The overt display before her played out just as she anticipated it would. The barmaid flaunted her bountiful assets, capturing the attention of the knight across from her. Alaria did not fault him for being captivated by Sara’s feminine “charms.” They were presented for the purpose of being noticed and appreciated, to entice and tempt him . . . and every other man who would line her pockets with coin. Her deep brown eyes observed the way his cheeks filled with a red hue, how his sharp blue orbs lingered on her form as she walked away. It was far from the kind of gaze a man with<i>actual</i>intentions would behold a woman. And if it was, well, she would not protest or interfere in his pursuit of her should he desire to. She expected the same courtesy from him, though she would not assume she had such freedoms. Warriors, after all, had much more control over their mages than the reverse. The primacy of their authority was greater. Still, she believed she was correct in believing that their relationship would be one of mutual respect. He would have been quick to establish otherwise had that not been the case.<br/><br/>“I thought I would wait to see if she actually heard me,” Alaria admitted, leaning forward to prop her elbow on the surface of the table and rest her chin in her palm. “It seemed that I did not have her undivided attention as you did.” She smirked, looking out of the window while the boisterous patrons danced, cheered, and drank in the background. Their dear server was not wrong to be so taken with Tedric. He was quite handsome with his vivid blue eyes, a contrast against his dark hair. Paired with the shining armor, no matter how it might have impeded his mobility, he appeared every bit the picture of a chivalrous and gallant knight. He was like something out of a fairy tale, only missing a pearly white steed and a vicious dragon to slay to perfectly fit the archetype. Despite his princely good looks, he carried himself as one would expect of a man who had seen many battles; with a gait that betrayed just how capable he was with a blade whether he knew it or not. The same could be said of Alaria.<br/><br/>A talented and dedicated pupil, she excelled in her studies and devoted her adolescence to mastering her abilities. Over time, her demeanor began to mirror the level of her proficiency without much conscious effort on her part. There were, of course, other factors that shaped the manner in which she conducted herself but she liked to think that it had more to do with her impeccable command over her capabilities, one of many reasons his parents approached her.<br/><br/>The barmaid returned with two tankards of ale in hand and a bounce in her step. She set them down, ready to turn and be on her merry way when Alaria lifted the mug to hand back to her. “I actually ordered a red wine.” She reminder her, a lighthearted smile on her lips. “And I’d also like the stew, if you don’t mind.”<br/><br/>“Oh! Of course,” she exclaimed in that pitchy voice of hers. “On the house for the knight, then.” Sara batted her lashed as she set the drink down beside his other. “Stew is on its way.” She assured them before sauntering away. Alaria glanced over her shoulder, watching as she interacted with other patrons, treating them to the same teasing tactics as she flitted from table to table.<br/><br/>“I suppose I should inform you of what to expect for the next few days.” She said, returning her attention to him since she could perceive some measure of desire from the knight. “Our bond is fresh, and that means that we might experience certain . . . side effects, if you will. We may feel ill if we are far apart, which is why I suggested that we remain close for a while. In time, we will be able to reside where we please and as far apart as we please. We may also experience, with great intensity, the emotional state of each other. This is normal to a certain extent. So long as we are bonded, we will always have somewhat of an understanding of one another. Under the right conditions, it will become less overwhelming. For now, it is important that we keep our emotions in check to avoid imposing our feelings on each other.” Alaria paused, trying to think of anything she might have left out. “I believe that is all we need to concern ourselves with. It should be simple enough.”