Typhonius Amrata - Tumblr Posts
The rain seemed to start the moment he left the Castillo estate, chilling but not soaking. His feet splashed through the puddles as he ran after the illusionary hound. Where it was leading him, he wasn’t sure, but in his heart he knew Isidora would be at the end.
They pounded through the lower city to an apartment in the Eastern Commons. The hound disappeared through the door and Ewan stopped, leaning on his knees. “I can’t...” He stopped, realizing how ridiculous it was to try to talk to a spell.
But before he could figure out what to do next, another image emerged through the door. It was Isidora, or her spectral counterpart. Ewan followed her. For a moment, the image bent down and a cat curled into being, made of the same soft purple magic as Isidora. Her fingers stroked the cat gently. Ewan smiled despite himself, watching her care for the small creature.
Then something changed. The spell burst and shifted, the image lost as flares of chaos erupted around him before it coalesced into the hound once more. Ewan was moving the moment the hound took off again, Isidora’s locket still hanging from its neck.
Again he moved without thinking, without looking for a weapon or defense. He wanted to find Isidora. That was his only desire. And so when Ewan came up before the gates of the house in the Ossan Quarter, he was utterly alone. The hound barked once, turned in a circle, laid down, and vanished. Only the shine of the locket on the ground remained and Ewan swept that up into his pocket immediately.
If she was in there, he would find her. Tell her about her father. And hopefully convince her to come home. Lord Raul needed her.
It was hard to gauge how large the house was, with all the houses around it and the twisting roads of Ossan. He didn’t see her at the windows, but they were all closed, shuttered against the rain and chill. Ewan found the bellpull to beg entrance and tugged it gently. He didn’t hear anything from inside, but the servants might be at the back. So he waited until the door opened.
Putting a bright smile on his face, Ewan pushed up his glasses. He was soaking wet, but he didn’t let that stop him. “Hello. I’m looking for Lady Isidora Castillo. I’ve come from her father. He’s returned home and is rather desperate to talk to her. Please tell her my name is Ewan Carmine.”
His hands worked over and over themselves in nervousness. What if she refused to see him? Could he hire a sedan chair to bring her father here and let Lord Raul make the demand himself? It might be the only way to lure her out if she was being stubborn. Ewan waited anxiously for the servant’s answer.
@typhonius-amrata, @thefreelanceangel
Ewan nodded to the old man, then realized his folly. The blind man wouldn’t be able to see it. “Oh, yes. Um. Thank you.” The thought of Isidora being some man’s escort was disturbing, but perhaps she was just using his library and accompanying him to parties. The last time he’d spoken with her, she had been adamantly against love in any form. It would please her father if she had come to such an idea on her own. It showed problem-solving skills and thoughtfulness. And Ewan, despite it all, still held out hope that he might one day be able to charm his beloved lady.
He followed Riad down the hallway to the sitting room. His eyes roamed the bright colors and plush fabrics, the loveliness of the place. This was what Isidora deserved. He couldn’t deny that.
Then he realized he was dripping water everywhere. He turned, but the servant had left.
Careful to stay clear of the rugs and furniture, Ewan made his way toward the archway that led to the garden. He peered out at the windows facing the courtyard, looking for Isidora, while casting occasional glances at the door for his host.
photo by Michal Huniewicz
Several long moments stretched past before the rap of wood on tile could be heard through the door, followed in due time by the clatter and clang of bolts and chains, until at last the blind old steward Riad stood before Ewan, cane in hand.
“Ahai, young man. Such inclement weather we’re having today. This must be a very important matter to draw you out. A Lady Isidora…hmm…”
He pulled at the neck of his djellaba with careful hands as if each movement was precious, muttering the name quietly as he did so, and then seemed to brighten a bit as he said,
“Ah, yes, a young lady by that name did visit this house some time ago. But the master…”
Coughing as disapproving elders tend to when faced with the debauchery of the young, he added,
“Well it’s not my place to go into details but I will say that he is never without an escort and I do not keep track of them all. But perhaps he will know something of your missing lady.”
Riad turned slowly to allow Ewan enough space to step inside the entrance foyer, then let the heavy door swing shut on its own before bothering with the bolts and latches. Only when the door was secure did he start down the long hallway. Coloured mosaic lanterns lit the way, casting fantastic light on bright woven rugs, Kournan and Vabbian artifacts, and potted Krytan plants. Through a curtain of dark faceted beads he led Ewan into a sunken room with a few of the rear gardens where a tiled fountain glittered defiantly in the rain.
