[D1 E] Evening Exercise OPEN

[Kaliya Redding]

Gleaming under the light of the moon, a steed of slender limb and unusual colouring raced across the meadow. The horse was swift, covering the ground with long, easy strides. Leaning slightly into the steed's flowing mane was a woman garbed in dark colours, contrasting sharply against the pale mount; she appeared to be riding in a conventional saddle rather than sidesaddle.

Slowing to a trot, Kaliya straightened, posture perfect, casting her eyes up to the stars above.

[Talieas Corbray]

The stars were captivating on a clear night after a day of good weather. It was therefore perhaps no surprise that Kailua wasn't the only one out in the meadow enjoying the evening. By a large tree not too far away a young man was cutting an apple slowly into slices. With him, and likely far more noticeable than him from a distance, were two very interested horses. They were also two very different horses. One was a truly large white destrier that occasionally shook its tail and bent down obediently for an offered slice. The other was a much smaller, dirty brown rounsey who made a show of stomping a foot or neighing for attention. Sat between them the well dressed blonde haired man calmly continued at a relaxed pace. Every now and then he even had a slice of apple himself.

[Kaliya Redding]

Now that the quiet thunder of Perlera's hooves no longer dominated her hearing, the stamp and neigh of the rounsey caught Kaliya's attention. She walked the Sand Steed closer and the mare seemed to almost tiptoe, delicate and agile, across the grass. "Hello?" she called gently.

[Talieas Corbray]

Both horses pay the newcomer, and her own steed, only the slightest attention as they remain focused on the apple. However, Tal brushes his knees with the backs of his hands, sliding the knife away without stealth and then pushing himself up with one hand to his feet. It only took a few seconds, but it may have felt longer. Thankfully the young man eased the matter with a friendly smile.

"Good evening m'lady. I am Ser Talieas Corbray. May I be of assistance?" Tal politely dipped his head to the mounted woman, noting her confidence in the saddle. And her boldness riding such, alone. Reaching out for his rounsey as it went for the apple in his other hand he rubbed its nose.

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya smiled, the moonlight turns her golden skin dusky and makes her dark eyes seem even darker. "Well met, Serr Corrbrray," the Rs roll languidly off her tongue, "I am terribly sorry if I have disturrbed you, I was only surrprrised to see anyone else out so late." After a moment, "I am Lady Kaliya Rredding."

[Talieas Corbray]

As easy to look at as the stars. Tal thought idly. His own eyes were a deep green, but it was hard to tell with the tree canopy obscuring much of the star and moonlight.

"I have yet to meet any right minded man who would be disturbed after dark, or during the day, by a beautiful woman." A cheeky grin materialises and he dips his head again as his eyes slightly wander. "Let alone a lady. It is my pleasure to meet you Lady Redding." Tal did wonder continue to wonder why Kalyan was alone and out so late without escort, let alone subtly enquiringly of men (in the near dark no less) why they were out late. It was a nice enigma that was more interesting than feeding his horses.

Approaching a few steps he held out the apple for Kaliyah's steed to notice.

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya patted her steed's neck gently and, apparently taking that as permission, Perlera lowered her head and sniffed curiously at the apple before taking it. The mare tossed her mane, nickering in gratitude. With practised motions, Kaliya dismounted, landing lightly on the grass, and the legs of her ...pants? fell neatly about her to look for all the world like any other noblewoman's gown, the fullness of the skirt concealing that it was divided to permit her to ride more easily.

She offered a small curtsy, "a verry good answerr, Serr Corrbrray."

[Talieas Corbray]

Tal was a touch late offering a hand for Kaliya's dismount, but then again it seemed she didn't need it. Not at all. Perhaps she had wanted to make a point?

At her words his smile grew. "I'm glad it pleases you." Wiping the hand that had carried the apple on his side he confidently reached out with his right to take Kaliya's own, lifting it to her chest height as he crouched enough to gently kiss it. "Once again, a pleasure."

