Faustus: Well. I've heard he's a "19-year-old know-it-all," but he can't possibly be worse than someone with constant mood swings up the arse.
"Who the hell called me a know it all!?" Laenor looking offended.
"A pretty, white-haired fop," Faustus answered.
Laenor’s eyes rolled "Mmm very descriptive around here. Thank you" He replied sarcastically.
"Why should I care enough to catch his name?" Faustus shot back. "I may live here for the time being, but I assure you, it is not by any means permanent."
"Is that so?.... Well you certainly stick out like a whore at a royal ball around here" Laenor replied smartly "And my father has already enough strange corpse looking Maesters so you should definitely seek your fortune elsewhere" He added with a snicker.
"Do I really?" Faustus asked dispassionately. "It's just as well. Truth be told, I merely drifted here with some associates. Though I daresay, I'm far more alive than any corpse."
Laenor chuckled a bit and shrugged "You'd be surprised what necromancy can achieve" He countered moving to pick a nearby apple from the basket that sat next to the large sofa he was currently laying on.
"Necromancy?" Faustus repeated. "Well, where I'm from, that sort of thing requires equivalent exchange. In order to raise someone from the dead, one must put another in the ground. Is it not so here?"
"I dunno, my father doesn't exactly approve so it's not like there's a necromancer about to ask that sort of thing here. And most of the Maesters get mad at any related questions" Laenor replied with a shrug. "Allll I know is this one time me and my sister saw this completely hideous bear, like it was missing entire chunks of his flesh and ... It was gross. Smelt dead. But it almost knocked us out of the tree. Father said it had to be necromancy" he added in explanation mouth still half full from taking a bit of apple.
"That sounds like a zombie, which strikes me as half-done necromancy at best," Faustus said critically. "Forgive me, I've no notion of who you or your father might be, but why would his disapproval mean there aren't any necromancers about?"
"Because he'd have their head" Laenor replied with a snicker. "My father's a lord, of a large island not far from here. But the notion isn't uncommon and my cousin, the king. He's never kept a necromancer about his court either I don't think" He explained a bit further to the older man who to be completely honest he was shocked didn't know any of this. For he certainly looked as though he belonged somewhere leeching off his cousins politics.
"And books, boy, what about books? Don't you have some sort of library that contains information on the matter?" Faustus, ever the schoolmaster, was beginning to let his impatience show. Surely this could not be a world without any books on magic? The fates could not be so cruel?
"Well I did find one in the library here. But it was some really strange language that most of the spells were written in. My sister thought it was the Others who'd written them and only a few Maesters from the citadel can read such texts" Laenor replied rather matter of fact like before snickering a bit "I still have it, Should have heard the witch hunt the palace Maester of lore wanted to go on when he discovered it missing" He added with an all to mischievous look.
Faustus smirked back at him. "Yes, well, you'll have to have someone translate it." He sometimes had a talent for stating the obvious. "Is there anyone like that you know?"
"That I trust not to immediately lose their minds and tell my father? Hardly... But I was saving it in case one day. When I'm a lord as well .... " Laenor shrugged a bit as if the rest was obvious. Eventually he'd not need to worry about who might find out he was curious about such things. Granted in all of Westeros it wasn't a good look. Most Maesters who practiced such arts got themselves banned from the citadel and even across the seas only the warlocks of Asshai came close to such ability and knowledge.
Faustus thought for a moment. He himself could render many languages into one more comprehensible; that was how he himself could communicate in this common tongue despite not being from here. Perhaps he could help with this book as well, and if not him, then certainly that knife-happy demoness who followed his friend Lucifer around.
"Is there somewhere we can meet more privately? I'd like to take a look at that book," he said.
It was Laenor’s turn to seem to think for a moment, chewing on his lower lip he seemed to glance across the foyer towards where a few of ladies were walking. Yeah, certainly not the place then again neither was the palace library but thankfully that mattered not being as he'd hid it in a far different place. The place below the palace? No to conspicuous should anyone see them going down there. It was a place meant for privacy and alone could bring attention.
