“You should let me punch people more often,” Ausan said as she shook out her fist and joined the rest of her people in a celebratory silence of satisfaction. Claps of congratulation were given to her shoulder, among some “high-fives” and “bumping of fists”, to those closest to her. This was a good day for them; a good day for their people and one could not help but feel a sense of satisfaction.<br/><br/>A glance through the crowd of those gathered and her gaze was met with a familiar glare that she actually welcomed this time around.  A challenge or more a silent promise was exchanged in the look between them.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">You’re next.</span><br/><br/>“Now, what’s next?” she asked Barth with a smile that was beyond pleased with herself.<br/><br/>-------<br/>Over the next eight days, life was hard but better. They had a voice now and a presence, more than just the refugees begging at the heels of the Lebis for help. Now, her Prince was their commander and he made the changes that were needed to ensure the survival of as many of them as possible, even if that meant people were a bit pissed because of it. Even with the changes that had been made she could still feel that anger and animosity that came from those of the other Kingdom. Admittedly, there was less of it, but enough was still there that Ausan happily waited for her chance to punch the next lord in the face. She figured the next punch should grant Barth the title and right as King to both Kingdoms. All she wanted, or more needed was the chance to punch him right to the throne.<br/><br/>The hooves of her horse galloped down the line of trenches, the beasts weight caused its hooves to tear into the soft earth and kick up earth as it rode by. This was the fourth group she had to check up on and there were still that group of Knights that would be less than pleased when she rode up to check on their work. She was somewhat looking forward to that one, if only she planned on putting them all to shame when she got down in trench and showed them how an<span style="font-style: italic">woman</span>was better than them.<br/><br/>“Dig!” she shouted from her horse before she dismounted and strode to those at work. Today she wore as little as possible and envied the men who could afford to go shirtless in this heat and oppressive work. The sleeveless vest she wore was a light weight and was only on to cover up the more…feminine attributes she possessed. The pants were made of the same simple material and just as lightweight to allow a freedom of movement but nothing that would smoother her either.  Down in the dirt with the others she took up a shovel and helped them the best that she could. Dirt load after dirt load was tossed up out of the trench, only to then be carted away by some of the citizens. Once she was done there, she exited the trench and mounted up once more to head off to check on the others.<br/><br/>In the back of her mind, she almost begged that someone be obnoxious and give her a reason to toss them out of the trench and then back in again. Barth would likely frown at her methods, at least in public, but after this last encounter he had to admit she knew how to change the world with nothing but her fist.<br/><br/>“Imagine if I used my sword arm?” she mused aloud to herself which caused her to chuckle at her earlier thought of making Barth the King of both kingdoms with a punch. Obviously she needed to use her sword arm for that.<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>"What do you think you are doing?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #FFFF00">"Checking out the view," replied the Knight, a thin man with a mop of curly black hair, who was tall but who had a narrow jaw currently housing a malicious smile. The shovel next to him didn't look like it had been hefted in some time, and his forehead was dry. "I don't usually like muscles on my women, but you look like you can use those arms for more than swordplay," he continued with a glance up and down her body. "I have a weapon worth wielding, if you want to go somewhere private."</span><br/><br/>She slowly licked her lips and arched a brow before she walked casually over to him. "Is that a fact? Why don't you whip it out and show me?" she smiled surprisingly sweetly, which had those familiar with her person stepping back.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FFFF00">The Knight's grin widened, and he closed the gap between them. "Josen," one of his fellows whispered with a wide-eyed glance at her, "maybe you shouldn't-" <br/><br/>The knight put a hand up, cutting him off mid-sentence with a look of annoyance. "When I signed on with Lord Brigham all those years back I was promised a title, spoils, and some of the…" he leered at Ausan for a moment before looking back at his comrade, "sweeter things."<br/><br/>The Knight was a new arrival from the city, and had obviously missed much of what transpired in the camp before they changed locations at Barth's command.<br/><br/>"So you want to see my longsword, eh? Better stand back before you hurt yourself," he said roguishly as he reached into his trousers and began pulling out his "weapon". <br/><br/>The other Knight shook his head and turned away, leaving them in relative solitude within the trench.</span><br/><br/>It took all she had to not roll her eyes and keep her face looking “interested” in whatever shriveled up hunk of jerky he pulled from his pants. Somehow, by the blessing of the great fire goddess, she managed to even portray an expression of surprise.<br/><br/>“Oh my…m..may I?” she asked with an<span style="font-style: italic">hesitant</span>hand. The moment he nodded agreement she reached for his…<span style="font-style: italic">sword</span>, slow at first almost tentative before she snatched it in her strong grasp and squeezed.<br/><br/>“Do you have any idea how long it takes for a Tutar to run you through with their spears?” she asked him and when he hesitated to answer she jerked her hand. “Faster than it would take you to whip this pathetic excuse of a cock out of your pants!” A jerk and a twist now, “So how about you focus on digging this fucking trench and less time thinking about what poor girl you are going to force yourself on. Because with any luck, when they run you through with their spear it will be over nearly as fast as your own pathetic sexual endeavors!”<br/><br/>A final jerk given, before she used her free hand to shove him by his face away and as he lay there on the ground holding himself she threw his shovel at him.<br/><br/>“Now get your pathetic ass up and dig!”