Macendia offers to Taengea a celebration of twenty years of successful horseflesh and livestock under the guardianship of Lord Georgios by hosting a horse race. The event is expected to be the largest congregation of Taengeans in recent history and will be a boon to the traders and merchants of the isle of Macendia. The races to be held are two fold - one for men and one for women - with the track set along the shoreline of the far side of the island. Lord Georgios and his family will all be present and encouraging of the competitors, if not entering the rally themselves!
By this point, Hesiodos has already been making a name for himself. He was known far and wide for his exploits – either real or fantastic – and by his music. As such, it was no surprise that Lord Georgios asked him, as well as many more Taengean musicians, to participate in the festivities. The young bard accepted gladly… though people raised a few eyebrows when he requested to join the race as well.
After all, what better way to prove himself than to race… and win? He was quite sure of his equestrian ability. Some chuckled under their breaths, but indulged him.
However, he knew where his true job was, so he played his lyre and sang during the festivities. People were enraptured by him, and by his songs and poems – odes to Poseidon, lord of horses, the might of the kingdom of Taengean, the generosity of Lord Georgios. He was asked for specific themes like those and he stuck with them.
His songs were like honey for the ears of his listeners, and like wine for their souls. After all, this was his vocation, and he was good at it…
The Lord Mikaelidas had debated his attendance at the festival. He was not competing, his height made him a rather ungainly burden if one were going for speed, and his last visit to Macendia had been...interesting. However, Georgios seemed not to hold his perceived poor conduct against him, and so he had decided it would likely be more a point of contention if he did not show his face. Dynsateia Leventi were wealthy, and with wealth came power. Not to mention the fact that the Head of the House was one of his father’s closest friends.
And especially not to mention that he thought he might like to see Lady Theodora again, even if it was a pointless endeavour. She had played on his mind often in the past year, and he had half expected to come across her, barefoot and spinning in the fields as he had journeyed through the province. It was a fanciful idea, but it was how he remembered her, carefree and with that audacity to make bargains with him. Though,he considered wryly, that audaciousness had not departed when he met her again in her family’s home and realised that the farm girl who had caught his eye was in fact one of the Leventi girls.
He was not looking for her, but if he happened across her, well that would be nice, Achilleas decided as he meandered down toward the beach where the races were to be run. It seemed as if most of Taengea had decided to put in an appearance, and it was slow progress as he stopped a moment here to talk to somebody, and another there to catch up with someone else.
It was the height of summer, and the sun was hot but the cool breeze that swept in off the ocean made it bearable. It was likely why they had chosen to run the race upon the sand. The baron picked up a cup of wine from one of the stalls, was glad of the crisp sweetness and he entertained a brief conversation with a youth who claimed he was riding the winning of the men’s race. He thought he might throw a few coin on it later if the opportunity arose.
But before then, he could see more familiar faces too,here were those men he had served with, faces he had not seen since he had returned from the South and they had all scattered across the kingdom to try and find some normality again. He made a point to speak to them, for there was no knowing when such connections might need to be called on once again, and in battle, it never hurt to know the man who fought beside you.
Still, even as he talked to those soldiers, Achilleas found himself scanning the crowd for their hosts, for the Leventi Family.
And if he were entirely honest with himself, for Theodora.
It has been twenty years ever since her husband and her had moved to Macendia?
Standing at the entrance of their manor as she waited for the rest of her daughters, and her husband himself, to get ready, Evelli allowed herself just a moment of contemplation over the last twenty years. Selene had been born just a few months after they had moved in, and the rest of their daughters had followed in quick succession. While life hadn't exactly been peaceful (for how could life be peaceful when one had five daughters?), Evelli wouldn't have traded it for the world.
When Georgios had finally made his appearance, the woman had greeted her husband, who quickly shuffled her to the carriage. Evelli had intended to wait for her daughters, but Georgios had in turn, told her the girls would have their own carriage, for waiting for three girls (Nana and Imma would be too young to attend just yet, and Evelli had placed one nursemaid on each girl, just to make sure they didn't try and sneak out with their older sisters) would take far too long if the baron of Macendia wished to arrive there on time.
Left with little choice but to go with what her husband had arranged, Evelli sent her own personal lady's maid up to check on the girls, especially on Theodora (for this was one of her first few official appearances, having just entered the courts of Taengea just a year ago) before the carriage carrying the lord and lady of Macendia made its way to the shoreline of the island's province.
By the time they got to where the races would be held, Evelli smiled when she saw the amount of people milling about. Georgios had sent men ahead of them to ensure the sign ups for the men's races and the women's were all taken care of. All Georgios and Evelli had to do was officiate the races - but before that, their duties as lord and lady would of course, be to socialize first. Not exactly high up on Evelli's favorite things to do, but a necessary evil her mother and father had raised her to do.
