Post by Nuyori on Jul 6, 2016 12:32:58 GMT -5
Charred Life: Bodyguard - Part Kate -
is back temporarily.
Honestly I meant to rewrite a large portion of what I originally had, but it was tricky to weave in a lot more without having to change much of the ending, which I wanted to keep(coward).
Hopefully I'll be able to post once a week amidst other engagements. For now I hope you will enjoy the following parts.
Chapter 2.6
Chapter 2.7
An open grass field elevated on the palace grounds, cultured beside a black ravine on one side, and bordered by the palace walls on the other side. The training grounds for the Engarden Guard. No, a playground? How could she approach such a place seriously when she'd been on worse terrain so many times?
Kate leaned against the outer rail, eyeing the black drop of crags behind her. The field was positioned on the top of a plateau on the outer wall of the castle. A hollow wind swept up from here. The descent was menacing. And the majority of the crowd occupying the field kept themselves by the palace walls, however that made them feel safe.
I'll let them have the nicer view, Kate scanned the grown audience. A railing, probably for jousting, ran through the middle of the field, separating the seats from the empty stage. Well no, five others stood on her side of the arena. The senders of the Engagement cards. They must feel safe over there... Wait, are they intimidated when they're not even in the ravine itself?!
Number one. Sir Osweld. Donned in silver armour today, he was armed with a sword.
Number two. Sir Carpem. Silver armour. Red livery. Ditto.
Number three. Sir Aladne. Silver armour. Green livery. Ditto.
Number four. Mercenary Mann. Dark grey hooded cloak. Possibly various style and weapons. Probably here just for the fight.
Number five. An unclassified Sir Keplon. Black armour. Unknown weapons.
"Wait - what are the rules to this thing?!" Kate glanced about, frowning. Lyric and her parents sat on a raised pavilion to the side, courtiers and knights on the other side of the rail... Ah, there was the referee person, waving about a checkered flag along with a trumpeter. "What is this - car racing?!" Kate face palmed mentally. But... DID THE LOT OF YOU REALLY HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO?!
She looked the other way, slipping her hand into her pocket.
= = =
Lyric started to the blare of the heralding trumpet. Suppressing a full grin, she glanced quickly for his whereabouts and straightened in her seat attentively. She, as the initiator of the event, must see it through. The breeze directed fair today, carrying over the thin voice. She tensed.
"Attention all of the Kingdom of Engarden!" the referee began, "and Hail to our noble King Jacinth, Queen Rosette, and our lovely Princess Lyric. Today is enacted a serious proposal forwarded by our most venerable royalty - a proposal that will determine the role of the princess' bodyguard - a role where rests and risks the security of our nobility!"
"You got that right, bud," Kate muttered from her spot.
It wasn't that she doubted Kate... But Lyric still felt uneasy about stirring a ruckus over such a... thing. Apparently though... it was as serious as she had hoped... more serious than her expectations.
The referee paused, eyes glaring at the page he recited from. "Brought into question by the Guard's own Osweld, a duel with the presently appointed bodyguard will determine h-her worthiness of retaining the position," he took a breath, "the winner of the duel thereby succeeding or retaining the role of the princess' bodyguard."
Lyric bit her lip, eyes wide and heart suddenly beginning to pound. She knew, for sure, she didn't want another bodyguard... had she inconvenienced herself now? "Did you hear that, Woodward?" she whispered to herself, clutching her hands. "I don't want you to leave so..." Her eyes turned to her selected protector. "Don't fail... me?" Lyric's eyes locked and she gasped, starting. A few eyes drew to her, but she smiled back.
"The rules of the duel..."
... went past Lyric's ears. She stared hard at Kate... because there was a definite and queer difference in the woman's appearance, but she could not tell what. It suddenly unnerved her... with the fact Kate did not seem to be listening at all. Yet leaning on the railing, Kate's eyes were lowered to the ground. And held in her left hand, constantly flipping, was what looked like a white card.
"What... what are you doing?! What is that?!" Lyric breathed, eyes wide, brows raised.
"...and with that - let the engagements commence!"
Lyric gasped worriedly, "Wait..." her eyes drew back to the bodyguard. Kate's head rose slowly... she was smiling. Was she laughing? Did she not understand the severity of this yet again?! And Lyric's heart gave a start as she realized her observation, "She's taken off her chain mail - !"
is back temporarily.
