Blunt Steel VS. Sharp Spells (Arclite&Eruraina)

[Arclite]

Ethan took notices of their surroundings as well. Growing up in the slums taught him a few giveaways that pick pockets do. Often they would be looking in multiple directions, or at someone else if it were a teamwork deal. His dark eyes did look tired though. It was quiet for the most part, maybe they were just scared of what would befall them if they tried anything, at least for now anyway.
Once they were out of the city, Ethan cracked his neck. The Wayward Knight had to prepare himself for the ride, it would take hours just to reach the woods of their destination and that was with a hard ride. So who is to know exactly how long they would be stuck on their steeds.
"Hah, is that so? Not being here seems unlike you if your sire demands it, lass." His tone was playful and sly. Even if it was or wasn't her style, he didn't mind. Some just followed the king out of fear, or respect. He saw neither. The stockades never scared him and the Kings value was far from respectful. Sure he may have treated him with kindness briefly, but what happens when he is no longer amusing to him? What happens when the king shows his true wrath to him? He had a whole court against him after all. The King has no reason to -not- hang him when he is no longer worth it. He would please his nobles and the families and be able to cover everything up just like he has to so many outside of the capital. May the creator be with him that day..because Ethan would rip his court asunder before he was taken down. The king may have titles, wealth and guards whom would die for him, but Ethan had an unnatural talent at what he did. That is what they will get for bringing in a rabid wolf into the den of sheep.

"Alright then. Fighting in the fog will be fun..." His tone became a little dark as Ethan couldn't conceal the grin that grew upon his lips.
"Can you manipulate fog?" The 'Street Rat' asked, actually curious what all she can do. Magic was foreign to him. He heard stories of wizards even being able to control time, but what separated fact from fiction?
"How many magic wielders are in the capital also? Ye be the first one I ever met..I 'ave heard of them manipulating time, wielding the elements..even making Dragons their pets..Though the last I doubt, Dragons are powerful creatures. Not slaves."
His questions didn't go too far, though his interest was genuine. He wanted to know if their skill was forged, or birthed. His talent with a blade started right out of the gate of him picking up his first cutlass at a young age. His father was against it but of course, boys will be boys. When his father walked in, he noticed that he handled it with a talent, never nicking anything and keeping his attacks tight and precise.

Staring at her, he smirked and held up his cloak that seemed to be home made, it was dark dark brown with a blood red crest in the middle of the back.
"Aye, I brought mine as well..Fit for a king. My mother sewn it for me..She asked me what our family crest should be, so I told her the rune on my blade would fit." The crest matched the markings on his black blade. Either way, he was prepared for the dampness and possible cold.
"Careful with that cloak though, it may cost ye yer life..always slows me down when I gotta move quick. Makes ye wonder why some captains of the Knight guard wear capes and cloaks in the battle field. It has no use but to get in the way of momentum and trip up several attacks."
With a chuckle, he winked. "Aye, Though maybe I could snuggle up to ye lass, eh? Ye know you may just like it if you got close enough. As I said, what other Knight is more worthy than I beside Sir Dante? Sir Dante is of worth but his age and yours seem to be apart from one another..tis a shame, you would have made a grand pair."

Rubbing his eyes, The unusual Knight nodded but continued on. It wasn't long before they found themselves entering the wooded area, a meek trail led them toward the mountains and they were getting closer, but it was also getting dark out.
"Ye think we should cease our ride this evening lass? Or we could continue on. Either way I am capable. Once the blood gets flowing, I shall be in the game to win." He winked at her again, smirking.

[Eruraina]

Briella looked at him when his tone became dark when he spoke about fighting in the fog, but she watched as a smile break across his lips. At first to her it seemed that he would be thrilled about the idea of fighting in the fog, but was taken completely off guard when he asked if she could manipulate the fog. She raised an eyebrow as he spoke, going on about how he had heard of those that could make dragons their pets, and almost seemed passionate about dragons being powerful creatures, not slaves. Briella didn't answer Ethan's question right away, but looked towards the path ahead.
"It seems you don't know that much about magic, but I'm not surprised. Most don't unless they specifically look into it. It's not taught as common knowledge. There are different kinds of magic, and different kinds of magic users. Warlocks, wizards, druids, necromancers... The kind that would be able to manipulate fog is either a wizard or a druid. To put it simply, a wizard can command elements and cast spells through chanting, pentagrams, and concoctions. Warlocks are mostly summoners, they can cast spells by summoning a power or being to turn into the spell they wish to cast. A druid is the mixture of the two, a wizard that can also summon. Necromancers are like druids who ended up dealing in dark arts."

