Adien had only taken a couple of steps before the sun vanished behind the towering Alkhev woman who glided easily through the small crowd. Adien found himself looking up…and up before finding her fierce but friendly eyes.<br/><br/>Adien was suddenly struck with an old saying he had heard used by one of his teachers, “Knowing the ocean exists and seeing it is real are two very different things”. This was his impression of Alkhev. He had read of them, heard the stories but had never seen one. He stood there dumbly as she approached, fully aware his mouth hung open and completely unable to do anything about it at the moment.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Perhaps we should get to know one another, and of our strengths and weaknesses. I do not know if we will be meeting any physical altercations, but if so I would very much enjoy knowing how to move in sync with the two of you."</span><br/><br/>It struck him as odd that her voice would be so feminine. Not in a spoiled princess way or even a merchant’s daughter but there was no doubt that her voice held that feminine lilt that held all the wonder of the female mind in its cadence. Behind the feminine quality was also the tone of a warrior. Adien knew this well for the war was still very new for the survivors.<br/><br/>The Temple of Life abhorred war. It was the very antithesis of life on a grand scale and often for no excusable reason. However, it was well known that war was inevitable. As long as someone felt the need to rule, there would be someone who opposed that rule. Split the land and each could have exactly half with the same number of towns, crops, and people, and eventually one would have something the other wanted. Or the dispute would be over who crossed who’s border first.<br/><br/>The Temple taught Adien that war held very little right for either side. One side attacked, the other defended. No one truly wins and only the lords of death came out richer. Their job was to heal wounds. They treated both sides equally, much to the chagrin of others. But the integrity of the church was ingrained in the priests. They supported life whenever they could and only life threatening fear or rage could turn a priest to killing.<br/><br/>Hence they had learned how to use their hands and feet to fight off attackers, choke holds and arm locks to subdue rather than kill. If a priest were to kill, someone had earned the ire of Liundra herself.<br/><br/>Adien continued gaping at the Alkhev before her words finally registered in his head. Yes, moving in synch would be a good thing.<br/><br/>“Uhmmm,” Adien managed to get out, still a bit dazzled by seeing an actual Alkhev. “I would suggest we leave the legionnaires behind. Holgar is hard headed enough and not very friendly towards the Turians. Seeing the guards might get his back up before we even get the first questions out. He is not known to make the best tactical decisions!” Adien laughed but it died quickly as he realized no one else really knew what he was talking about.<br/><br/>His mouth worked to say something else but instead he absently filled it with a chunk of bread.