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Post by Book of the Twilight on Dec 17, 2011 15:38:35 GMT -5
::Night had fallen on the fortress and the watch was dutifully doing their rounds. Everything in the Black Knight's fortress was done in such a manner. Duty, honor, valor, these were more than just words to the young men and women who served under Lord Leon's banner. An outsider would find in unnatural that such young people could adhere to such a strict code, but the Mage Knights had not only known from their early childhoods who they served, but why. But obedient or not, such a lifestyle did take its toll on them once in awhile. And even the most zealous followers can be shaken. And Sir Bryant was the most zealous of them all. And with good reason. So why was he breaking curfew on a night he was not assigned on watch, practicing to exhaustion with his twin short swords? His bare torso, though slim because of his young age was evidence of years of hard training and was not without its share of scars. Some from battle like the long one below his ribs, or the red circle in his shoulder from an arrow wound, and others, like the ones on his back told a far crueler story. His long brown hair had begun to stick to his face from sweat and his breathing had begun to grow shallow, but still he continued practicing the forms, the sets, the signature styles he'd developed in Thamasa, whatever he could to keep himself moving. To keep his mind off of...::
Fay: Sir Bryant.
::In a flash he spun his blade to point it at the most unwelcome intruder. It didn't quiver an inch aimed at Fay's nose::
Bryant: What are you doing here Fay?
::The blade may as well have been a wooden toy for how impressed Fay seemed by it::
Fay: Our Master desires a word with you.
Bryant: You mean our Captain?
Fay: ...Sure. May I ask why our resident choir boy is risking reprimand by breaking curfew?
Bryant: Only if I can ask why the heartless fairy has come down from her tower.
Fay: Thoth lost a bet, so he and Nag are making too much noise.
::Bryant shuddered as he went to re-dress::
Bryant: Now I'm sorry I asked.
Fay: Does it have anything to do with that woman who came with the Immortal? The one who carried all the guns?
::Bryant froze, and he could hear the smirk in her voice::
Fay: Don't be embarrassed. I saw the way you looked at her.
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Dec 19, 2011 2:50:44 GMT -5
::Bryant turned away from her::
Bryant: So what?
Fay: No need to be defensive. I was only curious. Do you love her?
Bryant: What?! I barely know her.
Fay: My research tells me that doesn't always matter. Sometimes it's instant.
Bryant: Your... what? Get away from me already. I'm not becoming a subject for your sick research. Go find some schoolyard romances to destroy.
::He began to stomp off to where he'd been summoned to::
Fay: Very well. I was only teasing. I hope everything works out well for you and Marna.
::He snarled::
Bryant: Her name is Nahla.
::She only smirked, letting him know he'd fallen right into her snare. He didn't turn around again until he reached the inner sanctum of the fortress. One of his fellow Knights greeted him at the doorway to the council chamber::
Knight: Sir Bryant, our Captain is discussing negotiations inside and can't be disturbed.
Bryant: At this hour?
Knight: Seeing as you were likely summoned here for a reprimand for breaking curfew, I would advise against questioning that sort of thing now.
Bryant: Yes sir.
::So this was what his subordinates felt like when he wrote them up to be reprimanded. He made a mental note not to do it as frequently, because he was feeling smaller by the minute, being stared down by one of his fellows like a misbehaving child rather than a knight::
Knight: You may wait outside until you are summoned. I must resume my watch.
::Bryant remained at attention until the other was gone. Then he sighed and slumped dejectedly against the wall, sinking all the way too the floor::
Bryant: What is wrong with me? Why do I feel this way? It makes no sense. Things like this have never bothered me before.
::This was true. When other boys his age had been in school learning multiplication, Bryant had been learning advanced combat and spells. He'd become a brigade captain at age fifteen, and had served faithfully as such for two years. Nothing existed for him outside the code. The fight for justice. It was all he'd ever wanted. Now just one encounter had him feeling dizzy and lightheaded whenever he remembered it. Everything about her seemed etched into the front of his brain, refusing to be pushed to the back. He had far too much to worry about right now. His men were counting on him to prepare them for the Empire's oncoming assault where they were sure to bring that abomination from before, the one they hadn't been able to fight. And here he was unable to forget the way Nahla had bravely stormed into the tower where Nag, Thoth, and Fay kept her comrades. How passionately she'd cursed them and threatened to visit death on them. How he'd tried to calm her down, but she wouldn't listen, and the entire thing had escalated to where she had pulled out her handguns, and the two of them had dueled in an epic clash that soon became a grapple for the other's weapons, with him wrestling her to the floor and before they knew what was happening they were moving their lips closer and closer togeth--::
Bryant: Wait a minute, that never happened! GAH! What is going on?!
