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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 7, 2015 16:20:10 GMT
Here is where the encampment belonging to Commander Galen lies/
Time skip-- say a few days
Zay brought his horse to a stop, just on the outskirts of the knight's camp. He looked to the west and spotted the wall, his expression hardening just a little. He knew the legion was just a few km on the other side of that wall, and his grip on the reins tightened.
His icy gaze traveled back to the camp and he pulled his hood down, Rizuin at his hip and his bow on his back, and quietly he clicked his tongue and the horse started forward again. He looked from face to face he saw, looking for the commander. On the outside, he was composed, but inside he was beyond unsure. Would his plan really work, and would he really be accepted? This was the first he had ever heard of a rogue turned knight, or he would just remain a rogue and act as a scout. The future was blurred at the moment.
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Post by Avery on Jul 7, 2015 22:31:50 GMT
Looking over the board in his tent, his gaze flicks to the entrance when he hears hoofbeats, yelling, then silence, he pushes back in his chair and stands. Exiting, he straightens, eyes automatically finding the mare and the man sitting atop it before his soldiers swarm them, swords drawn. Brow ticking, he sighs inwardly then steps forward, holding up a hand, cloak trailing the ground behind him as he walks through a break in the circle "Hold men." he murmurs, getting close enough to see the man's features, eyes on his "Who sent you."
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 7, 2015 22:46:15 GMT
As the men gathered, Zay remained relaxed, the only tension being his hands and arms as he drew the mare to a stop and held her still, eyes searching the crowd in silence.
"Hold men."
His gaze flicked towards the man who stepped forward, and judging by appearance, found him to be the one he was looking for. However, he didn't yet speak.
"Who sent you."
Zay took a breath, judging his words carefully. "In essence, no one," he started, dismounting and landing nimbly on his feet, holding the reins. "I've come on my own accord-- however, I came from Ilragorn and was here not long ago with the knight Avery Malyns."
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Post by Avery on Jul 7, 2015 23:01:01 GMT
"In essence, no one. I've come on my own accord-- however, I came from Ilragorn and was here not long ago with the knight Avery Malyns."
Eyes narrowing at the mans opening statement, his hand finds its way to the sword at his waist before he stops to listen to what else he has to say, slowly relaxes, arm dropping back into place "Malyns? Where is she then?" he murmurs, looking around "You have to understand, when a rogue comes up and says that, it's a bit suspicious. Did she send a letter?"
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 8, 2015 1:01:27 GMT
Malyns? Where is she then? You have to understand, when a rogue comes up and says that, it's a bit suspicious. Did she send a letter?"
He dipped his head in respect. "I understand your wariness." Hesitation. "But, no, she did not send a letter." His voice lowered as his eyes glanced towards the other faces, then settled back on the commander's gaze. "May we speak in private, m'lord?"
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Post by Avery on Jul 8, 2015 2:22:32 GMT
"I understand your wariness. But, no, she did not send a letter. May we speak in private, m'lord?"
"That's a bit problematic." he murmurs, arms crossing over his chest a moment, thinks a moment before he sighs, raising a hand, eyes closing, half smile "Come to my tent. Men, back to work." he orders, turning and heading back the way he came
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 8, 2015 3:25:37 GMT
"That's a bit problematic. Come to my tent. Men, back to work."
He nodded and followed, eyes flicking around and studying the others a moment, taking in all he can. Once at the tent, he placed the reins on the horn of the saddle and left the mare outside, knowing she wouldn't run off, and stepped inside the tent. "In response to your earlier question, Malyns remained home to care for a child, and..." He paused a moment. "...is expecting another. And regarding the lack of a letter, she cannot see to write, and it had slipped my mind to help her write one."
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Post by Avery on Jul 8, 2015 3:48:23 GMT
"In response to your earlier question, Malyns remained home to care for a child, and...is expecting another. And regarding the lack of a letter, she cannot see to write, and it had slipped my mind to help her write one."
