Welp, people actually interested in this crack idea I had. Let's keep at it then shall we? We got places to go yet.
"Sister, I have been wondering, but what do you think the Queen meant when she suggested we 'interact' with the other races? While she gave the idea we might learn something worthwhile, I simply don't conceive any idea as to why we would discover anything of worth."
Naestra let out a disappointed sigh.
"Oh my dear, diplomatically inept sister..." lamented Naestra as said sister glared at her with an insulted expression. "Queen Ariel's wisdom is simple. Those we seek hide amongst the other races and know how to act like them. To be the better hunters, we must learn how they have to know how they think and act." she continued.
Naestra stretched her arms out and gave her sister a cheeky smile.
"Also, I think the Queen wants you to learn something other than how to kill something violently." she quipped. Arahan let out a groan before urging her horse forward. Her sister let out a light giggle before following after Arahan.
They had found themselves on the plains to the south-east of Parravon after two days since leaving Athel Loran's borders. The roads had slowly began showing signs of regular use from Bretonnian travellers. The occasional farm and fields could be seen faintly in the distance by now, though the Sisters had yet to reach any or encounter any travellers. But, as they drew closer to human settlement, the chance that the two would encounter others grew with every hour that passed much to Naestra's delight and Arahan's annoyance.
Naestra quickly caught up with her sister, who she gave a semi-apologetic smile.
"I was actually serious about that Arahan. You should see this as a valuable chance to learn, even if you'll only put it to use with killing better." Naestra explained. Arahan shrugged non-committedly. The two continued to travel in peaceful silence as the world went past around them.
As the hours passed and the day slowly set into afternoon, the signs of use became more and more prevalent on the road. They even passed a farm, however it looked like whoever owned it was not present.
Eventually, the two Sisters crossed a small high and a small town slowly came into view, split along the main road. Though calling it a town would be generous. Huts lined either side of the road and spread out around the road, made of wood, stone and thatched roofs. A larger hut could be seen towards to centre of the mess as the road bent dramatically left. As the twins drew closer, they could see men, women and children moving around the inconsistent mess of structures. As the two sisters stopped at the top of the hill Arahan groaned as she pulled her map from her saddlebags.
"Well, Naestra? We appear to be very close to Parravon. This bend in the road should be the last before we reach the River Grismerie. Could we please not travel through this pathetic mess of a village? Please? It looks disgusting down there..." Arahan begged. Naestra, much to her sister's disappointment, smiled and shook her head.
"Actually, I think we should go through. I've conversed with the odd knight before, however I've never actually seen what the more common folk of Bretonnia are like." Naestra said, and without her sister's response, rode down towards the village. Arahan sighed, but followed down after her sister.
The two slowed their mounts to a walk as they drew close to the village entrance. A group of children were running around ahead of them while mothers watched from nearby houses. As the two drew closer, the children spread around them in awe. While their horses were nothing particularly special in Athel Loran, these children must have thought they were rich noble ladies to own fine horses like these. Naestra smiled and waved at them, causing them to blush and step back in embarrassment while Arahan stiffened and looked anywhere but at them. One of the children, a thin girl with dirty blonde hair, shyly waved back. A few of the mothers that had been watching them came up and dragged their children away, however a small handful of children continued to lurk around them. An older woman walked up to them, head facing the ground.
"Me apologise milady, but these 'er children be meaning no disrespect to yous. They just be curious is all." The woman muttered to them. Arahan raised an eyebrow at her sister. Naestra shrugged before looking at the woman.
"It is no issue to us madam. Perhaps you cou-" Naestra paused as the woman looked up at them suddenly, terror in her eyes and trembling like a leaf.
"O-o-o-o-O-OH, by the gods, please, 'ave mercy fey ones. I'm sorry!" The woman begged. Naestra looked confused at the sudden change in behaviour.
Arahan however, looked down at the cowardly woman. "Why are you grovelling, you pathetic Bretonnian? My sister just said, it's fine." Arahan said rudely. Naestra opened her mouth to apologise but the peasent woman spoke up.
