(Old leg's wharf)A Guard's Duty (Zenai)

[Archelon]

The horses hooves clip clopped closer to be sure, and the armored figure soon was abreast of the wagon, his head openly shaking his head in disdain as he transfered his gaze from Zenai, over to Carsten. The woman tensed a little and held the grip of her sword hilt a little tighter but made no outward move to attack the man as the armored figure began to speak."Hey there Carstie babe, why haven't you gotten back to me about our last conversation? Did you not care for my... business offer?" The woman huffed a little and said through gritted teeth, "No thank you Rykol, I can take care of myself, and I'm doing just fine." "Hey baby it would be a life of luxury compared to this, cream of the crop and all that. Now why wouldn't you want to join up?" The woman's brow furrowed, and her eyes narrowed as she spat venom at the man."Hmm... let's see: A: Your offer would force me to 'clean your clock as it were" and I just don't like you and B: All the armor you Dragoons wear would just break my back. So why don't you C: Get the idea that I'm not interested in you and leave me be. I'm on a job here Rykol. You don't mess with someone on a job. It's not proper business in Sunberth so shove off...." The dragoon let out a bit of a laugh and replied, "Oh Ah'll shove off alright. Perhaps it would simply be best for me to take what I want , Eh? Wouldn't that be something?" "You wouldn't petching dare! The armored man reached over on the horse to and grabbed Carsten about the wrist holding it tightly as he twisted it up to the point where the woman hissed in pain, though as the wagon continued down the road , the dragoon merely held her arm in that painful position, letting her squirm in pain. They were on the last stretch to the docks now... the trip was almost over save guarding the merchant and shipment of goods until they were loaded off the pier before he would have to journey back to Old Legs and the board... just what would Zenai do about this situation? Would he attack the armored man? Would he let him simply take Carsten off like a lump sack of potatoes? Or would he figure this was something different between the two and see how it would ride out? Or... would his chivalrous nature demand a bit of action, with words, if not his sword?

oocKeep it up ^-^ You're doing fine. .

[Zenai]

Fantastic. Is my life written by some unknown god who writes typical, droll stories. Why can't he or she...or it write something more original? I might as well go with it. Carsten was obviously not interested in the "Dragoon" and he knew immediately why. Haughty, snobbish, proud, arrogant, etc. etc. etc. Just about describes anyone who regularly rides horses with armor on and that includes the Syliran Knights. Horses and armor as well as haughtiness... Is there a correlation? He forgets to include fear, respect and wealth. All the motivation you need to start licking their boots for their favor. Some women go for it especially the sell-outs while the few proud ones would normally strike them down. Zenai's mother was the latter but she married his father, a Syliran Knight, anyway. Zenai doesn't know why and his mother never tells him exactly why either. Not old enough to know that sort of thing she says. Mothers... Father is proud in his own way but less on the arrogance and more on the respect. Respect in the aspect of not having his son embarrassed him which is why he wasn't so reluctant to Zenai's decision to live and work in Sunberth. Fathers...

Zenai went and grabbed the wrist of the armored man with the same tightness and firmness that he used on Carsten. The armored man balk at being touched by a Fish and gave Zenai a stern gaze of "Let go or I'll chop your head off!" He has seen that kind of thing before and he was used to it. He returned a stare that says "Yeah, yeah..."

Zenai took some air in before politely saying in a gentlemen's manner, "Ser, you are currently undermining the security of these merchant wagons by distracting Sera Carsten from her duty which is to escort these wagons filled with food to their appointed destination. By distracting Sera Carsten, you are making it more likely for opportunist to steal our precious cargo or at worse, making it more likely for us to be ambushed by more unsavory characters that would likely kill us while Ser is distracting Sera Carsten from her escort duty. I politely request Ser to let go off Sera Carsten's wrist so that Sera Carsten may go about her job unmolested and complete her intended work. Perhaps when the cargo is delivered and the merchant is happy with our work as well as satisfying Old Leg with our accomplished task, then perhaps Ser and Sera Carsten could find a more appropriate and discreet location in which to discuss your personal and business matters that could be heard by anyone on these streets as well as I but it is no business for my and other's ears to hear, and a chance for both Ser and Sera Carsten to think upon each other's argument. Oh, and Ser may be trampling these dirty beggars with Ser's lovely horse's nicely manicured hooves. We don't want Ser's lovely horse's hooves to be bloody, especially with beggar's blood and having the smell of dirty on them." Zenai finished off with a polite smile.

