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RonSWEF
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Martin du Vraise
Here will be posted the logs of Martin du Vraise, member of the Order of the Lanterne and commander of the 10th Patrol...
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8/Mar/05, 2:52 am
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Martin du Vraise - Tertius, Week 4
Martin knocked hesitantly on the open door. “Captain, are you busy?”
Jean-Marie Rois et Reines looked up from his desk. “Yes, but come in anyway. I was just totaling up the week’s pay expenditures. What can I do for you?”
Martin sat down carefully across from his captain and produced a roll of paper. “Well, sir, I am going to be adding to your payroll headache, I am afraid…” Carefully he unrolled the unit charter and laid it on the desk.
“You actually found four?” the Captain asked as he set down his quill and picked up the charter. He blinked as he counted the names. “How in Theah did you find six?” When Martin had asked permission to form a Patrol unit, Jean-Marie had agreed on one condition – he had to find at least four qualified candidates on his own. The commissioning of the Ninth had scraped the bottom of the barrel, or so Jean-Marie had thought…
“It was luck as much as anything. I found four and had them meet me last night, and two more almost literally came out of the woodwork at the meeting. Oh, and the signature you can’t read is Serena Byn’hali, she’s Crescent…”
Jean-Marie nodded. “I can’t read that language, but I can recognize it…” A moment later his eyes darkened. “You signed LeChevalier?”
Martin flinched as the captain’s eyes bored into his own. “…Shouldn’t I have? He seems to be a former Musketeer…”
“Yes, he was a Musketeer once. At least he was until he was convicted of a murder in Paix roughly a year ago.”
Martin blinked. “What?”
“Etienne Rayeur, LeChevalier is a more recent affectation, was found standing over the corpse of the Marquis Gregoire Deneuve du Surlign, a bloody dagger in his hand and the Marquis’s daughter standing nearby. According to her testimony, Rayure was attempting to assault her when her father interrupted and was killed.”
Martin grimaced. “I didn’t know… Do you think it’s true?”
The captain leaned back and folded his arms. “I don’t know, Martin, I honestly don’t. I don’t want to believe that a man with the reputation Rayure did would commit murder, but the fact is that he was convicted in a court of law. He claims the lady lied, but frankly there’s no way to prove anything now. He came to see me the other day, you see, asking to be admitted into the Order. I turned him down and explained why, but he took it very poorly.”
“What happened?”
“He became belligerent, and claimed that I was turning him down because he wasn’t a nobleman. I believe he very nearly drew steel on me… I was going to suggest to him that he join the Patrol, but he never gave me the chance.”
Martin rubbed his chin. “And what do you think of him now?”
Jean-Marie shook his head. “I won’t tell you to throw him out of your unit, but I do want you to be very careful with him, Martin. Whatever really happened in Paix, he is not the man he was a year ago. He is angry, bitter, and looking for someone to blame. I can’t say what he’ll do under stress, but you can understand when I say that I wouldn’t trust a man like that at my back.” He looked at the charter again. “And given that he’ll be serving with my cousin Miette, I can safely say that I don’t like this at all…”
“You’re not mad about my recruiting her, are you?”
Another sigh. “It’s another case where I would like to forbid it but I won’t. Miette has been pampered and spoiled her whole life, but I think that perhaps the last six months has beaten most of that out of her. Either she’ll be an asset to your team or she won’t, I’ll leave it in your hands to judge but please, don’t get my cousin killed…”
Martin felt himself wilting in his chair. Ever since he’d come to Bascone he’d heard whispers among the Patrols and even the other members of the Lanterne. The whispers were not particularly pointed yet, but more than a few had expressed the concern that Martin, with his entire career in the Musketeers consisting of guarding the front door of an embassy, would not be up to the demands of La Lanterne’s rougher, more demanding responsibilities. He hadn’t heard it spoken of openly, but one of his closer comrades had told him that some were referring to him as ‘The Honorary Lanterne.’ And now it looked like even the Captain was beginning to doubt him… “I have no intention of getting her or anyone else killed, Captain. Any other comments on my roster, or things I should know?”
Jean-Marie continued looking over the list. “Hmm… A Vesten smith, not a bad choice, I don’t recall anything about Monsieur Beck except that he works in the stables, I understand the Crescent is a magnificent horsewoman… Wait a moment… Nicolas de Molyneux, isn’t he the lunatic who wanders around painting things at random?”
Martin swallowed hard. “He… He’s eccentric to be sure, sir, but I don’t think he’s crazy. I think the Madness gave him a permanent shift in perspective, but he still seems very lucid. If he doesn’t work out, then I’ll still have more than enough to field the unit.”
Jean-Marie shook his head as he set the charter down again. “I won’t sugar-coat it, Martin, your roster looks more than a little questionable, but I won’t argue the fact that we need every active Patrol unit we can get. Now that the weather is warming up again we’ll probably start getting more refugees soon, and that will attract troubles of all sorts to our doorstep.” Pulling a small sheet of paper from among the various piles on his desk, the captain dashed off a quick note and folded it. “I assume you’ll be gathering your unit to begin their orientation today. Take this to Gaston and he will see that they get everything they need. How many horses are you short?”
“Three, sir.”
The captain sighed. “It could be worse. Oh yes, and if you feel you need a unit headquarters, talk to Madame La Mayor… The work crews will be putting up new buildings on the east side of town soon, perhaps one can be spared for your unit.”
“I’ll have to think on that one. For now, all we need is equipment and stable space…”
“Right. As I said, see Gaston and he’ll take care of you,” Jean-Marie said, sliding the note across the desk. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d better get this payroll finished…”
Martin tucked the note in a pocket and got up. Saluting briskly, he made himself absent and waited until he was outside the building to sigh in relief. He was officially a commander, finally… Only time would tell how good of one he’d be.
---
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"Oh God, oh God, we're all gonna die?"
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8/Mar/05, 2:53 am
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Martin du Vraise - Quartus, Week 1
As the 10th Patrol arrived in front of the Lanterne Headquarters building, Martin swung down from his saddle. He stumbled a bit as he did so, the ride back had been swift and hard, cutting through forest at times. “Take ten minutes rest. It’ll be at least that long before we’re ready to move again. Tim, Laurie, if you would please come with me…”
Stepping inside the front door, he saluted the Lanterne at the front desk. “I need to see the Captain, it’s priority.” As the sergeant nodded and headed back to Jean-Marie’s office, Martin glanced back to notice that Miette had come with. The sergeant knocked on the door before opening it, exchanged a few quiet words with the office’s occupant, and then waved them to come in.
Captain Jean-Marie, as always, looked a little tired but he straightened up as Martin, Miette, and the two children entered his office. “Who are your friends, Martin?” He gave the pair a tired but sincere smile.
“Captain, these are Tim and Laurie, we came across them at the abandoned farm on the northern circuit. Young sir and lady, this is Captain Jean-Marie Rois et Reines, the commander of La Motte’s defenses.” Tim bobbed his head politely, but Laurie half-hid herself behind Miette. “Tim, would you please tell the Captain about the Blood Hunters?”
The boy swallowed. “We’re from Colbert, it’s a little town maybe ten miles south-west of Vergogne. The Madness was really bad in our town, and the winter was worse, there was maybe forty of us left when we finally decided to leave. A couple travelers had come by, and told stories about a town in the south where things was still good, so everyone packed up what they could and we started moving.” He looked at Laurie for a moment. “What was it, a week and a half ago?” The girl shrugged. “Anyway, a couple days later this bunch of bruisers in patchy fur cloaks come riding up, and before we know head from hind end, begging your lordship’s pardon, they’ve got swords at our throats and ropes around our wrists. Slavers.” He spat on the floor. “Begging your lordship’s pardon…”
Jean-Marie scowled. “I’m not your lordship or anyone else’s, but I don’t disagree with the sentiment. So how did you two get away?”
Tim snorted. “How does a horse get a loose saddle girth? Act bigger than you are when they go to tie you up, and when you relax you’ve got some slack to work with. They weren’t watching too closely, so I untied Laurie and we made a break for it. We managed to duck ’em for a couple days, but they almost had us when your guys came by…”
“I see. Were they on the move, or were they camped somewhere?”
“A bit of both, really. They’d move for a while then camp for a while, while they searched around for more people. They ought to still be around where we left them, since they were busy chasing after us…”
“And where was that?”
Tim thought it over. “Maybe four-five miles northish of where we hid in that barn… Not far on horseback, but a long ways on foot with Blood Hunters chasing you. It was in a bit of a valley, not far from a stream. Do you know that area?”
The Captain shook his head. “No, but I know people who do. How many slavers do you remember there being?”
