[center]
[h1][color=lightblue]Galahad Caradoc[/color] & [color=#736AFF][b]Ranbu no Izayoi[/b][/color][/h1]
[/center]


As the party returned to the lodge, Izayoi shot Galahad a pointed look, inclining her head towards the roof access. When both of them made it to the small terrace atop the building, she turned to face the dragoon, her mien unreadable.

[color=#736AFF][b]”Well, then?”[/b][/color] She asked, her voice quiet. [color=#736AFF][b]”What your father said is most likely true. I do not recall killing a Caradoc during the war, but I would not be surprised if it had occurred. Knowing this, I offer you the opportunity to seek vengeance. It would be remiss of me not to.”[/b][/color]

One hand fell to rest on her sheathed blade. 

[color=#736AFF][b]”This is the easiest opportunity you will have. Prior to this, I have not so much as touched a sword since the war’s end. I have not been weaker in the field since I was but a girl. If you seek to exact restitution, take it now or face a far greater challenge in the future. I do not intend to stay in this state.”[/b][/color]

[color=lightblue]”Right to it, huh?”[/color] Galahad sighed, his grip around the haft of his halberd tensing. Lying didn’t seem to be in Izayoi’s wheelhouse, she was at her weakest, and Galahad was still young and strong. If he truly wished to avenge his brother, now was the time. 

[color=lightblue]”I don’t even know how he died.”[/color] Galahad grunted bitterly, [color=lightblue]”He was a healer, not a fighter.”[/color] 

Were they to come to blows, Galahad wasn’t exactly sure how it would pan out. Izayoi was a duelist by nature, suited to killing people in exactly this sort of situation. Galahad, while having seen his fair share of bloodshed during the war, was at a disadvantage in this sort of combat. Dragoons were trained to kill dragons after all, not people, as the large reach of his halberd might have indicated. Still, Galahad wasn’t a stranger to a fight, his mind briefly running through ways he might be able to fight the samurai and come out alive.

[color=lightblue]”I guess there’s no sense in asking if you have any remorse. It was a war after all, and strictly speaking, we aren’t exactly friends.”[/color] 

[color=#736AFF][b]”I have made my feelings on the matter of the war excessively clear.”[/b][/color] Izayoi confirmed with a nod. Her thumb slid up against the hilt of her sword. [color=#736AFF][b]”I will not apologize for a single death I was responsible for five years ago, but I do carry remorse for the situation. You may not believe that I regret that they were necessary, but the matter was life or death in our case.”[/b][/color]

It felt almost freeing to admit that to someone again. Isshin had known of the matter, but Izayoi had never brought it up more than a few times when the guilt grew too much to bear, not wanting to burden her spouse overmuch with her own problems. But either way, one of them wouldn’t be leaving this conversation alive, barring a miracle.

[color=#736AFF][b]”If the gods dictate that this is my final sentencing for my crimes, better I die by your hand than your father’s. My sole regret in this matter is that he will derive some measure of satisfaction from this.”[/b][/color]

There was a moment of quiet, only still wind between the two. Galahad let it stand for a moment longer, the only sound breaking the silence was the creaking of metal as his gauntleted hand clenched at his weapon. 

[color=lightblue]”I wasn’t old enough to understand the politics of the war. Just old enough to fight in it.”[/color] Galahad admitted quietly, [color=lightblue]”As was my brother. The fool had barely come of age when the war started.”[/color]

The great halberd lifted off the floor, Galahad deftly, but slowly turning the weapon in his hands before he brought it down onto the floor with enough force to pierce the stonework and lodge the speartip into the stone.Not exactly turning his back to the Osprean, but turning away, Galahad took a few steps away, leaning against the railing staring at the mountain ridge that separated them from Osprey.

[color=lightblue]”I’ve come to understand some of the burdens of leadership.”[/color] Galahad awgrunted tiredly, [color=lightblue]”The needs of my people have to come first.”[/color]

[color=lightblue]”Perhaps I’m a fool for this- but we have to stop this curse first and foremost. To do that, I need strong allies, and frankly, I don’t trust the other parties to get anything worthwhile done.”[/color] Galahad said, his tone even, with a hint of bitterness, obviously attempting to calm itself, [color=lightblue]”If and when we’ve put a stop to it, and I find the need to avenge my brother, well, hopefully I’ve improved more than you have by the time we’ve finished.”[/color]

Ah. Galahad was [i]reasonable[/i]. Something she wasn’t. At the very least, Izayoi hadn’t chosen poorly when she’d nominated him to be the party leader two nights ago. 

[color=#736AFF][b]”A part of me is disappointed that this will not be my final judgment.”[/b][/color] Izayoi said calmly, removing her hand from the scabbard of her sword. [color=#736AFF][b]”Though I suppose I ought to thank you for giving me leave to continue pursuing mine own vengeance. As I said before, so long as our interests align, you have my sword. And I believe we’re both very aware that they’ll likely stay as such.”[/b][/color] 

She turned towards the direction Galahad was facing, following his gaze. [i]Home[/i] wasn’t so far away now. Or what was left of it, at least.

[color=#736AFF][b]”Still, in the event that our interests are no longer mutual, my offer to you remains open. I trust we can keep our matters professional otherwise?”[/b][/color]

[color=lightblue]”You are, perhaps, worryingly candid about what amounts to a duel to the death.”[/color] Galahad commented uneasily, [color=lightblue]”But yes, things will remain as they are. [/color]

[color=#736AFF][b]”I have little to live for these days.”[/b][/color] Izayoi replied blithely, turning to head back down into the lodge. [color=#736AFF][b]”If the gods decree that I am to die, better it be at your hands than Valheim’s, much less your father’s.”[/b][/color]