Fan Fiction ❯ A Long Journey ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Bunnicle 
Anime/Manga: Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Drama / Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.13.2005 | Pages: 1 | Words: 3.2K | Visits: 109 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Drama / Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.13.2005 | Pages: 1 | Words: 3.2K | Visits: 109 | Status: Work In Progress
The skies had long ago gone black with storm clouds, the air thick with the rain fall and the heat of Shadowdown Valley. The humid winds seep into the thin walls of homes and encampment -ware, leaving wet cloth in its wake.
The bulging rain droplets turn the compact roads and soft soil into running mud, the blowing wind helping move it in its course. The harsh wind causing usually tranquil lake surfaces and sweetly moving rivers to move in an uproar, crashing into the small homes that live in its shores and flooding others that live off their shores.
The prospect of riding in such weather was preposterous to Vladimir. And yet, here they are, trying river water and rain soaked roads on unsteady horseback. The incessant pounding of water on the oiled cloak that covers both he and his brother was becoming maddening.
Vladimir grips the rein with his right hand and lifts his left to his forehead, wiping away a stray droplet of water. Once he removed the lone bead, he re-grips the reins. He let out a soft sigh as Keiji curls closer to him while he slept.
`He really aught to go into the carriage… only, he'd probably be safer and get more sleep with me and this damned animal than with that squealing mound of flesh that makes up that pathetic thing of a woman in there.' Vladimir thinks vehemently, flickering a smothering glare at the soaked carriage behind him.
The progression had been slow and tedious. Every time the carriage would make a sudden jerk or irrelevant slip, Lady Panya would scream and demand that the speed of the horses be slowed. And, at this present moment, the movement was only progressing at a dreary crawl. The group covered no more than four miles the day prior and the only reason they stopped when they could have kept going was because the Lady wouldn't stop bickering and at the end, began to cry a high pitched wail.
“Lord Vladimir!” Lady Panya's voice calls over the torrential downpour of the heavens, her voice a screechy wail. Vladimir lets out a deep groan before he slows the horse down and turns it about to look at Lady Panya as she leans out of the side window with an umbrella over her head.
“There will be a small village waiting for our arrival a little ways up ahead! So, when you see it, go into it, Okay?” Lady Panya asks before she vanishes back into the carriage without Vladimir's answer.
“Absolutely…” Vladimir snarls under his breath, turning the horse back around.
The bulging rain droplets turn the compact roads and soft soil into running mud, the blowing wind helping move it in its course. The harsh wind causing usually tranquil lake surfaces and sweetly moving rivers to move in an uproar, crashing into the small homes that live in its shores and flooding others that live off their shores.
The prospect of riding in such weather was preposterous to Vladimir. And yet, here they are, trying river water and rain soaked roads on unsteady horseback. The incessant pounding of water on the oiled cloak that covers both he and his brother was becoming maddening.
Vladimir grips the rein with his right hand and lifts his left to his forehead, wiping away a stray droplet of water. Once he removed the lone bead, he re-grips the reins. He let out a soft sigh as Keiji curls closer to him while he slept.
`He really aught to go into the carriage… only, he'd probably be safer and get more sleep with me and this damned animal than with that squealing mound of flesh that makes up that pathetic thing of a woman in there.' Vladimir thinks vehemently, flickering a smothering glare at the soaked carriage behind him.
The progression had been slow and tedious. Every time the carriage would make a sudden jerk or irrelevant slip, Lady Panya would scream and demand that the speed of the horses be slowed. And, at this present moment, the movement was only progressing at a dreary crawl. The group covered no more than four miles the day prior and the only reason they stopped when they could have kept going was because the Lady wouldn't stop bickering and at the end, began to cry a high pitched wail.
“Lord Vladimir!” Lady Panya's voice calls over the torrential downpour of the heavens, her voice a screechy wail. Vladimir lets out a deep groan before he slows the horse down and turns it about to look at Lady Panya as she leans out of the side window with an umbrella over her head.
