My Kingdom for a Job

[Parin d'Aulaire]

Parin d'Aulaire loved horses, but her delicate continuance did not at all enjoy the mess they made. Still what was there to be done? She was jobless moneyless and clearly undernourished. She must find a job somewhere, and her options were growing slimmer by the day.
I won't let them bully me into not using my magic she promised herself. Every time I stop using my magic they tell me I am fired because I no longer work as quickly or as cleanly as before. Also there is no way in Vallonna -where ever that is- that I am touching the elimination of any animal with my hands or even a rake!

As she approached the Kings Stables she began to wonder of she ought to be here at all. What if she saw the King? Would she be told to bow to him? What if her bow was not liked and thought too courtly? What if her reputation proceeded her and they refused her on sight?
Parin didn't know the answers to these questions, but she was determined to get a job to feed herself somehow. After all now that the Schools of Magic were destroyed there really was nothing else to be done.

At last Parin noticed a groom filling a bucket of water at the hand pump.
"Please sir," she said cordially, "might I have a job? I can sweep and put things away and I am willing to learn other tasks. Also I know a little magic and I am good with animals."

[sia lee]

sia watched as a girl came up and asked one of the stable boys "hes no use to ask for work. but i could use a new girl and magic is usefull." sia said with a smile "and might you be?" sia said walking up to her.

[Horu]

The man at the pump was Horu. He had locked his armor in the room up in his room at the Tavern, so the Paladin was in a tunic, trousers, and boots. He Had come to visit and groom his horse, Thunder. He hadn't been to visit his friend in nearly a week. he even had a carrot suck in a pocket for the animal.

He was pumping a bucket of water when he her a small feminine voice come from behind him. he turned to see about what he expected. It was a young girl in rags. Looking for a way to earn money for food for he starving belly. She didn't look too young for a bit of work, and Thunder could use the company.

"Indeed you may if you can pass a small test." He said with a kind smile.

[sia lee]

"horu i work hear i give jobs out not you" sia said "and i could use more hands" sia looked at him "and i already groomed your horse" sia said pouting

[Parin d'Aulaire]

"Erm," said Parin. No one had ever fought over her before, she had no idea what to do. "Erm, I am a good worker, I could possibly work for you both you know . . . and I'd be glad to pass any test you put to me." This was incredible, too good to be true! So why did it feel so wrong?

Parin d'Aulaire looked from one potential employer to the other realizing that the weird feeling was coming from the woman rather than the man. How did she knew this? Was her magic telling her? Did it really matter so long as she had good food to eat and some new clothes?
something Inside her told her that yet it did matter . . . a lot.

"What kind of test do you mean?" she asked the man.

[Lady Joanna Magnus]

Thundering hooves hit the cobble stone pavement outside of the Avaren knights stable. White hair spun around fair skin of a woman dressed in red and black. Green and gold armor addorned her arms and chest. Boots tied close with black hide ribbons were held firmly within stirrups. An emerald jeweled gold forehead crown sat neatly on the woman's brow as she trotted the pure white horse in.

"Hope you don't mind if I leave her here for the night, I have some unofficial business to attend to in the city," She said softly, her voice was not cold or warm. Nor was her tone bored or vacant, it was nearly otherworldly in beauty. Torquoise eyes looked at the two females in the stables, a little bewildered that this town let women do such background things.

The woman brushed her moon light coloured hair over her shoulder as she dismounted from the stallion. If anyone had been paying attention to the whole land's politics, it would be impossible not to recognize the victor of the Mountain dragon war. "Princess," a man started, entering after her. "Do not worry about me, for it is not my first time here," she said in reassurance towards the man, offering a glorious smile.

[sia lee]

"horu i need more stable girls" sia said "good i need good workers" sia said smiling." yes,yes"sia said happly. "now whats her name?" sia said to the woman.

[Horu]

Horu stopped a moment and looked down at the girl who had interrupted him. There was something about her he didn't like, but he couldn't quite place it. "Well I believe I have a right to choose who I let take care of my horse, and i really don't care whther you groom my horse or not I am going to visit my riding companion."

He looked to The younger girl the one that had addressed him first. He pulled the carrot from his pocket and walked over to the little girl. "First question, do you like horses?" he asked already knowing the answer. "If so, come with me." He walked over to the Pen with his horse. "Now take this carrot to that horse, the big gray one. We'll see if your fit to watch my horse or not." He said with a smile

He looked up as the sound of pounding hooves reached his ears. Hwhen he saw the rider he did a double take. "M-my lady, what bring you to this side of the mountains?" He asked happily, not really worried about the little girl and his horse.