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya smiled, charmed by his courtly manners and cheeky smile, but even moreso by the offered apple to her steed. Her attention lighted on the rounsey that had first caught her notice, "you must intrroduce me to yourr companions as well. May I?" and she indicated that she would like to pet the demanding horse.

[Talieas Corbray]

Stepping back, and of course letting go of her hand, he shifted to the side to indicate the rounsey. "This chestnut is Sammy, who can be feisty." Reaching out for Sammy he rubbed the smaller horse's neck then indicated Kaliya could do likewise.

"The other is my pride and joy. Her name is Pearl and she's as well trained as they come." Giving a sharp whistle the large white mare immediately responded by making a show of trotting over to Tal. Patting her cheek he flashed the lady Redding another smile.

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya stroked the rounsey's neck, "it is good to have spirrit, neverr let them tell you otherrwise," she told the sturdy chestnut confidently before turning to the stunning war horse. She is not in the least intimidated by the steed's size, but her expression clearly speaks in volumes of her admiration.

Still, she chuckled, indicating to her Sand Steed, "this is Perrlerra, and her name means 'pearl' in the old Rhoynish tongue."

[Talieas Corbray]

The chestnut moved into the lady's touches while the white destrier extended its nose to receive a few touches itself. Tal just chuckled as both fell under the woman's sway in short order.

"He's just sad at his spirit being put to use carrying supplies. He's also jealous of Pearl."

With Perrlerra introduced Tal had to shake his head and grin. "Two pearls. That's something. It's a fine name eh?"

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya laughed warmly and gently stroked Pearl's nose. Leaning in slightly to Sammy as if to conspire with the creature, "you do not need to convince me, I can see how brrave you arre." Perlera, on the other hand, tosses her mane, as aloof and proud as a princess among servants. "Allow me to apologise for Perrlerra, someone told herr once she was special and I'm afrraid it went strraight to herr head," her tone is affectionate, the kind of teasing that existed between long term companions.

[Talieas Corbray]

Talieas dips his head to the horse and her owner. "I would only approach a lady if she wished it. Perlera - am I saying that right?" His smile turns a bit sheepish. "Perlera can be distant if she wishes." His attention does drift to the horse, but quickly returns to Kaliya. He gives her an inquistive look. How about you?

Meanwhile both Tal's horses were enjoying the attention. Sammy, being Sammy, was being a little too familiar as he tried to taste Kaliya's hair.

"Oi Sammy." Talieas quickly spoke with disappointment as he moved to nudge the courser's head away from the woman. "Behave."

[Kaliya Redding]

Chuckling at Sammy's over familiarity, she petted his nose, "no harrm done." Once more she speaks to the horse as a co-conspirator, "I underrstand, some things demand to be tasted," her gaze flicking towards the knight, taking him in.

"Perr-lairr-rra," she enunciated, rolling the Rs like a cat purring. "Please forrgive my accent. I am frrom Dorrne," she explained, as if her golden olive skin and glossy dark hair like strands of silk didn't clearly mark her as a salty dornishwoman.

[Talieas Corbray]

With slightly ruffled bright blonde hair and a clean shaven jaw Talieas looked more boyish than he actually was. In contrast to that he had a strong physique, with broad shoulders and a sturdy looking neck. His dark green eyes and ready smile were the most captivating parts of him.

Tal lifted an eyebrow as his smiled turned curious. "That they do m'lady. Sammy can hardly resist a treat, the first green grass of spring or a good rub down."

He made the effort of repeating Kaliya's horse's namen a few times until he was pronouncing it properly. "Err, thanks. And that's fine, no forgiveness necessary. Your voice is actually wonderfully exotic. I've clearly not met enough Dornish women." That easy going smile returned as he moved around her, taking a better look himself in the process. "Your dress is also easy on the eyes Lady Kaliya." He paused in front of her again, flourishing with his right hand as he bowed. "Might you tell me more of yourself and your homelands?"

