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originally posted in:The New Dojo
12/27/2017 12:37:47 AM
157
[b][u]Knights of Silver[/u][/b]
[b]Chapter Three - The Enemy Underneath[/b]
[spoiler]For Royal.[/spoiler]
[b]Relocated Trayven Encampment, Rivelria, 8:42 AM[/b]
[i]Fire. Fire, and death, and sand.[/i]
[i]That was all that Elina dreamt of, the night after the raid.[/i]
[i]Suddenly arising from her medical bed, with beads of dribbling sweat forming upon her head, Elina's worryingly strained eyes searching for some semblance in her reawakening. She had a small meal, next to her bed, though only one functioning arm to pick it up: the other, right arm, was shattered and broken in the midst of the tragic battle. She sighed, resting her head back against the stiff pillow.[/i]
[i]Alric. She needed Alric, not rest.[/i]
[i]Rising up, Elina had found that her right arm had been bounded with a cast and sling, as it then rested where her solar plexus would be, simply hovering over it. Stuck there, really. She hated it already: this wasn't her first injury, but this was her first broken limb in the field of combat. Nonetheless, she would exit her tent, muttering to herself as she began her search for Sir Alric.[/i]
"Alric, Alric.. where is that damned Witcher when you need him, I wonder?"
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[spoiler]For Frog.[/spoiler]
[b]Underneath Riverlia, Unknown Time[/b]
[i]Mion had been searching, traversing through endless, dim tunnels, for.. minutes? Hours? Days? Time was lost and meant nothing, in the everlasting labyrinth of forgotten runes and catacombs that she traveled throughout. She had found languages and books of languages that were beyond the world that she knew, and odd, massive weapons that were too heavy to heave into the air, even by a normal man, as she had found it near impossible to bring them up through regular means. They were claymores yet, but different. Older, from a time long ago.[/i]
[i]The only remedy that she found to her lonely state would come soon. A humming, a distant one, yet far down the hallway to her right. The hall's depths began to ignite then, with a fiercely white energy. The hums themselves were not of Niki, nor feminine, but deep and ancient, as if sung by an old man whom was at his final peace. Perhaps.. perhaps this was her pathway. A sign that would lead to resolution.[/i]
English
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"He was a Trayvern once?" [i]Alric asked with the same confused demeanor, rubbing at his eyes with his hands. He seemed oddly tired, as he yawned immediately afterwards and returned his hands to their clasped position behind his back. [/i] "That could explain why he wished to create a temporary alliance between our two forces. He has faith in us, perhaps."
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"I hope.. Alric, I.. I can handle the negotiating, if you're tired." [i]Elina piped in, looking at Alric in an almost worryingly fashion, as if she did care for the man. And even if she had disapproved.. well, she seemed to care for him enough.[/i] "Rest. If you need to."
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"No, no. There will be no need for that. I am simply... Tired with the world. If only things could be more simple." [i]Alric shook his head, a smile forming at his lips. [/i] "I must apologize. Perhaps I should have spoken to you on the subject of an alliance with people that were our enemies... But I saw the opportunity. I took it."
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[spoiler]•[b]Elina[/b] slightly approved of that.[/spoiler] [i]Elina had fallen silent at that, before only nodding her head as her eyes fluttered shut, as if she was bowing towards Alric. When her head raised, she would smile a little.[/i] "Of course, I.. I understand. We can handle the temporary alliance, or at least try to. So.. when should we announce our plan of attack? Tomorrow, maybe?"
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"Tomorrow... Yes..." [i]Alric would nod his head, throwing the thought around in his head as if considering. [/i] "Double the guard for tonight. Send some scouts out into the desert, have them report back if they see any Sand Warriors approaching. Lastly..." [i]Alric paused for a moment, as if dramatizing this last bit. [/i] "We'll develop a plan of attack to use against our allies. Just in case."
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"Well.. I'm not one for strategic advances, of course, but we could use all the strategies and advantages that we can get. I don't see Xander betraying us unless we instigated such violence.." [i]Elina murmured, sighing.[/i]
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"I do not believe they will take action against us either, Elina. But perhaps it would suit us better to be prepared. Both for the best, and worst case of what may yet happen." [i]Alric retorted, looking over at her for the first time in the conversation. [/i]
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"It would definitely help us. It would prepare us for anything that the Tribune committed to.. it would benefit us rather greatly." [i]Elina smiled, nodding towards Alric.[/i] "I'll double the guards, most certainly. We need all the defense that we can manage."
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"Now that that is settled... I believe we are done." [i]Alric sighed in relief, looking up at the ceiling and stretching. [/i] "Once you settle the guards, you are dismissed. Thank you for your assistance." [i]He looked back down at Elina, giving a small smile. [/i]
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[i]Elina would only nod at that, as she would soon leave the tent, alongside a silent Darius.[/i] -------------------------------- [i]Ih the morning, a quiet Elina waited outside of Alric's own tent, as the soldiers and servants of the Trayven cause walked throughout the now cleared, orderly dirt roads, completing their duties and patrols. She seemed to have a message.[/i]
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[i]She stood there for a few minutes before Alric actual exited the tent to speak with Elina. He rubbed at his eyes with his hands, before crossing them across his chest and yawning.[/i] "Apologies, Elina. I am still not very used to mornings unfortunately..." [i]He gave a smile, eyeing his second in command. [/i]
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"I've got no qualms with that. I'm usually not.. well, until a scout came up to me with this. Sealed message, haven't opened it." [i]Elina would hand a letter out to Alric. The still parchment was bound together by an ivory white seal, completed with a rising fist in the center.[/i] "Our Tribune friends have.. messages, already."
