If he were home. Ballad’s gaze flicks over to Jon, then back ahead; she is wondering. She parts her lips on a word; instead, breathes. Most of her upset has wicked away, yes, but there’s still some tension (a smoke stain, a remnant), and she’s aware of it. Her nose crinkles at I would test and she says, “So it sounds rather as if your idea of ‘training’ could just be, at first, getting to know one another, hm? Going to the gymn, waving training swords about, playing around with weapons, maybe a contest here or there to see who’s best at flinging a knife into the heart of a target, who can climb a wall fastest, that sort of thing? I like a contest! Why don’t you ask after the Master of Arms in Amber? Because Jon, you know, I expect the Master of Arms could teach an awful lot, and there may be veterans of the Black Road War who have thoughts about fighting creatures from the Black Road. Er,” another glance, blue eyes thoughtful. “The most unexpected skill to train? For woodspeople? How to juggle hawk eggs without breaking them? How to properly season foraged food is a lesson I think more rangers should be taught if you really want to know.”

*chuckles* at her guesses "I can agree with the last one.  I will have to add that as a suggestion and let the Northwest Warden know." *nods* "You are correct, contests, group exercises, camping, etc.  Learning how to rely on each other." *nods* "I agree with you, I expect The Master of Arms to have a lot to teach." his tone is honest, sincere as he responds. *grins* "While I liked your guesses, there were wrong.  During the early part of training to be a ranger, Master Myldrun Eichensehr, he had us take up couples dancing."

Ballad shoots Jon a laughing look. “Since you agree, does that mean you’ll find them and try to arrange a lesson, for yourself and those of us who want to listen?” Moonlight starts to prance again and this time Ballad isn’t inclined to restrain the tarnished silver mare; she’d like to race. She does restrain that urge, for now, letting the horse dance just a little before bringing her back to bear with Jon’s. The idea of the rangers she knows doing couple’s dancing certainly has her imagination engaged, and there’s a slender bright smirk, needle in luminous water. “Oh? Did you take to dance like a bird to the air, Jon? Were you goat-footed and merry? Was it fun for you, dancing? You should ask Jade to plan a dancing party with you! I bet you a red button that she'd like it.”

*smiles* and *nods* "I plan to, yes." he does become serious for a moment. "Please don't misunderstand me, when I talk about training I have always considered it to apply to myself as well. I know I still have a lot to learn.  I don't for a moment believe I know everything. My training, from my father up through the Rangers is wide and varied.  And yes, for where I come from, I am considered advanced, but I am not a master.  But by working with you, Jade, Ari, Lance and the Master of Arms, I look to better myself. Seek out new skills." just as with his apology it is sincere, honest with no hint of arrogance.

*Smiles* as he address the question of his dancing. "Remember, my mother wanted me raised for court life.  So from age 5 to 12, I was trained by her and the various tutors in the way of the Court, granted most of it was the Fae courts.  But my mother always said, "If you can survive the Fae, Amber should be not problem", so I had already had some of the basics of dancing so I could impress the Fae.  Thus in the beginning, I was quite good, by comparison.  So my partner and I did well." *chuckles* "But very quickly Keriyn and her partner Raya, surpassed us all. Those two were so in sync and their teamwork, was art in motion.  They knew exactly where the other was going to be.  They were the only ones able to complete a whole 4 dance routine blindfolded." he looks over at Ballad a hint of a blush on his face at the memory and respect for the two women's abilities.  "My partner and I were able to get through two of the 4 successfully.  Kosol and Alexanian, were close with 3. Several were 2 and a half and several ones.  So I ended up in the middle.  We were just never able to fully sync with my partner." *grins* "Not what you were expecting?"

*chuckles* "You are right, Jade would love the idea. I will have to ask her" he gets a far away look for moment. "I wonder who I would sync better with, Jade, you, or Ari?" he says softly.

She shrugs, insouciant, when he says not what you were expecting? His grin finds an echo in the suggestion of warmth in her eyes, a slight quirk of her lips, although she looks forward more often than she looks at her riding companion just now. Still, there's grace here: Ballad listens to his Faewyld dance story with a particular knack she has, of lively interest.

“They sound very formal, very reliant on structure, your Faewylds dances. I'm imagining the body's equivalent of an oral history."

Then, after Jon's far off look, "You already know how well you’ll ‘sync’ with Lance?” Ballad says, with an inquisitive look.

*nods* "The formal ones do.  Some of the ones outside of the courts are a lot more fun." thinks for a moment "You may not be wrong. on that.  There is a lot of trust that needs to exist in the formal dancing.  Because you and your partner need to be in sync or you miss catching them or they miss a beat and you collide." *chuckles* "As for Lance, I don't know.  For ranger training, my partner was a male, George Cypher and we did well.  But, there was never a complete sync.  Keriyn and Raya, an all female team and Kosol and Alexanian, an all male team.  Those pairs were amazing to watch.  The fluidity of their movements, the timing. And the faith they had in each other." *smiles wistfully* "I've never shared anything like that with someone." pauses "But, back to Lance, I don't know.  I get a feeling that he and I wouldn't be able to sync up...not sure he'd even want to try." *grins* "But I do look forward to seeing you dance." there is a sparkle in his eyes and a sincerity to his voice. "I bet it will be a sight to behold" he teases gently.