A lady trained since birth, Evelli had picked out the colors of the Leventi family for her chiton that day, the silken material shimmering in the summer sun. Luckily for them, the heat was not unbearable, and their location on the shoreline meant the sea breeze would take care of any lingering heat, making it a pleasant experience as Evelli broke from her husband to make chit chat with the nearby lords and ladies who had come in attendance. Her ears caught a singing voice, a bard who seemed to have found his way to Taengea, and the lady made a quick note to find the bard later, see if he could be asked to entertain for an evening at the Macendia manor for her family.
It did not take long however, for the young matriarch of the Leventi family to spy someone very familiar. Achilleas of Mikaelidas was no stranger to the lands. Son to the great General of the Taengean armies himself, he commanded great respect in his own due, having amassed a number of victories under his belt, so much so that people have whispered him to have taken quite a fair bit after his father.
Of course, he was also a star suitor for her daughters, his rank and name considered.
Smiling to herself, Evelli made her excuses to a few ladies who she had been conversing with, and then made her way to the young lord Achilleas, nodding her head respectfully at him before asking, "Is there someone in particular you search for, my lord?"
It had been quite some time between Nikos' last visit to lands so deeply immersed within Leventi territory and today. However, a festival was a festival, and Nikos thought it more rude to spurn the open invitation than to show his face (and his House colors) at the event.
Of course, he wasn't so ill-mannered to both flaunt his presence and race his Dimitrou horses at a celebration of Lord Georgios' leadership; though House Condos may not be on the best of terms with the Leventi family, he was not intent on further agitating their relationship and worsening the already difficult trading conditions. On the contrary, he would much rather see an end to their tendencies to utterly ignore previously defined land boundaries and instead become stronger partners in trade, for Nikos had to admit that the Leventi family produced some damn good horses that he would be more than happy to trade for if it wasn't a matter of putting his House pride aside.
So, rather than weaponizing his attendance, Nikos thought it best to enjoy the festivities and wander the charming little town. The rolling hills of green that encircled the quiet little town, dotted with open pastures and horses, were a stark contrast to his own industrious province of Dolaris, and merchants of fresh fruit and vegetables and fattened livestock rather than glass bottles and wine and man-made knick-knacks were a refreshing temptation that he might would have indulged in under different circumstances.
Instead, he traversed the crowds, weaving through the merchants until he found himself being lured in towards a congested gap in the stalls and tents by a euphonic melody. Ringed by an entranced congregation stood a man with a lyre whose chorus sang a wondrous ode to Poseidon, the god of the sea and the horses that brought to Macendia their long legacy of successful equine breeding. Bards were no strangers to festivals, and Nikos had listened to hundreds of musicians and singers of all instruments and timbres, but this man's voice was rich in milk and honey and it enthralled him to listen. So listen he did, to the beautiful man in his own recital as time eased towards the start of the race.
If such a thing as destiny existed in this world, it was an honest-to-goodness fact that Evangelina’s was linked closely with these beasts of burden. There had never been a shadow of doubt in her heart about that. Horses were in her blood. They were her sanctuary, her place of solace when the world was against her. As a Leventi, she was riding almost as soon as she was walking. And that saying that the first true love of a twelve-year-old girl’s heart was that of her horse… Well, maybe that was entirely the case but for Evangelina it was.
Her second greatest love, though everyone insisted it was merely an infatuation, was Nikos of Condos. So today, was an especially good day for her. With a small bowl of honeyed figs, Evangelina trailed at a safe distance behind her prey. It was never safe for her to get any close to him because she found herself becoming some sort of ninny brained idiot. Plopping another fig into her mouth with her fingers as she studied the swagger of man in front of her. He shifted just a little more then she was comfortable with, causing her to dart sideways out of the line of his sight and nearly bumping into another body.
Muttering an apology, popping another fig into her mouth she frowned. Where had all of the figs gone? With a sigh, she finished the last fig off and set the small ceramic bowl down. If she did well in the race today, would he notice her? What would she do if he did notice her? Her cheeks started to flush at the thought.
He looked like he was turning again… He was turning to towards the lyre…. Oh no! He was turning towards the lyre! Her eyes went wide and without thinking, Evangelina dropped to her knees and started crawling under a blanket of one of the nearby vendor’s table. Nikos can’t see me staring at him like some sort of lovesick calf. Crawling on her hands and knees under the table, she cast a worried glance over her shoulder to make sure no one had seen her. That was when she ran into it… She ran head first into someone’s leg.
