39th of Ash, Year 118
It had been an interesting last few days in the estate of Lord Valran Renfier de Neime, Halamire-Knight, vassal-soldier of Lady Lieril Lorraine of Ciseperant... titles, titles and more. Taelian had quickly gotten tired of the modicum of court politics that he had been invited to behold, failing to realize just how far removed Renfier was from it all. The true depths of Daravin's Candor were absurdly ornate and complex, and little justice was done by looking to them from the perspective of a Valran's peasant guest.
Still - of course - Taelian was not amused. He had been referred to as Renfier's paramour several times, and had been forced to dress so modestly as to not expose a single wrinkle of skin. He was starting to feel that while by law Renfier had no power over him, he was de facto becoming Taelian's... retainer. Or something of the like.
He didn't like it, obviously. The Elf had not been designed for such domestic displays; he did not have any feelings for Renfier save for vague connotations of friendship, and yet the two of them had been forced - constantly - into public spectacle.
Liam had started to soften up to Taelian, particularly after Renfier admitted his love for the younger Elf. The two had spent much of their time together after that, enamored with the romantic energy of what was like a fresh flame.
It was, well enough, time for Taelian to leave. He had served his purpose here -- he had done for himself what needed to be done, to equip him for the next part of his journey. He needed to endeavor towards Arlain, the de facto capital of Daravin's south, and the old homeland of the Ald'norai. Renfier could not take him any further; he was enamored with the subtleties of his own life, and was more interested in Taelian for what he hoped the Siltori might offer than for the core of who he was.
It had been an entertaining dalliance, the time spent here. He couldn't say he hadn't enjoyed certain parts of his time. Liam's sudden deescalating coldness towards him had been a significant boon, the two speaking of their upbringings, though he learned the other man had never been to Sil-Elaine. It explained a lot; the separate worlds which they walked through, one seeped in trauma and loss and one in glamour and decadence. Liam was like the Siltori likely were before; before everything had been stripped of them. He still carried the natural wealth, the diadem, of a Lord Elf.
But it was time to go. Taelian quickly gathered his belongings in the morning, leaving behind Renfier's generous offerings of clothes. He wanted nothing owed to the man, for as kind as he was the Elf still felt somewhat guarded to the aspirations of the Valran. As a result, though he was helped in washing his attire by the Lady Leliana, he would leave essentially exactly as he originally came.
