Closed [Squire Dormitories] Orders (Lorden Ladis)

[Asen]

20th of Spring
515 AV

New patron, they said. Meet 'em 'ere, they said. Did Ehati not like me or somethin'? Was I not a good squire? Asen asked herself. Orders had come down from the higher ranks, signaling a patron transfer.

She'd been having a good day, too. Nothing had interrupted her morning routine. She'd gone for a walk. But of course, there had to be something. The news of the transfer had switched her mood from pleased to irritable. She didn't want to be stuck under the iron fist of some old, wrinkly knight. She wanted the freedom Ehati gave her.

The half-Dhani leaned against a wall. It was next to the designated meeting spot. They could've at least given me a name or somethin'.

She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring daggers at the other squires who passed by. Wrinkly old knights were the worst. She thought as much, anyways. Asen had never really encountered a wrinkly old knight.

Maybe I'll get lucky and it'll be a cute young lady. I wouldn't mind bein' taught by another lady. Ladies are pretty an' soft. I like ladies. 'Course men are nice, too. They're all 'ard, though, what with those muscles an' all.

The blonde looked down the corridor both ways. Nobody really seemed to be heading her way, they all passed her by. She shrugged and tucked her head against her chest, putting one foot on the wall so her knee jutted out. I s'pose I'll just wait 'ere, then. All day, if I 'ave to. I en't gonna miss my new patron, no ser. Might get whipped or somethin'.

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[Lorden Ladis]

20th of Spring, 515 AV

Lorden entered into the familiar dorms, with a bit of trepidation filling his chest. He hadn't requested a Squire, hadn't made it known that he wished to train anyone. Petch, he was pretty focused on working on his own skills, let alone someone else's.

Still, as Lorden brushed past a freckled teenager, and turned around a corner subconsciously, he had to admit, that he was a little anxious, if not eager. A part of the young knight, was definitely worried, that he wouldn't be a good Patron. Yet, even still, another extremely vocal inner voice, told the swordsman, that this was his chance to inspire, to lead.

Goods gods, he was conflicted.

The man had never even considered putting the word out, that he wanted to be a Patron Knight. He didn't hate teens, Squires, or Pages; it was just the fact that, not too long ago, he had been one himself. It had been what... only about two years, since he had been knighted? The twenty-year old, just wasn't sure, that he was far enough separated from his own youth, to train someone else through theirs. Of course, there was always the chance, that he'd end up being assigned an older squire. But really, would that be any better?

And yet, all his reservations aside, then there was Asen. The young-old Squire, had made him question his stance on training others. The woman had proved, that teaching could be entertai-.

Lorden blinked.

Well, that's funny...

As the knight mused, and subconsciously made his way, to where he had been told to meet his new pupil, a familiar sight came into view. Standing right where, 'his' Squire was meant to be, was the blonde-headed girl, that was Asen Sessaschenaasen. What really caught Lorden's eye, however, was the fact that she seemed to be looking for someone.

There's no petching way. the man thought, as he mentally shook his head in denial, and approached his 'acquaintance'.

"Asen, I'm glad to see ya'!" Lorden announced heartily, as his booted feet came to a halt against the stone flooring, only a few feet from the girl.

"Do ye' know if any of the other Squires, have been right around here?" -Lorden sighed- "Seems like I'm going to be taking on a Squire, after all."

[Asen]

Asen's head snapped up and around to look at the knight talking to her. It was Lorden. Naturally she was pleased to see him, but the smile that lit up her face died a tick later when sudden dread filled her gut.

Wait... No. No way. They wouldn't do that, would they? she questioned mentally.

However, they did. The half-Dhani's eyes went wide and she pushed off the wall. She backed away, feeling an invisible hand tighten around her heart. Lorden had gotten assigned to a squire, and Asen had gotten a patron transfer.

She half-hoped it was just a coincidence, but she wasn't sure exactly how often patron transfers happened. The Order also wouldn't tell two patrons and squires to meet at the exact same place. That was stupid and ineffecient.

The blonde realized she was staring directly at Lorden and straightened her back, glancing over her shoulder and down the corridor. When she returned her gaze to the knight her face was even paler than usual.

"No, Lorden. It's just me," she told him. Her eyes went to her hands, fidgeting nervously. "I'm your new squire."

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[Lorden Ladis]

20th of Spring, 515 AV

Lorden blinked, as his icy eyes widened.

