Difficulties [Full, no new entries please]

[Kamrynn Sleightyr]

"Well," Kamrynn began with a grin. "Seems like this matter is settled then. It's just as Sir Wystern and Geoffrey have said, if you've skill in massage, Soothing Waters would be the best place to look for a job."

Kamrynn turned to Geoffrey now, his face unreadable. He remembered what it was like being a squire, and he remembered all to well the idealism Geoffrey saw the world through. After all, the world was only just beginning to rob Kamrynn of that same rosy outlook -the belief that good and evil were as simple to distinguish between as black and white. It pained him that he had already become so cynical.

"And Geoffrey, you're right, of course. The road to knighthood is a harrowing experience unlike any other. Many attempt it, few make it, and none pass their final test unscathed. Forgive Sir Wystern and myself if we seem a bit jaded or irreverent; we respect the gravity of our positions and duties fully, and perform them with honor and pride to the best of our abilities. It's just..." He fumbled with his words for a moment. "It's just that, a bit of humor and sarcasm here and there helps us cope with the troubles we face." He beamed mischievously at Wystern. "It's plain to see, I'm sure, that some fare better than others."

[Nealle]

Nealle listened to Geoffrey, though his words seemed to pass right through her. Rather than learning from what he said, or even taking note of it, she instead found herself wondering about the young man. He seemed to have changed since the last time they met. Many things could have happened since, but he was quieter, less drawn to her, maybe distracted. She then remembered he wanted to speak to her in private. Nealle hadn't the faintest clue what possibly was needing to be said that his own fellow allies (being knights and a soon-to-be knight) could not hear. Nealle found herself very curious. "It must be so troublesome being a knight. Please tell me that the people respect and honor you for your hard work. I don't know what I would do if I found out that all your self-sacrificing hard work would be punished without justice." Without a warning, Nealle stood up and approached the two knights and wrapped her arms, three for each, around their necks and hugged them gently. She truly did respect what they did, even for what little they had already done for her. Geoffrey went out of his way to greet the woman in Syliras. Wystern took her and guided her around the town to go sight seeing... in a sense. Kamrynn, who seemed too innocent to be a knight, just had a peaceful, calming presence about him. Nealle wished she knew more of him. After several seconds, Nealle released the light hugs on the two men and stood up tall, still dressed only in the night-gownish chemise and smiled lightly. She was happy, or at least believed in happiness and believed she had obtained a small portion of it at that moment. "Soothing Waters then? Sounds more pleasant than the Tooth and Claw. Just hearing that name gives me goosebumps."

[Wystern]

"I didn't kill until I became a squire. I never liked the feeling of taking a life, but I always did enjoy the feel of fighting. Still for me it's what I enjoy one second, and resent the next. Eventually, it simply hurts to care...and so I stopped. I stopped caring what people thought I do, who, or what I was. The dry humor brightens up my day. The alcohol helps me sleep at night. I'm not sorry for what I am." Wystern said shamelessly, in reply to Kamrynn's comment. So much of that was true.

Startled by Nealle's sudden move, Wys's hand swiftly found its way to the hilt of the blade. Wys rolled his eyes whilst cursing the instincts he developed in the line of work. Hoping she didn't notice, Wys subtly laid his wrist on the string that connected the sword to the belt. "What is wrong with me?" he mumbled to himself, knowing full-well the answer to that, and banished the thought from his head.

[Nealle]

[[OOC: Is this thread done for?]]

[Wystern]

[OOC: Geoff's turn to post, ask him.]]

[Kamrynn Sleightyr]

Wystern's explanation elicited a knowing nod from Kamrynn. He suspected as much -every knight had a different way of coping, Wystern was one of the few who could recognize and admit to what got him through his day. Kamrynn's own methods he would never admit, even to himself.

Now though, Nealle rose from the bed and stepped with such grace to where the two knights stood that Kamrynn could scarcely believe she was blind at all. Then she opened her arms to hug him.