“There will be a small village waiting for our arrival a little ways up ahead! So, when you see it, go into it, Okay?” Lady Panya asks before she vanishes back into the carriage without Vladimir's answer.
“Absolutely…” Vladimir snarls under his breath, turning the horse back around.
***
The village was small and dismal at most. There wasn't even a worthwhile tavern in the entire place. The streets were made of dirt turned mud, unlike all other roads now made with thin stones or harden coal.
The homes were made of grey wood of such that Vladimir had never seen. They were old, run down places. On the outside, they looked inconspicuous, not even worth a second glance. They looked as if they'd let all rain water in through cracks that could not be seen with the naked eye. They looked cold and unsafe, as if a harsh wind blew, they'd crumble in its wake. A place that Vladimir did not wish to be nor did he desire to let Keiji stay.
But to Vladimir's utter dismay that was exactly were they were going. It's a wonder that the Lady Panya would tolerate such an environment. After all, she had sneered at their home, and their home is a palace.
Vladimir pulls to a stop in front of the tavern. He looks down at a young man, obviously the stable boy.
“Hold him for a moment?” Vladimir orders in a demanding voice. The young man nods his head, walking up to him.
“Of course, sir.” The boy says, taking Keiji out of his grasp. Once Keiji was off the horse, Vladimir pushes himself up with the stirrups and slings himself off the horse. He turns to the dark haired stable boy and takes Keiji from him and hands the reins to him in return. The boy turns away from the two foreigners and takes the horse to be cleaned, feed and what not.
Vladimir adjusted Keiji to the front of this body, turning to go into the tavern. The moment Keiji was conferrable, his legs and arms wrapped about his waist and shoulders, his face nestling into the crook of his neck.
Vladimir let a soft sigh pass his lips as he climbed the creaking wooden steps. Shifting Keiji so he rested on his right arm, he opened the brittle door into the building within. And to his utter shock, the moment the room within was opened to him; he was bombarded by noise and flush inducing heat.
A groan of protest at the sudden difference in heat broke through Keiji's lips. He wiggles in Vladimir's grip, lifting his head up to pear around, and again he groans.
Vladimir shakes his head, a frown pulling his lips as he walks into the building. He scans the room with an incisive glare, spotting the clerk at the other end of the room. He turns toward the fat man, weaving his way through but was stopped short by a one of the guards that had escorted himself and the other Lord and Lady.
“My lord…” the man says in a respectful tone, bowing stiff-backed at him.
“What?” Vladimir growls, more than finished with all distractions. Vladimir's only desire being gaining a room and sleeping until the time came till they had to move on.
“The Lord has ordered me to show you to your room, My Lord.” The guard says flatly, eyes downcast much like the slaves that run errands in Vladimir's home. Vladimir sighs and inwardly thanks the annoyingly submissive Lord for his insight.
“Alright. Don't just stand there like an imbecile, lead the way.” Vladimir says sternly, tired of mingling with these foreign people. The guard bows again before he stiffly turns to lead Vladimir and Keiji to a flight of stares that is near the burning hearth.
The first thing that Vladimir took notice to was that the rooms upstairs was surprisingly cool. And unlike the bar downstairs, the upstairs had a fresh smell. The vile sent of body sweat, alcohol, and such was vacant in this area, which pleased Vladimir greatly. The rooms that people sleep in were equally surprising. The rooms were small, but that was to be expected in such a small village with such a small population. But they were equally clean as any room in his palace, if not a little stuffy.
Vladimir shifts Keiji so that he rested on his hip, and then took the key that was presented by the guard and preceded to slam the light door closed. Once within the tight quarters, Vladimir locked the door than moved in further. The room consisted of a coat hanger, a chest, a drawer less dresser and a mirror, with a chair before it, and a single bed. Vladimir sat Keiji down upon the straw chair, holding his back way from the rest. He gently removes the slight cloak that is wrapped about him and then slips off his slippers. He slowly leans him back against the chair and goes over the coat hanger and places Keiji's cloak upon it and lies his shoes next to it before he divests himself of his own.
