Difficulties [Full, no new entries please]

[Nealle]

Another knight? What were the chances? Nealle couldn't help but smile at the crowd here. This man, the newest acquaintance, was very polite, very enjoyable to be around, and he didn't mention her six arms, her blindness, or the scar across her face yet. This was the first time in days she met someone that didn't particularly seem shocked. He was, however, embarrassed for mistaking her for being somebody's soon-to-be wife, perhaps that made up for it. Nealle did not face Wystern, but her gaze seemed to be locked towards the corner of the wall, not particularly at or away from anybody. "I'm sorry Wystern. I do not intend to bestow glamor on you for your title. I thought it was an honor to have a title you rightfully earned, but perhaps I am still unsure of the customs of humans. You have my sincere apology." Nealle was serious too. Where she was from, rank, title, social status, it all seemed to be all that mattered. If you were royal, you almost demanded to be called it. Humans were so strange. Nealle did not see Kamrynn's extended hand, as anyone that knew her even a little would expect. Instead of offering it to him, she would slowly turn and sit on the bed next to Geoffrey (when I say next, I mean at least three feet of distance in between them) and listened to the Knights talk. If this Kamrynn was telling the truth, Wystern seemed to be in quite the strange spot. Nealle would have never had guessed he was like this. Sure she could often smell a faint lingering of alcohol, but to think he would drink to avoid work and avoid work to drink was just shocking. It was even more shocking because Nealle couldn't hardly stand alcohol. She got sick from it fairly easily. Nealle turned her head to face Geoffrey and smiled before whispering, mainly not to disrupt the Knights' chatter. "Do you feel well Geoffrey? You aren't saying much. It concerns me." Nealle waited for a moment before realizing Kamrynn was talking to her now, asking for her name was it? "Nealle, I'm Eypharian." Nealle smiled as he then turned to Geoffrey, he was just going to talk to everyone at once it would seem.

[Geoffrey]

Geoffrey noticed that this Sir Wystern didn't talk to him. He seemed to examine Geoffrey like he was some animal in captivity. Geoffrey didn't look it. But he kept his mouth shut, not wanting to sound like a whiny, pampered brat. He then heard the man talk about Sir Wystern and well, Geoffrey was not impressed. He shook his head as the man talked, wondering what kind of knights the order were now accepting, not good ones for certain. He heard the man introduce himself as Kamrynn Sleightyr, a knight of Slyiras and ask Nealle for her name. He then turned the Geoffrey and asked if he was Tenner's knight. "I am Sir Kamrynn," He replied, making sure to address him with respect since he was of a higher position than Geoffrey. The man then commented on how he had heard good things about Geoffrey and asked if he liked the order. "Thank you very much Sir Kamrynn. And I find the order to be exactly what I hoped it would be." Geoffrey seemed to be happy and glad to meet these two knights but they were some thoughts in his head he was really focusing on. He heard Nealle whisper to him if he was alright. Before Geoffrey could respond, she gave Kamrynn her name. After that he leaned close to her and whispered "I would like to talk to you later, in private."

[Wystern]

Wys let out a deep sigh and skeptically looked at Kam. "You have gotta be kidding me. And believe it or not, I do my guard duty, thank you very much. I already know my schedule. And what do they want to talk to me about anyway? 'Wys we heard how you broke up that fight in The Stallion, so here's a slap on the wrist for slacking off?'" He said mockingly. He wouldn't get discharged with that. Discharged, that's funny. Nobody gets discharged. When someone gets discharged-which doesn't happen often, to say the least- they were never seen again in Syliras. Probably exiled or dead. Most likely dead, every Knight knows too much about the order to be free just like that. Wys decided to keep those conspiracy theories to himself. He will just get a talk from his former master and be let go. Again. It was only scary the first three times.

"And I don't drink on the job. Where did they get that one from?" Rather he couldn't. The Ale can't be contained in a water skin, and he was not going to carry around a barrel. Funny how a way to get rid of nightmares ended up in a way to cut boredom which lead to this. Reality check, it seemed like a good time to cut the booze, at least for a while. Still, he didn't go to The Stallion just to drink. People talk, they talk a lot, one does well to listen. It's amazing how many would-be-thieves got caught in that tavern, and yet they never learn.

Wys wasn't your typical Knight. In fact the only two things he had in common with the rest of them was real combat experience and a Windoak crest.

