Low Profile (Luna)

[Ryad of Illiria]

The wind swirled around Ryad as he and Riara soared through the early morning sky. Ryad rest his face on the dragon’s neck, the dragon’s comforting warmth was a welcome contrast to the chilling winds around him. The first fingers of light had just crested the horizon as he road, the earth below was dark but he trusted the dragon to see for him. From the reports he had been able to get his hands on the man he was looking for had been peddling his wares in Lys recently. A trader by the name of Eddard had been a name that had crossed his desk more than once in the past weeks. The more unbelievable tales told of a man who had defended himself and his family against the attacks of Wendigo, which Ryad found to be an absurd rumor. The more interesting tale was of an honest trader who was selling to people for fair prices, with a mind more for others than of himself; a rarity that Ryad enjoyed seeing in Illiria. This was a man that Ryad wished to meet, and possibly invest in; he could make this Eddard a very successful man, and in turn benefit all of Illiria, but first he would have to meet with this man.

It was mid-morning before Ryad reached Lys. Riaria set down just outside the limits as not to startle the people too much. The Voice slid from her saddle, immediately stretching his cramped, weary legs once his boots were on solid ground. He wore simple travelers clothing, a slim fitting grey tunic, black trousers, and a fraying black cloak. As horrid as the ensemble may have looked he was attempting to avoid drawing to much attention to himself; there were other rumors to be wary of out here as well rumors of a group who called themselves Loyalists, though Ryad thought the term terrorists was a better fit.

Ryad sent Riara off before entering Lys despite the protective protests of the dragon. The senator was convinced that he would be able to take care of himself if any danger did arise, and if not the dragon would be the first to know if he needed any help. With quiet confidence Ryad walked through the streets of Lys. It was a quaint town, quiet, seemingly safe; he could see why this Eddard man had added Lys to his trading route. When Ryad had finally come upon the market he smiled; this seemed to be where the majority of Lys’ hustle and bustle took place. People flocked around stalls scurrying from one to another looking for the best deals.

After a deal of asking around Ryad was pointed to the spot that Eddard had been known to set up shop, sadly it seemed that the Eddard was having a late day as his spot sat empty. Never one to be deterred Ryad chose a bench with a clear view of the spot and took a seat. Producing an apple he had bought from a nearby produce vendor, Ryad sat back and relaxed watching the goings on of the town with a smile on his face as he enjoyed his late breakfast.

Sadly Ryad’s peaceful moring did not last long. A woman’s shriek and a man rushing past his vantage broke the tranquility and brought Ryad’s senses to a point. Apparently some poor woman had had her purse cut and the thief had just barreled past him. Surely the guard would have the situation well enough in control by Ryad was never one to leave a call from a damsel in distress unanswered. Springing to his feet the Senator gave chase. The thief had a sizable lead on him from the go and Ryad’s lack of knowledge of Lys made him hard-pressed just to keep eyes on the man.

“What are you doing, what’s happening?” He heard a voice call from the back of his mind.

“Nothing I’m fine, just chasing a thief through the streets.” He replied with a obviously fake sense of nonchalance. “Keep your distance.”

“Yes, because a strange man running through the streets is not out of the ordinary at all, what do you think will happen when you catch him; someone will recognize you. You may as well just let me help, I want a share of the glory too, you know.”

“That is true…” That was all the invitation the Dragon needed as seconds later Ryad saw Riara’s shadow soaring overhead. The dragon landing a few short feet in front of the thief and gave a deafening roar, the man fell backwards and Ryad was afraid he had died of fear. Catching up Ryad doubled over panting, but managed to retrieve the purse from the petrified thief. Then he looked around at the crowd gathering around the three and he realized that his covert operation may have been ruined before it had even gotten started.

[Luna]

Eddard was flapping like a chicken that had been spooked by a fox. He had woken up late and it had put him out of sorts for the day. Feeling like she was underfoot and more likely to get trampled by Ed and his son Leon (who was about 11) she left, promising to meet them at the market square when they got themselves organised.

