Prelude 3- A Paladin and Puppy Love
Mischa Waymeet was beautiful. Pale gold hair, blue eyes warm and wide with angelic innocence, smooth, milky skin- a chaste maiden straight from a romantic ballad. She was an aspiring paladin, desiring nothing more than to do good works in the name of Mystra and rid the world of the taint of evil. Such a combination of beauty, grace, and goodness was certainly a rare blessing.
Xanos disliked her immediately. From the first she had been unable to look him in the eye. It was as if he had a terrible deformity, and Mischa was politely trying to pretend she had not noticed. Of course, she had no such problems with Drogan himself, or with dour little Dorna. Why Drogan had decided Xanos should play tour guide to the overeager child was beyond him. Perhaps the old dwarf hoped some of her good intentions would wear off on him?
He snickered, but Mischa was too preoccupied to notice. She followed at his heels, eyes shining as if she were in a glorious castle and not an aging wooden house. He went upstairs and gestured at the doors lining the hallway.
"These are the apprentice's quarters," he said flatly, then turned to leave. Mischa looked like she wanted to explore further, but Xanos started down the stairs again before she had the chance. "Here are the doors to the kitchen, the library, the training rooms, and Drogan's laboratory." Again, he strode to the front door and escaped through it before the girl could protest. "And there," he pointed, "is the barn. Enjoy."
This time, an insistent tug on his shirt sleeve stopped him. He looked down at Mischa's hand with distaste.
"Xanos understands that it is difficult to restrain your urges, but he does not appreciate being pawed in such a manner." She didn't seem to hear him.
"Who is that?" she breathed. "Is he a student here as well?" Xanos, puzzled, followed her line of sight to see Aurora, chopping wood for the coming winter. Her back was to them, her sleeveless tunic offering a view of the muscles in her shoulders as she raised the axe and swung it down. With her short hair, and little in the way of curves to betray her femininity, he could understand Mischa's mistake. He gave Drogan's newest student a friendly push in Aurora's direction.
"Why don't you go and introduce yourself?"
"Oh, do you really think I should?" Mischa was blushing now, running her fingers through her already perfect hair in an effort to smooth it further.
"Yes," Xanos said with a smile the girl was free to interpret as she wished. "I really think you should."
Tentatively, Mischa approached the object of her infatuation.
"E-excuse me. I'm Mischa Waymeet, Master Drogan's new stu-" the rest of Mischa's introduction turned into a mortified squeak as Aurora turned to greet her. "You- you evil man!" she sputtered, glaring at Xanos. He gasped in feigned indignation.
"It pains the heart of Xanos to hear such an accusation! I, who live only to instill happiness in others!"
Aurora caught his eyes briefly.
"I see you've met Xanos," she said to Mischa. "I'm Aurora Dawn. I train with master Drogan as well. It's good to meet you."
"And you as well," Mischa said. She curtsied politely, then glowered at Xanos so fiercely he feared his head might burst into flames. "I- I should return to the house and, ah, unpack my things."
Aurora shrugged and returned to her chore. Mischa turned on her heel walked away so quickly that Xanos had to jog to keep up. He corralled her at the door.
"I think that went well. Don't you, dear Mischa?"
"You're a beast!" she cried, pushing past him and running up the stairs in proper distraught adolescent girl fashion. Xanos whistled to himself as he made for the library, lighter of heart than he had been in days. Perhaps having the prim paladinette at the school was not such a bad thing after all.
Next Chapter: 'The Threshing Day Festival' Half-orcs are famed for their mastery of social graces, such as dancing, conversing, and occasionally refraining from breaking the necks of those who irritate them.