[saeya hawthorne]

saeya hawthorne

early afternoon || sunny

Asmodeus screeched loudly as they glided over the pass that led to the Grand Market, no doubt alerting all nearby that another dragon rider had arrived. 'Must you do that?' Saeya asked him silently, letting out an annoyed sigh. 'The vagabonds tell stories about the Red Snake throughout Quenyi.' The dragon snorted, giving his head a shake as he searched for a place to land. 'You must know by now that I love the attention.' he responded in her thoughts, eliciting a reluctant smile. Regardless of who knew they were here, she would find what she was looking for.

Asmodeus landed in a clear stretch about a quarter of a mile from the market, stretching his wings before curling up as Saeya grabbed her things. As she pulled her leather bag over her shoulder, she unfolded a wrinkled letter from an Earl of Quenyi to give it one last look-over. 

To Whom It May Concern~

Our Wise and Noble Jewel Keeper seeks the arrest and detainment of one 'Mariella De'Vona' for the crimes of theft, murder, poisoning, and evading arrest. She is requested to be returned ALIVE to our Great military headquarters so that she may be sentenced accordingly. 

The reward for her return is: 15 gold coins and 5 bronze coins. 

Signed, 
Ea-

Saeya crumbled the letter before its conclusion, having read enough. The ordering Knights had informed her the woman had set up a stand in the market where she sold false healing elixirs known to cause sickness and death. 

After bidding Asmodeus goodbye, she arrived at the market rather quickly. Hundreds milled about the huge area, buying selling, trading, or stealing. It might've been impossible to find who she was looking for had she not inhaled a heavily perfumed incense wafting through the air and begun coughing. 

Through the crowds a young girl poked her head up, waving Saeya over to her in a friendly manner. "Good day, ma'am, good day! Oh! I heard you coughing over there and got so worried! I hate to see someone young and beautiful so sick! But don't you worry, miss, I have something that'll perk you right up! Oh Yes I do!" The girl exclaimed, pulling a green glass bottle from the pocket in her apron. "It'll cost ya 5 gold coins yes it will but it heals every ailment!" 

Saeya's eyes widened in surprise. "Five gold ones for that? You drive a hard bargain, miss...?" she trailed off expectantly. "Oh! Yes, my name is Marie, miss. Sorry for my manners! I swear it miss, you won't regret buying this! I'll even throw in some nice green tea candles from Sela! Come in and see them!" Following the girl's lead, Saeya walked into the little makeshift shop and closed the leather curtain behind her.

---
Not an hour had passed when she re-emerged with a spitting angry Mariella with her hands bound and her mouth gagged. She could hear the symphony of muffled words but couldn't discern any, much to her relief. The girl hadn't been much of a fight -- Saeya had even snagged those green tea candles from her on the way out. 

Feeling as though she were dying of thirst, she stopped off at a Quenyese bakery and tied Mariella up outside. She'd been gone for five minutes but by the time she'd returned, she saw the girl running off into the crowd of people. "Hey! Stop her!" she shouted, muttering a curse under her breath as she ran after the criminal. 

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[Asher de Raye]

