Stefano returned his eyes to the battle and saw two more orcs charging towards Ludivico and the men. Stefano bent to one knee and was in the middle of threat assessing when something pound and fast whistled loud and fast past his ear and plunged into the earth behind him, followed by a twin just as dangerous. Stefano looked to the source and saw to his dismay two orcs with bows advancing under protection towards his position. The bowman had ducked behind the orc wielding the massive shield while they notched more arrows. Again they let loose and while still off mark, the shots were closer to hitting him. Stefano smiled as he thought through his options. As usual he enjoyed the challenge. Freshness and new challenges all ways added spice to the hunt. [color=fff200]"First things first. Take care of those who take care of you."[/color] Stefano rationalized as he gave the heel command, sending his pack towards the orcs advancing towards Ludivico. He was formulating his next move when he felt something soft tickling the back of his ear. [quote=@13org] [center][h1][color=f26522]Aimée Bellerose[/color][/h1][/center] [color=f26522]"Hello again! Shouldn't it be the other way around? You should be the one saving me!"[/color] she said, with a playful smile, sticking her tongue out of her mouth. [color=f26522]"This is my thanks for the beautiful flowers, and a reminder that it doesn't matter how beautiful it may be, every rose has its thorns."[/color] she said, unwrapping the silk strip that covered the weapon. The bright metal reflected the light of the sun as she grabbed the silk strip and thrown the ring blade, making a wide circle around her, grabbing it in front of her, pointing its edge to the orcs that were charging into their direction. The sound produced by the ring cutting the air was simply terrifying. [@Cuddle Pot][@Arthanus] [/quote] Stefano smiled at her words and sudden reappearance. He answered her first sentence after ducking his head after hearing the tell tale whistle of more arrows being loosed. [color=fff200]"Well My dear I've never been good at settling my debts, I find owing others such as yourself keeps a man such as I thinking on his feet."[/color] Stefano gave a rather unmanly yelp as another arrow landed right in front of his leg. He smiled with mirth as he continued, [color=fff200]"Besides, the story of the damsel in distress has been told a thousand times. About time someone saved the dandys eh?"[/color] in response the woman... [quote=@13org] [center][h1][color=f26522]Aimée Bellerose[/color][/h1][/center] She began to dance once more, but this time, the dance was very different from before. fast movements, cutting motions and strong swings composed that martial dance. The blade danced together with her painting silver streaks through the air as the steel reflected the light, the terrifying howl loud enough to all the battlefield hear. It wasn't an ordinary performance. There was no happiness on that dance. Completely confident on her movements, she danced with the sharp ring blade. The dance included powerful kicks, imprevisible cutting motions that appeared to change directions mid air, creating a chaotic, yet graceful dance. The howl continued to soar through the battlefield, each time she swung her weapon, it sounded that the very air was crying as the weapon teared it. The hypnotic movements continued in the same rhythm, fast and lethal. Enough to generate a small air current around her, making the red silk strip that was hanging from the ring blade swirl around her, following the blade's imprevisible movements. The red color made it look almost like it was blood flowing from the blade, only contributing to the already disconcerting dance. Aimee's eyes were different from before. Her confident expression and her fiery red eyes gave her a dangerous look as she stared to the charging orcs. Anyone who looked closely enough at her body now would see her muscles tensing up, marking her delicately white skin, betraying her apparent fragility. She was using every single muscle of her body on that dance with an incredible efficiency. [@Cuddle Pot][@Arthanus] [/quote] Stefano was keenly interested in this new dance and the sheer ferocity that had overcome the dancer. It sent cold shivers down his spine and made him thank fortune she was on his side. The archer orcs seemed affected by the display as well. They seemed disconcered by the reaping sounds of the blade, yet took the fire in it as a challenge as they picked up the pace. Stefano wished he could put his attention back to Ludivico and his orcs but he worried that if he didn't deal with the archers he would take an arrow through the skull before he could get a good shot off. Stefano reached out his hand and called Drusilla only to send the falcon streaking towards the foremost archer. He knew her attack would frustrate the famously impatient orcs, perhaps making them waste some time and arrows trying to shoot her down. Stefano knew The orcs would eventually hit him or Drusilla. If he could get them to rage however, they would break rank and try to rush him in a melee. Faster then Their shield guardian could keep up. Drusilla hit the first orc and caught him completely unaware, raking the top of his cheeks and clear to the back of his head. Stefano could hear roars of pain and rage As the orcs shot went wild. The advance slowed as the first orc tried to swat at the bird and notch an arrow at the same time. Drusilla kicked and pecked at his face a bit longer before returning to the air. Perfect. Stefano knew they were worried from the dance, frustrated by missing and pain. Now to humiliate them. Stefano returned to one knee and focused on the space between Drusilla and the first archer. He took a deep breath and then another. There it came the orcs arrow aimed at the retreating bird. Stefano let it travel until it was over the shield wall. And then he fired his gun. At that moment Stefano felt a ripping pain tear through the side of his face. Pain filled his head as an arrow grazed Stefano from the corner of his left lip and teared his cheek. Stefano was motionless as he contemplated how that arrow was inches away from ending his life. And the misplaced gambler threw his head back and laughed. Adrenaline and blood flowing freely. Life and death. The dice had been rolled, and this time at least, Stefano had won. The laugh reached the orcs and thinking he had missed a sure Mark let out his own scream, but his was rage, not hysteria. He broke rank throwing his how in the dirt and charged Stefano. Stirred by his comrades anger, his fellow bowman followed suit screaming and snarling as he charged the marksman. Both were too busy to notice Stefano's shot going wild and missing the arrow completely. Luckily the arrow also fell short of Drusilla. Fortune and planning had done nothing to remove the danger, just made it more manageable. So who is going to save this lucky bastard? [@Skull] [@13org]