Honestly I meant to rewrite a large portion of what I originally had, but it was tricky to weave in a lot more without having to change much of the ending, which I wanted to keep
Chapter 2.6
GIMME A BREAK!
Mind screaming all the while, Kate herself glared narrowly at the five different colour seals of the five envelopes before her. All addressed to her person, she could guess what they were, "I thought they would've come sooner... but looks like the mailman just picked them all up this morning."
"Mailman?" Lyric bend over her own stationary at her writing desk. "They might have given them to the same courier, yes. But you see, they are being openly defiant. It is no wonder they stalled till today if they reflected upon their actions the day before yesterday. I will keep - keep - how do you say it?'
"Keep tabs on them?"
"Yes. That. Sir Osweld. Sir Carpem. Sir Aladne. Mercenary Mann. And an unclassified Sir Keplon..."
Kate looked over each card as was called out.
"Pray what precisely does ‘tabs’ mean?"
"Tabs? Not sure. But basically monitoring them." Kate reached for the first envelope, shaking her head. "Oh, look it. First one's from your doorkeeper, Osweld. What are these called again?"
Lyric replied promptly, "Affair of Honour Engagements."
"Seriously?! So...medieval, I guess." Kate scanned over each briefly and smirked. "Your highness, twasn't necessary to clear your schedule to watch me today. The people might assume you have no better pastime to attend."
"It is alright." Lyric lifted her quill, blowing on her page. "It may surprise you, but the whole court has been invited to witness your abilities, along with mama and papa."
Pressure!! Kate chuckled. "Oh, I see. Very interesting."
Lyric raised a brow at her. "Do not laugh. This is a grave matter for us."
"My apologies, Miss Lyric. I'm not mocking you, but." Kate held up the letters. "I haven't done this in a while so I'm a little excited."
The other brow raised. "That is intriguing. Are all Guild members like that?"
"Nope, just those who enjoy what they trained for." Kate dropped the letters, standing to stretch. "And this is the real thing this time." She chuckled again, tightening her gauntlets.
Lyric tucked her folded page into an envelope. "You have participated in a fake one?"
"Ah, sorry. No, it's not like that." Kate began patting various spots on herself, feeling for her pre-hidden assets. "Okay, back at the Guild, we have days we call Field Track. Usually we have the regular sprint races, jumping and Parkour competitions, duels, and the most disliked one is the Endurance Combat Test."
"It sounds gruesome." Lyric beckoned to Kate, sitting before the dressing table. "After all, you've just endured through all the other activities."
Kate dead panned. "Oh, that's true." Her fingers went to work on the curls. "It's kind of our regular routine, those. But we're just testing to see who is more proficient at them. It's the last test that's different."
"How so?"
"We, the contestants, are required to verse five of our strongest members - cumulatively. Say like, we have to fight member A for five minutes when member B comes into the rink so you're fighting both of them when member C arrives, and then D, and then E, and you have to right all of them till time runs out." Kate tied the end of a fishtail braid. "There."
Lyric slid carefully off the stool, gesturing again to Kate. "And? I can imagine you took the test as well." Glancing about the room once more, Lyric exited the chamber. Kate followed, locking the door behind them.
"I... didn't exactly win." Kate frowned. "Not by myself, anyway," she added, muttering. Technically we were all dead before entering the test. Ailuja, then Aunt Nuyori, then Uncle Eono, then Aunt Imichi - KINAN OF ALL PEOPLE TO BE THE FIFTH PERSON!! Such a pain...
The dainty belle of blue decorations today guided her down halls. Kate observed the braid of her handiwork, eyes dim and face thoughtful. Her hand slipped into her pocket and felt the smooth surface of paper. She smirked, lowering her head in an attempt to hide it. That test had been meant for dead case scenarios. Set up in event of their occurrence, played out to simulate their severity, beaten down to bring about the solution when it did happen.
"'Ready for anything'... another saying of ours," Kate breathed softly, halting behind the princess. They stood before a pair of doors under which a light daylight seeped. That light streamed through now as the doors opened before them and she raised her eyes.
"I hope to be reassured these bouts do not develop into insurgencies as in Oschelar." Lyric strode out with energy, causing the doorkeepers to retract slightly.
"Unlike the power-hungry wolves there my lady, your royal subjects only desire the best for you... it's just me they rather disapprove..." Kate offered, following in a less tensed manner. At least I hope so. I'm having none of that here!!
