Knights and Childhood Friends (DragonSong)

[Saber-Five]

Unlike the talk involving his so-called father, Rubin was more comfortable discussing about his sisters.

"Yvette is up in Serendipity, attening a school for future ladies in waiting. She apparently loves it there and is taking lessons in painting too. As for Delilah, she already working with my aunt and uncle to reclaim the Morrell estate for all of us. Although..."

He paused with a labored sigh, before finishing.

"I haven't had much time to see them to be honest. Duty and all you know. Thankfully we still write letters to each other constantly."

[DragonSong]

She put her hand on his again, her heart going out to him. She may not have any siblings of her own, but she could tell how much he missed his sisters.

"Hey, another round!" she called to the bartender. He nodded and soon enough they had two more mugs in front of them.

"So how'd you end up assigned here?" she asked after taking a long gulp, her "one drink tonight" rule completely forgotten. "I mean, me I get, I just got knighted, but you- aren't you too valuable for this sort of thing? I'd have thought it'd be mostly foot soldiers and mercs."

[Saber-Five]

For some reason, Rubin felt very comfortable around Elora. Her hand on his own had a pleasant touch to it, he considered. He slighty blush, remembering that awkward crush he had for Elora years back. They were kids back then and it had just silly feeling he tried to himself. He didn't know if she had exactly felt the same way during that time.

Rubin don't go there, she's a colleague now. This isn't the time to think such things.

Even so he finally manage to put on straight face to answer his friend's inquiry.

"Truth to be told, I actually vonlunteered for this mission. I feel I can do more good outside the capital. The higher-ups felt that adding an extra knight wouldn't hurt. They offically assigned me and some others to personally make sure the traitor Tywin doesn't escape again. Dead or alive."

In the back of his mind Rubin knew this quest was also another test of loyalty. He imagine there will be more to come but one day at a time.

[DragonSong]

Elora thought she understood what he wasn't saying. She supposed it made sense, in a very cold and calculating kind of way- send the child of a traitor after a traitor to test his loyalty.

Still, she hadn't expected to hear that he'd volunteered for the job. She shrugged darker thoughts away and gave him a small smile, squeezing his hand once before releasing it. "Well, I'm certainly glad you're here. Gods, can you believe it's been, what, ten years since we've seen each other?"

She was bluffing a little with her "fuzzy" dates. She knew exactly how long it had been since she'd last seen Rubin, to the day. She tried not to dissect that too much, it could only lead to trouble.

Probably.

She needed another drink.

[Saber-Five]

"It does feel like ages ago. Still worth it I would say." Rubin remarked. Perhaps the drink was getting to him, but it seem he was getting a good vibe from this reunion. Just to be in the company of someone he knew and cared about was good enough for him. After nearly emptying his latest round of ale, an idea occured to Rubin.

"Say Elora how about we walk around the fort? It would give us some time to talk more and a better chance to get sober."

[DragonSong]

She made a face, downing her drink. "Ugh. Sober. Who needs sober?" But she stood and offered him a smile. "But I won't say no to a stroll."

Feeling a little playful, she bowed at the waist and threw him a wink. "If I may have the honor, Sir Rubin?"

[Saber-Five]

Pleased to have more time to spent with her, Rubin lead the way, escorting Elora out. Minutes later they walking around side by side, taking all of the activity at work here in the fort. Of course, once or twice Rubin had glanced at Elora, when he was sure she wasn't looking. It was like dream, to finally reunite after all this time. Being a bit drunk, Rubin less cautious to taking pleasure in eying up her figure.

He looked away to the front when she turn an eye toward. To break the silence, he asked a serious question.

"Uh Elora, beside training what experience do you have in combat?"

[DragonSong]

She glanced over at him. "A few border skirmishes. Nothing too serious though, this'll be my first real test as a knight I suppose."

A little tipsy, she flashed him a slightly flirty smile in spite of the voice in her head telling her that was a bad idea. "Why, you worried I can't handle myself?"

[Saber-Five]

"Oh just curious." Rubin tried to excuse away in an embarrassed matter.

"I already figure you can handle it, considering how you earned your rank and the way you taught that sellsword some manners."

He enjoyed that smile of her she was directing at him. The male knight steady himself to maintain what left of his discipline. Sober thoughts entered his mind and it forced him to get more serious.

"Just do your duty, keep your head on straight and whenver necessary take a risk if you feel it's worth it."

[DragonSong]

Elora wrinkled her nose at the mention of the sellsword, muttering an insult under her breath. She walked beside him in companionable silence for a while, pleasantly surprised by how comfortable it was.

"This is nice," she said, glancing over at him again and realizing she had to look up to do so. Smiling crookedly, she commented teasingly, "I remember a time when I was taller than you, Sir Rubin. I'm not sure how I feel about our positions being reversed."

