[color=fff200][center][b]Viktor & Veronika[/b][/center][/color]

[center][img]http://orig01.deviantart.net/baf5/f/2007/298/d/5/jf_iii___mascarado_frances_by_gureiduson.jpg[/img][/center]

Veronika was clad in her training armor as she faced her teacher, Ser Brant, and his own Squire. She didn't like armor, felt like it slowed her down, that it drained her stamina. The helmet especially was incredibly annoying in how it restricted her vision, in how it made each breath of air difficult to inhale. She had first thought Ser Brant wanted to condition her to use some armor at first, but she had quickly noticed that it was probably because of his squire. Normally the two of them would restrain themselves during their practice as not to wound each other, but that squire... at first he had showed more than restrain as he wouldn't hit a woman, but now that Veronika was kicking his ass all the way to the north? Long gone was any restrain he had. 

Her only advantage was her speed and the fact that she was ambidextrous, able to wield two swords while the squire two handed a long sword and the master hid carefully behind his shield and wielded a broadsword. No matter how good a fighter she was becoming, Veronika would readily admit that a woman would always have a weaker sword arm than a man, she thus had to fight smart. But to assume Brant only relied on his strength would be false, his squire maybe, but not him. As she stood between the two, Viktor raised a head from his ledgers. Normally he'd be her sparring partner but he was always busy, to her great woe. Still, under his eyes... she could not disappoint! 

The squire roared and raised his sword to bring it back down, threatening to bash her skull open, the sword being dulled didn't mean it was harmless! But at the last second, Veronika moved sideways and let the sword hit Ser Brant's shield. "Watch the strength! Don't kill anyone you reckless idiot!" The squire wanted to answer something, but the master distracted him only long enough for Veronika to duck under his arm and raise his sword in his armpit. A hit to the torso where the plates didn't protect. By the rules, he was out of play.

Brant wouldn't give her time to celebrate however and did a quick trust, exposing himself a little but not minding it. His shield had her left arm covered and she'd need the right one to deflect the blow... or so he thought. Veronika's right hand raised but rather than deflect with the sword, it kept rising, exposing her arm. The piercing attack stroke her bracers at the perfect angle to slice harmlessly against it. As his arm went forward, propelled by his momentum, Brent understood too late what she was trying to do as her hand let go of her sword and plunged downward, taking Brant's sword arm into a lock. Her left arm, still clad with a sword, raised. She was going to aim the sword at the slits in his helm! He had to break free and still had a shield and his strength. He surged forward, aiming to overpower her but found only air... well, almost. There was also a foot in his way, just present enough to make him trip. As he fell he smiled to himself. Veronika had learned well, if you do not have enough strength, use your enemy's against him.

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"Bullshit. Even if she didn't strike the plate, no way a tiny sword like that could have pierced the mail under my shoulder!" Veronika smiled as she removed her armor, showing her face covered in sweat, although the effort hadn't made her alabaster skin any reder. Brant was in a much better spirit than his squire it seemed. "Gavin... you're a good fighter I'll give you that, but you trust that armor of yours too much. The point is not to be hit in the first place. Its why I wanted you to fight against lady Tolstoi here." The squire scoffed as his master called the woman a 'lady'. "And you, lady Tolstoi... you don't trust it enough! It was a superb move you did, deflecting the sword like you did with your bracer. You can see the use, no? Then you notice you could use some protections on your shoulders, that your legs are exposed... give it up already! Get that master of yours to commission you a full plate armor already! Its the way forward!"

Veronika, now clad only in trousers and a loose white shirt, politely bowed. "I thank you for your advice Ser Brant, and I promise I will consider it." Brant scoffed and took his sword before walking out of the courtyard, his squire following suit. "Make yourself at home! I need to be ready for the tourney. None of you wish to join us? I know you can get some of the best seats Viktor!" The thin merchant raised his eyes once more and smiled politely. "Thanks but no thanks, I have quite my fill of martial shows of prowess with my bodyguard around."

Another scoff from the master, a glare from his squire and they were off. Viktor went back to his business but soon found the refreshing touch of Veronika on his shoulders. She began to massage them gently. "I should thank you. Its because of you I'm improving so much." Viktor had a satisfied smile. "Brant is a good teacher. Keeping his debts from drowning him is well worth it if he can give you an ounce of his experience." Veronika had a soft smile and lowered herself to have her head next to Viktor's. "Not that." This prompted him to laugh. "Its certainly not because I'm a good partner! Well, at this point you'd be much better at being my teacher." Veronika moved her hands across his chest to hug him from behind. "Not that either." Then what? Slowly, she pointed at the ledger.

