This was the first time in weeks - months? - that Tialyn had held a sword. It was a bittersweet sensation - Even with the ill-fitting blade in her hand, the balance off, just being armed again...Even in practice!...was a revelation. She'd carried a dagger before this, briefly - But she was back on the practice field after what seemed like a lifetime.<br/><br/>Her lips curved in a smile, almost in spite of herself - "As you wish," she purred, as she moved to the attack! For a moment, it was like the old genius had returned, the wooden blade turning again and again in her hands...Swinging, striking, parrying, a dance that went on-and-on, the<em>clack</em>of wood-on-wood echoing in the gorgeous elven beauty's pointed ears! Anara's strength, her skill, was surprising...It took considerably more effort than Tialyn had expected to push her back, but she felt the thrill of real accomplishment when she did so! Unbound, her honey-blonde hair framed her lovely features, her brow furrowed in concentration as the dance continued...But not for much longer.<br/><br/>"Nnnnnn..."<br/><br/>To her own surprise, Anara was a startlingly firm trainer. She was fairly sure that Sister Virtue, the battle-scarred nun who'd been Tialyn's (and later, Liandra's!) trainer, would have approved of the regime...Even as her lissome legs carried her forward, her breath coming in increasingly ragged gasps as she ran. She tried not to show her exertion, but even with the blessing she'd been granted...Dark spots danced in her vision, her lungs burning with the need for air.<br/><br/>"...the servants, they're not...?" she began, but Anara had anticipated her question. Even as Tialyn sipped - slowly, no need to make herself sick - the muscular redhead already had the answer...Which just made Tialyn shake her head, ever-so-slightly. "...I see," she murmured, almost to herself - Things were so different, here. She'd been appalled by the thought of slavery, at first...But there was a method to the madness. Besides, as Anara had said...She knew freemen who lived rather worse lives than the slaves of the harem did.<br/><br/>"Power, you say?" she echoed, her lips shaping each slow syllable - the cool water sending a refreshing chill through her, welcomed after the heat of the day. But would it be power enough to bring her and Liandra home...? That remained to be seen.<br/><br/>With a deep breath, Tialyn drew herself to her feet - There was much left to be done.<br/><br/>*********************<br/><br/>That could have gone better.<br/><br/>As the day progressed, Tialyn felt the blessing ebb - But what surprised her was how *quickly* it did. One moment, she'd been holding her own...And then fatigue bloomed, in a blurring rush, her arm trembling, unable to fend off Anara's blows! She gave ground, then again - biting her lip so hard she tasted blood, refusing to cry yield...But it didn't stop her startled gasp as her legs flew out from beneath her, as she hit the ground on her shapely behind!<br/><br/>"I-"<br/><br/>The lovely knight stiffened, at Master Sabin's words...But with her pulse thumping in her ears, she couldn't muster the strength for an answer! She had to fight on...But how? Anara's warning glance told her that there was much left unsaid, a little chill racing through her - Whatever awaited, it wasn't a pleasant surprise. She swallowed, hard, willing the ache in her weakened muscles to fade...Even as she swayed, less-than-gracefully, to her feet!<br/><br/>Consternation flitted across the Paladin's gorgeous features. She wasn't at her best, she knew - If she fought in this state, defeat wasn't a possibility...It was a<em>certainity</em>. She hadn't even been able to hold Anara off - If the woman got serious, with something on the line...!<br/><br/>And she remembered Ebony's words. Primal energy, and a prayer to Ah'mie's goddess...Both of which she'd never have considered, otherwise, but she was in dire straits. She had to prove herself, somehow, or...<br/><br/>Just this once. She might've been drained, but...<br/><br/>"Of course, Master Sabin," she purred - Her long, long lashes lowered, her expression sultry, seductive...Letting him get a *good* look at her shapely form, the tight, tight leather costume she wore drawn taut over her full curves. It was a good thing she had the chance to gather herself, otherwise she might've fallen over entirely...She really couldn't fight on like this. Could she~?<br/><br/>She moistened her full, pouting lips, a sensuous sway to her curvy hips. "But before we begin...Perhaps I could see - What may lie ahead?" S-l-o-w-l-y, Tialyn slipped her collar into her head...A sensuous sway to her hips, as she raised it, invitingly, to her neck...Clicking it shut, a shiver coursing through her at the cold embrace - But tempting all the same!