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[Mia Casuana]

There was a ball tonight, and Everett wanted Mia to show him around Luthadel? She did not have time for this idiocy. But, she tried to keep her head cool. She was Everett's host, and regardless of his icy, hating temperment, the man was next in line to take Casuana should anything happen to Mia. The man was a great businessman, too, and it would be better to not infuriate the lord who operated all of Mia's source of income.

Fountain Square had some nobility milling around, but it was quiet, compared to execution days, which were so frequent. Mia could see stains of blood on the stone of the square. She shivered. That blood could be Julian someday.

"And this is Fountain Square," Mia said. "Which you knew. Because, you know, you've been to Luthadel hundreds of times." So Mia wasn't doing such a great job of not infuriating Everett. She didn't really care.

"Don't be petulant," Everett said. "I wanted to see if Luthadel is dangerous now as it was a year ago, when my brother died."

Which was also why Mia brought along a massive retinue of fifteen guards and six hazekillers--including Cyrille. It was a sad day when Cyrille was preferable to whatever Everett was sputtering.

"It is quite dangerous," Cyrille assured him, making a smirk. "You should pay me more because of it."

"Shut up," Mia and Everett snapped at the same time.

"Right, all right," Cyrille said. "The Lady can just accompany me to my bed chambers as payment. That'll do."

"Do you have no shame?" Everett said harshly, but not loud enough to attract attention.

"Shame? What's that?"

Mia hid a smile. Anyone who prevented Everett from yelling at her wasn't such a bad person.

"Oh, right," Cyrille said. "I had forgotten. Must have been that blow to the head I got when I killed that Raisaal Mistborn, that one who is far better at dueling than you'll ever be. My lord." The hazekiller made an elaborate bow. Mia thought she heard the man's hazekillers laugh softly.

And then, Mia saw him. The most infuriating person on the planet. Everett was a eight year old girl compared to him. Gervais Lekal. Mia felt her blood boil already, and Lekal was twenty feet away. But he was walking towards her group. Damn him. First Cami, then Everett, and now she'd have to deal with the High Prelan of Infuriating Lady Casuana himself?

"Hey," Mia snapped. "Canes and swords out. Yours too, Everett. We have a visitor." She laced the last word with venom. Why didn't she bring her bow today! What she wouldn't give to see that evil man lying on the ground, arrow through his heart, blood mixing with the bloodstains in the square.

Edited by Chaos, 31 December 2012 - 08:13 AM.

[Gervais Lekal]

Gervais was, for once, actually minding his own business; he had gone to Fountain Square, to read on his own, and incidentally get away from the Lekals. They did not improve with increasing exposure, and he found them more intolerable with every day that passed. He made it a point to ensure that the feeling was mutual.

Today, however, he needed a respite, and so he had a thin treatise by Pollard with him. It had turned out to be poor reading, unfortunately, and he had gotten up from his seat near the fountain with the intention of seeking something else out for amusement. And, providentially, something had appeared, in the form of Mia Casuana and an entire troop of armed guards, not to mention six men without a trace of metal on them - hazekillers, unless Gervais missed his guess. It was practically a war party.

Gervais and Mia had met before. Met might not be the appropriate word; clashed fit rather better. He had despised her from the moment he saw her - not unusual, of course, but she had come in for a certain special targeting. For one thing, she was so very amusing to provoke. She did not have the slightest control over herself, and the result was entertaining. For another, she had several additional strikes against her. He understood that now that that oaf Julian was dead, she was the head of Casuana. She was an oversized cow. And he really did not need any more justification than that.

He knew perfectly well how attached she and Julian had been to one another. It had been common knowledge, and if society had not been sharp enough to see it, it would have been evident to Gervais from the way they behaved around one another. The trust they had held in one another, the evident magnetic attraction between the two ? they had been like a pair of lovers out of some execrable romance novel. It was repellent.

He could see the hatred and anger on her face just as she simply caught sight of him, and quite plainly heard the command she gave to her guards. Gervais kept his face quite smooth, and then let a little sardonic smile draw up one corner of his mouth. The expression, in addition to a single raised eyebrow, was one which he knew to be particularly provoking.

"Why, Lady Mia - oh, I do beg your pardon; Lady Casuana," he said, "What a pleasant surprise to see you. And your retinue. I confess myself perplexed at the honour of this greeting, however; anyone would think you were afraid of me."

"Boo," he said, closing the book with a snap and tucking it into his pocket as he came to a halt. He had begun by making her angry, and now Gervais knew very well just how to hurt her in his follow-up assault. "How are you enjoying your widowhood?"

Edited by KChan, 13 September 2013 - 02:29 PM.

[Mia Casuana]

Mia's eye twitched. Everett opened his mouth to say something, but Mia thrust her hand up to silence him. Everett, while he might detest Mia, would not stand for anyone insulting House Casuana. But, unsurprisingly, two sentences out of Gervais's mouth and he was stabbing her right where she was vulnerable. She clenched her fist.

