Out Of Session: Queen's Gambit Declined, Part I - Markus Duchèsne

Nessa of Serenella sat at the foot of the bed, her back to Markus. She ran an ivory comb through her long black locks, but after several spiritless attempts, settled on tying it back. With a leaden sigh she began to dress.

Almost two months on that miserable island and thousands of leagues away from her... Gods I missed her companionship, but where could this affair possibly lead? I'm clearly a pawn in one of her juvenile intrigues. Should I sever ties before it's too late, settle for someone less perilous...

"Will you not stay a while longer, it is still dark outside?" Markus whispered.

"Alas no. I must return home before morning bell. My Uncle has requested my presence for breakfast and he is a man you do not refuse lightly. I fear he will exploit me for one of his illicit affairs".

"Yes, I can empathise". He regretted his outburst almost immediately, they were uttered too quickly, sounded too cruel.

Nessa's head whipped around to face Markus, fury slowly replaced by awkwardness. "Yes, perhaps at first,’ She paused, ‘But my feelings..."

A moment later she was gone leaving Markus to ponder her unfinished sentence. He lay on his back staring at the ceiling, trying without success to banish all thoughts of Nessa of Serenella. A task which proved impossible.

Am I in love? Gods I hope not.

Session XI: Into the Wild, Part I : Eriamas Delvito

Eriamas lay prone in the alcove pulling his blanket over his frostbitten body. The smell of burnt hair and rotting fish hung in the air around him but he was too tired to move let alone change. Starring at the ancient stone work he wondered how he'd thought this trip was ever a good idea. He puzzled why it was that, things just went awry when he worked with Markus and his associates. Maybe he was right the last time he left, perhaps he should go it alone.
Vilsaran returned from collecting more of the freakish brown mould which had caused Eriamas to be in this state.
Eriamas shuddered....
There was nothing Eriamas could put his finger on as being wrong with Vilsaran but the mission had certainly become more complicated by his presence. He'd heard his protestations about plotting ambushes with the Island's fauna but Eriamas had brushed over it hoping his influence would be missed by Markus. Eriamas simply wanted to go home to Elenkess. They were clearly out of their enviroment and no matter what lay back in his home city it wasn't nearly as bad as camping and eating dried meat rations here.
"Is there anything I can do?" Vilsaran enquired.

Eriamas grunted.

Vilsaran lay down behind Eriamas wrapping his arms around his shoulders in the hope of keeping him warm. Eriamas shut his eyes, it was weird but he was too tired to protest. Besides Eriamas appreciated the gesture more that he'd like to admit.