"That is not my concern, Miss Woodward." Lyric called back. They stood in the sun. A day with a blue sky and a delicate breeze. "I can only hope my dear hero will not be injured as the prince's hero did there in Oschelar (it was his bodyguard, I overheard). How perplexed I would be!"
Who was it that put that notion in your head in the first place again?!
Mind screaming all the while, Kate herself glared narrowly at the five different colour seals of the five envelopes before her. All addressed to her person, she could guess what they were, "I thought they would've come sooner... but looks like the mailman just picked them all up this morning."
"Mailman?" Lyric bend over her own stationary at her writing desk. "They might have given them to the same courier, yes. But you see, they are being openly defiant. It is no wonder they stalled till today if they reflected upon their actions the day before yesterday. I will keep - keep - how do you say it?'
"Keep tabs on them?"
"Yes. That. Sir Osweld. Sir Carpem. Sir Aladne. Mercenary Mann. And an unclassified Sir Keplon..."
Kate looked over each card as was called out.
"Pray what precisely does ‘tabs’ mean?"
"Tabs? Not sure. But basically monitoring them." Kate reached for the first envelope, shaking her head. "Oh, look it. First one's from your doorkeeper, Osweld. What are these called again?"
Lyric replied promptly, "Affair of Honour Engagements."
"Seriously?! So...medieval, I guess." Kate scanned over each briefly and smirked. "Your highness, twasn't necessary to clear your schedule to watch me today. The people might assume you have no better pastime to attend."
"It is alright." Lyric lifted her quill, blowing on her page. "It may surprise you, but the whole court has been invited to witness your abilities, along with mama and papa."
Pressure!! Kate chuckled. "Oh, I see. Very interesting."
Lyric raised a brow at her. "Do not laugh. This is a grave matter for us."
"My apologies, Miss Lyric. I'm not mocking you, but." Kate held up the letters. "I haven't done this in a while so I'm a little excited."
The other brow raised. "That is intriguing. Are all Guild members like that?"
"Nope, just those who enjoy what they trained for." Kate dropped the letters, standing to stretch. "And this is the real thing this time." She chuckled again, tightening her gauntlets.
Lyric tucked her folded page into an envelope. "You have participated in a fake one?"
"Ah, sorry. No, it's not like that." Kate began patting various spots on herself, feeling for her pre-hidden assets. "Okay, back at the Guild, we have days we call Field Track. Usually we have the regular sprint races, jumping and Parkour competitions, duels, and the most disliked one is the Endurance Combat Test."
"It sounds gruesome." Lyric beckoned to Kate, sitting before the dressing table. "After all, you've just endured through all the other activities."
Kate dead panned. "Oh, that's true." Her fingers went to work on the curls. "It's kind of our regular routine, those. But we're just testing to see who is more proficient at them. It's the last test that's different."
"How so?"
"We, the contestants, are required to verse five of our strongest members - cumulatively. Say like, we have to fight member A for five minutes when member B comes into the rink so you're fighting both of them when member C arrives, and then D, and then E, and you have to right all of them till time runs out." Kate tied the end of a fishtail braid. "There."
Lyric slid carefully off the stool, gesturing again to Kate. "And? I can imagine you took the test as well." Glancing about the room once more, Lyric exited the chamber. Kate followed, locking the door behind them.
"I... didn't exactly win." Kate frowned. "Not by myself, anyway," she added, muttering. Technically we were all dead before entering the test. Ailuja, then Aunt Nuyori, then Uncle Eono, then Aunt Imichi - KINAN OF ALL PEOPLE TO BE THE FIFTH PERSON!! Such a pain...
The dainty belle of blue decorations today guided her down halls. Kate observed the braid of her handiwork, eyes dim and face thoughtful. Her hand slipped into her pocket and felt the smooth surface of paper. She smirked, lowering her head in an attempt to hide it. That test had been meant for dead case scenarios. Set up in event of their occurrence, played out to simulate their severity, beaten down to bring about the solution when it did happen.
"'Ready for anything'... another saying of ours," Kate breathed softly, halting behind the princess. They stood before a pair of doors under which a light daylight seeped. That light streamed through now as the doors opened before them and she raised her eyes.
"I hope to be reassured these bouts do not develop into insurgencies as in Oschelar." Lyric strode out with energy, causing the doorkeepers to retract slightly.
