Winter Wonders ( Tourmal)

by **Ryia Brock** on January 17th, 2014, 9:56 pm

Tourmal's words confused the young squire and she didn't understand his meaning. Was he cruel to women that were older than she? Was there a certain way that he spoke to them that wasn't fitting of himself, nor becoming of a lady to respond to? "I think I'd rather you treated me like a person. Not as a child or..whatever you meant by what you just said."

Ryia listened closely to what he said, so far he didn't appear to be apart of any groups that might try and steal her away to some foreign lands for whatever purpose they saw. He seemed kind hearted and very friendly if anything, but she had to wonder if they all seemed that way until they sprung their traps. The young blonde smiled, she could see how he could miss his home. She never imagined being so far away from Syliras, but she was aware of the fact that one day she might have to. Being a Knight meant many things, and part of it was going where one was told, and doing what was ordered.

"I'm really sorry to hear that. Family should mean everything, and you should be able to stay close with them always." Ryia truly felt sorry for him, she couldn't imagine a world where she and her sister's didn't get along. Helena did scare her at times, but they never stayed angry with each other. In the end, they always found a way to work it out because to them family was everything. Tourmal changed the subject and she looked at him apologetically, she didn't mean to upset him by talking about family, it was so common for her that she didn't think about the many people that didn't have them.

"Well I like, dogs, going to the theater, I really like music but I can't play instruments. I like..going out into the fields in summer, where the light shines on the crops and everything around me is alive and bright. It's a good feeling, the smell of the crops, the sun warm on my face."

Ryia closed her eyes and sighed softly, her mind wandering into the past where she last spent helping the farmers in the fields. "I guess it's your turn again. Tell me something else about you?"

by **Tourmal Firemane** on January 26th, 2014, 3:16 am

Tourmal, Winter 16, 513 AV

The man smiled at her response. He had expected something similar to that. “Children are people” He chuckled. “I know what you mean though.”

The girl expressed her compassion towards his position. He felt as she did, he wished the two could get along. However it was very unlikely. Maybe one day if he decided to go back home and live subservient to his brother and follow his every word and rule, and hand over his life for the life of the clan then maybe the two could get along. However it was highly unlikely.

The girl spoke of her likes, starting with small things, like dogs, and music, then she explained slightly more complicated things, smells and feelings. The man understood how she enjoyed the scent of the crops and the sun shining down on her face. He too enjoyed that. Occasionally he took Aurus for a ride around the fields just outside the castle.

“Ok well where do I start.” He looked at the girl. “I like women, as you have already noticed no doubt. I like mead, and horses, Aurus mostly. Dogs are nice too, a good friend of mine has one, much smaller than your Aveline.” Tourmal looked at her large dog and smiled. “I like the way my arms feel after finishing a project. Hot, from hammering away all day, my shoulders burning from constant activity and my hands numb from the impact of the hammer on the metal. Oh yea and the best part is when my muscles feel too big for my skin. Like at any moment my skin will split open and they will burst out.” The man was looking off at nothing in particular imagining the feeling.

“I love the smell of scale. It's a residue left on the metal from heating it in the fire. And the sound of me wire brush scraping it off. Mostly cos when I hear it, I know the day is about over.” Tourmal turned his head toward Ryia and smiled hoping she would understand.

“I love the taste of a nice mead on me tongue after a long day at the Works. It is so relaxing and refreshing.” The man thought about the next thing that came to mind and if he should share it with his new friend or not. He thought about what she said. She wanted to be treated like a person not a child and not like how he treated most women. So he figured she should know the truth about him. If the two were to become friends it would come out sooner or later. “And best of all is the feeling of a woman's soft skin against mine, and the scent of her hair on a pillow.”

“I suppose that is why I find it so hard to resist flirting with your type. Women that is.” He looked at her with a guilty smile. “You understand that I told you because you said you didn't want to be treated the same as I treat the rest.” He looked away. “However I do hope you don't mind the flirting, it's kind of hard fer me to turn it off.”

by **Ryia Brock** on January 30th, 2014, 8:44 pm

Ryia's cheeks burned slightly from his remark. It was exactly the kind of condescending response she received from older people whenever she said anything that differed from what they wanted her to believe. Still, with this man, it didn't feel as though he was doing it to be mean. "Well maybe I'll treat you like an old man." the teen retorted. It surprised even her, that was surely something that Dimia would say, not her.

Aveline half circled them, barking here and there as they rode on. The young squire offered her dog a warm smile, before she turned to look at him again. He spoke about liking women, which for her was a term that she rarely heard used to refer to her. He also talked of his muscles and bending them around things, Ryia honestly had no idea what he was going on about but she figured that he did. He had the build of someone who was active, and seemed to know a lot about hammers and metals.

Tourmal was passionate about it, that much she did understand. Going by the way he spoke of it made her want to see him in the mix of it all, to see it through his eyes. He started to talk about mead and she frowned. Ryia didn't drink any type of alcohol and she also hated the smell. There was also the way that people acted after they drank it, which turned her off the drinks even more. The teenager was about to comment about her thought on it, when he confessed his love of women and his need to flirt.

