[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/f67wb4k.png[/img][/center] [center][h1][color=870C0B]H[/color]ildr [color=870C0B]t[/color]he [color=870C0B]R[/color]ed[/h1][/center] [hr] [center][h2]Weakness[/h2][/center] [hr] A sudden blow of air hit the woman, granting her hyper focused attention towards the axe that laid in the soil. Was she being warned by an equal or another ploy by a sly bastard? Standing still, being unable to do anything after that forceful blast against her. Noticing that the man that had warned her picked his axe back up as his focus turned towards the older man helping the Nashorn while she was too doubtful to act. She was letting worthy prey go just because she’s scared that she would be played around by someone that doesn’t fight with any ounce of respect. All of those thoughts would completely evaporate as Hildr noticed one of the people she really hoped to see now shared a battlefield with her. That filth of a cheap knight was here as well. It got her blood boiling, it made her feel something she hasn’t felt since her brother shamed her all those years ago. True, unchecked hatred for the person who made a fool of her in a court of imbeciles. Shaming should be followed by death or the person that was shamed shall return it twofold. [hr] [center][h2]A Fateful encounter[/h2][/center] [hr] The Drudgunzean would rush towards him, dragging the zweihander behind her before swinging it onto the soil with a full blow of uncontrolled force energy, trying to get his footing off before engaging. The Bitch Knight raged at him, slamming her sword into the ground in what looked to be some sort of tantrum. [color=556b2f]So much power,[/color] Rodric thought, [color=556b2f]so little skill.[/color] He was nowhere near the massive furrow that she gouged in the ground. In fact, he was behind her. Was she truly so blind to anything but rage that she hadn't reached out and sensed his energy? The Laughing knight appeared behind her and stuck a Force-empowered dagger into her kidney. [color=556b2f]"Surprise!"[/color] he shouted, with a wicked laugh, Boosting himself immediately away and already drawing from the rain and the wind to create all sorts of illusions. This was to be a bullfight, and he had struck the bull first with what the Tourrare called the 'Vara'. Next, would come the 'Banderilla', and then, finally, the 'Estoque'. How he would bow and flourish before the crowd. First, however, he had to see just how this bull would charge. Before that, he decided to create five false Rodrics. They all bowed low. [color=556b2f]"Welcome to the show, milady!"[/color] they taunted, [color=556b2f]"you're the main attraction!"[/color] Being stabbed combined with that horrid laugh almost set the woman off completely, although the cold steel that was momentarily into her back was a slight wake-up call. The woman stood still as she rhythmically tapped the zweihander on the soil. [color=870C0B]"Does your head still remember my sword? I would love to let you two meet again, however I had to leave them behind."[/color] A sly grin covered her expression. [color=556b2f]"Hey lady!"[/color] shouted five Rodrics, [color=556b2f]"What's with the little tappy-tap-tapping?"[/color] They all stuck out their tongues. [color=556b2f]"You scared to come out and fight big bad nasty wasty Sir Wodwic?"[/color] They threw back their heads and laughed. [color=870C0B]Now![/color] Hildr thought to herself as she increased the force behind the taps massively to get the laughing knight off his footing. The ground shook and all five of them seemed to waver, as if he was having trouble maintaining the illusion, but one of them was the real him. [color=556b2f]"By the Gods,"[/color] the Rodrics exclaimed with hysterical laughter, [color=556b2f]"I am so much better than you it almost hurts."[/color] Five arcane lances converge on Hildr, fast as a cobra striking, but they have little power behind them. Her armour melts a bit from the one real one and she lets out a yelp of pain. [color=556b2f]"Fight back!"[/color] Rodric demands, appearing in front of her. [color=556b2f]"Hit me, for Eschiran's sake!"[/color] [center]Pain, [b][color=#b6100f]Hatred,[/color] [i][color=870C0B]Unbridled rage[/color][/i][/b] [color=870C0B][b][i]It was then that something inside her snapped, the reason for her title wasn’t anything grand or honourable. Her name was nothing but the color that was left after her rage had burned out, a field of crimson red, friend and foe alike. She was nothing but a curse.[/i][/b][/color] [/center] Hildr's rage boils up into a eardrum rupturing yell, the force energy of it was enough for the knights fighting around them to either stagger or be knocked out from the blunt trauma. Though her target, the mocking knight, was nowhere to be spotted. Did she take too long or was he just too quick. [color=870C0B][b]"BASTARD! COME BACK HERE!"[/b][/color] Was all that she spoke as her yells had substantial power behind them as of now. Rodric wasn't hiding. There were no illusions, no tricks. He just absorbed the force from her little tantrum and used it to leap far back. He yanked a half-dozen arrows from the battlefield and sent them for her head with what energy he had left. The woman easily shrugged off the grazes the arrows left and continued using all she had. [color=870C0B][b]"STOP HIDING BEHIND THESE TRICK ATTACKS!"[/b][/color] It barely mattered if it was friend or foe, these blasts did not discriminate as there was no control over the output any longer. [color=556b2f]"Ah right,"[/color] Rodric replied, [color=556b2f]"you'd prefer I stand there like a target dummy so might actually hit me. That's just called being a shitty warrior. No thanks!"[/color] [color=870C0B][b]"IT'S CALLED BEING A MAN OF HONOUR!"