They had done it... They had actually made Asen his Squire. the swordsman made himself smile, more out of disbelief, rather than any mirth.

The knight's heart squeezed. Now that he knew who his Squire was, the man was no longer worried, that he might not be able to stand who he'd been paired with; no, now there were... other concerns. Lorden's mind couldn't help but wander back to the kiss, that he and 'his' new Squire had shared, only a bit earlier in the season. Asen had called him 'addictive'; and the problem was... so was she.

Petch it, he could still be a good teacher, even if he was infatuated with his student... couldn't he? Maybe his new Patron'hood wouldn't even be a bad thing. Lorden shook his head mentally, for better or for worse, he'd be finding out.

The knight straightened his smile, and tried to confer a feeling of assurance through his eyes. The last thing the twenty-year old wanted, was to make Asen uncomfortable in her new Squire'hood, and thus with her Patron.

"All right then," -Lorden placed his hand on to top of Asen's arm gently, as he smiled and gazed into her beautiful blue eyes- "I'm glad. I was afraid, that I might get paired with someone that I wouldn't be too fond of."

Dropping his hand from Asen's right shoulder reluctantly, Lorden had a thought, that truly made his smile genuine.

"Would you walk with me, Asen?" the knight said, gesturing back behind himself.

"I already know why you're a Squire, you told me at the Stallion," -A coy energy entered Lorden's glowing face, as he referred to his date with the blonde- "But now I need to know, how I'm going to make you a knight. I figure a stroll through Stormhold, would give us time to talk."

The knight meant to figure out just what Asen was most interested in. Hopefully, the girl could give him some idea, as to how to train her.

[Asen]

I'm 'is squire. I'm 'is gods-damn squire. They found out, didn't they? I bet they found out. I'm so petched. I can't... I'm not gonna be able to be 'is squire and be attracted to 'im at the same time. They did this on purpose. Shyke.

Asen was well and truly conflicted. She wanted to be a good squire, a good pupil. She wanted to become a knight. She just wasn't sure she could do it with Lorden, a potential lover, as her patron and mentor. Maybe it'd work out, maybe it wouldn't.

At least nobody'll think it's weird if they see us walkin' around together, she thought, trying to see the positive side. The half-Dhani jumped at Lorden's hand on her shoulder. The contact brought her out of her reverie. She looked at him, meeting his gaze.

"Uh, yeah. I figured I'd be paired up with some ol' wrinkly guy. I- I'm glad it's you," she admitted, scratching the back of her neck. She glanced away, her face flushed.

At her new patron's question, however, she raised her head. The blonde nodded twice rather quickly, clearing her throat. "'Course, yeah. We- we can walk. Not like anyone's gonna say anythin', are they? Since you're my patron an' I'm your squire now. I s'pose it's expected."

Asen desperately hoped she could handle being both potential lover and pupil to the knight. Did she even know what she was getting herself into? Probably not.

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[Lorden Ladis]

20th of Spring, 515 AV

"Uh, yeah. I figured I'd be paired up with some ol' wrinkly guy. I- I'm glad it's you," the girl said nervously, eliciting a small chest-derived chuckled from her new Patron. Something inside Lorden urged him to reassure the blonde, to buttress her confidence, and make her know that he, while conflicted about it, was in an odd way glad, that she had been assigned to him, and not another knight. He didn't like sharing.

"You wouldn't like me, if I had wrinkles?" -the knight's eyes flashed with a coy mirth- "Well, good thing I'm the child between us, you're glowing skin aside," the knight said, hoping, as he did, that the awkward jest-filled compliment he had offered, would offset his mention of Asen's age. Of course, he hadn't really called her old, anyway. His words were just a way to flirt, compliment, and build comradery. Gods knew, that Cyrus -Lorden's old patron- had brought up one of his flaws, in jest and good faith, more than a time or two.

Lorden began to turn, as Asen verbally relented to his request, to go on a walk with him. The knight opened his mouth, and spoke, just as his blue eyes began to tear away from Asen's own.

"Would you care, if they did?" the man inquired with a flirtatious smile, that was full of feigned arrogance. A part of Lorden was a bit offset by Asen's comment about no-one suspecting anything. It wasn't like they were doing anything wrong?

The knight shook his head mentally, as he took a step forward, and set out on the path, that he had decided he and Asen would take. Time would tell, exactly what they did together.

"So, I know you've never really held a sword, Asen" -Lorden laughed a bit, as he recalled his and the blonde's first 'date'- "Well, there was that one time, but I didn't really teach ya' anything."