“Maybe fifteen or twenty… They didn’t sit still to be counted.”
“And how many prisoners?” Jean-Marie was not about to refer to anyone as a slave.
The boy scratched his head. “Maybe fifty or sixty? There was a good-sized bunch that weren’t from our town…
Jean-Marie nodded. “Thank you, then, Master Tim. If you and your sister would please wait outside?”
Tim shook his head. “She’s not my sister, sir, I just keep an eye on her. She’s had it rough since her parents died… But are you going to do anything about those scum, sir?”
As Martin watched, the Captain looked the boy in the eyes. “On my honor as a gentleman, I will do my best to aid your people.”
The boy nodded slowly, then he laid a hand on Laurie’s shoulder and led her out of the office. Miette followed them, and Martin closed the door. “What’s the plan, Captain?”
Jean-Marie took off his hat to run his fingers through his hair. “The plan is that I’m sending three units to track down that camp and rescue those people. Do your people have the stamina to be one of them? You’ve most likely had a hard ride to get here and it’ll be a harder ride back with a fight at the end of it.”
Martin tried to keep the scowl off his face. “With all due respect, Captain, if you don’t send us back there my people will go anyway.”
Jean-Marie smiled. “Exactly what I wanted to hear, Martin. Tenth will take the lead, pick two more units to go with you. The Sixth and the Seventh are still out patrolling their circuits, but the rest are in town still.”
Not bothering to ask, Martin found a chair and sagged down into it. “Well… If I can’t have the Stone Dogs, then I want the Bone Dancers and the Snow Foxes. The Foxes are excellent at reconnaissance, and the Dancers are experts at confusing the enemy. Heck, they confuse their allies…”
The Captain laughed. “True, though the rumor mill says that you turned their ambush around on them and managed to give as good as you got…”
“Wet is what we all got,” Martin said with a snort and a gleam in his eye. He still had the pair of hand-carved dice in his pocket, a prize that until he named its ransom the Bone Dancers would be on their best behavior… “We’re lucky we didn’t all catch cold.”
Jean-Marie stood up and opened a cabinet. He took a pair of large pistols from it and laid them on the desk in front of Martin. One had a red stripe painted on its barrel, the other a white stripe. “These are flare guns, take them with you. If you fire off the red one, it means you’re in over your head and you need reinforcements as fast as you can get them. If you fire off the white, the fight’s over and you’ve won. I’m also going to call up the Ninth and a work party with wagons to help with the wounded and the prisoners once they’re rescued. They won’t move in until you’ve fired the white flare. Any questions?”
Martin stood up again, stretching. “Yes, could you persuade someone to draw us all some hot baths when we get back? It’s going to be a chilly night out there, and I thought I saw storm clouds headed this way…”
The Captain grinned. “I’ll see what I can do…”
---
"Define interesting."
"Oh God, oh God, we're all gonna die?"
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24/Mar/05, 12:14 am
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RonSWEF
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Martin du Vraise - Quartus, Week 1
The moon was high by the time the last of the prisoners were loaded on the wagons. As the caravan left the camp, a pair of Patrolmen remained behind to set fire to the slave wagons and slaver bodies. Martin pulled his cloak around himself tighter, though it was not the chill of the night that made him shiver.
When he had charged into the tent, he had expected to find a few slavers resting, easy targets for a man trying to make the battle as brief as possible. Instead he had found something that made his stomach turn. Unlike most of the people in La Motte, Martin had not been in Montaigne during the blood-soaked days of the Madness or most of the savage winter that followed. By the time he and his comrades had landed in Rogne, the snows had piled up high enough to drive even the desperate into whatever shelter they could find. He had heard more than enough stories and seen the haunted looks of new arrivals in Bascone, but not until today had he witnessed for himself the true savagery that ruled in Montaigne now. He shook his head, but the image of the young woman would not leave his mind. Her clothing had been savaged and her body beaten, but what truly stuck in his mind were her eyes. They were empty, like the glass orbs of a fancy doll. Her body breathed but her spirit was gone, retreated to some dark corner of her mind that she very possibly might not return from.
For a long moment, Martin felt ashamed. Ashamed of his fellow man, yes, but also ashamed of himself. Too often these last few months he had indulged in self-pity, worried about foolish things like his reputation or the fate of his siblings. Everyone in Bascone had lost brothers, sisters, mothers, and sons. The people in this wagon train had seen things that would have left him whimpering in a corner, horrors inflicted by their fellow men, and he was worried about how to pay back the Bone Dancers for a prank.
Finally, he grimaced and rested a hand on his sword hilt. Tomorrow he would stop worrying over the stupid inconsequentials. Double the sword practice, and sharper attention on patrols. If there were slavers, surely there were people they expected to sell their captives to. This was far from over. Tonight, though, his job was to see these people safely back to Bascone.
***
The meeting was nearly over. Duke Vincent looked around at the people seated at the table in the town hall’s small conference chamber. “Are we agreed then?” There was a general consensus. “Good. Let’s get moving on it, then.”
Captain Jean-Marie nodded. “I’ll announce it to the Patrols later today.”
---
"Define interesting."
"Oh God, oh God, we're all gonna die?"
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30/Mar/05, 9:47 pm
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Martin du Vraise - Quartus, Week 3
Being officially on the wounded list still, Martin found himself with a front-row seat for the moving process. He didn’t really have to do much, as his belongings could be carried on the back of his horse and none of the furniture in his quarters in town belonged to him. He hoped to save up for a real bed soon, but for now his room was furnished with a couple empty crates to sit on and a bedroll on the floor. Perhaps a salvaging party to the abandoned convent would yield some usable furnishings. He made a note to discuss it with the others later.
The Lady Lancers, on the other hand, were exceedingly organized. Their moving was helped considerably by the fact that they had already had a headquarters, and were just moving things from one place to another. Martin offered to lend a hand as Melinda and Camille maneuvered a disassembled set of bunk beds up to their room, but they cheerfully turned him down. The Lancers were taking one side of the hallway, which meant that they had to double up a lot more than the 10th did, but their roommate situation seemed already pretty stable. The only Lancers who got rooms to themselves were Mariel and Albrecht, both for obvious reasons.
“What’s that?” Martin asked, as Gabriella carefully nailed a lidded box by the door of the kitchen.
“This is for the headquarters fund,” she replied around the nails in her mouth. “We put it here so everyone can chip in what they can spare.”
He frowned, puzzled. “I don’t follow you…”
Gabriella carefully straightened the box and then pounded in another nail. “Well, we get the building, feed for the horses, and the supplies for the armory free of charge from the Patrol, right? The headquarters fund is to cover the other little things that make life easier.”
“Like what?”
“Like food for our kitchen, for starters. Sure, we can eat in the public kitchens but the quality’s a little better and our tyros stretch farther if we do our own cooking. Danielle is our cook, she doesn’t talk much but she’s pretty good at it. The money for the supplies comes from the fund, and so does her pay.” At Martin’s look she shrugged. “Of course we pay her, it’s a lot of work keeping the eight of us fed. Anyway, the fund also goes toward hiring any other help we need, like a stable boy. There was a kid hanging around here earlier, wanting to talk to Mariel about getting hired on to help with our horses, Tim something… I think she told him to convince Halden… If there’s money left we usually use it to buy other things like soap, furniture, towels, things the whole group will use. And if there’s still money left after that,” she shrugged and grinned. “We throw a party.”
“And how much are we supposed to kick in?”
Again a shrug as she pounded in the last nail. “Like I said, whatever you can spare. We don’t set rates, some of us have good side businesses and some of us don’t, but it averages out around two tyros a person per day. It’s not a big sacrifice but it really adds up…”
Martin nodded. “I usually end up with a fair amount of my salary left over, usually I end up donating any extra to the church, though I’m beginning to think I should have invested more in furniture…” He thought for a moment. “Your name is Gabriella, right?”
She nodded and gave him a teasing curtsey. “Gabriella Roux, at your service, sir.”
“Roux?” he asked, rubbing his chin and trying to figure out the reference. Roux was a mix of flour and fat used for making gravy, if he remembered right…
“My father was a chef.”
“Ahh. Did he…?”
She shook her head and smiled prettily. “No, he died years ago, long before the Madness. And to answer the next question, yes I am the one who works for Madame Marie,” she said with a wink.
Martin swallowed, blushing a little. “I see…
Gabriella laughed and smiled. “Relax, monsieur, it’s nothing so terrible. Women have been selling themselves to men in exchange for security and support for centuries, I just do it for a much shorter period of time. I won’t be bringing my clients around here, I promise…”
“Err, I hadn’t thought you would… But with the Madame’s being back in town, won’t that make things difficult?”
