The Ventris Family, Part One

“If you keep staring at him any longer, you will burn a hole in the wall.” Isilorbor said without looking, titling his wine glass to sip from the contexts. “Not after burning a hole in him.” Lendes replied tensely, glaring at someone within the Prancing Pony with a stare that only she could beam. “I do not see what the problem is.” Isilorbor spoke after lowering his wine glass, his tone uninterested. “He thinks he’s the bloody hero of the west!” This time, Lendes’ gaze fell on her husband, but softened somewhat. “Perhaps he is.” Isilorbor felt like teasing her, and it worked too well. Lendes spluttered, something that might be related to anger crossed her blue eyes for a flash of a moment. “You can’t be serious!” Lendes hissed. “No, but I just wanted to see the look on your face.” Isilorbor confessed with a grin. The joke was lost on Lendes. “He looks no older then Lendil!” She complained. “Oh please, love, he cannot be…” Now, Isilorbor has seen a great many people in his time, but this ‘Man’ made even boys look mature. Turning his head to see what his wife was so vexed, Isilorbor’s words died in his throat as his site fell on a fully armoured and armed man leaning on the counter of the bar. Armoured in full plate metal dyed gold, the man was in realistic terms in his late teens, but looked shockingly younger. Not a single hair rose on his baby like skin, or looked like it existed in the first place. His hair long like a gold drape, hanging ever so neatly above his shoulders. Eyes that spoke of beautiful sky blue days, but lacked any sort of wisdom. The swords at his hip screamed to Isilorbor. Having spent most of his life training with blades, one glace told Isilorbor that there’s weapons were rich and well crafted, but that was the give away. They looked so new and well looked after, one might easily believe they had been in a glass case most of their time, rather then in any type of battle. Standing in the middle of an inn, bragging about his epic deeds in fighting the war, was beginning to bore the bar staff. Indeed, some had found how ever trivial, tasks that needed their attention. That left two rather unfortunate women to hear the man’s speech of heroism with faked interest. Lendes has been eavesdropping, though she would never admit it. After a few speeches of his bravely, Lendes has be outraged and turned to stare at the man. At first, Isilorbor let her stare once he had caught her eye, and looked at a wall as she proceeded to voice her outrage. “See?” Lendes said, once Isilorbor and turned his eyes away from the warrior. “Fine, you were right.” He conceded. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he was making it up on the spot.” Sipping her wine, Lendes spoke with some amount of venom. “It would not be the first time.” Tapping his finger on the table, a habit that had failed to drop over the years when Isilorbor had ran out of things to speak of. “You should march over there and cut him down a size or two.” Lendes snapped. Isilorbor shrugged. “Maybe, but the boy is still growing, he needs the height.” Lendes started to giggle, putting her wine down has a precaution. With a happy sigh, Lendes smiled at her husband, who smiled back and put his wine glass down in turn. “It’s nice to be away from the house.” She said warmly. “Indeed, we should make the most of time.” Isilorbor’s hand was sliding across the table to link with Lendes’. “What did you have in mind?” Her eyes were sparkling by now, like star light over an ocean. “A horse ride?” Isilorbor suggested. “I’ll get my cloak.” Lendes beamed, looking forward already to the promise of just her and her love alone for one night. Until a golden boot was placed down on the bench, making a thud on the worn wood. Lendes looked to her right, seeing the young warrior and frowned deeply. “Can I help?” She said in a tone that suggested anything but. “Greetings, fair maiden.” The warrior said coolly, bowing his head. Lendes cast a look at Isilorbor, their hands together but unable to be seen behind a half eaten chicken. Isilorbor was grinning, wanting to see how this would turn out. “Greetings to you too, but I don’t believe we’ve met.” Her tone was becoming sterner; it might have been the scented powders on the warrior’s skin she could smell that irritated her. “We have not, my lady. But I am sure you have heard of me?” He placed a golden armoured hand on his chest plate, the hint of a selfish smile pulling his lips. “No.” Her answer was like a blunt arrow head, making Isilorbor snort in laughter. His pride wounded, he turned what might have been a hard look on Isilorbor. “And who might you be?” The warrior’s tone betrayed the fact that he didn’t care. “My name is Isilorbor Ventris, sir. And this is my wife, Lendes Ventris.” A wonderful mixture of looks crossed the warrior’s face that both Isilorbor and Lendes savoured; Surprise, shock, regret, then oddly, challenge. “So, you are the great Captain Ventris, yes?” The warrior rose to his full high, trying to look like some imposing golden hero of the age. Failing horribly. “Not great, but yes, I am him.” Isilorbor answered calmly. The warrior turned his eyes on Lendes, a small grin on his lips. “Such a beautiful woman should not belong to just one man.” The words sent a shiver down Lendes’ spine, a nervous glace at Isilorbor told him that was too far. “When you have a woman in your bed for the first time, then you can speak about such things.” His answer was dismissive, taking his wine and flicking some wine into his mouth. It was an insult that Isilorbor knew full well he was rich to talk. He had only bedded two women in his whole life, one being Lendes and the other Lithduel. It was ironic really, since Isilorbor’s social company were mostly women. The warrior coloured in anger at the jab, his lips moving tightly to form some sort of come back that never formed. “I think you should talk to me with more respect!” The warrior demanded. “Here’s your respect.” Lendes tossed the remnants of her wine into the warrior’s face, taking satisfaction in watching the powders on his face run and the total shock on his face. Isilorbor and Lendes stood up, looking highly amused at the embarrassment of the so-called warrior and walked hand in hand towards their cloaks by the door. “A bit much?” Isilorbor commented while helping tie Lendes’ cloak to her shoulders, grinning at her. “Not enough, love.” She grinned back, helping her husband in turn with his cloak. Isilorbor looked back; the ‘warrior’ had stormed out of the inn with people laughing at him, trying to hide his ruined make up. “Now, I believe you owe me a night time ride?” Lendes grinned back, knowing what her husband would say next. True to his form, Isilorbor winked. “Of course you do, but let us go out and ride the horses first.”