(intro) o_o

[ofsandandstone]

Lystra is sitting at the window, alone. She's sent everyone away, not that there were many people to send away. Most of the others at the Pinnacles are dragon-knights, whose only interest in the queen and her newborn son is how well they are protected. Lystra isn't craving company or conversation, though. She's happy to sit quietly at the window,

Comments

[aru_iru]

Well, he's not a knight, but he might be mistaken for one? Alphonse is heading down the same corridor, a few books in one arm and another open in his other hand. He's paying more attention to the halls this time though and spots the woman.

He closes the book at seeing her frightened expression and tries to offer an air of calm and safe. Being as large as he is, he's not sure if it's effective or not...

"Oh! Um, hello there miss." There is a smile in his very young voice.

[ofsandandstone]

Lystra regards him for a moment, wide-eyed. It is comforting to see somebody, even if it's not somebody she knows, so she calms a little. She figures (or hopes) Al is one of Meteroa's dragon riders, even if she's never seen him before, here or at Clifftop.

She inclines her head a little, by way of greeting. It's the closest she can get to a bow while holding her son.

"I fear I've lost my way, rider," she says, managing to keep the nervousness out of her voice and sound calm and queenly.

[aru_iru]

Rider? He doesn't know what that means, but he's helpful, really! "Oh! Are you new then?"

[ofsandandstone]

Lystra looks a little confused. "New?"

[aru_iru]

"To the Mansion. I don't think I've seen you before." There's a clear smile in his voice and his manners are friendly and warm. "I'm Alphonse. It's nice to meet you." The young boy bows a bit.

[ofsandandstone]

"I am Queen Lystra," Lystra says, puzzled that Al doesn't seem to know who she is. There aren't many young queens with newborn babies currently staying at the Pinnacles. "I do not think we know each other. Are you one of my husband's knights?"

[aru_iru]

"Oh, no ma'am. I'm not a knight. And ... um, this is the Mansion. I don't know where you're from, but this probably isn't the same place." Oh no. He hates being the one to tell people they're far from home.

[ofsandandstone]

Not a knight? She wonders if he might be a sellsword, then, but she didn't think Meteroa had hired any sellswords.

Lystra still looks confused, and a little frightened. "Are you in Lord Meteroa's service?"

[aru_iru]

"Oh, I'm not in anybody's service. I, um, I kind of work in the library here. You and your son are both safe though, I swear. I won't hurt you and I promise not to let anybody else hurt you either."

[ofsandandstone]

Lystra believes that Al's not going to hurt her, but the frightened look in her eyes doesn't go away.

"What is this place?"

[aru_iru]

"This is the Mansion. It's ... some people here say it's between worlds and I don't really have any better explanation myself."

Sorry for being so late! ; ;

[ofsandandstone]

Between worlds? That doesn't make any sense.

"I don't understand," Lystra manages, after a nervous hesitation.

[aru_iru]

"It's hard to explain," he starts, a bit nervous himself. "Why don't we sit down and I'll try my best? Do you need anything for your baby?" He's not very used to babies, though he adores children.

[ofsandandstone]

Al's nervousness makes Lystra even more nervous.

"I do not," she says, in answer to the second question. "Why would it be so difficult to explain?"

She ignores the suggestion of finding a place to sit, not to be rude, but because she wants to know what is going on right now.

[aru_iru]

"Well... This place is, for lack of a better term or full understanding, magic. There are all kinds of people here, from all sorts of different places. The Mansion takes care of it's ... occupants," he doesn't want to say prisoners, "and we've all got a room and there's plenty of food to go around for everyone. For the most part, the people here are good and very, very nice, but there is a bit of a mix of all kinds..."

He makes a soft sound. "It's hard to explain because I don't really know the why or the how of us all coming here."

[ofsandandstone]

Magic? That has Lystra even more worried.

"How did I come to be here?"

She's still trying to sound calm and queenly, but the calm bit isn't working so well.