The knight flushed a deep crimson as he and Wystern were enveloped in Nealle's embrace. Even the boy's half Vanthan eyes were coaxed into a color change, shifting from brown to a very pale grey. She could feel him tense up as the muscles bunched involuntarily under his skin -his reaction was in stark contrast to Wystern's defensive instincts.

"We're, well-" He fumbled awkwardly with words, having forgotten most of his common, as well as just about every other thought in his head. He couldn't for the life of him remember what they were talking about. Something about knights and respect. "We're well treated in town. Though, if the rest of the citizens here were half as kind as you and a tenth as lovely; Syliras would truly be a paradise."

That thought reminded him of something, a question that hadn't been clear. "Lady Nealle, what brings you to Syliras, anyway?"

[Geoffrey]

[OOC: Sorry guys, busy week for me] Geoffrey kept listening to the ongoing conversation. In the middle of it, he noticed Kamrynn seemed to stare at him, wondering what he was thinking. Then Kamrynn told him that the road to knighthood is a harrowing experience and that he should forgive them, because humor was how they coped. Geoffrey nodded. Inside he was a tad bit glad because, they were worse habits out there than humor. He then turned to Wystern to hear what he had to say. It seemed Wystern never liked killing but he like fighting, which was something very understandable in Geoffrey's mind. Fighting was not Geoffrey's favorite hobby, but he was not going to hate someone because they liked it. And, he had never killed someone , but he imagined how hard it would be to end someone's life. Then, as he said the alcohol helped him sleep he frowned. He didn't want to think that a Syliran Knight was a drinker. Humor was one thing, but alcohol was another. Then, Nealle began to speak saying that she hoped people respected the knights for everything they do. Geoffrey only responded by saying "I do not know the opinions of every citizen so I can't say anything." He then watched as Nealle got up and hugged Wystern and Kamrynn. He smiled. She seemed to respect the knights very much, which was good to know. Knowing people respected the knights work, in Geoffrey's opinion made all the work worth it. Then they got back to talking about Nealle and what she could work as. It seemed it was decided that it was best for her to go to the Soothing Waters. Geoffrey thought it was a good idea, it was obvious that people should work at things they are good at it. He heard her say that it sounded more pleasant then the Tooth And Claw. Geoffrey, for a brief moment, but one of his hands on his head and shook his head. It was a pet store. And it was giving goosebumps to Nealle. Then all his focus turned on to Nealle as Kamrynn asked what brought her here.

[Nealle]

Nealle slowly lowered herself back next to Geoffrey as the knights talked. Every word uttered by Kamrynn and Wystern was felt incredible, just hearing the stories of the knights, even though their stories weren't even those of adventures or impressive tasks, she was impressed. Perhaps it was the gentleness they seemed to hold onto, which they obviously gave to her without question, even though she was a stranger and they had experienced some rather grim and unpalpable situations. "I couldn't imagine... taking life I mean. I don't think I could, even if it was to save myself, I'm not sure I could force myself to do it." Nealle stopped suddenly as her face shifted slightly. It was her brother, of course she didn't personally see what had happened, but he had killed so many, he was such a fierce warrior, six arms, six blades, all as deadly as the rest. Nealle was saved time and time again on their exhausting journey to Syliras, saved one life by slaughtering so many others. Of course, most would argue that wicked men, wild beasts, their lives weren't to be compared against an innocent's, but she felt miserable knowing her brother would occasionally have sleepless nights because of his raging nightmares, screams of terror and pain. Just for her, he suffered so much. She was like a plague on him. "A plague..." It wasn't until Kamrynn called her name 'Lady Nealle' that she seemed to come to. She heard then as the knight, Wystern's personal friend, asked her of how she came to Syliras. She was silent a moment as one of her right hands slowly lifted to her face, hiding the scar with slender fingers as her palm rested against her cheek. She forced a faint, yet obviously false, smile to the three of them as she tried to find the words to talk. She didn't want to tell, but that was rude in this place, wasn't it? "I... I... I needed a new life." Nealle did not continue farther, that was all she was going to say. If he pressed on, Kamrynn might get a few details, but it would come with a significant resurfacing of pain in the young Eypharian woman. "Sorry..."