[Kamrynn Sleightyr]

The beautiful Eypharian woman made no move to accept Kamrynn's extended hand, and he lowered it sheepishly to his side. His heart hit the floor, and so did his ego. The woman didn't so much as make eye contact with him, either, which in truth, was probably for the best. Despite his best and most chivalrous intentions and efforts, he caught his eyes drifting. He bit his tongue at each offensive, and eventually resolved to staring at the floor.

He did notice though that she bore a long and painful looking scar across her face. While in his mind it did nothing to mar her beauty, it bothered him that she had been made to suffer so in times long past.

As for Wystern, well, Kamrynn raised his hands in a playful surrender. "Hey, hey! Sorry Crow, I wasn't trying to attack you, I'm just pointing out what the latest gossip is. As far as knights go, you're as good as any and better than most." He turned back to young Geofrrey and Nealle. "I've learned a lot about how nasty the world is from Wystern, Geoffrey. He may seem a bit callous and uncouth, but you'd do well to pick his brain when you get a chance. But anyway, there's probably a better time and place to talk about such things."

With that in mind, Kamrynn gently pushed the topic towards happier subjects. "Well Lady Nealle, you have us all at a bit of a disadvantage. In this room alone, knights seem to be a dime a dozen, but what does someone like yourself do for a living?"

[Nealle]

The business of knights seemed to be a very serious one indeed, or most of the times at least. She may not have understood the workings, the mechanics, all the gears and made the whole system work, but she was able to understand enough. Orders came from the top, and those below were to follow them or suffer consequences. It wasn't too different from home. Anyway, with Kamrynn and Wystern preoccupied discussing Wystern's actions and possible punishment, which he didn't seem to be worried about, Geoffrey leaned over and returned a whisper to Nealle, asking for a private meeting sometime soon. Nealle responded with a slow short nod of approval. "Disadvantage? I believe I'm the one disadvantaged here. I'm just relying on your moralities at this point." Nealle giggled lightly, she knew none of the three would try anything. If any one of them did, she was quite certain the other two wouldn't hesitate to tackle him. She felt incredibly safe. However, Kamrynn did ask her a question, one which she didn't particularly want to answer, knowing, or at least expecting, Wystern to lecture her about it. "I have no profession as of yet to be honest. I've arrived here about nine days ago, and I admit I have never worked before in my life. I don't suppose you know of anything a blind Eypharian woman would be able to perform and support herself... preferably something decent." She felt the need to toss in that last part. She'd rather try to tough the wilderness in her blind state than become a prostitute for a living. The thought of it bothered her, knowing from her brother's wife that it was a very difficult profession to escape from. "If only I could fight, I might try to be a knight like yourself." She smiled sweetly as she faced Kamrynn, it was a joke. She had no desire to be a knight, to learn to fight, or anything like that. There was a problem though, she had no income, and she definitely needed one soon.

[Wystern]

"Kam, I'll go see the higher-ups tomorrow and get a talking and my slap on the wrist. Now, on the other hand, I'm going to find the person who snitched on me. Boy oh boy, when I find them-" He stopped as the anger was getting hold of him. Wys had something to say to the higher-ups as well. He was confident in his abilities, evidently so were they if they still kept him. The Windoak knew the flaws he had, and it stil branded him. Speaking of, he needed to talk to the tree again. "Watch me not get punished. At all. Again. You make it sound like I'm the worst of all the other Knights, even those who screw up daily basis."

"Surely you must have some skills that separate you from the rest, Nealle."

[Kamrynn Sleightyr]

(((Guess I'll go... I think it's Geoffrey's turn though.. Geoffrey where are you?)))

"I don't know how you do it, Crow." Kamrynn wondered. It was true, Wystern seemed to get away with a lot of things the other knights wouldn't dare to try, and maybe that was why he got away with it. He dared to defy. "And I certainly feel bad for the tattle-teller. Don't go thinking it was me, either! We go way back; I owe my life to you and you to me."

With that settled, they both turned their attention back to their gracious host.

Kamrynn's cheeks burned a deep scarlet as she added the last part, "Preferably something decent." As if he would suggest anything otherwise! "Lady Nealle, we live in a harsh world, but it would be a terrible thing to see you forced to fight. I couldn't stomach the thought of your delicate hands stained red with blood -they were not meant for such things"

He gestured to Geoffrey, and then to Wystern. "And alas, do you really desire to put me and my good friends out of work? We knights fight so that kind, gentle souls like yourself do not have to. Besides, what would poor Wystern and I be without our knighthood? A common drunk and a mama's boy! Isn't that right, Crow?" He giggled to himself.

