A Loss of Common Scents

She was glad he wasn't totally saying no. It was interesting knowing someone who had travelled. She was learning new places and wanted to see some. Right now this place was new. She was still learning Bordelaix knowing that it would take awhile to do so. She couldn't just wander off alone all the time though. That wouldn't be safe.

"Good to know. Never thought of a horse like that. I can see how they might like you," she said wondering how one treated cattle. She had never been around such an animal before. He came from such a different world than hers, and it was intriguing.

"Family is very important. It would not be the same in life without them. So you are close to your siblings?" She asked hearing him talk about them. She wasn't quite sure. He told her of some times with them and she chuckled hearing about his younger bigger brother.

"Well you aren't just any male though. You said I'm in good hands as well as my reputation. Besides I'm not totally alone with you. We have a room full of people here. I would think if I screamed at least one of them would come to my aide. It's a good thing I don't have to do that," she said smiling. It was nice just sitting there, but she was itching to do something. Luckily the cider came.

She took the tankard and closed her eyes smelling it first. She was strange like that, but it was a sensation she enjoyed. Smelling before tasting. She heard what he said opening her eyes. She took a sip feeling the warm liquid in her mouth. She slowly swallowed it savoring every second. It was sweet but not too sweet. It was giving her an idea for a new scent, but she would table that for now. It wasn't going anywhere.

"That is very good," she said and took another sip. She was enjoying this more and more. If anything though she wasn't going to drink it too fast. Why do so when one could savor such a flavor?


Rowan Gardiner

"I think I shall. Perhaps you know one or two I could be introduced to? I don't really visit the stables," she said knowing the truth in that. She wasn't much of a rider. It hadn't really been something she'd been interested in before. Of course she didn't mind trying new things. It was part of why she was sitting in a tavern drinking cider.

"I suppose it does," she said wondering why they weren't as close. She was learning there were other kinds of families out there, other walks of life. She was enjoying seeing how others did things. Suze had noticed the smirk and wondered what was done to make that happen.

"Their loss," she said before sipping more of her cider. She was enjoying that as much as she was the company. It was interesting sitting here near him learning more. She wasn't sure if her family learned about this they would let it happen again. She didn't want this to disappear though. It was nice.

"Better than I could have expected, although your description was great. It's hard to put a spin on something so terrific without falling maybe a little short. Not saying you didn't give it the old effort for that though," she said not sure why that was so awkward. It was the truth.

"Probably not the greatest question, but do you have a favorite color?" She asked not sure what else to say just then.


Rowan Gardiner

"I would love to meet them. Any one of them really. I've heard its nice perhaps it will be my new hobby," she said knowing some people loved to go out riding. She hadn't been one of them, but maybe only because she hadn't experience it yet. It was something to think about.

"Oh you don't have to worry about that for me. I'm not the type that would go out without an escort like that. The city is one thing there is always a handy knight around to kick some butt for me. Out in the forests or there abouts? On my own I'm in a whole new world of trouble I wouldn't want to be in. So no going out alone. Perhaps if a certain knight was free he could show me how good horse riding is," she said not sure he was interested. It was something to dangle out there though.

"I agree with that," she said then heard about colors. She wasn't sure she had anything blue, but she could look. No harm done there of course. She wasn't sure when though considering she didn't know when they would meet next. Hers? Oh boy. 

"I don't happen to have a favorite color really," she said picking up a piece of the bread and taking a corner off of it placing it in her mouth. She waited until she was done swallowing before talking again, "I like too many of them to have a favorite."



Rowan Gardiner

"Good," she said not sure what else to say. He said it could be done, and she wasn't going to doubt that. Why should she? He seemed a very capable man. She noted what he did with his cider wondering if she should. She didn't swirl it but took another sip letting it slide down slowly. It was something to be enjoyed on occasion. That much she could tell. The bread wasn't bad either.

"Would you please, um, be that knight for me?" She asked him not sure if she needed to go further than that. They had been talking about it. She was a little nervous in asking this. It was a first for her. She wasn't usually sitting across from a guy sipping cider, at least they weren't sipping through straws.

"I would have to say it would be opening my shop. It's one of the best things I've ever done. Well other than meeting you that is," she said before taking another piece of bread into her mouth. She watched him as she chewed. It made her wonder if she shouldn't turn the tables on him. She could guess though that it was becoming a knight. What else could it be?

"Where do you think you will be in the future?" She asked after having finished her piece of bread.



Rowan Gardiner

"Not much really. I only rode the once when I was younger, and never again. Didn't think it was something other than basics had to be known, and I thought I had those from the once," she said blushing a little. She hadn't really given it a chance back then. She didn't really want to be away from her hobby.

She noted it took him a moment as if he was expecting something else. It made her wonder what he thought he was going to ask her. It was an answer to be expected. She thought for a moment though on hers.

"Hmm, I can see two possible ones. First and probably the more possible would be me keeping up with the shop and enjoying making new perfumes and lotions while helping the family coffers. The second one would be marriage to someone. Depends on what family thinks is best," she said knowing that was possible. All of it was depending on what her family thought. Granted she had her cousin's ear, but that didn't mean her future couldn't change from what was expected.

She noted his eyes wandering around. If anything it was probably because he was a knight. She figured security and the fact that she didn't have a guard on her was part of that. It was sweet of him to keep her safe, or at least she thought so.

"What's your family like?" 


Rowan Gardiner

"Yes really. Not ride alone? How do you mean?" She asked curious about this. What could he be thinking? She wasn't sure, but she thought they were already going riding meaning she wouldn't be riding alone. He would be on his horse riding next to her. She was lost on this one.

"Not everyone does. I think for us Lords and Ladies marriage is always an option. I do believe very few get away from that one. As for my shop, I don't know. I often wonder if perhaps having a child wouldn't be good for me. I won't know until it happens. I think I would have to close it down to be a wife and mother. All depends on who I am married to. I'm hoping my cousin takes that into account for who I marry. If I'm lucky I can have the shop as well as a family," she said not sure if that was even possible. She knew she could still make money off of it by renting it out to someone else.

"If you did have a choice in your future, what kind of lady would you marry?" She asked not being able to squelch her curiosity on this one. She had a feeling he would ask about hers as well. She was thinking on that one wanting to be prepared. She listened as he described his family.

"We are a close family. My cousin is more like a sister to me. She runs the house more or less," she said not sure exactly what to share. It was interesting learning more about him. Suze didn't mind sharing what her life was like.




Rowan Gardiner

She heard what he meant and was a little shocked. She hadn't thought of doing that. She thought for a moment, "and who would be holding the reigns in that case if indeed I did ride with you and I was sitting up front?" It seemed like a good question. She wasn't opposed to the idea. It actually intrigued her.

"Oh I know it. It's more like someone else will be running the shop and I send them the perfumes and lotions. That or I rent the shop out to someone else and just keep it as a side hobby where ever I end up," she said knowing both were possible. She wasn't sure where she would end up.

She listened to what he was saying. She knew that the family expected something to gain out of their spouse. It had to work for both families too. She was about to say something when she realized he kept going about what he wanted as well. 

"I see. Um, someone who likes me for me. Someone who won't want to change me no matter what. I would like someone who lets me keep my shop no matter what," she said knowing that was a tall order. She didn't expect to have just anyone with all of this. She knew they might be missing one or two of what she was looking for.



Rowan Gardiner