[/b][/color] Hildr swings her zweihander into the ground of the general direction of the laughing knight. [color=556b2f]"There are lots of honourable corpses around here,"[/color] Rodric said, almost conversationally. She slammed her sword into the ground for another of those shockwave attacks, but he'd seen that before and was ready. He absorbed what came directly at him and let the rest dissipate harmlessly. [color=556b2f]"Not very creative, are we?"[/color] He sent the energy back at her in a Force shove that smacked her in the helmet and forced her to stumble back, but she recovered momentarily and he didn't press his advantage. Instead, Rodric pulled upon the threads of light to create another illusion. Hildr's mind was at its breaking point as she saw herself in that bastard's skin. There was no chance to win any longer. Her body tires from the yelling as it couldn't keep up with her own body's output any longer. Her own attitude would calm down from her body failing to keep up. [color=870C0B]"Bastard. . . You win, I give up. . . I surrender. . ."[/color] She kept her own senses on point as her eyes were failing here due to this illusion. [hr] [center][h2]A Different Side of the Knight.[/h2][/center] [hr] [color=556b2f]"Ah!"[/color] said all of the Rodrics, [color=556b2f]"So the old dog can learn new tricks!"[/color] A Rodric appeared right in front of her.[color=556b2f] "Well, colour me impressed."[/color] The entire world wavered: its colours inverting momentarily. [color=556b2f]"Lemme let you in on a little secret, Hildr-the-Red: I actually adore your king: he has style, presence, panache! Alas, he worships false Gods and, well, I'm locked into mine along with my king, you know how it is. Oh, and you can drop the act, by the way. I won't be falling for it. I don't actually really want to kill you. You have such... power and so little control."[/color] The Rodric in front of her lowered its guard. [color=556b2f]"We're a bit away from the thick of it, don't you think? Why don't we sit and have a little chat, you and I?"[/color] [color=870C0B]"Then.... let's chat for a bit, although I do need more than just words to fully trust you..."[/color] Hildr was still on guard but decided to not attack her foe. If he had something to say of substance... then she's willing to hear him out, his praise of wulfric was a point of interest that immediately resonated inside her mind, this sudden change in attitude made her almost physically flinch [color=870C0B]"Speak your mind then."[/color] Rodric sits down beside her. There are still many Rodrics. She is still Rodric. [color=556b2f]"Why is it that you fight against us, Lady Hildr?"[/color] She tried her hardest to ignore the illusions as she sat down as well. [color=870C0B]"Because Wulfric told me to. Otherwise I would have most likely not bothered with it."[/color] A tired sigh was let out from the knight. [color=870C0B]"And to protect my blood brother, although I have yet to find him."[/color] [color=556b2f] "So you're here out of obligation."[/color] He tilted his head to one side and spat. [color=556b2f]"I'm here because I like to fight. I could give a toss about Gods or kings. I wanna master my craft, you know?"[/color] He shook his head. [color=556b2f]"But not you maybe? Is your heart really in this?"[/color] [color=870C0B]"I couldn't care less about what this is about. I love to fight, I am thrilled to test my skills although all these knights were not even worth killing... That one girl using illusions pissed me off..."[/color] the knight remembered the face of Osanna well, that grin as she mocked her. [color=556b2f]"You are powerful, but artless,"[/color] said Rodric bluntly, [color=556b2f]"not in control of your own abilities. You've relied on raw force for too long instead of learning how to actually apply it."[/color] He shook his head. [color=556b2f]"Truth is, I could've killed you, back at the court, and perhaps now. I mean that not as an insult, but as a truth. You should be on our side, Hildr. You could learn much. Do not remain beholden to people who are a part of your past."[/color] The lines were breaking. Someone high up on the Parrench side had panicked and sounded an urgent defense of the walls. [color=556b2f]"It looks as if my fool allies are falling for your king's trick. Hrothgar is a wise man, even if cruel, but there is only so long that he can keep this up. The Parrench are not warriors by nature, but they are proud and they are very many. They will not let you take and hold this land."[/color] He started to rise, to leave. [color=870C0B]"I can't just abandon everything I know, right?... Even if what you say is the truth, your king still made me an enemy for no reason."[/color] Hildr stood up, making sure there was no trick behind this. [color=870C0B]"If you truly wish for me to be an ally, then we shall talk it out."[/color] She looked him in the eyes, unwavering as she looked at the battlefield for a split second. [color=556b2f]"Alas, milady, time grows short. The horns are blowing and fools are leaving. Think on what I've said, and you may want to look up a healer known as Branimir of Aldpest should your travels take you back to Kressia anytime soon. He may have much to tell you."[/color] With that, the many Rodrics disappeared, except for the one standing in front of her. He took a brief bow and left for the Parrench retreat. Branimir of Aldpest?.... What would she have to seek with a healer? Does he know her? All of this left the warrior with many thoughts and doubts. Were the Eskandr in the right to waste so many lives for land they can’t keep? What was Hrothgar’s great plan after this? Hildr walked away from any sort of danger towards the Eskandr’s landed fleet. She needs time to rest and think about what happened.