The bump to his shin had Fotios looking down at the leg of the table besides which he stood. The festivities and celebrations had brought all manner of traders and merchants to the shores of Macendia and Fotios had been standing beside just one such vendor who was hoping to peddle wines as good as to rival Condos. Fotios had immediately been interested, for to see the Condos family surpassed in their main trade, weaken their standing and open up the property deeps for some more of their lands, would have been a great boon for the day. An added bonus on top of witnessing Leventi triumph as his family hosted a great event entirely focused on horses: their main business venture. Unfortunately, the wine that was offered was decent enough but far out of the league of Condos varieties and Fotios was forced to swallow both the beverage and the renewed admittance that Condos wine was by far the most superior in all of Greece. Which was not surprising given the fertility of their lands. Another reason Fotios coveted the deeds to several of their provincial parcels.
With said sub-par wine in hand and a sour taste in his mouth, Fotios was distracted momentarily by a bump to his leg that revealed itself to be a mass of blanket protruding from the side of the table. With a frown, Fotios simply reached down and snagged at the material, yanking up and to one side to reveal one of his many nieces. Not one of the older, beautiful ones sired by Georgios, Evangelina was the eldest and only daughter of Fotios' brother Konstanos. And as he had yet to see his brother arrive, Fotios was surprised to find his offspring at the event. Even more so to find her crawling on all fours in the sandy grass, hidden beneath a table. What on the Gods' green earth was that Lady Ava teaching this girl? Because social decorum was clearly a significant lapse in her lessons.
"What..." Fotios began, looking down at the girl and not moving from his position so that his legs might at least shield her embarrassing behaviour from the eyes of some of the passers-by. "... pray tell, do you think you're doing down there, Evangelina?" He asked her with a tone of great limited patience and a hint of insulting bemusement at the idiocy of her actions.
Almost as soon as she collided with the leg, she tried to scurry back under the table. With any luck, the possessor of the leg would think maybe someone’s dog was under the table. It wasn’t exactly that Evangelina didn’t know better but rather, sometimes, she acted first and thought second. This was one of those moments.
The material lifted just enough to reveal her, and the person who possessed the leg she’d just ran into. Of all her blasted luck! On her hands and knees, she stared up at her Uncle Fotios with a wide, doe-eyed look on her face. What sort of explanation could she have for this predicament?
“Uh….” Evangelina blinked, the flush on her cheeks returning turning her face the most unbecoming shade of red on her. “I….” She started but that was as much as she’d managed to come up with.
‘.. pray tell, do you think you're doing down there, Evangelina?’
Her uncle didn’t bother to hide the fact that she had done something idiotic with the tone in his voice. Her fingers clenched in the dirt. Could the world open up and swallow her right now? Who would she have to bargain with to make that happen? She glanced down to the ground, breaking eye contact with her uncle.
“I…...Um…” She shifted awkwardly, the dirt and grass starting to become uncomfortable. That was when she saw it. Snatching up a rock from the ground she poked it out to show him. “I thought I saw this….and I am collecting rocks now.” Looking up at him, she blinked innocently. “Don’t you think it’s a marvelous looking… rock? I mean… what are the chances I’ll ever find another one that is in the shape of… a…..a…” Evie’s gaze flickered to the rock and she blinked. It wasn’t exactly the shape of anything… but she needed to think of something to tell him.
“A cat. See there is its head there and see that is an eye and over here this…. Sorta looks like a tail, don’t you think?” Evie looked up at him, “I just couldn’t let this little treasure be bypassed… so I dove down to get it and hit you in the process.” Evangelina knew it sounded idiotic but she wasn’t about to tell him she’d dove under the table to avoid Nikos of Condos seeing her. It was better to be seen as an idiot then pathetic.
There was a reason her parents never let her wear any light colored clothing… it was inevitable that by the end of the day it would have horse hair or dirt or some other sort of stain upon it. At twelve, she was still rather small and angular for her age. Coltish arms and legs, her chestnut hair in a disheveled braid. She was a far cry from the graceful, elegance of her older cousins. But then again, few girls had that sort of beauty… She wiped at a loose hair from her face and smeared a thin line of dirt across her temple.
That same hand darted out towards him with the rock now. “Here, You can keep my rock as a token of my apology for hitting your leg.” Maybe she’d laid it on just thick enough he’d believe she’d taken up something as foolish as collecting rocks. She blinked up at him innocently still, would he refuse the present? The present that she also knew was a combination of sticky and dirty from the traces of honey on her fingers and the dirt from crawling under the table. Her smile grew and she added, “My mother says you like to collect things… this could be the first of a rock collection for you, my lord.”
