Vhalar 2, Arc 721
Natalia enjoyed people-watching, and wandering the streets of Scalvoris Town was a fantastic opportunity to do so. So many different personalities pressed together in one place. It was like a one-stop training prospect, where she could try to figure people and situations out. It was something she had done since she was a child and there was a fair amount of nostalgia attached to it since Mattaes Gregorios was the one that introduced and encouraged her in the practice, citing her need to learn how to read people.
As she walked, she saw all different types of people. In truth, perhaps she was a little too focused because what Natalia didn’t realize is she herself was being watched from afar. The man wasn’t in a hurry to catch up with her though. He had been watching for several trials, off and on, and was relatively sure of her habits. The young woman he watched wasn’t going anywhere, and thusly, he could take his time and see what she up to.
***
‘What she was up to’ lasted most of the afternoon, and once Natalia was tired, she decided it was time to retire for the evening. Turning for home, her stride pace picked up – a sure indication to the man that he needed to make his move soon.
Soon enough, they were rounding the corner to her home, and he closed the distance between the two. The timing had to be right or there would be a lot of trouble he didn’t want or need. Of course, a lot depended on his target as well. He had an inkling of an idea about her skills, but that information had been a bit harder to come across. Despite her family name, she had done a decent job of hiding herself from interested individuals. Well, at least until Saoire’s Feast. Being in the company of such notable persons had gained her some eyes, but it wasn’t until that business in Yaralon that rumors truly began circulating. It had only been a matter of time after that before he figured out where she was. Natalia wasn’t invisible anymore – that protection was gone. As such, it was time. Checking the street quickly as he waited just a beat, he needed to make sure no one saw him.
Stepping up to her house, the young woman reached for the doorknob, pushing the door open just a bit. As soon as the door broke free from the frame, pushing Natalia harshly into her house and kicking the door closed behind him.
Natalia whirled upon realizing what had happened, and only her quick thinking allowed her to get one – and only one – attack in. She wasn't a novice to altercations anymore and as such, she kept herself moving. Smashing her foot into his, she quickly drew out her dagger, only to find herself twirled and pushed against the door, disarmed and her own weapon pressed against her throat.
Golden eyes narrowed as she finally got a good look at her attacker, going wide as she realized who it was. “Grayson?!? What the beneath?!?!” The man gave her a smirk, pulling the dagger away from her neck. “Lesson one, little cousin – if you are only getting one shot, make it count. That should have been a groin kick. Tap dancing on my foot wasn’t going to do anything when you weigh as much as a feather. and have little to no strength.” Twirling the dagger in his hand, he offered it back to her, handle first. "Lesson two, footwork is the foundation of appropriate bladework, not the blade itself."
Pushing him away from her, grabbing the dagger, and moving from the door prompted the man to chuckle a bit. "My, my, testy little thing you are. I come in peace, Natalia." Turning on him, she considered the man before her. She had been twelve or thirteen arcs when he had left the Whitehalls, abruptly and without ceremony. It had been a bit of a mystery really but the whole affair had been twelve arcs prior, and she hadn't heard of him since. "What are you doing here, Gray? I'm not a part of the family anymore." Arching his eyebrow a bit. he gave her a bit of a nod. "Precisely, and thus, why I'm here."
Flopping down in the nearest chair he could, Grayson glanced up at her, waving his hand to the other chair dramatically. "You might as well have a seat. This is going to take some time." Unfastening her cloak, Natalia kept her eye on him while lowering into the chair, speaking sternly. "Fine. You have my attention. What do you want?" Shaking his head a bit, he spoke, beginning to lay the story out for her, piece by piece. "Natalia Olivia Gregoris, daughter of Stephan and Olivia Gregoris....but not really, are you? Oddly enough, Mattaes knew something about your parentage, but he never confided in me. I've heard a few rumors running amok about something said at Saoire's little party, but nothing concrete. No matter - I have my own theories. Perhaps Olivia's looks but everything else about you, that came from someplace else."
Grinning at her, a speck of the boyish charm she remembered from their youth. "We can speculate on that another time, although if I were a betting man, and I am, I would guess you know the truth already." Clapping the side of the chair, he pushed himself up and looked at her, hands steepled." You left the family because of an unfortunate situation. A situation that has been neutralized for the time being so you need not worry about things that go bump in the night." Up to that point, Natalia had remained silent and passive, curious to know how Grayson knew so much about her. Her innate inquisitiveness was tickled, and as such, she spoke in a level, even manner. "And what would you know about that? You left twelve arcs ago."
Nodding, he replied. "True, gone but not out of the loop, so to speak. I corresponded with Mattaes frequently and I still have others in the inner circle that fed me information. There's much you need to learn about the Gregorios and Whitehall families, but that is neither here nor there at the moment. Shall I continue?" Taking her silence as permission, Grayson forged ahead. "Anyways, that situation won't bother you until such a time as you can deal with it yourself. We can discuss that later. The reason I'm here, is Mattaes. Your grandfather was a good man, and he knew the future being planned for you wasn't sunshine, rainbows, and puppies. No matter how it played out, you were dealt an awful hand and would have a lot to overcome, with steep challenges and dangerous circumstances."
The young woman had been listening carefully to everything he said, but right then, Natalia felt the need to interrupt. "I left the family. What more can possibly happen?" Shaking his head, Grayson chuckled again, seemingly amused. "Oh dear. Poor little naive Natalia. Don't you get it? Unless you did everything your family wished you to do, following their step-by-step plan for the perfect, obedient daughter, you were a danger to them. The moment you broke from them, you became a target. Not only for members of the family but enemies of it as well. And guess what sweetheart? You aren't exactly making it difficult for them to find you, are you?" Rising quickly, he began pacing the room before she could speak.
"Let's see. Galavanting around Egilrun with someone that quite possibly might be the next Egg. Attending Saoire's party with some very well-known people in government and otherwise. My favorite? Dragons. Dragons in Yaralon. Those are completely low-profile." Shooting her an exasperated look, he stopped in front of her for a moment, prompting her to look up, arching an eyebrow at him but not saying anything. "Natalia, you need to learn faster. That's why I'm here. I can help you learn how to protect yourself. Weapons and otherwise. You were born into a family with very few scruples, and it's time you adopt a few of those traits and get smarter about who you are. The rumors are flying fast and furious about you - your reputation is growing. The option to hide is gone." Lowering to a squatting position in front of her, he grinned mischievously. " Nothing's happened that we can't fix, but we need to move quickly. I think, out of an abundance of caution, you need to move to a more low-key area if you agree to let me help you, but that's your decision."
Rising, he took a letter out of his inner jacket pocket and handed it to her. "Mattaes' final letter to me. Read it." Glancing up, the young woman took the letter from him. "Leave. Come back tomorrow. I need time to think." Nodding, Grayson moved to leave, reaching out to ruffle her hair, like he had when they were children. Swatting his hand away, she watched as his closed the door, leaving her alone with her thoughts and the letter.
Well, that had been interesting.
