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Auberon had hoped to find a line of men awaiting them as he rode into Magdred, that they might clash steel against steel until the victor stood as a living monument to judgment passed from on high. Instead, the scene grew more unsettling by the moment. He supposed it was a bit of a blessing that the streets were empty, eerie as it was, as it meant there would be no civilians caught in the carnage accidentally. That assumed they were barricaded in their homes in the face of potential invaders, of course. The alternative was that they'd already been rounded up for slaughter and that the heretics already cowered behind the aegis of a few hostages. 

Yet no messenger strode forth to present any demands, nor did an executioner brandish an innocent townswoman to threaten them into obedience. It was too silent for the heretics to have been caught off guard, yet they offered no resistance so far. And they called themselves men of faith. Pathetic.

As Michail dismounted, Auberon scrambled to follow him, not wanting to give their opponents any window to exploit the brief disarray before they had formed up properly. When no ambush was sprung, the blond tightened his grip on his axe and advanced in step with the others. The Dominic girl and Derec could probably hold the flanks well enough, and a brief glance backward showed Jorah was already on high alert, doubtlessly ready to pounce as soon as the heretics betrayed even a hint of their presence. It meant Auberon had room to be a little reckless.

[color=ffd700]"I'll try and draw them out. Let's see what's stronger; their conviction or their fear,"[/color] Auberon grumbled as he lowered the visor on his helm. If the heretics had even a hint of virtue, misguided though it may be, he'd fall under attack sooner rather than later. After all, Michail [i]did[/i] say their purpose was to make noise, and he'd rather them spring their trap prematurely than wait until the group had parked themselves in the middle of town square to be skewered from every angle. The blond broke formation and paced away from the group, hoping to make himself a more tempting target.

[color=ffd700]"Your cowardice reveals your folly more aptly than any discourse ever could,"[/color] He called out goadingly into the empty streets, [color=ffd700]"If you heretics are so assured of the righteousness of your cause, why do you forsake your honor and hide? Do you not even trust your blasphemous deity to deliver you unto victory?!"[/color] Auberon spread his arms wide in a challenge to any of the misguided souls that might've been watching them, daring his hidden opposition to stand in the Goddess' view alongside him and glorify their beliefs in combat. 

[color=ffd700]"Come, test the bladed edge of your false faith against the armor forged of Her favor! Prove the worthiness of your cause here and now!"[/color] He braced his axe before himself as he concluded his speech and darted his head between the nearby buildings. There was nothing to fear from any sinner that would answer his challenge, exalted by the Goddess as he was, but if they did nothing but loose arrows in their cowardice, he'd need to be ready.

[hr][@Obscene Symphony][@Salsa Verde]
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