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<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Pride? Pain? Fear of betrayal? Those were all reasons that Arioch was keeping herself distanced from the other knights, but only a part of the reason. There were so many other reasons, so many other things that it was impossible to explain easily. Maybe one day, she would open up to them all and share things with them that she normally wouldn't have, tell them all why she was so cold and distant towards them all. Perhaps not. There was no way that she could tell what would happen in the future, but even she knew that they needed to start building trust between each other if they were going to succeed with their seemingly impossible goal. The hand shake was human custom, a friendly gesture between two individuals that showed good will, if she remembered correctly.<br/>
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To be offered one at a time like and refuse it would have been rude of her, especially when the two of them were trying to 'build bridges' between each other. The rope had been thrown, and it was her job to catch it so to say. Arioch took Altima's hand and gave it a slight shake. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff">"Well then, I'll keep your little secret between the two of us,"</span> Arioch replied. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff">"And since we're sharing and being honest, I should tell you what I told the others. I abandoned my post, my. . .duties, here as a General. Our King. . .he doesn't think what's happening now is something that our people should concern themselves with, lest we paint a target upon our picture perfect home here. Such is why this place is. . .why everyone here is acting normally. He plans on fortifying the defenses of the kingdom and drafting more of the able bodied into a militia. To build up Hieronidan's own defenses just in case it becomes a target at some point in the future."</span><br/>
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<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff">"I believe the plan is foolish. If Elzier was so quick to fall, what hope would Hieronidan have if it were attacked? We live in a forest, yes. We live high up in the trees, yes. We know this place? Of course, after all, tis our home. Elzier was practically a fortress with high, sturdy walls and built on a lake, so it twas surrounded on all sides by water, with the only suitable access points being bridges and the ports. It still fell, yes? In a matter of hours from the stories we've heard. One could conjure fires and burn down our forest  around us. The protective ward only reaches but so far out from the actually settlements within. Our greatest defense then becomes our greatest weakness," </span>she explained. That was a weakness that all of the military officials and the royalty of the kingdom all knew. Burning the forest would only expose them and leave all of the villages and other important places bare - and the siege would be quick.<br/>
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<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff">"My opinion was ignored though. I am young, much younger than our king and our other leaders. They've seen things like this before, and survived many times by doing the same thing over and over again. And they are afraid I think. . .who wouldn't fear an enemy such as ours though? He tamed even the most savage of lands, and forced barbarians into compliance. That speaks power more than anything else could."</span>[/list:u]</li>
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