[Archelon]

Rykol looked at the offending hand on his wrist, and then at Zenai as the carriage made its way down the hill towards the docks area. The driver wasn't paying this exchange any attention at all, merely staring straight ahead as if it wasn't any concern of his. Perhaps it even wasn't any concern of his. He was just a driver, bringing a shipment of goods to the docks, possibly ambivalent to the contents of his wagon's cargo. Rykol spat to the side off his horse and spoke a little to Carsten's, "So who's this guy to you: another lover perhaps? Remember I had to kill the last one." Carsten tore her arm away from both their grasp, "No he's just a Fish. First day on the job. But he's right though, if you do try to stop me on the job I should try to put a sword in your guts." Moistening his lips, Rykol slowly reached up to remove Zenai's hands disdainfully as his horse trodded along. "Only thing that you'll have to do with swords and me , my dear Carstie Babe is to be available for a singular demonstration with a particular kind... Haw Hah. Damn fish better learn his place in Sunberth. Nobody messes with a Dragoon. Nobody." "Scab off Rykol! I'm warning you!" The dragoon sneered a little as a means of reply to the threat. "Nah, I think I'll stay right here, I'm having too much fun. Maybe I'll follow you till your job's completed so we can talk... maybe without even the fish here. You'd like that, wouldn't you Carstie Babe?" A brief look of disgust followed by a glowering stare from Carsten's was all that was cast in the man's direction before Rykol moved his horse off and back behind them. Not a few moments after the wagon pulled onto the right pier, the man began to whistle lewdly as he stared at "Carstie's body" like a ravenous wolf. In the next hundred yards or so they'd be at the Edelweis where the goods would be off loaded... When they had stopped and things began, Carsten muttered softly enough for Zenai to here, "I appreciate the help, but don't be stupid Fish. That man is a stone cold killer."

oocFeel free to do the scene where the goods are offloaded XD. You'll be having an irate man looking at you the entire time.

[Zenai]

Zenai nodded to Carsten and went back to his watch of the rear, noticing "Ser" Rykol sneering at him in the corner of Zenai's eye. The rest of the journey was, once again and supposedly, uneventful barring "Ser" Rykol keeping up with his special brand of flirting which basically involves coercing and threatening Carsten to come with him or else. However, Carsten was able to deflect Rykol's every approach with a nice blend of ignoring him completely and making sarcastic comebacks. You would think this Rykol gentleman would take a hint and scout for another woman to abuse but it seems Carsten has caught Rykol's interest somehow but Zenai doesn't want to speculate how and why. Too many variables and not enough information. Other than that, just the usual bumpy journey through the narrow, winding streets of Sunberth. The scene is a bit depressing since the street was littered with beggars with their cups and thieves slipping their hands into those said cups. Somehow, he appreciated the "cleaner and well-ordered" streets of Syliras. Appreciate in the way that it doesn't look depressing and/or dirty. But that would be akin to lying to yourself, isn't it? Perhaps...

A sudden abrupt bump snap Zenai out of his thoughts. Zenai look around and saw that the other wagons stopped as well. Seems we're already here. "We're here, Fish." Carsten said simply while ignoring one of Rykol's less-than-funny flirty-jokes. Zenai jumped off the wagon and stretched for a bit. Sitting for quite a long time can be bad for the muscles. He starts to do basic stretches to get his muscle alert and ready again. Bones and joints cracked but that's just the bones loosening up. Once done, he turn his sights on the whole of the pier. At first glance, it appears to be an ordinary pier because it is a pier. Was it called again? Cheery Bay? Cherry Pie? Cherry Bay, was it? Yes, Cheery Bay it was! The merchant, Geisser is making some last minute "payments" to people that Zenai doesn't want to look at. Best not to have eyes wandering and being curious and all. Instead, Zenai casts his eyes on the workers offloading the "food" shipment and still wonders whether he needs to bring up the matter. He dismissed it. Don't want to stir more trouble for himself than he can handle or just barely survive. Carsten talked to her other two guards for awhile before approaching Zenai.