Sitting in his chair behind the strategy table, he lifts his flask, pauses, eyes flicking to him at his words "I knew of her blindness, from her last report. But I was not told she was caring for any children, nor that she had any." he murmurs, gaze locking with his "Are they both yours?"
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 8, 2015 3:58:25 GMT
"I knew of her blindness, from her last report. But I was not told she was caring for any children, nor that she had any. Are they both yours?"
"Apologies," Zay murmured to the first statement, though at the question his jaw ticked, and the rogue in him threatened to rise and lie, but he fought it back. "In all technicalities, yes. However, the eldest was a boy I took in under my wing several years ago. His village was burnt and any known family gone with it. But yes, they're both my own, and we only found out recently about the second." He was slowly feeling a little more confident in himself, as his inner storm wasn't showing yet, and that he was thankful. He had his father's Northsmen blood to thank for that. However, he wasn't feeling too confident on how the conversation was going.
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Post by Avery on Jul 8, 2015 4:08:13 GMT
"Apologies. In all technicalities, yes. However, the eldest was a boy I took in under my wing several years ago. His village was burnt and any known family gone with it. But yes, they're both my own, and we only found out recently about the second."
Catching the look, his lips twist further down into a frown but he stays silent, hands clasped in front of him as he listens "So she didn't actually conceive until now. And we have you to thank for the one she is having." he murmurs, sighing "So why, pray tell, does that excuse her from her duties as a knight? If you've only just found out, then she can still fight, at least for a few weeks, no? Why would I, commander of an army, trade out one of my best fighters, for a rogue?"
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 8, 2015 4:22:27 GMT
"So she didn't actually conceive until now. And we have you to thank for the one she is having."
His jaw locked, though there wasn't any other sign that the remark had affected him.
"So why, pray tell, does that excuse her from her duties as a knight? If you've only just found out, then she can still fight, at least for a few weeks, no? Why would I, commander of an army, trade out one of my best fighters, for a rogue?"
"If I may speak freely, m'lord," Zay murmured out of respect and through partially gritted teeth, though he quickly swallowed his natural instincts and forced himself to relax.
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Post by Avery on Jul 8, 2015 4:30:41 GMT
"If I may speak freely, m'lord,"
"You may, I invited you back here." he murmurs, looking over his hands at him "However, I'd advise you to control that temper of yours rogue. If you cannot even do that for this conversation, then you are not fit to be a knight, and we have nothing more to discuss." he states calmly, taking in all his actions and movements silently
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 8, 2015 4:44:07 GMT
"You may, I invited you back here. However, I'd advise you to control that temper of yours rogue. If you cannot even do that for this conversation, then you are not fit to be a knight, and we have nothing more to discuss."
His first instinct was to retaliate. His next was to give up. But remembering his promise, he took a deep breath to steady himself, counting in the northern tongue in his head to five, then continued, a little less terse. "This is only personal opinion, but I don't see the right in having women expecting or with children fight, and I mean this outside of the current situation at hand. I've seen in during the years of traveling." He paused, thinking over his words.
"But aside from personal belief, I also understand that men are valuable, especially in this day in time. Which is why I came in her place. Again, I know she's a valuable knight. She's one hell of a fighter and has a sharp mind that's able to adapt faster than anyone I've met. But I don't wish for any harm to befall her, at least not now." Another pause, trying to find his grounds. "Trading a knight for a rogue isn't something that's commonly heard of, and that I understand too. But I've some personal business with the enemy," and by now a darkened look crossed his gaze and a thin smile pulled at the corner of his lips, "both the human and non. And, without meaning to boast, rogues know how to infiltrate and remain unseen unless we want to be known. And having one that's seen most of what could be seen and has the ability to teach something to others that could be the difference between one man surviving or many, I've heard of others wanting their hands on one. Just like with Avery, I could sharpen their minds and show them how to see beyond what they use now, how to be shadows and still fight as they do. But despite this, I also know I would have to prove my worth, and that I'm willing to do whatever it takes."
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Post by Avery on Jul 8, 2015 5:04:59 GMT
"This is only personal opinion, but I don't see the right in having women expecting or with children fight, and I mean this outside of the current situation at hand. I've seen in during the years of traveling."
