The seven Duchies of Central Rynmere and their respective baronies, cities, towns, villages, and landmarks each overseen by a Duke of one of the seven noble families and ultimately controlled by the King of Rynmere.
The air in the garden was fresh and cool, the night always brought with it a kind of calm for Xander. Luckily it was not snowing and the ground where he was did not have any either. The warmth from the house and the guests walking around all night had melted what was left, so off of the stone paths the ground was soft and moist. It was dark, too dark for Xander to see more than a metre in either direction clearly as he moved further from the house. About twenty metres away he paused, his feet still on the path as the light of the moon and stars lit the area. Some light still reached him from the windows of the house but it was faint as he walked further. Forty metres now and he was surrounded by darkness as he moved around a hedge.
His mind was a mess, he had failed once again to truly protect her, twice now he had been late to save her. The first time he had been lucky she was not injured, this time he had not been so fortunate. The boy had stabbed her, her blood was still stained on his hands now from when he had caught her and tried to help her upon his return from fighting the attacker. His own injuries were bound but not well, clean bandages were wrapped and tied crudely around his thigh and calf. Yet, he was not worried about his pain, he cared less for himself at this moment than for the health his fiance. He had not forgotten about the guards either, those who were injured and those who had died trying to protect him this night. Now all he wanted was to be able to protect them.
He felt incompetent, like he was unable to do what he wanted, like he was always too late or just too weak, He wished one day to lead Krome into a new era, to fight along side its people in securing their freedom. How could he do that if he could not even protect one person or himself. Then he thought of it, he had once spoken with the priest of the house and they had discussed the immortals. He had never been very religious but there had been one who had stood out to him and who he recalled now, one that may be able to provide him with what he needed to protect those who were important and who's lives did not deserve to be taken.
The name lingered on the tip of his tongue as he thought about it, he had never prayed before. He did not know how to pray, in fact, he didn't even know how to begin. How do you address such a high being, someone who is literally in control of certain areas of the world. Still her name remained there, ready to be spoken, ready to be used for the betterment of himself and the world around him.
"Ethelynda, noble mistress of protection, lady of true honour please hear me." He paused and almost cringed at his words, he wondered if there was some way to know if it was working. Was he just talking to the darkness like a mad man or were his words even being heard? He did not know. "I have never been a religious man, I know I have never honoured you with my actions before. However, now I pray to you, in recent trials I have found myself inadequate, failing to protect those who it is my duty to protect. Maybe it is rude of me to ask for help when having never prayed before but I am desperate." He took a breathe before getting ready again to continue. He still felt sort of strange, like he was being rude or like eh was doing it completely wrong."I need more strength, a greater ability to protect those around me, a greater ability to act as a leader and to do what is noble and right for those who I might one day lead. I can only hope you hear me and are sympathetic to my plight, I suppose in contrast to the difficulties other face everyday these are little but I ask with a heavy heart but hopeful optimism to help me."
He stood in the darkness and looked at his feet, they were barely visible from his height. It was odd to know you were somewhere yet be unable to really see it. He had not had high hopes for his prayer, he had never showed her respect or interest before. Maybe if he had realised when he was younger how he might one day need the help of someone as mighty as an immortal he would have been better. He looked up and readied himself to leave turning back the way he had come to walk away.
It wasn't until Xander turned to leave that a voice sounded from behind him. "The concept of honoring someone with your actions is one I've always found simple, you know. But people always seem to get confused with it. Maybe it's because what exactly that means varies from person to person." Ethelynda said. The Noble Serpent was looking up at the sky, the golden armor she so frequently wore gleaming in the moonlight while her chocolate brown tail stretched out along the ground behind her. "But then, perhaps it's because people don't really know if their actions are what the person they're trying to honor would want." she said, her tone of voice introspective, as if she was considering something from her own timeless past.
