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 Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:19 pm
Quickest routes to the royal den, to the guards, to certain priests.. they were important to know for emergencies. Certain bodies of water had to be circled, or certain areas used for crossing but there were so few of those. It was important to be able to orient yourself wherever you were, too. Other than quickest paths there were also the less worn paths, the areas that needed greater watch, the special areas with the plants..
"Good," she murmured, following along after him as he led the way, making special note of the confidence he had for this particular task. Another good reason it should come up, pick things he knew well and could easily feel confidence in.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:17 am
He was proud that he knew his way around the lands so easy, though he had never really thought about it being important to his job as King. He just knew. Still, as he led her along, she seemed pleased with him, which only made him more pleased with himself.
"There's nothing else you want to know?" he asked as he turned back to look at her, still carefully picking his away along the path he had chosen, though he had no doubt slowed since his gaze was behind instead of in front.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:25 am
"Hmmm," Ally thought about what else she could ask him, deciding against quizzes on the plants, that wasn't so important, "Can you name all of the apprentices we have right now?" There were only three, it shouldn't be that difficult a question. She was enjoying the walk, she didn't want to spoil it with difficult questions.
"And which positions they're apprenticed to," she said, wondering how to word a question about when they would take their jobs. Ukene was apprenticed to the midwife, which was supposed to have two spots. She was likely to take over first, but perhaps there was no easy way to ask about that.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:33 am
He nodded at her as she began to think, turning his head forward. What would she throw at him this time? He really hoped it wasn't about plants, they truly were his weakness, and he was afraid of severely bumbling over a question about them. That's when she finally asked what she wanted though, and he was somewhat more pleased than he would have been if she'd actually asked about herbs.
"Apprentices, uh, yes," he said, furrowing his brows lightly. He could see the faces, even knew the names, but putting the titles on was the harder part. "Utunzo, apprenticed to be a historian," that was an easy one - he'd seen Utunzo in all his knowledge hunting. "Miakoda, apprenticed to be a shaman," that was another easy one - he'd had a few questions for them too. "And there's one more I think," he muttered, his steps slowing as he tried to remember. "Ukene, who is, uh, apprenticed to be," he frowned a little harder as he pushed himself to think, "a midwife, is it?" He turned to her, his steps automatically picking up pace again.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:42 am
"Very good," she said, smiling at the mention of three very familiar lions. Unyenyezi and her cubs were all good friends of the queen, though she wasn't sure if Fafnir knew that. She didn't say anything though.
"Upenzi, Utunzo and Ukene's sister, just recently took over the host position," she added, sure he knew about this but using it to lead into her next question, "And Ukene is going to take the position of the missing midwife, what is the only other position that isn't filled?"
It wasn't one that was necessary, it was only filled when the king and queen decided it was necessary to fill it. Ally tried not to smile as she looked away, realizing the implications of this particular question. It was important information but it could also be suggestive.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:56 am
He let his eyes cut sideways at her as she began leading up to the next question, his brows furrowing a little as he tried to figure out where she going. Even after she said it, he found himself gaping at her a little, even as she looked away from him. What was she hiding when she did that? A laugh, a smile, was she mocking him? She had to know this was uncomfortable.
He could think of two positions that were unfilled, and both of them were implying.. things. Things that twisted his tongue into a knot and made his words stick in his throat. "Uhmmm," he began, looking down at his feet now as he walked, feeling his pulse quickening. "Well, I, there's two isn't there?" He didn't know which one she wanted, and he didn't know if saying the wrong one would be implying things.. she didn't want implied. Mentally, he was groaning.
"The, uh, Royal Nanny is what you were thinking of, i-isn't it?" He stuttered out, his shyness prevailing in this situation. He assumed that since she had been referring to standard member's ranks, that the nanny must be it. The other, the other was.. not a standard rank for just anyone.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:21 pm
Still trying to bite back a sheepish smile, she turned her head back to look at Fafnir- then she had to work hard not to laugh at the look on his face. She was a bit surprised when he mentioned there were two, it took her a moment to think about that while he figured out what she was referring to. Then it clicked, and she couldn't hold back a short laugh. A Royal Nanny was usually needed when there was an heir, that would be another position. But if they were going to be like that..