[Kaliya Redding]

Enticed by what she has seen and heard so far, she drifts closer; green eyes are unheard of in Dorne, but under the moonlight she can't quite make their colour. His response to what she told Sammy was charmingly innocent, and yet his appreciation of her was most welcome. She is having as much difficulty pinpointing his age as she was the colour of his eyes, eventually settling on somewhere between 'old enough' and 'close to her age'.

His bow and his flourish brings a smile to her lips. "If you enjoy the sound of my voice, I shall rrecount the historry of Dorrne all the way back to Prrincess Nymerria and her flight from Rrhoynar." Her teasing tone makes the trills of her Rs even more cat-like, "but perrhaps I could just starrt by telling you wherre I am frrom?"

[Talieas Corbray]

"Deal." He agrees swiftly, chuckling agreeably at her accompanying jest.

Stepping back he removes his cloak and lays it down beside the tree. "Please, sit." Gesturing to his cloak he then politely offers his hand to the dornish woman.

[Kaliya Redding]

He is like a knight out of the tales her grandmother used to tell her, and she feels almost like a child again as she takes his hand, remembering how it felt when she still believed that she would be swept off her feet by a Dornish Prince and live out her days playing in the Water Gardens, surrounded by children.

Kaliya arranges her skirts around her, sitting primly. Perlera nickers, prancing a few steps away from the other horses, though she seems entirely unconcerned about this. "I was borrn to House Ladybrright," she begins.

[Talieas Corbray]

Taking a seat to her side, neither fully opposite or beside her, under the tree Talieas gives her his full attention. Rather than risk interrupting he makes an affirmative noise so that she might continue.

[Kaliya Redding]

Her large eyes could easily be mistaken for innocent, almost as dark as her hair in the moonlight, but her full lips were a different matter. She was animated as she spoke of her home. "I come frrom a little town on the coast of the Summerr Sea, wherre the waterr is clearr as glass. On a brright day, when you looked out acrross the waterr it deepened frrom aquamarrine to turrquoise to cerrulean."

"It is too small forr a porrt, but the men and women fish and dive for pearrls. We have some of the most talented silverrsmiths in the known worrld. I firrst met Perrlerra when she was a filly of twelve months," hearing her name the mare nickered, "beforre she was brroken in, it was anotherr yearr beforre I was allowed to rride, but we werre encourraged to spend as much time as we wished with the foals."

"In the yearr beforre I left Dorrne, we'd rride along the beach, I think she misses it as much as I do."

[Talieas Corbray]

Tal took this all in thoughtfully, enjoying the imagery her words conjured up. "It sounds idyllic. I've only encountered a few sand steeds and none as stunning as your Perrlerra, let alone one with so stunning a rider." He flashes a quick smile before shifting around to lean back against the tree.

"I hope you've found some things to like further north. I take it you left on business or, err, family matters?" Tal ventured carefully, not wishing to pry unduly.

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya's eyes flash approvingly, "the Rreach cerrtainly is beautiful, in a verry differrent way. Though I miss the heat, therre arre so many flowerrs here, and the wine is not so terrible." The Reddings were one of the few growers of red wine grapes north of Dorne, and her teasing tone suggested that the vineyards of the House she had married into met with her approval.

[Talieas Corbray]

Naturally enough the knight skipped over the reasons for her move as the lady changed topics. "The Reach? Ah. Right, right. The wine is strong and flavourful there eh?" He asks while lacing his hands behind the back of his head. "Doesn't sound so bad."

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya's eyes unashamedly lingered on the knight's chest, displayed so readily for her by his pose. "Nothing can match a Dorrish Rred, a good vinterr knows not to trry; but that does not mean theirr wine has no desirrable qualities of its own. And, white wine grrapes do not grrow in Dorrne, if rred is too bold forr yourr palate."

"Corrbrray," she purred thoughtfully, "you arre frrom furrtherr norrth, yes? Of courrse, in Dorre everrything is furrtherr norrth."