"With that in mind... the best way to describe me would be a low level warlock. I can't summon anything I wish, but have to make a contract with the specific being or power," she said, setting the reins of her horse on the saddle infront of her. She then used her free hands to remove her right glove, which as always had bandages around it. She removed the bandages to reveal the black mark of what looked like an eye on her palm. "This is the mark of one of my seven summons that I have contracts with. One thing you were right about, is that dragons are very powerful creatures, very special. They cannot be turned into pets or slaves, but if one asks politely, they might allow you to borrow their power for a price. This eyes represents the eye of Achor the Great, one of the strongest dragons. Using this summon, though, prevents me from summoning anything for a large amount of time and weakens me greatly. This is what I used against the Necromancer before, which is why I was so weak. I also have one other dragon, called the dawn dragon," now she wrapped her hand back up and put her glove back on as she spoke. "Nowhere near as powerful, but my favorite summon because, call it, he is my guardian angel in a way. But that's where it gets complicated. But I cannot command any of them to do anything, really. it's all on request. Now does that ease your curiosity? So no, I can't manipulate the fog."

Briella glanced over when he held up his cloak, and raised both eyebrows when he said his mother had made it for him. Though she quickly looked ahead.
"That is a fine cloak. Mine is nowhere near as fancy. I prefer my travel cloak to be plain, since it would likely get worn on the beaten path. Though, as amazing as it sounds, I must agree with you. I'm not fond of the hassle of capes in battle, either. Good for keeping warm, bad for a fight," she said. "Though very good work your mother has done on that cloak. Must be nice to have a mother willing to do such things for you. Are you parents proud of you for your... accomplishment? Or did the original situation that brought you here not make them very happy, considering," Briella asked.

The lady knight glared when Ethan suggested snuggling up to her, and then mentioned Dante. She shook her head.
"Only if you would prefer to have a knife in your back sooner by my hand rather than later by some other noble," she said in reply, guarded sarcasm in her voice. "As for Sir Dante, don't speak of such notions. He is happily married, and has a child. We are good friends, childhood friends almost. More like brother and sister considering we've both grown up as single children. Though we make a good fighting team, we have not been teamed up since his marriage, as per request of his wife."

They rode for awhile, most of the day in fact. Barely taking any stops. They had soon entered wooded area, woods that grew to the south and west of the Kara mountains, though would then dwindle away again right at the mountains' base. The sun was also starting to make its descent across the sky.
"Sore from riding already?" Briella shot out sarcastically when he suggested ceasing their ride for the evening. "But you're right, we should. It won't be too far from here that the convoy would have been attacked, in which case, we should rest now and be fresh for the pursuit and battle." She ignored his comment about being in the game to win...

[Arclite]

Ethan was thrilled about fighting in the fog. It would mean he would have to rely more on his other senses than his eyes and that presented a challenge and that was all he wanted in life. He wanted to find someone who could beat him in a battle, someone who could make him fall. After all, someone who was as talented as he would want something to work against or else it would get boring.
Looking at her, he smirked. "Dragons are not godly to me, lass..they hold no divine power, but they are majestic creatures, powerful and fierce though nay assault our kind. They could gather and rule this realm but attempt to share it with us..Restraint such as that deserves respect."
Though with a chuckle, Ethan smirked at her.
"Aye, why would I know much about magic lass? I follow the blade, not the mind or the will. A slash of a sword is not just an attack but the heart of ones will to survive...The very essence of a being. Anyone can simply swing a blade and call themselves Knights, few can make the blade apart of them and live by it. As I had said before..I hold a code, even as a 'Street Rat' I always respect it."

Ethan couldn't say much for he really did know nothing of Magic. So he simply listened as they continued on their path. Though once she finished, he had to look at her.
"..A contract lass? I know all about such things, even in the slums they held contracts for jobs that required doing. Going on quests given from Nobles or coin collectors..What had you offered your Dragons, or anything of such great power to come to your aid?.." He actually sounded more so concerned about what she offered and her, than curious.
"Also..you had said it is a request..What if they venture to you, only to attack -you-. If they hold their own will could they not come to you in defiance? Not that I question the honor of a creature such as a Dragon..but whims do have a way of nay always going your way lass. Spend an evening in the hairy bear pub and ye will know that."