"Oh, widowhood is fantastic! You know, it's a big ego trip being the leader of a Great House, but I suppose you've never known what that's like. You'll notice that House Lekal's invitation to my Ball explicitly excluded you. If you show up tonight, my guards will flay you like an Inquisitor would. Actually," Mia's eyes lit up, "there will be an Inquisitor at the Ball. So His Grace will be able to lend his oversight to the torture process. I will make sure that your death is slow and painful. I will laugh. I will laugh like a damned giddy schoolgirl!"

She laughed loudly. Everett tugged on her cloak's sleeve, but Mia didn't care. "So, for your own sake, Lekal, I hope you show up to the Ball. Your corpse would look wonderful on the top of my Keep! So, in review, my widowhood is phenomenal. It will be literally infinitely better if I can shove the tears away with your blood."

She glared at the man and spat at his feet.

[Gervais Lekal]

Success. She had begun by being furious, now she had gone beyond that. He could see it in her eyes when his shot went home, the brief instant of wounded pain, even though a moment later it was covered by the flare of wrath. He had stabbed straight through her defenses with that one, and he found her subsequent explosion as entertaining as anything since he had come to Luthadel. Gervais' eyes glittered with malevolent amusement.

"How delightful," he said, linking his hands together behind his back without a trace of discomfort. The other corner of his mouth even lifted to join the first in the smile. "Almost poetic, Lady Casuana, shoving the tears away with my blood. I'm touched by the special regard you pay to me. Truly."

She ought to be reminded that her attempts at revenge were paltry at best, falling far short of even inconveniencing him. Gervais never went to balls in the first place; he despised the occasions, and so it was not in the least a punishment. "I don't think I shall be sorry to miss your Ball, however; I don't make a habit of dancing, as you should know. But I'm forgetting my manners. I should pay you a compliment instead, after you have shown me all this flattering attention."

His smile grew. "I must confess, Lady Casuana, you've impressed me at long last. To have managed to snare Lord Julian, and then to dispose of him so handily, right after he became the High Lord? Perhaps you really do deserve to lead a Great House."

[Mia Casuana]

The comment shocked Mia so much she was almost ready to fall over. "You..." Everett glanced at her warily. She took a deep breath. Calm down. Send Cami after him later. "You are a monster. I have half a mind to have you beaten to a pulp. I presume Lord Canler won't mind much."

"Let's beat him to a pulp!" Cyrille said with a grin. Everett sent him a dark look. "It'd be fun. Don't lie."

"It's true," Mia said. "It would be quite fun. I don't even think House Lekal would mind!"

Edited by Chaos, 31 December 2012 - 08:14 AM.

[Gervais Lekal]

He had scored another hit; he saw the stricken look in her eyes, but it was possible he had gone too far. Mia now seemed to be losing the ability to come up with more diverting threats and was simply calling him a monster. Perhaps he should give her a respite to regroup, so that she could come up with something else.

"Beaten to a pulp? This is degenerating; I preferred flayed alive. Where has your eloquence gone?" Gervais shook his head, with an expression of disappointment.

Then he turned his smirk on to Cyrille. "Lady Casuana, now I should reproach you on your manners. I recognize Lord Everett, of course - how do you do, by the way? - but you've failed to introduce me to your new lapdog here. I assure you, however, whatever your name is, I'm enchanted." He favoured the man with a mocking bow and a flourish of his hand.

[Mia Casuana]

"He's--" Mia began.

"No, allow me," Cyrille said. "What a coincidence!" He smirked. "My name just happens to be Enchanted. Lord Enchanted. Isn't that funny? The ladies do consider me enchanting in the bedroom, you know!"

Cyrille grinned. Mia let out a heavy sigh. She was so fortunate Cyrille didn't make a joke involving Mia in the bedroom, so he must have some sense of restraint. Or maybe just duty to whoever was paying him. Either way, it put Mia at ease. Clearly, Cyrille had much more experience talking to Lords of House Annoyance. She'd let him, in that case.

Edited by Chaos, 31 December 2012 - 08:15 AM.

[Gervais Lekal]

Oh, so the lapdog thought he would try to show some teeth? Gervais' smile widened, as he appraised the man. It was plain that "Enchanted" was a dueller, moreover one with a high opinion of himself. He had a streak of chivalry as well, it seemed, the way he was leaping to the defense of the lady. He caught Mia's sigh, of course; frustrated at her servant, was she? Apparently she didn't care to hear him talk like that. But Gervais was more appreciative; it gave him another excellent opening.

"Oh, famous," Gervais replied, "I've guessed it, have I? I'm so very delighted to meet you, and learn about your habits, Lord Enchanted. Now I understand why Lady Casuana keeps you around. You must have helped her to recover after the tragedy."

