forum Branwen the Ninth (OxO closed)

Started July 06, 2024 by @lavender_ladybug group

tune

Ezra was.. long gone. The Shadow Figure brought Ezra to a nearby Alleyway.. she was bleeding out a bit, but it was alright so far.. She coughed slightly. Ezra couldn't really move that well, it felt like a punch in the gut. The dagger was still implanted in her abdomen, she didn't pull it out because she didn't want blood loss.

"God dammit-.." She'd mutter, breathing slightly and heavily as she got up.. trembling a bit.

Her adrenaline rushed as she thought of how she was gonna get out of this.. she got out of things worse than this usually.. but this is different. This was the REVERAND DAUGTER. The one she used to play pranks on people with.. but this isn't that. It was a battle between broken friends.

"Didn't see that coming.." She'd say, sighing and annoyed.

It was a long walk home for Branwen, not for the distance, but the world around her seemed to move forward in slow motion. She arrived at the entrance to the temple with a flock of worried guards crowding around her. They asked her questions, most of them she couldn't hear over the blood rushing through her ears, but she made out: Reverand Daughter, are you hurt? …Reverand Daughter, where did you go? …Reverand Daughter why didn't you take one of us with you? Her only reply was to hand one of them her cloak.

When she made it to her rooms, Bran took comfort in her evening routine. Undress. Brush sweat and dirt from her hair. Rinse her mouth with water. After, she slipped into bed and pulled the covers over her ears. Alone.

"Good god, what happened to you?" Someone from the market, a customer or merchant—it was hard to tell—approached Ezra. She wore a tunic made from several swatches of fabric; the colors clashed. "Can I help?"

Ezra slightly chuckled at the person, each chuckle made the pain feel sharp and worse.. as she coughed out a bit more blood.. looking up at them, she looked quite roughed up.. her hair was messy and ruffled.. and her mouth was stained with dry blood.

"N-No.. I'm fine, I'll be okay.. really." Ezra would say, holding her wound, limping as she would walk away from the person slowly because the wound affected the way she walked a bit, but she was mostly fine.. I just needed to go somewhere discreet.. like the woods, so she could conduct a bit of Dark Magic and heal her wound and THEN she could remove the Bone Dagger.. that would be a good piece to study.. mostly because she wanted to use Bran's bones against her.

The woman didn't look very convinced. Her posture wilted a bit with concern as she watched Ezra limp away. If she had any medical knowledge, or was even skilled in first aid more advanced than a simple scrape, she would have ran after the wounded stranger. But without any of that she could only helplessly observe. She called out, "Well…if you say so. If you change your mind my shop is just around the corner."

(Do you have a plan for the woods or would you like to skip to the morning?)

A few hours later, the sun slipped through Branwen's curtains in thin rays that landed on her face. She groaned in reply, but sat up despite such a rude intrusion—much to the protest of her sore muscles. That earned another whimper. Confronting Ezra always took every bit of her energy. Her morning routine was just as methodical as her evening, typically all that happened then but in reverse. After a few moments she exited her rooms donned in one of her everyday outfits and bags under her eyes.

She took a seat in her usual place at the dining room table, brushing her robes aside. The place across from her, and the most ornate one at the head of the table, was left set and dusty for her absentee parents. As she ate breakfast, a skeleton servant approached with an envelope resting on a silver platter.

The outside was ridiculously decorated even for her house's standards. The paper was embossed and shiny, closed with a wax seal bearing the emperor's signet. Her eyebrows lifted at that. She opened the letter:

To Whom It May Concern: His Majesty, Emperor John Domini, ruler of the nine houses, invites the Reverand and Reverand Wife, along with thine appointed Cavalier, and every ruler of the nine houses and their cavalier, to his home on the First House one week from the date of this letter, for food and beverage. Entertainment. And general schmoozing. If Who It May Concern is to deny this invitation, dire consequences should follow.

Branwen cursed. There were quite obvious requirements the emperor listed that she would not be able to provide. The Reverand and the Reverand Wife being one. Their cavalier, who went missing at the same time as her parents, being another. Her nails scraped against the wooden table. Perhaps her own presence would placate the emperor. But what of her cavalier? She needed the privacy of her study to think.

After hours of pacing in her study, the answer Branwen ended with left her nerves no less frayed: she needed to find Ezra Pheonix again.

The liklihood of Ezra staying in town after their showdown at market was slim. The liklihood of Ezra returning to her old rooms in the temple was even slimmer. The one last place she could think of where her old friend went was the woods. And so the woods was where Bran headed.