She had only been with them three days now and already she had made progress. She no longer moved through the town with fear in her eyes and walking so close to the walls she might as well be hugging them. She managed to smile when people greeted her and she had almost stopped growling at people who made her uncomfortable. The most difficult one however, was remembering not to shift when she was clothed. She had already torn two of Ed’s late wives dresses in panic.

As she reached the town, clad in a navy blue dress, black boots and a dagger at her hip, she found a small gathering had formed, around a dragon rider and a man who was lying on the floor petrified. She growled, making the people closest to her give her strange looks. They edged slowly from her, giving her enough space to move to the front as the town guard finally caught up to thank the dragon rider.

At least she assumed it was thanks, by the relief on his red face and the way he was shaking his hand. A few words were exchanged before the crowd began to disperse, leaving Luna standing alone, transfixed by the dragon. It made her think of Arethar and a pang of guilt at not pursuing him to the desert stabbed at her.

“Get, savage.” the guard spat at her in dheynorian as he hauled the thief to his feet and cuffed him. “The likes of you should not be in the presence of the Voice.”

“The likes of you shouldn’t be a guard,” she retorted coolly “you’re too fat to catch anyone.”

“GET!” he yelled swinging his truncheon at her, she leapt out of his reach and smirked before stalking away, heading for Eddard’s stand. When she arrived she was glad to see that he had arrived and was somewhat calmer now as he carefully laid out his goods. Leon grinned at her as she joined them, “What’s new?” he asked her. She shrugged “Some saviour caught a thief. A dragon rider, fatty called him the voice.”

Eddard looked up his eyes wide. “The Voice?” Luna frowned at his sudden interest and she shrugged again. “That’s what fatty said.” Eddard looked dumbfounded for a minute before remembering himself and continuing to unload the goods. Luna looked at Leon for an explanation. “The voice is a member of the senate; the group of people who run Illiria. They don’t normally come out this far. Too high a risk of attack from bandits.”

Luna snorted derisively “No wonder fatty was all flustered.”

“Please don’t call the town guard ‘fatty’ Luna, you have no idea how much earache it causes me. It’s bad enough that I arrived in the dead of night with a naked woman on my cart, without you insulting him.”

Luna scowled. “When he stops calling me ‘savage’ I will stop calling him ‘fatty’.”

Leon giggled. Eddard shook his head, though a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

[Ryad of Illiria]

Riara had always been a diva, as the crowd of people closed in the held her head high in a regal pose basking in the attention. The dragon missed the woman in the crowd who’s eyes were fixed on her but Ryad had not. She was clearly different from the rest of the townspeople though Ryad could not put his finger on what it was about her. As the crowd dispersed the woman remained her gaze still locked on the dragon; Ryad was intrigued. The overweight guardsman had finally managed to rouse the woman tell her she was not fit to be in the presence of the voice a statement Ryad did not like this but he held his tongue for the time being. A brief altercation followed and the woman was on her way leaving Ryad curious.

It had taken nearly fifteen minutes to rid himself of the town guardsmen, eventually he managed to convince the man that he was on secret senate business and mustn’t be disturbed. Taking the hint that the guard went on his way. Ryad free once again went about finding Eddard’s stand again. Walking through the streets of Lys he soon came to regret his earlier actions as he felt the eyes of all the people on him. Normally he would relish in this but, not today not with the dangers that could be lurking around every corner. Having Riara by his side gave him some sense of security, but he could not help but wonder how many of these people would like to see him, or any other member of the senate dead. Not that he could blame them most of them would have deserved it.

By the time Ryad was able to find his way back to place in the market where he was told Eddard would be he found that not only was the merchant present, his stand had been flooed with customers. Ryad grimaced at the sight, he did not wish to disrupt the man’s business but he did not want an audience when he made his proposal either. Ryad stared at the stand for a long minute before deciding that he would wait to speak with the man until after he had closed for the day. Leaving him to explore Lys in its entirety in the meantime.

Ryad placed his hand on Riana’s neck and smiled. “Up for a bit of sightseeing.” He asked knowing the answer already. The dragon did not even dignify the question with a response rather she made a loud snorting noise. Ryad smiled and nodded. “I expected as much, go on then love, I will let you know if I need you.” With that the dragon was off again and once again Ryad was left alone. Standing still for a moment he wondered on where to start.

