lip between scribbling in the margins of the paper he's looking over, obviously having mostly forgotten about the basket of bread and glass of wine waiting all forlorn next to him.

Though a glance up at Thayet makes him smile, he starts to go back to work--he's had to explain so much lately. Then several thoughts occur to him at once. He straightens abrubptly and waves in her direction. "Thayet!"

[peerless_thayet]

Thayet herself is not looking particularly regal, unless one were to note the fine quality of her light -- in weight and color -- riding leathers. Her long black hair is swept back in a braid and there's dust all over her boots, yet she looks just as comfortable thus attired as she always has in a gown.

The waving catches her eye a split second before she hears her name. Thayet smiles, waves back, and holds up a finger. She'll be right there, Tavi. She might not be the most fastidious of queens, but she does like to have clean hands before consuming anything.

"Good evening," she says cheerfully when she arrives beside him. "Working hard, I see."

[student_of_impossibility]

Tavi washed his hands! But these days apparently ink is positively inoffensive compared to what's usually covering his hands. Isana would have his hide if she knew he were risking ink stains all over his bread.

While she's getting her hands clean, Tavi takes the trouble to wave over a rat so she can order whatever she likes.

He smiles wryly at her. "Not enough hours in the day, so I'm squeezing in a few extra here," he replies rather cheerfully, waving his stack of papers as he does. "Helps get the paperwork done on time." And without sacrificing too much food and sleep. Milliways has probably saved Tavi's life several times over in that regard alone.

"What about you?"

[peerless_thayet]

Ink is acceptable; dust and horse hair is not.

"I won't do you the polite courtesy of pretending to be surprised," Thayet laughs, smiling down at the rat. "Another wine, please. Perhaps some lemon ginger scones with clotted cream?"

She has developed a taste for them.

"Raiders," she tells Tavi, gracefully lowering herself into a chair at his table. "I was having a bit of fun when I found myself galloping through the forest here."

[student_of_impossibility]

Tavi has the good grace to at least smile sheepishly at even Thayet--who does not know him all that well, after all--is unsurprised he is still working. At least today 'paperwork' means something fun.

The smile quickly melts into a mild frown. Raiders. "Are they any worse than usual?" After a pause, searching his memory, he adds, "Or getting outside support?"

He remembers her story about Orzone, and Alanna's about some of the activity he'd had while still human.

[peerless_thayet]

There's no need for that frown. Thayet gives her head a small, slow shake and smiles reassuringly.

"No. As it happens, this was practically a vacation. We got word from Pirate's Swoop that they were having trouble with this group, and as George was... otherwise occupied... I volunteered to meet up with the second Riders group and handle it."

Beat.

"No news of Ozorne yet."

A bland smile, which she shifts to the wait rat returning with her order.

[student_of_impossibility]

Tavi relaxes a little. "Good," he says with no little relief. "I'm glad you still get to manage vacations, raiders or no."

With all the rebuilding to do, he doesn't particularly foresee getting a vacation any time in the next few years. He would not wish that on his friends--and in Thayet's case, her kingdom--for anything.

And then he lets out a short huff of almost irritated breath. "People like him, I'd almost rather have bad news than no news," he mutters. He doesn't trust devious people going silent or vanishing.

(Fidelias.)

[peerless_thayet]

"Working vacations are easier to sell to the council," Thayet says, wryly. "Helping out a friend was an added bonus."

The sea air is rather refreshing, too.

"Jonathan has said the same on more than one occasion." A small, knowing smile. "As I mentioned, Baron Cooper is elsewhere at the moment."

[freedom_is_grey]

Halfway between the forest and the bar, on a clear stretch of land near the lake, a white-haired woman and an enormous brown dog are playing frisbee.

The dog is going through frisbees very quickly. He also looks up from the game, barking wildly, as Thayet and her horse come cantering past.

He stops at a quick word from the white-haired woman, however. Barking at strangers is rude! And some horses are skittish!

Ysalwen just waves. Hello, rider!

[peerless_thayet]

Laughter trails behind Thayet as she passes. She looks back over her shoulder and begins to turn Nonnie in a wide arc to return. Slowing to a quick walk, Thayet waves to the woman as she approaches.

(And to the dog. One never knows with animals in Milliways.)

"Good evening!"

[freedom_is_grey]

"Hello! Have you been out here all day? Only I didn't see you come out, and, well."

Liranan trots closer, a neon plastic frisbee in his mouth, tail wagging like anything.

"I may have been out here for quite some time. Liranan is difficult to tire."

[peerless_thayet]

"I haven't! Only a few minutes ago I was galloping beside the sea." She turns Nonnie in a circle, head swiveling to keep her gaze on the friendly stranger. "Not that sea," she adds, gesturing to the Caribbean inlet, "the one at home."

She glances down at the dog.

"Liranan is your hound? A lovely creature. I am unfamiliar with your game, however."

That disc is... really quite bright, isn't it?

[freedom_is_grey]

"This hardly counts as a sea. An aspiring strait, maybe."

She grins, regardless, tucking flyaway strands of hair behind her pointed ears.

"Liranan is my mabari, yes. Or maybe I'm his elf, I'm never quite sure. The game -- it's like fetch but with a disc? It travels differently than a ball, and is apparently more fun to catch. Or so his reaction has always suggested."

[peerless_thayet]

"Ah, but I hear tell that it is connected to a vast ocean. So it might qualify as such, in a way."

Her eyes sparkle with good humor.

"Mabari? I don't know the breed. Nor many elves, when you come right down to it." Thayet halts Nonnie and slips easily out of the saddle. "I'm Thayet."

She smiles at the woman and then the dog, holding out her hand in an encouraging fashion.

[freedom_is_grey]

"Does that mean if you swim deep enough in the inlet, you'll end up somewhere else? Because that would be -- actually about what I expect in my life, these days. Still. Has anyone tried?"

She's curious. Insatiably so, even.

"I'm Ysalwen, this is Liranan. Pleased to meet you, Thayet. Mabari are very intelligent war hounds and companion dogs -- hunters, too, when the need comes up. They're huge, as you can see, and friendly until something tries to harm their person."

This is so handy when traveling alone. Honestly.

"I'm an elf. I -- actually don't think I'm very representative, but who does, right? You're human, I'm guessing?"

[peerless_thayet]

That is a very good question.

"I really can't say," Thayet answers, squinting at the inlet. "Given the adventurous sort one meets here, it wouldn't surprise me."

She laughs, the sound rich and warm.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ysalwen. And Liranan. This is Nonnie," she says to the Mabari. "She is also pleased to make your acquaintance, though less likely to show it."

Nonnie shakes her head, sending her long white mane dancing around her neck, and turns to look at Thayet while the Queen and Liranan get better acquainted.

"I don't see much of our hounds. The ponies we keep in Corus tend to be too wild." She smiles at Ysalwen again, nodding. "Human, yes. From Tortall."