"Unlike the power-hungry wolves there my lady, your royal subjects only desire the best for you... it's just me they rather disapprove..." Kate offered, following in a less tensed manner. At least I hope so. I'm having none of that here!!
"That is not my concern, Miss Woodward." Lyric called back. They stood in the sun. A day with a blue sky and a delicate breeze. "I can only hope my dear hero will not be injured as the prince's hero did there in Oschelar (it was his bodyguard, I overheard). How perplexed I would be!"
Who was it that put that notion in your head in the first place again?!
Chapter 2.7
An open grass field elevated on the palace grounds, cultured beside a black ravine on one side, and bordered by the palace walls on the other side. The training grounds for the Engarden Guard. No, a playground? How could she approach such a place seriously when she'd been on worse terrain so many times?
Kate leaned against the outer rail, eyeing the black drop of crags behind her. The field was positioned on the top of a plateau on the outer wall of the castle. A hollow wind swept up from here. The descent was menacing. And the majority of the crowd occupying the field kept themselves by the palace walls, however that made them feel safe.
I'll let them have the nicer view, Kate scanned the grown audience. A railing, probably for jousting, ran through the middle of the field, separating the seats from the empty stage. Well no, five others stood on her side of the arena. The senders of the Engagement cards. They must feel safe over there... Wait, are they intimidated when they're not even in the ravine itself?!
Number one. Sir Osweld. Donned in silver armour today, he was armed with a sword.
Number two. Sir Carpem. Silver armour. Red livery. Ditto.
Number three. Sir Aladne. Silver armour. Green livery. Ditto.
Number four. Mercenary Mann. Dark grey hooded cloak. Possibly various style and weapons. Probably here just for the fight.
Number five. An unclassified Sir Keplon. Black armour. Unknown weapons.
"Wait - what are the rules to this thing?!" Kate glanced about, frowning. Lyric and her parents sat on a raised pavilion to the side, courtiers and knights on the other side of the rail... Ah, there was the referee person, waving about a checkered flag along with a trumpeter. "What is this - car racing?!" Kate face palmed mentally. But... DID THE LOT OF YOU REALLY HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO?!
She looked the other way, slipping her hand into her pocket.
= = =
Lyric started to the blare of the heralding trumpet. Suppressing a full grin, she glanced quickly for his whereabouts and straightened in her seat attentively. She, as the initiator of the event, must see it through. The breeze directed fair today, carrying over the thin voice. She tensed.
"Attention all of the Kingdom of Engarden!" the referee began, "and Hail to our noble King Jacinth, Queen Rosette, and our lovely Princess Lyric. Today is enacted a serious proposal forwarded by our most venerable royalty - a proposal that will determine the role of the princess' bodyguard - a role where rests and risks the security of our nobility!"
"You got that right, bud," Kate muttered from her spot.
It wasn't that she doubted Kate... But Lyric still felt uneasy about stirring a ruckus over such a... thing. Apparently though... it was as serious as she had hoped... more serious than her expectations.
The referee paused, eyes glaring at the page he recited from. "Brought into question by the Guard's own Osweld, a duel with the presently appointed bodyguard will determine h-her worthiness of retaining the position," he took a breath, "the winner of the duel thereby succeeding or retaining the role of the princess' bodyguard."
Lyric bit her lip, eyes wide and heart suddenly beginning to pound. She knew, for sure, she didn't want another bodyguard... had she inconvenienced herself now? "Did you hear that, Woodward?" she whispered to herself, clutching her hands. "I don't want you to leave so..." Her eyes turned to her selected protector. "Don't fail... me?" Lyric's eyes locked and she gasped, starting. A few eyes drew to her, but she smiled back.
"The rules of the duel..."
... went past Lyric's ears. She stared hard at Kate... because there was a definite and queer difference in the woman's appearance, but she could not tell what. It suddenly unnerved her... with the fact Kate did not seem to be listening at all. Yet leaning on the railing, Kate's eyes were lowered to the ground. And held in her left hand, constantly flipping, was what looked like a white card.
"What... what are you doing?! What is that?!" Lyric breathed, eyes wide, brows raised.
"...and with that - let the engagements commence!"
Lyric gasped worriedly, "Wait..." her eyes drew back to the bodyguard. Kate's head rose slowly... she was smiling. Was she laughing? Did she not understand the severity of this yet again?! And Lyric's heart gave a start as she realized her observation, "She's taken off her chain mail - !"