"I have my own chambers, I can fetch the book and meet you on the upper floors?" He finally suggested finally. Best bet considering worst come to worst his sister may come looking for him and it was likely even his mother would be far to busy in her solitude away with her two favorite ladies in the gardens and his father had business all day so what need would be have to come looking for him.
"Yes, where precisely shall that be?" Faustus asked, not having got the full layout of the area mapped out yet. After receiving the proper instructions, he nodded to himself and went to go find Maze.
The two of them met Laenor on the upper floors as directed.
"Mazikeen, this is the ...young man who wishes to translate a book of some value. If I am unable to do so for him, could you?"
Maze scoffed. "Of course I can, but what's in it for me?" She looked Laenor up and down.
After briefly giving the other male a run down on where the stairs were that lead to the living quarters Laenor had been off. And though it took a bit longer then expected he was soon appearing on the stairs just in time to find the two waiting.
At first he seemed a bit skeptical seeing Maze but then hearing her he rolled his eyes. Of course he should have suspected one of those. "What do you want? Gold? It's about all I can garentee unless you've something specific in mind" he replied cleverly before moving past them to continue down the hall that lead to his chambers.
Maze chuckled softly to herself. Of course he'd offer money. "Gold would be nice," she said, pretending to think about it, "but maybe I'll take a page out of Lucifer's book and suggest you'll owe me a favor down the line."
Well, that was predictable, Faustus thought, rolling his eyes as they followed the blond. "She likes drinks, sex, and bounty hunting," Faustus summarizes, deciding to make it easy on Laenor. "Though I don't suggest you get physically involved with her unless you enjoy being tortured."
This made the younger male pause, gods what Laenor gotten himself into? The male was, well he was interesting and a bit of a mystery but this woman? He surely felt like she might have wanted the things Faustus mentioned before he'd even said it. Glancing back at her he seemed to think for a moment "A favor for a favor? I'm sure I can manage that" he finally agreed. Not wanting to really think about what it might be but he could certainly imagine. Turning he let out a sigh and moved to hold the wooden door to his chamber open for them, just long enough so one could catch it before he was entering ahead of them and finally pulling the book out and dropping it onto a small wooden table near the center of the first room. "There it is... " He muttered slowly moving to push it towards them. The thing was old for certain, the cover seeming nearly made of wood and the pages a bit dusty even.
And the cover well? Strangely depicted a man with long hair carved next to a woman, who was completely naked and had branches and leaves for hair.
While Faustus certainly put on the appearance of being a gentleman, he was not one. It was Maze who wound up holding the door, with a sardonic "Nice, Faustus." Faustus entered after her and examined the book.
"Who's the dryad?" Maze asked bluntly, referring to the woman who looked like she might be part tree.
“They call them the Children of the forest. Least in legends, I guess they lived here once. Long before even the people my family conquered to take these lands” Laenor replied as he stared at the strange image on the book. One not so noticeable feature was that both the strange woman and the human had rather jagged spike looking things beneath them and both of their faces seemed to be in expressions of sadness. He’d always thought that was strange, his sister thinking they were supposed to be in a cave whereas he had thought they looked more like large pieces of ice sticking from the ground. Such like things rumored in the deep North where no one ever ventured. “Do you think it’s in their language?” He suddenly asked as the thought drifted into his mind again. He’d certainly thought of that before but hadn’t been too sure. Who could be when even the Maesters all disagreed on whether such beings had ever even existed at all.
"I would say it is quite possible," Faustus murmured. "I doubt them being on the cover was for decorative purposes."
He gently, almost reverently, turned the pages, examining the strange markings. "Hmm... Perhaps the first step is, indeed, finding which beings this language originated from. Then perhaps we can summon one of them to translate it and save us the trouble."
"Or cause more of it," Maze muttered.
"Summon one.... Here?" Laenor quickly spoke up looking a bit unsure suddenly. Could you blame him? He shouldn't even have this, and then these strangers he was with now talking summoning magic. It was a bit crazy and certainly a lot to process. Not to mention he was fairly certain he knew what language it was after a bit of his own research. He wasn't completely certain with how much of it existed but... Mostly. And that alone was more terrifying than any child if the forest lady appearing.
