A Shared Eventide

[Alais d Nitesong]

The arena was empty and silent as Sylus walked through the door on silent feet. He carried a flyer in his hand, and he was intently reading it as he walked a path to nowhere in particular. He chose a couch near the back of the room as his feet guided him along.

Alais coalesced from a column of shimmering silver as the Annaran words faded in the large, stone room. It was a familiar place, but as she solidified in the venerable hall, she paused in surprise. She had been about to make her way to her sofa, but now she was uncertain whether she should or not. She and Sylus had not parted on good terms.

Sylus sat on her sofa with his eyes on the flyer, but a keen eye would note that his overall frame was tensed and not completely as relaxed as he appeared at first glance. His legs were out in a leisurely fashion, crossed at the ankles. Just over the flyer he saw the distinctive shimmer of silver and lowered the paper just a hair. His breath caught a little, but was quickly released before he returned to reading the flyer on the impending challenge between Xeric Mues and Baron Xenograg.

It was at that point that Xenograg did arrive, he walled in dressed in a charcoal grey, knee length topcoat with a yellow sash around the waist, grey trousers, black boots with a wide, gilt swordbelt suspending a carved, wooden scabbard on his left hip. He also wore a reversed holster on his right hip, and a dark blue cloak over all.

Alais’ gaze slid toward Xenograg and she gave him a respectful nod, “General.” She said softly, but her attention was once more drawn to the man on her sofa. “G’e’entide.”

Xenograg gave her a smile, “Good evening Alais, Sylus.”

The words drifted in the broken silence as Sylus lowered the flyer completely to look at the pair now making small talk as he gave a nod to each of them, accompanied by a small smile, “Alais, Xenograg.”

Wyheree flowed under the Arena door as a mist, the soft cloud rising and swirling to reveal the Ice Mage as she walked toward the Caller’s Couch. She gave both Xenograg and Alais a wave as they both greeted her. “Good evening.” She settled herself comfortably onto her couch to await the Challenger.

Alais decided to make her way toward her sofa before the Challenge match would begin. She moved with Elven stealth across the stone as Sylus’ amber eyes watched her approach, unsure of what would follow this meeting as he too recalled that their last one had not gone quite so well. “G’e’entide Sylus, Ah’m verra s’prised tae see thee,” Alais said softly as she paused near her sofa.

Sylus rose to meet her as some of the tension fell out of him, “That would make two of us, Alais.”

Xenograg was surprised to see him as well, “In between mystic quests, Sylus?”

Amber eyes shifted to Xenograg momentarily, “Something like that.” Which, was true, more or less. His eyes slid back to Alais, “Would you care to join me? Or is that unacceptable?” He motioned to the sofa, apparently not realizing that the formalities should be the other way around.

Alais paused near her sofa, she could not see a reason to remove him from her sofa, she wouldn’t be sitting there for the match, but just the same, it seemed odd to her that he’d chosen to sit in her place. “Ye look well enou’ Sylus.” She decided to offer the proverbial olive branch since he seemed willing to be amiable and not so cold and distant as the last time, “Ah mayst fer th’ moment, aye.”

Xenograg spoke simultaneously, as though trying to protect Alais from an uncomfortable situation, “Alais has a task to perform this evening Sylus.” Then he glanced at the door as the challenger arrived.

Wyheree adjusted her paperwork as Xeric greeted her.

Alais gave a glance toward Sylus as she took another step closer to her sofa. Sylus cocked a brow at her compliment and looked down at his black boots, smoke gray trousers and black tunic, “I could look better, but such is the life.” He shrugged, “Thank you though.” Then he glanced at Xenograg, “Your lady of honor, or Second, being your student?”

Xenograg was clearly taken back by Sylus’ question, wondering how he could even ask such a thing.