He returns to Keiji and gently lifts the sleeping child into his arms. He turns to the bed, walking up to it. He pulls the thick covers back and slips Keiji into them before he himself gets into them. A slight smile crosses Vladimir's lips as Keiji snuggles himself up against his brother in his sleep, and his hand slips to Keiji's platinum hair. Soon, exhaustion caught up to Vladimir and he joined his brother in slumber.
The village was small and dismal at most. There wasn't even a worthwhile tavern in the entire place. The streets were made of dirt turned mud, unlike all other roads now made with thin stones or harden coal.
The homes were made of grey wood of such that Vladimir had never seen. They were old, run down places. On the outside, they looked inconspicuous, not even worth a second glance. They looked as if they'd let all rain water in through cracks that could not be seen with the naked eye. They looked cold and unsafe, as if a harsh wind blew, they'd crumble in its wake. A place that Vladimir did not wish to be nor did he desire to let Keiji stay.
But to Vladimir's utter dismay that was exactly were they were going. It's a wonder that the Lady Panya would tolerate such an environment. After all, she had sneered at their home, and their home is a palace.
Vladimir pulls to a stop in front of the tavern. He looks down at a young man, obviously the stable boy.
“Hold him for a moment?” Vladimir orders in a demanding voice. The young man nods his head, walking up to him.
“Of course, sir.” The boy says, taking Keiji out of his grasp. Once Keiji was off the horse, Vladimir pushes himself up with the stirrups and slings himself off the horse. He turns to the dark haired stable boy and takes Keiji from him and hands the reins to him in return. The boy turns away from the two foreigners and takes the horse to be cleaned, feed and what not.
Vladimir adjusted Keiji to the front of this body, turning to go into the tavern. The moment Keiji was conferrable, his legs and arms wrapped about his waist and shoulders, his face nestling into the crook of his neck.
Vladimir let a soft sigh pass his lips as he climbed the creaking wooden steps. Shifting Keiji so he rested on his right arm, he opened the brittle door into the building within. And to his utter shock, the moment the room within was opened to him; he was bombarded by noise and flush inducing heat.
A groan of protest at the sudden difference in heat broke through Keiji's lips. He wiggles in Vladimir's grip, lifting his head up to pear around, and again he groans.
Vladimir shakes his head, a frown pulling his lips as he walks into the building. He scans the room with an incisive glare, spotting the clerk at the other end of the room. He turns toward the fat man, weaving his way through but was stopped short by a one of the guards that had escorted himself and the other Lord and Lady.
“My lord…” the man says in a respectful tone, bowing stiff-backed at him.
“What?” Vladimir growls, more than finished with all distractions. Vladimir's only desire being gaining a room and sleeping until the time came till they had to move on.
“The Lord has ordered me to show you to your room, My Lord.” The guard says flatly, eyes downcast much like the slaves that run errands in Vladimir's home. Vladimir sighs and inwardly thanks the annoyingly submissive Lord for his insight.
“Alright. Don't just stand there like an imbecile, lead the way.” Vladimir says sternly, tired of mingling with these foreign people. The guard bows again before he stiffly turns to lead Vladimir and Keiji to a flight of stares that is near the burning hearth.
The first thing that Vladimir took notice to was that the rooms upstairs was surprisingly cool. And unlike the bar downstairs, the upstairs had a fresh smell. The vile sent of body sweat, alcohol, and such was vacant in this area, which pleased Vladimir greatly. The rooms that people sleep in were equally surprising. The rooms were small, but that was to be expected in such a small village with such a small population. But they were equally clean as any room in his palace, if not a little stuffy.
