[Li Mauta] Unwanted Tasks [Sondra]

[Markus Andres]

It was only the cheeky ones who were fireproof. Markus couldn't see why a god would take a fancy to this rude Konti, but he wouldn't start second guessing the intentions of the divine. Such things didn't end well. - However, he was very curious of how she had gotten the mark. "I think you got the wrong picture of the knights..." Markus calmly replied to her urchin comment. The Konti seemed to have a problem with the knights. But Markus didn't pursue the subject, although he felt an instinctive desire to defend the knights. Perhaps there was something more about the konti, than her apparent attractiveness that made Markus hold his tongue. What if she was one of those fabled Konti's involved with his quest. However unlikely that might sound. - Markus couldn't smell the perfume she was talking about, perhaps it was because his nose was still stunned from the stench of the dead dog and his own bile. "Why I want to become a knight?" He smirked a bit. "No, I don't have some speech prepared, but do tell me if you become envious." - A poor attempt at humor - "But isn't it obvious? I have a desire to prove I am different." Markus recalled when he had told Pain about this. How awfully naive he had felt back then, but still, a season later, that wish hadn't changed. - "Different from my younger self. Different from those who ignore injustice. Stop those who prey on the weak and let evil men prosper. And you will probably snort at this, but I want to be the best a man can be. Both in mind and body." Markus said with a firm conviction, even though it still sounded really naive. Or as Pain had said, optimistic. Markus looked at the Konti. Wondering what her response would be, not really sure if he cared. He knew what he believed in and he knew that with Wysar and Stern's discipline as a guiding star, he would achieve both.

[Sondra]

Markus’s joke was met with a chuckle, but as his explanation grew stubbornly heartfelt, the Konti drifted deeper into a meditative state. When he finished, Sondra tilted her head and her slate colored eyes looked unflinchingly at the human appraising him to the core. When she finally spoke, her voice was murmured and from afar, like she was speaking through a fog of memory. “It’s likely I’m more than double your age, squire.” Her voice found mooring again, turning steady. “I hope that wish rings true for years to come. And I hope you recognize what is your best self is. Mind and body are good, but you and I both know, or ought to, the greatness of a man is elsewhere.” Her fingers gestured over his heart, but she said nothing more. The last thing a cocky squire wanted was advice from a Konti who met failure more than fortune. “If you mean it, I can’t laugh at it. The way will be painful if it is of any use.” Sondra shrugged and smirked, “But what does a crematorium worker know of such things?” Turning her face toward the way, Sondra deftly switched out of any semblance of gravity. “There’s this stall in the Bazaar sometimes that has cooked meat seasoned like in Yahebah. Or so the fellow says. I’ve never been to the desert, so I wouldn’t know. But it sounds good and smells like a feast. If you haven’t tried it, you’re going to praise your gods for my guidance.” She paused before throwing in some mildly useful information. "That stall is likely the only thing I missed about Syliras when I was in Sunberth. But then, what I wanted then was..." Drunkenness? To hide? To not care? "...different. I'm here only because I got a bit of a message from the Fair Mother."

[Markus Andres]

The Konti surprised Markus. Once again. He felt a bit awkward with her gazing at him like that. Her words were even stranger. Why did he have to know that she was twice his age? Trying to establish seniority? Then her words. Did not go against what he had just said. But instead, elaborated on his desire? Telling him there was more. His heart? Markus was perplexed. He had never expected this konti. Rude. Boyish. Straightforward. Konti to say such words. It had taken him by complete surprise. He opened his mouth to say something, but he found out he had nothing to say and instead just closed his mouth and looked ahead. Grudgingly, Markus realized he was respecting the Konti and her advice. "A lot more than a squire do..." Markus said lowly to her crematorium remark. Markus listened to her explanation about a stall in the bazaar. Pondering why the Konti had begun to ramble all of a sudden. Did she consider him a friend now? Or was that just her way of getting rid of the heavy talk? When the Konti paused Markus put in a small remark. "Let's go try it then" The Konti started again, mentioning Sunberth and the Konti's next pause made Markus look in her direction. He wondered if she had done something illegal here in Syliras and had forgotten she was talking to someone involved with the city defense. Markus smirked a bit at the idea of throwing the Konti into the tank. The last remark. Fair mother. What the petch? "Fair mother? Why did she send you here?" That was when Markus closed his eyes and mentally prayed. He really hoped the Konti's next words weren't related to his quest. At all. But he had a feeling in his guts that told him that he wouldn't be so lucky.

[Sondra]

His response was surprising. At best, she expected a polite ear, but sincerity... that moved forces within her. For a time, rude Sondra hoped well for a knight. It was quickly tempered by his sidelong glances over mischief in Sunberth. Gods, this one was itching to dole out justice. She hadn't done anything in Syliras to worry him. At least not during this visit. Sondra almost hovered mid step as the conversation moved from friendly to suspicious. Ah yes, about that. The Konti had hoped for a bit more time to soften the shock of their incompatible personalities before they got to the heart of things. "Well she glossed over the 'why', but it was a call," the term obviously had significance. Sondra turned, stopping their quick progress. Her face had the echoes of a wince. "It brought me straight to Syliras." Sondra tried to mumble through the next statement, "Andyou'resomehowinvolved."

