The work on the flood defenses began almost as soon as they had arrived and after three weeks, Lexa felt as if she'd never entirely get all the dirt of her skin. For despite the fact that it was the peak of summer almost a large part of the defenses involved foundations of rock packed together with mud thet was spelled to solidify and not dissolve in the water. But until it was dry it caked all those that delt with it.
Somehow the Lioness found the time and energy in the evenings to do at least some training every night. The best ones were the ones that involved using her Gift. Even something as simple as the spell the make the mud solid.
Their planned lesson that night however was going to have to start late thanks to some - who hadn't come forward - botching the job and causing a whole support column to fall on the Lioness. Luckily itr was only halfway solid so all Alanna suffered was a new layer on mud skin. Of whcih she declared she must wash off before she did anything else.
Lexa washed the Lioness's things as she bathed. As she straightened out the now almost clean tunic, something fell from it's folds and tumbled into the water. Instictively Lexa grabbed it, then sat down hard as she opened her hand looking at the red stone on a chain that she'd caught.
It was hot and cold at the same time, but also quite beautiful, and she was terrified of it. Non of her friends knew of her soul-deep fear of the Gods, immortals she could handle - they could be killed - but Gods...
They meddled in the lives of mortals who were powerless to resist and they had unlimited power, a power so great that she was just an any to them who they could squash without another thought.
Without a doubt it was a divine token, of what God she didn't care, she dropped it like it had scalded her. It glowed even more brightly as it landed, flaring almost. She trembled and she fought to steady her breathing, she'd never even been in one of the temples in the temple district in Corus, for fear of the Gods.
As best and as quickly as she could manage she finished the cleaning the Lioness's things, returned to their tent to hang them, then placed fresh cloths near the token, hoping that the Lioness would see it, thought Lexa dearly wished that Alanna would just dispense with the thing altogether.
By the time the Lioness returned from her bath, completely clensed of any mud Lexa had herself under control. Though she still felt like time away from that, thing would probably do her the world of good. Making her excuses she found Lerant arguing with Wolset.
Upon spotting her they pulled her into their debate about who would win out the pair of them at hand-to-hand. Soon Dom and Lady Kel appeared and Dom suggested mischeviously that they find out through trying themselves out in an actual fight. Both seemed rather keen on the idea.
Dom announced himself as the referee and soon they were fighting, thought it was more like wrestling than hand to hand. Finally Lerant pinned Wolset who surrendered, Lexa was laughing along with some of the others who'd come to watch. One of the new recruits to the own, called Christopher was stood with his arms folded, looking dubious.
''You call that fighting?'' he asked, almost tartily. Lerant looked rather peeved at his moment of triumph being belittled by the newby. ''How abouit a real opponent?'' he offered.
''Your on!'' snarled Lerant. Christopher begin his stretches, as Lerant attempted to get his breathing under control. Kel walked over to him and after a brief whispered converstion she nodded reluctantly. Then surprisingly approached her.
''Where's Alanna?'' she asked, innocently.
''Still scouring the dirt of some of her things I think.'' there was obviously something more than the whereabouts of her Knihtmaster that Kel wanted to discuss with her.
However Kel didn't say anything further, instead folded her arms across her chest and looked to where Lerant ans Christopher were waiting to fight.
Dom allowed them to start, Lerant went straight on to the offensive, throwing a punch with his right followed by his left, one after the other. Christopher moved back, allowing Lerants own momentum to make him lose his balance. Then Christopher turneed sharply delivering a kick to Lerants back sending his further forward and straight past Christopher. From there Christopher knelt an landed a blow to the back of Lerants knee's causing them to buckled.
He backed off as the Kings Own standard bearer got himself to his feet. This time Lerant was more cautious, rather waiting for Christopher to make a move. Finally he did, a punch Lerant blocked with differculty, then tried a counter attack, but Christopher doged it easily.
Lexa could tell from his ease of movement just what a skilled fighter Christopher actually was and that he was just toying with Lerant. After a few more attack in earnest on Lerants part, and lazy defending of Christophers part, Christopher finally decided that he'd had enough and threw Lerants roughly over his shoulder, then pinned the stunned and winded standard bearer. Dom reluctantly declared him the winner.
Lexa felt it was unfair on Christopher to treat his opponant with such disrespect. Part of the code of Chivalry that they were taught was that you always fight with honour, including respect and courtesy for your opponant, and Christopher honoured non of that. Granted he wasn't a knight, but still he should have a sense of decency.
Beside her Kel, unusually was showing emotion, in the form of a slight frown. Realising that Lexa was looking at her she shoom her head. ''That wasn't very nice or fair, he's obviously had some special trianing and is just showing off.'' Lexa agreed.