“Sit, please. I will summon the master, and something warm for you to drink.”
Ewan startled at Tiersa’s entrance, then smiled at her. “Oh, hello. I’m Ewan. Do you know Lady Isidora?”
By her motions and her silence it quickly became apparent that the girl wouldn’t -- or couldn’t -- speak to him. Ewan frowned. What sort of man would take on a speechless girl for a maid? He hoped a good one. A kind one.
He took the towel from her and did his best to dry himself. His clothes would undoubtedly remain wet, but at least he no longer looked like a drowned rat. After rubbing his hair dry and cleaning his glasses, he folded the towel and sat on it on the couch beside the tea service. “Thank you,” he nodded to her. Then he went about making himself a cup of tea. Though the room was warm, he knew he would be returning to the chilly rain again soon enough. There was no reason to risk a cold if he could help it.
Before Tiersa left, he asked her quickly, “Please let the lord of the house know I’m here? And if Lady Isidora is here, please let her know as well?”
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Ewan didn’t quite understand the mute girl’s bright smiles or what they might mean. He was still too confused, anxious, and befuddled by the magic he’d used to truly figure out what might be happening behind the calm tiles and rich fabrics of this home.
“Yes,” he swallowed his tea quickly as the steward came to see her. “I do apologize about the mess. It wasn’t raining when I set out. But she’s seen to tea and a towel. I am most grateful, thanks.”
Alone again, Ewan went over in his head what he would say to the man of the house. Isidora needed to see her father. He was ill. If he could get the man to repeat only that to her, Ewan was sure Isidora would come home. And maybe...maybe then she would stay. Ewan held onto hope like a drowning man to a spar of wood.
The abrupt rush of hot air nearly made him upend his cup of tea. He set it down quickly and stood when the lord of the manor entered. Then he seated himself once more.
“Oh, um, Lady Isidora’s father is ill. We have just returned from Kessex -- I’m, I’m his steward -- and I wanted to see if Isidora -- Lady Isidora, I mean -- would come and see her father. He is really in quite poor health and I think seeing her again would help him tremendously.” Ewan rubbed his hands on his pants, realized they were wet, and then awkwardly wiped them on the towel he was sitting on. “If you could let me see her, give her the message, that would be most kind, Lord...?” He suddenly realized he had been rude.
“I apologize. I haven’t properly introduced myself,” he stood extending his hand. “I’m Ewan Carmine. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The man who stepped through to face Ewan wore the expression of a predator that had been roused earlier than preferred and was still debating how to respond to this…unexpected intrusion. His smile was polite and perfunctory, as was the gesture towards the sofas which ringed the room.
“Please. Sit. Enjoy your tea. Warm yourself.”
He plucked a glass of tea for himself then took a seat opposite his guest, and made no effort to soften his expression as he asked,
“Riad tells me that you are looking for Isidora Castillo, but he could not tell me why you would come to my home in your search…Mister Ewan Carmine. Perhaps you could enlighten me?”
Ewan blinked several times, realizing his mistake and getting perhaps an inkling of the trouble he might be in.
“I-I’m sorry, Lord Amrata. It’s been a very hectic day,” he smoothed back his hair and adjusted his glasses to give himself time to think. “Lord Castillo sent people looking for her when we returned and one came today to say she had been seen in your company here,” he lied. “If she has gone elsewhere, maybe you could let me know where? Probably a book store.” Ewan tried to laugh it off, looking away from the man. “She does love her books.”
His eyes darted again to the garden, wondering if Isidora was still staying here. If the spell had worked, she was here. And if it hadn’t, he would be left with nothing. His hands clenched at that thought.
He turned back to Typhonius quickly and smiled. “I’m not trying to take her from your company. If she’s found someplace she’s happy, I’m glad for her. I just want to bring her to her father so she can see him. It would be a shame if he died before she could see him again.”
One raven brow arched as the young man ignored the question posed to him in order to ramble on in a very…disconcerting manner. Typhonius nevertheless managed another polite upward curve of his mouth and accepted the offered hand in a stony grip.
“Typhonius Amrata. And as I said Riad told me your name when he told me that you are looking for Isidora Castillo…”
Now his lips pulled away from his teeth with a flash of white enamel as he said,
“But again, he could not tell me why you are looking for her here, in my home. To hear you speak one would think you believe her to be here, yet you offer no explanation as to why you have such a belief.”
typhonius-amrata:
“I see.”