[Markus Andres]

OOCFinals killed my free time Sorry. The Konti clarified further. Diminishing the chances of the call not having anything to do with him. He had to face reality and perhaps instead try looking at the good sides of the Konti lady. Being marked by two gods couldn't be all bad? Right? She finally said it to him straight and killed the last lingering hope that Priskil somehow had managed to preserve in his core. He didn't slump his muscular arms. He just nodded gravely and accepted reality. Although, the grandmasters, or had it been the high seer? Words, that it was up to him to accept their aid or not. Turning away the Konti might be the better for his pride, but his very disciplined mind wouldn't turn away a possible ally, nor would his strong morals let him give up on a person just because they were ... less ... refined. If the Konti had been looking for some grand gasp of surprise and/or horror, she would be disappointed as Markus kept calm and collected and only gave her a nod of acceptance.s "I sort of guessed that when you mentioned a call... But you know nothing of why or what this call is about? Nothing but it is related to me?" The young squire inquired. Hoping for some clue as to what was going down at the mine.

[Sondra]

Sondra grinned. “Not a petchin’ clue.” She swatted Markus’s arm lightly. “Not particularly useful far as Konti’s go, but I’m not very demanding company.” As she lightly descended a set of stairs, she hummed to herself. It was the tune of a particularly dirty limerick. Gods, it seemed he had been saddled with one of the worst specimens of the fair race. They were getting closer to the bazaar and the delicious smells that crackled the air with flavor. It was her turn to ask questions. “Why, you know something I don’t?” Sondra began to weave through the stalls. “All I know is I’m in my cups and then I’m here because the Lady took a shine to me for a minute.” She stopped, orienting herself for a second. “Most calls are to people, sometimes places. I don’t know if the strings I sense between me and you are strong enough to make this trip solely about you.” She hoped not. At least Gregoire had started out liking her. She’d hate to see what this would devolve to should Markus be the sole tether of her cords. Then again, she knew one Konti had made her name assisting a Syliran knight. Sondra shook her head, trying to shuck the thought. No, even if she liked this fellow the knighthood as a whole would be a chain around her neck. That couldn’t be it.

[Markus Andres]

The hum kick started Markus brain. He had heard that melody before. It had been at the Stallion and it certainly hadn't been in the early hours and that was when the lyrics to the also entered his mind and for some reason, Markus wasn't overly surprised by the Konti's choice of pastime music. Markus could smell the bazaar as they came nearer. It was a most pleasant change of scent from the former bile inducing rotting dog smell. The lingering stench in his nostrils almost fouled the incoming scent, but only almost. "You sure it's not my knightly charm that got you enthralled?" Markus said with a cute and charming grin. He didn't come closer, as he would have if it had been a serious pick up line. Instead he let a laughter escape his lips as he focused on the path ahead and focused on his mission for the knights. Revealing some information for the sassy Konti. "I was told by Lady Natra, Kaylana Natra," He clarified. "I was told that I was involved in some Konti's call. In case you were wondering about my lack of surprise." Markus clarified further. Keeping his voice, when speaking about lady Natra, revered. Markus contemplated telling her of the mine and that it might be involved, but he decided against doing so. He was generally open about many things. Perhaps a bit too open. But his grandmaster had warned him. A warning he planned to heed.

[Sondra]

Kaylana’s name made Sondra draw a quick breath and hold it. Kaylana was the embodiment of a Konti who did everything right and was lifted high with both love and reverence. Sondra didn’t know whether she disliked or admired her, it was likely a combination of both. Sondra didn’t wish her situation on any, nor did she take joy in seeing others made low. But sometimes, she only found more reasons to be disappointed in herself when she looked at Konti like Kaylana. Sondra’s aversion for the happy ever-do-well Konti had nothing to do with them and everything to do with Sondra. She released the breath, deciding on polite admiration. “Kaylana? A rare advisor. Does she often talk to squires or are you a particular favorite? Either way, it seems I am the one meant to fumble here.” Sondra felt a little stupid, like she had been the last to laugh at a jest. Slowing her step, the Konti stopped near the promised merchant. Markus could have found the way himself by following the seductive aroma, or the cluster of eager people. “But I find fumbling on an empty stomach to be especially wretched.” She spun on her toes to face Markus in a surprisingly feminine way. “C’mon luv, let a girl treat you supper. Who knows, you may have to save my neck in the near future.”

[Markus Andres]

Markus raised a brow at her lack of response. It was a rather large revelation. Or so he would have thought. But perhaps Konti worked differently or perhaps she had known he knew about it, but how could she know? Markus pondered this when the konti felt like asking him something that had been nagging him greatly. Why had he been chosen for this quest. There were hundreds of other squires, and thousands of knights who could have underwent the same quest. Many of them would probably already have figured out what was going on. He just shrugged after some time and tried not to think about it. Which was quite easy as his mouth was running with water at the delightful scent. "I am not one to pass up a generous offer." Markus said before he made a nod with his head.

OOCSorry for the massive delay!

[Accolade]

Markus Andres

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Interrogation	+ 2 XP
Seduction	+ 1 XP
Rhetoric	+ 2 XP
leadership	+ 1 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Discovering a rotting corpse in the city
•	Sondra isn't a fabled Konti
•	Discussing The Call

Sondra

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Interrogation	+ 2 XP
Seduction	+ 1 XP
Rhetoric	+ 2 XP
Undertaking	+ 1 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Markus is vagik-like, yet still a delicate flower
•	A meal with a bossy Squire
•	Discussing The Call

Notes :

Markus seems to get along NICELY when it comes to Kontis. Fun read you two, I must have more!

The Sylir has spoken

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