Afternoon Sun || { Open }

[Sano Kemosiri Dyrovaske]

The afternoon sun was high on the hills and he pushed open the door to a balcony to watch it light the grounds. Today had been quiet, something he was familiar with, but it was off-putting for the mood he had found himself in. He leaned his arms onto the railing and looked down, watching servants work tirelessly under the beat of the sun, the heat waves drawing liquid from their skin, leaking onto already dirtied clothes. It was disgusting. The King's face turned into a sneer and he pushed himself away from the rail to slip back into the shade the walls of the castle provided for him. It would be improper, after all, for a servant to see him partially clothed, unless he longed for one to, that is... And given the pretty faces he'd seen, he supposed he could care less—call it a way of courting the maidens or the men into his bed for sexual gratification. It mattered little to him whether it were a lord or a lady, or a servant or scribe. The only ones he drew the line at were his children, of course—and those of religious power... priests and monks. He didn't much care to exclude the nuns, for he knew their words were not worth much of anything in the grand scheme of the Church. He had little interest, however, to be excommunicated. It would not look good on his status... there would likely be revolts...

He slipped back inside to get a bowl of grapes from the table, then slipped back outside to seat himself onto the railing and press his back against the wall, still mostly in the shade but for the toes of his boots. His hair was loose against his bare shoulders, skin smooth and lightly damp with the heat around him. He slipped a grape into his mouth to chew and to swallow, glancing around at the scenery beyond him, as if it really mattered.. And did it? Did anything matter beyond a King? No, not in his opinion. He supposed the Queen mattered, and so he cared for her, he supposed... but she was meant to bare him a son, and so she had—and a daughter as well. Annoying children, but healthy. He could deal with annoying if they lived long enough to carry his crown. The daughter less so. A bargaining tool for different kingdoms, a promise of good fortune... He snorted faintly and popped in another grape, swallowing it down without chewing this time, and continued to ponder and to nibble, as the afternoon sun slowly got higher.

[Asketill Espen Doctor]

The scribe had what was told to be 'very important information' for the King. But seeing as that it was the prince who had given the letter to the scribe to give to the father, it really couldn't be all that important. A lot of what that prince had to say was bragging and whining and stupid questions. But Ask had no right to disobey royalty. He was a scribe. He had to write things down and, if asked to deliver them, he would play the messenger and do so. So he had hurried to where he had heard the King would be and pushed up the door to peer around inside.

"Your majesty...?" Ask called out questioningly, moving out through the other doors to step outside. It was a beautiful day and, though it was hot, he should have expected that even royalty could be found out there. There was a deep sigh from the scribes lips as he adjusted the parchment he carried in his hands so one hand could be free that he could use to run through his hair, straightening it out. "There you are. Really, you should make yourself far easier to find, my king."

[Sano Kemosiri Dyrovaske]

The birds were chirping and tweeting along the branches in the trees. He wasn't really sure if it annoyed him or not, normally, but at the time, it was calming, and he liked that. He let himself loosen against the wall and closed his eyes for a moment of enjoyment, the quietness and not the constant pressure. His shoulders hurt... A slight sound brought him to wake, and he glanced to the doors as they opened. Who was going to bother him now, he wondered? His gold eyes narrowed and fixed to.. the scribe. He blinked once, and loosened, then. The scribe was acceptable... very acceptable. He glanced down his body, then up again, smiling faintly.

“I apologize.. I cannot say that I was planning on needing to be found today.” He smiled, charming, and his eyes brightened. He didn't move from his position. If he had something to give to him, he could just as easily go closer to him. And, honestly, he would prefer it.. after all, the boy did have such a handsome face... “My dear scribe, do you have something for me? Important, perhaps? Or are you to spend time with me? I cannot say I would mind. You do have such an.. enjoyable presence, little one...” And still yet, he had not touched him... Well, he still had time, did he not? Everyone had time. Except those sick, he supposed, but he had people to help in those cases... He popped another grape into his mouth.

[Asketill Espen Doctor]

The young scribe rolled his eyes and looked away. He had grown use to the king's behavior but found it to be very rude when the king had his queen to care about. They should have never been put together if he was going to spend his days cheating on her. It was probably ruining his reputation. No one wanted a whore for a king. They wanted someone who could lead their knight and protect them. Asketill dearly hoped that the prince would not grow up to be like this. The prince had a tendency to sleep around, yes, but hopefully he would grow out of it before he reached the point of becoming king.

"Your son had some questions for you..." Ask simply informed him, not showing any sign of replying to the flirtatious words. Instead, he unfolded the piece of parchment that the prince's words had been written on. He cleared his throat before he summed them up for the other. "He wants another chance to lead the knights against our enemy kingdom. He promises he won't fail you this time. He also says that he simply wants to take a few knights out to go on a small scouting mission, not a full out attack."

[Sano Kemosiri Dyrovaske]

The boy didn't approve of his actions. He had long made that extremely obvious, but not with words. Either way, Sano couldn't say he cared enough to change them. He had his reasons for what he did, and though some believed his romances to reflect his ruling, it did not. He was a good king, if not a good husband. The girl could not satisfy him, and those around him so longed for his attention. Why should he not give it? Was he so wrong to want something to hold him over? She was for children, not anything more, but she was a nice woman and a good woman, and he respected her for that, for her class as she dealt with those she knew that he favored in bed to her. He would hold her at night if he was there... but he would not pretend she was the only one that shared that bed, or shared his body. He would never do such a thing as lie to her.

Sano listened, and snorted softly. “What stupid questions. The boy should be smarter than this... A prince should not be with scouts. If they are discovered, then they have the leverage. I will not deal with my son being some prisoner in their dirty little kingdom. Pathetic little bastard king they have.” He scoffed and bit into another grape. “We will let them make the first move, be the white on our chessboard. I have no interest in playing games and spying unless they're going to make something of nothing. The boy is far too unmanageable.” He didn't want that boy in more danger than necessary. His wife was too old to have another son that would be raised and fit to be the king, and his daughter? No. He could go into combat if it arose. He would not let him start it. He was a warrior, yes—not a scout.

[Asketill Espen Doctor]

A deep sigh escaped the scribes lips and he rubbed the back of his hand across his forehead, brushing away his bangs. "You are aware he probably won't listen to you, yes...? He has never seemed to listen to anyone. A miracle that his tutors were able to teach him anything," Ask started to go on as he folded up the prince's letter again and leaned himself back against the railing, eyes fixed up on that blue sky. Sometimes he didn't know what was worse; being near the king or being near the prince. While being near the king got awkward with his flirtatious ways, the prince was angry and listened to no one.

Ask's hands busied themselves, tearing a corner off the parchment and proceeding to pull apart that little piece into smaller pieces. "Even if he has to go alone because no other knight will accompany him, I would not doubt that he would do so. He believes we would have an advantage if we kept an eye on them," he continued to explaining, folding his arms over his chest to keep the parchment hugged tightly to his body. His eyes fell shut and he lowered his head, wondering how long this would actually take.