She shrugged. “Well, I’m not planning on opening a salon here in the village, that would be pushing things a bit I think. The half-hour ride each way will give me less time to earn my share, but if it becomes too much trouble I’ll just quit. I do it because I like the extra money, and well…” she grinned. “I just like masculine company. Who knows, maybe I’ll see you at the Madame’s some night,” she said with a wink.
Martin blushed bright red and took a step back. “Err…”
Gabriella laughed. “Relax, monsieur, I’m just teasing. Unless of course you do feel like dropping by, I could always introduce you to the other girls… Mariel made me promise to not take clients from my unit, I think she just doesn’t want me corrupting poor Albrecht.”
Martin, whose brain was stumbling to catch up, asked “Is there something that makes him ‘poor?’”
“Well, the Sergeant is a good person, but she’s a little overprotective. He’s asked to transfer to a different unit twice already but she’s talked the other unit leaders out of it both times.”
He nodded. “Poor Albrecht indeed… Well, if he asks to be let into the Tenth I’ll try not to let her bully me.”
Gabriella grinned and patted him on the shoulder. “Good luck with that, sir. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d better get the rest of my things unpacked. I’ve got to work tonight…”
---
"Define interesting."
"Oh God, oh God, we're all gonna die?"
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4/May/05, 4:29 pm
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Martin du Vraise
Martin grumbled as he left the hearing chamber; his cloak wrapped tightly around his shoulders even though it was too warm a day for it. His mood was going south fast, three days of spending all his off-time reading books on leadership was going to be a mind-numbing ordeal, but a hefty fine on top of it… Thirty tyros was not an obscene sum, but it would take weeks to save up that much again. Martin sighed and donned his hat. It looked like he would be stuck sitting on crates and sleeping on the floor for a while longer… There wasn’t even going to be time to go scavenging, he reflected bitterly.
His feet carried him down a path through the orchards. He had no idea why the Patrol held its hearings at the Duke’s manor rather than at the headquarters, but the walk back to town was probably what he needed to cool off.
“What did you do, du Vraise, sell your horse to pay the fine?” This, on the other hand, he did NOT need. Gerac and Demareaux were trotting down the path toward him, the Snow Fox with a mix of scorn and humor on his face, and the Stone Dog looking like… well, a granite-faced bear hound. Gerac dismounted. “You’d better not have, those horses are Patrol property… Not that your group seems to care much about that, wasn’t it just a few days ago one of your men got their horse killed in some fool stunt with a boar?”
Martin scowled. “What do you two want?”
Gerac smirked. “Is that what we want right now, or what we want overall? At the moment, we’re just here to give you a few papers, among them the official writs of punishment for yourself and that lunatic you recruited. Overall, we want you to be a good boy and go back to town watch duty so that the Tenth can go to someone who’s earned the position...”
“Would you care to explain that remark, Gerac?” Martin growled, one hand reflexively grabbing the edge of his cloak.
The Snow Fox noted the move and folded his arms, sneering. “What, are you having trouble following the conversation? Too much Avalon whiskey, du Vraise, it’s rotted your brain… To put it as simply as possible, you have no business wearing that tabard or that badge. The Lanterne is for real Musketeers, men and women who have served their time protecting the citizens of Montaigne and who have been through the hell of the Madness and lived - not for jumped-up embassy door-holders with delusions of competence. And the Patrol is for dedicated professionals, not the carnival freak show you’ve assembled. I mean really, a lunatic who talks to mirror ghosts, a convicted murderer, a Crescent seamstress and her show pony, some wallflower stableboy, and the Captain’s rebellious little cousin? It sounds more like one of Peerson’s comedies to me…”
Martin dropped a hand to his sword hilt. “It’s surprising that you’re such a good Patrolman, Gerac, considering that you’re an invidious coxcomb whose pusillanimity shines like a saffron beacon in the penumbral gloaming otherwise…” He flashed a sharp grin. “Be careful who you invoke Peerson around., Gerac. Some of us have actually seen his plays. Oh, and you’re a piebald pantywaist too.”
Gerac just sneered. Being no stranger to insult (not to mention not understanding half of what Martin had said), he had little trouble shrugging it off. “Oh my, I am dearly impressed with your cosmopolitan ways, du Vraise. Poor us, having to stay here and do real work while you gadded about escorting ambassador’s poodles to see Peerson… However will I cope with the deprivation?”
Martin’s hand closed on the sword and had it halfway-drawn before Demareaux’s booming voice stopped him. “Don’t even think it, Corporal. You know the Captain’s rules, no Lanterne is permitted to challenge or fight any other Lanterne. You finish drawing that sword and it’ll be your tabard. You’ve shamed us enough for one day. And you, Gerac, give the whelp his papers and let’s be on our way. Baiting him isn’t going to make you look any better.”
Martin swallowed and slid the sword back into its sheath. “I don’t care if you like me or not, Gerac. But if you continue to insult my team, I will petition the Captain for permission to carve my Patrol’s insignia in your backside. And don’t think for a moment that I wouldn’t…”
Gerac laughed as he got back on his horse. “Bark away, lapdog. You’ll be out of our hair soon enough. Your own ineptitude will guarantee that. Oh, and here…” He tossed a packet of papers to Martin, then spurred his horse to a gallop.
Martin scowled at the retreating figure and then looked up at Demareaux. “I’d thank you for your assistance, Sergeant, but I get the feeling you don’t like me either.”
“I don’t. In fact, I share Gerac’s opinions. I just don’t see the point of actively hating you. Then again, I don’t have his reasons, either.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Demareaux urged his horse to a walk. “Read the papers. You’ll figure it out.”
As the sergeant rode away, Martin opened the packet. The first two sheets were, as stated, written reports on the hearing and their punishments. The third, however, answered Martin’s question with only a glance. It was from Patrolman Vincent Von Stroheim of the Snow Foxes, requesting transfer to the Tenth Patrol…
---
"Define interesting."
"Oh God, oh God, we're all gonna die?"
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7/Jul/05, 12:40 am
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admiralla
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Martin du Vraise - First day of the First
It had been five or six days after the Tenth Patrol left on their trip to Tamis. Martin Du Vraise had been spending his time in a room recovering from his concussion since then. He spent most of it in bed and almost all of it bored out of his skull. Earlier that morning, however, Anne finally cleared him to return to duty. Even though that meant joining the First Patrol, Martin was more than eager to get going.
He was in his second-floor room of Lanterne Headquarters getting dressed. Almost a week of enforced bed rest had left him feeling very restless and he knew someone would be here shortly to retrieve him. After securing his pants button and belt, he went to the foot of his bed to retrieve his boots. He had been just tugging them on when a knock came at the door. He looked up from tugging on one of his boots.
"Huh? Come in!" he called, still in mid-tug and watched as a smiling young lady briskly entered the room. She was average height with honey brown hair that lay about her shoulders in fancy ringlets. She wore a beautiful yellow full-skirted dress with 3/4 sleeves and white lace trim. Her matching bonnet and parasol was tucked neatly on one arm and her smile lit up the room.
She looked him over for a brief second before she spoke, "Martin Du Vraise?"
He was bent low heaving on his boot as he paused and looked up at her, "Err, can I help you?"
Her smile brightened as she crossed the room, holding out her hand in greeting, "I'm Madeline Bright of the First Patrol. I've been sent here to collect you and bring you to our headquarters so you can settle in."
Martin stood slowly and took her hand, bowing over it, "A pleasure, Patrolman. I apologize for my clumsiness, I've just spent the last few days recovering from a cracked skull.
She tilted her head to one side and smirked knowingly at him, "I trust you're fully healed now?"
He rubbed his head a little, "Well, it still feels a bit tender, but I'm sick of this room so I'll take the consequences..."
He offered her a weak smile as she met his eyes.
"Well, allow me to be your salvation. Shall we go then?" She turned for the door in a quick manner that caused the skirts of her lovely dress to swirl out behind her elegantly, "Did you have any belongings that you needed help with?"
Martin thought for a minute, "I think they brought my things back from Phenix, let me check." he went to the chest at the end of the bed and opened, "Ahh, yes, here we are."
He pulled out a couple of bundles, one of them rather heavy-looking. Madeline gathered the less heavy one and carried it to the door while Martin took the heavier one that included his saddle, tack, and leatherworking tools. He balanced it on one shoulder and followed her to the door.
"Shall we?"
"Yes, of course." She nodded and exited the room, "I would have taken my horse, but she is lame and needs to rest so I'm afraid we'll have to walk. It's not too far though. Just on the other side of Bascone."
He nodded and followed her out the door, "I think my horse is in the Patrol stables, from the sound of it I was turned out of the Phenix headquarters part and parcel the day the Tenth left."
