Wonderful Gifts

JP with Winteroak, Gonyaul and Islana:

Sir Zane escorts Islana and Gonyaul into the tye Duke's study. The man is dress in fineries of gold and green. He is starding near a window looking over the city, observing his domain in the afternoon sun.

"Ah, please come in sit." He tells you with a smile.

His eyes catch Islana with a nod of his head but soon drift to Gonyaul.

"I trust the food and drink have been to your liking?" He asks

Gonyaul entered and his eyes took a tour of the environment before settling on the Duke. He returned the smile with a like kind exchange of his own; adding a bow and sign to honor their greeting.

He nodded and replied in response to the question of food , “Yes Thank you”. His accent made some of the combinations of vowels and consonants interesting to listen too.

Gonyaul gratefully took a seat and waited patiently. This whole event was a new experience for the young man.

Islana entered the room and looked around, it seemed, like a room fitting of the Duke's station.

The young woman was nervous, the Duke gave her no reason to be but still that whole, someone in a higher position than herself made her nervous though she was doing her best in her attempt not to show it.

Islana sat and waited to see what was next.

Gonyaul had a more optimistic outlook at the moment than Islana’s sent to the principle office. He looked at her and smiled reassuringly. He thought it was better to be in there with someone he knew versus by himself.

The Duke looked at Islana once more. "Sir Zane tells me it was you that started to unravel the presence of this Creed in our city." He said appraising her. " And it seems you almost paid with your life for it." He concluded.
"Sir Zane tells me you have been offered a place with our military already and I hope you accept the offer. The city needs young people like you willing to do whatever they can to defend it..." He said and picked up a bundled wrapped in leather skins from one of his desks.
"And we hope this helps you in that." He said handing her the warped object.

Inside is a recurved bow of dark wood expertly made. Islana has never held such a weapon in her hands. It was obviously the work of a master craftsman. It was clearly a bow made for war not for hunting. Inside the package was also a quiver of steel pointed arrows. The quiver itself was light and compact and was guilded with golden stitches.

Islana opened the bundle revealing the bow inside. It was beautiful, she picked it up holding it and letting her fingers run over every curve on the weapon. Mesmerized by the shear beauty of the bow.

Then her green eyes darted towards the steel pointed arrows. Letting her fingers glide over the tips clearly meant for the killing of people. People.

She knew her answer to joining the military and about the bow but in order to not insult the Duke, she gave him a polite nod.

"It's a beautiful weapon, thank you very much, your Grace." Accepting the gift. She'd decide what to do with it later

The Duke nodded at the young woman. His interaction with Alexis Greyriver meant that he would not be trusting Sir Zane's too much. These audiences would be going slightly different from what he had intended now.
He turned his gaze to Gonyaul. ~What a peculiar young man.~ he thought.

"And you young man it seems it was you that ensured this young lady was saved. You and your quick thinking." He told him cordial.

"I hear the farm you work on has some of the highest yields in the city." He told Gonyaul telling him his accomplishments were known.

Gonyaul paused to translate and consider what the Duke was saying to him. He nodded and set the record more accurate. “I one log of many for fire to burn, yes.” He played but a humble role. It was a team effort in both instances and he needed to add that because there were so many others that deserve credit before him.

The Duke reached to a little leather bag that was on top of his desk and placed it on Gonyaul's hand. "Seeds from my own land back in the North of Salos." He told the surprised young man. "Lion Figs. I haven't managed to get it to take or bloom. But if you can in a few years maybe we can have an orchard of these trees in the city."

Gonyaul smiled and graciously accepted the gift with an added bow. This would be a fun challenge, he thought to himself.

“You most generous. Thank you.”

"We might need a man like you in our new colony up north. The sooner it can become self sufficient food wise the better but I will let Sir Zane ascertain if it's something that could interest you." He said and dismissed the two back to their banquet.