PM to join The Knight and the Swimmer [Edreina]

[Markus Andres]

Summer 12th 513 AV He was moving behind the very sound that was characteristic for Syliras. The sound most people connected to Syliras. The sound of an armoured knight making his way down through the stone walkways and halls. The constant clank clank clank. Markus was trailing a pair of knights making their way through the city. Not because he was sharing their duty, nor because he was particularly interested in their destination. He wanted to do something new, interesting. Without aim. Without planning it ahead. Just, action! Live life a little. They were just a means to get through the city faster. Moving closely behind a pair of knights, meant that they carved a path through the people who happened to be in the way. For the civilians knew to stay out of the knight's way when they were moving. One of them had noticed Markus trailing them. His trained eyes had thrown a worried glance to Markus' left hip, where he carried the bastard, that had been before he'd recognized Markus. A fellow knight, after all. After seeing the bastard, the dagger carried a little higher on the same side seemed puny after seeing the bastard. But the knights carried on and Markus continued on his merry way after them. The duo, with Markus tagging along, walked by the harbour and Markus decided to cut his bonds with the duo because something caught his gaze in the harbour. A female figure upon a ship had drawn his attention. If captured, Markus wouldn't be able to tell a single detail about the ship in question, for it was not the center of his attention. The female form moving about on the deck was. Markus recognized a training person when he saw one. But he didn't recognize this particular woman. Different. Interesting. His mind had just about caught up with his body when he was fast approaching the vessel. His mind tried telling him something about her style of fighting. Or rather, lack thereof, but it was promptly dismissed. Markus just found a good place by the harbour to quietly observe the woman. Markus might invite the woman for a friendly tussle should she impress him. Or perhaps invite her to prove herself at the pit. In either case, fun was to be had.

[Edreina]

OOCWhat date is this thread marked for? Nothing seemed to be worthy of Edreina's attention this morning. She had woken and swam from one end of the harbor to the other; the deck was swabbed; hold put into order. While tidying below deck, Edreina had come upon one of her oldest friends. Her whip had been sitting unused for so long that the first foot after the handle had taken to curling permanently. After nearly an hour of massaging the leather with sun-warmed oil - usually rubbed over her sails to keep them water proof and soft enough to face rough winds without tearing - and standing on the tip while tugging roughly upon the other end, the whip had straightened out most of the way. But, the only way to get out the kink was to work the whip itself until it limbered up overall. So that is how she ended up above deck, making a complete fool of herself for the first half a bell as the whip refused to do her bidding, flapping about lankly as the waves of motion were not carried through all the way. And then, the sailors who had been snickering at the redhead as she continued to whip her arm back and forth without avail, were struck dumb as she managed to get the whip to crack three times in rapid succession. There we go... From there, she moved in a flurry of spins and whirls that made her hair flutter behind her like a tongue of dancing flame, being nearly gold at the tips now... Wow it was really time that she cut it. The way to fight with a whip was to keep it in motion constantly. If it fell to the ground, still, someone could step on it or cut it. But, if she kept it spinning about herself, humans naturally shied away from its biting edge. Clad in naught but linen wrap about her chest and shorts, she made a queer sight, indeed. Eventually, she noticed a knight standing on the dock adjoining her ship, just on the edge of her vision. He was watching, surely, but for what reason? Hopefully, he was not here to fine her for her attire as another knight had threatened. Either way, Edreina continued to go through the motions, repeating her strikes but in new combinations as she attempted to see how changing direction at different times would affect the power of each strike.

[Markus Andres]

Markus didn't bother avert his gaze when his own green met her silvery-blue ones. Although briefly their eyes met, Markus was intrigued by the utter disinterest she held for him. She was so accustomed to people looking at her body that she no longer cared when she had an audience? His lips twisted into a smirk, such confidence in herself. Markus had hoped she would stop her training and inquire to his presence. But alas, it was not to be. He considered waiting her out and have her come to him, but he found he could not wait a moment longer. He had to speak to this woman. Markus approached the woman, he was not sure what to do or say, but he rarely second guessed himself. That was the bane of any action. Better to act than to await. Her perpetual motion made it hard to get her attention, but then again, Markus eyes had moved from her to the weapon of choice. A whip. Markus did not view such a weapon with fondness and best it be left at that. "My good lady, would you please cease your training for a moment? I must say, with such talent and dedication to your training, you'd make a fine squire and in time, a knight." Markus tone of voice was simple and pleasant. His eyes upon her head again. "You should consider it." He added shortly after. Knight and squires were always a great addition to the force. Markus would, if allowed, shape them into true knights himself. Warriors to be reckoned with.