"W-w-we know ye fey ones don't like coming out of ye woods except when ye angry at us. Like last time, I-i-i-i-i-" The woman stopped, tears falling from her eyes. People around them started to notice her behaviour, yet none came over to intervene.
Naestra dismounted her horse and began walking over to the woman, who fell to her knees with her hands held above her head. Naestra knelt down and tilted her head with a frown.
"Excuse me, but what is your name?" Naestra asked the woman.
"M-m-m-m-Maria milady..." 'Maria' informed her. Naestra nodded with a smile before tapping the woman on the shoulder. Maria looked up at her and shook with fear at her smile.
Naestra gave her an apologetic look. "Miss Maria, we are not here to harm you or anyone else here. We are travelling through in search of someone. No one has done any wrong here, so please, you can get up."
The Bretonnian woman looked so hopelessly confused to Naestra, but got up as she asked.
"Now, I want to know, why did you act as such?" she asked Maria.
Maria hesitated before responding, "Well, everyone knows that you fey ones only come out 'ere when yous are angry, but I'ms the only one still around last time that 'appened to this village. I reckonised who you is by yer accent milady." Maria fearfully explained. Naestra nodded. Before she could respond, Arahan reached for her bow and looked down at Naestra.
"Sister, we have company." she reported shortly. Naestra placed her hand gently on her sword as she looked down the road. A pair of lightly armoured men with spears were walking over to them. Arahan waited until they were within shouting distance.
"What do you want? We are busy here." Arahan shouted to the two men-at-arms, who paused in confusion. They shared a glance before one walked up cautiously.
"Apologises milady, but we was told there was a disturbance over 'ere and came to 'ave a look." he explained. The sisters shared a look before removing their hands from their weapons.
"No matter, you can leave peasant. This woman is carrying on thinking she did something to wrong us, nothing more." Arahan announced. The man nodded in response.
"If ye like, we can take 'er away for punishment for you milady?" he offered. Naestra shook her head.
"That will be unnecessary my good sir, this is but a misunderstanding." She explained. The man-at-arms bowed and walked back to his companion left back down the road. Naestra looked back at the woman. "Now, Miss Maria, I would like that you don't mention our identities to anyone else and forget this happened. My sister and I are simply travelling through and will be gone shortly, ok?" she asked.
Maria nodded repeatedly and bowed as she left, promises to never speak of this being repeated from her lips. Arahan sighed.
"Honestly sister, if this is what we were expected to learn about, I fear that you and the Queen will be sorely disappointed." she muttered as Naestra climbed back onto her mount with a tired sigh.
The two continued to ride through the town in silence, eyes following them as the went by. Word of what had happen must have spread quickly as children quickly ran away from them and adults watched them pass by wearily. Soon, they found themselves reach the end of the village when Naestra sighed.
Arahan looked over at her sister with concern. Naestra looked back with a sad expression.
"It seems that the fear our people have instilled in the Parravonese will prevent any meaningful experience if they react like that once they realise we are not human." she said sadly.
Her sister looked at her with a hard, but apologetic smile.
"Perhaps, hopefully the Bretonnians outside this region will not have such a visceral reaction." Arahan said comfortingly, patting her sister gently on the back. Naestra gave her a small but hopeful smile.
The Sisters of Twilight had reach their destination just before the sun had set. Castle Parravon stood before them, it's two levels of stone walls and keep were towering above as man-at-arms could be seen standing guard on the outer wall. The entrance to the Castle was a bridge over the river, and a small group of soldiers could be seen conversing in front of the gates. While it certainly wasn't a very beautiful site to the two Asrai, they could admit it was certainly a formidable fortress to their experienced gaze.
The two of them urged their mounts forward as they rode over the bridge. They came before the gates as a man walked out to them, clearly tired and eager to get over with this.
"Welcome to Castle Parravon, seat of Duke Cassyon d'Parravon. What's yer business here ma'am?" the soldier asked them without care. Arahan gave Naestra a pointed look.
Naestra shrugged and looked down at the soldier, a smile on her face.
"We are just travelling through. Do you know if there is anywhere we might stay the night?" Naestra asked politely. The soldier gave her a brief look of curiosity and gave a quick look over their belongings.