[Luna]

Once the first customer had come, they all came; the sheer number of people interested in Eddard’s trinkets overwhelmed her. People shouted at her in their strange language and she would find herself panicked, unable to remember anything Leon and Eddard had taught her about currency and language and she would short change people raising more shouts, and find herself, much to her disgust, close to tears.

Seeing her distress, Eddard gently moved her aside and told her to observe. So she did, she watched as the money passed from customers hands into his, as they made small talk and he smiled kindly at all of them. And she wished she was back in her woods, with nothing but the song of the forest to keep her company. Angry tears at her failure welled in her eyes and she brushed them away with the backs of her hands.

The sun moved over the sky and began to set over the village and Luna was hugging her knees as Eddard said goodbye to his final customer of the day before asking Leon to begin packing. He gave Luna an empathetic smile. “Do not punish yourself Luna, it will come. Give it time.” he said softly.

“Time is not my friend Ed; it will not wait for me. And while it races ahead I am panicking because there are too many people around me and my only thought is to fight them or run.” she felt the angry tear welling up again and looked away. Ed perched next to her on the cart and tentatively put an arm around her. Luna tensed at the close contact unsure what to do.

“Did it ever occur to you, that perhaps, you are trying to learn something you do not need to learn? Perhaps this person you so desperately want to help, does not need help with this, but needs help with everything you are already good at.”

“Like fighting.” piped up Leon, cheerfully. “My favourite moment will still be when you swung that axe up into that bandit’s privates. I’ve never seen anyone change colour like that.” Eddard sighed and rose from the box to help Leon reload the good back into the cart. Luna’s face was furrowed at their words.

She hated fighting, oh yes, she was good at it, it was everything she had ever known, but she hated it. She hated watching the life leave someone’s eyes, seeing that moment when they realise what a foolish mistake they had made by marching into battle and that their loved ones will live in misery after their death. They would always say what a glorious thing it was to die in battle, but there was nothing glorious about death.

“Luna, stop wallowing and make yourself useful.” said Eddard sharply, bringing her back from her thoughts. With a deep breath she slid off the crate and took the box that Ed was waving at her from him and began to carefully wrap the jewellery and place in neatly within.

[Ryad of Illiria]

Dusk was settling in by the time Ryad returned to the market. The soft click of his hard travel boots against the ground echoed over the quiet emptied commercial area. Riara once again by his side having gone on a successful hunt in the surrounding forest the dragon waddled along beside him full and content. Ryad would not be satisfied though until his own goals for this day had been put to rest, and so it was with purpose that he marched across the market square dragon in tow.

Ryad reached Eddard’s stand as the man was packing away his goods for the day. Filling crates and stowing them away in his cart, with his son and surprisingly the woman from earlier. Ryad smirked wondering how life worked out the way it did, though that was a question for another time he realized; pushing the thought away and returning his mind to the task at hand. Ryad approached the group still holding a smirk on his face and greeted them all with a quick courteous nod. “Good evening, I am Senator Ryad Armitage, Voice of the Empire.”

Eddard had his back to him fitting a crate into his cart as Ryad spoke but when Ed processed Ryad’s words his body stiffened and his head snapped upwards. Whirling around the man bowed, and the words “M’lord” slipped from his lips.

Ryad waved off the man’s gesture with a pleasant smile on his face even though he hated that custom. He was certainly no lord; that title that had once belonged to his father and then his brother but never to him, and as a senator he thought he deserved no such reverence.

“Please my good man I am a man of the people, elected to serve the people. I am no lord; there is no need for such formalities. In face it is I who should be bowing to you.” Ryad could see confusion on the merchant’s face and continue to elaborate. “How rare is it for one to find a man of principle, man of honor in his world?” Ryad moved closer to the group and hoisted a packed rate and placed it into their cart and signaled for them to continue their work, as he continued to speak.

“Too rare I say. It is because these men are not the ones who are rewarded. It is the greedy, the selfish, the men without conscious who get ahead in this world. Some say it is the doing of the senate that has fostered this kind of cutthroat society that we live in; and I will shamefully admit that those people would not be entirely wrong. But I look to change that and luckily there are men like you in Illiria; to help me with the arduous task ahead, Eddard. I have been following you closely recently, and my investigations have turned up a man who is kind generous, a man who would give the shirt off his back to help a stranger.” Ryad lifted another crate into the cart. He could feel his inner politician really hitting his stride. Though Riara was not impressed rolled her eyes at Ryad’s theatrics.

