as las started to answer the councilman, he heard a sound behind him. he turned in time to the vase collide with his head. his knees buckled and his sword fell with a clang, and for the second time today, everything went white.

{ooc}: Dangit...Can't type fast enough. xP

{bic}: Skidding to a halt just inside the door to the Council chamber, Tybalt was just in time to see the agressive stranger fall to the ground. He saw the knife, the shocked expressions on everyone's face, and the Princess standing stiffly near the unconscious body of the man Ty assumed had just made as though to kill her. Well, he assumed...He couldn't believe that such a thing could actually happen. After all, what had the Princess (or anyone, for that matter) done to this person so to make him wish to harm anyone?

Suddenly, a strange weariness came over Tybalt and he leaned heavily against the nearest wall. His burns stung and throbbed painfully, and within his chest he still fostered that bizarre, violent urge to hurt ther person that had injured him. He needed rest...And medicine.

.: ooc: post on following page. :.

[ooc.. once traverse gets his post in it's on sonny, fantome, and rainbow to decide what happens for a bit, i'm still here, i've just done enough story steering for now XP]

Furious at himself for not noticing this unseen threat earlier, Zane morphed into his dog form on an instinct. Thankfully, only the General had noticed him when he'd slipped into the council chamber.
Staying in the shadows, the small dog stayed back and observed while an overdressed cripple ran in the room and proceeded to grow paler as he fell against the wall. Unconcerned for this person's wellfare, Xander assumed he had been the prey of the lightning bolt he sensed Las fire earlier.
Confused at the proceedings of the court, Xander remained concealed to see what the council members would have done with his master.

Soleil hurried into the chamber once she noticed the vase had down its job. Fearfully she approached the man, unsure of what to do. He appeared to be sleeping and she carefully picked up his metal stick, not wanting to wake him.

Puzzled, she held it up to the light. It was made of shiny metal and she could see herself in it. The metal part tapered down to a point and curiously she touched it, only to gasp and drop the knife at the prick of pain. That thing was sharp! A bead of bright red blood welled up from her finger.

At the sudden noise behind her Soleil jumped, worried that another hostile man was there. But no, it was only Tybalt who appeared to have collapsed. She ran over to him, worried that he was badly hurt. Of if only she had inherited her mother's healing powers!

{ooc}: So, wait... o.0 Is it Sonny's turn?

Eira stood silent, watching as both men collapsed to the marble floors of the council chamber. Glancing up at the councilmen before looking back to the motionless bodies, she walked over to Tybalt and knelt beside him, observing his visible wounds. Her hand afloat above his chest and shoulders where his injuries lay, she looked up at the councilmen, her face expressionless out of shock.

"These men need to be taken to the infirmary immediately."

The councilmen blinked at the young lady, just as confused about what to make of anything. They watched Eira carefully as she stood and walked back to her former captor's body, kneeling beside him and brushing the hair out of the stranger's face, seeing a small mark on the man's face from where the vase had squarely struck him. Out of her pocket she drew a small handkerchief, dabbing away the odd red substance that had appeared from the mark that Eira was oblivious in knowing to be a wound.

"No hostility is needed in this place to get whatever it is you've come here for..."

Gently hugging an arm around the man's middle, the princess slowly attempted to stand, the difficulty in this task apparent by the expression on her soft face. Bewildered, the next in command objected to these actions immediately.

"My lady! I must protest to having you in contact with this...imbecile."

"He is unconscious. It is my duty as royalty to this region to provide support for the people. Now if one of you councilmen would be so kind as to help me attend to these men, please do so. If not..."

She turned to begin down the hall.

"Then please forgive me, but I must be leaving your presence to do this task myself."

She proceeded through the open doorway, seeing Soleil crouched beside Tybalt. Giving a quick nod, she continued to the infirmary.

Soleil looked up, confused as to why the Princess was taking the man to the infirmary. Shouldn't he be put in a spare chamber until he woke up? Then they could question him about why he had taken the Princess captive. Naturally, they would send up healers to take care of the wound Soleil had most likely given him. But, she was the Princess and Soleil assumed Eira would know what to do.

Seeing that Tybalt was in safe hands, she ran to go help Eira carry the man. He really was much too big for her.

{ooc:} Posting..Gimme a sec.