"Well, you'll be able to find an inn somewhere, most stay in the first level but some foreign travellers, merchants and nobles typically go to the second level." he explained. He still had a perplexed expression.
Naestra nodded at him, "Thank you. If that is all, we will be on our way."
The soldier nodded and gestured for them to ride through. The sisters rode past the other guards who gave their fellow soldier confused looks.
The city around them was...odd. To say the least. All the structures around them were carved from stone, like caves made out along the side of the stone Castle Parravon had been built on. People roamed around though less than expected, and curiously there were even Dwarfs amongst them. The two of them rode through the city to the second level of walls. There, the soldiers looked notably more alert than the ones they had encountered at the gates, though the two had no troubles entering. Curiously, much like the previous guard, the one they spoke to had a curious expression when Naestra explained why there were here.
However, they had no issue entering the second level. The second level was much like the first, however many of actual houses, also made from stone, were present. The sisters noticed one large building with a sign hanging in front of it. It was written in a different language, likely what the Bretonnian nobles speak. The two got off their horses and tied them to a pair of poles to the side of the building. A number of other horses were also similarly tied up, with all kinds of livery and decoration common with knights of Bretonnia.
They entered the building and looked around their new surroundings. Tables and chairs lined the interior with a bar directly opposite of the entrance with a staircase lead upstairs. Around them were a number of men wearing either fine clothes or knight armour. A group of young men were drinking at the bar while a pair of men, one much older than the other, conversed at a table in the corner. The two sisters walked up to man standing behind the bar. He had a light scar across his cheek and messy black hair. He looked up at them after handing one of the men a drink.
"Good Evening madam, Welcome to The Knight's Rest. How could I help you ladies?" the man said politely. Arahan pulled a small pouch from her waist.
"Room for the night, how much?" She said curtly.
The man nodded, "Just Fifty gold a room ma'am. I presume you ladies have left your mounts outside?" he asked.
Naestra nodded as Arahan passed over the required coin.
"Good. Your room is the one at the end of the hall upstairs my ladies. If you will, I will show you to your room." said the man, who stepped out from behind the bar and began walking towards stairs, the sisters following him.
One of the men at the bar noticed this and turned to them. "Barman! When you return, we need another round." he said. The barman turned with a polite smile.
"Of course sir, one moment sir." he replied. As they walked upstairs, he turned to twins. "Is there anything else you require before I return down stairs my ladies?" he inquired.
Arahan and Naestra shared a look.
"Actually, have you by chance heard about someone travelling around offering directions to entering Athel Loren?" Naestra asked. They had reached the door to a room when the man turned back around. He briefly tilted his head before shaking his head.
"Sorry my lady, I have never heard of anyone doing so. A few month back there was a band of Dwarf Slayers that came through claiming they had learned a way into the Elve's forest, but asides from that I've heard nothing of the sort." he informed them. Arahan shrugged while Naestra nodded in thanks.
"No matter, my thanks." said Naestra.
The barman opened the door and the sisters walked in. It was simple, a large bed was in the centre of the room while a desk with a chair was off to the side. A large window with curtains drawn shut was next to the desk.
The barman bowed and stepped out of the room, "I hope this is to your liking. If there is nothing else, then I will leave you be." The sisters nodded as he close the door.
Naestra sat down on the bed while Arahan looked out the window.
"So sister, hoping you'd learn something worthwhile already? Such eagerness." Arahan quipped tiredly. Naestra shrugged in reply. "No matter, I'm going to get our belongings. Will you just be staying here?" she asked.
Naestra sighed and lied down, closing her eyes as she lounged on the bed. Arahan shook her head in amusement before walking out their room. Making her way downstairs, the pair of knights had moved further away from the louder men at bar who had left the barman stuck filling multiple mugs with liquor. Arahan walked outside and went over to their horses. She pulled off their saddlebags and placed them on her shoulders. Grabbing their weapons, she slung the bows over her back along with her spear, but left the arrows.
As she walked back in, one of the men at the bar noticed her re-entry and walked over to her.