Madeline paused before descending the staids giving him a quick nod, "Yes, I heard of your.... umm... predicament."
He noticed her look and sighed, following her down the steps, "I guess you've heard some of the rumors."
"Yes, I have and I also have to admit that what I did hear was quite unbefitting of an officer of La Lanterne... I'd never heard the like..."
The reached the foyer of the building and exited through the main door onto the street.
"Let me make you an offer, Patrolman Bright, once we get to Headquarters and I can set this leather anchor down, I will tell you what actually happened and you can judge me from there... Would that be satisfactory?"
She smiled slightly, "Of course. I would love to hear the tale straight from the horse's mouth. I find some of the rumours flying around to be too good to be true, actually."
At this she stifled a bit of a giggle. He smirked.
"Not the first time I've been referred to as a horse, but at least I get the whole beast this time. I haven't heard the rumors exactly, as Madame La Deputy mayor is not inclined to gossip, but from the Captain's reaction I doubt any of it is good."
"No, actually it isn't." Madeline shook her head, then added thoughtfully, "Though, one of my favorite versions is the one of you storming up to the front door of Madam Marie's blind stinking drunk and naked as a jaybird, demanding that you be seen at once."
He couldn't help but snicker, "Does it say who I want to be seen by?"
"No, not really. But, I believe you had enough money to.... " she coughed slightly with dignity, "well... be seen by everyone there..." she stifled another giggle, "Not that everyone couldn't see you well enough....." she coughed again, "I'm sorry..."
He shook his head, still walking along with the bundle on one shoulder, "No apology needed. Frankly, after that night there's not much lower my reputation can sink..."
Madeline nodded, her voice took a little bit of a serious tone, "Whatever the truth may be, one would have to be a fool to believe the rumours flying around." she smiled at him, "I personally think it's all a misunderstanding. I don't believe a La Lanterne officer would ever act in such a way, no matter how drunk they were...."
He looked at her and smiled, "Thank you, Patrolman, that's quite decent of you. After the Captain's view of the sitaution, it's nice to see someone doesn't view me as a raving lunatic."
She bowed her head, "You're quite welcome. I pride myself on judging my first impressions of people and you don't seem to be the type."
Her eyes looked ahead toward Headquarters which wasn't that far ahead now they were about halfway there.
"From what I've pieced together, it was a comedy worthy of Peerson with a really bad ending."
Her curiosity got the better of her and she tilted her head to one side, gazing up at him from under her bonnet brim. "Do we have to wait until we're at Headquarters for me to hear the tale? I've been most anxious to know the truth."
He stopped for a moment, "Let me shift this first," and switched his bundle from one shoulder to the other, "All right, first thing you need to understand is that I was under a great deal of stress that week. I won't go into all the details as frankly it makes me feel like a whining infant to list them, but suffice it to say I was becoming very tightly wound."
She nodded, "Of course. Leading a patrol isn't something that is to be taken lightly... continue.."
"Right," he nodded, "Well the spark that started the fuse was a next of gargoyles we found on a sweep and rescued the Ninth from. I went to Sergeant Etalon for advice on how to locate the nest and wipe them out for good, but she insisted on taking over its eradication herself."
She blinked in disbelied, "After you told her you would take care of it?"
"Yes, I shouldn't criticize a fellow," he sighed, "I shouldn't criticize a superior officer, but the Sergeant is used to having her way on everything... regardless."
She nodded giving a little sniff, "I have heard of her... insistence on certain matters..."
"Well, anyway, we had afternoon patrol that day but I rustled the Tenth out early that morning for a volunteer excursion. We managed to track down the gargoyles and wipe them out, the Lancers didn't arrive until after we were finished. Unfortunately, things got rather heated from there. The Sergant and I got into a fierce argument, though one of my unit got involved in it too. We returned to headquarters after that, went our seperate ways until the evening patrol."
"That was when you got drunk?" she paused for a moment, catching herself. "Forgive me, I'm jumping to conclusions... please.. continue..."
He nodded, "That came later, actually. That night, I ended up sitting in the stables to more or less avoid everyone. One of my unit came in with a bottle of wine, and we ended up sitting and drinking for most of the night. There was a time when I drank heavily, but since I returned to Montaigne I'd rarely touched anything stronger than water. That night, both of us were, as you put it, blind stinking drunk."
She blinked, "BOTH of you were drunk? Then, how is it that you got caught at Madam Maries? Didn't he go with you?"
"Well, this is where I had to get the rest of the story from others. We both ended up sleeping it off in the hay loft. Now the next thing you have to understand is that one of the people in my unit is Miette Rois et Reines, the Captain's cousin. She has a very good heart, but sometimes her intentions don't turn out very well. Case in point, that day she had gone to see Luc Loupe of the Bone Dancers."
Madeline looked sharply at him. Her expression clearly read that she knew what was about to come next as she practically mouthed the words "Uh oh".
"Lucky Loupe?" she said with a sigh, then a soft chuckle, "Oh, I can see where this is going now... especially if the Bone Dancers are involved..."
Martin nodded, "Somehow the two of them came up with a plan to 'get me to relax'. That night, after I had fallen asleep in the stable, Loupe and his gang of ne'er-do-wells snuck in and carried me off. According to Miette, their intention was to take me to Madame Marie's and leave me there with enough coin to keep me busy until I was too mellow to be mad at anyone."
Madeline's expression was that of disbelief and amusement. She smiled widely in wonder, "And...?"
His eyes met the ground and he tried not to blush... too much, "When I awoke I was somewhere between drunk and hung over, with no idea where I was or how I had gotten there. I was surrounded by... well you get the idea, and I misinterpreted the situation as..." he rubbed his head, "Frankly, I'm not sure what exactly was going through my head but the end result was that I ended up trying to fight my way out of there..."
She nodded, "And that's how you ended up with a concussion?"
"I got that from the bouncer, apparently." he nodded, "Aside from myself, no one was hurt but I apparently busted up a few pieces of furniture and scarred up a door. At any rate, the Lanterne had me in custody before my unit knew I was even gone."
Madeline looked to her Headquarters at the end of the street before them.
"That's quite a story, Mr. DuVraise," she said. She gazed up at him with a devilish glint in her eye, "At least I know now, you're not a loose man."
He snorted and smiled a little, "When would I have had time? The Lanterne is...was a full-time occupation, and... well, one of the Lancers works for Madame Marie's, I don't think I'll ever be able to look her in the eye again after that night..."
She laughed softly, "No, I don't suppose you would. Are you to return to your unit soon? Or is this indefinitely?"
He shrugged as best he could, "I really don't know. It depends on how well I do here in the First, I suppose. And how long the Captain stays mad."
She nodded, "Well, I do hope your stay is less stressful... at least at first." she smiled, "Lieutenant De Treville has his moments -- good and bad of course. But I think you'll like it here with us."
He nodded with a sigh, "There's a lot of things I am and am not, Patrolman Bright, but I've heard Lt. de Treville runs a very tight and straightforward unit. Knowing what the rules are for a change will be a relief."
She smiled as she climbed the steps to Headquarters, "I'm sure they will be."
She paused on the threshold to lay Martin's bag down and open the door. She looked up at him.
"I'll help you take this up to your room." she said, "Follow me."
He saluted smartly, "After you, Patrolman."
She let the door swing open and stepped inside with a curt nod.
"Unfortunately the only room we had available is the attic. But I think you'll find it's more than acceptable. We've spent the past few days getting it ready for you." She looked down at him as he followed her up the stairs before them, "Oh and please call me Madeline when we're off duty. Patrolman sounds too formal."
He nodded and smiled, "As you like. Call me Martin, then."
She gazed up at him as she turned the second floor landing, "Very well then, Martin."
They climbed the next flight of stairs that led to the attic. She opened the door to a smallish room that Martin could see had been scrubbed quite clean. It hardly looked like an attic at all. This hardly surprised him. The First Patrol were known for their obsessive cleanliness.
"Well, there you are," Madeline said as she laid his bundle of clothing on the bed.
Martin nodded, "It's small, but at least it has a bed. That puts it well ahead of my quarters in Phenix."
She looked around the attic and wrinkled her nose slightly, "I think they did a nice job cleaning up the attic for you."
"Oh? Did someone clean it for me?" he smiled wryly laying his bundle down in the corner by the dresser with a slight grunt, "With the reputation this unit has, I'd have thought it'd be scrubbed out weekly whether it was used or not."
She laughed softly, "Well, who's to say it hasn't. Once we heard you were joining us, we made sure even the spiders couldn't lay their nests in here."
She watched him shudder slightly, "For this I thank you."
There was an awkward moment of silence before she made her move for the door.
