The cold water from the buckets did little to ease the ache in her bones, though Ausan was not one to complain. As it were, the nervous and overly concerned squire insisted that she where a sling and rest her arm, just so that it could heal faster. Nothing but a grunt was given in her agreement to the treatment and as the toe headed young man sought to her wounds, she merely closed her eyes and allowed for it to happen. There were some fights that were just not worth it and she found the rather stern nurturing nature of the young man refreshing. Rarely did he ever flinch when she barked at him, or raged about one thing or another. He had come to serve her some years back, when she had saved him from a nasty beating at the hands of some other boys.<br/><br/>It was not hard to tell he was, different, from the others. Softer, kinder and gentler than the others, often called a girl it had been the taunting that prompted her to step in. The beating she gave those youths was one they would never forget and had certainly made them reconsider their treatment of others, not to mention thinking to insult someone in regards to their gender.<br/><br/>“Thank you, Cameron.”<br/><br/>Is all she said once he was done, the wood of the stool beneath her squeaked as she shifted her weight and pushed herself up.<br/><br/>“My sword.”<br/><br/>The request not even needed, but the young man had learned long ago that she never went anywhere without her sword. Her shield was something that needed to be cleaned and repaired often, but her sword was the one thing that she had to have on her no matter what. Already the worn leather was belted about her waist, care taken to ensure it was secure but not so tight as to cause pain on any of the bruised places on her body.<br/><br/>“See to my armor and Symas,” she said, again unneeded, but old habits die hard in the face familiarity. Plus, what bit that they spoke was<span style="font-style: italic">their</span>way of getting along; a minor way to bond in a way that was not overly friendly but what suited them just fine.<br/><br/>“Of course, M’Lady,” Cameron replied with a bow of his head as she walked passed and left him in the tent along to tend to his duties.<br/><br/>Arm in the sling, Ausan walked through the camp, meeting the gaze of all who thought to look her way. The glares were met with a nod and the smiles were met with smiles, it seemed to become second nature at this point, to nod to those who hated her and smile for those who admired her. Perhaps, she could have done the “lady” thing that her mother spoke of? Being that polite and respectable women that could change the course of a debate with nothing but her presence and a smile?<br/><br/>The smile that came to her face and the slight shake of her shoulders hinted at the amusement she felt in regards to that thought. One that she could hardly finish before the humor of it all became too much. She would have to tell it Barth when she saw him, he could use a laugh so, and she expected this might earn her at least a smile from him. Which was who she had been on the way to visit, he would be in his tent as usual and she would go there to aid him in removing his armor and seeing to that wound on his leg she knew he had. She had watched him deflect that blow and saw how it struck his leg, not to mention the way he limped over to his horse before he mounted up.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">He always had to be the tough guy in front of his men.</span>She thought with a small smile when commotion within the camp stalled her journey. Looked like they had picked up a new recruit, someone from the Lebidan camp she figured.<br/><br/>“A woman…” she said aloud with an arched brow as if she were somewhat, impressed.<br/><br/>“We found her handling a deserter,” Verana said from her right, the woman was as sneaky as ever, with this near unnatural ability to sneak up on everyone, even Ausan.<br/><br/>“When she say handling…”<br/><br/>“Held him at pitchfork end, after she had struck him across the head with it.”<br/><br/>“Hmnh,”Ausan grunt in what one could have taken to be a chuckle, as she watched the recruit with hard calculating eyes, “Bring her to me.”<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: black;background:black;"/></div><br/><br/>"Right," nodded the woman with the close-cropped hair, spinning on her heel with a respectful nod as she did so. She walked swiftly to the circle, making a beeline for Verana.<br/><br/>--------<br/><br/>Verana started to say something, but her words halted as the last of the three women approached. She muttered into the red-haired Maiden's ear for a moment, and the sharp aquatic eyes flickered back to the woman on the ground. With a nod, Snowblade crossed her arms loosely. "Over there," she said clearly, jerking her head in the direction of her fellow Maiden.<br/><br/>The pink eyes found the mark and widened in obvious recognition. She scrambled to her feet and followed the woman over, gulping air to catch her breath. Her posture was still decidedly defensive and hesitant, but her eyes held steady on the senior Maiden. The warrior took up a position to Ausan's flank, but Seniré stopped about four feet in front of her, silent.