"Ah, my good lady, would you graciously allow me to assist you with your baggage?" he said, his breath smelling of booze. Arahan raised an unimpressed eyebrow at the man. He wasn't particularly special. Overall he seem pretty ordinary for a Bretonnian nobleman. She scowled at him.
"No, I don't need your help. Leave me be." she said dismissively. The idiot didn't seem to notice her tone as he continued to stand in front of her.
"Please, my lady, I insist, it would be dishonourable of me to leave you to do such work yourself." he pushed. Arahan's scowl grew. Before she could show he where he could shove his 'honour', the younger of the two knights walked up to them and place a hand on the man's shoulder.
"Sir, if the good Lady wishes to carry her belongings, then leave her be to do so as she asked." the young knight said.
Arahan looked over at him. He had short brown hair and bright blue eyes. His face was cleanshaven and there was a small scar across the top of his lip. He was wearing a leather jerkin and a white shirt and brown trousers. On his feat were leather boots with metal plates on them for protection.
The drunk man turned sharply, almost falling over if not for the hand on his shoulder. His face reddened in anger as he shoved the knight away.
He began saying something different language, some Bretonnia noble language perhaps? His face glowed in anger. The knight's eyes glared at the man, responding in the same language. The first man gasped, then began shouting at the man. The other men at the bar noticed this and began to stumble over. The older knight let out a loud sigh before getting up himself to back his companion. Arahan placed the bags on the ground along with the bows and her spear.
Suddenly, the first man's fist fired forward into the young knight's face, smashing into his nose. The knight stumbled back in surprise, his hand raised to his face as blood leaked down his face. The man looked at his hand in surprise, and shock grew amongst the group of men.
A moment of silence passed, when the room devolved into chaos.
The knight removed his hand from his face, looked down at the blood in his palm, then at the man that had hit him. He suddenly reach out, grabbed the man by the shoulders and slammed his fist right across the man's jaw. The man fell back into his friends, who caught him. Anger spread throughout them, and they rushed forwards as the young knight rushed forwards to meet them. The older knight groaned but also moved forward. The young knight grabbed a chair and broke it over the first one's head while his companion punched him in the gut. The knight bent over and was slammed into a table, breaking it in half. The two grappled on the floor as the the older knight grabbed one and headbutted him. Dazed, the man was choke slammed onto the floor by the older man.
Another raised a table leg to slam into the older knight's back, but was suddenly met with the unexpected sight of a long, thin leg slamming right into his gut, causing him to bend over. Arahan grabbed the man by the hair and punched him repeatedly until he sagged unconscious. Someone grabbed her from behind and threw her into a wall. She gasped in surprise and ducked as fist slammed where her face had been. The man that had tried to hit her held his hand in pain, but Arahan grabbed him by the hand and squeezed it tightly, causing him to shout in pain. She threw two punches into his face and then kicked him away. He went tumbling away and tripped up the first man who was swinging a chair at the young knight.
Seeing an opening, the knight rushed forwards and jabbed the man in the wrist, causing his hand to flex and let go of the chair. He then grabbed the chair with both hands and tore it from the man's remaining hand. He threw the chair to the side and jabbed the man in the gut twice before backhanding him. The man fell backwards and smacked his head against the ground. Arahan kneed the last man between the legs and was in the process of beating the man with chair leg when the older knight walked up and grabbed the chair leg. Arahan's head whipped to the side, letting go of the man and leaving him to fall on the ground. She clenched her fist in preparation to fight the older knight, but paused when she realised who had stopped her. The older knight shook his head as his companion groaned and walked over, rubbing the back of his hand.
Arahan let go of the chair leg to the knight, who dropped it on the floor. The knight tilted his head in thanks before walking over to the barman, who had watched with a shocked expression. Arahan groaned and rubbed her hand much like the young knight stood before her.
"My apologises, my lady. I hadn't intended to start a confrontation nor get a lady like yourself pulled into this." the knight apologised.
He placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly, "My name is Brandan d'Bordeleaux. If there is any way I could repay you for your troubles, then please, allow me to do so."
