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[CrimsonEon]

: "Wha?! A- er..." Ceil stiffened, not quite able to muster up to hug him back, "T-thank you, Brann." She stammered as he let go.
Then something seemed to click in her eyes.
: "Wait! The bone in your shoulder!" Ceil's off hand immediately shot to Brann's shoulder, clasping tightly. Her eyes immediately shot around Brann, looking for any other cuts as she panicked "It's fractured! And what's with these cuts in your clothes? They weren't there when- did something happen?!"

[Swordstar]

"I ah... uhm..."

He winced, both from remembering the pain in his shoulder and also from realizing that she might not exactly approve of the fight arena.

"There... I... There was this crystal... It's supposed to make you better at archery... I figured after the last battle... I need to find some way of countering at range, and so I figured I've used a bow before, but it's been a while so I thought the crystal would be a good idea but I didn't have the money for it and so... I... _{I thought I'd try my hand at fighting in an arena. But I lost. Terribly.} The princess also fought and she was... significantly more successful. So we ended up being able to afford it with the funds Kuimer gave us. But... I'd mostly been ignoring the shoulder... Seemed like it served me right for being so foolish..."

[CrimsonEon]

Ceil didn't even wait for him to finish explaining before she started trying to mend the bone. The staff continued to glow brightly but...
: "Nh... Blast it, no!" The aurora around the staff dissipated as she sighed in frustration, "I can see, someone else already tried to mend this one. The injury that caused this was far too significant to mend completely. It'll likely stay with you for quite some time now..."
: "Brann..." Ceil looked directly at Brann, unblinking in a stern glare, "I know you have resolve in you, but don't risk yourself like that! Or... Or at least have let me know beforehand! I could have helped..."

[Swordstar]

Brann shook his head.

"It's fine. It pains me some but... I can still fight. That's all that matters."

As she called him out on risking himself, he sighed.

"I... I needed to be stronger. I had to try. And... I was afraid you wouldn't approve... Afraid you would think... less of me."

[CrimsonEon]

Ceil exhaled through her nose as she broke her stare.
: "No..."
: "You did what you thought was right, to protect everyone." Ceil blinked while smiling softly, "But, we should trust each other, like they trust you. You are strong enough, Brann." Ceil stepped back, looking over Brann one more time for wounds, "Maybe you should try sparring with some of the others. Perhaps Sir Tyrn, or Sir Ursa? I would be more than happy to oversee for any wounds."

[Swordstar]

"I do trust you... I swear. And in the future, I'll do that. For now though... For now I wouldn't mind just spending some time relaxing with you... If that's alright?"

[Sirus]

Ursa thought for a moment, puzzled.

: "Ursa never see Princess in anything other than fighting clothes. Hard to imagine Princess in dress, but it would probably look nice."

: "And don't worry about Ursa! If clothes break, Ursa go hunt deer and make new clothes from skin! That way Princess can save money for medicine or weapons."

[SeriousConcentrate]

"...I'll have you know I look GREAT in a dress! I'll show you, one of these days!"

That was hardly going to be much of a revenge, once she stopped to think about it.

"Well, once I grow my hair back out, I mean. This cut is too... practical to look nice in much other than armor."

She did like how her bangs looked. She would probably keep that style once she grew her hair back out. In fact, now was a good time to get a second opinion on it. Diana turned to Ursa and pointed at her forehead.

"...But this does look good, right? Having my hair around my eyebrows like this, I mean."

[Sirus]

: ??
Diana's outbursts just confused Ursa sometimes. He considered her question carefully before answering.

: "...Ursa probably not best judge because not know much about hair, but yeah. Looks good."

[SeriousConcentrate]

"Oh, good. I was hoping you'd think so. Er, I mean..."

Diana decided to shut up about it then.

"So, hunting, yes? How does one hunt with an axe? I know my father and some of his guardsmen would hunt boars with spears sometimes."

[Sirus]

: "Don't usually use axe for hunting. Ursa find good rocks, like these..." He picked up a couple of small round stones, and held them up for inspection. "And then Ursa throw them!" One by one, he hurled the stones with great force at a nearby wall. "Work good for birds and rabbits and small critters. For deer, Ursa throw axe like in a fight...but sneak up instead of trying to make noise and scare enemies. Very tricky and Ursa not always get it right."

He paused as a thought occurred.

: "Say, Princess ever go hunting? Maybe with Father or Spear Man?"

[SeriousConcentrate]

"Er, no. It isn't proper for a noble lady - especially a princess - to engage in such activities. I shouldn't even know how to fight, really. I don't think Father would have approved, if he had known."

She watched him throw rocks.

"Ah. You've never used a sling? Well, I guess you didn't need to. You've got quite the arm on you."

[Sirus]

: "Hmph. Ursa know that humans and wolves not the same, but leader of humans should still be strong and able to fight. Princess' father should have taught you before all this happen. That's what Ursa thinks."

: "Good thing Princess is quick learner, and not afraid of Ex-tens. Princess pack might be small but Ex-tens should fear it!"

: "...and what is 'sling'?"

[SeriousConcentrate]

"Well, I don't know about that. My older brothers, Glenn and Amon, were both were leaders in our army. I don't think Father ever expected me to need to pick up a sword, and, well, it's just not a thing upper-class women do in Durhiel. I was expected to learn how to be a proper lady so I would be a good wife to someone someday. Probably Wilfort, knowing what I know now."

Diana laughed at herself and scratched the back of her head. Maybe if this war had never happened, then in four or so years she would indeed have been Wilfort's wife. Maybe he would have been a little more mature by then, and it would have been a good if unexciting life. Then again, for all the pain she'd suffered so far, she felt she had grown as a person - as a leader... and she had met Ursa, and Brann, and Ciel, Lucas, Jago, Oscar... people she thought she could trust more than any servant. Her journey hadn't been all woe.

"A sling is a peace of leather attached to two rawhide strips. You put a rock in the leather and whirl it around, then shoot the rock at your target. They're not very accurate, but they're pretty strong. Amon used to hunt rabbits in the castle gardens with one..."

She trailed off and looked up at Ursa, then put a hand on his upper arm.

"Hey, um... for what it's worth, I'm glad we met. Even with everything that's happened."

[Blade Master Model 42]

~Chapter 8~
~The Desperation of the Dying~

Diana and her forces take their leave of Kuimer's estate, resupplied and rested. However, there is no time to relax as political maneuvering forces Kuimer's hand, leaving him unable to continue to harbor the Princess and her army. Prince Wilfort suggests that the group travel at the far west edge of the Worus territory, in an effort to discourage attacks from the council members whose territory the group must cross. However, conflict is inevitable...

Mere moments after crossing into Yondell's territory (an unfortunately necessary action), a messenger came into view, waving a red flag in his hand as another banner flew behind him.

"That is... Councilman Pataphrax's standard? What is he doing here?"

"Judging by the red flag, I'd say he's looking to parley." Wilfort quirked an eyebrow at Diana waiting to see what she would do.