[Edreina]

"My good lady, would you please cease your training for a moment? I must say, with such talent and dedication to your training, you'd make a fine squire and in time, a knight." The voice caused Edreina to smirk. Something about his manner of speaking was so foreign to her, but seemed to be commonplace among these land-striders. Regardless of her opinion of his speech, Edreina obliged, stopping her whip and turning to face the knight. Her head cocked to the side as he continued to speak, attempting to hide her mirth. Her? A knight? Oh, that was utterly laughable. Edreina could just see herself, clad in armor, red hair cut into a sever bob, shimmering sword at her hip. The visage in her mind was that of an entirely different being, someone that could never evolve from the barely dressed, free-spirited woman before him. "Sorry, but I don't plan on staying here," Edreina explained with the remnants of her earlier grin still clinging to her lips. "But thank you for the offer." Without a second glance at the man, Edreina spun and cracked the whip against her mast, smiling when it left a pale mark upon the seasoned wood. She was still years - and proper equipment - away from being able to mark someone protected by armor, denting or even slicing into the metal. For that, she would have to be able to put a lot more force into each stroke, and alter the whip itself. The latter, she realized, might be able to be accomplished while she was docked at Syliras, for their weaponsmith was legend even upon the seas. The erratic redhead made a mental note to inquire about possibility and price later on.

[Markus Andres]

Markus shrugged when she declined his offer. It was no huge loss. Probably didn't have the right mindset after all. Svefra, as he assumed she was, tended to think in different paths than regular people. Markus attention shifted from her face when she spun around and perhaps lingered further to the south, appreciating the finer things in life. Perhaps it was a loss that she didn't join them, after all. The thought brought a smile to his lips and he had to turn his face away and appeared to appreciate the boat. Ship. Markus didn't care much for the boat. Since the Sahovan campaign, he had had more than enough of sailing. It was mainly not to get caught staring at her rear. He preferred not getting a whip-lash scar across his face. "It is alright. Not everyone can handle the life." Markus intentionally replied. "Your choice of weapon is rather, peculiar. I don't even think we have any in the order who practized to wield a whip. But it is very interesting choice." He tilted his head and looked at the mast, noticing now the pale mark she had recently placed upon the solid wood. Somewhere inside of him, an eager beast lurked. Wanting to battle this woman. Learn how that strange weapon worked first hand. He tumbled a little with the question of how he should ask her for a spar or a fight. But Markus had never been one for subtle manipulations. "Let me be straight forward. I want to fight you." Markus let that statement hang in the air for a moment. See her reaction to such a blunt statement. "I have never met anyone who wielded a whip in a fight and that intrigues me and might be a long while before I might run into another person. So, what do you say, want to accompany me to the pit and have an old fashioned duel? Might also get to watch a couple of interesting fights." - Might be the first time Markus had ever asked a woman out on the premise of fighting each other and getting to watch other people kick each others asses. But there was a first time for everything.

[Edreina]

"Let me be straight forward. I want to fight you... I have never met anyone who wielded a whip in a fight and that intrigues me and might be a long while before I might run into another person. So, what do you say, want to accompany me to the pit and have an old fashioned duel? Might also get to watch a couple of interesting fights." Straightforwardness. Now that was something that piqued the redhead's interest. She absolutely hated ambling about with no purpose, so having the knight's stated so bluntly brought a smile to her lips and a keen gleam to her eye. Immediately, she began sizing him up. He had a sword and probably used that more often than anything else, so his hand-to-hand skills would likely be far from on par with others she had sparred with, or those that had taught her. Perhaps for once, she would have a fair fight... But then the armor caught her eye, perhaps beneath was a figure so wrought with muscle he could have decimated her with a flick of his finger. That was what the whip was for, right? "You'll have to lose the armor," she said, crossing the span between boat and dock with a single leap, taking a moment to regain her footing as her body rapidly adjusted to the still-earth, "since I've got none of my own to fight with." If the knight did not see this as her accepting her offer, than he must have been as dumb as lowlifes liked to mutter about in the Herald's Arms. Grinning brightly at the prospect of a new challenge, the Svefra motioned for him to lead before keeping pace, talking as they made their way to this "Fighter's Pit." Sounds like a place Raz would frequent... I sure hope he's not there! she thought belatedly, eyes widening a fraction at the reprimand she would likely receive. In her mind it went along the lines of, Stupid female. Fighter's Pit no place for you. Is place for big tough male like me! Ok, so maybe the mental chest-puffing and bull-snorting was an exaggeration, but he would probably not be happy with her, if he found out. "So, we will start with my whip against your fists, aye? And then you can bring in a weapon of your choice." Innocent as ever, Edreina grinned up at him, red hair swirling like a pennant behind her. Beating a knight? Yeah. THAT would be cool...