"Continue." Galen murmurs, sitting back to watch him, picks up his sword, starts sharpening it
"But aside from personal belief, I also understand that men are valuable, especially in this day in time. Which is why I came in her place. Again, I know she's a valuable knight. She's one hell of a fighter and has a sharp mind that's able to adapt faster than anyone I've met. But I don't wish for any harm to befall her, at least not now. Trading a knight for a rogue isn't something that's commonly heard of, and that I understand too. But I've some personal business with the enemy, both the human and non."
Hands pausing at the tone change, he looks up, brow raising before he resumes the work on his sword, letting him continue
"And, without meaning to boast, rogues know how to infiltrate and remain unseen unless we want to be known. And having one that's seen most of what could be seen and has the ability to teach something to others that could be the difference between one man surviving or many, I've heard of others wanting their hands on one. Just like with Avery, I could sharpen their minds and show them how to see beyond what they use now, how to be shadows and still fight as they do. But despite this, I also know I would have to prove my worth, and that I'm willing to do whatever it takes."
After X'Zayvean is speaking, he wipes his sword and sets it down on the table between them, gaze serious "I will answer your questions, succinctly, in order. And you will sit there and listen as I have just listened to you." he murmurs, calm "My personal opinion is that if a woman wishes to fight in the war just like man, then they should be prepared to die like man. How is a mother dying in the war or a father dying in the war any different from the other? The child still loses a parent. This is a battlefield, my soldiers knew what they signed on for."
"Do you know why I allow women to join the fight against those who would stand against us? It's because that while men are valuable in strength, I have found some women to be superior mentally." he murmurs, tracing the edge of his blade with a finger, eyes locked on his "I have heard many things about the rogues, I will admit. And as for your worth, as of right now, you are dirt. If you wish to reach the point of training others as she does, you must train, and surpass others." pausing to let everything sink in, he rubs the back of his neck "Kiss my boots."
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 8, 2015 5:23:18 GMT
"I will answer your questions, succinctly, in order. And you will sit there and listen as I have just listened to you. My personal opinion is that if a woman wishes to fight in the war just like man, then they should be prepared to die like man. How is a mother dying in the war or a father dying in the war any different from the other? The child still loses a parent. This is a battlefield, my soldiers knew what they signed on for."
His jaw ticked, watching him and his sword, though he remained silent. Deep down, he understood the reasoning, and just like he had, the man had a right to an opinion. And being in a class far lower than his, Zay knew he had no say in how he should think. If anything, it was the other way around.
"Do you know why I allow women to join the fight against those who would stand against us? It's because that while men are valuable in strength, I have found some women to be superior mentally. I have heard many things about the rogues, I will admit. And as for your worth, as of right now, you are dirt. If you wish to reach the point of training others as she does, you must train, and surpass others."
Any other time, he would've been done with it all at being called dirt. But then again, what other worth did he really have? He was a wanderer, a murderer, an assassin, and yet also a friend, a father, a lover.
"Kiss my boots."
He immediately went rigid, though his expression remained unchanged. He made sure of that. But inside he felt the pride he didn't realize he had swell up and threaten to toss away everything he had just tried to argue, his promise to not only Av and Aru, but to himself, to his mother and sister on his way here. For several long moments he stood in silence, and down his back he felt the ice. But he couldn't let it all end at three mere words. Jaw clenching and unclenching, he stepped forward, pausing in front of the commander. Zay knew that whatever was next would change it all. Bend at the knee and really become the dirt that he was told he was, or let pride win and rip everything away. His jaw fell still, and inside, he chased the fire of pride away with the ice of resolve, and forced the crystals that built along his spine and invited the unwelcome sting in his scar to dissipate.
If any other rogue had been present, they wouldn't hesitate to rise against Zay at his next movement and teach him a sharp and painful lesson.
He knelt, and with another moment's hesitation, kissed the boot of the man that his rogue side had begun to loathe as Zay buried it, then stood, taking a step back, face falling to impassive, gaze icy and bright.
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