To start (Avalon)

[Taoofbalance]

(This is open, anyone can feel free to join in.)

The sun peaked over the horizon issuing the beginnings of a new day and with it came sights and sounds familiar to Davon who had spent his entire life time fighting for the land he now looked upon. He sat comfortably on a chestnut colored horse, it was one of the many he had hand-raised over the years, and watched as his hired hands began their work as he often did during the spring and summer months.

Though he was only in his mid thirties Davon was one of the wealthier land owners in the region. He personally didn’t farm any of the land and instead rented it out to local farmers and took a small portion of their earnings and crop as payment. Truthfully Davon didn’t know the first thing about tilling the land or planting crops and he would be the first to tell you that.

On top of the land he rented out Davon bread and raised horses, it was a topic he knew a little more about then farming. Truthfully Davon enjoyed training horses and riding horseback more than anything in the world and so he put aside several acres of land for specifically that and had some of the best help money could buy. He would then take the horses, some of them, and sell them to the standing army.

“Come Hoole,” Davon spoke gently as he patted the large horse he sat on. “we have much more boring matters to attend.”

Davon steered Hoole away and began a slow trot towards the city proper. He lived a few miles outside the city and could see the magnificent walls from the balcony of his personal quarters; it was a good reminder of what he fought for.

He dressed the part of a lower noble, his clothing of the finest cloths with fine golden embroidery around its edges and a matching crimson cape drifting in the wind.  He wore a masterfully crafted long sword on his left hip, its hilt a jet black with a deep sapphire placed at the pommel. The scabbard was equally decorated, depicting a scene from one of the many battles Davon had taken part in.

All in all Davon played the part of the retired soldier very well, he had an opinion that was sought after and a sword arm still skilled and strong enough to teach the new recruits the finer points of combat. At the moment though he was off to fulfill an important but often times his least favorite duty. To act as one of the advisors for the Secretary of Defense, a role he was asked to fulfill because of real-life application of military tactics and guerilla warfare.

Hoole and Davon came upon the city gates within a matter of minutes the guards greeting with smiles and nods as he passed through on his way to meet up with Secretary of Defense to discuss plans for improving existing defenses while somehow cutting back on cost.

Brushing brown hair from his emerald eyes as he neared the building he tried to remind himself it wouldn’t be as bad as he thought…then again, he always told himself that.

[Adriana]

“Gavin, stir yourself.”  His mother’s voice followed up with a quick kick against his mattress roused him.  He heard the curtain that cordoned off his section of the one room cottage swish back.
“Gavin lazy bones.”  His little sister’s sing song voice piped up.
“I heard that.”  He said in a voice ravaged by sleep.  Flipping back the covers, he scrabbled to his clothes chest and rummaged through.
“Scribe clothes.”  His Dad’s low voice carried to him. 
Gavin stilled, his arms in his chest, as he turned to look in his father’s direction, as if he could see through the curtain.  A slow smile spread across his face.  “Aye,  Father.”  He pulled out the clothing and made quick work of changing.  He was washed, dressed, and seated at the table before the candles were blown out.
Within a half hour he and his father were out the door and on their way.  Gavin could barely keep his feet on the ground.  Both Houses were opening today for the spring session.  The other apprentices would be scrabbling to attract the attentions of the Masters’ Secretary, in hopes to become the personal scribe of those august men.  Competition was stiff and many would not make it.
Even if they did, there was no guarantee they would retain their position.  The Masters, as well as the scribes.  But Gavin had loftier dreams, only thought of when he was alone in his little niche of their cottage, the fire banked and the candles snuffed for the night.
With a guilty look at his father, he shoved the thought away.  Now wasn’t the time to think of it, despite the glorious spring morning perfect for burgeoning dreams, that began around them.  No, he had to concentrate on his lessons and duties.  Every year, at least one apprentice was sent home in shame on the first day of the spring sessions.  He would not shame his father by being that apprentice.