Vladimir shifts Keiji so that he rested on his hip, and then took the key that was presented by the guard and preceded to slam the light door closed. Once within the tight quarters, Vladimir locked the door than moved in further. The room consisted of a coat hanger, a chest, a drawer less dresser and a mirror, with a chair before it, and a single bed. Vladimir sat Keiji down upon the straw chair, holding his back way from the rest. He gently removes the slight cloak that is wrapped about him and then slips off his slippers. He slowly leans him back against the chair and goes over the coat hanger and places Keiji's cloak upon it and lies his shoes next to it before he divests himself of his own.
He returns to Keiji and gently lifts the sleeping child into his arms. He turns to the bed, walking up to it. He pulls the thick covers back and slips Keiji into them before he himself gets into them. A slight smile crosses Vladimir's lips as Keiji snuggles himself up against his brother in his sleep, and his hand slips to Keiji's platinum hair. Soon, exhaustion caught up to Vladimir and he joined his brother in slumber.
***
Vladimir groans as he heard the few servants that had attended them on their journey shuffle about in the rented room. He cracks a sleep incrusted eye to gaze at his personal servants as they went about to get his and Keiji's attire for the day ready before they were forced to wake them.
He shifts his eyes to the door as a soft nock was sounded. One of the servants walk hastily to the door, cracking the door open and peering out before he opens the door wide to let one of Lord Tinuviel's servants pass through with a tray laden with fruits, sweetened breads, and some other type of yellowish white meaty object.
The servant handed the tray to one of Vladimir's servants that had finished his work prior, shrugging his shoulders at the other's frown directed at the unknown food. The foreign servant walks back out, the door being closed firmly behind him.
Vladimir soon looses interest in the activities of his servants, having seen them millions of times before. He pushes himself up, his back strait as he gazed out the large window on the other side of the room.
The skies had changed from a deep, angry black to a soft shade of grey, only a light sheen of rain falling from their heavens.
`I am so done will rain…' Vladimir thinks to himself as he lifts the thick blanket off his body and slipped off the bed. He made a quick glance at his servants to notice their stiff bodies and bowed heads as they stood in attention of his next command.
“My robe!” Vladimir sneers distastefully, glaring at the one servant that went to the small closet that Vladimir had overlooked the night prior. The servant scurried back to Vladimir carrying his silken navy blue robe draped over his arm. The small man pulled the robe open and slipped it onto his lord's broad shoulders, moving to the front of him to tie it but moved away with his head bowed as Vladimir dismissed him before such with a flick of his wrist.
Vladimir walked up to the small desk that the servants had pulled out. He looked down at the food found there, picking up a slice of a tangy smelling fruit.
`What an odd looking thing…' Vladimir thinks to himself as he looks at the yellow colored fruit. A slight sneer crossed his face as he set the slick piece down. He ran his soiled fingers across the deep red cloth beside the tray and turns to the window. Vladimir walks up to the grey tinged window, looking out to the equally grey sky above.
“Ydric…” Vladimir said suddenly, voice trailing off in a demanding tone. One of the servants behind Vladimir walks up to him, stopping five paces away from him with his head bowed.
“I want you to go to Lord Tinuviel and inquire as to whether or not we are staying here longer and give the road time to harden or if we are to be leaving.”
“Of course, M'lord! Right this moment!” The servant says in a lilting tone, turning way slowly as he moves to fulfill the command given to him.
“The rest of you, leave.” Vladimir says sternly, glaring at the other servants in the rental room. He watches as each of the servants bow deeply then gracefully leaves.
Vladimir hears a soft groan pass from behind him and he turns around to see Keiji stretching and squirming around on the bed, back arching slightly. Keiji lets out a loud yawn and plops back onto the bed, seemingly boneless. A slight smile lifts the corners of Vladimir's lips as he watches Keiji wiggle his toes and giggle. He walks over to the waking child and sits next to him, laying a gentle hand on the crown of his head, fingering his sleep tousled hair.