Alas, though Achilleas’ gaze did alight on a Leventi lady, it was not the one he sought. Lady Evelli Leventi, wife to Georgios, mother to Selene, Olympia, Nana and of course Theodora. She would have been beautiful in her time he thought, watching as the petite woman drew near, and he smiled at her. He could not claim to know Evelli well: it had been years since he and his brother and cousins had played with the Leventi girls - indeed, he had not even recognised Theodora when he had seen her the year previous. Achilleas wished his thoughts had not taken him down that path, because he was reminded again of that terribly misplaced proposition. He did not want to be thinking of that with Theodora’s mother about to speak to him.
Never the less, the young Baron knew well enough the import of being gracious to ones hosts and so he smoothed over his inappropriate musings and returned the Lady Evelli’s nod with a bow of his own.
“My Lady Leventi. No one other than yourself so I might extend my compliments to you and your House on such a wonderful event” Taller than her by almost a head, the Lord Mikaelidas smiled down at her, teeth white against the tan of his skin. The Lady Leventi had a reputation for being ruthless in pursuit of matches for her daughters, and Achilleas could not decide if he dared try and work this in his favour, or if he would be better off making a quick escape.
Looking around at the crowd that the day had gathered , the young Lord spoke on “ It seems as though you have drawn half of Taengea here which is no mean feat”
Though Taengeans were not known to need much of an excuse to celebrate, it could sometimes be more difficult to draw the courtiers away from Vasiliadon and out to the Provinces in any great numbers. The Leventi’s had managed it though, with promise of sport and wine.
“I hope you will get a chance to enjoy the day and not be too burdened playing hostess” Achilleas added, raising his cup toward Evelli. “ Your family are here to share that responsibility I’m sure?”
It was not the most subtle of enquiries, but he thought it a natural enough progression of conversation that it would not jar. And he told himself he would not be disappointed if Theodora was not present, because that was not why he had come.
He was a lord, so it was no surprise to Evelli that he managed to spin such words of praise as she approached him, although the matriarch was quite sure she had not been the Leventi he sought for. An amused smile played upon her lips as she tilted her head in return to his bow, almost teasing as she replied. "Ah, I thank you on my husband's behalf for such beautiful compliments, but... I'm pretty sure I'm not the only Lady Leventi you seek for today."
Allowing the matter to rest at those words however, Evelli did not pursue the matter, for Achilleas would be a wonderful match for her daughter. Fotios and herself have had conversations regarding the match, but her brother-in-law would have the final say in whether or not the match goes through, although she doubted the Head of her house would reject. The Lord Achilleas as a general and son of a prince, was a fine match in all respects, and Evelli could see no reason why Fotios would deny it.
Chuckling when he finally asked regarding her family, Evelli hid the knowing smile behind her hands, and instead nodded. "Indeed, my husband is amongst the lords visiting the province to attend the races. My three eldest would be following shortly. The girls had taken some extra time to prepare, and my husband had not wished to wait for them." Evelli's eyes flickered over to see the Mikaelidas lord's reaction as she implied on the impending arrival of Theodora with her sisters, eager to see a tell on the lord's interest in her offspring, and having something to tell Fotios with.
Smiling as a few more people came over to greet her, Evelli's smile was that of a hostess as she bade them a good day and exchanged pleasantries, and observed the crowd around them. The woman's brows furrowed a little when she spied the arrival of Nikos of Condos, a house which had long since been in rivalry with her own. Of course, her husband had sent an invite anyway, never one to keep grudges, and Evelli had simply acquiesced to her husband's wishes. What caught her attention however, was the fact that her niece trailed behind the figure of Nikos, something that made Evelli's eyes widened.
She would have continued looking too, had her manners not reminded her she had someone in her attention. And so, Evelli quickly turned attention back to Achilleas with a pleasant smile as she asked, "Are you caring to join the races today, Lord Achilleas? Perhaps impress... someone?"
Achilleas looked a little caught off guard by the Leventi matriarch’s words, he had not thought himself so obvious. The smile he had affected flickered but a moment before he smoothed it once again and gave a chuckle to hide his unease. “ And yet I find myself content enough to have passed my thanks to you Lady Evelli”
He wondered if he had been less subtle that he had realised when he had visited the Leventi Manor in Macendia last summer, or if perhaps Theodora had not said something herself. Either way, it would not do. His father had made no mention of marriage yet, and so it would hardly serve the young Lord well to give hope where there might be none. He did not want to offend Georgios or his wife, who was altogether too perceptive for his liking.
Even knowing that though, Achilleas could not help but ask his next question, and he gave a small nod in return for Evelli’s answer, keeping his response deliberately vague. “ It will be nice to see them again. There is little time to maintain such acquaintances from childhood, though it seems a shame not to”
There. He had kept it light and non- committal and there could be nothing out of turn taken from his words, Achilleas decided. And it was mostly truth, there were brief hellos at court now and then, but the Lord had been called away on campaign for long stretches, and so had spent no real time with the Leventi girls for years. So much so that he had failed to recognise Theo when he had met her again. Though that was a tale he hoped would stay between he and Theodora and Krysto.