"Mathematics." Maths? Viktor was sceptical. Two years ago Veronika didn't even know how to count a write... "It is all mathematics. Angles, vectors, velocity, impact force and momentum." Viktor was well learned so he knew what she meant, but that was getting a bit more pushed even for him. "Its all about evaluating probabilities and variables... you'd be good at it, you who are always in your ledgers. Speaking of which... what is the flavor of business of the day?"

Well... that wasn't actually a business ledger but a debt one. Viktor had amassed a colossal fortune in a few very short years, but at the cost of astronomical amounts of debt. Get loans to invest in businesses that brought in more money than the value of the debt and so forth, which increased his revenues, which made him more solvant financially, which encouraged people to give him more loans. His financial cunning and negotiation skills made the difference in him being rich and anyone else being in a de facto state of bankruptcy... still, he knew what she meant.

"I'm the ice man." Veronika raised an eyebrow. "Ice... man?" Viktor had one of his trademark smiles, one oozing with confidence, arrogance and self satisfaction. "Yes. I sell ale and ice for the tourney. I'm actually the only ice merchant in the entire city right now." Veronika closed her eyes and laughed. "A man who sells ice." The irony was extreme to her. Ice was a calamity in the north and somehow he'd sell that. And people would buy... ice. "Ironic isn't it? But I think the best part is this: Can you guess who will really hate a hot drink? I'm guessing the northerners. I am selling ice, and the northerners won't have enough of it."

Veronika moved back and placed her hands once again on Viktor's shoulder, to massage them with more dept. "Viktor, you are a man who will sell ice to northerners. How long until the day you sell sand to the southerners?" Viktor closed his eyes and leaned on his work table, giving more of his back to Veronika to temper with. "Already done years ago, sand to make construction mortar, glass and so forth."

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[color=fff200][center][b]Euric[/b][/center][/color]

"Uhm, my lord?" Asked one of Euric's vassal as he watched Jaelyn walk away. Euric however just waved him off. "The city's full of knights and aspiring ones from throughout the realm my good fellow, I don't dare to think there's been a safer place than where we currently are in recent memory. Let her do what she will." As the duke glanced toward his daughter, he had a short laugh before turning around and giving his wife, Viridiana dearest, a peck on the cheek. "One can actually hope on this auspicious day our child will find someone worth enjoying some time with." His daughters were indeed becoming old to not being married for so long, but he took this in an entirely new direction as he looked at his son and raised his voice so Arthur could hear him clearly. "And don't assume I'm talking about your sisters! You're becoming quite old to be a squire my boy, so watch, learn and try to find someone who could tolerate you in his service!"

Euric said that with a pleasant smile on his face but... truth was part of him hoped that wouldn't happen. Arthur was his oldest son, his heir... if something was to happen... Then again, that was only the worst case scenario. And no other scenario really pleased him as no matter who Arthur should chose as a master to serve under, it would either be a lowly noble who'd no doubt try and use the success or failure of his son as leverage, a member of the royal court who would make the King hold that Damocles sword over his head or worst... a northerner who'd! Gah! Make his son into a savage or something!

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[color=fff200][center][b]The Condotierri[/b][/center][/color]

"Oh please wake up mister Condotierri! You'll be late!" Only a groan answered the plea of (one of) the women who had accompanied Porthos during the last night. The light of the day as the curtains were open however were enough to bring the slumbering giant back to reality. "Oh all right! No need to go to the extremes!" Another groan and the super sized man got up of his bed, awaking the remaining girls. He stretched and winked at them before preparing himself.

As he briskly went into the lobby, mostly clothed, Porthos had a groan of exasperation. "Young lady, this is no place for someone your age, I cannot believe they've let you in here!" The young red head tomboy shrugged. "They told me you kept hogging all the women to yourself, so if I could convince you to leave so their business keeps running..." It was Porthos's turn to roll his eyes, in exasperation. He took the little hand of his 'girl' into his and led her out of the sordid place.

"I've placed the bets as soon as the booth opened, while you were sleeping. I think the odds are, uh?" Maria stopped in her tracks as Porthos changed course, letting go of her hands for a moment. Spotting him easily, she saw him approaching a young woman. Of course. Porthos bowed deeply in front of a lady who felt way out of place in such a salacious part of the town. "Excuse my intrusion my lady, but I cannot help but think you might be lost or rather... looking for something? I dare hope not someone, in such a part of town. Might I ask if I can be of any assistance?"

Maria bit her lip. While Porthos was hiding it well, he had been concentrating on the Lady's 'assets' rather than clothing. Maria however had noticed something, a crest one saw a lot in Caerleon. "Dad..." She whispered for the lady not to hear. God, she hoped he wouldn't embarrass himself in front of a Princess. That... whatever he was trying to do succeeding was unthinkable, so that was just damage control. Yet Porthos was, as usual when a pretty woman half his age is involved, irresponsive.