Keiji cracks one of his ice blue eyes and peers up at his older brother. A large smile splits the young boys face, giggling as his brothers eyes narrow slightly in suspicion.
“What?” Vladimir asks in a weary tone as he spies the mischievous look in his sibling's eyes.
“You know, Val… You kinda look like a girl with all that long hair on yer head!” Keiji says with a high pitched giggle. Vladimir glares at his brother as his small smile turns into a full fledge frown.
“I do not look like a woman of any sort!” Vladimir growls softly, straitening his back and crossing his arms in what he hoped was an intimidating stance. But to his displeasure, his performance only seemed to heighten his amusement.
“And you look like a moody lady!” Keiji cries out as he rolls with laughter as his brother throws his hands in the air with a huff.
“Hopeless!” Vladimir sighs, shaking his head.
As Vladimir stops his shaking, his eyes fall upon the forgotten food laden tray. A small smirk crosses his lips as he walks up to the dish, reaching down to pick up the white-yellow fruit he had discarded earlier.
“Keiji. Try this.” He says as he hands it to his hopping brother. Keiji stops his bouncing of the bed to look at the light colored fruit suspiciously.
“What is it?” Keiji asks, looking up at his brother with narrowed eyes.
“I don't know what it is called, but it is quite sweet.” Vladimir lies.
“Really? Gimme!” Keiji cries, crawling up to his brother.
“Give me? Now that's rude, wouldn't you say? Maybe I should just eat it myself?” Vladimir says, lifting the yellow fruit to his face as if to eat it.
“Ahhh, come on, Val! I'm sorry! Can I have it, pwease?” Keiji asks clasping his small hands together, giving his brother his trade mark puppy eyes.
“You know, I'm neither Nama nor Father. I'm not affected by your antics.” Vladimir says with a smirk to challenge his mothers. He looks down at his brother and gives a big sigh, playing the part of one who doesn't wish to part with the foreign food. He lifts his hand to his brother, letting the slippery fruit drop into his out stretched hand.
Keiji smiles widely and pops the fruit into his mouth. Keiji looks up at his brother, pausing in his chewing and suddenly pits the fruit into his mouth.
“Ewwww! Sourer! Ichy!” Keiji squeals, running off of the bed to pick up one of the glasses on the table, dropping the partially chewed up fruit back onto the tray. He lifts the cup to his lips and gulps the creamy and sweet liquid.
“What is that?” Keiji asks in a squeaky voice. Keiji's head jerks up and spins around to look at his brother with a disgruntled frown as Vladimir laughs at him. “It's not funny! It wasn't sweet even a little bit!” Keiji yells childishly. Keiji sticks his lip out in a pout as Vladimir laughs harder, hunching forward and gripping his stomach, as if in pain.
“NOT funny!” Keiji says under his breath, looking away from Vladimir to stare out the window with a stomp of his foot.
“When are we leaving, Val?” Keiji asks suddenly. Vladimir abruptly stops laughing, back strait and as composed as usual, as if he had not been crying because he was laughing so hard just a moment before.
“I'm not certain if we're leaving today or if we are going to stay for a few days to let the roads dry up. There is also the possibility that this is only a break in the storm, and that there is going to be more rain to come.” Vladimir explains.
“I sent Ydric out to inquire this of Lord Tinuviel.”
“When will he be back? Do you know?”
“Not really. It shouldn't take too long…” Vladimir walks up to the tray, ignoring his brother's sudden glare. “I wonder what these orange colored fruits are…” Vladimir says, gently grabbing the orange looking slice he had mentioned earlier. He gingerly lifts it to his lips, letting it slide into is mouth.
“Well, is it good?” Keiji asks with child like curiosity.
“Yeah, pretty good. Kind of sweet.”
“Really? Or are you just messing with me?” Keiji asks suspiciously. Vladimir opens his mouth to answer but shuts it as a soft knock falls onto the entrance door. Vladimir walks up to the door, back strait and poised as he opens the door. On the other side of the door stand Ydric, head bowed and hands folded before him.