Getting off his horse once they found a suitable place in the forest, Ethan tied his horse to a tree and took off several of his supplies, yawning as he did so before letting out a groan. He was a bit tired just like his partner though.
"Hah, thank you for the kind words Briella.." He moved his hand over his cloak, sighing. "My mother holds a talent for the needle and thread. Of course with the little wages our king grants us, what do you expect us to do to keep warm in winter? We must work with what is given, and she had turned that into an art all its own." Taking the cloak, he had a bed roll laid out, setting his cloak over it to use it as a blanket when the time came to go to sleep, though he was undoing the saddle on his horse when he finally answered her question about his family. He stopped his unbuckling to speak back.
"..My father is proud, he says that it was about time to show this kingdom just how good someone can be with a blade...but my mother did not like the idea, she had said the same as you do. The King would take one look at me, see how I act and behead me on the spot. She says that I should not leave home and that my father needs me on the forge.. I have a brother whom also disagree's. He says that I make a terrible knight, and is far from proud..he believes he should be the one to be here."
Taking a moment, he tried to conceal his problems with his family with a smirk, looking back at her.

"Oh? Dante is married?..And the age gap is quite large for brother and sister lass..Aye, I know he is not that seasoned of a man, but he is still seasoned enough..I would call him a much older brother, if it is required to call you both siblings."
Leaning against the horse, he looked at her with that same concealing smirk.
"His wife thought you to take her lad eh? Would ye do it? I see lass that ye have some honor in ye..but Dante and you are close..age gap or no age gap..and I hope one day ye may say the same about us, I already think we are quite a good pair in battle."

Ethan stretched, shaking his head.
"No, not sir..just tired.." He started tending to finding firewood, though a question was on his mind.
"..When I asked ye about my family..I saw yer eyes lass.. Is something happening with your uncle?" He only knew of her uncle and recalled the story of her other family. She told him about some and he put the pieces together as best he could.

[Eruraina]

"You are right," Briella said. "They are do respect. Dragons have the power to rule or destroy us all. Yet they choose to let us live and share this world with us. Though they are rare in most areas, and live on islands and mountains where they can have solitude. They prefer solitude," she nodded at his words, having to agree with him. Which would be one thing that they definitely agreed on completely. Which almost amazed her realizing that they held the same view on at least something. Though when he mentioned contracts, she chuckled a bit.

"This contract is special, though. A blood pact of sorts. But the favors I gave for each, made a signed contract in blood that is unbreakable until one or the other dies. I cannot harm them or I shall die, and they cannot harm me or they shall die. As for what I offered them... those are long tales of grand questing and delving deep into much knowledge. Many hardships live on those roads. All worth it in the end," she told him.

They did quickly find a spot, halting their horses. Briella dismounted as well, first loosening her steed's girth to make it more comfortable before bringing it to a tree to tie the horse there so she could take care of it. "Well, if you put it that way, I suppose it would be a very important skill to learn in those conditions. Women of the court are taught embroidery, but only for tapestries and pointless things. I never bothered to learn, though I learned quick how to patch up an article of clothing torn in battle when I was a squire," she said. "If anything, the lower class should be respected for that... having more... useful sets of skills."

"Well, at least your father is proud," Briella said, taking her gear off of the horse and starting to rub the beast down to get the sweat of the day off it and to make it more comfortable. She went to set up her own bed roll, using the saddle as a makeshift pillow and her own cloak as a blanket on the ground.

"Yes, dante is married. And the age gap isn't as big as you might think. He's only about... fifteen years older than me," she told him. "Too old to be a father figure, and like I said, I just about grew up with him. So yes, a brother. As for his wife, it's not a worry of me taking him, she just didn't think it was proper. She doesn't care for me, being a lady knight. Most of the women in the court don't like more. But of course I wouldn't do it. There is nothing like that between him and I. Never was, never will be. We were a good pair in battle, though, but I guess those days were over. It used to be him and I on these quests. But he is taking a retirement soon. So I guess the king is putting you as his replacement. Or seeing how it goes, anyway."

With her horse taken care of, Briella went and sat down on her bed, undoing her belt and boots to be more comfortable to sleep, though made sure they were right next to her with easy access. She looked up at Ethan with a raised eyebrow, then back down when he asked about her uncle.
"My Uncle... Heh, funny thing, that. He is a very noble man. Quickly stepped into place as a father figure when my own father died when I was young. Though he is old, nowhere near where he used to be. And getting old has it's... downfalls. If you can't guess already, his health is failing. It's sad to see such a once strong man so weak. But even in his physical weakness, he is still such a stronger person than my good-for-nothing mother who..." she stopped, and pursed her lips together. "Nevermind, it doesn't matter. My Uncle's health is failing him, simple as that. Comes with his age. I almost wish I would die in battle before time dwindles me away like that."