Honey, I'm Home!!

-Dalen Capital, Isai's Estate. 1 DSTR, Evening-

Isai led them quickly through the Lower Quarter of Dalen, using a rarely used courier's route that would allow them to slip through the quarter unnoticed. Unnoticed except for the stray dogs of course, who made their presence very well known as they harassed Auriel. Glaring back over his shoulder at the hungry canines, he knew their patience wouldn't last forever and they would either take action towards getting it or would simply lose interest. Opting to encourage the latter, he stopped for a second and reached a hand into his pocket. Whistling sharply to get their attention, he pulled out a scrap of butcher paper with blood from the steak on it. Holding it in his fist, he opened his fingers enough to allow them to get the scent before moving his hand in a throwing motion. Seeing the dogs flinch back in preparation to go after or, he smiled and whistled again before pantomiming throwing it as hard as he could. Seeing the dogs take off down the road towards their quarry, he dropped the paper and ushered Auriel along at a brisk pace. Reaching the gates to the Upper Quarter as he heard the dogs catching up, he glanced through the wrought iron as it closed just in front of the lead dog. Seeing it whine before charging the gate with gnashing jaws, he chuckled softly before turning his back to it and leading Auriel at a much more relaxed pace.

The Upper Quarter had none of the claustrophic cramped feeling that the others did. Here, the houses were not slammed side-by-side and were more like true villas with walled off lawns and large size to their estate. Leading Auriel up a street of polished cobblestones, he paused as a train of slaves were directed past them to go about their next janitorial task. Shaking his head in disgust, he turned to Auriel and whispered softly, "To think the wealthy are too good to clean up after themselves. Someone should fix this." Smirking slightly since the two of them were deeply involved with efforts such as those, he led her further along until they reached a wall that stood ten feet tall with a gatehouse and towers that stood fifteen feet high with crenellations around the tops. The walls and towers had wooden shutters that were stained a gorgeous ebony to go with the white marble of the walls. Behind the shutters were well hidden arrow slits, the defensive measures of a castle within the walled Upper Quarter.

Going to the gate, he waited a mere second before the iron began to raise up above them, leaving a seven foot gap for them to walk beneath. As soon as they were through, the gate closed behind them before being locked in place by the guards who kept themselves hidden in the darkness. If one were to be spotted, they wore pure black uniforms with Isai's crest embroidered on the chest with a string similar in color to moonbeam. Their heads were adorned by helms that were painted pure black with a second piece.of steel around any openings to reinforce the strength that was a deep scarlet in color. At their hips they each wore a sword that best fit their personal styles, ranging from a single edged falcata to a heavily curved scimitar. In their backs they each had a quiver if arrows whose fetching were moonbeam silver with black and forest green markings along the shaft. In their hands they each had a longbow that stoos nearly as tall as themselves.

The path through the gates led them under the branches of two large live oaks with Spanish moss clinging to the branches and swaying down at them like greetings from ethereal beings. On the ground below the trees were two asymmetrical flower gardens, with deep purple and black irises as well as deep red, white, and pink roses. At the base of each tree were two matching stone benches, their backs and arms carved to look like they had grown from the ground to be used as benches. In fact, they were set into the ground a few feet to give them extra sturdiness as well as to hold true to that myth. Just down the path and beyond the well-groomed lawn sat the estate, a large stone and timber structure that stood nearly 35 feet high with three stories and cellar inside.

The entrance to the house was reached by a large, stone porch that was raised a few feet off the ground and had a wide staircase that led up to it. The porch was covered by a roof that was attached to the rest of the house and supported by four large columns. The columns were ornate as well, skillfully carved and illustrating the journey of a man who felt he had the strength of the gods. The first column showed him holding the column far above his head with his hands straight up. The next showed him holding the bottom of the column in an underhand grip at his sternum, a pained expression on his face as he struggled to keep it up. The third column depicted him falling to a kneeling position with the weight hugged to his stomach and resting on his thought. The final column showed him on his back with the column crushing his chest. His arms and legs had fallen to the sides and were dangling off the pedestal he had been standing on.

The doors were shaped as an arch and made of thick hickory. Surrounding the doors was a stone arch that bared his last name and Lars's. Opening the doors, he had barely opened them before the pleasant scent of cedar could be smelled. Stepping inside, it could be seen that much of the walls were stone and covered in tapestries, but there was also a healthy amount of cedar for aroma and to ward off insect infestation. The house had sparse furniture other than what was necessary for the two of the as well as a few guests. There were no outlandish house parties held here, only small gatherings with trusted friends and colleagues. Few people knew where Isai Akbaje lived, and even fewer had ever set foot within the gates, much less the doors to his home itself. What they lacked in seating room and tables, they more than made up for with massive bookshelves that reached the fifteen foot ceilings of the first floor and were completely loaded with books. Walking Auriel through all of this, Isai took her to the dining room just past the initial entrance room. There sat a table large enough for thirty with chairs for all of them, but only the five chairs at one end of the table had proper meal sets laid out. Ushering her towards one of the chairs on the left side of the head position, he took the meat from her before speaking, "Lars and I will be right down, let me first give these to the cook."

Tag - Auriel