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Post by Jenny on Nov 3, 2023 20:55:30 GMT -5
She laughed in good mirth at his showboating, shaking her head and letting out a sigh. She took her place, where he had instructed her to stand, and drew her blade as soon as he did... or so she thought.. because suddenly, he had grabbed her. She yelped and lost a hold of her rapier and it dropped to the ground.
"You are certainly quick! I had scarcely moved before you were upon me. I will remember this lesson."
A bit shaky at the startle, when he let her go to take his place again, she bent and picked up her rapier. She had blushed a full crimson, clearly embarassed.
"I am afraid this is not a good start for me."
She took in and out a breath and tried her best to make ready once again.
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Post by Joe on Nov 4, 2023 9:32:18 GMT -5
Cartel gave her a soft smile. "Nonsense. Eyan did the same thing to me."
He dropped his sword arm into a position to prepare a thrust.
"Now, to deflect a thrust you want to get your weapon on the inside of the blade and twist away." Cartel slowly thrust his blade forward and showed her how to twist and push the blade to the side.
"Very good." He increased the pace and allowed her several attempts to deflect before flipping his sword over and resting it on his palm.
"However, the rapier does not have the weight to parry a direct stroke, so you must be quick on your feet." Cartel raised his sword again and prepared to slash. Repeating several times to let her get a sense of how to move.
"Now, the strength of the rapier: it's reach. Hold it like so." He said, directing her to hold it out straight. Stepping until the point of the ancient sword was poking his chest, he showed how his own weapon wouldn't reach her.
"Couple this reach with quick dodges, and you'll find many an opening to poke your enemy full of holes! Now, ready yourself!"
Cartel smiled and took a ready position, slashing this way and that, showing how she could couple a side-step with a thrust and a back step with a guard.
"The key to rapier is precision. You can't pierce armor, but your point is fine enough to slip into even the smallest weakness."
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Post by Jenny on Nov 4, 2023 9:50:51 GMT -5
She nodded, and her eyes darted from movement to movement, trying her best to act with care and precision. She got a good feel for deflection, but used utmost care as she excecuted her thrusts and due diligence in order to block. She knew he was slowing his movements considerably for her sake, and though she had that in the back of her mind, she would not count herself out.
She bit her lip as she did her very best one time after another, until her breath was quick and heavy. She lowered her rapier. "I think it's time for a rest. I haven't yet endurance, same as you have."
Serena sheathed her rapier, quite insistant. "Besides, I will hold these lessons to memory. We can practice again upon the dawn before we return to Duskwell. I'll have the servants make the arrangement, if that is agreeable?"
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Post by Joe on Nov 4, 2023 10:12:15 GMT -5
Cartel felt glad to see her so do so admirably, though he seemed a little disappointed when she put her sword away. He chuckled.
"Certainly, as you wish, my lady." He tapped his sword on the ground then seamlessly sheathed it.
Stepping in front of her, he smiled at her now slightly disheveled hair and the small beads of sweat dotting her skin. He reached up and pushed a bit of hair behind her ears.
"I never asked. Have you ever... killed someone? Do you think you could?"
---
The Hallowed King paced along the red carpet that lie in front of his throne. "'Tis most ill news you bring."
A courier was breathless, on his knees before the king and flanked by several imperial guards.
"The Inviolate Era ended by a rabble, a cult." The king shook his head. Their religion's promised era of peace had disintegrated with the re-emergence of the Golden Kingdoms, and much of the church's legitimacy with it. "And now this rebellion."
A man in a heavenly embroidered robe stood near the king, holding a great tome in which he made occasional scribbles. "We've seen many reports of people flocking to the west, even from our own territories, your eminence."
The king quickly stepped to the man and struck the book from his hands. "Perhaps you'll join them and rid me of your stupidity! This knowledge already plagues me."
The clerk stood there, bowing his head. As the king turned his back, he retrieved his book.
The king spoke again. "Though these upstarts are a thorn in our side, the rebellion is where we will focus our efforts. Stability within our own borders must be maintained."
"As you wish, my lord." The clerk noted something then hissed at the courier, sending him away.
When the shining halls of the throne room were empty, the clerk cleared his throat. "Our agent among them seems to still be undetected. Shall we give orders?"
The Hallowed King smiled.
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Post by Jenny on Nov 4, 2023 10:23:35 GMT -5
Her eyes widened at the mere thought of it. "M-me? Kill someone?" She lowered her eyes. "No, I have not. And I hope that day never comes. Perhaps... there would be another means of stopping someone that might kill me?" She looked at him quickly. "Disarm and disable, rather than outright kill?"
A dread filled her, for she knew it was naive of her to think that she would be so lucky as to stop someone that would mean to murder her, and those she loved, by some sort of maiming alone. She had not the swiftness of body, nor skill of expeirence on her side.