"Have you a better idea?" Faustus asked, smug as always, but a little gentler than usual. Far be it from him to admit it aloud, but Leonor’s good looks were affecting him somewhat.
Heaving a sigh Laenor’s dark colored orbs shifted down to the table for a moment in thought. This, Faustus man had a point. Unless they could locate someone who knew for sure what they were dealing with, and without a sliver of a doubt. Still perhaps he should mention what little more he might know? "If I can locate something written, in the same language, could you compare it and verify exactly what it is? I.. tried to once before but it's been a long time ago now. Believe I was like twelve" he admitted looking up again finally to meet the others gaze. Not that it fixed the issue of translation if this man's friend couldn't but... Well he was simply attempting to be helpful at this point. And hopefully not summon some sort of evil into the middle of his cousin’s castle. As if that would go over very well!!
"Yes, perhaps I could." Faustus was, after all, a scholar. Maze, meanwhile, had made it her business to know every language where she was from. Lucifer could explicitly speak every language but not necessarily read them; Maze could potentially do both, but she was rarely ever in the mood to be helpful. She was probably in it for the entertainment, watching just to see what would happen. Faustus was inwardly cursing himself for not bringing Luci along.
"Then we should go to the library, last time I was there. They had some sort of diary supposedly written by a woman. Perhaps it's still there?" Laenor finally suggested. Of course it should be! Viserys LOVED his books with a passion and especially ones that told tales of history. He'd have been a fool to do away with it despite how evil the beings were that were rumored to speak such a language! Viserys! He had the copy of a full translation of the other book! Perhaps he had a copy of this one to?
The memories jogging suddenly had the young male pausing. Lips pursing together for a moment as he looked up to Faustus. "I, think I may have one other thing that might help. You think you can manage locating the other book in the king's library and meet me back here?" He asked finally eyebrow raising more so in question of whether the other would do it. Surly he could manage finding a title in a stack of books and scrolls on the lower level of the red keep, just as soon as anyone could.
Maze looked like she was going to protest, but before she could, Faustus was already heading out.
"Wait!" Maze called after him. "We don't even know where this library is!" She rolled her eyes and looked back to Laenor. "Directions?" she asked.
//Brief time skip scene change//
To say Laenor had been absent for longer than necessary may have been an understatement. After giving directions to the library he'd left the two and made his way further into the living quarters of the large palace. Trying his best to be careful or at least he'd thought he'd been. Truth be told he'd ran into one of the palace guards on the way there and well, became briefly distracted, apparently his father was looking for him, before continuing on his way unaware that his attempt at hurrying may have drawn a bit more attention than he really wanted.
Following that, he'd made it into Viserys private study without notice and, that's where he'd fallen short. While in there Queen Alicent had found him and he'd ended up having to make up quite the story to say the least.
Thus, it had been nearly an hour sense he'd parted ways with them and.....
The door came pushing open, of course it wasn't Laenor who entered but Laena, followed closely by a red head in full armor. "Laenor? Laenor I've been ..." Her words all but paused at seeing the two standing near the table and her brow furrowed a bit.
"My apologies I didn't realize my brother had.... Guests .." She stated glancing a bit wearily over her shoulder to the male who accompanied her.
"Where is he?" She then followed looking past them towards the curtain that lead further in. Half expecting him to appear. Still, this was certainly an odd scenario, she'd never seen her brother speaking to this man and who was the woman?
Faustus looked surprised at the newcomer, a rather pretty maiden who looked quite like Laenor.
"Yes, our apologies--" he began. Maze elbowed him and clicked her tongue, frowning.
"His apologies," she corrected.
Faustus narrowed his eyes at Maze. "Yes, well, we were meant to meet him here. I am Faustus Blackwood, and this--"
"Mazikeen," Maze interrupted.
"Yes, we're travellers, and he was helping us become more acquainted with the land. Via research."
"Yeah, I don't care about the land. I'm just tagging along until I find a bounty to hunt."
A bounty hunter and a ... Well Laena didn't comment, or at least she didn't for it was the male behind her stifling a bit of a snicker suddenly.
