Vlads smirk faltered for a moment as the look in her eyes seemed distant and un-wanting but was replaced almost instantly with fixed eyes that looked him up and down a small blush crept along her cheeks<span style="font-style: italic">"Hey"</span>her voice shook slightly but still sounded almost musical to him, looking down at the flowers hesitation to give them to her he re fixed his smirk looking back up but the face he saw was different hair ablaze in fire behind, eyes looking as-though she would slit your throat if you took one step closer a scowl that would strike fear into the bravest men, Vlad started to blink and the face vanished then he drank in her appearance she looked stunning if there was a word to describe her that was beyond beautiful he did not know it but he wished he did simply so he could say it to her.<br/><br/>Vlad lifted the flowers towards her "you look beautiful" he said shaking off the gob smacked face he probably had stuck on his face, everything about her appearance attracted him from the way her hair curled towards her face, the simple red dress that it would seem she made look beautiful on her, the silver cross on the matching chain hanging from her neck resting between her breasts and the two silver studs in her hear with a matching hoop in the cartilage,as well as the faint smell of roses coming from her, glancing down he saw she wore a pair of ankle boots with stiletto heels tied with black ribbon he let out  small silent chuckle they would not normally be placed with that red dress but yet she pulled it off he shook his head slightly and spoke before he thought "never before has a woman left me gobsmacked with beauty like you just did to me" as soon as the words left him he blushed<span style="font-style: italic">well here comes the door slam in the face</span>.<br/><br/><br/>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><br/>Vladimir sat in the nobles meeting tent horrendously hung over  he head supported by his hands eyes heavy and painful every time he looked up and the light from the fire caught his glance he let out a small groan as the General groaned on and on about shit no one cared about even the other nobles looked bored Vladimir slumped back in his chair "General what meaning does this conversation serve us, you all debate who will take the throne over the old woman you had me slay, there are a few options but if it were I or any man who had sense knowing the certainty of war, the you would choose the person who knows battle the General of the Royal Army who by my understanding is the soul survivor of the slaughter my men and I gave in your name" Vladimir paused and drank some mead<span style="font-style: italic">hair of the dog I suppose</span>"who better to lift the spirits of the people than the only one to fight and keep her life against the Demon commander from the enemy force, after all it's what you use me for, so talk should not be of who takes the throne it's of how we better an experienced traction and warrior who also has greater hold and height advantage" Vladimir said sounding bored "I know, I know shocking to hear reason from my tongue" he said looking at the other nobles who seemed stunned at his valid input.<br/><br/>Vlad looked around as the agreement and then low and behold another argument broke out about tactics "May I voice a question" Vladimir voice boomed and the men fell silent, Vladimir looked over at the General who simply went red and nodded "how many of you men have battle field knowledge or tactic experience other than that they have read from scrolls" Vladimir wait and got no response as expected even the general got his rank from family title not battle prowess "so I suggest an Idea, why not put myself in charge of battle tactics and leading the men" this was directed straight at the general who looked at him then to the men on either side of him who both looked red in the face one shouting at him "you dare to try and usurp our authority and charge and leave us cock in the wind with nothing but a title?" Vladimir looked at him and at the other yes was his simple response "how dare you" the other spat at him "to my understanding ancient ruling  dictates any among this council can be challenged by a lower rank at a game of there choosing to step up the ranking, this excludes the High General am I correct General".  The general looked shocked to say the least at Vladimir s knowledge of the ancient ways but more so to know that law was never abolished by the senate "You are correct" said General Johnathon "Then I challenge you both to the arena to a fight to the death winner takes both rank and responsibility of the fallen" Vladimir smirked as the men voiced there outrage "this is highly un-regular you won't allow this surely" said on as the other stammered "and even if you did the odds are greatly in his favor we are no warriors" Jonathon looked down "you are correct it is greatly in Vladimir s favor to fight you one on one, but I cannot turn his challenge away but I can change the ruling, Lord Vladimir you must fight them at the same time" Vladimir looked at them "good saves time" the men went pale "the challenge will be at mid-day in the training grounds" Vladimir waved a boy over with two fingers "tell the men there is to be a battle to the death, the show may cheer spirits" he said with a smirk that the young boy actually returned, Vladimir assumed the nobles were not to kind to a lowly slave boy and the boy wished to see at least some of them slay-en, "with haste my lord" the boy said and ran out the tent.