Ryia felt bad for him, and as much as she was enjoying the company, she was sure that she couldn't measure up to the women that he was used to being with. She didn't even know how to flirt. The blonde squire's cheeks flushed more and she glanced up at him with a weak smile. "No I don't mind. So do you normally come here looking for women to flirt with?" Her question wasn't in jest, but she was just curious. However, before she could finish, Aveline some how startled her horse and it started to buck and pick up speed. "Aveline! move it, get out of the way before you are hurt." Her fingers gripped the riens and she arched her back, elbows tucked in as she tried to steady the horse and slow it down.

by **Tourmal Firemane** on February 12th, 2014, 2:07 am

Tourmal, Winter 16, 513 AV

“Hah!” Tourmal laughed surprised at her retort. “Feisty one you are, aren't ya.” He chuckled. “I'm sorry I shouldn't have pushed yeh so far. Just testing the waters. Now I know they are hot.” He chuckled again.

After the man had gone on about his likes for what probably seemed forever Ryia replied asking if he came here to flirt regularly. Tourmal smiled and thought to himself how lucky he had been today because normally it was just him and Aurus. “Well, no matter where I go I always keep an eye out for pretty women. But no, that is not my aim fer comin' here.” He looked at her in her blue eyes. “I normally come here to ride and be with me steed Aurus here.” He patted the stallion on the neck lightly.

Suddenly her horse went out of control, her dog had gotten too close and probably spooked her mount and now she was speeding off yelling for her pet to get away. Its sudden outburst took Aurus by surprise and caused Aurus to rear up on its hind legs. Tourmal held with all his might gripping the handle just above its withers and tightening his legs around the body as much as he could. He also shifted his weight forward doing everything he could to not be unseated. He was not ready for it and when the horse came down Tourmal was jostled and stunned. Ryia was already off about 100 meters ahead of him.

The man regained his composure and took notice of the situation. Runaway horses were not foreign to him he had seen them happen often. However he had never helped anyone regain control of their mounts. Tourmal leaned forward closer to the strider and gave a swift kick to its loins, to get it to follow the girl and hopefully catch up. Aurus increased its gate nearly instantly to a canter. The man kicked again this time the horse speeding up to a full gallop. And the two of them were off in pursuit of the young woman.

by **Ryia Brock** on February 17th, 2014, 10:23 pm

The young squire had made a mistake, and error in judgement. Tourmal had her curious, and a bit uneasy. It wasn't in a bad way, but it was still different to have someone flirting with her, especially someone so much older than she was. As they talked, her attention became more focused on the conversation and less so on her dog and the horse. Because if that carelessness, the horse got away from her.

Ryia struggled to calm the bucking animal, trying everything just to keep herself mounted. She gripped the reins tightly, lifted her arms higher to try and keep the horse's head steady. Her boots dug into the stirrups, legs clenched the horse's body and she arched her back while pulling down on the reins. "Steady, steady...calm down." The horse reared up again, a last time before it finally calmed and stood in place again.

The teenager sighed, and felt a chill race through her body. That was scary, and unlike before, she wasn't with her sister's. If she had fallen and gotten hurt there was no one around, unless Tourmal felt up to rescuing her. Ryia turned to the sound of barking and saw Aveline running towards her. "Be more careful Aveline. Do you want to get us both hurt?" The dog barked again as it moved to her side, then circled the horse again.

Ryia sighed again and watched the dog, she wasn't getting through to her anymore. When Aveline was younger, the dog seemed to follow orders better. But now, she was as stubborn as Helena. "What am I going to do with you?" Aveline barked again and lifted up on her hind legs, showing her impressive height. "Aveline, enough. Down girl."

by **Tourmal Firemane** on March 4th, 2014, 4:36 am

Tourmal, Winter 16, 513 AV

The two gained on her slowly. Then she suddenly pulled back on the horse with all her might trying to slow it down. The drykas had not expected it and quickly passed the young woman over shooting his goal. The large man circled a few times with Aurus to cool him down. The horse was now excited and needed to work out the adrenaline it had worked up from the short gallop. She regained control of her bloodmane after it reared once more. Tourmal was relieved there wasn't more. He didn't believe he could have gotten the horse to stop anyways. He would likely only get himself injured in the task.

Her dog had caused the problem and now the dog was riled up as well. That would not help the situation it was likely that it would just aggravate the horses nerves even further. If she did not get control of her pet she could be in danger. But it seemed that she had gained enough control of her mount, so that the dog could not cause any more problems.

Tourmal shook his head and chuckled slightly at how something so simple caused his heart to race and within seconds it was over. The young woman in front of him seemed much more capable than he first gave her credit for. “It seems you are a good rider.” He looked his compatriot in the eyes. “That was quite impressive what you did. Honestly didn't think yeh were up to it. But now you have me respect.” Not that he didn't respect her as a person but that it had grown. Tourmal didn't always word things quite right and hopefully she would not take it the wrong way. “To think yeh are both a beauty and skilled rider.” The man winked at her and repositioned his steed next to her on the opposite side of the dog.

by **Radiant** on March 16th, 2014, 7:36 pm

Tourmal :

Notes :

My radiance is not bright enough?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, beam me a PM and we can work it out.

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	+2 XP
Riding: Horse	+3 XP
Socialization	+3 XP
Flirting	+4 XP
Rhetoric	+1 XP
Storytelling	+2 XP

Completed Winter Wonders ( Tourmal)