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: black;background:black;"/></div><br/><br/>For a long moment Ausan merely looked at the woman, her brown eyes unreadable as she merely stared down at her. Stared at her the way that a lioness would regard a rabbit that it had trapped under her paw and now had to decide just how she would eat her? Head first? Or perhaps, she would start with the feet? Then again she could always save the ears for last…<br/><br/>“State your name, full name, and whose house you hail from,” the words were practically barked out like an order she would give anyone else beneath her.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: black;background:black;"/></div><br/><br/>The younger woman's spine stiffened noticeably, arms straightening at her sides, and her eyes dropped to the Maiden's feet.<br/><br/><span style="color: #80BFBF">"Sen... Um, Sen B-Bri... Brightman, sir! Ah, m-ma'am,"</span>came the hasty response, a flood of light red rushing up her collar to her ears,<span style="color: #80BFBF">"in s-service of Sir Derrald of H-house Brigham,"</span>, she added in a much quieter voice, her shoulders caving even more as she spoke.[/quote]<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: black;background:black;"/></div><br/><br/>Ausan glanced over her shoulder at her Sister and then looked at the woman before her with an arched brow.<br/><br/>"Do you know who I am?"<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: black;background:black;"/></div><br/><br/>The pink eyes still did not turn up to face the Maiden.<span style="color: #80BFBF">"Y-yes,"</span>she answered, in a small voice.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: black;background:black;"/></div><br/><br/>Slowly with an almost lazy attitude about it, she leaned down until her face was right in that of the woman before her. “Then you know I don’t tolerate weakness…especially a weak female…” her gaze was nearly as hard as her tone. “Do you wish to live in this world and continue to be a stammering little bitch? Or are you prepared to be something more? More than just a woman. Pain is real and something that everyone should grow accustomed to, become intimate with. There is no man here to step in front of you, there is no man here to defend your honor or your home. It is you and only you that can do that. But you can't be afraid to do it."<br/><br/>She stood back to her full height, “Now again. Tell me your name!” This time it was an order, a harsh command filled with authority that she had earned through her own blood. If this woman planned to hang around with them, she would have to develop at least a backbone first.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: black;background:black;"/></div><br/><br/>The half-cowered figure finally straightened to a full stand, spine lengthening and shoulders sliding back. The gaze that turned up to the dark-haired Maiden snapped like pink embers in a sun-kindled forest fire, brows slightly furrowed in an obvious rush of determination. Even her stance seemed to shift, her legs almost bracing against the impact of Ausan's words. Her hands curled into fists.<br/><br/><span style="color: #80BFBF">"Sen Brigham, of House Brigham!"</span>she stated clearly, voice clear as a bell but claiming a deeper pitch that resonated with unearthed stubbornness.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: black;background:black;"/></div><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Finally!</span>Ausan thought as a small smile quirked at the corners of her mouth. “Verana,” she turned to her sister who had a more noticeable smile on her face. “I think there is life in her yet. What do you think?”<br/><br/>“Better than most men who strut about with their cocks in their hands,” she replied with a wink at Sen.<br/>“My thoughts exactly,” Ausan said. “Sen, you are to be part of the Linden forces now. The females who join are made into Sisters, but you have to earn it. Whatever a man does here, I expect you to do it better. There is no weakness in this war, only the strength of will to survive to fight for those who cannot defend themselves. Understand?”<br/><br/>Once the woman responded she turned completely to Verana, “Find whoever she was with before and inform him that she is ours now. Yes?  I don’t want to have to cut some assholes dick off when he thinks he can come stomping into Barth’s tent to raise a fuss.”<br/><br/>“Of course, Sister. I will ensure it is settled.”<br/><br/>“Good. I’m going to see Barth now myself so if you need me I will be there,” the older woman informed her sister before she took in Sen once more. “Try not to die and never let them see you sweat.” With that she was gone, her long strides carried her quickly and proudly through the camp toward the tent of her prince.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: red;background:red;"/></div><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: blue;background:blue;"/></div><br/><br/>“You should stop being so stubborn,” she said simply as she entered Barth’s tent. “You could ask for help,” she remarked with a small smile as she took up residence in the chair opposite him. “Even I can accept help, occasionally,” she said as she gestured to her arm in the sling, which she carefully removed. For a moment she merely sat there with him, her eyes not on anything in particular, though she found that on occasion she would glance up to his eyes and then down to his dented leg armor.