Looking at Xander, Ethelynda gave his wounds a critical look. "And just who did you have bandage those? Clearly, whoever it was needs more medical practice." she said, before letting out a sigh. "Regardless, come over here and let me take a look at them. It wouldn't do for you to faint from blood loss or infection during our conversation." she said, before smiling at him. "One thing I've found over the course of my long life is that if people aren't praying to me, it usually means they're fine. On the other hand, when my ears start ringing, I usually find that something has gone horribly wrong for someone. So, tell me. What's troubling you?"
Not for one second had Xander expected to hear a voice behind him as he mad to leave. In fact he felt his heart skip a beat as he span, in a rather wobbly matter, on his heels. His eyes were met by a woman, her golden armour glistening in the moon light. She had a tail, a long serpent one that travelled out to her rear in place of legs, it reminded him of the Ithecal he had met earlier that season. Of course this woman's tale was much longer and it was brown, brown like the best chocolate the kingdom could offer. He recognised her from the pitchers the priest had shown him, the golden armour and the serpents tail, there was no doubting who she was. She spoke intelligently, she sounded much like she was considering her own events as she looked at him.
He felt the scrutiny of her gaze hitting him like an arrow, he wondered what she was looking at, why she was judging him. It was soon revealed as she addressed him directly now."A guard, it was late and I did not want to send for another doctor. I already disturbed one tonight for my fiance's safety, I did not wish to go waking more. I was going to see one in the morning." He looked down at the badly bandaged wounds, stained a glossy red from his blood. The Biqaj part of him made the blood have a sort of shine and gloss like silver yet remained red like most humans.
Following her orders and her kind smile he stepped forward and moved to stand close enough for her to look at the two wounds. His calf burned most as he walked over, his thigh was not as bad when he stood but if he squatted it was like fire. She inquired after his troubles and he complied nervously, he was not completely sure why he felt nervous. Perhaps he was in shock from her actually hearing his prayer. "I feel like I am failing, just this season my wife to be has been attacked twice and each time I was unable to protect her and stop harm coming to her. Right now she lies in the house with a wound in her side where she was stabbed." He looked down at his reddish brown hands, her blood having dried mostly now.
"I have taken it upon myself to better the world, to protect those who believe and put their trust in me. To fight for those who deserve fighting for and to do what is right for my future people. I promised to protect Celeste, I gave her my word that I would not let harm come to her and yet I have failed." He felt like he was just complaining like he was saying what every person said, it felt foolish to moan like this to someone so powerful. "I just wish I could do better, I wish I had the ability, the power, anything to help me protect her. If I can't protect one person how I am supposed to protect a whole Duchy in the future?" He rubbed his hands together as he looked at the great immortal of nobility and wondered if she had answers for him, maybe she would give him some cryptic clue as to how to do what he wanted. Truthfully he could not even attempt to hope to understand what she was thinking of him.
Ethelynda smiled gently when Xander told her why he hadn't had a doctor look at his wounds. "Your doctors would tell you that you should have disturbed them. They tend to get grouchy when dealing with wounds that they could have tended to before they were allowed to run the risk of infection." she said, her tone as gentle as her smile. When Xander came over to her, she looked at his wounds with an experts eye, then pulled a first aid kit from the tunic under her armor.
"Magical or divine healing is not one of my gifts, but I learned how to sew up a wound a long time ago and numbing pain, I can do. Sit." she said, the last word a clear command. As she set about stitching up his wounds, using her powers to shield him from his own pain, she listened to his problems. To be able to just sit and listen to mortals and their problems was something she often wished she could do more frequently, but she had her empire to rule in Ivorian, which was why Ethelm, her grumpy son, had made it clear he was available to anyone who had a complaint.
"To better the world is a noble cause. To protect those you care for and those under your leadership is even more so. However, both tasks are difficult. You claim that you are not equal to the task." she said as she finished up her stitching. "I do not believe you fall as short as you claim. You have arms and armor, yes? Go retrieve them. My powers will allow you to withstand my test this night." she said, standing back and slithering a bit away from Xander.
