Post by Zen on Jan 21, 2020 17:04:24 GMT -5
Treyjen Age: 14 Turns
Jeylokar’s wedding was a rather grand affair, if Treyjen did say so himself. He’d never been to a wedding before, in all of his 14 turns. Cousins had been married while his family was out at sea or trading in some other port hold, and it wasn’t like his father was going to interrupt business on account of family. But Jeylokar’s wedding was business. His brother had danced with his new bride, but then it seemed every other man wanted a dance with her as well so his brother had gone for a drink and was laughing with friends. Treyjen watched from his seat on the stairs. The celebration was taking place on his brother’s new ship. It wasn’t newly built, but it was new to their fleet. It technically belonged to Yvinnia’s father, but the captain of her had recently passed and the agreement, apparently, for this marriage was that Jeylokar would become its new captain and the two small fleets would join. Treylok’s three ships and Yvoren’s two, which made for a rather impressive five ships in their trading fleet.
With a sigh, Treyjen eyed the wine across the deck, considering sneaking some for himself. He had grown bored of the entire affair long ago. He was just about to get up and sidle himself over when the lady of the hour plopped down to sit beside him, breathless from all the dancing she’d been doing, “Well! You’ve found yourself a nice spot to watch all the action, haven’t you?”
Treyjen eyed her for a moment, replying flatly, “Aye.” There went his plan to sneak himself some wine.
Yvinnia sighed, watching everyone that had come to celebrate her union for a moment, “You’re not having a good time?”
He sat back with a short, sharp laugh, “Nothin’ gets by you.”
She swatted his shoulder and he flinched away. They both looked at each other in surprise for a moment. “No… it doesn’t,” she replied after a moment, taking her hand back slowly, as if she was afraid moving too quickly would scare him away. He rubbed at his shoulder absently, looking away rather pointedly. After another moment she spoke again, “I’m not having a good time either.”
Treyjen looked over at her again in surprise, “Y’were laughin’n dancin’ a moment ago.”
A smile passed over her lips that didn’t reach her eyes, “It’s what everyone expects.”
“Who cares?” Treyjen grumbled, crossing his arms over his knees as he leaned forward.
She surprised him again, laughing, and this time it sounded different from the laughter he'd heard ringing out over the deck as she danced… because it was genuine. “I’m not sure what I expected from you, Treyjen. You’re certainly nothing like your brother.”
He snorted derisively, “Good.”
She sighed, teasing, “If only I were marrying you instead.”
A look full of shock and disgust contorted his features and she started laughing again. He waited until she’d stopped before he asked, “If y’don’t wanna marry’im, why are you?”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want to marry him. Only that I’d prefer you,” she winked at him and he made another face, much to her amusement. Reaching over to ruffle his hair, she stood as he tried to duck away, “Will you dance with me, Treyjen?”
“Err… I dunno how,” he admitted, hesitant, eyeing her outstretched hand.
“It’s alright. Let it be your wedding gift to me?” After another moment he took her hand and she pulled him to his feet, leading him along in a dance in which he had no idea what the steps were. He nearly tripped initially, but she steadied him with a soft chuckle, “Have you really never danced before?”
He shook his head, “When’d I’ve done that?”
“Surely you’ve been to gathers?”
“Aye, we work gathers sometimes. No time for dancin’.”
Yvinnia frowned slightly at that, “Your father never let you have at least a little time for fun?”
Treyjen laughed coldly at that, “No time for fun when there’s work to do and marks to make.”
“Your father is a hard man,” she stated after a little while, and he snorted in response to her stating the obvious, “Is your brother as well?”
There was something strange in her tone and Treyjen looked up at her curiously, trying to discern just what it was, “No. Not… not really.” He glanced away, because he realized what she was asking and he wasn’t really sure if he knew the answer, but Jeylokar had never had the violent temper of their father. A temper sure, but nothing like Treylok’s. Maybe that came with age, for all he knew. Maybe his brother would get meaner as he got older. Who was he to say? “But he is an ass.”
That got her laughing again, “I think I’ve gathered that much.” She got quiet after that and he focused on trying not to step on her toes until she finally released him a few moments later, “Thank you for the dance.” She winked at him again, though it took him a moment to realize why.
She’d danced him right over to the wine.