<br/><br/>“Here,” she pushed up from the chair and knelt before him. “Let me help you.”<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: blue;background:blue;"/></div><br/><br/>"I don't… I just- fine, fine," he allowed, as they carefully unstrapped the greave, revealing a large bruise of a deep purple that appeared to be nearly black at its center. He grimaced down at his thigh, then shook his head.<br/><br/>"You remember the one that did this- broken tusk, playing dead. Surprised it settled for punching, but it must've had horned knuckles. Rune's Mercy, when a Tutar falls it may still yet breathe. Either the Lebis do not understand this, or our own soldiers need retraining."<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: blue;background:blue;"/></div><br/><br/>“Ours know better than to not ensure the death of these beasts,” she remarked as she checked over his wound and shook her head slightly. “I may have to<span style="font-style: italic">remind</span>them of their folly later, so as to save us from such needless pain,” she said with a sigh. “Come,” she instructed as she stood. “Brace on the chair and I will help you with the rest. The fact that you never take this off as soon as we return from battle never makes sense to me,” the last part said more to herself than to him, though she knew it was something he had heard time and time again from her. Each piece was slowly removed with care and the occasional word of disapproval at how dented one piece or another had become. When she was done she had him sit back down while she fetched a bucket of cold water to then wash his form.<br/><br/>“Today…it was not like before, this group I mean…” she said after a moment of silence had lapsed between them and the cold rag had still in washing his back. “They were not as organized and just…chaotic. You know?” the small question posed because between them there was always that bond of understanding, even when the words themselves failed.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: blue;background:blue;"/></div><br/><br/>He grunted, something in the sound conveying his agreement. "Aye, something was different. They fought with the usual savagery, but something was… off. They may be monsters, but they are smarter than they seem.”<br/><br/>He twitched his shoulders and took a deep breath, stretching his right leg out in front of him, flexing it with a small, barely audible gasp.<br/><br/>"Do you remember when they breached the castle walls, back home? They kept falling back, over and over, drawing us out, wearing us down… they understand combat, they have applied tactics against us. Vicious frontal assaults supported by flanking forces, strategic retreats… they understand their strengths and our weaknesses. These ones who attacked now, I would bet my one good earlobe they saw the civilians and pounced on the chance for easy prey. I did not smell a chieftain in any of it, and to be frank, we are lucky they were so disorganized."<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: blue;background:blue;"/></div><br/><br/>“Exactly my point, they were rushed and nearly desperate in their actions. Had they actually planned the attack not a single one of ours would have lived and we would have only known of their deaths once we went to find them,” the rag was returned to the bucket and the cold water was used to wash along his shoulders. “If there had been a Chieftain with half a brain none of those people would have lived and we likely would have lost a good deal more when we arrived to search for them. An ambush would have been waiting for us and that would have been the end,” anger had found its way into her voice, mingled with the frustration that had to do with the everything of it all.<br/><br/>A calming breath was taken before she returned to the task at hand, “You know if you let me beat that bald bastard in the face the others will be nicer to us.” Tone was playful and teasing as she leaned over his shoulder to read his face.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: blue;background:blue;"/></div><br/><br/>Barth was grinning now as he regarded her with a sideways glance. "Lord Borim would never look the same, this is true. Perhaps, dare I say, he'd even learn to keep his comments to himself. But I don't know if beating the man would help us with our popularity, Ben."<br/><br/>He ran a hand through the coarse hair concealing his jawline, as if pondering on whether or not it needed to be trimmed. "His father is a powerful Lord, and though that means little to us, we could never stand without the manpower the Lebis provide. Of course, growing up with a name of influence has certainly given him a monstrous ego. Resuran slew several Tutari fighters, I saw him- it is clear he has earned his place through toil and hard work. But Garth, he never even drew his blade."<br/><br/>The smile had faded from his lips and a look of apprehension had appeared in its place. "This attack by the beasts… it is the first in a long time. The silence… is is unnerving. Savage cries and the sound of steel crashing upon steel, those are familiar. But this calm fills me with foreboding."