A singular moment.<br/>A short, brief breath. But death did not come as foreseen. Instead the secondant fell dead but no spear thrust followed.<br/>All the minds dominated by the woman before them.<br/>Exhausted and tired, he placed his free hand on the wound at his side.<br/>A trickle of blood came from his mouth.<br/>The woman that descended was a War Goddess incarnate. If Bane had a wife... she'd look like this. But of course with more armor and a large collection of weapons...<br/>His mind was trailing of through bloodloss and exhaustion. He forced himself to focus on the scene before him.<br/>He knew this woman. The one he had 'identified' as a main threat. But also...<br/>For a split moment he had a most improper image in his mind but he quickly discarded it. Thinking of such decadent matters was not befit of a man facing down death.<br/><br/>He was dripping dry ever so slowly but he refused to show weakness.<br/>She moved with speed... insane speed. His blurred vision didn't help.<br/>He took note of it instinctively though. He did not expect to survive but he still analyzed it. To beat her he'd have to predict her movements. Or limit her ability to move in itself.<br/>As she stopped next to him, her casual display of power and brutal authority was... 'stimulating' in a strange primal way.<br/>Regardless, he expected her to be playing games with him.<br/><br/>He did not seem truly surprised at seeing her. In fact he gave the distinct impression he had already laid eyes upon her before.<br/>His dark blue eyes fixed her as he turned his head. Despite the pain he boldly turned around to face her and shifted his grip on the blade.<br/>The General would undoubtably see ichor, gore and blood on it. He'd been a busy boy.<br/>His muscular body was finely sculpted, he was taller than most if not all mortals she had laid eyes on. There was a very very thin trace of abnormality about him. Probably due to some alchemical potions applied to him. And a lifetime dealing with magic. But in essence he was but a mortal.<br/>An odd mortal at that.<br/>Given the many scars and bruises littering his body he had been a busy boy throughout his life. Yet at the same time he had a bearing of command, leadership and a kind of nobility not found among leaders who did not earn their place in life.<br/>He had many wounds some recently patched up though a bit halfheartedly and many fresh ones. There was much blood and ichor on him but she smelled it was mostly inhuman and demonic.<br/>His attire was improvised, scavenged from female Royal Guardsmen and some display armors. Not much, a shoulder piece. A few bits on the arms. And some cloth to hide his 'assets'. The Royal Guardsmen simply were too small to supply armor for a specimen like him.<br/><br/>As she spoke to him, his gaze hardened and he gave her a tiny smile. He seemed to have decided that she was toying with him and that he'd die soon anyway. His grip tightened around his grip yet again. He'd try to fight but in his current state it would be laughable.<br/><strong>"M'lady has an odd sense of humor. The Black Baron needs no escort." </strong>he stated. He was proud and confident but not foolish. She knew he realized he was done for should she chose it.<br/><strong>"You should reconsider your policies about 'mortals' though. 'This' mortal killed a dozen of your best and one of those rock things... among other foes. So evidently we're not 'that' puny..."</strong>he said. He was defying her, clearly assuming her a threat.<br/>This was wrong of course. No human had gotten this far with good reason. But Thane was the exception to the rule. Not that he realized it. Nor how alien a concept 'death by man' was to these warrior women. Succubi did not die in hell at the hands of man... period.<br/><strong>"So..."</strong>he surpressed a grunt. She could see the blood flow from his side. This 'Baron' should be dead. He was a fascinating anomaly going against the norm. His defiance though laughable yet impressive. He was clearly no fool as she could read in his eyes he knew he stood no chance yet still he didn't back away, didn't flinch.<br/>He was no Lycan, no vampire, no angel nor demigod and yet he growled like a ravenous wolf refusing to back down when facing a Black Bear.<br/><strong>"Shall we?"</strong>he said, sword at the ready. The blade did not suit him. Undoubtably he used a far more impressive weapon. The Royal Guard fought elegantly but a man like him was not at his best when using such a weapon that did not optimally exploit his physical advantages. He kept steady but her uncanny experience in battle allowed her to read more than the typical foe. A mere shove could topple him if she waited a bit longer.<br/>In fact this specimen risked death if he was not tended to soon...<br/><br/>