[sia lee]

sia glared at him and went to the girl "hes a good horse." sia said happy "hay i have a different job beside cleaning after horses." sia said smiling

[Lady Joanna Magnus]

"Hello Horu," Joanna said, bringing her hand up to her mouth in her lady's fashion to cover her mouth as she laughed gently. She brushed a few strands of her pale hair from her face as her eyes looked over at the strange girl and fixed the scabbard that contained her iron longsword. "I've gotten word of people snatching eggs from the caves south of the village, I came to this central hub to figure out who they're selling to if at all," she explained swiftly in her goddess like tone.

Joanna looked down at the floor for a moment before the horse gave an unplesant Whinny towards the other white haired female in the room. "Vieria, calm down. We won't be here for long," she said softly to the horse. Her eyes turned back towards Horu and gave him the loving smile that should come from all princesses but sadly didn't.

[sia lee]

"horu can you get her horse for me i am buzzy right now" sia yelled over her shoulder as she cleans horus horses hooves.

[Parin d'Aulaire]

Parin took the carrot happily and broke it into chunks. She then put one chunk at a time in the flat of her palm and offered it to the large horse. Despite being such a large animal, the horse was very gentle, he seemed to sense that Parin had more 'horse sense' that she knew and more background with his kind that she rightly remembered.

Parin spoke softly to the horse. "Hello handsome, aren't we a good horse, here you go. Isn't that tasty, I am sure you would like more right?" She put another chunk in her palm and offered it up, and the horse gently grabbed it with his lips and chewed contentedly.

"Such a good boy!" whispered Parin, petting his shoulder while he ate.

[Horu]

Concern etched its way onto his bro as he listed to Lady magnus. She was an old friend and her city was an ally to his, anything that effected her home would probabyly end upeffecting his. and since her city was between his hom and Avaren the trouble could spread to here. "Well that's no good I pray you find the culprits. I'll keep my eyes open for anything suspiscious. You could always use a second pair of eyes." He commented

"Oh and if you must stay in avaren i'd like you too keep an eye out yourself, there are more than your run-of-the-mill theives here. Just a week ago this city was attacked by a masive blood-red dragon. I know of such measts and i wouldn't put it past him to be hiding in the city in the guise of a man." He said hoping she'd look out for at least her own safety.

He turned to check on the younger girl and his horse and found that the horse was comfortable around the girl. though it did keep a nervous eye on Sia. "Well, younge lady I think you have your self a job." He said with a smile to hide his worry pver the other events. "And here is a little something to get you started." He fished in the pouch that was attached to his belt and pulled out a platinum coin. Worth 10 gold coins this money should go a long way for the little girl. It was quite a bit really but he had no smaller coin on him. He "Now you get yourself something to eat and maybe something nice to wear outside of the stables." He said with a smile as he walked over to the girl and his horse who was enjoying the carrot. As he looked at her more he realized that she was probably homeless too. "Also, why not come visit me some time at the Avaren tavern when you feel like sleeping somewhere warm. Just say that Horu sent you, What's your name so that I can let the inn-keeper know who to look out for incase I'm not there." He looked back at Joanna, "And your welcome to drop by as well."

[Lady Joanna Magnus]

Joanna didn't have time to reply to the comment of her friend. Vieria was getting scared at this point. This stallion was trained in sensing the auras of all beings and that girl Sia, was not sitting well with the horse. Vieria's terror was at a point where she jumping and bucking. Finally there was the point where Vieria reered up so sharply that Joanna lost control and fell off of the horse.

In Vieria's panic she was stomping about and just missed by inches from hitting Joanna in the head. Of course, the stallion ran out of the stable shortly after that. Of course Joanna had no worry towards Vieria being taken, her emblem was beginning to be well known through out the local land. Joanna was lying on the floor a bit shocked, she knew something had scared her. "Well, That wasn't odd at all," She said, blinking repeatedly.

[Parin d'Aulaire]

"I-I . . ." said Parin taking the coin hesitantly. A platinum coin for feeding a horse a carrot? This must be a Angel sent from the Goddess! If such were so she should not even think of telling this man a lie, ever ever!
"I don't have a name, your Grace, the only thing of value I have in the world is this necklace that won't come off - it has the name Parin d'Aulaire inscribed on it." She showed him the beautiful plate necklace she kept hidden under her dress. "I have been going by it for all of my life I can remember."

She then realized he'd asked her to the inn. What did he mean by it? was she really so dirty that he thought she was without a roof over her head?
"I would be glad to visit you but keeping up the Magician's apartment takes up a lot of my time somedays. But I will try to come by. I do hope he doesn't return or that he has found a new safe place to live. The apartment was ransacked when I found it, and no one has ever come to claim it. I sure wish I knew a bit more magic. Then it would be easier to clean . . ."

At that moment the pretty lady's horse began to panic and Parin gasped and backed into Horu's Horse, who stood boldly despite the other horse being upset. He almost seemed to wish to protect Parin as much as his owner did. He nuzzled her cheek with his soft muzzle as if to say 'don't be afraid little one'.