Alais spoke softly as Xenograg greeted Xeric, “Amaltea ist always th’ Lady o’ Honor,” she gave him a quicksilver smile, “’t was formerla mine duty tae protect an’ tae stand at th’ back o’ th’ Darelir’s.” She had been the wathu-Darelir, and as such, it was her job and her privilege to stand with, and at Xenograg or Amaltea’s back.

Sylus blinked slightly at Xenograg’s look, and then Alais’ words registered, “Oh, right.” He gave a small smile, “Hardly ever see her around, makes one forget.”

Alais gave a soft laugh, “Barsi doth keep th’ lass busa.” It was true, Amaltea was seldom seen in RhyDin lately, but Alais knew her own absence was grounds enough for comment as well.

Xenograg’s gaze slid from Sylus to Alais, “Thank you for doing so once more, my friend.” Some of the old formality had eased into the companionship of years spent as friends and allies.

She gave Xenograg a warm smile, “’t ist mine pleasure auld friend, always.”

Wyheree stat up straight on her couch, calling for attention, “Good evening, tonight we all bear witness to the challenge upon the Barony of Old Market. Xeric, do you still intend to proceed with this challenge?” At his nod she turned to Xenograg, “Do you accept this challenge, Lord Xenograg?”

[Alais d Nitesong]

Sylus closed his eyes with a wince and idly rubbed at his right temple for a brief second, then let his hand fall away to watch the opening formalities as Alais turned and made her way down the stairs toward the rings. She summoned Daemonbane from oblivion with practiced ease, and the blade came willingly into her hands. She then took her place at Xenograg’s side with the black blade held in her hands as Xenograg told Wyheree, “I do,” and he drew Nartelemna from its carved, wooden scabbard.

Sylus settled down onto the chosen sofa to watch the match, his eyes moving not to the challenger, but to the blade in Alais’ hands. “Intriguing,” he softly whispered to himself.

Wyheree then addressed the room, “The Baron duels under a banner of yellow and black, with Amaltea as his Lady, and Alais as his second. The Challenger appears to duel alone this night. Lord Xenograg? How shall his challenge be fought?”

Xenograg chose a single match, and Wyheree nodded before sending a spray of ice crystals to light up the Center Ring. “Lord Xenograg, Xeric, please enter the Center Ring and begin when ready.”

Xenograg headed for the illuminated ring as Alais followed him, taking her place just outside of it, saluting Xeno with the long, black length of metal.

Xeric entered the ring, nodded to Wyheree and then faced Xenograg, “Duel well.”

Xenograg returned Alais’ salute, then saluted Wyheree, and lastly faced Xeric, settling into his traditional opening stance, one students would recognize as a Modified Thekir.

Bran arrived and headed for the bar to watch, and Alais glanced up at her sofa momentarily, where Sylus met Alais’ gaze with a nod, and his hands now holding a brass falchion.

The Challenge opened with Xenograg taking an advantageous position by sidestepping the fancy circular parry offered by the challenger. Alais turned her gaze once more to the ring, though she listened intently for any sounds behind her.

Xenograg then thrust, but it went right into Xeric’s waiting stop hit. Alais shifted her stance slightly as she slid one hand along the black rippled length.

Xeric then cut high, but Xenograg struck low, and as Wyheree announced, Imp would be ever so pleased. Alais gave a slight wince as Xenograg frowned at the challenger. Alais was murmuring nearly inaudibly to the blade in her hands as blood flowed freely.

Sylus smiled at Wyheree’s wince, “This is a bloodsport after all.” He chuckled softly.

Wyheree glanced at Sylus, “So it may be, but I am not bloodthirsty like Imp is.”

Alais flashed Wyheree a grin, “Och, Imp laddie doth love th’ blood.” She agreed and added that Imp was happiest the redder the ring turned.

Sylus shrugged with a small smile, “His enthusiasm does bring a great deal of interest to the events however.”

As if a portent of the next round, both duelers reversed and the ring ran redder still.

Alais gave a nod to Wyheree before continuing to murmur to the great blade in her hand as more blood flowed.