Achilleas smiled politely at those who came to greet their hostess, his own gaze lifting over the crowds as he picked out other familiar faces. And then blue eyes returned to his lady host and the Lord Mikaelidas gave a shake of his head. ” Not today, my Lady. I am at a disadvantage to those of my fellows who did not grow so tall or broad, so in this at least I can allow them their moment of glory.” It was true that Achilleas boasted a warrior’s build, hard with muscle, and tall with it. He gave a nod towards Nikos of Condos “ There is a man built more for this kind of thing he observed with a small smile. “ Dainty”. Achilleas looked back to Evelli “ I am not above asking for insider knowledge though if you have a favourite running in the race?” he added lightly.
When the melodious strings had drawn their melody to a close, it was only then that Nikos was brought from his trance. He was disappointed, but he knew that even musicians had to take breaks, so he in turn decided to seek out the other enjoyments the festival had to offer.
He returned to the crowded paths, allowing the current of the flowing crowd to carry him away from the musicians until a bundle of bright hues caught his eye. He redirected his route towards the merchant, and he could feel excitement rising when he realized what he had seen was the brilliantly-dyed fletching of the seller's arrows. Nikolias' love for archery was no secret, and Nikos could already see his father's eyes light up when he presented him with a new set of finely-crafted arrows...
Nikos made quick work of the stall. Although it was the vivid dyes that had piqued his interest, he knew his father was a simple man that preferred a more subtle beauty. In the end he decided on two sets of a half dozen, one bundle of yellow and black pheasant feathers and the other made from the ruddy-brown feathers of a partridge. Satisfied with his purchase, Nikos backed away from the stall with the intent to return to the pathways again when he spotted an unwelcome sight: Fotios, standing but a mere two stalls away, talking....to the tablecloth? Of course, Fotios would be taking part in the celebrations: it was a festival hosted by his brother, after all. Just as Nikos was beginning to question the sanity of the Leventi family, a small arm jutted out from underneath the blanket, proudly brandishing a...rock. They really must be mad Nikos thought as he watched the odd encounter.
Of course, now that he had seen them, he was certain that either one of the duo must have caught sight of him as well, with him being within such close proximity and all, so he made his way over to the pair before he could be accused of staring from afar. "Lord Fotios," he started, giving the man a sickly-sweet smile. "I've not yet had the pleasure of meeting your brother this fine day. If I myself am not granted the opportunity, please send Lord Georgios my thanks for the invitation, the festivities have been wonderful." The words were hollow, of course, but Nikos did not dare be openly rude, especially not when he was a guest within enemy territory. He turned towards the figure, still partially concealed by the overhanging quilt, and he knelt down to get a closer look. From his new perspective, he could see it was a child, a girl at that. Unfortunately, the Leventi family bred girls like horses, and there were so many of them he wasn't entirely sure of her identity (it didn't help that she now had streaks of dirt masking her visage), let alone who she belonged to. Nonetheless, if Fotios had been in conversation with her, she was likely a niece, although he couldn't pin down her parents.He extended a hand towards her, a silent offering to help her off the ground before making introductions. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady...."
At sixteen years old, Olympia felt quite ready to be considered an adult and lady in her own right, and yet she still had not made her court debut unlike Theo. It didn't feel fair that the two of them were only a year apart and Theodora had been introduced into society and she had not. She was in the space between childhood like Nana and Imma, and adulthood like Theo and Selene, and she hated it. Waiting for the older two to finish getting ready, Pia leaned against one of the columns of their home and played with the hem of her chiton. It was a pale buttery yellow, a maidenly color, and made her eyes appear to have more of a golden hue than the normal hazel. She wore a himation of light blue just in case it got chilly, and her hair was bound back in a long braid.
"Theo, Lene let's go! Mama and Papa will have already been there for hours by the time we arrive!"
Her tone was petulant as she crossed her arms with a huff. She was feeling rather bitter at still looking so young, though Desma had offered to try to make her hair behave long enough to twist it into one of the styles of the court ladies. Instead her youth was emphasized by the simple braid and the utter lack of curves. She'd sprouted breasts, but also gone through a recent growth spurt and so was far more long and lanky than voluptuous as she might have liked. Her father had passed his height to her, but it had stolen much of her femininity.
When her older sisters finally descended, Pia managed not to roll her eyes as they climbed into the carriage, keeping silent for most of the ride to the event space and heading straight for her mother's side before she realized who it was she was talking to. Achilleas of Mikaelidas had grown up quite a bit since they had last played together, he was a full man now instead of a boy. For a moment her eyes darted about, wondering if she would spot a familiar blonde head that made her heart jump, but Stephanos was nowhere in sight and so she simply smiled and gave a proper curtsy to both her mother and the lord.