He sat as she commanded and allowed her to tend to his wounds. He gritted his teeth in anticipation for a lot of pain when the stitching came but instead there was little. Perhaps it was the noble lady who was shielding him from the discomfort but he could not say for sure, she had after all said she had no divine or magical healing ability. Whatever she had learnt long ago seemed effective, certainly better than whatever his guards had done. He wondered whether she treated many mortals, if it was normal for an immortal to help in such a way.
He listened and was glad to hear she found his aims noble, coming from the immortal of the domain itself that was a true honour. Maybe there was hope that she would help him, show him a way in which to improve his ability to defend those around him. She told him to retrieve arms and armour, he had his sword of course but he did not own any armour.
"I do not yet have my own armour but there is some in the house I may use.There was indeed armour in the house that he could use and perhaps that is what he would use. He had been meaning to purchase some armour for himself but had not yet gotten around to it, it was now rising on his list with recent events.
Following her command and assuming she did not say no to a him using spare armour
he made his way back to the house, retrieving his sword himself and asking Badon, the butler, if he might find him some armour. Of course the loyal servant did so without question and collected some that he said had one day been his father's. Not sure if he needed to wear it but assuming so he quickly got into it with the assistance. Pulling the old steel chest plate onto his body and having Badon tie it into place with the leather. Next were a pair of greives and also some gauntlets. He was not used to the feeling of armour but the longer it was on the more comfortable in it he became. He took the helmet that had no visor but refused the shield which he had no experience with using yet and would therefore only hinder him at this time.
So armoured up and holding the sword in its scabbard Xander left out into the garden ready for whatever it was she had planned for this test. The armour was not a perfect fit but it did not rattle around him too much and his manoeuvrability was unhindered. He still limped slightly from his calf injury but he did his best to ignore it. "I am ready, what is this test?"The truth was that he actually felt fearful, he was still learning a lot. He was skilled at fighting but he had yet to battle in armour or against anything but another man. Yet he steeled himself for what was to come.
Ethelynda nodded when Xander said he had some armor he could use for her test, even though it was not his own, then waited as he retrieved it. When he returned, she looked his armor over and nodded at him before she raised her hand and called her own spear to her, her own shield following shortly after. "Your test, Xander Krome, is to face me in combat." she said, leveling her spear at him, her tone serious. "Rest assured, your task is not to defeat me, I will gauge whether you pass my test or fail based on what I see." she said, smiling slightly though her tone didn't change.
"The test comes to an end either when you yield or when I call a stop to it myself. It is imperative, however, that you treat me as though I were a true foe, bent on harming those you swore to protect." she said, her tone serious as she lowered her spear and raised her shield. As she did so, she lowered slightly, extending her tail further behind her as she lowered her center of gravity. "Come, Xander Krome. Let us see what you are made of." she declared, her voice firm.
Surprise best described what Xander felt when she said they were going to fight, that he was to duel with her. Never in his life had he expected to ever face an Immortal in combat. In fact, he had never even considered he would meet one, yet, here he was standing before the most noble of Immortals and the being who wished to test him with a duel. He felt a lump form in his throat and his stomach turn somewhat as fear grew within him. He had no idea how to fight such a powerful person, he was not the most skilled fighter. He had been training and he had faced the opponents before but never any of such magnificence, none who were so skilled and powerful.
He mirrored her actions and drew his longsword from its scabbard, placing the metal case in which the sword was help on the floor out of the way. His armour heavy and cumbersome, more so than it would have been if it was fitted to him by an armourer and not just his fathers old set. Still, it made for better protection than nothing and he stood before the mighty woman with his sword gripped tightly in his gauntlet covered hands. The old steal reflected the light from above, not even nearly as magnificently as Ethelynda's stunning gold armour.
He had never fought an opponent with a spear and shield before, this was new ground for him and he remembered what he had been taught. He paid close attention to her, how she lowered her stance and held the two items. He made sure not to get distracted and kept a close eye on the point of the spear, although he was sure that shield could be used as a weapon too and so tried not to forget about it. He pointed the tip of his blade towards her and tested her spear, tapping the cold steel against the tip and top of the shaft of his opponents weapon. Her front was basically impenetrable, covered by the range of her weapon, the shield and her armour. However, her long tail that was protruding even further with her lower stance was an easier target.