"Well then where is he?" She repeated her eyes sort of shifting briefly towards Maze as if she wasn't sure how to take her then back to Faustus.
"Never mind all that Lady, we have time, we can wait" The red head finally spoke up moving past her and into the room, suddenly not seeming to have a care in the world as he was soon sitting on the sofa that was next to the window and kicking his feet up.
Laena still seemed tense but she finally let out a breath, Joffrey now directly behind Maze made her a bit less uneasy. What was her brother doing keeping the company of... Such travelers? The man she may have understood, the way he presented himself meant he was certainly not a rogue of some sort and if he was.... Not a normal one. But the female made her uneasy.
Moving further into the room her eyes went to the table, the book Laenor had sent them to fetch. "By reading old diaries?" She finally questioned a bit teasingly before making her own way past Faustus and over to a small table against the wall which had a pitcher and a few wine glasses.
"Why, yes," Faustus replied smoothly. "They do say knowledge is power, after all. Wouldn't you agree?" he asked in quite a conversational tone. "So then, Laenor is your brother, is he? I do quite see the resemblance. You must be of good stock indeed."
Maze rolled her eyes. "I thought you weren't interested in women," she remarked.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Faustus looked mildly bewildered for a second. "Besides, I wasn't flirting with her." He turned his attention back to the maiden. "Forgive me-- and forgive my, er, companion. I simply mean that you look well, as though you've not fallen prey to any dastardly diseases."
"Yeah. Good thing you're not flirting," Maze snickered.
Watching as the male seemed to stumble rather dubiously over his words Laena looked at first inside if how to respond but then her smile finally began to grow. By the end of Faustus making a fool of himself and Maze making it worse she was giggling and shaking her head.
"Because that, would be... Rather tasteless wouldn't it" Joffrey’s voice chimed on to Maze's last comment as he eyed Faustus with a skeptical look.
"Well, I'm sure he didn't mean it as he said. All's forgiven and it is a pleasure. I can see why my brother finds you such lively entertainment" She teased Faustus now before moving over to sit in a chair near the window.
"So, where.... Is .. Laenor....? Did he not invite you to his chambers? Is he hiding beneath the table skirts?" Joffrey finally blurted unable to ignore the strangeness that these two kept venturing about the question and starting to speak of other things.
"Yes, it would be tasteless," Maze replied, "especially since he's been flirting with her brother."
"Oh, I have not," Faustus tutted. "He does have a certain sort of... appeal to him, though, doesn't he," he mused. Maze giggled, as Faustus was clearly making things worse for himself.
Maze shrugged. "He said he'd meet us here. Last I saw him, he was...." She pointed in that direction.
"Ah yes, he's through that door is he? And here I thought we'd established that much" Joffrey replied all to smartly. A bit of a smirk following his comment as he glanced briefly to Maze before over to Laena who was stifling another giggle.
"My brother can be amusing yes. Well, in that case I suppose he has until this wine is gone to return I guess I'll simply leave him to his books with your company" She slightly teased before moving to take a swig of the glass in her hand.
"I thought we had too, but you people kept asking," Maze smarted back. She decided she liked this sassy redhead.
"Oh had you? Do you recall them ever answering you when you asked twice lady? Or have I simply forgotten?" Joffrey shot back, eyes moving to Laena as of for validation.
"Enough Sir Joffrey, it's hardly important now" Laena replied heaving a bit of a sigh and shooting the male a bit of a stern expression.
Joffrey merely scoffed and moved to stand, wandering just past Maze and over to fetch his own glass of wine.
"So, literature it is then? You do know that book contains a make believe diary right? It's purely fantasy" Laena stated. Though her real intention was far less plain, she knew what it was as much as Laenor! Given the fact she'd been privy to finding the other book and the scolding they'd gotten for touching the books in the restricted section. Also a good bit of that had been the dangers of such dark arts and how it wasn't for children's eyes.
"If you're wondering if you've forgotten, you might want to get your head checked," Faustus replied mildly.
"As for the book, I've learned wisdom can be gained even from fiction. Moral lessons from fables, and the like."
Maze scoffed. "Yeah. You care about moral lessons."
"Merely an example."
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