::In truth he'd simply advised Nahla against doing anything rash, Gideon had said something to the same effect and the Wutai sorceress had been led back to the Hijrah with them, Nag, Thoth, and Fay all the while forcing them to endure their insufferable grins and hideous cackling::
Bryant: But she was passionate... and beautiful. Aaah what am I saying?!
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Dec 29, 2011 2:19:23 GMT -5
::The door opened, but there was no voice. Still he knew his Captain was bidding him to come in. He found the chamber torchlit and Lord Leon right where he expected to find him; seated at the round table facing the door, so still, so silent, one would believe the black armor to be empty. His Captain's voice sounded clearly in his head::
Sir Bryant.
Bryant: Sir.
::The young knight dropped to one knee with a hand placed over his chest::
Stand.
::He did as his Captain bid him, requiring great effort to keep his eyes forward and not on the floor. For a long while the young knight didn't say anything. Just stared silently out of his helmet with those eyes he couldn't see. Finally he could bear the silence no longer::
Bryant: Is this about my being out on the grounds on a night where I am not assigned the watch?
I've known of your activities in the late hours of the night.
::Lord Leon had known? Then why was he choosing tonight to speak to him about it? This had to be at least his eighth offense::
Bryant: Then why haven't you--
Because I wanted first to understand why. You are not the kind to break the rules. Rules establish order and we must all adhere to them if our society is to survive. That applies even more to the leaders than it does to those who serve in the lower ranks. That is our code is it not? For our leaders to set the example?
Bryant: Yes.
Perhaps you can recite more of our philosophy here. The one about the duty of leadership?
Bryant: To be truly great leaders we must not only obey the law, but also understand why the law is.
So why is the law of curfew?
Bryant: To assure that each of our soldiers here have adequate rest to perform their duties. It is important law for the knights whose duty it is to serve and protect.
And why is it so important to you?
::Bryant strained not to bite his lip and answer his Captain clearly::
Bryant: As a brigade captain, my men depend on me to lead them, to coordinate them, and hold them together. Especially in this crucial time.
Very good. You have a firm grasp on what is expected of you. And by staying up until all hours of the night to train until exhaustion, you spit in the face of that trust that I have placed in you as one of my lieutenants, and at the trust of your men who depend on you for their lives. So why?
::Bryant cursed the tears that were beginning to form in his eyes. Tears were weakness in his eyes. He could not, would not cry in front of his commander::
Bryant: You said you stayed punishment when you discovered my actions. I was hoping you would have an answer for that. Because I have no idea!
And now you disrespect me further by lying. You know what has caused this. It was Lady Fay who told me this behavior began shortly after your meeting with the woman crew member of the Hijrah. The one who carried all the guns. Is this not true?
Bryant: It is true! But I don't understand it! I don't understand ANY of it!
::It was too much. The pressure, the impending consequences, the incomparable humiliation of having what he viewed as a most shameful secret being brought to light for him to stand trial for it. He broke. Bryant felt the wall he'd built up around himself those years ago come crumbling down as he dropped to his knees. Those tears he so despised would be held back no longer, the crowning moment of his shame. No sobs escaped, though they did shake him to the core as they tried, only coming out in soft hisses. He didn't hear his Captain rise, nor step around the table to stand before where he knelt with his face in his hands in a vain attempt to hide himself. But he did flinch when he became aware of the steel clad hand reaching for his face. It was instinct for him to expect a strike though his Captain had never struck him physically. Indeed, true to form the Captain merely peeled his hands away from his face before placing a finger under his chin and forcing him to look up::
There is no shame in tears. That is a lesson I learned long ago from a most dear friend. It is mortal to cry, and as such it is a blessing. Just as it is to love.
::Lord Leon's hand reached around to the back of his head and pulled him in an embrace. It was strangely comforting for Bryant to rest his head against the steel of his breastplate. Though it was cold as ice, he couldn't help but feel strangely... warm. He sniffed once and then straightened himself to salute his Captain. Lord Leon moved his hand once more to produce a white handkerchief. He took it gratefully and wiped his eyes::
Tomorrow you will formally apologize to your men for your behavior, as well as join the stable girls early in the morning to assist them with their chores. Also I believe it would be in order to assign you to the watch five nights out of seven. Perhaps you can perfect your form in that time. You're dismissed.
Bryant: Yes sir.
::With little left in the way of pride, but much gained in assurance, Bryant made for the door when his Captain stopped him one last time::
Bryant. You have chosen to be a Knight, but do not forget there are times where you must simply be a boy.
Bryant: Understood sir.
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