have a nice trip  see you next fall Asher had been at the Grand Market since the sun crested the dunes in the morning, and she was tired. She was sent by her Father to retrieve herbs and poultices from the vendors. Because of the de Raye name - none had dared to scam or harass her, lest they invoke the wrath of one of the richest men in the land. Viríon had roosted on the capes cliffs, overlooking the Lucent Abyss. His wings itched to fly beyond the countries borders, across the deep blue expanse. It had been too long since they sailed. Asher had promised him leave once they finished their errands. She loved her home, but nothing was as free as the open ocean. She snorted to herself at the thought of her past life being a fish.  Asher was inspecting jewelry from a seller who chatted nothingness into her ear. Rings, banded with silver and gold, adorned with jewels shined to perfection. An untrained eye might believe them real, but Asher knew it was simply pressured rock and gloss. She decided it was none of her business and it was time to carry on, when she heard a commotion coming from an alleyway across from her.  "Stop her!" The voice called out, nearly drowned out by the hums, chants, and yells from the crowded market. A woman, wild and panicked, wrists bound and with thick cloth tied around her lips, ran straight towards her, arms outstretched to shove her out of the way. Asher deftly sidestepped the woman, kicking her foot out as she did.  The escapee woman tumbled, falling face first into a stall, shattering the wooden support beams and bringing someones shop to the ground, sending jewels, leathers, and weapons flying off in every direction. For a moment, everything stilled. Just for a moment. Asher knew what would happen next, so she needed to act fast.  In one hand, she grabbed her dagger and with the other, the collar of the escapee woman's shirt. She whipped her head around, her eyes meeting a woman's with hair of flame, fair skin speckled with spots. This had to be who called out earlier. Asher jerked her chin to the side, signaling to follow her, while she dragged the squirming woman - who she assumed was a thief - to a smaller alley, away from the commotion. Asher threw the woman to the wall and drew to blade to hold her.  As she did so, the shoppers of the Grand Market swarmed the broken stall - hundreds of hands grabbing for fallen items, fists flying in fury, voices yelling. Had she waited any longer, she might have been crushed beneath the crowd. Ocia was as beautiful as it was dangerous, and she was ever curious why the red haired woman took the other as a prisoner.  [ saeya hawthorne ] [ GOTTER muahahaha ]

made by abby of adox.

[saeya hawthorne]

saeya hawthorne

early afternoon || sunny

As she tried to catch up, she noticed a dark-haired woman turn and trip the runaway, sending her flying, no crashing into one of the vendor's stalls. Saeya had slowed to a walk then, clasping a hand over her mouth as she stifled a laugh. The quick-thinking woman grabbed her up and signaled for Saeya to follow her, which she gladly did. 

She met her in the alley, pleased to find Mariella held hostage with the business end of a knife pointing at her. A smirk formed on her face as she stopped before the two of them, her hands folding behind her back as she regarded her Good Samaritan. "Nicely done," she said, meeting the woman's dark brown eyes. "Though I doubt that shopkeep back there would agree." She walked up to Mariella and stopped a couple inches from her face. "I told you it would end badly for you if you tried to escape, didn't I?" She mocked her, which elicited a series of muffled curses from the criminal. Saeya snorted and turned to look at the woman again. 

She was very lovely, with neatly plucked brows and skin like the desert at sundown. "How can I ever thank you, Miss...?" She asked, bowing dramatically as she smiled up at her. 

Asher de Raye

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[Asher de Raye]

have a nice trip see you next fall Asher lowered her blade as the fiery-haired woman approached, her mane feathering out behind her shoulders, freckles dancing in the shaft of sun that flittered in between draped cloth strung over wire between balconies. She truly was a beauty to behold, and Asher wonderd what she would want with this wretched woman who spat through her gag and clawed fiercely with her nails.  Asher let out a light chuckle regarding the shopkeep. She sheathed her blade then, slipping it gently into the hilt strapped to her hip. "Shall they want reparations, they'll come to find me," she responded with a wry smile, knowing they most likely wouldn't. Even though her family no longer engages (publicly) in pirate activities, their rinfamy was well-known. Causing trouble for the scammers of Ocia was not above her, even with her higher station. Perhaps she had Viríon to thank for that perspective.  Asher watched as she taunted the captured woman, her facial expression neutral. She smirked as the woman extravagantly bowed to her, an almost sinister smile forming from her lips. She bowed back politely, holding her fierce gaze with her own grounded one. "Asher de Raye. And you?" She asked, following with, "No thank you necessary. I'm sure she has done vile deeds to earn such a wrath." Her glaze flickered to the woman, who cowered underneath them.  [ saeya hawthorne ] [ <3 ]

made by abby of adox.

[saeya hawthorne]

saeya hawthorne

early afternoon || sunny

The stranger introduced herself as Asher de Raye. Now that was a name that rung a bell. Saeya's thick brows lifted in surprise as she stood tall once more. "Well I'll be damned," she said in disbelief. "A Duchess doin' all that work for little ol' me." Saeya regularly came into contact with those that bore high rankings in the court. But a de Raye? Never. "I'm Saeya. Pleased to meet you, Your Grace." Certainly not the correct title to refer to a Duchess, but she was making an effort. 