It was probably the alcohol still buzzing in her system that made her rock up onto her toes, trying to cross the difference in their heights.

[Saber-Five]

Rubin answered with amused smirk.

"Deal with it."

They climbed up the steps that lead to the northern quarter of the wooden wall that surrounded the fort's interior. They came a to spot far between the sentries on patrol. There Rubin took a glance toward the green woods below towered over the sides by several harsh shaped mountains.

He admired the trees more than the rocks, though he could respect the awe the mountians can produced.

Looking back at Elora, he inquiry further.

"What weapon do you favor? Warriors like us usually do have preferences."

[DragonSong]

"Longsword," she answered immediately. "I like to be able to fight from horseback if I have to. You?"

She looked out over the mountains and the woods as she talked. Far in the distance, near the peak of one spire of rock, she thought she saw a brief spark that may have been dragonfire. Her body shivered with an instinctive wariness and awe.

[Saber-Five]

Shrugging, Rubin answered.

"My prefence is usually a sword and shield. I'm good with either fighting it out on foot or horseback."

The way Elora shivered a moment looking out in the distance later told Rubin she was likely spotted something to do with dragons. Those mighty beings do tend to favor these mountains after all. As much he loved to tease his childhood some more about her "caution" with the dragon species, he felt they needed to talk about the coming campaign.

"Faridal is a rat but he does know a thing or two about the art of war. Plus he fighting on homeground and knows the lay of the land rather well, along with having an impressive fortress to hold up in. It's going to be a hard fight no doubt of that, yet I believe we will crush him. What's your impression about our troops' morale so far?"

[DragonSong]

She gave a small snort. "Judging by the level of drunkenness in that tavern, I'd say morale is doing pretty damn well," she said with one arched eyebrow, looking at him. Up at him. Damn that was going to take some getting used to. "Who knows what it'll be tomorrow when they all have to deal with the consequences of tonight.

Shrugging, Elora looked back out over the Thunderblacks. "But like you said- we'll crush him. Probably literally. He knows his fortress, and he knows how to fight a siege, but there are just to many of us. He won't last."

[Saber-Five]

He smiled, thinking about how punishing the hangovers will be among the soldiers later. Rubin knew Elora will likely get have the same problem, considering her own consumption he had witnessed earlier.

"Sure we will, I just hope our general, won't be reckless with the soldiers' lives while doing so. Warriors suffer or die on the battlefield, no denying of that, but there is a difference between sacrifice and waste. Well that's what Uncle Carl taught me anyway. Sorry I didn't mean to preach."

[DragonSong]

She shook her head, flashing a smile at him. "No, you're right."

With yet another shrug, she put her back to the view and leaned up against the rampart, tilting her head at him. "This is my fist active military duty. I've never worked under the general before- you have any idea what he's like?"

[Saber-Five]

Exchanging glances with Elora, the other knight answered.

"General Gera Hardin? I don't know her personally, but she has won many engagements and does have a fierce reputation on and off the field. She's known to be an expert on quashing revolts. I guess that why Command chose her for this."

Before he can finish another voice with clear authority spoke up from behind them.

"That and my stunning good looks too, Sir Rubin."

Swiftly turning around, Rubin saw a heavily armored Orcish woman around forty years of age, with amused smirk plastered on her expression. Wide eye, the young knight stood at attention with a crisp salute.

[DragonSong]

Elora snapped into a salute of her own, though perhaps a tad more relaxed. She had the alcohol in her system to thank for that. And she couldn't help smirking a bit at her old friend's reaction. "She's not going to eat you, ya know," she teased. Then added as an afterthought, "Well. Probably."

Addressing the older woman, she nodded politely and stood at attention. "Forgive my ignorance, General," she said, voice brisk but deferential. "I have yet to serve under true military command. Sir Rubin was sharing what he knew with me."

[Saber-Five]

"I heard everything Lady Braun, there no need to explain." The general answered almost like a mother would, while Rubin kept himself in his slighty fearful posture. The Orc officer went on.

"Your uncle taught you well Morrell. Rest assure the only lives I intend to waste will be the traitor and his ink. Though don't expect me to be soft either. Anyway, I'm quite aware of both of you, having read the reports throughly. I like to be informed of the knights under my command you see."

[DragonSong]

Elora moved to clasp her hands behind her back in an "at ease" posture- elbowing Rubin gently as she did in an effort to get him less rigid- and nodded at their commanding officer. "Of course, General," she said, nodding respectfully.

Feeling like maybe she should add something else, she bowed at the waist and muttered, "Thank you for accepting me into your service. I know I am inexperienced." She glanced at Rubin out of the corner of her eye as she straightened up, willing him to say something so she wasn't the only one talking.