in the squire's encampment--where obedience and retainment mains, there was anything but the second one. young man sparred against each other--Slav stood by. his sapphire orbs meticulously watched on as an older squire defeated another boy. he tackled them all to the dusty ground he did it again and again until none wanted to spar with him again as smug smile formed the juvenile squire's face.
"Come on?" "Anyone else?"
"I will" the squire turned his head to meet the eyes of Slav.
Vyacheslav... a low mumble. "aren't you that lover boy?" Slavs face twisted as he taunted. "E-Elen"... the squire pouted, "No Elen here"...
The crowd of squires burst out in laughter. Marcus's eyes flickered to Slav "they are provoking him"
Of course, they were provoking him--though Slav stood, the whole time. Not taking away his eyes, not even for once from the dirty face of the squire. They were talking about his Eleanor. His already hardened jaw ticked further.
"What is it, Lucas?" "Afraid that u will get your barely holding front teeth knocked out" A wave of oohs fell the air as Lucas's face turned a bright shade of red.
His jaw clenched, "Not at all" he said through clenched teeth.
"I am merely worried for you"
"Well do not be" Vyacheslav murmured as he stepped in closer, fingers grazing the edge of his sword. Lucas too wielded his sword--the crowd cheered as both men stood in the open field.
"What... is happening" murmured Marcus as he watched in horror. Vyacheslav inched in before Lucas--he swung his sword without a care.
Hyaa! a grunt came out both of them as their swords collided. They both then pushed against each other's sides.
"Hah...I been waiting for a spar such as this"
"Well, you got your wish" Vyacheslav bit back. Lucas smirked, "You are still holding on?" They then parted, swords swinging back and forth.
we cut back to the encampment where maids moved around with unspoken orders--the girls wore a white robe and a simple yet elegant copper attire. Eleanor and the other girls were summoned to the larger quarter of the inn.
There stood the head mistress--the girls then stood in rows. she murmured something to the maids, "Have they...?" the maids nodded.
"Good" a firm smile tugged at the green-eyed woman's lips as she turned to the girls, none dared to look up.
Her eyes then fell to Eleanor--blue orbs flickering up then down as she looked away. The mistress then, "Take her"
The maiden nodded and went up to her. Anastasia and her exchanged looks--she then glanced to her front as a maid grasped Eleanor's hand.
Come...
Eleanor's brows creased as she gave Anastasia a questioning look, "W-What... where?" Her eyes then went to the mistress's unreadable face.
M-Madam... d-did I do something to offend you? the maidens grasped her and told her to just come. Anastasia watched her go in a worry. Though she too was taken away.
Both girls stood as the mistress too entered the room. She walked near them, "Whatever your names are, we are all the slaves of the emperor here"
They glanced up, "Understood?" Anastasia nodded and glanced at Eleanor. She stood there, rigid as a doll.
The mistress shot Eleanor a look, "Understood?" Eleanor nodded, "Yes, I do"
"Very well"
---
We cut back to the squire's encampment--Slav and Lucas continued their fight, though it seemed to only further create an enmity.
Beads of sweat trickled down their foreheads as their vests shone under the sun light. the field was dusty, though the cheering from the other squires kept the fight on.
Clash* Lucas's blazing, amber eyes burned through Slav's calmer blues. He tilted his head and pushed against him. Lucas grunted as he felt his fingers slip, yet he held on.
"Oh Slav"...
"Begging already?"
Me? Lucas let out a smug chuckle, "I will make you eat your words"
"Lucas"... Another clash* the swords were pressed together as both shuddered under the pressure.
"The things is... I'm not hungry"
Lucas's eyes flashed horror as Slav arched his wrist back and swung--the sword went past him and plunged deep into the soil.
Slav's hunter eyes watched as Lucas too shrugged of his sword. He met him with bare hands and raw fury.
They crashed onto one another and tumbled right on to the mud--Lucas was on top of him, as he pressed on both the armored shoulder blades of Slav.
Hah* their faces met, "you want to die by my hands that bad huh?" Slav gritted his teeth, his chests heaved as he struggled before him.
He watched as Lucas's fingers slipped into the neckline of his armor--from there something glinted.
His eyes widened, it was a dagger. He leaned in closer, breath hot against his face,
"What Slav?"
Ah... Lucas pressed against him.
"You shut up now?" he mocked the blond. Vyacheslav gazed at him, his jaw ticking, "I'm not you... you played dirty"
Oh well... he grazed the dagger against his soft flesh, "this is just how things work, usually as there are no rules to this" he murmured. "There are no rules to this--you are merely naive"
Slav let out a staggered breath, "Y-You wouldn't really do this"
Lucas smirked, a dirty smirk. "I would, gladly" he stated.
"You will be executed; you will be banished and no one of the camp will have trust on you"
"Trust?" Lucas said again, "That doesn't mean a thing for me, you work for whoever has the power and... gain their trust... yes, but it wouldn't serve you any good"
Here in Byzantium... there is a saying, "Do not even trust your own shadow--for it may just be the silhouette of your death"
"Maybe... you will learn it in the afterlife" Slav gazed at him, his eyes were fixated on the dagger as his breath failed.
When he arched it back--the image of Eleanor flashed through him.
Elen... they sat under the giant tree, her head on his lap as the two were nestled in love. She had jokingly asked him about their future children.
Slav had answered in with a soft chuckle. "I'm not sure, what about you?" he asked. Her sapphire like orbs fluttered as she gazed at him, "four" his lips curled, her eyes then went back to the greenery. Breathing in the crisp Ruthenian air as she gazed to the fall on her front.
"Two boys and two girls, the boys will be a knight like you and my father" She murmured lazily, "Defending Ruthenia"...
Slav sighed, "Future you say... future" Eleanor's eyes snapped to a sulking Slav. Seeing him like that earned him a chuckle from her.
Slav then snapped--his grasped on the mud tightened as Lucas motioned the dagger back to the front. To his chest.
just as he connected it with Slav
--Attende! masterAristos!
The crowd parted as he made his way in--eyes sharp as hawk. Marcus joined the back; he let out a sigh seeing Aristos.
Aristos's eyes fell to the two squires in his front--his brows furrowed. "What is happening? explain this disgrace in this instant!" he ordered.
Lucas got on his feet, M-Master...
Aristos stepped in--get up... he murmured. Slave rose. He gazed down both the young men with a stern look.
Few minutes passes*
HOW. ABSOULUTELY. DARE. YOU! the boys lowered their heads, giving each other a quick, bitter glance.
Master Aristos sighed, rubbing the lines on his temples, "You two... we are here to grow, to fight the enemies of our empire"
"And not the other way around!"
Master... Do not even... Lucas... you should have known better.
Slav nodded. "Don't think I forgot you Slav" he inched in: "Do not cause feud between yourselves for it will only bring problems which... you may not be lucky to resolve"
Slav's jaw flexed, yet he let his eyes fall.
Now... of you go, disperse, don't let me catch you in that manner...
Yes master! the two yelled in unison and walked away.
To be continued>>>>>>>>>>>