"Good work, Fish. Not too shabby. Alright since you're not doing anything important and you've already stretched, why don't help offload the cargo? Don't drop any of them. You got that? Oh, lift with your legs."

"Yes, Sera Carsten." Zenai answered. Carsten snorted at the affirmation then turned to "Ser" Rykol. "You!... Shall wait here. I got some papers to sign and I don't want some Dragoon making my clients nervous." She then goes off to do whatever else was needed to process the cargo. Rykol simply spit onto the ground and turn his eyes on Zenai. "So? What are you waiting for? Move it, Fish!"

Zenai gave him a sarcastic salute and marched towards the wagon full of the unloaded food shipment. He grabbed one of crates, remember to lift with his legs and still marched on towards where the crates are suppose to be stowed away by following the other workers.

[Archelon]

Zenai's hard work ethic paid off, and with his efforts the goods were unloaded quickly and efficiently into the ship's hold and soon enough old merchant Geisser nodded a farewell to the Taggers that worked the boards and made their way back through the alleyways to the warehouse district, not even glancing back once as they passed the armored dragoon who was standing there. Soon enough the four of group orange were back together, and told to move aside as the ship's crew of the Edelweiss were waiting for new deliveries to their holds before they shoved off from port. However, in the midst of all this hustle and bustled, the sneering dragoon remained to watch Zenai very carefully, as if his eyes were trying to gauge his worth or measure. He was a dragoon, but also a man. Who knew what his thoughts fancied, well besides dominating Carsten's that is. Eventually, when the four moved to take a step to travel towards Old Leg's wharf, the dragoon interceded his horse into their path, and slowly dismounted. "And where do you think you're going Carstie Babe? Still going to try to leave, even after your delivery job's done for the day?" The woman's eyes flared with anger as she put one hand to the hilt of her sword."It's not done, you feckless halfwit, we still have to check in with Legs, so shove off!" The dragoon sneered and drew his longsword, yet did not touch anything with his shield as he glared at the four. "Tell ya what... See that small berth over there where there's no ships." His sword pointed to a small dock extension, roughly about 20 by 20 feet off the side of the Edelweiss."Any of you four , last one minute against me and I'll let you go. If you don't... well aside from any cuts you might get, I'll just kick you into the sea? I'll even leave Carstie Babe alone for a day or two to sweeten the deal.How's that sound? It's quite a sporting challenge if I must say so myself." The man let out a cold cruel bark of laughter which devolved into a raucaus roar as if he was the only one getting a really funny joke. What would happen here? Would the four meet his challenge , noting that the man did not say he wouldn't cleave them in two or take a hand in that single minute of fighting, or would they flee? "To make things interesting I'll even pay anyone who makes it that minute ten gold. How's that sound? Whether or not Rykol would keep his word on anything... had yet to be determined.

[Zenai]

“You, ser, are very rude to Sera Carsten. In addition, you continue to harass and heckle us even when I told you nicely not to or at least, wait until we reported back to Ol' Legs. If you persist, then it is my duty to dispatch you so I will accept your challenge!” Zenai declared, cross-armed with a serious look on his face.
“Fish, what are you doing?!” Carsten frantically asked and stared at Zenai with a mixture of both shock and anger.
“What’s need to be done: By Tyveth's Gaze, I shall teach that dragoon some manners and chivalry.” Zenai said confidently.

On second thought, what was HE doing? By the gods, and goddesses, what have Zenai done? Why must he be young and foolish now?! Couldn't he do it when and where it was more convenient and more likely not to die? His life started to flash before his eyes which is pretty much a life of disappointment. His failed bid to knighthood as well as spectacular humiliation at trying to be an Endal.

There was more to it; within the very being Zenai lies blood and soul of an Inartan. His Inartan screams for this arrogant dragoon to be put down in his place but his more human side wanted to err on the side of caution. Conflicted values and interests. Being an Inartan meant being way more straightforward than others like to be and be confronted with. It was good in a way but it also lead to more deaths in Wind Reach than maybe say, getting killed by a Walrus or falling off the cliffs. However, he was also a son of a Syliran Knight as well and being both pragmatic & ritualistic in a way. In the real world, people have their own customs that have been laid out to avoid outright killings and put things into order. Then again, things are also carried out behind closed doors and out of sight thus things that are considered unsavory is still done by those same people who preach the values of enlightenment and morality. However, it looks like Zenai's Inartan side is showing and it may go with it. Better to die as a wannabe-hero and trying to do what's right rather than living as a disappointment and a loser.