She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I'm Arahan. Thanks for the help, I guess." she said. Brandan nodded and pointed over at his companion, who was passing a number of coins over to the man.
"That is Marc Le Silence, much as his name suggest, he doesn't talk much. Please don't take offense if he doesn't speak much." said Brandan. She looked over at Marc. He was dressed similarly to Brandan, with a dark shirt and trousers. The older knight's face was covered in scars and had a trimmed grey beard.
The young knight continued, "We are Questing Knights, in search of glory and honour. If I may ask, what brings an elf to Castle Parravon?"
Arahan's eyes widened in surprise, then blinked when she realised her hood had fallen off her head, revealing her pointed ears. Scowling, she glared at the knight.
Brandan raised his hands apologetically, "I mean no offense my lady, I was simply curious."
Looking at him suspiciously, her hand drifted to her knife.
"What's it to you? Why do you care?" Arahan said. The knight noticed her hostility and kept his hands up.
He gave her a relaxed smile, "It is rare for your kind to leave the forests of Athel Loran. I once heard of one of your waystalkers who had left to slaughter a dangerous Beastmen party ravaging the lands near and in Athel Loran." he explained. She gave him a wary look.
"I fail to see why that matters..." Arahan said with confusion. She sighed in annoyance at his vague answer.
Brandan return her confused look.
"Uh, Lady Arahan, in case you forgot, I believe I told you, I and Marc are Questing Knights. Surely you have heard of Bretonnian knights when on a Questing Vow." he elaborated, confusion still prevalent on his face.
Arahan shrugged and said, "Sounds like something my sister would care to learn about. I've never bothered paying attention." The young knight blinked, then nodded.
"Ah, I see, well Lady Arahan, a knight on a Questing Vow leaves his home to in search of the Lady's Grail. I will travel the world, to help those in need, slay dangerous beasts and prove my valour in combat to prove my worth to the Lady." Brandan explained. He gestured to a nearby table that was still intact and sat down. Arahan's eye narrowed, but she took a seat opposite of him. The young knight rolled his shoulder and rested his arm against the table.
"You see Lady Arahan, I am sure you have heard of Grail Knights?" Brandan asked. Arahan nodded in confirmation and Brandan continued, "All that become Grail Knights do so by taking the vow I have. Many die in service to the Lady, many more never prove that their worthy. But those that do return as Grail Knights and are true heroes of this world. Virtuous, honourable, fair and just as well as being unmatched in combat." There was the unmistakable tone of awe and respect in Brandan's voice. Arahan hummed thoughtfully.
Marc Le Silence walked back over to them, nodding at Brandan.
"Ah, Marc, I hope the barman agreed with the compensation for our trouble?" he asked. The older knight nodded but raised an eyebrow at Arahan. She could see that he was looking at her ears. Raise her head at him in challenge, but the older knight shrug and took a seat next to his companion.
"Does he have a problem with me?" she asked Brandan, who shook his head.
"Worry not, I'm sure he was just interested to see you, much like myself. He's been on his Questing Vow much longer than myself. I met him fighting greenskins near Massif Orcal, slaying a Black Orc in single combat. I heard about the monster and went to kill the creature myself, however Marc bet me to the creature. We agreed to travel together for a time. We came to Parravon because we heard about a party of Norscans raiders were sighted nearby." Brandan explained.
Arahan gave the knight a dark smile and said, "Well, seems you've been beaten to another foe, Bretonnian. My sister and I slew the fools for entering Athel Loren."
The two knights gave her a surprised looked, then looked at each other.
"Well, that's fortunate. No matter their slayer, so long as the filthy raiders are dead, then justice has been done." Brandan said with a casual smile while Marc shrugged in turn.
The three of them sat quietly at the table for a moment. Arahan went to open her mouth when the sound of footsteps echoed from down the staircase.
Naestra walked down, paused at the bottom of the stairs. She blinked twice. Looked at the mess of broken tables and chairs as well as unconscious and groaning bodies. Then looked at Arahan. She immediately noticed her sister's lack of a hood.
"What have you done now Arahan?"
