"Do you really think that was wise of the Great Lord? I feel as though the rest of us worked harder for this status." Ciaran combed her bangs out of her face. She was perched of Gough's shoulder as he picked his way through the trees, careful not to damage them.

He looked over to her and laughed. "Differing loads upon differing shoulders, I should think. Recall that thine skills were honed early."

"Yes. And to become a Knight of Gwyn, Artorias was eaten by a dragon."

"A mighty task."

They broke the tree line at last, and Gough strode into Ten-stones. There was a small crowd across the clearing, Artorias visible in the middle. He had abandoned his shirt under the summer sun, and was straining at something. As they drew closer, Ciaran stood up to get a better angle.

A tall dark-haired woman had her arms crossed nearby. "You should be resting, Artorias. They could harness the horses for this."

As she finished her sentence, there was a loud ripping noise as Artorias tore a tree stump out of the ground with his bare hands. "Time waits for no man!"

"And I am afraid neither can we!" Gough boomed as he approached. Ciaran couldn't help but notice the recent scars were still prominent across his muscular bronzed abdomen as he turned to face them. What she didn't see was Serafina looking intently at her.

Artorias brushed the dirt off of his hands. "Serafina, this is Hawkeye Gough and Lord's Blade Ciaran, Knights of Gwyn!"

She stepped forward and laid an arm over his shoulders possessively. "I hear that you two saved this one in Oakbridge. He's often biting off more than he can chew."

Artorias shrugged. "I'm hungry."

Gough laughed and bowed to Serafina. "I am mightily pleased to make thine acquaintance, fair lady." Ciaran hopped off of his shoulder at the lowest point of his bow.

"Artorias actually…lasted a surprising amount of time against the dragon."

Serafina scowled and Artorias rubbed his wolf's head. "That's because Sif was there with me!"

Gough grinned. "If you wish, he may accompany thee today."

Serafina tilted her head. "Accompany? To where?"

The giant spread his massive arms. "Why, to the glorious city of Anor Londo of course."

Ciaran blew the stubborn bangs out of her yellow eyes. "As a Knight, he's got to have training."

Artorias grinned lopsidedly and scratched at the stubble on his chin. "Tell that to the dragon."

Ciaran planted her hands on her hips. "I don't believe that you had the opportunity to. You were lacking…the breath necessary."

Artorias chuckled. "Ah, but I stand where the dragon fell."

She quirked an eyebrow. "I doubt the Great Lord will wish his daughter to continue to patch you up, so you need training."

Serafina gave him a little push. "Go on already, and get yourself a shirt! I'll be here when you get back."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"That was slow."

"These are new to me, I haven't quite worked out the balance yet."

Steel rang on steel as Artorias's new greatsword clashed with Ornstein's spear, and the captain flicked the weapon off. He snorted. "The weapons have been created especially for thee. Their balance is not in question."

Artorias grinned. "I meant your balance, captain."

He put on a quick burst of speed, kicking one of Ornstein's legs out from under him and bumping into him with his greatshield.

He fell to the ground, and Artorias straightened up. His celebratory grin was cut short when the captain spun to his feet and disarmed him in one smooth motion. He followed that up by driving his foot into his stomach, doubling him over and bringing the flat of his spear down on his back, flattening him.

"I was humoring thee. Thine enemy shan't forgive thee as swift as I."

Ciaran shook her head. "He's going to die."

Gough shrugged. "Perhaps, perhaps not. I wager not." The giant let his eyes wander over the courtyard to rest upon a small group of humans speaking softly to one another.

"Hmm." he rumbled. "Ciaran, you don't suppose we should look into that after that unfortunate event?" He looked over to her, but her place was empty.

In fact, she was poised atop a wall nearby to the men, who had their heads ducked and faces turned away from the rest of the courtyard. A warning sign for Ciaran in any case, but the fact that they were humans conspiring so soon after the assassination attempt was a major red flag. She pressed her body flat against the roof, angling an ear out just slightly over the edge.

"…appeared again last night, right under the forge. I saw it myself, I can attest to it being real."

"She was there?"

