[b] [u] Grey Onyx [/u] [/b]

Grey simply shrugged, and explained his own preference for more mid-sized shields. [b]"I suppose, though I prefer to fight more defensively. To be honest, If I had to go without my axe or my shield, I'd take my shield. It's not too small to be useful, but not big enough to slow me down, perfect for a body-guard."[/b] Grey took a moment to bring the training dummy back up, and struck it in the 'stomach,' followed by a chop to the neck. [b]"Hell, if you use it right you can knock the fight right out of most of the unruly bastards you'd fight in my line of work."[/b] With that he kicked it back down, grabbing Annabeth's axe and pulling it free as it fell. He offered it to her. [b]"Still, nothing wrong with that buckler of yours. Any weapon's as good as any other provided you have the training. It's awfully cliche, but the only thing that matters is the one holding it. Least, that's what my uncle always said."[/b] 

When she asked him his reasons, he was a bit flustered. he had no idea of her true capabilities, but he certainly wouldn't call her defenseless. [b]"N-no, not at all Ma'am. I just..."[/b] He took a seat on a nearby bench, and sighed. [b]"I saw a lot of men die last night. I was pre-occupied with the one fight for most of the incident, but I had to fight my way down there, and I saw things. Corpses littered the halls, and I'd seen the demons they had fought, they weren't much tougher than the average soldier. How many people would have lived if they had a little more training? If they were just a bit stronger? I was always told I was a prodigy back home, a real warrior savant. But did I share any of my skill? No, the thought never crossed my mind."[/b] He was silent for a moment. He knew it was stupid to blame himself for anything that happened last night, but to bear the weight of all the violence that surrounded him was his way. 

[b]"So what if you lose to something that was only a little bit stronger than you? Maybe that little trick I just taught you is enough to tip the scales? Maybe that small amount of time you save pulling the axe out saves your life? I just try to keep all the people I can safe, it's why I came here in the first place. And the way I see it, If that trick saves your life, I'm doing my job. So, I guess you can say I just want to help out."[/b] That was more or less all he really wanted to do. He certainly couldn't end evil forever or instill peace between all the various factions, but he'd do all he could.