{bic}: He watched as the Princess attempted to lift the stranger and drag him to the infirmary. His face utterly expressionless, Tybalt ignored his wounds for a second time and got to his feet, "..You may be royalty, your highness, but that does not mean you have to carry your enemies by yourself." He grimaced slightly, a particularly painful throb having coursed through his body, but it was gone a moment later, "..Let me carry him for you, my lady. I may have only one arm, but it is a strong appendage."

Much as he hated the thought of even touching the man he had since decided was his enemy, Tybalt could not stand to see his Princess toiling over the [email protected] He would much rather keep her from soiling her hands with such menial work than to save his own pride.

Observing the young princess dragging his General towards the infirmary, Xander could not help but feel impressed by the Princess' sense of justice. Although it was entirely unnesessary (Xander himself had seen Las endure far worse), her insistence on helping the unconscious man even after he had threatened her life was moving.
Luckily, the woman who apparently inflicted the wound was rushing to help, and unfortunately the cripple Zane had previously assumed unconscious was rising to offer his considerable assistance.
Still furious with himself for letting this happen, Zane could do nothing but continue to follow quietly. He was uncertain how his sudden appearance would upset the group of women and disabled men right now, and he could not have them dropping Laslatu... so he continued to follow at a distance, keeping to the shadows, and hoping the time would soon come when he could assist his General again.

Noticing the considerable amount of help she was suddenly being offered, Eira glanced at both Soleil and Tybalt, noticing again the latter's considerable wounds.

"You need medical attention as well, sir."

Was her only response. She gripped the middle of the general a bit closer while trying to support his weight, accepting the assistance offered from the two as well as trying to help Tybalt as well.

They had reached the infirmary's doors, the doctor quickly helping to take both the general and Tybalt to lead into two of the infirmary's beds.

"Thank you both for your assistance."

She said earnestly. Hearing a noise out in the hall, she looked down the it's length, looking for the source. She couldn't help but feel as though she were being watched.

"I'll be back shortly, I need to check on something..."

She murmured softly, already heading down the hall to investigate.

She'd reached the back entryway that faced her lovely garden without any clue as to what this presence could be and was just about ready to go back and return to the infirmary, stopping only to lean and smell one of her lilies that grew near the doorway.

Deciding little could be done for the General in his current condition, and realizing that a dog would be rather ill equipped to offer any service under these conditions regardless, Xander decided to head back outside.
Unfortunately, as soon as he was about to change back into his much more comfortable elven form, the Princess he had admired earlier stepped out after him... it only took a moment for him to realize she had most likely heard him in the empty hallway. As she stopped to smell a lily, he quickly decided it could in his best interest to learn as much as he could about this place before he spoke with Las again. He cautiously approached the young woman, and sat at her heels.

"Yip!"

Soleil watched the Princess walk off down the hall. No doubt to her garden Soleil thought with a smile.

Soleil was still worried about the events that had transpired earlier that day. Frowning again, she went to the hallway and sat on one of the benches, her chin in her hands. Where had this man come from? Once again she felt that strange emotion but she pushed it away. Whatever he was, it was over now. Soleil stood back up and headed towards her rooms, eager to see her birds and forget what had just happened.

However, for a moment she thought she heard something behind her. Soleil turned but sw no one. She considered letting out her powers and seeing if there was someone following her, but decided against it. You're just still in shock from the council room. she chided herself, continuing her walk.

The young woman looked down at her feet, a bit surprised to see the small dog sitting there. She looked around cautiously, curious as to where it had come from. She'd had plenty of excitement dealing with newcomers for one day as it was.

"Oh, hello. A little dog...? Where did you come from?"

She asked, suddenly feeling foolish for having done so. It wasn't as if the dog could respond to her. She cautiously reached out to pet the creature's head, squatting as she did so.

"Are you hungry?"

Without waiting for a response, she stood and turned back towards the palace to get something from the kitchen. She glanced back to see if the small mammal would follow her.

"Come on now,"

She called out.

Despite the woman's silly hospitalities and remembering that people were fond of petting cute little creatures such as himself, Zane restrained himself from biting her fingers off. He had never had to endure such humility, but knew that it was the only way to gain her trust and learn more about his place.

Besides.... he was feeling rather hungry...