The first man furtively rubbed his head and looked around, only seeing Gough apparently dozing. "Not really, I mean not in the flesh…look, I'm just a man. But it…it really—"

The third man spoke in a whisper. "It was Velka, plain as your nose."

There was a barely perceptible sensation of power, dark and foreboding, in that name. Ciaran was sensitive to that sort of thing, and she felt goosebumps rise on her arms. She lifted herself up carefully and let herself inspect the man who experienced this entity. Having memorized his face, she slipped away quietly. It wouldn't do to confront them now and alert whoever was associated with them.

A short while later, Gough woke from his nap to find the Lord's Blade back next to him. "You should have woken me."

"You looked comfortable."

He grunted and indicated the area where the men had stood. "Were they scoundrels after all?"

"It seems so. They appear to be getting visits from someone calling herself Velka."

"Velka? Hmm. That sounds rather familiar."

"I'm looking into it."

"Mmm." The giant was rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "This is happening in the manling towns, yes?"

"At least in one particular one. I haven't pinpointed which one yet, but Velka is supposed to appear under a forge."

Gough nodded absently.

Ciaran gestured to the newest Knight who narrowly blocked a spear sweep with his shield. "Artorias has lived amongst men for his entire life. Maybe…he could help?"

The Hawkeye was startled out of his reverie. He stared at her, then began to laugh. It wasn't a derisive laugh, just one of surprised merriment. "You want to work with someone! In the same area as thee? At the very same time?" He laughed again, clutching his sides.

Ciaran crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, blowing her bangs out of her face. "Never mind, you're right. I'm a lone wolf after all, just like the rest of the Lord's Blades." She turned to go, but Gough caught her arm, his enormous hand enveloping half of her body in the process.

"No, no, goodness no! I'm glad to hear you say that!" He sidled closer. "You may be a lone wolf, but it appears as though Artorias knows how to handle wolves."

Ciaran scowled up at him. "Gough. I told you not to bother to play matchmaker on me. Just because you managed to pair half the scullery crew together doesn't give you rein to try it out on me."

The giant leaned back with a satisfied smile. "Now who uttered a word about matchmaking?"

She turned and stalked away with a small frustrated noise. "Just forget it!"

A few minutes later found Ciaran in her chambers. It was at the top of a tower close by to the main citadel. She dismissed Gough from her mind as she sought out her records. Every servant had a record, including a hometown and a portrait. She never forgot a face, and now all she needed to do was match a face to a location, and then the real job could begin. An hour into the work, it occurred to her to alert her Lord to her mission. She was given a bit more free rein in coming and going due to the nature of her work, but she thought Gwyn would like to know. After all, it was his assassination attempt she was trying to avenge. She hadn't gone very far when she crossed paths with Gough, who was moving with unusual speed.

"Is there a fire, Hawkeye?"

The giant turned to her with a happy exclamation. "There you are; I've been looking for thee!"

"You didn't think to look in my chambers?"

"You move chambers every so often."

She waved her hand dismissively. "What was it you were saying?"

"Ah, yes!" He moved closer, dropping his voice to a low boom. "I've discovered which town the man saw Velka at."

"What? How?"

"I asked the man. Nicely."

Ciaran rubbed the bridge of her nose. "He's sure to alert his town now!"

"I placed him in a guarded room."

"A cell?"

"A guest chamber. There are two knights outside the room at all times."

She groaned. "Alright. Since our cover is blown, I may as well have a 'talk' with him." She set off at an angry, clipped pace. Gough followed.

"But surely with the man here, he cannot alert his companions?"

She shook her head. "What do you think they'll do when he doesn't come home tonight?"

The giant hummed. "I hadn't thought of that."

A Berenike knight and a silver knight stood on either side of the door, and the first saluted. "Your 'prisoner' is in here, looking entirely too comfortable."

"Thank you, Giroldus. I intend to change that." Ciaran turned to Gough. "Inform Gwyn of the situation, there's no way you'll fit in here." She didn't say that he was also virtually incapable of intimidation, somewhat coming off as a big stuffed animal to those who didn't know what he was capable of.

Almost immediately after he left, there were sounds of a struggle from inside.