Something of Value ((Nihilstic_ImpactxMassy))

[Vailed In Black]

A woman stood among the walls of a magnificent castle something that looked like it took many peasants to construct. A testament to the nobility to push the lowest caste to its breaking point however this was not a concern for the commander of his armies. She was standing vigilant as some feuding lords bordering her own had been plotting while it may have been for some grander scale the woman winced and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She didn't bother with the bullshit that the nobles did while they were at play with each other. She was just there to skewer the fools that decided to think they could strike at her. "Karyn you are requested by our lord to go over more details concerning some possible visitors!" A subordinate that she trained strode up to her. His own armor was impressive but it paled in comparison to what she had gotten through the service to her lord. Opulence was one of his strongest suits and most of his highest ranking officers were well off considering. "Fine however I command you stand at this post it seems they could come from the west or southwest tonight. At least what our spymaster says." Karyn said as her face was pensive strutting away she held her shield in honor and service and her eyes were cool and focused.

 

[Nihilistic_Impact]

The castle at the heart of Contestella had not been the simplest of fortifications for a wanderer like Marcel to enter. There had been inspections, interviews by watch and demands of papers which the man from Torn was unaware of. But the build up of troops had at last provided him with the opportunity to gain entrance. There was a war brewing between the Serene Republic and Triumvirate, though the Triumvirate seemed unaware with their focus directed to the south most reaches of their empire. Pirates from Lauhauten had been plaguing them and had gone so far as to destabilize their economy that civil war threatened the three Co-Emperors.

Power always seemed to act the same, whether writ large in the games of empire or the petty schemes of minor lords. To serve a role in either was to act in the other for such foolish actions of power had the audacity to ripple both upwards and downwards upon the world. And Marcel was only happy to play his role as he acted the mercenary.

 

[Vailed In Black]

Karyan stalked the hallways keeping every vigilant due to the overarching fighting between lords and even Emperors it just put so much pressure on a local scale. Diplomats came and gone trying to enlist her lord in a various of ways to fight for them. It is all poppy cock to me she thought to herself while she continued to head toward her lord's chambers. Though something made a sound which made the commander stop in her tracks as the flames made her shadows dance among the stone work. Her face grew pensive as she held onto the hilt of her sword in a more alerted manner. Turn around feeling like somebody was behind her she eyed the darkness that seemed to expand it went into some of the rooms and even a wider hallway just behind her. "Hello? Dabber? Kris? Anybody there? I don't appreciate this with everything going on!" She spoke with authority furrow browed she walked back trying to figure out what was making her hairs on her body stand on end despite wearing heavy armor she felt something like a very real threat that was nearby.

 

[Nihilistic_Impact]

Marcel was finding his new gig quite easy, because all he had to do was listen to orders and keep his head down. He could put in his time, collect his pay and if he was lucky there'd be no battles to fight and die in. But that wasn't why he was here, and he had just been given an order.

Stepping from shadows he doffed his helm and sharply presented himself to his Dame Commander Karyan. "Mam, just patrolling as ordered by my watch commanded me to."

He had been commanded to patrol the castle as the expansions were constructed; but as to where he found himself no one had explicitly told him to be there. Marcel had gambled that his lowly status would afford him his opportunity as he gambled in a much larger game.

 

[Vailed In Black]

Karyn eyed the man for a bit as the torches' light reflected off of her armor. Her gauntlet laxed on her sword's hilt when she saw that it was one of the new recruits. Her eyes just looking over him something felt off, but he was wearing their armor and just seeming to be like any other recruit. "What was the command? Remind me," she spoke sternly as her eyes narrowed making sure that he wasn't juts some thief trying to get by her.

 

[Nihilistic_Impact]

"To patrol the grounds." Marcel's response was quick and sharp, but his eyes darted to the side and his mouth twisted as he fought to contain a thought. "But there wasn't much direction as to a route mam." Refusing to make eye contact he shook his head and stared at the ground before his voice escaped once more. "Seems foolish to be so careless with the heighten security. It could create gaps."

The man was making a gamble, that animosity between Karyn and the regular forces had not been only rumor. That she would leap to a conclusion and assume more than was said. Marcel had told the truth in that he had been ordered to patrol, even that no route had been presented to him; but the timing was wrong. His patrol was not scheduled tell later that evening and it might not have been unreasonable for a route to have been presented then.

The mercenary was relying upon confusion and distrust to allow him to come out in a favorable light with Madame Karyn so that he might be a step closer to his ultimate goal.

"The commander must be too burdened handling so many new recruits."

 

[Vailed In Black]

Karyn listened shuffling a little her eyes growing stern which is to assume that this man was clearly in the wrong spot! What the hell is going on?! She was the commander and yet they couldn't even do the simplest things right? The way he was moving and acting made Karyn vibes of something fishy going on pursing her lips she let the man talk a bit more. He could see that she shifted her stance to more of an accusing stance hunched forward a bit like she was about to spring a trap on him. "I swear who did this? Do you know the man that gave you the route? I didn't know how you got here but this isn't the grounds is it soldier? I don't know where we hire our troops but you lot are a disorganized mess! We have enemies baring down on us and yet here I am dealing with the incompetence of others!"

The anger was rising within the commander, and he could tell that whatever he said did trigger the higher up. She stood closer to him to show and give off the aura she was projecting. She may have been a woman, but she had earned her spot among his lordship's men. "Well come out with it, young man, I will go ahead and leave it at that if you need escort to your...position I hope the lord won't be too embarrassed at his troop not properly maintaining itself! I am only one woman I can't be everywhere at once!" She announced though he was the only man in front of her and if there were other shadows, they moved back into the hallway to avoid Karyn when she was like this.

Obviously, he knew where to strike with Karyn cause what he said triggered to talk more, "Yeah a woman commander among a ton of oafs that can barely hold a sword let alone a pitchfork to do simple peasant living! It is ridiculous with so much going on that I should handle such lower's work while also making sure his lordship has all the accurate information on his holdings while fending off other fiendish nobles." Karyn didn't just talk she let out a large gyser of information to him.

 

[Nihilistic_Impact]

Taken aback at how quickly she leapt to his words being an acussation upon herself Marcel could only let his mouth hang open as her words washed over him. His brain whirled at the sudden twist of fortunes and he wondered if he might not have played his hand too casually. He had to regain his ground, less his ultimately lose his head.

With a professionalism not yet displayed Marcel's body stiffened, brought to full height and attention he looked off at some unknown point in the distance and saluted with a shout.

"Mam!"

He paused and held himself.

"The watch commander, my immediate superior. I do not know his name. No disrespect to you, or your accomplishments mam."