[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/LnLAzSS.gif[/img][/center]

[center][h1][color=DF7401]Iowerth Rhydderch[/color][/h1][/center]

A listless whistle filled the air as another rider entered the battlefield from the rear. Sir Iowerth, as he was formally called, had been put in charge of the rear guard for this "expedition". Or rather, this training exercise, considering the number of recruits who were still green. [i]This[/i] was their [i]vanguard[/i]? They may only be fighting bandits, but it seemed like a very convenient way to get the new Captain killed. Then again, considering the discontent surrounding her appointment whispered about in the ranks, it may have very well been deliberate.

He suspected, taking stock of the bodies lying around and the relative lack of injury among their own forces, that the soldiers these bandits beat were merely recruits as well. It wouldn't surprise him if the army had seen it as a training exercise, and simply bit off more than it could chew. A few lies later to save face, and suddenly it was seasoned veterans the bandits had beaten and now it was a problem for the Iron Rose. 

What a pain in the ass.

While initially he was going to report directly to the Captain, she appeared to have a crowd demanding her attention. Instead, he made his way to Sir Aethlemund, trying to ignore the smell of the man that had been cut in half as he did so. This was far from the first field of battle he had been on, but that didn't mean bodies smelled like roses to him. Still, he felt no sympathy for the dead men, nor for the prisoners that were also likely to die. They had chosen their path in life, and should have no quarrel about their fate. Iolyn would just as soon kill them now, save a trip back to the city that would end in their execution anyway, but that was not his decision to make.

When he reached the grizzled veteran, Iolyn gave a nod to Phillin before leaning in close.

"[color=DF7401]Our flanks are secure, I've passed command to Sir Bernhard, we both know he could use the extra experience.[/color]"

His small report finished, the man drew back to give the Captain some space. The two had already been introduced, and he had nothing of dire importance to tell her. His eyes flicked to Sir Garrett briefly, considering taking a moment to catch up with the man. They had joined only a couple years apart, and had participated in many of the same engagements together. Instead, he drew up beside Tyaethe, raising an eyebrow at the spear running through her abdomen.

"[color=df7401]Showing off again, Lady Tyaethe? We should probably be demonstrating to these recruits how [i]not[/i] to be stuck with weapons. You know, for educational purposes.[/color]"

He was quite sure the immortal woman hated him, at least he had no reason to suspect otherwise. The thing about being hundreds of years old is that you tend to know things that happened in history. As such, Iolyn had tried to interview her at every opportunity, at least outside of the battlefield. His latest tactic had been to try and get her to relax with a game of chess, which he had heard the woman knew how to play, but his efforts so far had been fruitless. Whether that was because she simply never relaxed, or avoided him, was something he had yet to find out. 

[@Raineh Daze][@Zebanamana][@Themerlinhawk]