"Well, I shall leave you to settle in then. I was about to get myself some lunch in the kitchen, should I set the table for two?"
Martin blinked, "Two? Where's everyone else?"
"On afternoon patrol. They won't be back for at least a couple of hours."
"Ahhh. Well, I suppose it'll look better if I have everything stowed and tidy before the Lieutenant arrives."
She winked at him, "And a full belly. No telling what orders he'll have for you once he gets back."
Martin smiled, "Would it help any if I volunteered to repair any of the unit's tack that needs it? I'll have more time for that now, I imagine."
She thought for a moment, "It might. But I know one of my stirrup straps is wearing at the base. I wouldn't mind it fixed if you have time after lunch.
She tilted her head to one side as she removed her bonnet and gave him a warm smile.
He gazed at her, somewhat surprised at how friendly she was toward him.
"Err, yes.... yes, I'd be happy to... And I should also get Roderigo from the stables..."
She nodded and left the room only to pause at the doorframe, "Lunch will be in a half an hour. I'll see you then."
He gave her his best embassy bow, "Thank you, Miss Madeline."
With a small cursty, she left the room and headed downstairs.
Feeling somewhat cheerful for the first time in weeks, Martin turned and started started unpacking his things.
---
Why are you worried about "You know who?" .... You should be worried about You No Poo! -- The constipation sensation that's gripping the nation!
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10/Sep/05, 8:17 pm
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admiralla
Seductive Temptress of Enchantment
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Martin du Vraise - First Assignment
It had been two days since Martin joined the First Patrol, and while Lt. de Treville had been nothing if not welcoming, Martin was still getting used to the spit and polish atmosphere of the Duke's Own. Spit and polish were foremost on his mind at the moment as he tried to get his boots ready for the afternoon patrol. As he rubbed his polish cloth over the leather for what seemed like the five hundredth time, he sighed.
"You'd think that six months wouldn't have been enough to forget..." he said to himself. Then a brisk knock came at the door. He looked up, "Enter."
Madeline Bright opened the door with her usual warm smile as she strode into the room. As usual she was the vision of perfection as not a hair was out of place and her uniform was just as neat and pristine in appearance as there wasn't a wrinkle to be found.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything, Mr. Du Vraise." she said.
Martin smiled as she entered, pleasantly surprised to see her. The other members of the First patrol hadn't been standoffish as such but thanks to the rumors flying around she was the only one who had thus far given him more than two or three polite words at a time.
"Oh no," he said, "I'm just trying
to remember how to look ornamental... It's been a little while."
Madeline chuckled softly as she nodded, fiddling with the riding gloves in her hand, "I've come to tell you there will be a meeting in ten minutes. That should give you plenty of time to look somewhat presentable."
She gave him a small wink.
He grinned, "At least as presentable as I can get. This unit makes me feel positively scruffy."
Madeline tilted her head to one side. She had a devilish glint in her eyes, "Well, not all THAT scruffy..."
He smiled and examined his boots, "These are as good as they're likely to get today. I'd better get changed into my uniform for this meeting."
Madeline nodded, suddenly realizing that she had been lingering (perhaps on purpose) and stepped back out of the room.
"Of course, " she said quickly, "We'll be meeting in the main dining room."
She gave him a parting nod and closed the door behind her. She headed back downstairs with a self-satisfied grin on her face and took a deep breath before heading to her room for her patrol hat and cloak. There was something about that man that made her want to linger...
* * *
The First Patrol's meetings were usually semi-formal affairs. Everyone's input was welcome but polite order was appreciated. They all entered the room in a orderly fashion and took their seats, waiting for Lt. de Treville to begin the meeting. He stood before them at the end of the table and looked down on them all.
"Come to order," he said briskly as the room fell silent. "There are a few announcements before we begin our assignment today."
Everyone sat up straight at attention as he continued to speak.
"First, the Captain has dissolved the Ninth Patrol temporarily. The Hunters will be undergoing an extensive course of training before they are put back into action. Apparently their last assignment bit off more than they could spare." he shrugged, "They'll be back, though, and better for it.
"Secondly, the Patrol will be opening a training school for prospective members. The Captain feels that the need for Patrol units is only going to increase, and waiting for skilled people to just wander in isn't going to cut it. The Ninth Patrol will be the first class.
"Interestingly, Sergeant Etalon of the Lady Lancers is going to be reassigned to the Academy full-time, as the chief instructor."
Martin blinked in surprise at this news slowly-dawning relief spreading on his features. Madeline glanced at him, knowing his view of Sgt. Etalon, she knew that this meant something to him.
"This brings us to the last point of interest." De Treville continued, "At sunset today, the Captain is promoting a Patrolman to La Lanterne. The Lancers are going to need a new leader and the Captain has chosen to promote from within rather than reassign."
Martin held up his hand as De Treville looked his way, "Lieutenant, is it permitted to say who is being promoted?"
The Lieutenant smiled, "Patrolman Camille Montrichard. Her promotion ceremony, as I said, is at sunset at the Lanterne Headquarters, the Captain would like everyone who's available to attend."
One of the other Duke's Own spoke while raising his hand, "Does this mean the Captain is abolishing the Musketeer requirement, sir?"
De Treville shrugged slightly, "I do not know, Claude. Patrolman Montrichard is a former member of the Knights of the Rose and Cross, so he may be interpreting that as filling the requirement."
Claude nodded, "I'll try not to get my hopes up then, sir."
De Treville smiled, "Hoping for my reassignment?"
Claude swallowed hard, "Err no, sir... But as you said, the Captain wants more Patrols..."
The Lieutenant smiled, "Well I suppose a little ambition never hurt... Now then, if there's no other questions or comments?"
He glanced around the room before, rolling out the unit's map.
"Right then," he began again as all eyes fell to the map in front of them, "Our assignment is an outer perimeter sweep along the northern border. The Sixth Patrol should be arriving with the rescuee convoy from Vergogne today, so we're also to keep an eye out for them."
He traced out the area they were supposed to patrol. Martin noticed it wasn't too far from Phenix, "I want the unit to split up in pairs to sweep the forest thoroughly, the northern sector has been understrength since the Tenth was sent on long reconnaissance, so it's hard to say what might have crept in."
He looked up at Martin, "Patrolman du Vraise, you know that area better than the rest of us, what do we need to look for there?"
Martin stood and pointed to the map, "The area is mostly light forest, with streams running through here and here. There's an abandoned convent here, which has been the focus of mystical trouble on more than one occasion, but a member of my former unit was trying to clean it up and reconsecrate it."
Madeline became curious, "Mystical trouble? Could you explain a little?"
Martin nodded, "Two occasions so far. The first one was our first encounter with Blood Wolves. Has the report on them been distributed to you?"
She nodded and Martin continued, "We battled the wolves and their leader inside the convent and we also discovered our most effective weapon against them there, a string of amber beads."
Madeline nodded, "The beads hold some sort of power against them, then?"
"They seem to," Martin replied, "Just touching them seems to cause intense pain to both the wolves and their pack leader."
Madeline nodded understandingly, "In much the same way holy water would affect vampires."
Martin smiled, "Exactly. The second incident there involved a so-called ghost hunter named Maurice, some kind of summoning ritual, and the attempted sacrifice of one of my Patrolmen. The convent became populated with some kind of animated robes bearing weapons, but we were able to disrupt whatever was happening before it was completed."
"Is there anything else we need to be careful of?" Madeline asked.
"As far as I know, nothing. The convent is haunted, but the inhabiting spirit seems to be an elderly nun, not inclined to cause anyone trouble."
De Treville spoke up, "The convent shouldn't require more than a cursory inspection, to make sure there's no new residents."
Everyone nodded in agreement as De Treville then dismissed the group.
"Patrolman Bright, you'll be riding with Patrolman Du Vraise today," De Treville said as they all left Headquarters and headed to the stables.
* * *
Once everyone was saddled and ready to go, the unit rode out in disciplined fashion. They reached the patrol area a half an hour later and the Lieutenant gave the order to break up into pairs for the sweeps. Martin readily broke off and headed into the forest, knowing Madeline would be right behind him. He could hear her horse, Mystery, catching up beside him.
He glanced around as the various Duke's Own broke up and went on their way and tried to think of something witty and intelligent to say to his partner.
"Well... the weather's nice..." was about all he could come up with at the moment.
Madeline smiled and looked over at him, "Isn't it? It's the kind of day when I wish I could just go for a leisurely ride instead of having to patrol."
He smiled, "You mean you didn't sneak out and take one earlier?"
She looked at him, "Of course not... I was too busy getting ready for patrol."
He blinked slightly, a little surprised that she seemed to take offence to that, "I just meant that... you have such a fine mare, and you seem to enjoy riding, I would have thought you'd have taken some of your spare time for a ride..."
