Boxing should only be Bare-knuckle.

[phrostphyre]

I stepped into the Headquarters of the Savage Faithful unit posted in Ceunon, covered in the dust of travel. I had ridden from Carvala a week and a half ago. I had had two weeks to make my ride, and I was half a week early. I was looking forward to resting for a day or two here, when the officer’s orders stopped me on my way out of the tent.

“Oh, MacTìre, by the way, you need to wait at least a week for me to write my report.” Outwardly, I seemed dejected, but that was a ploy for the officer. Inside, I was throwing a party. This particular officer took forever to do his reports, and thus I was looking at least a month here. This was the perfect chance to get adjusted to the local ladies of stature. They would dare not refuse me. I grinned like a demented sidhe as I walked away. The first thing on my agenda was to find a boxing ring, and then enter. I left the tent and entered the city, looking for a tavern. My kilt had changed to match my job. I still wore the color of the Pipers, my clan, longbow man, and skirmisher upon my kilt, but instead of a Third Officer’s strip on it, it had changed to the lavender of messenger service. I searched up and down the city, looking for a fight to sign up for. I had left my horse with the stables for the military, and it was a bit before noon when I found one. I had entered the tavern and signed up for it. It was tomorrow at noon. I had a day to prepare myself, then. The defender was John Farmer. He had been taking his leisure in the tavern that I signed up in, and I took the chance to scope him out. Huge, even taller than me and built like a barrel. His arms were the size of my legs. It would be fun. The rules were simple, not like those of Alba. “The fight shall continue until only one man remains standing.” A lot of leeway was there. Not only could I do anything possible to win, I could bite him. I spent the rest of the day training for tomorrow: Running. I ran until I couldn’t run anymore, and then I ran some more. I spent the night sleeping like the dead, and rose in the morning feeling good about the day.

I left the tavern before noon and made my way to the ring, where Johnny sat waiting for me. I stepped into the ring and removed my shirt, cap, and blades. I let my plaid hang from my waist, as it was a hot day, and put up my fists. I was ready and waiting for John. However, he couldn’t resist an opening attack.
”Damned woman, thinking to box me? I’ll show you who the real fighter is.” This wasn’t going to be good for one of us. I moved forward, then lashed out with a right uppercut, taking him by surprise. He hadn’t been expecting the fight to start as soon as we were both in the ring. I used his time disorientated to land two crushing blows to his torso, to try and wind him. I staggered back when his fist hit my jaw, causing me to lose balance for a moment. I shook it off, then began doubling hits; hitting low, then high while he tried to counter or parry. I missed every two out of three blows, but the ones that did land did damage. We kept at it for well over an hour, until I finally managed to knock him down, blood streaming from his nose and a cut over his eye. My nose was broken as well, but I had won. I gathered my belongings and left. Outside of the city I found a stream and placed my things beside it, then dived in. If I was being followed, which I couldn’t tell, I was still wearing my kilt.

[nyx]

Hela glanced up as tree leaves swirled with the wind, dancing in the air before gently falling down her shoulders and sliding down the smooth fabrics of the usual onyx black robes she always wore for her job. Her horse nickered as he trotted down the pathway that led her to Ceunon. This wasn't her first time going to Ceunon, but she hadn't been there enough times to know where to go and where most people like the one she's tracking would most likely be- it would be best to either ask someone or just learn the ropes herself. She has a gift for picking things up- and since corruption was the biggest thing in Ceunon- she had a faint idea of where to look.

Entering the city, she headed around to the stable, giving the stable boy sufficient enough money before making her way to the set ups for the first. Most of them usually held too many people for her to really catch a glimpse of who she wanted, but nevertheless, there was no one in particular that caught her interest her eye. After a while, though, she was sure that perhaps she may be able to catch him accidentally, usually people would have to eat eventually, which made the next stop, a taverns .

But she didn't have the patience to sit, and before long- she became frustrated. Just before she was about to leave, the door clattered open, and he target walked in- the face matched the detailed drawing that she had in the pocket of her robes. He was wanted, and there was a heft sum involved, and since Hela didn't come cheap- she took the job. He sauntered over to the counter, standing a little ways of from her, ordering his drink and downing it, lingering around for half and hour before he finally departed, speaking of leaving Ceunon for a little to enjoy a more 'lighter' atmosphere, and for a second, she wondered if he knew that someone was after him. No matter- she didn't care, a job was a job.