<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: blue;background:blue;"/></div><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Ben.</span>The masculine nickname he had for her always made her smile, even if she tried her best to not show it. It just made her feel…more connected to the world around her, more than just the warrior maiden, the nightmare on horseback…she felt more like a woman if anyone would have truly believed it. It was one of those rare moments when she could remember that she as indeed female and not just the fighter.<br/><br/>“I don’t know,” she remarked when she stepped around to face him knife in hand. “It might just earn his respect if I emasculate him,” she shrugged and nodded for him to tip his head back. “Besides,” she began while she took the knife to the base of his beard near his throat, “if his father has an issue I will merely pummel him as well. Sure the old bastard is more bones and shit than anything I should be afraid of…”<br/><br/>Deftly and with practiced ease she worked the blade along his skin, to get the find edge for the foundation of his beard. It was something that had just happened one day between them, he had been scratching at it like a wild dog from sweat and she had remarked to get it trimmed. He made the comment of if she trusted anyone besides herself near his throat with a knife? The points were valid and so she took up her knife and had him sit so that she could tend to it for him. And so from that day forth when it came time for him to need a trim out in the field that was what she did for him. Just another one of those moments they shared and rarely spoke of with others.<br/><br/>It was their thing.<br/><br/>“I feel it too,” she remarked about the silence. “Like there is just storm brewing and we are standing outside waiting for it to blow us away or drown us…” voice soft and with just an edge of uncertainty. “Whatever they are planning…I pray to Naiya that we are strong enough to survive it…”<br/><br/>Ausan was like Barth, baptized in the blood and pain of war. When it was silent and still, there was something up, that much their lives have taught them and there was this dread that would gnaw at them like a rabid dog on a bone. Waist deep in a battle was easier to handle than this waiting for the other foot to fall.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: blue;background:blue;"/></div><br/><br/>"Whether we be strong enough or not, we are all that is left. And every one of our number knows it- it is in their eyes, as plain as the scars on our faces. The dull, deadened hopelessness, the knowledge of the coming doom. The Lebis have been far away from it, detached from what burdens us, but in some of them I am starting to see it too. Comprehension dawns, slowly but certainly."<br/><br/>His eyes found her even as his neck continued to crane upward to accommodate the movements of her blade. "The Tutar will not rest until this world is free of man, and I know in my gut that the next time we see them, it will be a force that dwarfs anything we have yet seen." He spoke plainly and openly, for once not hiding his doubts, for once not concerned with lifting the morales of those around him.<br/><br/>"You and the sisters pray to the Fire Goddess, and perhaps you take heart from such things, but I look up every day and I see nothing looking back at me. I see only the grey light of the day and the blood red of sundown, and I see each day counting down to the last. We give our fallen to Rune, we pray for strength, we beg for aid, but I fear it shall never come."<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: blue;background:blue;"/></div><br/><br/>The blade stilled and she instead placed either hand on an arm of the chair leaned upon it, the pain as it shot through her arm was ignored while she gazed down into the troubled eyes of her Prince.<br/><br/>“Barth…” she said if only to ensure she had his complete focus and to give herself a moment to consider how to phrase the next bit. “The Fire Goddess and the Gods themselves hear our pain and head our prayers…” another pause as she looked away for a moment to gather her thoughts once more. “Perhaps they are waiting for all of Men to pray? Not just us but the Lebis too. They have to hear and know that all of man here in this world, believe in them and know that they can save us. The biggest part of faith is believing when there is no reason to believe,” she gave him a sad kind of smile, eyes locked on his own before she leaned back and took up her knife once more. “I learned that when my father locked me in the cellar for a week with nothing but water, there was no reason to believe it would get better because his behavior had taught me to expect nothing but the worse. Yet, when I was cold and tired, I prayed to Naiya and felt warmth. Whether that was a trick of my mind or the intervention of the Goddess herself…” the sentence dropped off and she shrugged. “I just know that sometimes faith is all we have left and we must cling to it in order to preserve who we are as a human being.”