[Mia Casuana]

Mia bit her lip.

"I wish," Cyrille said. "She's much too honorable for that, sadly. You should probably give her an easier time, she is quite a good woman, as women go. Know what I mean?"

Mia stared to the ground, and she tasted blood in her mouth.

Edited by Chaos, 31 December 2012 - 08:15 AM.

[Gervais Lekal]

"As women go, of course," Gervais answered, "but that's hardly difficult, is it-if you know what I mean? I commend your chivalry, however, Lord Enchanted. It's a moving display."

Oh, now this was interesting, however; Mia had nothing to say anymore. She wasn't even looking at him, instead she was staring at the ground, as if she was trying to hide something. He'd never actually reduced her to tears before. This would be a first, if he'd succeeded. He hadn't thought Mia Casuana was capable of it. He actually hoped she wouldn't, however, Mia was so much more amusing when she flew into a rage. Not to mention Gervais particularly disliked the weepers.

He decided to experiment, regardless. Perhaps a different approach might bring her back into a more amusing state than this quiet, subdued creature. "But perhaps you're right. How terrible of me, to treat Lady Casuana this way in her time of grief. You have my deepest compassion for your sufferings, my Lady." If he knew Mia at all, the tone of mocking pity in his voice, and the exaggerated respect, would absolutely incense her.

[Mia Casuana]

"I do try to be chivalrous," Cyrille said. "Especially late at night. All night, in fact." Mia smiled for a moment.

Gervais didn't laugh. Instead, he dared to mock her. She did not need his false pity. How dare he disrespect Julian's memory--three times, no less! Mia started growling.

But Julian wasn't dead. Gervais's mocking was almost enough to get Mia to forget about that. Bastard. Julian always knew how to deal with Gervais, but he had never truly annoyed the Lekal. If Julian was here right now, he probably would just laugh and walk away from him. Gervais reminded Mia that Julian wasn't around any longer. She didn't have to restrain herself.

So she stepped forward and slapped him with all the rage she could muster--rage stronger than the force of the Ashmounts.

Edited by Chaos, 31 December 2012 - 08:15 AM.

[Gervais Lekal]

Gervais was about to point out how touchingly sweet it was that this Lord Enchanted could make Mia smile again, when he realized that Mia was growling now. She was literally growling at him, like an animal, and then she stalked forward from the ranks of her guards.

He saw her tense an instant before her hand flashed out towards his face. His hand snapped up to catch her wrist before she could strike him, and he held it frozen in the air, a few inches away from his face. Gervais was shocked at the force behind her blow; he had never thought she could have that much physical strength. His eyes actually widened for a brief moment as they stood there facing one another, although his smile remained as mocking as before.

[Mia Casuana]

"Mia!"

"Mia."

The monster caught Mia's hand. So close. She locked eyes with Gervais. Amusingly, she was just slightly taller than him. She held more power than this fool ever held, especially with Casuana ranked higher than Lekal. She would destroy Gervais someday. Those colorless eyes of his--almost as white as mists--taunted her to do so. Maybe if lightning suddenly hit the man, that would add some color to his irises.

"Now, now," Cyrille said with a smile. He gently tapped his cane on the point where Gervais grabbed Mia, holding it between them. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but break it up. Lord Lekal. Let her hand go. Lady Mia. We'll walk the other way from him. And if either of you don't, I can always hit both your necks hard." He grinned, winking at Mia. "Let's call it a day, shall we?"

[Gervais Lekal]

Gervais released Mia?s hand at nearly the same instant that Cyrille moved, almost flinging it away with a sudden violence and disgust. She was wearing gloves, but he had still not wanted the touch. Mia had crossed his boundaries, and he could still feel the unpleasant sensation of pressure on his hand where he had caught her. He did not stop meeting her eyes, however, nor did his smile waver in the slightest; instead it deepened, his lips curling into a sneering grin.

The hatred in her eyes was nearly tangible; if she could have killed him in that moment he was sure that she would have. She truly wanted him dead. This was far better than when she had been subdued and quiet, far more fun. She hated him, and he felt a surge of triumph in the power of having driven her into this. He despised her just as much as she hated him, but she was under his control, doing as he pleased her to do. Only the invasion of his space and the uneasy feeling it gave him tainted the victory.

He took a step backwards and laughed contemptuously. "Lord Enchanted" actually amused him; the man had been fast enough on his verbal feet to keep Gervais entertained. He hoped Mia kept him around. It would be interesting to meet him again. Moreover, he was quick in a more literal sense as well. He wondered what the man's real name was; eventually he would find out. It made no real difference. He had chosen to be "Enchanted," now he could bear the ridiculous title.

Sweeping the Casuana party a bow, with a flourish of one hand while the other rested on his dueling-cane, Gervais bid them farewell. "And what an excellent day it is. Good-bye, Lady Casuana; it has been my pleasure, as always."