"Lady mother, my lord Achilleas. It is good to see you again after so long."
As the carriage drove, Theodora's gaze was fixated on the fields beyond: She watched as the sun seemed to bathe the long grass in its divine light and right then, she wished she could run barefoot through the fields rather than being cooped up in the carriage alongside her sisters. It didn't take a genius to tell that Olympia was annoyed with something, though Theodora didn't much care for invoking her sister's wrath so casually and simply decided to ignore it instead.
Quietly, the young brunette followed her sister to their mother's side. The man who stood next to her, however, wasn't much hard to miss. Especially not given their earlier encounter the year before. Barely able to conceal her amusement, Theodora positioned herself next to her mother and peered up at the much taller man.
"Lord Achilleas." She greeted, mimicking her sister's curtsy before turning to look at her mother. "Mother." She briefly wondered if her mother had heard about her encounter with Achilleas the year before. Of course she had. Very little seemed to pass her mother by ― which was to be expected, of course. While others might have been driven insane, their mother had taken to raising five daughters rather well. Rather complimentary, too.
"Are you racing today, my lord?" She asked, turning her gaze back towards the eldest son of Irakles of Mikaelidas. Briefly, the image of him attempting to ride the horse outside the Leventi stables flashed before her eyes. Amusement colored her features with a slight hint of mirth.
She looked around then, eyes quickly sweeping over the crowd. It seemed the captain wasn't accompanying the lord today. A pity.
For a moment, Evelli raised a brow. It was customary for most personal greetings to be passed from one lord of the house to the other, not so much via their wives. While Lord Achilleas was not yet married, Evelli had assumed he would want to seek out her husband...and that he did not, made the matriarch curious within. Careful to not let any of that curious wonderment show however, she merely nodded her thanks, which came with a gentle smile, a smile that grew when Achilleas replied affirmative that he'd like to see her daughters again. He was a fine specimen to be a husband, both a baron of his own province and the first son to a prestigious, royal family. While it was a shame that his father had missed out on the throne by pure fluke of birth and mother, it changed not that he was a prince by birth.
Which made Achilleas that much closer to the throne.
Nodding in agreement, she chuckled lightly at his denial of joining the races, giving him a light hearted look. "I'm sure you would perform fine if you were to take the tracks, my lord. Skills matter as much as size and build, I would think. But do not take my word for it - horses may be a strong suit of my family, but I do not ride, at least not as often as my daughters and their father." It was a past time reserved solely for Georgios to bond with his girls, for Evelli had gotten off a horse ever since having Selene, and had rarely got back on, being pregnant in quick succession after that. While she enjoyed being on horseback, more often then not she would ride one with Georgios, and therefore saw no need to hone her skill in controlling an equine.
What she did have however, was a fine eye for horseflesh, and it was why Georgios always had Evelli along when he picked out new creatures for their stables. Achilleas's question had her raising a brow, but before she could answer, her daughters began to arrive, the three eldest who she had instructed to come, whilst the two youngest were watched over by nursemaids back at their manor.
Smiling fondly as Olympia and Theodora arrived, with Selene trailing behind as she was wont to do to watch over her younger siblings, Evelli's eyes first gave a once over to assess each daughter's dressage first, a satisfied glint in her eyes before reaching out for them. First pressing a kiss to both Olympia and Theodora's cheek, before turning to ensure Selene stood by her as well, the four Leventi ladies proved a sight for all, for there was no doubt her daughter's deserved to be called Taengea's beauties, as they were.
"Lord Achilleas is not, it seems, Theodora. However, he has mentioned an inclination to watch. I do not have favorites, Lord Achilleas," she addressed the male towards the end, and then gave Theodora a nudge forward from where Evelli's hands had been at the back of her second-born. "However, I'm sure Theodora would be glad to bring you to see a horse I'm sure would be a great help to it's rider. He is a black one, owned by a barony in the isle of Emae, brought over specifically for this race. Watching him would be a sight to be seen. Theo, would you mind escorting Lord Achilleas?"
With a knowing smile, she drew Olympia and Selene away, walking out of the two's earshot. Her eyes roamed, searching and failing to find the other two she intended to park her daughter's with. Were the royal family not attending the races this time? She would have to have a word with Georgios, for she had fully intended to ask Selene and Olympia to escort the two princes accordingly. The displeasure was clear on her face, but Evelli tried to smoothen her frown as she turned to the girls after her failure at locating the two princes. "Should we head down to the races then? It should be beginning soon. Perhaps we could get home before Nana picks too much of a fuss with the nursemaids." Evelli murmured with a laugh, leaving the option with her daughters.