She chuckled softly, "I would, but it was my turn to clean the dining room."
There was a moment of silence as she stole a glance at him before looking ahead again, "You are correct, though. I do like to ride in my spare time."
He nodded, "I thought so. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I have this sneaking suspicion that a great many of the lady Patrolmen joined because it'd allow them to ride any time they liked."
She smiled and nodded, "That's quite an observance... yes, you're right. For me anyway. Patrol or no patrol... I'm cranky when Mystery and I don't get to have at least one ride a day..."
"Well, I'm not immune to the allure myself." he admitted, "Roderigo and I have gotten to be good friends, and it's a good way to leave my cares behind for a little while..."
She nodded, "A good ride can be quite refreshing..."
He nudged his horse to a canter and she did the same. "Well, since we're here to patrol... I guess we'd better... patrol..."
And off they rode. They weaved in and out through the trees, taking care to avoid low hanging branches. They both scanned the forest and for a brief moment, almost seemed to forget they were on duty as the ride seemed so enjoyable. Martin still kept an eye out, though the urge to just ride full out was strong. For some reason, he's felt a lot more light-hearted since he joined the First. He figured it was because he no longer has to worry about leading.
Madeline drew away from him as a large tree came rushing toward them. Just as she did a rabbit bolted from the bushes, running in front of her mare. The horse neighed loudly and gave a start, rearing up into the air only to come down and change direction suddenly. Madeline was hardly prepared for this and let out a scream as she slipped to one side, her foot coming out of the stirrup. She tried frantically to get back on, but remained half hanging on while trying to hold onto her hat. She managed to pull herself up somewhat as her horse wheeled in panic and bolted off into the forest. As Madeline tried to get her foot back into the stirrup, her position in the saddle was becoming severely jeopardized.
Mystery ran until she came to a shallow creek, it's contents low from lack of rain. The bed of the river however was thick with mud and while she easily jumped this, her rider didn't make it. Madeline landed with a huge splat... right in the mud.
Martin, having seen the whole thing, chased after her, tugging Roderigo to a halt at the edge of the creek. She was face down in the mud, moving slightly and groaning in pain.
"Miss Bright!" he called out, "Are you okay?"
Madeline managed to get to her knees with an audible groan and shook her head, "Not really..."
He could hear her gasping, trying to get the air back in her lungs. She had obviously been winded. He scrambled down off his horse and crouched down the bank.
"Here, take my hand..." he said. She raised herself to her knees and reached up for his hand. He grabbed it but it was slippery. When he tried to pull her up, his bad choice of positioning caused him to pull himself in instead. Martin landed on top of Madeline, flattening her in the mud as well as getting himself drenched as well.
She grunted again as he landed on top of her, her face and entire body now drenched in dark mud. They lay there for a moment both trying to get their bearings. Madeline wiped the mud from her eyes, and looked up at Martin's muddy features. She was suddenly very aware of something.
"Umm, Mr. Du Vraise," she said very calmly, "Where are you hands?"
They both looked down toward her chest, where Martin's hands lay. When he had reached out to break his fall, his hands found themselves squeezing onto something(s) firm but yielding...and rather warm.
"Umm, on your..." He blinked the swalloed and pushed off from her breasts, throwing himself off her and landing in the mud. He apologized profusely.
Madeline let out a breath as he scrambled off her. She smirked to herself as she sat up, wiping more mud from her face. If she hadn't been so relieved to have her breath back, she might have enjoyed watching his embarrassment a little more.
"It's quite alright." she said softly, "I'm sure it was quite unintentional...."
He drew his knees up and sat up as well, wiping the mud out of his eyes, "Yes of course, I would never... I mean not on purpose..." he sighed, "You know what I mean..."
He stammered through his words, trying hard to forget how nice it actually felt. Madeline had managed to get to her feet and make a few steps toward the bank. As she did, she slipped on a rock hidden beneath the mud and whirled in her place. She quickly lost her footing again, falling straight toward Martin. Since she had actually moved away from him, he was a little further back and the next thing she found herself within inches from his crotch. Martin's eyes widened, both in shock and growing awareness of her closeness. That added to the fact that he had already noticed how the mud and water had made her clothes rather clingy to her figure.
Madeline blinked uncertainly and pulled herself back to sit up, her face stricken with embarrassment. Still she held on to her composure, "It would seem that this mud puddle has it in for us."
He nodded slowly, "Perhaps we should crawl out rather than try to stand."
She looked away and nodded, wondering if the mud was hiding the red in her cheeks, I think that would be wise."
And she turned and crawled up the bank. Martin intentionally chose a section of bank a couple feet away from her to be safe as he crawled out as well.
"Well, now that I've made a complete ass of myself..." he muttered to himself. Madeline however had heard this and suddenly it struck her how very funny this situation was. She paused and looked over at him. A smile came to her face and suddenly she found herself sitting back on the ground, laughing hysterically.
Martin looked over at her in confusion for a moment, then he too couldn't help it. He started laughing right along with her, reaching his hand to her shoulder for support as they continued up the bank.
* * *
Despite that they were muddy and wet, Madeline and Martin managed to finish their sweep with no further incidents. When the unit came back together later that afternoon, the Lieutenant took one look at them and failed to hold in a huge belly laugh. Once he and the rest of the patrol stopped laughing, he instructed them to go back to headquarters to get cleaned up while he and the rest of the unit went to the promotion ceremony.
They both rode back to headquarters in a silent mix of amusement and embarrassment. After they stabled their horses, they headed indoors each to their own rooms. Martin headed up to his room, figuring to change into something less mud-crusted before he goes for a bath. Madeline, after removing her dirty clothes and changing into a dressing gown, put them with the laundry and went to get a small tub to bring it to her room for a bath.
A floor above, as he was pulling his shirt off, Martin stumbled and stepped heavily on a part of the floor he somehow missed before now. A couple boards cracked and gave way under his heel and his foot nearly goes through the floor. He fell on his backside with a loud thump. Getting to his knees, Martin examined the floor. Sighing, he pulled out the two rotted boards, which opened a hole about six inches across. He could see down into a bedroom below and to his surprise he found himself with a very good view of Madeline's bedroom.
He watched as she entered the room with a full kettle of water, pouring it into the tub. She made several trips back and forth with her large kettle of water, while another began to come to a boil in her fireplace in her room and it wasn't long before she slipped out of her robe and settled into her tub to give herself a good wash. Martin tried to tear himself away from the hole, but he found himself rooted to the spot. After that spill in the creek, he was finding himself curious and more than a little attracted to this graceful but self-deprecating woman. As Madeline knelt into the warm tub of water, she soaked her wash cloth and squeezed the warm water over her body, letting it's warmth soothe her stiff aching muscles. Martin kept watching, wondering just how far this will go before she would catch him looking and there was no doubt in his mind that she would. Martin swallowed hard, watching the extravagant woman as she bathed. She had him entranced with her lithe form and shapely curves. He felt so guilty for watching, but not yet enough to move.
She relished the moment of her bathing, tilting her head back and letting the cloth wash around her neck. It was funny how mud managed to get in the darndest of places. It wasn't until she looked upward that Martin suddenly flinched out of his paralysis and quickly slid the boards back into place, plugging the hole. She stared up at the ceiling something having caught her eye. It was movement of some kind. At first she thought it might be a bug or a spider and squinted her eyes to make out the jagged edges of a hole in the ceiling. With a sudden realization, she remembered her room was directly under Martin's and what she saw was him quickly covering up the hole after looking down at her.
Her first instinct was shock as she scrambled out of the tub for her dressing gown to cover herself. Yet as she stood there, something stirred within her. She knew she should feel even more embarrassed that there was a good chance he'd seen her naked, but after today, the very thought somehow excited her. She smiled to herself and pulled the dressing gown over her head then proceeded to wash her hair, still thinking about it all.
Martin leaned back against his bed, breathing heavily in surprise, yeah, that's it.
He sighed quietly, "That was close..."
He waited for an exclamation of outrage from below and when none came, he decided she didn't catch him and stands to finish cleaning up. He tried hard to push it all out of his mind as he looked down at his dirty boots.
"And I just got those blasted boots polished, too..."
---
Why are you worried about "You know who?" .... You should be worried about You No Poo! -- The constipation sensation that's gripping the nation!