Seating himself a bit more comfortably, he eased back against the cushions and took a leisurely sip of his tea. He was careful about his activities and thus was fairly sure that Isidora had not been seen in his company since he returned her walking stick, which meant this bleating lamb had found her through other means. And that was…troubling.
“Such a devoted father he is, to be so ardently searching for his daughter…”
Proud, arrogant, violent…but not stupid. Typhonius did not take unnecessary risks, and the more Ewan talked, the more furtive glances he made about the room, out the window towards the gardens, the more this one seemed to be such a risk.
“Who am I to come between their reunion?”
He smiled again, even managed a light chuckle as he said,
“Go now, tell your master that the flower of his heart will be returned to him before sunset. I would say that she could travel with you but I need time to hire an appropriate litter. Common born though I am, I could not allow a lady like Isidora to be exposed to the cold rain. Surely you agree?”
Ewan’s face lit up like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. He bobbled his tea cup a bit and then set it on the table so as not to spill or break it.
“Oh, thank you, my lord,” Ewan said, voice filled with obvious relief. “And certainly she requires a litter. I don’t want her to get soaked, as well.” He tried a bit of a laugh. It came out uneasy.
“Do you...do you think you could send for her? I’d like to tell her about her father’s condition myself.” The young man’s desire to see Isidora clearly came from devotion rather than any sense that Amrata might be lying.
His quest was successful. He’d found her and would bring her to her father. She would see the care he had for them both. Perhaps...perhaps she would stay. Even if she returned to this man eventually, a few days to bask in Isidora’s presence would be like rain after a drought. Ewan smoothed his hair back once more. Isidora would disapprove of how scraggly he looked, no doubt, but at least he could see her. How he had missed her.
typhonius-amrata:
Laughter came easily in the face of Ewan’s obvious and rather slavish devotion to Isidora; and Typhonius was half-tempted to ask if the lad wished to kiss her feet before leaving.
“Well, had I known we would be having guests, perhaps that would be possible, but as your arrival came as such a surprise, I fear that to ask Isidora to come down now would be to ask too much of her.”
Dropping his voice an octave, he added suggestively,
“Why, when I left her she had yet to even enter the bath.”
Ewan paled at that, the implications obvious enough. He swallowed, then cleared his throat. “Well, um, yes. Of course.” He looked away, definitely not out the window this time. He didn’t want to chance seeing Isidora in this man’s robes. It would hurt far too much.
Standing, Ewan said quickly, “Well I do appreciate the tea and the dry towel. I hope I haven’t harmed the fabric of your couch. But I’ll return home and let Lord Castillo know to expect his daughter soon. He will be quite happy, I’m sure.”
Ewan managed a small, trembling smile and extended his hand once again. “Thank you, again, Lord Amrata.”
typhonius-amrata:
How could this worm hope to attract a woman’s eye if he grew so pale and nervous at even a veiled mention of sex?
Typhonius set his tea aside and rose, still smiling, to accept Ewan’s hand in a firm shake.
“Of course, Mister Carmine, though I must remind you that I am no lord. I have simply been fortunate enough to turn the nest egg that my late wife left me into something more substantial through investments and other business ventures.”
He gestured towards the door, releasing Ewan’s hand to clasp his shoulder. His hand was warm but his eyes were hard as packed earth and sun-baked rock as he said,
“Come, I will show you out. You will have to wait for ever if you wait for Riad. And you must take an umbrella with you. I would hate for you to fall ill and be unable to enjoy Isidora’s return.”
“I, oh, of course. Mister Amrata,” Ewan corrected nervously. “Thank you for the umbrella. And for your care of Lady Isidora, of course.”
All the right and proper things to say, spoken almost on autopilot while the rest of his brain tried to figure out how to break this news to her father. Not only was Isidora comporting with a man out of wedlock, without her father’s knowledge or consent, nor with any mention of marriage made, but the man wasn’t even noble. Had no ties to the family or the business.
But if Lord Castillo could convince her to return, perhaps Ewan would have a chance with her now? After all, he knew her better than some ridiculous widower. And if he wasn’t as experienced in bedroom matters, he could learn. That’s what books were for.
By the time they’d reached the end of the hallway, Ewan was actually feeling better about the whole thing. He turned and offered Amrata one last smile. “I look forward to seeing you later, sir. And please tell Lady Isidora that I’m glad she’s going to be coming home, even if it’s only for a little while.”
Taking a small, unadorned umbrella from the stand beside the door, he made to begin his return trip to the Castillo manor.