Vladimir moves to the side, allowing the servant to walk into the room. Vladimir shut the door behind his slave, turning to watch him stand in the center of the room, head ever bowed in a show of obedience.
“Ydric, did you get the information I sent you for?” Vladimir asks voice stern and commanding.
“Indeed I did, M'lord.” Ydric answers, his voice rising and falling like that of a weeping song. “Lord Tinuviel has made the decision of staying, for it seems that Lady Panya has gone missing.”
He shifts his eyes to the door as a soft nock was sounded. One of the servants walk hastily to the door, cracking the door open and peering out before he opens the door wide to let one of Lord Tinuviel's servants pass through with a tray laden with fruits, sweetened breads, and some other type of yellowish white meaty object.
The servant handed the tray to one of Vladimir's servants that had finished his work prior, shrugging his shoulders at the other's frown directed at the unknown food. The foreign servant walks back out, the door being closed firmly behind him.
Vladimir soon looses interest in the activities of his servants, having seen them millions of times before. He pushes himself up, his back strait as he gazed out the large window on the other side of the room.
The skies had changed from a deep, angry black to a soft shade of grey, only a light sheen of rain falling from their heavens.
`I am so done will rain…' Vladimir thinks to himself as he lifts the thick blanket off his body and slipped off the bed. He made a quick glance at his servants to notice their stiff bodies and bowed heads as they stood in attention of his next command.
“My robe!” Vladimir sneers distastefully, glaring at the one servant that went to the small closet that Vladimir had overlooked the night prior. The servant scurried back to Vladimir carrying his silken navy blue robe draped over his arm. The small man pulled the robe open and slipped it onto his lord's broad shoulders, moving to the front of him to tie it but moved away with his head bowed as Vladimir dismissed him before such with a flick of his wrist.
Vladimir walked up to the small desk that the servants had pulled out. He looked down at the food found there, picking up a slice of a tangy smelling fruit.
`What an odd looking thing…' Vladimir thinks to himself as he looks at the yellow colored fruit. A slight sneer crossed his face as he set the slick piece down. He ran his soiled fingers across the deep red cloth beside the tray and turns to the window. Vladimir walks up to the grey tinged window, looking out to the equally grey sky above.
“Ydric…” Vladimir said suddenly, voice trailing off in a demanding tone. One of the servants behind Vladimir walks up to him, stopping five paces away from him with his head bowed.
“I want you to go to Lord Tinuviel and inquire as to whether or not we are staying here longer and give the road time to harden or if we are to be leaving.”
“Of course, M'lord! Right this moment!” The servant says in a lilting tone, turning way slowly as he moves to fulfill the command given to him.
“The rest of you, leave.” Vladimir says sternly, glaring at the other servants in the rental room. He watches as each of the servants bow deeply then gracefully leaves.
Vladimir hears a soft groan pass from behind him and he turns around to see Keiji stretching and squirming around on the bed, back arching slightly. Keiji lets out a loud yawn and plops back onto the bed, seemingly boneless. A slight smile lifts the corners of Vladimir's lips as he watches Keiji wiggle his toes and giggle. He walks over to the waking child and sits next to him, laying a gentle hand on the crown of his head, fingering his sleep tousled hair.
Keiji cracks one of his ice blue eyes and peers up at his older brother. A large smile splits the young boys face, giggling as his brothers eyes narrow slightly in suspicion.
“What?” Vladimir asks in a weary tone as he spies the mischievous look in his sibling's eyes.
“You know, Val… You kinda look like a girl with all that long hair on yer head!” Keiji says with a high pitched giggle. Vladimir glares at his brother as his small smile turns into a full fledge frown.
“I do not look like a woman of any sort!” Vladimir growls softly, straitening his back and crossing his arms in what he hoped was an intimidating stance. But to his displeasure, his performance only seemed to heighten his amusement.