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24/Sep/05, 8:56 pm
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RonSWEF
Overly Evil Overlord
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Martin Makes a Bigger Fool of Himself
About three days had passed since the incident with the mud. Since that afternoon, Martin and Madeline had been able to work together without further public incident. Martin, however had found himself doing somethin he never thought he would do, he had becoming a bit of a peeping tom thanks to those loose boards in his floor. Each night he watched in guilt-ridden fascination as Madeline changed into her nightclothes, brushed her hair, and did similarly-appealing things. Unbeknownst to Martin however, Madeline herself was quite aware who was watching her and made sure that she took her time, sort of putting on the show for his benefit.
One particular night, which happened to be the previous night, she did something that nearly knocked him flat on his backside again . Right before she climbed into her downy bed, she smiled up at him and blew him a kiss. So, driven by embarrassment and a keen desire to not get into trouble in his new unit, Martin awaited until after that morning's patrol to ascend the stairs and knock on Madeline's door.
She had been changing into something other than her uniform. A nice lacy blouse with a long full skirt, pleated at the waist. She had let down her hair from it's usual riding bun and was proceeding to brush it when there came a knock at her door.
She looked up at the door, "Come in..."
Martin opened the door slowly, half-expecting something to be thrown at him, "I hope I'm not interrupting, Miss Madeline.."
He took care to be extra-polite as he knew he was on thin ice. To his surprise, she smiled warmly at him as her eyes danced with delight at the sight of him, "No, not at all Martin. I'm just freshening up. Patrol can leave one's hair a little dusty, wouldn't you say?"
She turned back to preening herself a little more before laying her brush down and getting up from the chair, "Please. Come in."
He admired the light from the window playing off her auburn hair as he stepped into the room, "Well, as long as it doesn't turn to mud, I'm happy."
She looked at him as the memory of that scene came back to her and laughed, "That would make the two of us."
She sat on the bed and invited him to sit as well. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?"
He chose the chair by her door and sat uncomfortably, "Well, I was wondering if you would like to go for a walk with me. It's still a pretty day outside, and quite public - I mean breezy..."
She regarded him carefully for a moment, then felt herself smile slowly, "Yes, of course. I would like that very much. Let me get my hat."
She stood and went to her wardrobe, taking out her sun hat. It was blue like her skirts and had a pretty bunch of flowers on one side of the brim. It was trimmed with a white ribbon band. As she turned to face him, Martin stood and offered her his arm, as good manners (and her beauty) required. She smiled and nestled her hand in the crook of his arm as she laid the hat on her head.
"No parasol, milady?" he asked as he led her downstairs.
"This will be my hat today," she said pointing to her hat, "I find the flowers get caught up in the wires under the rim of the parasol."
He nodded, "It's a lovely hat..."
The moment was awkward. He was more than a little nervous and didn't say much else as he led her out of the building toward the eastern edge of town. As they walked through the doors of Headquarters, Madeline could tell there was something amiss with him.
"Thank you, I am quite fond of it," she said glancing up at him, though somehow I don't think your intentions were to compliment me on my hat."
He nodded slowly, "No, but I thought perhaps we should talk, outside where we're not as likely to be overheard."
She became increasinly curious, but nodded. Her curiosity would have just a little while longer as she waled alongside him, letting him lead the way. He was quite for a while until they reached the edge of town where there wasn't much but a few small shrubs and some open fields.
"Madeline, I'd like to apologize for my dishonorable conduct these past few nights." he said finally, "The first time was somewhat of an accident, but after that... It was inexcuseable."
She nodded, "Thank you. I appreciate your honesty."
She laid her other hand on her hand and moved a little closer to him, "However, if I was truly disturbed by the matter, I would have you thrown off the patrol."
He blushed slightly and nodded, "That is my next question. Why didn't you?"
She chuckled softly and squeezed his arm gently, "Oh come now, Martin. We'd be fools if we denied that there has been some... chemistry... between us ever since we fell in the mud on our first morning of patrol. At least that's what I felt.... I surely can't speak for you, of course..."
He swallowed, trying to make a joke, "Oh, is that what they're calling dirt and water these days? Chemistry?"
She laughed, "Yes, I believe it is... that combined with foliage from the surrounding forest..."
"Not to mention the evil looks our horses were giving us when we tried to mount up again..." he added with a laugh.
"I believe I'll be telling that one to my grandchildren," she said with a chuckle, "We were in quite a predicament."
He was beginning to relax, "I must confess, Madeline, you are easily one of the most genuine women I have ever met. Most ladies of your obvious breeding would quail at the very thought of a bit of mud, and you're planning to tell your descendants."
He shook his head in amusement.
She shrugged and smiled up at him. There was a devilish twinkle in her hazel eyes, "Well, it is after all just a bit of mud. And as we bothl know, dirt in many forms can be cleaned off."
He blushed bright red at what immediately came to mind, "Err yes..." he swallowed, "Look, I apologize, my experience with the fairer sex has been almost exclusively limited to my twin sister and ambassador's wives. I know how to be a gentleman and how to politely decline when a middle-aged madame is looking for a bit of indiscretion, but I'm not very good at telling an honest, beautiful woman that I admire her..."
A soft chuckle escaped her as she felt a little swell of happiness at his words, "Well, what are you good at then?"
"Standing beside a door looking terribly competant and ornamental." he snorted.
"Oh, I don't believe that... I think you could sit on a horse and look that way too." she said with a devilish grin.
He snickered, "Thank you, it's nice to know my talents have broadened."
She patted his arm with her free hand. She could say so much more right now, but she feared she would only come across as somewhat permiscuous. In fact, her behaviour over the past few nights, would have suggested that too. It was hardly becoming of a lady.
"I hope you aren't offended that I... erm... put on a show for you... so to speak..." she said softly, "it's not something I normally do, I was brought up with some degree of morality..."
He shook his head, "I didn't even realize until you gave it away that you knew... I do apologize, I really shouldn't have been watching..."
A tiny smile returned to her face, "No you shouldn't have..." she paused and looked up at him, waiting for his reaction.
He looked at her, then cast his eyes to the ground, "I await the chastisement of your choice, milady..."
She stifled the grin and stopped walking, stepping in front of him and gazing up at him, putting on a mock expression of anger.
"Shame on you, Martin Du Vraise!" she said firmly, "How dare you take advantage of a lady's private moments like that! Have you no respect for me at all? You anger me with your action and I have no other choice but to do this....."
He winced, waiting for the slap. But none came. Instead, Madeline quickly stepped up to him and planted a kiss on his cheek. Her choice of spots left it very close to his lips, but still it was on his cheek. She didn't move as she remained close and stared up into his eyes, with rapt attention.
"Thank you for being, honest with me..." she said softly.
He looked at her in surprise and tried not to reach out for her and take her into his arms. He felt such an act was too soon, even though he very much wanted to.
"Y-you're welcome..." he said slowly, then took a deep breath, "I would like to spend more time with you, Madeline. I like you a great deal and I think you know I'm attracted to you." his colour rose again, "I suppose I'd better fix that hole tonight."
A slow smile spread across her features. She didn't move as she stood close to him. "Yes, I think that much has been obvious since you created the hole... and since we're being honest... I like you and I'm very attracted to you as well..."
To her surprise, he scowled as he took her shoulders in his hands, "The hole was not my fault, I stepped on the spot and the floor gave way..."
She blinked and shook her head, laying her hand on his elboz to comfort him, "I didn't say you made it intentionally."
He relaxed, still leaving his hands on her shoulders. Embarrassment aside, he enjoyed them being there, "I'm sorry, it's just... I'm embarrassed enough as it is..."
She touched his cheek, "You'll get over it, I'm sure."
He laid his hand on top of hers and squeezed it, "What now then?"
She shrugged and smiled, "Well, you could fix the floor like you promised..." she laughed softly, "I'm sure it would probably make you feel a lot better...."
He nodded, it wasn't quite what he meant but....
"Yes, I should. But aside from that... Perhaps a picnic some day soon?"
She nodded, "I would love that... or perhaps a nice leisurely ride in the forest?"
"Or both?" he smiled.
She laughed, "Or both sounds wonderful."
He stepped back and brought her hand to his lips, "And now if I may you back..."
She was still savouring the feel of his lips on her hand as she nodded, "I would love that..."
He smiled and gave her his arm again, taking it as slowly as he dared to prolong the moment alone with her...
---
"Define interesting."
"Oh God, oh God, we're all gonna die?"
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29/Sep/05, 10:38 pm
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admiralla
Seductive Temptress of Enchantment
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How to look Sexy in Bandages
It was the day after the big battle, and while the Patrols were off doing other stuff, Madeline had been resting and recovering in the Lanterne HQ. The reason for her placement there was simple; her injuries were relatively minor compared to most of the wounded, and therefore they were saving hospital space by sending her there. So, on the upside Madeline had peace and quiet. On the downside, she was left more or less to herself, everyone bing too busy to do more than look in on her once or twice a day. Everyone that was, except for Martin who now climbed the stairs slowly, being rather tired after a long day of innumerable tasks. He carried a covered tray, then knocked quietly on Madeline's door.