She was silent as she listened to him, using any information she had to her advantage. He was staying for the night- good, since it was only noon- she hated working in daylight. Turning to the bartender, she asked a few questions on how to get to the tavern the man was staying on, deftly sliding a few coins forward. Answers came quickly at the bribe, and it wasn't until Hela seemed satisfied with the answer before sliding off the stool and striding out of the tavern.

Heading out to the river that was nearby, she scaled the tree before making a seat in the shade, enjoying the somewhat peaceful silence before the deed was done. It didn't seem long before her sense heightened, and the feeling that someone else was nearby crashed into her, making her a little uneasy, or paranoid.

Brown orbs watched as another being joined her, but not noticing she was there. She eyed his injuries before realizing that he was one of the few who was up on the ring and fighting. It seemed that he won, not without a few victory bruises on his features. She didn't say anything, merely, turning so her back was against the bark and closing her eyes. She was there first- and she refused to move. Though she gave off the impression that she was sleeping- it was far from it. She was ignoring him- there was a difference.

[phrostphyre]

I gamboled in the water like a young puppy, enjoying the day. Though I was bruised, battered, and sore, I was enjoying life. A frog croaked at me from his lily pad, not enjoying the disturbance I was causing. I shot water at him out of my mouth, then watched him hop into the water and swim away.

”Ach lad, come back! I did nae mean any harm by it![/color] As he continued swimming, disappointment rang in my tone. ”Ye wee bugger, go, and stay gone! ‘Tis my river, now!”[/color] I was disappointed. I wanted company not giving me orders, trying to kill me, or hating me. However, being a foreigner, in the army, and wearing a kilt didn’t make me many friends that often. It intrigued the ladies, but when I needed to go out for a pint, I often had to do it alone.

I dived beneath the water, searching for a pretty rock. I was bored. Water is often a better sound conductor than air, and so I was surprised when I heard a human heart beat. I broke the surface loudly, with a gasp, my head swiveling to where I had last heard it. A lady in a tree, her back turned to me. From behind, she seemed pretty enough. However, past experience told me that that often wasn’t a state of affairs continued in the front. I reached for my shirt and covered my torso before speaking, and this time I spoke like a gentleman. A bit of surprise colored my tone, and it showed itself in my accent. Normally when I spoke, my accent was either quite broad or non-existent. This was an in between state, meaning I sounded foreign, but like a Lowlander Alban. ”Milady. Your company is unexpected. I beg forgiveness for any discomfort caused. I’m quite pleased tae make your acquaintance, but at the same time, I insist you stay turned away a moment longer so that I might replace my shirt.”[/color] I was replacing the shirt to cover my scars. A long, thin one ran down the side of my chest. I had received it during a skirmish out near the Hadarac with an Urgal. He had given me the scar, but I had taken his life.

[kaioinazuma18]

There was movement in the bushes, someone was coming. A man walked out, cloaked well for the summer days, he had something to hide, something secretive. As he walked up to the river, he knelt down and began washing his face, drinking the cool water. It was clear that he had been running swiftly, but from what was not yet known. However, the noise didn't cease in the underbrush, there was a slight movement here, a creak there, but the man dismissed it as the wind. That was the last mistake he would make. He was an outlaw, wanted dead or alive by the locals. Apparently he made a living off of thievery, and he had an amazing amount of money doing it. This was his last breath...

A shadowy figure came up behind him, grabbing his mouth quickly and sending a hidden blade into his back, killing him before letting him drop. The cloaked figure stepped away silently and headed to the river, pulling her hood back. She had hidden herself as a human woman for the time being, but as she drew a long draught from the river, she heard a voice from a bit down the river, and that was when she saw the man putting his shirt on. Someone else was nearby as well. It was time to leave... She moved swiftly, pulling the man into the bushes after stealing what money and tools he had on his person, a dagger was it, she needed another dagger.

The elf woman hid herself in the underbrush, watching and waiting for a moment to emerge and show herself. The woman in the tree made her nervous, especially because two sets of eyes were unnerving on their own, but if they saw or heard the man die, then they would know it was her.... Why couldn't the man chosen a section of the river that wasn't occupied by two other people!? Andraste cursed to herself in her mind, silencing it by blocking and virtually causing herself to disappear in the underbrush. Thank god for her training on the isles. Her eyes watched the river carefully, hoping that the man did not see her, nor did the woman. If either of them saw her, she was doomed.

