Thread: Where Allegiances Lie [Kyre & The Intrepid Wanderer]

Alisia lingered at the front desk for a time, sharing idle conversation with the elderly mage behind it and seeking his recommendation on what she should read next. Senior Enchanter Beaufort was a thin, soft spoken soul who treated most he came into contact with as if they were his grandchild - mage and Templar alike. He had been a powerful arcane mage in his time, however, as age crept up on him, he had grown increasingly more forgetful and fragile which had resulted in his taking up the position of Library Master, a task he seemed to enjoy a great deal. The young magess had grown rather fond of the old man and her interest in reading had allowed a firm friendship to develop between the two. She had just bid him goodbye and turned to leave when she found herself face to chest with a broad, armoured Templar. Alisia felt her heart surge within her chest, a coil of terror begin to wind itself deep within her stomach, until she lifted her gaze to find a familiar face peering down at her. Darryn. The soft sigh of relief was audible, but only between them as a small smile crept across her lips. Darryn was now one of the only Templars that looked upon her with any familiarity, let alone take the time to address her by name. Granted, he was as duty bound as the rest of them to carry out his orders, but Alisia was sure she felt something gentle about him - it was enough to calm her anxiety at least. Oval eyes set with irises of jade, flecked with gold, glanced up at him for a moment to meet his gaze before drifting away to scan their surroundings. Her long raven black hair hung loose about her shoulders, the front-most strands braided and tied behind her head to prevent the silky tresses from falling in front of her face. Like a number of the mages locked within the Circle, her skin was pale, starved of the sunlight that the free citizens of Thedas enjoyed. Her complexion spoke of her youth, while the soft curves hidden beneath her robe spoke of a woman's body beneath. The library had grown quieter than usual, the small clusters of mages pausing their conversations in anticipating of something happening. Their expectancy sent Alisia's heart to racing again, she hadn't done anything to warrant the Templars' particular attention she had not expressed her unease at the manner in which they were being treated, did not participate in the whispered conversations that took place in the dorms at the dead of the night. She was careful that her choice of reading material would not alarm anyone either, steering clear of any subject that could be linked with maleficence. Darryn's question did little to abate her concerns, as the raven haired girl wondered what reasons there were that meant she couldn't be here. Beaufort paused in lifting his glasses back onto his nose, glancing between the two as they stood their anxiously, looking for the right words. He grunted lightly, muttering something indiscernible before disappearing back behind his stacks of books. I was just returning a book I had just finished reading, I thought perhaps someone else might enjoy it. Alisia finally managed to bring herself to speak, glance back up at the Templar with a faltering smile, Am I allowed to be here? No one issued any instructions that we were to stay in the dorms...