The girl needed lessons in how to lie, Fotios thought. Admittedly, Evangelina was still just a child for all intents and purposes - especially as far as the eyes of the court were to be considered. Which meant her behaviour was at least semi-passable. It was an odd sort of rule within noble society that children were often given leniencies right up to the second they were of an age to be classified as adults. As if their entire mentality, maturity and morals were supposed to magically flick into that of adulthood by the time they reached - in Evangelina's case - fifteen years of age. That bizarre juxtaposition gave Evangelina some form of leeway in her behaviour but Fotios was also a man who knew reality better than he knew social decorum: and he knew social decorum very well indeed. What exactly would have to be done with Evangelina to turn her into a suitable lady in the next three years? Because she was certainly behaving still like a youth. And there was no magical switch or flicker at fifteen that would make her otherwise. He would have to speak with her father...
When the girl offered him a rock, Fotios was about ready to roll his eyes, but it did not stop him from taking the stone and - for the lack of anything else to do with it - depositing it in the leather money pouch that hung at his waist. He didn’t respond to her insistence upon her new hobby, nor her comments on what the small piece of rock looked like – feline or otherwise. Instead, his only response was a hardening of his jawline and a sharpening of his gaze. He was about to snap at the girl to get up and stop with her ridiculous stories when the two of them were interrupted by Lord Nikos of Condos of all people. The swaggering and healthy young man who was finding a lot of attention from the females of the Taengean court since growing into his height and shoulders, Fotios suddenly had a new idea as to why Evangelina had been so intent on hiding beneath the table. Just because Fotios hadn't noticed the handsome Condos lord before now, didn't mean that Evangelina hadn't.
Good grief. Women were amazing and sexual creatures but girls Fotios had little patience for. All hormonal, emotional things that had none of the maturity and sense that would come to them with age. Or... at least, came to some of them. He had yet to witness whether Evangelina would grow into herself with some common sense and maturity or follow the line of some of her cousins and remain as childish as ever.
"Might I present, Lord Nikos..." Fotios began with a tone of calm suffering. "... If she deigns to get to her feet... my niece the Lady Evangelina, eldest daughter of my brother Lord Konstanos." With a flick of his wrist, Fotios moved the tablecloth up and off of the young girl, exposing her to the world and forcing her to get up or risk continuing to be embarrassed on all fours in a public space.
Fotios, Nikos, and Evangelina at a Wine Vendor’s Table
She knew exactly what she was doing to her uncle and there was a slight thrill to knowing she managed to annoy him, even if it was at her own expense. Most of the time he acted like she was just another afterthought. Maybe she had been born with the right parts to be awarded his approval but she would make sure he could pick her out of similarly aged girls.
Evangelina almost smiled as he took the dirty, sticky rock from her. At least he had not figured out her real reasons for being under this particular table like some sort of heathen creature pulled from the places of the world unknown. That almost smile faded as quickly as it almost appeared at the sound of footsteps and then feet sticking just far enough under the table to see that she and her uncle had been joined.
‘Lord Fotios.’
Her dark eyes closed and the air in her body left her. She sat so still for fear that if she moved he’d know she was there. She’d entirely forgotten about her uncle standing there.
‘I've not yet had the pleasure of meeting your brother this fine day. If I myself am not granted the opportunity, please send Lord Georgios my thanks for the invitation, the festivities have been wonderful.’
Opening her eyes, she sent a quick pleading look to her uncle. Send him away… Get him out of here! Please…. Desperation and confirmation of her uncle’s suspicions shining through her gaze. She mouthed the words to her Fotios and added a small wave of her hand motion as if she was waving the intruder away herself.
It was then during a mid-wave that she came eye to eye with the very man who’d sent her hurling under the table to begin with. She’d just bet the Gods were having a fantastic laugh at her expense over this. Didn’t they have anything else to do? Widening her eyes, her waving froze and she sat there still as if she hoped he might not have actually just seen her sitting under a table. It wasn’t to be though, he’d not only seen her but he spoke.
‘I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady....’
Her pert little mouth opened forming an ‘o’ and she blinked her eyes up at him. What was she going to do now? Would her uncle give her away? Darting a glance at him, she had her answer. The traitor not only gave Lord Nikos her actual name but he also gave away her details. The man was a master informer and yet he had about as much sense as that one-eyed rooster who crowed at dusk rather than dawn.
‘... If she deigns to get to her feet... my niece the Lady Evangelina, eldest daughter of my brother Lord Konstanos.’
The tablecloth flicked backward leaving her in a rather ridiculous sort of conundrum. The pint-sized Leventi’s lips pursed in a frown at the traitor and crawled out from under the table. It was too late to change horses in the middle of the river. She was going to have to stick this ridiculousness out.
