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[Blade Master Model 42]

"Well, considering you saved me, I'd say I'm pretty sold on your decision." Kard did take notice of her frown. Course correct, make her feel good about herself... "Besides, we need all the good men and women we can get. And I certainly don't mind working with someone so striking." Kard raised his thumb and forefinger to his chin, and once again took in her form, not bothering to hide where his eyes roamed. Either she'd appreciate it or she wouldn't.

[Swordstar]

Alana raised an eyebrow with a slight smirk.

"Oh really? Well now, pretty boy, I'm honored, truly, but you've forgotten to take one small thing into account."

[Blade Master Model 42]

Kard's smile faded. That's not a great sign. "Er. Have I?"

[Swordstar]

"Well, I'm a noble. And more importantly a female noble. Though I suppose as a commoner you might not know that to have a female noble over the age of, oh, fourteen or so who is not engaged is basically completely unheard of. In other words, I have a fiancé. Now, I don't exactly like him, but you know. There is that minor wrinkle."

She tapped her chin and then gave him a once over, imitating the inspection that he had given her earlier and then gave a slight smirk.

"Only a minor one though."

[Blade Master Model 42]

"Is that right? Then I suppose the fair lady's heart might be beyond my reach. " Kard felt a thrill as Alana's gaze slid across him. "However, what your fiance doesn't know can't be made to hurt him. And, you being noble woman, I certainly must need... say, your bed warmed, from time to time. I could serve you in such a way."

[SeriousConcentrate]

"Perhaps not, but service might dictate we part ways once we return to base. I'd prefer otherwise, but this might be our only chance to catch up for some time."

He glanced over at Kard. That last statement had been disgustingly forward of the man, in his opinion, but the affairs of miss Fardoragh were no business of his.

[Swordstar]

Alana started laughing and shook her head.

"You really are desperate, aren't you?"

She reached out and gently tapped his nose.

"It would take more than just some fancy compliments to convince me to jilt my fiancé. My honor as a noble demands that I stay true to him. So no matter how pretty you might be, I owe my loyalty to my family."

[Blade Master Model 42]

"Well, fuck." Kard sighed and swept his hair up and away from his forehead. "Well, I figured it was worth a shot. You can't blame a guy for trying, as the saying goes."

Kard leaned against the wall of the short hall, thoroughly put out after Alana wouldn't. "...Why are you even marrying him if you don't like him? I thought it was something for men and women who loved each other or something like that." Kard reached to his waist, though stopped when he remembered most of his possessions had been taken off of him, and he scowled.

[Swordstar]

A sad look flashed across Alana's face for a brief second before being replaced with her neutral one again.

"It may be for those not born into noble families. Noble marriages are about alliances and uniting families, not about love. If you're lucky, you develop love or at least the ability to tolerate each other. My parents enjoy each other's company but I doubt they actually love each other. But I was not given any choice in who I was to marry. He was close friends with my brother growing up though that relationship has grown apart. But he is the heir to a strong family. My feelings in the situation were not considered, nor will they be at any point."

[Blade Master Model 42]

Kard crossed his arms across his chest. "Well that sounds like a load of bullshit. If you don't like him, you'd think your family could at least look for someone else. I don't get it." Now that the battle was over, and a secondary goal had been placed out of reach, Kard was beginning to feel uncomfortable without his things. He tapped his heel against the ground, agitated. "If they're just looking to marry you off to curry favor with some other house, why are you here? I meant what I said about the military needing good fighters, but it doesn't really add up."

[Swordstar]

This time Alana didn't bother hiding the small satisfied smile on her face.

"Oh if my mother had her way, I would already be married and stuck off in my fiancé's estate. But you see, my family has a tradition. Every generation has sent at least one member of the family into the military to serve. And more than that, they've all eventually gained positions of power, as generals, leaders, that sort of thing. My father was a commander for many years before he retired. My sisters were all married already, to men who had no interest in joining the military. My brother was set to join as oldest, but he had a hunting accident while hunting with my fiancé. He was crippled, unable to join up. My mother insisted that my husband be the one to enter the military and tried to get me married off sooner because of that."

She shook her head and gave the axe that the strange man had left behind a small twirl.

"I had other plans though. I've no intention of being a trophy for my future husband to display and I carry my own share of Fardoragh honor and pride. I insisted on carrying on our tradition and my father supported my decision. I suspect that my mother will insist on having a wedding sooner rather than later even with my being in the military, but I plan to push that off as long as possible."

[Blade Master Model 42]

"So you're running from your marriage by running to war. I'm sure that's a rare thing to do, even among nobility." Kard took notice of the new axe that Alana was carrying, and moved one hand away from his chest to point at it. "Did you have that earlier? I don't remember seeing it."

[Swordstar]

"I'm doing my duty. While it has the bonus side effect of getting me away from him, I would do this even if I loved the man I'm supposed to marry. My family's honor brought me here. Nothing more, nothing less."

Ah, right, the axe.

"Well... There was a strange man in the hall. I questioned him trying to figure out who he was, but he must have been a mgic user of some sort. He disappeared on me, but left behind this axe. So it's mine now. It's a strange thing, but I think I'll be able to use it well enough."

[Blade Master Model 42]

"He vanished into thin air and left a weapon behind? Sounds like a forgetful sort." Kard straightened up from his place on the wall. "That said, we probably ought to tell the General if some magic user has been snooping around." Kard made his way out of the hallway and into the main room.

[Taricus]

"Again, hardly an appropriate time to discuss such matters."