Ryad placed a hand on Eddard’s shoulder “It will be the actions of men like you that, usher in a new age for our people, for our children...” Ryad gestured toward Leon who had seemingly forgotten about his work and was instead mesmerized by the dragon that stood only a few short feet way from him. Ryad turned back to Eddard ready to bring his point home. “And it is the job of men like me to see that men like you are given the opportunity to do just that. So Eddard I come to you with a proposal. I would like to invest in your trade caravan, I want you to expand, to find individuals with principles such as your own to help you, and to take your good business practices and spread them all throughout Illiria and Dheynor as a whole. I look to help you build the most successful trading company in this country’s history, and at the same time help steer our country to a better, brighter future. This is your opportunity to change the course of history for the better Eddard my question to you is will you take it?”

[Luna]

Luna looked up as the man Fatty had called ‘the voice’ approached, she paused in her work surveying him with hard eyes. Everything thing from the way he held himself to the tone in his voice, she despised. She had seen some representatives of the Senate before when she was young. Ha had tried to treat with the Bervenhall clan, offering them ‘a civilised life’ in return of their services as soldiers to Illiria. Their attitude to her people filled her with rage, and as he finished his elaborate and pointless speech, a noise between disgust and derision slipped from her, before she continued loading the jewellery.

Eddard stared open mouthed at Ryad for a moment before remembering himself and sapping it shut. He looks from Luna to Leon and then to his stall before looking back at Ryad. “I don’t see how my goods and the way I sell them could possibly be of any use to the senate milord.” he said calmly, slowly, as he thought through his words carefully. “I agree that I am an honest trader, but to build an honest trade of the size you are saying, requires all the workers to be honest and I don’t believe that is possible.”

Luna placed the last item into the crate, and picked it up heading to the crate. Passing Leon who was staring at the Senator’s dragon, she clicked her fingers near him, jerking him back from his daze. “Don’t stare at them for too long.” she warned him, before setting the crate neatly in the cart. “Interesting that the senate’s first way about making life better is invest in a business to keep a constant flow of money of which none goes to the defence of its people.” She said leaning against the cart.

“Luna...” Eddard warned softly. “Forgive her,” he addressed Ryad “We think has been alone a long time, her courtesies are somewhat...out of reach.”

“I may have been alone, but I have still observed.” she snapped at them.

[Ryad of Illiria]

Ryad tilted his head slightly and smiled at the woman’s comments. Riara snorted her eyes narrowing toward the woman and her nostrils flaring. Shifter she whispered quietly in the back of his mind. Ryad raised an eyebrow, it seemed that he had just solved the mystery behind those wedingo rumors. Still he wondered what this woman was doing with these people. Ryad shrugged holding his smile in place.

“No need for apologies, it’s the job of a responsible citizen to question their government, which is what sets us apart from monarchies, it is what makes up superior, input from our people. But you do misunderstand my intentions my lady. This is not senate business, this investment comes out of my own coffers, and the profits would be used as I see fit. To better our defense would of course be one of my first objectives, but surely you must understand that is is simply not possible to build an army without a strong foundation built on coin.” Ryad shrugged and turned his attentions back to Eddard. Riara’s gaze on the other hand had not wavered her eyes still locked onto the shifter woman she could tell already that she would not care for her. Who did she think she was to question her beloved?

“As for your concerns Eddard, well all I can do is assure you that there are more good honest men in this world than you think, and I for one believe that if there is a will there is a way. If you want this then surely we could come up with enough like minded individuals to accomplish our goals. We can make this happen, but only if you want this. Really though, if we fail I will make sure you are no worse of than you are now, and if we succeed well I’m sure I don’t have to explain what will happen at the end of that scenario. Really what do you have to lose?” Ryad felt confident that he could convince Eddard to go along with his plan, but as much as he tried to fight it he could not keep his mind from wondering who this angry woman was.