She had been in bed snoozing, something that came quite easily with being bedridden, and woke with a slight start at the sound of the knocking. A sharp pain in her side caused her to suck in a breath as she croaked out a bid of welcome.
"Come in..."
Martin opened the door and peered, "Are you decent?"
She smiled sleepily at him and stifled a laugh, "Of course..."
He grinned and stepped in, closing the door behind him, "That's a pity... How are you feeling? I brought you some dinner..."
"Oh? Really?" She smiled as she attempted to sit up in bed, wincing at her sore muscles and trying to rearrange her sore ankle, "I've been worse, believe me... though I have to say this is the worst it's been in a long while..."
He set the tray down on an end table, "Do you need any help?"
She nodded, "If you could prop up those pillows for me that would be nice..." She then leaned forward a little so he could fix the pillows.
He made a big show of fluffing the pillows and tucking them behind her back, "I remember all too well how boring these rooms can be. I'd have been up to see you sooner, but everyone's been run ragged today, even me..."
She nodded and smiled up at him, "You look like it. " She motioned to the edge of the bed, "I'm sure you won't turn down an offer to sit with me then?"
He dragged the end table over by the bed where she could reach the tray before sitting on by her feet. He sighed, "I'm sure you've heard it all by now, but it's a real mess out there. The slavers have taken Phenix, and they appear to be working on digging in..."
She frowned and nodded, "I heard... is anyone going to try and drive them out of there?"
He shook his head, "I don't know yet... I assume we will, but we spent today tending to the wounded and throwing up fortifications around the southern edge of town. At least our timber storage was here rather than Phenix..."
"Of course," she nodded, "We need to gather our strength if we're going to fight them and drive them out of there..." her expression hardened a little, "I certainly won't rue the day they're gone."
He nodded and tried to resist the urge to put a comforting hand on her leg, "None of us will... Honestly, a lot of people out there are scared. We were taken by surprise, and seeing the Militia and the Patrol get mauled in their first real battle has shaken people's confidence. I haven't heard anyone talk about surrender, but I've heard some folks murmuring about running south for Castille..."
She blinked in disbelief, "What? But that's ridiculous! We'd only be giving them what they want by doing that." she shook her head with determination, "We have to fight them... once our troops are back up and running, we can take them..."
"Like I said, people are scared." he agreed, "They think and do ridiculous things when they're scared... His Grace has been able to keep it under control for now, but with the Captain and Sergeant Renardier down..." he hesitated, "We may have to act soon, whether we're ready or not."
"I'm very fortunate to have only sprained a few limbs.." she bravely flexed her wrist, then winced, "I don't expect to be here much longer... I have to get the D.O. in shape again..."
Martin hesitated, "So it's true, then?"
"Is what true?"
"I've heard rumors that His Grace has offered you command of the First..."
She smiled a little shyly as she nodded, "Yes, it's true... he came to visit me this morning...."
He gave her a warm smile, "Congratulations, Corporal..."
This time he really did reach out to squeeze her knee affectionately."
She smiled as some tears came to her eyes, "Thank you... though, it's not how I imagined I'd have my own patrol.." she sniffled a little, wiping her nose with a hanky.
He reached out to touch her shoulder gently, "I know... I barely knew him, and I could tell he was a very good man... We'll miss him, but I know you'll do a wonderful job in his place..."
She took a deep breath and nodded smiling. Her hand found his and she squeezed it gently, "Thank you, I certainly hope so..."
He smiled a little, "May I make a small confession, my lady Corporal-to-be?"
"Of course."
He looked away from her for a moment, "I don't enjoy fighting as such, but even though you and so many others were wounded. That battle was the most fun I've had in a long time... Fighting almost literally back to back with you, covering for each other... Where did you learn the Torres school, anyway?"
She smiled slightly, "I learned it from my Guardian, Ernesto... he taught me everything he knew... he was a master himself..."
He looked at her and smiled back, "I can tell he was an excellent teacher... It was all I could do to keep up with you."
She blushed, "Thank you... I have to admit... fighting alongside you gave me a bit of a thrill myself..." she met his eyes, "I hope to do it again very soon..."
He grinned wider, "Once you are out of that bed, as soon as you like. If you're fond of Torres, I can show you something I think you'll really like..."
"Of course I would!"
He reached over and took the cover off the tray, revealing the plate holding her dinner, "You'd better eat, Miss Madeline, you've got to build your strength up again..."
She began to eat. Pausing between mouthfuls to talk, "I'm glad you came by. I was hoping to see you..."
"Any particular reason, or just wanted a friendly face?"
She felt her colour rise slightly, "Well, not just any friendly face...." she laid her hand on his for a moment, "... yours of course...."
"I've been wanting to see you all day, too. Especially since I heard the rumors..."
She patted his hand, "Hopefully I won't be here too much longer... I really want to get back on my feet."
He swallowed, "That's not what I meant..."
She looked at him, "What rumours?"
"About your promotion. Also.." he swallows again, "The Tenth is back, they arrived this afternoon."
She paused her eating and laid her fork down, wiping her mouth, "Does this mean.... you'll be leaving to go back with them?"
He looked away and nodded, "I'm going to ask the Duke to transfer me back..."
Her jaw gaped open as a look of hurt and disappointment washed over her features, "B- but... why? I thought that you were going to be with us at least for another while yet.... or at least until the Duke felt you would go back..."
He looked at her in time to catch her expression. He grabbed her hands quickly, "It's not what you're thinking. If you're going to command the First, I can't stay, but not because of jealousy or anything like that... The Captain has made his opinions about relationships inside a unit very clear. I came close to breaking them once, but I don't want to see you get in any trouble for what seems to be happening between us..."
She looked at him squeezing his hands back, a genuine sadness in her eyes, "And here I thought we could go sparring on our mornings off... or take strolls together in the evening... it won't be that easy if you're with the 10th again..."
He sighed, "I know... But we can find ways... Heavens, Miette certainly managed..."
"Miette?"
He laughed, "One of the Wolfhounds. The Captain's cousin, in fact. Last I heard, she'd been maintaining a rather successful relationship with Luc Loupe of the Bone Dancers..."
A look of realization came over her face, "Ahh, yes.. the ones that played the prank on you?"
"Those two were the ones who started it, yes... From what I heard, the Captain was not at all happy with them..."
She shook her head, "I don't suppose he was. He probably wasn't happy with the one that got you drunk either... all of them should have been suspended in my opinion..."
Martin swallowed, "Well, the Captain never found out who I was drinking with that night, and I did my best to avoid telling him. They were only trying to help, it was just terrible luck that the Bone Dancers chose that night..."
She made a little face and then shifted herself closer to him as she smiled, "Rotten luck is more like it... of course, you wouldn't have come here if it didn't happen... so that's not a completely bad thing, is it?"
He laughed, "Well when you put it that way... I'm not sure I've learned anything about leadership, but I am glad I met you..."
She looked deeply into his eyes, showing her deep and genuine affection for him, "As am I... and I really hope that we get to spend our extra time together..." she let out a heartfelt sigh, "I'm really going to miss you...."
He took a chance and slipped his arm around her, "I'm not going to miss you..." before the shock of that statement hit he grinned and continued, "I'm going to show up here whenever I can to visit you. I will miss that hole, though."
She snuggled into his arms, ignoring the pain in her sides as she did so to enjoy his warmth. She chuckled softly, "And I'm going to miss giving you something to watch..."
He laughs, "Well if you miss it too much, I could always show up around bedtime and find a chair in the corner..."
She laughed and looked up at him, "I just might take you up on that offer... so be careful what you wish for...."
He shrugged a little, "What have I got to lose?"
Her voice softened, "Not me... that's for sure..."
He smiled and wrapped the other arm around her as well, "You're much too easy on me, you know... A man could get used to it."
She smiled up at him, placing her good hand on the back of his neck, drawing him toward her, "Could you get used to this....?"
And with that she pressed her lips to his in a warm kiss. His eyes went wide in surprise, but then he closed them quickly to joined the kiss full-force. He didn't try to escalate it into anything, but did his best to leave her knowing he enjoyed it very much. He slowly pulled his head back once they both relaxed and took a deep breath.
"I don't know, but I wouldn't turn down a chance to find out..." he answered her softly.
She smiled up at him, "You better not... I don't kiss just anyone...."
He smiled a little, "I'll consider myself special, then..."
---
Why are you worried about "You know who?" .... You should be worried about You No Poo! -- The constipation sensation that's gripping the nation!
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22/Oct/05, 8:25 pm
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