“And you look like a moody lady!” Keiji cries out as he rolls with laughter as his brother throws his hands in the air with a huff.
“Hopeless!” Vladimir sighs, shaking his head.
As Vladimir stops his shaking, his eyes fall upon the forgotten food laden tray. A small smirk crosses his lips as he walks up to the dish, reaching down to pick up the white-yellow fruit he had discarded earlier.
“Keiji. Try this.” He says as he hands it to his hopping brother. Keiji stops his bouncing of the bed to look at the light colored fruit suspiciously.
“What is it?” Keiji asks, looking up at his brother with narrowed eyes.
“I don't know what it is called, but it is quite sweet.” Vladimir lies.
“Really? Gimme!” Keiji cries, crawling up to his brother.
“Give me? Now that's rude, wouldn't you say? Maybe I should just eat it myself?” Vladimir says, lifting the yellow fruit to his face as if to eat it.
“Ahhh, come on, Val! I'm sorry! Can I have it, pwease?” Keiji asks clasping his small hands together, giving his brother his trade mark puppy eyes.
“You know, I'm neither Nama nor Father. I'm not affected by your antics.” Vladimir says with a smirk to challenge his mothers. He looks down at his brother and gives a big sigh, playing the part of one who doesn't wish to part with the foreign food. He lifts his hand to his brother, letting the slippery fruit drop into his out stretched hand.
Keiji smiles widely and pops the fruit into his mouth. Keiji looks up at his brother, pausing in his chewing and suddenly pits the fruit into his mouth.
“Ewwww! Sourer! Ichy!” Keiji squeals, running off of the bed to pick up one of the glasses on the table, dropping the partially chewed up fruit back onto the tray. He lifts the cup to his lips and gulps the creamy and sweet liquid.
“What is that?” Keiji asks in a squeaky voice. Keiji's head jerks up and spins around to look at his brother with a disgruntled frown as Vladimir laughs at him. “It's not funny! It wasn't sweet even a little bit!” Keiji yells childishly. Keiji sticks his lip out in a pout as Vladimir laughs harder, hunching forward and gripping his stomach, as if in pain.
“NOT funny!” Keiji says under his breath, looking away from Vladimir to stare out the window with a stomp of his foot.
“When are we leaving, Val?” Keiji asks suddenly. Vladimir abruptly stops laughing, back strait and as composed as usual, as if he had not been crying because he was laughing so hard just a moment before.
“I'm not certain if we're leaving today or if we are going to stay for a few days to let the roads dry up. There is also the possibility that this is only a break in the storm, and that there is going to be more rain to come.” Vladimir explains.
“I sent Ydric out to inquire this of Lord Tinuviel.”
“When will he be back? Do you know?”
“Not really. It shouldn't take too long…” Vladimir walks up to the tray, ignoring his brother's sudden glare. “I wonder what these orange colored fruits are…” Vladimir says, gently grabbing the orange looking slice he had mentioned earlier. He gingerly lifts it to his lips, letting it slide into is mouth.
“Well, is it good?” Keiji asks with child like curiosity.
“Yeah, pretty good. Kind of sweet.”
“Really? Or are you just messing with me?” Keiji asks suspiciously. Vladimir opens his mouth to answer but shuts it as a soft knock falls onto the entrance door. Vladimir walks up to the door, back strait and poised as he opens the door. On the other side of the door stand Ydric, head bowed and hands folded before him.
Vladimir moves to the side, allowing the servant to walk into the room. Vladimir shut the door behind his slave, turning to watch him stand in the center of the room, head ever bowed in a show of obedience.
“Ydric, did you get the information I sent you for?” Vladimir asks voice stern and commanding.
“Indeed I did, M'lord.” Ydric answers, his voice rising and falling like that of a weeping song. “Lord Tinuviel has made the decision of staying, for it seems that Lady Panya has gone missing.”