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"How quaint of them." [i]Alric accepted the letter from Elina and broke the seal in the middle. Opening it, he began reading the content of the message. [/i]
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[u]For the lady Elina Caramont, or sir Alric of Takakai[/u] [b]Acknowledging the treaty between our aligning forces, against the common threat of these warriors of the sand - it is more than imperative that we take action now. Not sooner, nor later - [i]now[/i]. Only last night, two-hundred and forty-eight individuals aligned with the Tribune - men, women, and children alike - were slaughtered, captured, or remained undiscovered after a siege upon our head establishment upon this land. Fort Argentum.[/b] "Argentum, huh.." [i]Elina sighed, shaking her head.[/i] "Uh.. sorry. Argentum was a garrison back in Zyria. Trayvens held it for a while, specifically Arthur Trayven. He held that damn thing for years against those monsters over there. Argentum being "silver" in Latin.. weird." [b]As well as those casualties, our own troops and scouts recorded that three of your own encampments were attacked by these warriors. No recognition nor repayment is necessary for our assistance in driving them back.[/b] "Can't tell if that's some diсkish "you owe us" or.. if they're actually serious. Hmm." [b]I would ask that both you and lady Elina meet me and sir Xander at Argentum.[/b] [b]Sincerly - the Knight-Commander, general of the Tribune's armed forces[/b] [i]Elina would fall silent, shaking her head.[/i] "...Bullshit. Yes, they hit our camps, but they're so damn buddy-buddy now? No, that's.. that's a trap waiting to happen, Alric."
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"Perhaps it is..." [i]Alric mumbled something about "honesty" before shaking his head. [/i] "But risks are risks. What sort of allies would be prove ourselves to be if we doubted their intentions?" [i]This particular part wasn't aimed at Elina, rather it sounded as though he was merely ranting. [/i] "And if they attacked us? Left our forces in the charge of our second in commands? It would demoralize the troops.. They would waste their lives in an attempt for revenge." "No. We must go." [i]Alric looked up from the letter, staring at Elina now. [/i] "We do what we must. Gather a host of 40 men, I will do the same. We leave in an hours time."
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"Forty men.. got it." [i]In an hour, Elina would return with several horses and forty of "the men and women that she trusted most" - Alric would recognize them as some of the older of the soldiers there. Those whom had served in past wars.[/i]
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[i]Alric had done the same. Forty men and women had followed Alric on horseback as he arrived to meet Elina. The host was a small one, though Elina would understand that if things went wrong, the small group would be able to inflict the most possible damage. [/i] "You must lead the way, Elina. I do not know where this fortress lies..." [i]Alric looked off into the distance, squinting his eyes due to the sun. [/i]
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"I can handle it. I think.." [spoiler]Timeskip![/spoiler] [url=https://youtu.be/ZdTneDCikgQ]Fort Argentum Theme - Blackfish[/url] [i]Argentum was.. impressive.[/i] [i]The towering fortress, for what was supposedly a garrison according to scouts, made the Trayven encampment within the Dojo look like a shack. Mighty stone walls and great towers loomed overhead, with several walls making up the castle and it's surroundings. No flags were upon the walls as the Trayvens entered, Elina and Alric in the lead.[/i] "I didn't think.. gods. They'd destroy us in a siege.."
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"A siege... Quite a tale." [i]Alric actually chuckled at that, pulling at the reigns of his horse and stopping for a few moments. His eyes darted across the architecture as if looking for weaknesses or strengths. [/i] "If the river runs true, this will be an ultimate between our forces. Life or death..."
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[i]Strength was everywhere, whereas weakness was hidden away. Perhaps the Tribune purposefully prepared their fortress for the Trayvens.[/i] [i]At the courtyard before the castle itself, centered right in the middle, there stood several guards and.. the Knight-Commander, balancing his longsword upon the earth. His face was still hidden away by that same shining helmet, though he acknowledged the approach of Elina and Alric, bowing his head.[/i] "Welcome, friends. Sir Alric. I believe I remember you, from Khalosh?"
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"Yes. It was an honourable battle, ser." [i]Alric gave a similar nod to the knight Commander, swinging one foot over his horse and dropping to the ground. He took a few steps toward the Commander before speaking again. [/i] "Though, I don't believe I caught your name."
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"I didn't think that you did. Sirius." [i]He nodded his head, still hidden by his helmet, though it was clear that Elina didn't buy it at all. She seemed concerned. Worried.[/i] "Now.." [i]Sirius spoke, his voice still muffled.[/i] "We should retreat to the interior of the fort. Xander is waiting, inside."
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"Of course." [i]Alric turned his head away, whispering something to one of the dojo warriors. The knight nodded in response and the dojo group split into two. 30 of them broke off, spreading out across the courtyard. [/i] "Lead the way." [i]Alric started towards the inner doors of the fortress, the remaining 10 warriors following their Commander inside. [/i]
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"This is bullshit.." [i]Elina murmured, underneath her breath and out of earshot of the Tribune.[/i] "All of it. These bаstards, that.. "Sirius". Gods, this isn't right." [i]Perhaps it was paranoia, or just a gut feeling.[/i] [i]The Trayvens would soon pass through a few hallways, before finding themselves upon the top floor, and what appeared to be a council room for strategic advances and warfare. A large rock map of Rivelria was centered in the middle, with ivory castles showing Tribune encampments and yellow lions, almost golden, showing Trayven encampments, with flags next to the headquarters in the regions. Xander was there, while he nodded towards Alric as he entered.[/i]
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"Xander, good to see you again." [i]Alric smiled brightly, walking toward the table as the dojo warriors spread out through the room. They took positions here and there, hands on their weapons and ready if anything were to go wrong. [/i] "You must excuse the... Precautions that my men are taking. You can never be too certain of something." [i]Alric gestured around, before extending a hand to Xander himself. [/i]
