keep me from the cages || Elektra & Bastien
sirbastiencoupe:
Bastien glanced up at Elektra’s comment, replying only a brief second later, “It wasn’t hard to find.” Her admission that she had made the weapon herself caused him to pause, narrowing his eyes as he looked back to the blade. Not only had she made it, but it was apparently the ‘first’. The mystery surrounding this woman was only growing deeper with each thing he found out about her, fuelling his suspicions that her reasons for being in Omnium were not exactly pure. However, he had already come to the firm conclusion that he would not let his doubts get the best of him – he would have a conversation as civil as possible, exercise the careful control he had spent years refining. This time, perhaps, he would get more answers and she would not run. “I tried it during archery training - the recruits were more impressed than usual, so perhaps I should keep its origins a secret or they will all be begging you for one.”
The frown that had crept its way onto his face only deepened at Elektra’s ‘translation’ of Amaury’s whinnying, not necessarily because she said he was stubborn - he was well aware of that fact - but because she chose to highlight the very reason their conversation had become so heated that morning. Yes, if he were conceited enough to choose a trait that he most prided himself on, it would be his loyalty to his Queen, his country and those he served with. It was an attribute that his father had instilled in each of his children from a young age - not matter how different their personalities, interests and lives, their overwhelming loyalty was a common trait that ran through their veins.
He used the excuse of turning to Amaury’s stall to hide his confusion somewhat. “Horses are very human,” he replied, “well, perhaps only a select few people can be compared to them, as their careful balance of strength, grace, loyalty and agile minds are near impossible to match, but it can be said that each has their own unique set of skills. You would not send a carriage horse to war any more than you would trust a farmer to wield a sword in the midst of battle, rather like how you could not expect a soldier to allow a mysterious, no doubt heavily armed Sparran walk around with no questions asked.” Bastien glanced at her from the corner of his eye at this last comment, a small smirk playing on his lips. He did not say it to antagonise her, but rather as an explanation for his previous actions.
The sugar cube disappeared as quickly as the last, and Bastien ran a hand down the horse’s neck, listening as intently as always to Elektra’s reply as he wiped down the bit in the bucket by the door before hanging it on a nail. “I suppose horses are like humans in that manner too - one cannot always guarantee that they will liked,” he said with a firm nod and tight smile as he picked up another bridle and saddle, only to raise an eyebrow as he approached her. “Each to their own, but you have yet to meet my steed.”
Bastien walked past her with the tack and continued down the rows of carriage and workhorses to where the warhorses were kept, and amongst them, his own. Aethon was already waiting at the stall door and the gelding nickered impatiently as Bastien came into view, no doubt having heard his voice and he seemed to nod his head enthusiastically when he caught sight of the saddle. The knight opened the stall door and Aethon walked out in front of him and stood perfectly still as he had been trained to do as Bastien slung an old blanket over the horse’s back before tightening up the saddle. The bridle was next to go on, and a minute later, the horse was ready to ride - the speed of the skill had been carefully perfected over the years, in case an emergency was ever to arise. Loosely holding onto the reins so they didn’t drag along the ground, Aethon followed Bastien towards the stables’ entrance without the slightest protest, and Bastien glanced over his shoulder at momentarily, “There is no better time than the present - shall we see now?”
Well, she couldn't argue with that answer. The knife's balance was unmistakable, and impossible not to find even for a beginner. Elektra listened as Bastien explained his recent adventures with the lithe dagger, but it didn't take his admittance to see that he'd been exercising its usage. The way he'd been flipping it with ease and paying the movement no attention spoke for itself. What surprised her about the soldier's comments revolved around the respect he held for the weapon. Usually other Kingdoms came up with whatever insult- lie it may be- in order to protect their own realms forges. A weapon was a weapon in Elektra's eyes, and their was no reason to deny a well-built blade. One murderous piece of iron, steel, or silver wouldn't change from the use of another. Grinning, the assassin moved away from a yearling's prying head, "If its origins slip, they will still have to track me down to receive one." Unless she wanted to be seen, the woman would remain in their shadows. The two daggers residing in each of her boots were of the exact make as the one Bastien now possessed, and their were plenty more stashed away.
"Always so stern," she teased at the sight of his frown, "lighten up. There is no war at your doorstep just yet." In fact, part of her presence in Omnium was to prevent one. Of course that was a first in her line of work, but the Queen had found her price. Elektra lightly bumped his shoulder while passing in attempts at a playful jest. She wasn't their to behead him, and that was exactly how the member of the Queensguard appeared. "Your recruits, are they promising?"
It was easy to say that Elektra never expected to agree with this man. From their previous conversation her intention had been to stay away from him. She wasn't bothered by the sword he'd kept at his waist- or for the fact he'd unsheathed it and held its point to her throat- but would rather keep her business with Faye alone. "I agree," came her thoughtful reply, "their emotions are quite like our own, and like ourselves do not easily forgive the past." Mentioning her Sparran heritage caused a raise of her brow, and soon she was returning the taunt, "Unless the farmer has a rather sharp pitchfork." The last time she had been able to joke along with another had been ages ago, and it was odd to find that she had missed the interaction. Being who she was..there wasn't anything left to miss. "Yes, well, I assure you I am not here to cause Omnium trouble. I have enough of that elsewhere." The notion was clearly stated and sincere; perhaps even laced with traceable melancholy if the man had truly been listening.
Her curiosity peeked when Bastien mentioned his own mount, and that curiosity turned into an incline of her head as she trailed after him down the aisle. She expected the horse to reside with the war horses at the end; the stalls giving view to muscly brutes with pawing and scraping hooves. Half of them seemed rather rowdy from lack of exercise or young age, but perhaps from also absorbing a taste of their rider's personality. Overall, Elektra could see how they could create an intimidating force. Allowing room for the animal to exit its stall, she stood on the opposite side of Bastien. She looked the gelding up and down, accessing each sinuous muscle it possessed. He stood with practiced discipline unlike the other powerful breeds prancing in their stalls. Quiet, alert, intuitive, there was no protest of saddle or bridle that usually amused her while watching soldiers battle their steeds. "Handsome," she complimented, "and trusting. I am glad to see I was right about you. You lived up to your word, and that is more than half of what I find true during these times."
Elektra's expression instantly changed when Bastien proposed they leave. That hadn't been in question, and she nearly choked at the option. At the stable's entrance she paused and leaned against the door frame, holding Bastien under a cautious gaze. "Is this how you usually sweep noble ladies off their feet?" She joked quietly, glancing from him to the horse resting patiently beside him. Her eyes trailed across the city to the plains beyond, and from there they latched onto the forest's direction. It would be a nice change of scenery and company from the past few days, but her mind still swayed toward a no. "I suppose." And truthfully, she wasn't able to pinpoint how the opposite answer came to exist. It was, after all, completely against her better judgement.
