<ul>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff">"Yes without me. As I've already said, I doubt that my presence would help yo - "</span><br/>
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Arioch froze. Brand completely misunderstood what she was saying. No, she wasn't telling them the whole story. If she told them about the disagreement she had with the King and the other generals of the kingdom, about how she discarded her title and her status to leave Hieronidan, then maybe they would understand. But before she could even do that, Brand drew her into his arms and close to his body, much closer than she cared to be. Her face slowly began to glow bright red in color, and her voice hitched in her throat. Half because she was embarrassed and uncomfortable, and half because she could feel herself becoming more and more upset with each passing second. Had he no knowledge of Elven customs? Didn't he know that something like this was. . .<br/>
<br/>
Immediately, the former General began to struggle against the hold of the knight, resisting her urge to inflict bodily harm to him our of respect for who he was. Eventually, she managed to slip away from his hold and immediately widened the distance between them. With a single glance, anyone could see that she was furious, yet, her words and actions would convey the same, deadpan calm she had displayed since they first met.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff"> "I'm not afraid. The reason I won't be going with you is because . . .I'm no longer a General. I disagreed with the King's decision to do nothing, and directly disobeyed his order to sit by and do nothing. That would make me a fugitive here in my homeland. It would be beyond foolish to appear in the presence of his Highness with a criminal in your party, so once again I'll say that it is for the best that you go to speak with the King without me,"</span> she calmly explained.<br/>
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Rather than settle back into the water, she excused herself and left muttering a string of obscenities in her native tongue. Out of all of the people in the world, how was is that someone as stupid as Brand managed to be one of the Queen's champions? If he were one of the people they were counting on, she greatly feared for the future of Marosia. A part of her was greatly disappointed that she was unable to enjoy the baths for long, but she thought it best that she take her leave of the knights and the strange man who apparently knew them. Arioch dried herself off, put her clothing back on, and decided to seek out Altima. For some reason, the woman wished to speak with her about some unspecified matter. Though Arioch didn't really like the woman, she felt that it would be much easier to attempt to be civil speaking with her than it would be dealing with a complete fool like Brand.<br/>
<br/>
Finding the blond proved to be much easier than she anticipated. It wasn't hard to notice a human in an Elven city, especially an attractive young woman like Altima. Even more so when the attractive young woman made herself stand out by singing like a bard on the street and drawing a crowd. Even Arioch was drawn into the crowd. She waited until the song was finished and the crowd began to disperse before approaching her new companion. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff">"You wished to speak with me,"</span> she said. [/list:u]</li>
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