The young knight's face took on a thoughtful expression then, as he mulled her question around in his head. Finally, he continued. "As for what a blind Eypharian woman could do to make a living..." He grinned. "Well, I think she could do whatever it was she set upon herself to accomplish. There are all manner of jobs here in Syliras, and naught a one comes to mind that I feel you could not do. So, perhaps with Wystern's advice in mind, the question becomes what do you want to do?"

[Nealle]

Nealle listened to the conversation between Kamrynn and Wystern enthusiastically. A smile was locked in her lips as she barely contained her laughter. The two of them sounded almost exactly like children, bickering and threatening and making a huge fuss over such a small thing (according to Wystern at least). It was almost sad when the attention was turned on her. Wystern was first to speak, mentioning something about skills. Did she have skills? She had none that she would consider grand. She pondered a moment, thinking way back in life. Her parents kept her quite hidden, pampered, and made sure she lifted little more than what she wore, it was partially because she was blind, but even more so because she was supposed to be beautiful, stay beautiful, and marry somebody of a higher status to help lift her family a little more (not that they were low at all really). She just couldn't really think of anything she had going for her skill-wise. When Kamrynn began to speak, she lifted two hands to her face, as if to look at them, then lightly brushed her fingers against her cheeks. "Delicate he says." Nealle remained silent for many more moments before offering a response, or a question really. "What were they made for Sir Kamrynn (She was not bothered calling him 'Sir' since he already seemed to enjoy calling her 'Lady'). I have learned a little with a sword, but even not enough that I could fight blind." Nealle giggled lightly as the light-hearted Kamrynn joked about her 'putting him out of work'. "You think I could do your job as well as you and Wystern here? Perhaps your job is easier than I had assumed." Nealle was, of course, joking with the younger of the two knights, even if only by a year. "To answer your question, or assumption. I suppose I spent nearly every day using my hands to help my brother relax. He wasn't much of one to rest or take lazy days, he preferred the laboring jobs more than those softer jobs. He has always been strong, but would never rest unless I was there to rub his shoulders." Nealle shrugged lightly. Massage was not a skill in her eyes. It wouldn't help grow food nor defend a city. It couldn't help in negotiation nor to raise children or even animal care. Perhaps she could just start a new profession. Certainly there was somebody that could use a blind woman as an assistant.

[Geoffrey]

Geoffrey frowned as he heard Wystern and Kamrynn discuss. Wystern had threatened the person who ratted him out, which was a bad thing. It may not seem good, but the man obviously wanted competent knights guarding the city, not drunks. Now Kamrynn said he wouldn't do that because he owed Wystern one. That was also bad, he wouldn't do the right thing because he owed some man something. When Kamrynn began to speak, Geoffrey thought about what he was saying. It was a cruel world they lived in. It was sad to think about. People all over the world had to take up arms to defend themselves. Though, it seemed Kamrynn preferred that Nealle didn't take up arms. He made a comment about how he couldn't stomach blood on her hands. Geoffrey didn't like the idea, but it would be better than seeing her as a corpse. He listened to them talk for a bit, and one thing stuck out. Nealle said that they made the job sound easy. "It may sound easy Nealle, but to qualify you have to be competent in at least two kinds of weapons, using your shield and riding a horse, and have served a knight for a number of years. Then you must go on a quest, given by the windoak, that tests your ability in the field. " Geoffrey explained "Please excuse me, I seem to be ranting on." He then again listened to the group talk for a bit as Nealle began to talk about her what she did. She said, her brother would work, and to help him relax, she would help him by using her hands. "If you will allow me to intrude, I know quite a number of people who could have need for the use of someone who knows the art of massage." He mentioned.

[Wystern]

Wys smirked when he heard of her taking up that short sword. He loved to fight, but he hated to kill, it was ironic. In fact he sort of admired the six arms. It was entirely up to her to make the decision to join them. He saw men and women kill each other before, in this world nothing that morbid would surprise him; not even a blind swords-woman. He gave a short laugh at that thought. Snapping back to reality, it was funny how everyone assumed he wasn't sober. "Damn it Kam, we will have a talk after this," Wys whispered to himself.

As the squire mentioned the Windoak, Wys intuitively felt the crest on the back of his neck. In retrospect, to anyone else, would that look like a tattoo? Wys used two mirrors once to see what it looked like. Just below the hair line, right on the backside, there was a tree-shaped mark. Kamrynn had one too probably. The Knights just don't talk about it. Some view the mark as a symbol of a high status, the others view it as if they were slaves getting branded by the new owner. Neither is wrong.

"Ahem, I think we can just take you Soothing Waters. It's a bath and massage place, they, of all people, should have a use for another pair of hands. Or three in your case."