[Markus Andres]

Markus nodded in agreement when she said he would have to lose the armour. It was only fair, her whip stood no chance against his armour. Although feeling a whip tear into his flesh was an idea he did not find comforting. It just made things more interesting. Upped the ante. He refrained from making a crude joke about her just wanting him to undress. He might be an aggressive fighter, he was not as aggressive in his social life. Markus scratched his chin. Feeling stubbles there, a little surprised that he had forgotten to shave in the last couple of days. Perhaps it was high time he either shaved or laid the foundation for a proper beard. Markus was a little surprised by the reaction of the woman. Did not shy away from combat with a trained knight. Ready to take up the challenge and make her own demands for the fight. A strong willed woman knowing what she wanted. It was almost impossible for Markus not to be attracted to her. "Hmm. Would that mean if I fought unclothed, could I require you to do likewise?" Markus said, looking quite serious. He wasn't, it was just a terrible joke. Even he had to admit that. "In either case, sounds acceptable." They continued their walk, Markus expecting a backlash for the terrible joke. Her question, regarding whip against fist however was not something he wanted to try. Markus' confidence told him that his superior tactical mind should be able to work a way around the whip and get in close and dish out the pain. But Markus would rather not have whiplash marks all over his body. Markus scratched his chin again. Finding the stubbles there oddly thought-inspiring to scratch. But he was blunt with his dismissal of her idea. "No. I do not like that idea. I am not fond of having my body covered in scars from a whip. Let me get a shield to begin with and the fight is more equal and thus more challenging plus interesting for the both of us." Except Markus was confident that he could block most attacks with the shield. At least enough to close the distance and disarm her. "So, do you know where you're going next? I mean. Since you don't plan on sticking around in Syliras for much longer."

[Edreina]

"Hmm. Would that mean if I fought unclothed, could I require you to do likewise?" At his words, the Svefra laughed and motioned to her already minimal attire, shaking her head so that her red locks danced playfully. The shorts, well they offered little to no protected so there was no point in removing them. The chest wrap was all but a part of Edreina, so it would definitely not be coming off. At his insistence upon using a shield, Edreina nodded her agreement, a thoughtful smile perched upon her lips. A shield... Well that would certainly put a tear in her sails. She would have to move more, constantly trying to flank him and get around that shield. It would be interesting and challenging, for sure, but would Edreina be able to hold her own? The shield gave him near-impunity, but would be cumbersome and might even impair his vision depending upon how he fought with it. At his next question, Edreina looked up thoughtfully, chewing on her lip. Where would she be going next? Somewhere accessible by sea, obviously, but where? "Depends upon how I feel at the end of the season," she admitted with a wry smile. Surely this man knew of the Svefra and their insubstantial, ever shifting minds. Marked by Laviku, Edreina felt the Suvan coursing through her veins and was thereby mentally effected by its tides and currents. Or, that's what they said. Maybe it was just a way her people excused their consistently erratic behavior. "I'm considering Riverfall, a friend of mine was heading there last time I checked," Edreina's heart lurched oddly at the thought of Uleru, when was the last time she had thought of the little Otani, someone she had considered to be her best friend before Razkar came along. "But I might be homesick by then, in which case I would set sail for the Anchorage Flotilla." No explanation of this location was given for the woman was sure that everyone had to know about the floating city of the Svefra. "My name is Edreina, Edreina Whitewave, by the way," the woman could no even begin to hide the pride that came with her podname. "And yours?" she nodded as he introduced himself, smiling faintly. To her, family names were so lackluster in comparison. For a moment, she walked in silence until a question sprang from her lips of its own accord, "So why did you decide to become a knight?"