Ballad's eyebrows draw together briefly when Jon says he doesn't think Lance would want to try to sync up, but there's no space for her to speak to that. Conversation's a river. So: I bet it will be a sight to behold.

“Oh, sure,” Ballad says, with a casually gracious wave of one hand. Here’s laughter contained again, just a bright undernote: “But do you look forward to seeing me dance or to dancing with me?”

"Why both of course." *smiles mischievously* "It would be great to spin you around the dance floor, with light and laugher in your eyes, grin on your face as we move to the music, to send you soaring then catch you." *smiles witfully* "But also, to watch you dance solo or with a partner of equal grace, I think that could be captivating to watch." he is then sheepish and blushes slightly.

To himself he thinks "Who wouldn't want to watch a beautiful women dance, lost to the music, free..."

“I don’t know whether that will be true,” Ballad says, suddenly grave. “But, look, Jon-o, I’ll show you something good, something better than a dance — me, beating you, first back to the stables! Race!”

Ballad's no fair. Spurred Moonlight on to a canter then a full gallop to the stables, so the challenge is backed by percussion, Moonlight's hooves a-drumming against the sward...

Stunned for a few seconds, the then laughs heartily and spurs Sable into a gallop.  He leans low over Sable's neck to reduce drag. he whispers to the hose "Sable, I trust, you, thank you.  Now is the time to go home.  Go home as fast as you want and can." he then gives Sable free reign.

ooc: I have no pref. Whatever the GM wants.

Sable closes the gap to Moonlight, they are almost neck and neck now, the scenery flying by in a blur.  Jon has a big grin on his face and the joy touches his eyes as he races after Ballad.

(I'm gonna say, each of you roll 2d6 plus your DEX modifier, please...)

ooc: Boop;! Darn it, Moonlight...

12:45, Today: Ballad rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,3.  Dex. Good horse... right? Beat that Sable! I'm not afraid of horses..

OOC: Nope you win :) 12:48, Today: Jon rolled 5 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 2,2.  Allowing Sable run free (Dex).

Jon is still grinning as Sable and moonlight become neck and neck.

Moonlight really gets into the competitive spirit once the other horse comes close, really wants to run, is perhaps a trifle high-strung. Ballad thinks why, that, looks like a nice short-cut, off the path just there — and so she and Moonlight veer.

What’s that? A low wall! The silvery horse and its rider in black and green and silver leap o’er it, then cut across a fallow field, and here’s a narrow path and pebbles go flying and here’s ack a flower-snarled thorny arbor which Moonlight cuts right through. Ballad protects her eyes with one hand, but gets a few scratches and snarls.

The path opens up and... There. The castle.

And some innocent citizens trying to move a pane of glass!? (Okay, probably not that. They're trying to move... a long box of something, and they're square in the way.)

Moonlight rears up, turns on her hind hooves, slams back down having thankfully hurt nobody but certainly caused Ballad's adrenaline to spike heart in her mouth and control, control, barely gets Moonlight back under control but 'barely' counts and away and --

a win! By a hair.

A moment later, Jon reigns in Sable laughing, genuinely laughing like someone who truly just enjoyed himself.  *smiles* "Unfair, of you Princess Ballad." he teases and there is nothing but mirth in his tone. "But well run." *grins*  He hops off Sable and gives her nice petting "Good girl, you were a wonderful companion.  I hope we can ride together again." he loosens the cinch and starts to walk her around to cool before heading to the stables, as he does so he is looking for a stable hand to show him were she belongs. He calls out to Ballad, "Do you want to help me take care of them before we leave?  It seems only fair, they were both excellent companions." he looks downs and whispers "better than me." he says to himself.

Unfair of you, Princess Ballad. Ballad looks unrepentent. “And yet I think I do not regret it.”

Ballad summons a stablehand and gives them direction for Moonlight’s care and keeping. She intends to ride Moonlight down to the city later and so makes arrangements to that end. She is, in fact, giving Moonlight a final pet before the stablehand leads the mare off for some TLC when Jon asks if she wants to help him take care of them before they leave. “What was that last thing? I didn’t catch it.”

*smiles* "Just if you wanted to take care of the horses." *nods* "But I see you are leaving it in the care of experts." indicating the stable hands and will follow suite. One last pet "Right, we still need to head into the city." like it has slipped his mind. He asks that Sable be pampered but ready to ride later.

He smiles at Ballad, bits of the joy of the race are still twinkling in his eyes. "So, what is next on the agenda?  Checking on Lance?" the question is casual and more like reviewing something from a mental checklist than anything else. "Hmmm, how far is it to the city from here?"