He then turned to the Rykol and gaze at him like a furious dire eagle, “What say you, Ser Rykol? Willing to dirty your blade on a Fish?”

[Archelon]

Rykol let out a burst of garolous laughter at Zenai's indignant outburst before he looked towards Carsten. "You know sweet stuff. I bet he hasn't been around to learn about what I did to the ast one of your male friends that tried to stand up for you. What was his name... Malicque?" Carsten eyes flashed red as she stared daggers at the dragoon and drew her own sword, "You mean how you toyed with him for an hour in front of me, just so you could behead him after I said I'd do as you wished if you spared his life?" The dragoon laughed uproariously, "Wasn't my fault the man tried to stab me with a dagger when my back was turned towards you? Otherwise I'd have let him live." "Only after you goaded him into attacking you by beating me almost half to death to 'tenderize' me." The dragoon waived her words away dismissively, "Enough, you'll be mine again soon enough woman! Now I guess I should tell the Fish that blades were made for gutting creatures of the sea. Still, the challenge was to all four of you. It wouldn't be sporting to not uphold it." Rykol dismounted fully from his horse and tied the reins up against the railing of the dock before shuffling his armored form sideways towards the one pier. "All right fish, I'll be fair and start the time, you just have to survive a minute and then I'll let [b]you[b] go. You want your friends to follow you, and I'll have to add a minute each." The dragoon made a tentative flurry with his longsword through the air. "I'll even be sporting enough to let you make the first move. Just to be generous don't you know?" Resting with a one armed fencer's stance, Rykol merely reached up to slam the faceplate of his helmet shut before taking up a fencer's stance. Waiting to see whether Zenai would make the first move or not.

[Zenai]

It's been quite awhile since he drew his own swords in anger and he doesn't want to remember the last time he did it. Fighting was sometimes a necessary evil and this is one of those times where it is necessary. Zenai reached back with both hands and grab the hilts of his twin talon swords then pulls them out slowly. It is said once a blade is drawn thus awakening them, it cannot be sheaved until it has its blood-lust sated. For his swords, maybe they prefer the taste of righteousness and the blood of bad people. Zenai held his swords out sideways, "spreading and flexing his wings and talons" for the duel. Zenai was fairly confident with his skills with the sword. He was the son of a Syliran Knight and an Endal; people whose child you would expect to have great martial skills and they shouldn't expect any less. From childhood until he reached manhood, Zenai was constantly trained and drilled in the ways of fighting whether be it with a swinging a sword, wearing armor, or riding horseback. During his days as a page and squire, hours and hours of sword drills were the usual motions he goes through. In Wind Reach, one spark could ignite an honor duel and Zenai was well aware & prepared for such things.

Today, his knightly and Inarta heritage is singing furiously in his blood, muscle and bones. His very being screams to break this Rykol into countless pieces. The man was indeed arrogant and rude but most of all, a sadistic monster. Zenai's blood boiled at the hearing of Rykol beating Carsten and killing one of her friends. Obviously, he has to be stopped and someone has to put him down once and for all. His kind can only be wipe off the face of Mizahar with a blade in arm.

However, is he up to challenge? He's fighting a well-seasoned veteran with no hesitation to kill and a hint of sadism. Zenai coolly analyze his opponent; Rykol pretty much went for the conventional fencer's stance. He also had a longsword with him while Zenai had two talon swords. Rykol would have much better control over his own weapon than Zenai would with his two weapons. Rykol could also pull much stronger two-handed strikes. Zenai would be at a disadvantage in terms of pure offensive power and control but he is able to compensate with flexibility and simply having two blades. It basically means that Zenai could get more strikes at Rykol thus may overwhelm him with sheer number of attacks. In addition, one sword can be used for striking the dragoon while the other sword could be used for parrying blows. Or even using both swords for parrying and deflecting blows. One more problem is that Rykol definitely had reach with his longsword. His thrusts would be a problem but it is something Zenai could handle with fairly easily with his relatively shorter talon swords. He had to play this by the ear since he doesn't exactly need to win this match, just last one minute but if he has too, he can go all out and hope for the best. He also has to be careful around his head since Zenai isn't wearing a helmet so it might be wise to keep a sword near his head just in case Rykol decided to decapitate him. Probably using his second hand to do it since he hasn't exactly mastered the art of dual-wielding two weapons