“I suppose you don’t collect rocks either…” Evangelina directed to Lord Nikos, her voice taking on an entirely different, dispassionate tone about it this time. She frowned at the man that lit up her dreams. Up close he was just as devastatingly handsome as she’d imagined. The Gods had done good. Her heart was racing and she could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks at her nearness to him.
I will not be embarrassed. I will not be embarrassed. I will not be…
Raising up to her full height, it was obvious she was still rather small for her age. She jutted her chin stubbornly anyway. The once intricately braided hair was now sticking in every direction more like the wild mane of one of their horses rather than a Leventi girl. Her face was still the sharp angles of youth but help promise to be striking as she matured…. Well, if one looked beneath the dirt streaks across her cheek and temple.
Resting her hands lightly on the table she’d just climbed out from under, she glanced at the vendor and then back to her uncle. A wicked little idea forming in her mind. He’d called her out and given Lord Nikos her name…
“Uncle Fotios? Father says you are a man of impeccable tastes, but everyone says that Condos wines' the best… Why are you drinking wine that’s not Condos wine?” Tilting her head, she stared at her uncle with innocence and bit the inside of her cheek before darting a glance at Nikos only to settle back to her uncle. Standing on her tip toes, she tried to look down into his glass to see how much he’d drank. “How is it? May I have some?” She could just imagine the ways she’d pay for this later but right now, she was an almost-woman scorned.
Achilleas had the good grace not to contradict the Lady Evelli in her words, just giving light shrug and letting the conversation move on. He had learnt his lesson about being urged into things by Leventi ladies and had ended with a bloody nose for his troubles last time, so there was no danger of him changing his mind.
With no such reservations of making some sport of betting on the race though, his next question fell easily, but before the Lady could answer, they were joined by her daughters, and Achilleas found himself surrounded by beautiful Leventi girls. It was hardly a hardship, and he returned the girl’s greetings with a warm smile, bowing his head first to Olympia, then Selene and then settling his gaze finally on Theodora, who his gaze lingered on a little longer, before he realised it and glanced away before clearing his throat.
“Good day to you all. You are all looking lovely and putting everyone else to shame.” It was no falsity, for they were all uncommonly fair, and it was no hardship for the young Lord Mikaelidas to be in such company. He turned to Olympia and took her in, for she too had grown some since he had last seen her. “ The pleasure is mine, Lady Olympia. It has been far too long since I have had the privilege of your company”. Theodora’s echo of her mother’s earlier question had Achilleas raise his brows but the Lady Evelli answered for him, He could not help but glance at the girl who had asked though, and his thoughts too turned toward his last demonstration of equine mastery in front of Theodora. It made him shift a little uncomfortably, and so when the girl’s mother spoke on, Achilleas blinked and looked especially interested. Until that was, he caught the thread of what she was saying and then there was a momentary look of disquiet as he realised Theodora was being deliberately left in his company.
“Oh well, I wouldn’t presume to draw Lady Theodora away from..” His words were lost though, as the Lady Evelli was already hustling Olympia and Selene away and the Lord Mikaelidas pressed his lips together. This was not what he had intended.
“I’m sorry” Achilleas offered. “I didn’t invite that..or at least I don’t think i did” He glanced toward the retreating Lady Evelli,a bemused expression upon his face. And then he looked back to Theodora. “ I don’t need an escort anyway, so don’t feel obliged”
Theodora offered her mother a warm smile upon the kiss on her cheek. Though it took no genius to see what might harbor her mother's thoughts, Theodora did not let it show.
There was several things Theodora could have said about Achilleas not taking part in the race, but it seemed as if her mother would not allow her the chance to speak so freely ― or do much else for that matter. Instead, Theodora found herself urged forward by her mother. Had it not been for the poised grace taught since she was but a wee babe, Theodora might have allowed her expression to falter.
"Of course not, mama." She responded dutifully, not at all unaware of how it seemed to affect the lord. His protest seemed to fall upon deaf ears as her mother, alongside her sisters, seemed to make a rather quick escape.
Turning her attention back towards Achilleas, Theodora raised her eyebrows at him. "Very well then, my lord." She responded without missing a beat. "If that's what the lord wishes, then that's how it'll be." Bowing her head, Theodora took a step away, brown eyes immediately scanning the crowd behind him.
While she didn't think he'd loathe her company, she wasn't about to stay if he made such a deal about it. Besides, it offered the perfect opportunity for Theodora to go off on her own, without either of her parents making too much of a fuss over it. "I hope you'll enjoy the rest of the festivities, my lord." She added before turning on her heel and walking away, leaving Achilleas to his own mercy.