She felt like hitting the snotty noble as he boasted and challenged any and all of those present to a fight ''How about it?'' Kel commented, off handedly, face blank again.
Lexa would've like to fight the young man, but didn't speak up. She did however look back at Kel, wondering if the lady-knight might challange him. Kel arched her eyebrows at her. She couldn't help but look back at Christopher who was practically swaggering as he made to leave the circle of onlookers that had gathered.
Lerant was stood at the edge of the onlookers, Christopher raised his voice, ''Or are you all afraid that that coward over there!'' Lexa had just about enough, no one called her a coward, nor the men of the Own that she was friends with, they only held back because Christopher had more training in fighting than them and it would only boost his ego when he beat them.
''I challenge you!'' she stated strongly and loudly, stepping forward. Christopher turned round to look at her, as soon he saw was she was a girl he sneered.
''You?'' he asked, amusedly. ''Sorry little girl, but I want a real opponant.''
She was glad she'd challenged him now, he was an arrogant, sexist pig. He went as far to turn his back on her and demand a real opponent, not the dreggs of the kings kights in training,some girl with ideas above her station. ''Your just a coward, a big-headed bully. The son of a kraken and a whore. And he can't even face a girl because he'll be shown up.''
Wearing an ugly scowl Christopher looked at her again. ''You'll pay for those comments, little girl!'' Dom didn't even bother to step-in to referee.
Their fight commenced, Lexa raised her guard as they circled each other. The worst thing to do in a fight was to lose your head, either through panic, fear or anger. Christopher was a well-trianed fighter, but too over-confident in his own abilities and also severly underestimated hers.
She threw the first punch, he dodged to where she'd predicted he would and where she immeadiately after the first punch struck out with her other fist. It caught him hard in the gut, he restrained from doubling over, instead lashing out with a punch of his own.
Though hurried it bore alot of strength behind it, so rather than block it she parred to the side, then firmly slapped him with her other hand. His face coloured where she'd struck him and he began to lose his cool. She parred his next shot and delivered a return blow, which he also blocked.
Now he was moving faster, striking with more precision and focus, his rage intent on her. Changing tactics she kicked at one of his knee's, causing it to give way, but held back on the finnishing blow, demanding, ''Give up.''
Angrily he swiped her legs from beneath her, as she rolled up, he too took the time to climb back to his own feet. Meeting again they exchanged a few more blows. He thought her still quite weak bacause she was short, taking advantage of that she purposely moved into a position where he would do an attack from above.
The second his armed came down she blocked, he attempted to use his superior height and weight to knock her over, only to find her holding her own with a surprising amount of strength. This began to frustrate him further, he tried to increase he own force, to knock her down. Just as he did so she moved quickly to the side and using his own momentum against him, flipped him over.
He landed rather harder than she'd intended on his back, she realised he was about to pull a weapon of sorts. What an idiot she thought with distain, he was only making himslef look if possible even worse. Dropping to one knee she grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back.
''Give up?'' he gave a snarl in reply, but stopped struggling. She held his arm for a moment or two, just to let him know that she could. As soon as she let him go he stromed off, massaging his wrist. She followed him with her eyes, giving hima dark look, he was a sore loser like that idiot Jameson in Corus.
''Whoo-hoo.'' someone cheered, making her jump. Two someones grabbed her aroung the neck and shoulders. Wriggling half-way free, those someones turned out to be Dom and Wolset.
''Guys lemme go!'' she cried ineffectually. They were too busy laughing at Christophers expense, Kel finally took pity on her, rescuing her from their stranglehold.
''That was a good fight, where did you learn to fight like that? I don't remeber it being likt that when I was a page.'' Kel commented and questioned all at once.
''Yes, it was.'' agreed the Lioness, walking up. Feeling she'd been caught in a mis-step, Lexa felt her face heat up as she blushed. ''So where did you learn to fight like that?'' Despite the fact that the Lioness had an odd look in her eyes, it was a simple and innocent enough question.
''Like I said before, there was a shang who taught me in Carthak.'' she shrugged, she didn't think she was that good, but had been surprised when she'd first come to train as a knight just how much more she knew about fightng than even some of the squires.
Fortunately the issue was dropped, the Lioness instead asked her to join her for a walk . Mystified as to why, Lexa nevertheless agreed.
Alanna was silent at first, she just casually walked, while whistling, but also fiddling with the God's token she wore, which unnerved her, the Lioness was rarely so penseive, she had learnt already in the time she had been with her.
Abruptly she stopped. ''Alexia, do you know what this is?'' she asked, indicating to what she was holing in her fingers - the gods token - Lexa gulped.