"I... just. I hope I can rise to the challenge when only in dire need. Something inside me would die for every life I would take..."
Serena was taken aback by her own words. She blinked, and her face looked distraught and very worried. "How fare you, in this matter?"
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Post by Joe on Nov 4, 2023 10:31:34 GMT -5
Cartel nodded, "I understand the inclination. It's not so easy to do."
He sighed, sad the question had turned around on him. He would be honest.
"I'm afraid I have killed many. In defense. In service of The Outlander. In service of the Kingdoms. To protect." He gazed at the ground. "Not all of them am I proud, but when it comes to defending yourself and others, a felling blow is the surest way to stop an attack. Would that there were an alternative of the same strength."
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Post by Jenny on Nov 4, 2023 10:54:22 GMT -5
She nodded slowly as he spoke about that darker side of his past. She raised her hand and placed it on his arm, soothingly.
"If only all of us may remain blameless for all our lives. You had your reasons. In time, I will have mine." She smiled, but her eyes were reflective and sorrowful.
"Do you think I can manage to even deal a felling blow? Have I even the strength?"
She blinked and furrowed her brow. "Not simply strength of will... of that, I am sure I can muster. It is simply, the..." she winced, "piercing." She shuddered at the thought of drawing the life blood from another, to see them die by her hand.
"Does it ever get any easier? Seeing so much death, both by and against your hands?" She looked helplessly hopeful, in her own way. But there was still a great sadness.
"For anyone to have suffered such loss... the thought is nearly unbearable." She trailed off in a whisper.
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Post by Joe on Nov 4, 2023 12:54:31 GMT -5
"I wish I could say it got harder, but nay, every terrible thing you do makes the next one that much easier. There are some I regret, but most were needed." He nodded, assuring himself. "Not everyone is worth saving. I believe you will find the strength when the time comes, when the need is clear."
Violence is a crucible for change, wielded by the just and unjust alike. He dare not speak this out loud, for fear of further harming his love's fragile spirit.
"Come. Let us rest." Cartel held out his arm to escort her to the sitting room.
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Post by Jenny on Nov 4, 2023 12:58:08 GMT -5
"Not everyone is worth saving..." she repeated, looking thoughtful, and even further saddened. That thought pained her, for it went against everything she, herself, had learned from childhood. She snapped out of it when he offered out his arm to escort her. She smiled, and took it.
They walked together to retire, and she sat, her body full exhausted, but her mind still sharp, on a settee.
"It will not be ere long before I begin sketching out those sigils anew. But... you have not eaten yet. Shall I ask the servants to bring something for supper?"
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Post by Joe on Nov 6, 2023 17:15:24 GMT -5
"Perhaps we can learn more by your sketching. Mayhap the sigils themselves possess some power, or the power to call it forth." Cartel seemed lost in thought for a moment. His imagination leapt to a scene of Serena sketching and suddenly exploding in a cloud of magick.
"Just um... use caution, my love. We don't exactly know what we're dealing with."
Her mention of food made his stomach suddenly rumble.
"Yes, I'm quite starving actually." He chuckled and began to smile as they approached the manor.
---
"Your name is..."
"Carme Agnesa."
The young woman stood at attention in front of Eyan, her demeanor completely stoic. She was outfitted in full armor, having removed her helmet to speak.
"Right, and you wish to-"
"Squire for Lord Holland, the consort and Lord Protector."
Eyan grunted, his patience waning in the face of the girl's interruptions. "The Lord Protector did not send for you, no?"
"My leige, Lord Blackwell, sent me as a token of friendship between our two realms."
"I should hope so, my lady. Lord Blackwell has already pledged his fealty to the empress."
Carme's face betrayed no emotion as she waited patiently for Eyan's true response to her request.
Eyan sighed and handed Carme's contract to a nearby clerk, who turned down the hall from the throne room and disappeared.
"Very well. The Lord Protector could certainly use a squire. I shall find you some quarters to await his return."
Carme's heart swelled with joy, though she did not show it. She bowed deeply and spoke, "Thank you, my lord. It shall be my great happiness to serve his lordship."
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Post by Jenny on Nov 6, 2023 19:18:47 GMT -5
Serena nodded, thinking upon the shimmering sigil. "I'll not use all haste, I will be careful, I can promise you. I have simply drawn a single sigil, there is no telling what they might do once every piece is complete as a whole. She cracked a brilliant smile as he laughed. He had brightened up considerably after they had practiced swordplay, and she wondered if he had felt idle here.
"Very well, I'll give orders straightaway. What might you wish to eat? I heard the servants tell one another than a wild boar had been taken down just this afternoon. Perhaps you'd like them to serve up a side?"