"Sera Carsten, I think I should do this alone. No one else would need to get hurt...for now anyway. for one, I'm just a Fish. I win, Rykol is off your back. He wins, then I'm just another dead Fish and Rykol would just harass you like, I assume, he always does. Status Quo. It's a Win-Draw situation." Zenai said as he got into this eagle stance. "But if I die, tell my mother that I tried to do good and give my stuff to the next Fish. He's gonna need more than my very cold, dead corpse of a body. Maybe I'll come back as a spirit and curse Rykol."

Zenai turned to Rykol and just merely said, "Come at me, Ser."

[Archelon]

oocOkay... Short posts now . Show me some technique. Rykol smiled a rather sickly sort of grimace beneath the faceplate of his helmeted form. "Alright Fish, You've earned a little bruising with that mouth. Do me a favor and , make this kind of interesting for me, would ya and I might partake in the pleasure of standing over your corpse." The full plated man took a quick step forwards and struck with the swiftness of a snake. Rykol's blade thrusted downwards and twisted within the same motion to bring the flat of the blade sideway towards Zenais thigh. A loud painful smack echoed on the docks before the blade was withdrawn as quickly as it came leaving Zenai's leg feel a little numb with pins and needles. It seemed the Dragoon could have easily scored a hit with that one, but for some reason chose only to mess with Zenai's pride a little. Or putting on a show to the rest of the watchers. In an odd way, Rykol started calling out the direction of his attacks as he took the offensive. "Up high!" the man spat before the longsword descended in a curving arc, only to be blocked by Zenai's two interlocked blades. "On the left!. No, not my left! You're left! Give me some sport damn you!" These words were accompanied by a sideways battering blow with the sword, the flat of the blade smacking painfully into the side of Zenai's arms, leaving it numb enough to show it would be supporting quite a bruise."Come on, Fish. Put some work into it! On your right!" The final declaration of Rykol's next attack was followed by a wide sweeping arc of the blade, any amateur of the sword might be able to block. Was the dragoon toying with him? Would he be cognizant enough to remember the amount of time he would have to survive this conflict? What would Zenai do... Find out next post, same bat time, same bat channel, only on sunberth's docks. . oocOkay I completely broke the fourth wall there but meh , Anyways, the next three combinations of interactions are yours to play out. No killing Rykol now .

[Zenai]

Zenai wouldn't be caught off-guard again and immediately swing both his blades with full force to his right as per Rykol's warning. Like he said he would, Rykol's longsword came at Zenai's right but was effectively intercepted by his twin swords and batted away Rykol’s own sword, almost putting the dragoon off-balance. Zenai used the momentum to spin and swing around for a double-sword strike but Rykol, being the expert swordsmen he is, was able to catch Zenai’s blow. Both struggled for a while as they both tried to overpower each other. Rykol grinned and Zenai knew what it meant; immediately both backed away from each other and got into their respective fighting stance on again.

This time, Zenai took the offensive. Bringing his swords up above his head, he charged at Rykol and brought down both his blades as if they were the talons of a dire eagle. Rykol easily predicted the move and dodged out of the way but Zenai also saw this coming and made a surprise move by spinning on his toes and again, trying for a double-sword strike on Rykol’s left. Rykol almost missed parrying the strike and had to struggle with it for a while. Zenai took the opportunity to make sure his feet are stable and spread wide.

Their swords sparked as they crossed each other. Rykol tried to go for a downward while Zenai has gone for an upper cut with one of his blades. Both blades strike and sparked. Zenai was obviously having trouble matching Rykol’s strength but he still a blade free. Zenai grinned and he twisted his free blade so the pommel was showing. He swung hard and caught Rykol right in the face. The pommel smashed into Rykol’s faceplate and depending on the damage done, Rykol either needs to take it off or just fight with a damaged helmet.