"I was just wondering what you were really interested in, skill-wise? There are a lot of things that a knight can do, and it'd be nice to start training ya', in something that ya'd enjoy," Lorden said, attempting to be considerate, and pick-apart his Squire's interest, for more than one reason.

[Asen]

Lorden's little joke eased the tension in Asen. She allowed a chuckle and a smile to escape her.

"I meant a grumpy old guy. Like, an eighty year old human or somethin'. An' you en't too much younger, only what, thirty years? Give or take a few. I'm barely an adult, physically. If I was human, I'd be... Eighteen or nineteen, maybe? That's a young adult human, yeah?"

She was definitely old, though. Her mother, at her age, had already gained wrinkles and aching joints. She briefly thanked her father for being of such a long-lived race. Still young, thank Siku.

The half-Dhani walked alongside her patron, staring at her feet as she went. She pursed her lips and shrugged at Lorden's next question about her caring. She did, but... not as much as she did before.

Still, the Order seemed to be punishing the two for their little shenanigans, even if they didn't know. She'd expected a much harsher sentence, though. Perhaps they didn't care?

She blushed heavily at the mention of their first 'date.' "I just... I'unno. Fist-fightin' an' stuff like that seems to come easy to me. I don't exactly like horses, but I gotta learn how to ride one, yeah? Archery en't my favorite, either. I do enjoy runnin', though. Kind of. Sprintin', not distance runnin'."

Asen shrugged again and glanced at the knight. "An' what about you? It en't fun unless we both enjoy it, y'know. What're you interested in? Swordfightin', clearly. You don't seem the type to like dirty fightin' much. Are you?"

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[Lorden Ladis]

20th of Spring, 515 AV

"I meant a grumpy old guy. Like, an eighty year old human or somethin'. An' you en't too much younger, only what, thirty years? Give or take a few. I'm barely an adult, physically. If I was human, I'd be... Eighteen or nineteen, maybe? That's a young adult human, yeah?" as Asen spoke, Lorden shook his head, with a bit of unashamed mirth glowing in his eyes, as he did. Goods gods, he was practically putting the moves on a teenager.

The knight blew the unsettled thought from his head, she was fifty... fifty. Asen was more than twice his age... yep, she was not a teen at all. Then again, that meant she was an old lady?

As a conflicted chill ran up his spine, Lorden listened as the blonde that walked beside him, answered his question regarding what she wanted to learn.

"I just... I'unno. Fist-fightin' an' stuff like that seems to come easy to me. I don't exactly like horses, but I gotta learn how to ride one, yeah? Archery en't my favorite, either. I do enjoy runnin', though. Kind of. Sprintin', not distance runnin'," the girl listed not only her likes, but dislikes, causing the twenty-year old that stretched his legs beside her, to smile considerately. Last season, the girl's patron had rolled off a horse's saddle, simply because he hadn't fastened the girth correctly. He liked horses, as ugly as some of them were, yet, he couldn't say he was too fond of riding them, either. His smile aside, the knight didn't say anything about horses, he couldn't have his new squire thinking he was incapable.

"Fraid' you're going to have ta' learn it all," -Lorden tilted his head to Asen, smiled, and continued talking, as obvious jest began to lace his voice- "But at least you'll have a good teacher."

Lorden inclined his head back to the path, that they were taking through the dormitories, a tick or two after speaking. As the forms, of the knight and his squire ducked through the doorway, of the dorms, Lorden listened as Asen turned his previous question back on him.

Was she being considerate, or just trying to keep the conversation going? Bah, either way, she 'obviously' wanted to talk to him.

"Dirty fighting, eh? I mean, I'd be open to just about anything; fightings' fighting..." -Lorden trailed off- "I've been doing some strength training lately, trying to build up my endurance. Figure I'll be dragging you along with that, after I teach ya' how to fasten up my armor."

"Speaking of it, did yer' other Patron ever teach ya' how to move in the stuff? Armor takes some learning, an' ya' definitely need to understand how not fall over in it." - the knight had an inqusitive thought, as he spoke casually - "Actually, what have you learned? I probably should've asked ya' that first, but oh well, I'm asking now,"

The man figured that he'd teach Asen how to swing and hold a sword, before he taught her how to move in steel. Still, it was important that he knew what his squire could do, and what he as her Patron, would need to show her.