She glanced back at their prisoner, who had since given up trying to escape for the time being. "Well, I ought to turn her in before she steals a dragon next time." Saeya chuckled warmly before turning and digging through the small bag she'd swung over her shoulder. She'd pull out one of the large, matcha-green candles and present it to Asher. "Take this for your troubles. It's not much but I'm just about broke until I get her ransom." She explained with a shrug. 

She'd grab the criminal up by the collar so she was standing again, this time a bit more cooperative. "Well, I'd best be going." She'd duck her head politely again and then start to lead the prisoner out of the alley. But something kept nagging her. She'd stop and turn back to Asher, a sheepish smile on her lips. "Say," she'd start, her cheeks reddening a bit. "Maybe you'd like to swing by my place tonight, I cook up a great potato stew and I've had my eye on a vintage cabernet for awhile. Just as a thank you." Gods, could this be any more awkward? There was simply something about Asher that intrigued her, besides the fortune she was no doubt sitting on. 

note: if Asher agrees, we can timeskip on my next post to continue the threat!  

Asher de Raye

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[Asher de Raye]

have a nice trip see you next fall Asher did not feign surprise as she was recognized. Many knew of her families name, especially those who frequented Çerisun Hall and the port. Although their opinions of her family were varied by the people in Quenyi. Some thought of them kindly, and others remembered the artocities their ancestors committed in the open waters, before they decided to secure a place within the desert court. Even now, under guise of maritime law, her father and brothers, and even relatives of them, could get away with whatever they wanted without fear of reprecussions from authorities.  Asher shook her head and laughed lightly at the titles Saeya addressed her by. "A Grace would not find themselves gifted with a sword such as I," She responded with a sly wink. Asher was surprised at her offer of the handle, but took it graciously as Saeya seemed to be in a rush with her prisoner. She flipped it through her fingers before sliding it snugly into her leather belt, placing her hands on her hips while she watched her leave. The capture woman cast a glace back and Asher grinned and gave her a sarcastic wave, just as Saeya turned around to say something once more.  Asher nodded, accepting her offer. Viríon could wait a bit longer on the cape, she'd bring him some meat later. She sent a mental thought out into the abyss, and saw that her dragon was flying near the cliffs, playing lazily in the wind currents. "Let me know where to go, and I shall find you there, Lady Saeya." She let a wry smile tug at her lips, waiting for instruction, before she would turn to leave the woman to her affairs.  [ saeya hawthorne ] [ <3 ]

made by abby of adox.

[saeya hawthorne]

saeya

early afternoon || sunny

She was pleased that the woman agreed, pulling out a small piece of paper and a worn charcoal pencil and writing out a few rough directions. She lived in Wyrmrot, which was enough at times to send people fleeing in the other direction. She guessed that if the lady showed up that night, it would be a show of bravery and maybe something else. Her heart skipped a beat as she'd hand the note to her before turning and walking off, leading her new captive by the shirt collar. Asmodeus would be pleased when he heard of this.

-timeskip to the evening in wyrmrot-

Saeya stirred the pot of bubbling stew with a wooden spoon, smelling the appetizing fragrance of fresh parsley and roasting meat. After she'd collected her bounty earlier, she'd stumbled upon a new butcher offering slabs of meat at a discounted price as a show of good nature. She all but had to oblige. It'd make a better impression, right? So now, if the Duchess showed up she would be partaking in the absolute best beef and potato stew she'd ever had in her life, that Saeya was sure of. 

She lived in a rather modest cottage in the desert mountains of Wyrmrot, a bit further out than most thieves cared to travel. To reach it, one needed to navigate the cliffs on dragonback, where they'd find it carefully tucked into the side near the peak. It'd certainly cost her a fortune to tempt any architects up there, but it had all been worth it in the end. She'd stripped and bathed as soon as she got home, changing into a modest white gown with a beautiful short cloak clasped over her chest, embroidered with vivid blue patterns. Her hair, ever the untamable beast, was worn in a simple French braid that snaked down her back. 

She'd instructed Asmodeus to wait at the peaks and greet their guests with good manners, though she could never be sure if he'd listen. It was a good thing no one could hear him speak except for her. 

As she waited, she would grab a few wine glasses of a unique green glass shipped from Dain, wondering if she was a fool to think someone of royalty would even bother with her.

Asher de Raye

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