"You got it," she said, smiling at him and then looking ahead. They were almost there. She picked up the pace, moving into a jog, "Come on!"
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:49 pm
He smiled as she praised him for getting the answer right, though the nervous look on his face didn't fade now that his mind was reeling over the implications her answer has spurred. A royal nanny, an heir - they were both very real positions that needed to be filled eventually, one because of the other, and one because.. well, it just did.
"Alright, alright," he said with a chuckle, trying to use laughter to abate his nerves. He moved into a jogging pace with her as well, seeing the scenery around them chance, growing more and more familiar until he knew they were very close to her den. So close, he could see it in the distance now. That hadn't taken long at all.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:59 pm
Looking back and seeing him following after her, she moved faster, laughing almost the whole way to her den. When she reached the den, she stopped short of the entrance and stood there, catching her breath. He'd found it, gone the right way, she knew he had from the start.
"You know, thinking about it, there's not two positions needing to be filled," she said, smiling, "You want to be that specific, there are three."
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:18 pm
He followed her as she went towards her den, stopping as she stopped, politely a few paces away from the entrance to her den. He really had no business going in there, not now, though he supposed.. eventually he would. That didn't do much to quell the nerves that had been raging inside him though, and he felt like a goon for even thinking about what his future 'duties' would be.
"What?" he said with a confused blink, before common sense interjected and he let out a nervous laugh. "Well, yes, the.. king's position still needs to be filled." He was working on that though, she knew it, the whole pride knew it. He supposed, in a way, that made him an apprentice too. He gave her a sheepish smile and glanced down at his feet, tail flicking behind him. He wasn't sure when he'd be ready - it really all depended on her opinion.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:33 pm
"Well," she said, straightening up and looking at him now, "What do you think?" She looked at him intently, her smile deepening. He was working hard, she'd not witnessed all of it but she'd heard enough about it. He answered her questions easily enough, he still had a lot to demonstrate but she trusted him, she believed in him. What he didn't know now he would know soon, pressure did not just go away. Being king was just the first part of the goal here, being a good king was the ultimate goal.
"I think it's ready to be filled," she said, stepping closer to Fafnir. It was almost like a challenge, a final test. His confidence was the only unpredictable factor now. Would it allow him to step up now? Alcmene thought he was ready, but did he?
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:38 pm
His eyes narrowed slightly as she asked his opinion, not sure what to say to that, or what she was implying that he answer exactly. Then, her words fell on his ears, and those narrowed eyes widened considerably. She thought he was ready? For a few moments, all he could do was stare at her in stunned silence, unable to speak or move, trying to decide if this was really happening now. He hadn't expected it to happen now.
He had been working hard, he knew that, but there was still so much left to learn, even if he'd learn a lot already. Did he even have what it took to govern a pride? With Ally at his side, he supposed he could really do anything. She was what gave him confidence, gave him the will to do anything at all.
He took a deep breath and brought his head up, staring down at her as she stepped closer to him. If she thought he was ready, that was really all he needed. "I think I'm ready to fill it."
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:46 pm
Ally waited, her silver eyes stuck on Fafnir as he thought about what she said. Worried he might back down, she tried to prepare herself for whatever answer he might give. She had spent her whole life learning how to look calm and be quiet even when that wasn't how she felt. When he took a deep breath, she didn't know what to expect.
"Good," she murmured, moving even closer and nuzzling into him, resting her head against his neck. She didn't move away, staying right beside him as she looked up in the sky to find the full moon looking back down at her.
"Perfect timing," she said, nodding up towards the sky.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:55 pm
He smiled down at her as she nuzzled into him, letting out a deep breath that he'd been holding in his lungs. He leaned his head down to rest onto her head she leaned into his neck, drawing in the scent of her fur.
As she motioned to the sky, he let his eyes look up as well, and couldn't help the small laugh that passed his lips. "Almost like fate," he murmured, as he himself had been completely unaware of the phase of the moon until just that moment.
"Almost like fate," he murmured again softly, leaning down to nuzzle against her again as he let his eyes close. Tonight, he had accepted his fate, his choice to be at her side and rule a pride.
Tomorrow, he'd have to face that pride.
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