A shot of pride ran up the knight's spine, as he began to mentally map out how he'd teach Asen. Maybe being a Patron wouldn't be so bad. Lorden glanced over at his Squire, with his right eye, as he walked.

There were worse things, than being paired with a pretty girl, for hours every day, after all.

[Asen]

Asen scoffed. She didn't like the idea of riding a horse again. First time she'd tried, she almost gotten trampled. Horses weren't exactly her best friends. She swung her arms around in front of her, palms slapping together before dropping back down.

Lorden's mention of having a 'good teacher' made one eyebrow lift elegantly. She punched him in the shoulder, chuckling. "Please. Don't let that one time at the Pit go to your 'ead. Just 'cause I kis-" she paused, lowering her voice and casting a glance behind and in front of them, "Just 'cause I kissed you doesn't mean you're a good teacher."

The half-Dhani's voice returned to its normal volume. "Although," she continued with a grin, "I s'pose it does... Either way, you 'aven't exactly taught me anythin' yet other than 'ow to kinda 'old a sword."

She listened quietly as they walked, crystal blue eyes fixed on the knight's face. Of course she'd have to fasten up his armor. She was a squire, he was her patron. It was kind of her job, after all. She swiveled her head to face the corridor in front of them.

"What've I learned? Well, I learned to not fight some guy with four arms. I learned that someone with four arms packs one Hai of a punch. I learned that a broken jaw really, really 'urts. 'Side from that I don't really know much. I 'aven't 'ad much contact with my last patron," she explained.

At that moment a thought came to her. "Maybe that's why they switched me over. Eh. I know that archery en't fun an' if you kick a guy in the balls it's gonna hurt a lot. Did that to whats-'is-name, Garland. Pretty funny, if you ask me."

The blonde bumped Lorden's shoulder playfully with her own in such a way that it would nudge him to the side. "Looks like you're gonna 'ave to teach me a lot o' stuff. Lucky you, eh?"

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[Lorden Ladis]

20th of Spring, 515 AV

Lorden laughed, as Asen all but voiced her displeasure on her face, as he confirmed that she'd have to learn how to ride a horse. The knight could sympathize, but it was still funny as petch, for some reason.

Lorden eyes flared, as Asen punched him in the arm. The knights left hand twitched beside his scabbard. Lorden took a breath, and forced a smile, as his heart slowed back down. It was just Asen.

"Glad to see you had fun," the swordsman said, as he swallowed, and choked out a laugh.

Lorden shuffled his shoulders, as Asen began to explain what she could and couldn't do, in response to his inquiry. The knight was only half-listening to the blonde, as his battle-scarred mind, only just began to drift back to reality.

"Looks like you're gonna 'ave to teach me a lot o' stuff. Lucky you, eh?" Asen bounced against Lorden, with her shoulder, as she spoke. This time the physical contact drug her Patron back to reality, rather than knocking him out of it.

The knight blinked.

"Looks like it. Lhex must love me," the man said with a laugh and a roll of the eyes. The swordsman was coming back to his slightly-stirred senses, as his calm was buttressed by Asen's presence.

With his train of thought returning to him, Lorden began to muse on what else he might have to settle before he started training Asen.

"So, I guess I need to tell you how we're going to be doing this. Basically, my schedule is yer' schedule. I work five days out of ten, those are yer' free days, unless I need ya', or ya' just want to come out and patrol with me you. Which I would definitely understand," - Lorden gave a coy smile and a chuckle, that were obviously meant to substitute a wink - "Honestly though, do what you want on yer' off-days, and if ya' get into trouble come find me."

Lorden took a tick to straighten out the words in his mind, or rather recall them. The knight was practically regurgitating, and summarizing, how Cyrus had gone about training him.

"But on my off-days, we're definitely going to be doing some training. So try to keep those free, I'll tell ya' my schedule every fortnight or so," - a flaw in Lorden's speech made itself apparent to the knight - "Course, if ya' ever need to take care of something, just tell me, I won't skin ya' or anything."

"I hope yer' ready. I'll be putting you through your paces, Asen," Lorden severely hoped he could do all that he had just promised. Having a Squire was a big responsibility, to have thrust on oneself, without having any input on the matter. He was training a future-knight, he was nurturing the future of the city. Goods gods he hoped he was ready.

Lorden smiled a bit shakily, as he checked his posture. The man knew he was nervous, he just hoped it didn't show.

"But before all that, do ye' have any questions?"