After they had cleared their plates, she slipped away to carefully copy the sigils out, one to a parchment, nearly a dozen times until she was satisfied there was enough of equal portions of each, and set them aside. She undressed when she was too fatigued to start another round, for they had already made arrangements while awaiting supper to be delivered, to leave for the castle the following morning.
She was yawning for far too long after they had rose, and dressed into a traveling outfit, comfortable but finely tailored in a fashionable style, as she had been assured. She was not in the least worried about failing to dress in the latest rage of society, but knew she should respect those that chose her wardrobe for her. So she wore what was recommended without any complaint.
After a fair amount on the road, she began to feel a pit of anxiety start to rise. Within the day, she would be back having to stress about an entire kingdom. Cartel had it worse than she, of course, but she had her own amount of matters to attend to. The complexity of some affairs tried her patience, as she was not yet all that experienced in running both a household and some matters of state. She would turn to those she trusted for matters of importance, of course, but only to a certain measure. Still, she found ease in her company from day to day and felt fortunate that she had so many to help her at any moment.
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Post by Joe on Nov 6, 2023 20:19:14 GMT -5
Carme had spent the evening in her quarters exercising, with a few hours down at the training yard. The men and women of the imperial guard were most skilled, and she had learned a thing or two observing them. The waiting continued to frustrate her. Many were the enemies of the Golden Kingdoms, and every second she spent away from her master was another second the forces against them could be planning to strike.
Carme was never one to wait for her desires. So it had been that she stole into Eyan's quarters the next morning while he was out. She found the letter he had been preparing to present her to the Lord Protector as his squire. Snatching it, she took her horse and rode out to find her charge.
---
"Halt!" The shouts of the guardsmen ahead of him jolted Cartel out of his mid-morning stupor.
"You stand before the imperial guard!"
Two of the guardsmen had already dismounted and were holding another person at spear-point.
"Be at ease, I am a friend."
Cartel was surprised to hear a woman's voice as he rode up near the commotion.
The rider held out a scroll, which one of the guardsmen took and began to read carefully. As he finished, the guardsmen stole a glance back towards Cartel.
"My lord, you may wish to read this."
Cartel dismounted and took the scroll, reading over it.
"A squire? I never-"
"A man of your status has these things taken care of." The woman interrupted. "I am Carme Agnesa of Imarine."
Carme dismounted and removed her helmet before finally kneeling, planting her sword in the ground. "I, Carme Agnesa, before the eyes of this noble assembly, do solemnly swear and pledge my sword, my strength, and my service to you, Lord Holland, my mentor and protector. With this oath, I bind myself to the virtues of courage, honesty, and fidelity, to stand by your side in battle and in peace."
Cartel stood somewhat dumbfounded, still holding the unfurled scroll in front of him. Clearing his throat, he collapsed the scroll and bade Carme to rise.
"I uh... I accept your pledge, Carme. Please, join the empress and I on the road."
A hint of a smile curled Carme's lips as she rose and mounted her horse, bringing back in line with the others. As the procession began its march again, Cartel rode back to Serena, Carme just behind him.
Cartel muttered to Serena as he returned. "I trust you heard all that?"
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Post by Jenny on Nov 6, 2023 20:27:50 GMT -5
"I... heard a fair amount. I... what is your name, if I might have the pleasure?" She looked a bit abashed that a rider would seek her out, as there was no official business between them. Well, other than her swearing fealty to him. It was no slight, she just was surprised at the untowardness. "My name is Serena Belmont. Lord Cartel is my husband. But I'm sure, that's why you came to me." She managed a smile, for the woman did not seem to unravel her nerves, as they were.
She glanced at Cartel, who had already started off with the others. She edged her horse foward, in turn. She looked curious, as she wondered if this were the first time in his brief time of them being.. well, the head of an entire kindgom, anyone besides the royal guard themselves, had sworn fealty to him. Her brow furrowed a few moments, then smoothed, and she turned her attention on her new ally.
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Post by Joe on Nov 6, 2023 20:34:33 GMT -5
"You may call me Carme, your radiance." The squire said, bowing her head reverently. "Yes, I am quite aware of who you are, my lady. Long have the people of this land awaited your return, and I include myself among them, as does my former liege, Lord Blackwell."
Cartel smiled as he watched them speak, leaning close to Serena. "I imagine this is Eyan's doing. Old man is always keeping busy."
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Post by Jenny on Nov 6, 2023 20:44:20 GMT -5
"Lord Blackwell? Oh..." she blinked a bit, and frowned slighty. "I see, so was it he that sent you here?" She shook herself after a few moments and resumed a smile, trying to be pleasant, despite the revival of her expereinces with the Lord Blackwell."
She glanced at Cartel and frowned again just slightly. "Do you think he would send for a squire, truly? Is he not journeying with us to Dire's End?"
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