“I like an expert,” she says, with this bright little curl of a smile. She seems a touch thoughtful, but also in high spirits. Her eyes are very blue. The scratch on the back of her hand, when she reaches up to pull a twig out of her braid-mohawk, accentuates their blue in fact; red heightens that color. The scratch’ll be gone soon enough!

“And, mm. I’ve a quick note to write first, so if you wanted to, there is time to visit Lance before I do. That is...” and here, Ballad means to begin heading back to the castle. A sidelong sluice of a look for Jon. “If you’re not going to immediately hie down to the city to protect our lady friends, and their many body guards.” She does tell him about how long it takes to get to the city, too. Her player doesn't remember but she would.

*smiles* "I didn't realize it was that far.  I guess I should've after our ride, but..." *shrugs* and then looks thoughtful "I should probably head into town.  I do try to keep my word, sometimes timing isn't right.  But I did promise to protect her..." he is torn. Because he is questioning the reason behind the promise and if it would do more harm than good to fulfill it.  And what would that say about his word and his honor?  If he doesn't good.  The seriousness of his thinking is evident on his face.

He thinks to himself "I really don't have any honor left.  If I had any to begin with here.  What is the right thing to do?  And the one that won't insult another family member?  Especially Jade."

He then looks at Ballad before she disappears "What would you suggest?" he asks her honestly if slightly conflicted.

Ballad (slightly) cants her head to the side. She’s a graceful pause, poised mid-motion to pay Jon attention. When he asks her opinion, she takes a second to think about it. “Umm. Hmm. Were I you? Why, I’d go on and explore the city with Jade and Ariadne and feast myself on company and know I was a good friend. Have you explored the city yet — at all? When you get there, tell them I’ll be along shortly.”

So she starts up the stairs (let’s say there are stairs) or she strides across the courtyard (let’s say there’s a courtyard), but turns around after a few steps, brightly, “Thanks for your company, Jon-o!” A deep bow, a wink as she rises, earnest hand over her heart, all sweeping energy, "And for the victory! An especial surprise pleasure. Perhaps next time fortune will favor you!"

And so, sparkle-eyed, will she away with a final wave, 'lest Jon calls her back.

*smiles* "Thank you." *chuckles* "Next time, indeed. Princess Ballad" gives her a formal bow.  He then heads to the stable and see if they feel that Sable is up for a little bit or if not, get another horse. Sable makes up everyone's mind, by coming over to Jon. *smiles" and gives her a pet. "Alright girl." he nods tot he stable hand. "Thank you.  Seems she wants some more time outdoors.  So I'll take her." he retightens the cinch and climbs into the saddle. Verifies the correct direction and heads off at a nice easy pace.

Jon sees the Carriage on the way back and stops.  Sees that only Odile and the girls' initial shopping efforts are inside.  "Thanks Odile for the information.  Jade said she would be coming in a bit, since the carriage will need to make a return trip.  Please check with Lance before you return. This morning he was still pretty hurt and I'm concerned that riding a horse would aggravate his wounds." gives the young maid a smile and a wave to the driver and heads off to Bloody Mary's.

  Lance walks to the city, alone, lost in thought.  His stride is not jaunty, nor does it have purpose except that Ballad wishes him to show up at this Bloody Mary's.  Bloody Hell, more like it.  He would go and try to put on the air of being happy and joyful, and he knew he'd be lying by doing so.  He wasn't good at lying, not even a little bit.

  His cousins would all be there.

  Jade, daughter of Fiona, sorceress.  She was pretty, and bubbly and nice.  She knew more about Amber and it's surroundings and it's ways than Lance ever would.  She rather intimidated Lance, partly due to her ability to use magic, partly because of whom her mother was.  Flora had said that the three redheads had been an issue during the family wars in the past, and were not entirely trustworthy.  Fiona, Bleys, and Brand.  Was it possible that their mischief was not yet managed?  Especially so with Brand's son, who was king of a Golden Circle kingdom with a known assassination of his own uncle and friends with a disenfranchised uncle Dalt running about unchecked, unrepentant, and having a bone to pick with Amber.  Yes, Jade's connections frightened him, as did her abilities.

  Ariadne, whom Lance had much in common with, yet not.  Both from earth, both seemingly out of their element, both having worked their way into the background of Hollywood.  She seemed a bit more world-weary than Lance.  Tough chick.  Lance wasn't particularly tough, and didn't like to fight, yet he could see that his cousin was almost always itching for a fight.

  Ballad.  Enough said on this already. <i>Ballad, as you wish.</i>

  Jon, son of a king, all boo-yah and pep-talk and teamwork. clearly better built than Lance, chiseled chin.  Experienced and knowledgeable beyond where Lance would ever be.  Always had the right thing to say, Mr. Fucking Perfect.  Ballad clearly favored him, and he her, but who could blame either?  The heart does what it wants.  Ow, there he goes poking at that wound again.

  The next eternity was going to be a living hell.