Xenograg’s frown became a scowl as he traded with Xeric once again. Alais focused on the ring a minute, her elven voice no longer soothing Daemonbane.

The combatants took a break from the bloodshet as one stop hit and one parried fancily, and in the next round they avoided more bloodshed by disengaging and fancily sidestepping, but then Xenograg altered the pattern and thrust at Xeric, who was waiting with a fancy circular parry to take a 4-2.5 lead over the Baron.

[Alais d Nitesong]

Sylus rose then and belted Efreet as he watched the ring, then made his way ringside, his arms crossed over his chest as he paused outside the ring. Alais hazarded a glance at him. His gaze drifted between the combatants as a tiny flame rested on his shoulder. It had an oddly humanoid shape and Alais lifted a sable brow at the tiny flame there. Sylus gave a soft grunt and made a dismissive gesture, though his eyes remained on the ring. The spark drifted and vanished into the brass blade at his hip.

Then Xenograg caught the disengaging challenger with a high cut to draw within half a point of the Challenger. The odd move brought a cocked brow from Xenograg as he reset back into the Second Form for the next round. Alais slid her gaze from Sylus to Xenograg as Nartelemna sank into Xeric’s flesh.

Then Xeric and Xenograg traded once more, one cutting high, one cutting low and the match continued.

Sylus slowly started to make his path toward Alais, where he paused to stand beside her. She slid her gaze toward him, noting the flame remained vanished as he muttered softly for her, “down to the wire.” Alais gave him a nod as he stood there.

Xenograg reversed and sliced over Xeric’s stop hit to take the lead once more in this single elimination challenge. Alais released a held breath as Xenograg’s triple cut worked.

Sylus glanced at Alais, “You held doubts?” He gave her a hint of a smile as she told him that these things always had a way of making her very nervous. He turned to face the ring, “Perhaps some liquid fire will settle your nerves.”

Xenograg then tripped Xeric up as he attempted another disengage. Xenograg had risked the quad cut and come away with the winning hit. Alais visibly relaxed as Xenograg tripped Xeric up.

Wyheree congratulated Xeric on a fine attempt, and then Xenograg for a successful defense as Xenograg saluted both his opponent and Wyheree. Then wiped is blade inside the bend of his elbow to clean the blood off before sheathing the elven blade once more. He then thanked everyone for coming.

“’t was a verra fione win Xenograg.” Alais gave Sylus a smile before saying, “’Aye, mayhap th’ liquid Fire wouldst be welcome aboot now, neh?” She was somewhat surprised by his suggestion, but so far tonight had been amiable.

Sylus turned once more to Alais, “I would think so, it helps settle the rush after combat as well.”

Alais sheathed Daemonbane and with a soft whisper of Annaran, sending the unwilling blade back to oblivion, “’t was grand o’ thee tae call Wyheree.”

Xenograg shot Alais a smile, “I finally defended a Barony.”

She returned the smile, “Aye, Xenograg, an’ verra well done.”

Sylus offered a nod to Xenograg, “Nicely done, General, I would enjoy staying longer, but the night moves on, and I have an early rise.”

Alais canted her head at Sylus a moment, “Ye’ve nae d’sire tae haff a glass o’ Liquid Fire wi’ me?”

Sylus gave her a bit of a surprised look, “If my presence is truly wanted for such, I could stay a might longer still, but I know not what your plans are for the remainder of the evening and have no desire to impede them.”

Alais glanced at Xenograg and then Sylus, “Yer nae ‘mpediment Sylus,” and she wondered if he had listened at all to anything she had said to him at their last meeting.

He gave her a slow nod, “Very well then.”

Alais gave Xenograg a bow of respect before turning to Sylus, “shall we?”

Xenograg thanked Sylus for coming, and he said, “Not a problem Xenograg, I do not remember much, but I have pieced enough to know it would be disrespectful not to be here for your challenge.” Then he looked at Alais, “I believe so.”

Alais suggested the Inn, and they bade Xenograg and Wyheree good evening.