In the distance, Bran could spot smoke going into the air and sky.. It might be Ezra, might not.. the chances were a 50/50 chance.. Ezra was nearby, Cooking a Spotted Sunfish over an open flame.. slightly rolling the skewer to get the Sunfish perfectly cooked.. it was gonna be divine.. not the ideal food that she wanted to eat.. but it was enough for her to get by and survive.

"This is gonna be the best meal I've had in days.." Ezra would say to herself, her mouth practically salivating at the thought of sinking her teeth into the Sunfish.. the crispy, golden brown skin would make a satisfying crunch.

As Ezra continued cooking the Sunfish, it was finally done.. she'd take the perfectly cooked Sunfish off the open flame and sink her teeth into the Sunfish, slightly moaning in satisfaction.. this was so good.

"Oh my god.. this is pleasant." Ezra would say, sighing in satisfaction.

One of the guards had caught Bran before she left the courtyard. He was a stern man with greying hair and rough stubble, one of her parents' most trusted generals. When he implored Bran to let him come along, she refused. After some back and forth between two stubborn forces he insisted that she at least bring a guard dog. To that, she reluctantly agreed.

On her walk towards the woods a scruffy wolfhound named Argus trotted along a few paces ahead of her, a few paces behind her, and everywhere in between. Every once in a while he brushed up against her leg, prying for scratches behind the ears. She obliged.

Sooner than she expected, Bran noticed a tower of smoke drifting above the trees. She weighed the chances. 50/50. It was worth at least checking, especially with a hound at her side for protection if it was a ruffian. Or if it was Ezra.

Eventually, she wandered closer towards the campsite. "Pheonix?"

Her adrenaline was instantly activated by hearing her voice.. she couldn't cast any Shadow Demons or weapons.. but she had a Nessmuk Knife in her utility pouch on her belt. She put her hand on the utility pouch, ready to open it and stab anyone if needed.. her breathing became slightly heavy and guarded.

"What do you want, Bran." She'd say, coldly, her hand still on the utility pouch, ready to strike by any means necessary.. she was ready.

She looked around, waiting for her to come out of the forest.. she couldn't see where she was, but she heard her voice.. and that's all she needed to confirm she was close.

Argus was the first to breach the edge of the trees. He barked once, twice, then cautiously padded over to sniff the sunfish.

"For you to listen to me," Branwen replied as she emerged after the hound. The walk through the woods had pulled down her hood. She tugged at her hair, catching vagrant leaves and twigs and tossing them to the ground. Then she shook out the rest of her robe to dislodge any loose shrubbery that caught on the hem. She added under her breath, "Damn, I never understood why you liked the woods so much. Eugh."

"Anyway," she continued, "We—I have a problem."

"I don't care if you have a problem, Bran.. you literally impaled me with a dagger made of bones, you think I'm gonna forgive you? Hah! You must be clinically insane."

Ezra said, her hand is still on the Utility Pouch, ready to take out her Nessmuk knife and hurt anyone if necessary. Her instincts told her to do what she knew best, run. This might be an ambush to put her in a cell, but she couldn't run now.. she had to see what she was gonna say before she left if things got too crazy.. she glanced at Bran, then the guard dog, Argus. "Wow.. she really is desperate and weak enough to bring a guard dog?" Ezra thought to herself.

"Fine.. I'll listen to whatever tall tale you're about to speak."

Ezra rolled her eyes and sighed, letting her guard down and putting both of her hands behind her back, a stotic expression on her face.. but something else.. annoyed. She was annoyed how casual she was when she almost killed her, if she didn't heal herself or had enough energy.. she would be goddamn dead right now.. and Ezra thought she knew the human anatomy. "She must've been trying to kill me." Ezra though, annoyed.. but that just fueled it more.

Argus sat down beside Ezra, wagging his tail in hopes he would get a treat for being so polite.

"It's not a tall tale." Branwen bristled at the accusation. "The emperor sent an invitation for my parents, which…is the problem." Slowly, she took calculated steps forward, stretching her hand out to give Ezra the envelope as proof. "I'm sure he would understand if I went in their stead, but our cavalier is gone too." Once the paper was gone from her possession, she retreated.

"You have to believe me, I would ask anyone else if I could." She had already considered one of her guards, but they were out of practice, and too old to be considered her companion. "You're the only one who could pull this off with me."