[nyx]

Hela opened her eyes as he spoke, however she didn't look at him. Instead she tilted her head back to the side, her black locks sliding along with the fabric of her robes as she stirred. His accent was quite unusual, though she had heard it before, it was rare- he must not be from around where she lived, nor Ceunon for that matter. He spoke with a rough hit on the words, but not so much that she felt somewhat annoyed of it. It was actually rather interesting to hear- and she felt a small spark of interest in his origins in her- not that she would stick along to find out- it was merely in place of something to do to keep her busy until nightfall.

With a slight nod, she looked up at the sky, one hand running over her boots, her fingers sliding over the spots where he weapons usually hid. She didn't speak until he was finished with his business, turning back to him. "A pleasure," she agreed with a nod. A woman of many words, she didn't say much, mostly because she had taken on a commoner's tone of speech, rough around the edges and lacking in the sophistication that was often heard higher up in the line.

She stiffened slightly, feeling an uneasy shift in the air. Was it Death? She turned her head and looked at the direction in which it came from, but seeing no one, she turned back to him, silent. 'What is it that you go by, Sir?' she prompted, shaking off the uneasiness of her self doubt. Her hand stayed near her leg, her fingertips brushing over the material as if she was feeling the smooth well made boots rather then repeated checking to make sure she was armed. It was an action that was she always resorted to when meeting someone else- no one can really be trusted these days.

[phrostphyre]

”I am Brian Conchobhar MacTìre, of the Royal Alban Pipers, Longbowmen, and Skirmishers, and Third Earl of Eilean Donan.”[/color] I waded out of the water and onto shore, using casually looking around as an excuse to sample the air; nothing other than the usual forest scents. However, it wasn’t long before the scent of death drifted downstream; this was recent. Quite probably it was a predatory wolf pack or bear that had brought down a deer. I ignored it in favor of the woman near me; human, what one might call beautiful, and quite probably a killer. She had that air around her that informed she wasn’t to be messed with.

[kaioinazuma18]

She then realized it was safe to come out, moving back first to make sure that there was no mistaking that she was coming from quite a distance away. She stepped out of the forest, coming up to the river and kneeling down, splashing her cloaked face with water as if to freshen up, and then removing her water skin to refill it before she would head on her way. Hopefully they wouldn't bother her. Once done she began heading down stream, seemingly innocent of any blood. However, she stopped, noticing the man. She made sure she was a fair distance away before stopping. She did not want to be anywhere close to these people.

[nyx]

Hela tilted her head in acknowledgment at his words in a rather respectful way. 'I am Hela... just Hela,' she mused. It wasn't the name she rarely ever went by, since she often used a lot of fake names, most of her connections just call her 'Strix'. But she didn't us either because, sadly, they weren't common names, and she hated standing out in any particular way. 'A pleasure to meet you,' she said with a small curl of her lips.

However, her attention with him was short. She turned her head when an elf, female appeared before her. And she raised a brow, feeling uneasy. But she didn't say anything. Hela always felt uneasy around people, trust was rarely earned, so it shouldn't be given out freely.

Looking back at the man she directed him another inquire. "What brings you to Ceunon?" she asked him.

(I'm soo sorry! School and work= a very tired Ivory and a shitty post)

[/size]

[phrostphyre]

I listened to her speak intently; she had my undivided attention. Once she asked my business in Ceunon, I had a quick argument with myself. While I was in the Army, was it really a secret I was riding dispatch, and if so, what would it hurt when I would be gone within the month? There wasn’t really anything there to worry about, so I told her. ”I’m a messenger now, and I arrived yesterday with orders for the commander of the group here. I’m staying in town for about a month; the commander is a bloody idjit when it comes to his replies to the messages.”[/color]


(I’m sorry it took so long. I had some stuff come up.)

[kaioinazuma18]

Brynja turned and began heading down the river, passing right by the soldier man. Time seemed to slow down as she passed right by him, nothing said and nothing done to attract attention to her. On the air a slight breeze wafted after her, the smell of blood on the breeze that seemed to follow her. Her moves were slow and gentle, meandering like the river. She seemed innocent of any death, but for some reason, fresh death followed her, death on the air still and blood flowing down the bank and into the river, flowing downstream. Her voice was soft as she passed the soldier. "When there's one left the game is over." She spoke in riddles to confuse them, to bring them into a level of fear. She could kill with ease, and she prided herself on that part.