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[b]“Soldiers don’t sing so well,”[/b] Serenity said, tilting her head in the direction of their one-woman warband. [b]“Best to save some coin for Dame Morianne if you wish to cement a claim without a trophy.”[/b]

A scoff sounded within her helmet as Fionn’s question hung in the air. [b]“Alas, unless the Bandit King’s worth a hundred men, claiming his head for House Arcedeen would do little to raise our prestige. It is another story, of course, if he would be so kind as to offer his neck to me, but…”[/b] She allowed her smile to bleed into her tone. [b]“...in matters of martial capability, I’d fear more the Bandit Knights than a Bandit King.”[/b]

Cecilia and Lien, the two [i]charming[/i] archers of the Iron Rose Knights, were happy to toss their bows into the bracket too, each of them trying their best to get an arm around Serenity’s shoulder. In this case, with her hair bundled up inside her helmet and her plate armour enough that she couldn’t even feel them through it, she didn’t mind at all, simply taking a quick step to shed off their friendly gesture and leave them holding each others’ arms.

[b]“If Jeremiah’s fool enough to come into battle without a helmet, please, be my guest.”[/b] She tapped her own helmet. [b]“And if he comes in with a helmet?”[/b] Through the slits in her visor, it was impossible to tell, but the young lady was most certainly smirking at them now. [b]“Please. Be my guest.”[/b]

Whatever jabs were to be exchanged after such statements, however, would have to wait, as the Knight-Captain issued her orders. Functional, once more, but lacking still, owing to the compounding effects of poor decisions made [i]before[/i] they reached this point. And, to expect restraint from Adolia...in this case, it would have been better to not have brought [i]that[/i] witch along. The taller ask, regardless, would be to rescue the prisoners before crushing the bandits. Delay too much with the former, and the morality of this iteration of the Iron Rose Knights would be put to the test indeed.

Considering who stood around her, it would be better if such a test was no-

[b]“Tch.”[/b] A cart that struck a tree. An injured man beneath. A test already. [b]“Sir Lien, Dame Cecilia, check the trees.”[/b]

Where arrows were, arrows could be, and while Fanilly drew her sword, Serenity hoisted up her shield, advancing in lockstep with the young Knight-Captain. Injury in his side. Maybe his guts. Serenity interposed herself in front of both Fanilly and the man, angling her shield at an angle in case enemies were higher up, and motioned with her other hand for the younger knight to make a retreat.

[b]“Drag him back, Captain. This one’s [i]new[/i].”[/b]