"I know I just stabbed you and I'm…" Branwen faltered before the apology, fists clenched and eyes closed. It was necessary to swallow her pride, she urged herself. "I'm sorry."

Ezra's interest peaked at the Guard Dog, Argus.. sitting next to her, she'd take out her Nessmuk Knife from her Utility pouch, and cut on a piece of the Sunfish for the dog, putting it inside of Argus's mouth, then sighed in slight annoyance when she heard Bran speak up again.

"So you came here assuming I'd go? We're not exactly.. on good terms." Ezra would say in slight annoyance, as she sighed heavily, putting the Nessmuk Knife back inside of her Utility pouch, closing it, before looking dumbfounded at her next sentence.

"So I was your last option?.. Wow, you shouldn't have said that.. I would have been way more nice and understanding if you didn't say you would ask anyone else." Ezra said in a mock sad tone, feigning sadness as she made direct eye contact with Bran, stepping slightly closer to her.

"Well.. I'd consider it, but.." Ezra paused, a sly smirk forming on her face. "What's in it for me? What do I get out of this encounter?" Ezra said, looking at the invitation and giving it back to Bran.

Argus munched happily on his prize.

"I wasn't assuming you would go but I was hoping you would at least consider it despite our…estrangement." Bran had expected it would be a hard sell. She was perhaps as less inclined to bring Ezra along as Ezra was to go.

Branwen took an equal step back. She searched for true grief in her old friend's face about having not been the first choice, and found none. If she was being sincere Bran couldn't have cared less.

Hesitantly, she got close enough to take back the invitation. "You could steal anything you needed. What could I possibly have that you might want that is in my power to give?"

Ezra smirked, taking out the Bone Dagger from her Utility pouch.. dried up blood on it, reminding Bran from when she impaled it into Ezra's abdomen. Ezra made direct eye contact with her, her eyes slightly narrowing at the sight of her.

"I mean.. you seem quite desperate enough to come all the way out here.. the least I could do is do you a favor and go.. But, I wanna know more about how you made this." Ezra said with a grin.. quite annoying.. she was always sly.

Ezra twirled the Bone Dagger in her hands, looking at Bran.

Branwen frowned at the dagger, lips pursed. She should have known Ezra would try to use this against her. Typical. "I shouldn't have let you keep that." She made a hand movement that had the bony weapon crumbling into beads, little red-and-white pebbles scattering through the grass. "The ability is genetic. You wouldn't be able to roll a knucklebone into a marble if you tried."

She crossed her arms over her breast, looking as though she chewed on a thought. "But if this is the only thing that will get you to come with me, I suppose I could show you some of the science."

Ezra would sigh in slight annoyance.. but then she thought, "Why not do it after, so she could be worn out and be more angry? That would be a thing that I'd love to watch.." She'd think for a second, her expression blank.. then turned to Bran, looking her up and down and smirking.. then she spoke.

"Eh.. Maybe after.. I don't wanna wear you out too hard before we go to that thing you were speaking on." Ezra would say.. putting her hands in her pockets as she continued to look at Bran, her expression deadpan, but amused.. of course.

Branwen's composure remained like stone until she processed what Ezra had said. Then, she visibly relaxed, appearing very much unlike herself for just a fraction of a moment. "Good god, you're agreeing." She massaged her temples. When her hand fell back to her side, she once again was the picture of the Reverand Daughter, all stiff limbs and hard edges.

"Well, good. We're leaving the day after tomorrow. I'll expect you at the temple that morning." Her gaze passed over Ezra, more critically this time, then over to the campsite with her supplies. "One other thing. I assume that you are still practiced in the art of the sword?"

Ezra took a final bite of the sunfish, savoring the flavor, and finished the last bit with a satisfied sigh. She glanced at Branwen with a smirk as she stuffed the last of the sunfish into Argus’s eager mouth.

"I may be a thief and a troublemaker, but I haven’t lost my touch with a blade," Ezra replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Though, I must admit, my talents might have been better honed if you hadn’t tried to skewer me with a bone dagger."

She twirled the remnants of her meal, tossing it aside, and then reached into her pouch to retrieve a small, practice sword. She twirled it with ease, showing off her skill and precision.

"Ready and willing. Just let me know if you need me to put on a show for you before we set out." Ezra’s grin widened as she eyed Branwen, her eyes reflecting a mix of challenge and amusement. "I’ll be at the temple, but don’t think I’m going to make this easy for you. This is as much a test for you as it is for me."