<br/><br/>She allowed silence to follow then, save for the soft sound of the knife against his skin as she continued to trim the beard he was insisted on keeping. Granted, if she could grow facial hair she might have herself, if only to add to her overall image of some mighty titan that rained pain down on the weak that coward before her.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: blue;background:blue;"/></div><br/><br/>"I shall not spend my days leading prayers to the Gods in the hopes of garnering their attention," he replied with a small smile, "but i<span style="font-style: italic">do</span>have faith, Ausan. I have faith in my sword-arm, and in yours, and in the strength of our fellow soldiers. I have faith in the sharpened steel that stands between us and our enemies. I have faith that if we must die, we will do so standing tall, spitting in the face of death, defiant to the very end."<br/><br/>A sad look entered his eyes and he looked away from her. "I pray for aid, every single day. I pray for the strength to continue doing what must be done. But what am I waiting on, Ausan? Do I expect to turn around and see an army of Gods striding through our camp? They would have come, long ago, if they intended to. Deep down, you know this- but do not let me deter you. I<span style="font-style: italic">do</span>believe that the Fire Goddess lends you strength when you need it, and that the Gods do indeed hear our voices- I just don't know if such things will be enough."<br/><br/>He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "But whether my prayers are answered or not, I will not turn away from my duty- and unfortunately, that means putting up with these Lebis and their politics. The Lords undoubtedly wish to meet with me again, but this time things will be different." A note of anger had entered his voice now, accompanying the faintest twitch of a facial muscle. "The lives we have just lost could have been spared, if my words were heeded. Their King had his reasons for requesting a muster of our troops, more of their politics, I'm sure, but it was unnecessary and it weakened the protection I put in place for our people. If Sahir believes us a pack of wolves to be tethered to a tree when not needed, with voices not worth listening to, I fully intend to relieve him of that notion."<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: blue;background:blue;"/></div><br/><br/>The words of her Prince rang true and played in the moments of doubt that she strove to fight against when she thought, even for the smallest of seconds that her Goddess no longer listened or cared. He was right, in so many ways and yet she hoped in so many others. The Gods may be waiting for something, that final straw or that final push to do what is needed to save those who prayed to them and worshiped them.<br/><br/>Or they could be…<br/><br/>No! She refused to think that they listened not to their pleas and that it was just a matter of time before they stepped in to save them. She had to believe this. Had to cling to this belief least everything she had learned from a child till now would be for naught.<br/><br/>“Perhaps you should pray to a Goddess instead of a God?” she teased as she finished up. “She might listen to you now that you look less like a savage and more like a rugged Prince,” the teasing continued as she wiped her blade clean along the thigh of her pants. The simple leather material what she wore when not clad in her full armor, which made it comfortable but that was about it when it came to anything in regards to fashion. “I’ve bathed you, shaved you and listened to you whine,” She messed up his hair and stepped away, her arm replaced in the sling to ease the dull ache that had set in while she had shaved him. “The least you could do would be let me punch at least one of those lords for you,” a broad grin was then plastered on her face as if she could implore him with merely that look, to ignore the politics and allow her the freedom to throttle all those who would insult him or their people.<br/><br/>It was obviously going to be a no go, but she was compelled to give it a try.<br/><br/>“Fine, but if I should happen to trip, it is not my fault where my fist, boot or knife ends up,” she winked and turned on her heel walked toward the entrance to his tent. “I’ll leave you to dress yourself, something I think you can manage yes?”<br/><br/>This playful fun side was one that only Barth and Verana saw, he more than her, but it was the Ausan that was beneath the armor. The one who prided herself on comforting those she cared about and trying to ease their concern with a bad joke that usually revolved around her hurting someone for them. It was what she was good at and something she was not afraid to do, regardless of potential backlash from any who might have thought themselves above reproach from her.<br/><br/>At the tent flap she still, one hand on the worn leather her thumb absentmindedly played across the familiar material as she dropped the humorous tone and took up one that was far more serious though sincere.<br/><br/>“You can always place your faith in me Barth. From this world, into the next and even beyond that you can count on my sword and my friendship.”<br/><br/>Then she was gone to wait for him to dress so that they could go together over to the tent where this accursed meeting would take place.