So he *yip*ed again, and nodded his floppy, furry little head. Perhaps the food here would be as interesting as the plant life...

He quickly ran after her, awaiting whatever the palace kitchen had in store.

Seeing that the dog did follow her, Eira made her way into the kitchen to get a small piece of meat after which she returned towards the infirmary ward. Sitting on the bench beside Soleil, she offered the piece of meat to the dog before sitting back and looking up at the girl beside her.

"I found this dog out in the garden."

She mumbled, reaching down to pet the animal.

"Perhaps he's lost and needs a home?"

Sitting back, she realized that the small cut she'd received on her neck had dried.

Soleil studied the dog, her green eyes taking in every detail. "Aw, he's so cute," she said. "I wonder who lost you?" Soleil knelt down to feel around its neck, searching for a collar or some sort of identification. Finding none, she sat back onto the bench and turned towards the Princess.

"I don't think he has a home," she said, then noticed the cut on her neck. "Oh no Princess, that man hurt you!" she said, horrified. This only confused her further. Who was that man and why did he want to hurt the Princess?

Zane accepted the meat, and wolfed it down. Just because he was such a small dog did NOT mean he had a small appetite! Deciding that he would never learn anything trapped in this infirmary, but realizing no one would leave until the two men recovered, he jumped up on Laslatu's still body and curled up to rest.
He was really getting tired of all this touchy- feely stuff... his peers back in the Steel Hand attendants squadron had always laughed at him for having such a diminutive, feminine dog form. At least it was starting to have its perks; being able to travel at ease with the Princess, and no one knowing who he really was.

'As long as they don't come up with some silly name... like Fido...' he thought to himself, as he drifted into doggy slumber.

Eira put a hand to her neck out of reflex, answering in a mere nod.

"Oh. Yes. I'm alright now."

She watched the small dog jump onto the general's body curiously. Two new strange beings had appeared. Perhaps they were affiliated?

Standing and walking over to a cabinet, she took a cloth and cleaned the dry wound. With her back to the beds where the two injured men lay, she washed her hands in the small sink and spoke softly.

"Do you think they'll both be alright?"

She asked gently, never revealing her hidden wonders and thoughts on the situation.

as the world slowly came back to Las he found himself once again with a throbbing headache. he felt something odd and looked down to discover his armor had been removed, he was not bound, he was in a soft bed, not locked in, his weapons were within arms reach, the man he had attacked earlier was on a bed next to him, and there was a small dog on his chest. none of these things made sense to him. after what had happened why would they give him a bed and leave him his belongings? why was he not locked is a cell in a dungeon somewhere? and how had xander ended up here with him? that was when he noticed the bookshelf in the infirmary. it was amazing. so many books, so much knowledge... Las' fingers began to twitch as he lifted the dog off himself. the dog awoke and stared at him with eyes far colder than any pup Las had seen.
"xander, look at all these books..." the first book he grabbed was A History of Aurora Grove.
"perhaps this will be useful," he said to the pup, and plopped back down on the bed to read, instantly oblivious to all.

Turning as she heard the sounds of one of the two men rising, Eira watched carefully as the general lay back in his bed, book in hand. Cautiously she crossed the room, standing to the side. A quick glance at the title of his reading material caused her eyebrow to raise.

"Do you enjoy reading?"

She asked simply, breaking the silence.

as if far in the distance he heard "do you like reading?" he grunted a short yes and continued staring at the book. nowhere in the book did it mention wars, battles, weapons, fights, conflicts, injuries, disputes or crimes. it seemed all was peace and always had been. but how can that be possible? in his kingdom the people only stayed in line through fear, but it seemed these people didn't know fear, had nothing to fear. it explained much. but he still didn't understand how this could be.
Las abruptly lowered the book and stared at the princess before him.
"how can your people exist without fighting?"

'How wonderful!' or 'The General is awake! Is'nt this nice, he's found a good book!' or even just 'Are'nt we lucky that we're comfortably bedded in this infirmary instead of DEAD?'

Xander would have thought any number of these things, under different crcumstances. Unfortunately, he had been quite rudely disturbed from his refreshing nap, and been put on the cold hard stone of the floor.
He relocated himself in a remote chair in the corner of the room, as he thought, 'That better be one HELL of a book...'

.: ooc: be back later....:/ :.