[dead] or ALIVE

[Roxilicious]

A tall man took steps of grandeur as he perused the white gold city of Consilium. He walked among the main streets, passing countless elves, short and tall, as well as a few people of the human races. There were a small number of the bestial races walking among the safety of Asteria, too, and they were usually hooded and alone or sticking together with fear in their eyes. It was dangerous to live so close to the only kingdom that permitted slavery. Ezra snorted to himself through his nose and it came out sounding like hmph.

They probably just escaped from their masters, he thought to himself. Living in the fear of being recaptured by a marshal and his trusty bloodhound. Don't they know they're only safe in their home kingdom? And not even there really...

The drunken man took a swig of his mead and continued on his merry way back to his looming estate at the eastern wing of the city. He felt bubbly and happy as everything swayed. Every passing lady smelled of fine perfumes, only to increase his elation. The day couldn't have been better.

Well, if it weren't for the piece of paper he came face to face with when he looked to his left.

There, hung on the wall just outside a potion shop, was a wanted poster. It had a poor drawing of a man with strong facial features, blond hair, and blue eyes. He was drawn with a cocky smile on his face. The poster read:

Ezra Cardinal's face contorted with snide discontent. His own son? First, he moves out and finds a place of his own in Verfall, and next, he's mocking his own king? He's a shame to the Cardinal name!The father spit on the ground with distaste, his saliva having the slight coloration of his mead. He ripped the poster down and immediately continued on his way back to his manor, refusing to waste any time between now and showing this to his wife, Rose. One twin making a fool out of the Cardinals just wasn't enough, was it? Now Seth had to go and ruin the name, too? Blasphemy, utter blasphemy!

The polnoc burst through the ornate, huge, wooden doors of his massive home. It made a loud, startling noise, though that couldn't compare to his voice as he screamed, "Rooose! I needdo speak wi' you immeeyiately!" His words were just barely coherent and very slurred, but his voice retained its deep, booming, authoritative character.

Meanwhile, Daniel and Bridgette were in their rooms. The loud noise of their father opening the door with bitter frustration startled them and struck fear in them both, and his intense shouting made Bridgette leave her room and enter Daniel's, but it was his slurred, drunken speech combined with the anger in his voice that made them both quake with fright.

[Holly]

Long, elegant arms wrapped around the Cardinal's waist from the back as a chin rested on his left shoulder. "There's no need to be so loud, Ezra," She mumbled into his neck as she turned her head. The high elf stopped her actions when she realized what her husband was holding. She scanned the wanted poster over quickly, not moving from her spot until she had read all she could read of it.

Slipping out of the grip, she snatched the paper cleanly out of his hand and walked over to the luxirious couch to glance over it a final time. She frowned lightly. This would not do.

"The wanted poster maker obviously needs better artistry skills. This picture," She jabbed her finger into "Seth's" cheek, "Simply does not do the Cardinal name justice." She dropped the paper on the ground and brought her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. "And Seth was the better looking of the twins too..." Obviously, she was not caring about what Seth had done. They were Cardinals for crying out loud! They could do whatever they wanted to!