She had requested he fight her as if he was to fight a true enemy and so, swallowing his fear, he began. He had no idea how well someone with a tail could move, if they could pivot better or worse than someone with legs and if they could move all their tail at high speed. So opting for the spear side he quickly lowered his sword slightly and switched it to the side at which he could push the shaft towards her body while moving round her flank.
He pressed the true edge of the blade against the spear shaft and attempted to force it towards her body while side stepping and advancing forward to close the distance between them and get the tip of the spear behind him. If he succeeded in this move he would push forward in an attempt to reach what appeared her vulnerable rear flank. He was, however, ready to be unsuccessful and to move our wide instead of keep forward. There was no doubt in his mind this immortal was stronger than he and would likely be able to force his sword back with her spear, so he was attempting to do it fast and hope she was not ready for the force to resist.
Ethelynda smiled as Xander tapped his sword against his spear, waiting for him to make the first move. When he did, she grinned slightly, noting that he seemed to be trying to push past to her front to get at what he likely thought was her unprotected flank. She let him push her spear towards her for a moment, then she moved back and towards her spear side in a quick, graceful motion that put part of her tail in front of her. Then she pushed his blade back towards him and lashed out with the tail he had thought was a weak point, the bulk of it slamming into his chest.
Smiling, she made another quick motion that best resembled a spin before coming back to to where she had started the round, but now with her tail pooled about in her, more obviously in a position for her to make easy use of it. "Never assume an easy quick point, Xander. Such things will leave open to counters from a skilled opponent, and assuming that an opponent lacks the skill to exploit your own weaknesses is a beginners mistake." she said, her tone lecturing, but also warm, encouraging.
He recoiled and stumbled back as he was struck by the hard and thick tail of his opponent. He was stunned for a few moments as he searched for his balance again, making small adjustments with his feet to stop himself falling down. Xander's complete awareness returned as he kept his word placed out in front of him, gripped tightly in his hands. Ethelynda was smiling, it was somewhat confusing to see with the situation but he did not think on it and instead focused on her words and noting that there were now three weapons to look out for. The spear, the shield and the surprisingly manoeuvrable tail of the powerful immortal. She was talented in defence it seemed and new to utilize everything she had at her disposal, not surprising of someone so strong and ancient.
Xander took a step back and looked for an opening in the immortal of protection's defences. He saw nothing else of course, especially as he had now discovered her tail did not limit her movement and was quick. Perhaps his best bet would to be on the defensive, remembering what Doran had taught him about using blocks and parries as attacks as well as defence. The man had told him that every attack should be a defence and every defence an attack. It was a hard concept to grasp but once you learnt countering it was quite easy to see his meaning.
So, Xander lowered his guard slightly, allowing the sword to sit lower and point more downwards. In doing so he hoped to entice an attack from the mighty warrior. This was an illusion in Xander's head, the appearance that you were inexperienced and undefended. He was hoping to guide her to take the attack he wanted, then he would counter in as best way as possible depending on how the attack went. I truth he may end up without a counter and instead just a parry but still it was worth trying. So he stood and kept the sword lower, and kept his eyes covering his whole opponent as it appeared she was a weapon from all angles.
Ethelynda smiled at Xander as he recovered and planned about how to deal with her defenses. He lowered his blade for a moment and she frowned briefly, wondering if she'd injured him more than she meant to. Then she took another look at him and smiled again. "Clever trick, trying to lure me into attacking you while you feign weakness. It doesn't work well against defensive fighters, however." she said, her tone cheerful.
"Normally, I don't for such, but since I'm testing you..." she said before she darted forward. Her attack was a simple thrust, aimed at his shoulder, or at least that's what it appeared to be. At the last minute, she feinted to the left and made to slam her shield into him. The goal of the attack, however, wasn't to actually damage Xander but instead force him to move into a position where he'd be easier to use her tail on.
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Message from: Basilisk
Apologies for the delay and the short length of the post. I had a lot of trouble with this post. >_>