[Markus Andres]

Markus found her laughter refreshing from the gruff laughter of superior knights who had seen a battle too many. It brought a natural smile to his lips and happy that his joke had been accepted. The young knight had been given a free pass to look at her body when she motioned for it, something he took advantage of, his eyes going over her features. Now much closer than he had been earlier. Her clothes, minimalistic. Covering only the most interesting parts of her physique. There was not much left for him to demand her to take off should he make real of his joke. - Which he had no intention of, the prospect of fighting naked against a whip... A prospect he wasn't very fond of. "Point taken." Was the simple response to her gesture. Her response was similar to what Markus would expect from a Svefra. Their plans made up on a whim. Taking them wherever they feel like. It was a free life, but without purpose. Without structure it bore no meaning. Riverfall, home of the Akalak's. Markus had visited the similar, but opposite gendered, Konti's on Mura. The difference would probably be monumental. A warrior race with enough muscle to make even Markus seem small. Plus, dudes would be everywhere and the competition for the rare females would be fierce. Didn't sound like a place for Markus. "Were you born on the flotilla?" He knew of the place, never visited or even seen the place. Couldn't tell more about it than it was a collection of ships bound together to make a large city like structure. Markus' aversion to the sea would make any trip to that city about as likely as him getting struck by lightning. "Markus Andres, syliran knight. Pleased to meet you." Markus said with a truly warm smile. Although Svefra and not interested in joining the knights. Edreina was a nice person. Lively and had an easy way to laughter. That and she were attractive and wore little clothes also meant Markus was interested in spending more time around her. The next question was easy to answer and without missing a beat he responded. "I didn't." Markus answered truthfully and walked in silence for a few seconds. Letting her figure that one out. He would chuckle a little when he decided her poor brain had been struggling with the answer for long enough. "My father signed me up to the knights when I was ten years old. So I never had a single moment where I decided to become a knight. Most of our knights and squires chose or were born into greatness, I had it thrust upon me." Markus said. Sounding very pleased with the decision of his father but a chuckle escaped his lips before he continued. "That sounded a bit too arrogant, I apologize."

[Edreina]

"My father signed me up to the knights when I was ten years old. So I never had a single moment where I decided to become a knight. Most of our knights and squires chose or were born into greatness, I had it thrust upon me... That sounded a bit too arrogant, I apologize." Edreina smiled slightly, shaking her head. "You're a knight. I would venture that you've done just enough for you to be afforded some arrogance from time to time. Only thing I can be arrogant about is the fact that I can out-swim everyone in this city, and can cuss in Fratavan better than most men working these docks." She had heard scraps of her native tongue, broken and channeled in ways that no river should be, spoken merely for the sake of being able to say the same curse in a second language. From her lips, Fratavan words flowed like the waves that washed upon the shore, quick and sharp in their pronunciation, but with rhythm, with an emotion other than annoyance. For a moment, she thought upon his decision... well... lack there of, really, to become a knight. He said that his father had thrust such a fate upon him, however... "And... You say that you never really chose to become a knight, but I have to disagree. At some point, such a path would have made sense to you, would have to have been chosen by you. Otherwise, you would have fled and taken on another life... Or, you would be in the Herald's Arms each night, seeking comfort in smoke and silky skin. Yet, here you are." The abruptly philosophical redhead motioned to him now, clad in armor and very much the vision of what she thought a knight to be. Perhaps she was speaking out her arse, but it was how she saw things and it made for a way to get to know her new friend a bit better if she was proven wrong. "What is this Fighter's Pit, anyway? I'm afraid I've never heard of it... And I thought that the knights did not allow fighting within the city?" A head full of gleaming red hear was cocked slightly, a sign of her curiosity as she turned to the clanking armor clad fellow beside her. An unanswered question from earlier popped up into her head rather abruptly, and she felt the need to address it as soon as he finished his reply to her last question. "Oh! And I was born upon the Flotilla. Have you ever been there?" When his negatory came, unless he decided to lie, her lips would fall open with the faintest of pops. To her, it was utterly absurd that any well-traveled individual not make a stop at the beating heart of her people. There was so much there for anyone to experience, avoiding at least a day there should have been a crime.