[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/mUhZ5qu.png[/img][hr][b][color=0054a6]Event:[/color][/b] Victors and Vanquished [b]|[/b] [b][color=0054a6]Location:[/color][/b] Saint-Jean de Glane & Solenne.[/center][hr]

Asier spent the first days arriving in Saint-Jean de Glane taking the time to feel more Perrench. He was frequently being seen as an Eskandish spy with his appearance which started to grate, so slipping into some tourrare leathers made him feel more comfortable even if he was now seen as a different kind of stranger in these parts. Snorri, now also dressed up as a Perrench priest boy to disguise his origins, the pair make their way towards Solenne to prepare the capital for war from the advancing Kressians.

Along the road, the pair come face-to-face with the all too familiar sight of the walking mountain of iron with a kitten perched upon its shoulder. He waves towards the kitten knight, [color=#0054a6]”Sasha, you are a sight for sore eyes!”[/color]. He moves close to give the big hunk of metal a big embracing hug.

The kitten wasn’t so much an infant as it was just minuscule - The sort that was found on that island North of their lands - and it meowed at the sight of Asier. It seemed Segu had come for the ride and took a backseat when big dragons were involved. It was funny that Asier noticed the cat and not the massive monster of a horse Sasha had been travelling upon, along with two Tourrare envoys behind them with quite large beasts too. And of course there was Sasha, clad in layers of iron that were frankly overkill.

The not-so-big pseudo-knight hopped off the mighty steed with a loud thud that cracked some of the stone beneath their feet. A quick strut toward Asier made it seem as though the kitten knight was coming for a hug, but just as they got in arm’s length, they snatched the bearded knight’s wrist and attempted to hurl them toward Arriscat, Sasha’s steed, [color=98A4B1]”You are required in Hierbamonte, Asier.”[/color] there was a LOT of power behind this ‘assault’, [color=98A4B1]”The King and Queen are gone. Your duty is elsewhere.”[/color]

Asier takes the throw as he is hurled towards Arriscat, taking advantage of the situation to start taking a hold of the squires horse for himself as he leads it by the bridle. [color=#0054a6]”As much as you are lovely to greet as always. My duty is in Solenne. We have to deliver the boy and warn of the impending advances from Kressia.”[/color] He guides the horse to come alongside his own. [color=#0054a6]”Now as your superior, you are instructed to follow my commands.”[/color] He offers Sasha the biggest toothy grin he can muster.

The bundle of metal remained stoic, whilst the little cat appeared unbothered by the increase in movement, scurrying to the less active shoulder, or even onto Sasha’s massive chestplate if needed. Again, Segu meowed, [color=98A4B1]”Lovely?”[/color] Sasha paused, head tilted as they witnessed Asier’s usurping of Arriscat, [color=98A4B1]”And a boy?”[/color] and then they acknowledged the previous inconspicuous Pentad representative, [color=98A4B1]”Who is this? What is his name?”[/color] the tone was almost as accusatory as the gauntlet pointed toward him, [color=98A4B1]”It was told you would only have a small, armed entourage. What is this?”[/color] they definitely seemed agitated. The stress of being outside the routine was already bad enough. This was enough to let Asier’s attempt at a jab get lost to the aether. 

Asier pats upon the squire’s saddle as he encourages Sasha to stick their big metal behind on it. [color=#0054a6]”Hello brother, it is so good to see you. Hope the Eskand slave owners treated you well.”[/color] he mimicked in a gruff voice with a notable tone less stoic than Sasha themself. He responds to himself, [color=#0054a6]”Thank you for asking. The Eskand didn’t appreciate my big bonfire, so they hauled me off in chains. Managed to break free with some fellow prisoners, raided the Palace, and made it out with the crown prince of Eskand, Snorri. The boy wishes to know more about the Pentad in Solennes and meet Arcel himself.”[/color]  He put his hand in his pocket as he pulled out some ration to hand over so Sasha may feed Segu for comfort and simply waved his hand as he instructed Sasha to follow him. [color=#0054a6]”The boy is important to our mission, prioritise his life.”[/color]

Sasha just stood there, shifting attention between Asier and Snorri, [color=98A4B1]”You’re talking to yourself again.”[/color] remarked Sasha with a very implied deadpan face behind that big helm. Segu was very curious about Snorri, enough to actually crawl off his owner’s shoulder with a calculated hop that came with a few butt wiggles, and gave the kid a few sniffs, [color=98A4B1]”An Eskandish. A Royal. A Hostage. Segu!”[/color] a high-pitched whistle followed the call, a change from the metallic and very slightly distorted voice coming from the mass of metal. The cat obeyed once the whistling happened and hopped back onto its safe space, [color=98A4B1]”He shall not leave this one’s sight, then.”[/color] and with that, Sasha ascended with the help of the gift back onto Arriscat.

[color=98A4B1]”A higher authority has set a new mission upon you, Asier.”[/color] said Sasha whilst bringing their mountain of a horse onto a trot to match the Knight’s pace, [color=98A4B1]”Solenne does not need two Tourrare. Leave the burden and return with your escort home. That is the mission given.”[/color]

Asier waves his hand dismissively at the instruction, [color=#0054a6]”Your sister would simply send me to bring you  back home as well. It will turn into a never ending cycle of escort missions till we are both there at the food table.”[/color]  Sasha was quick to cut off Asier, [color=98A4B1]”Giselle is the higher authority. Family first. Tourrare first. Home first.”[/color]. He simply smiles, [color=#0054a6]“Giselle is the highest authority in my heart, but render to the King which is owed to him.”[/color] takes out a neskal and flicks to the metallic hulk. The coin sticks onto the piece of armour it falls upon. [color=#0054a6]”Safety of Parrence is important for the safety of Giselle, family, and the Tourrare.”[/color] Asier does muse for a while as he mulls on thoughts of his family, [color=#0054a6]”How does my wife fare? How is Maëlle?”[/color]. Sasha answered promptly, [color=98A4B1]”She is well. She has brought young Timéo to this world during your absence.”[/color] they mentioned without a hint of social tact or consideration, [color=98A4B1]”Your presence would be greatly appreciated by the family.”[/color] Asier scratched his beard as he cringed a little, [color=#0054a6]”Is how you are going to tell a man that his wife bore him a son? You are now bound to tell me all about the little Horselord and describe him well for me.”[/color]

They continued marching forward, with Sasha keeping behind Snorri with their concerns and suspicions made clear from the very start. They would, eventually after pleasantries that were entirely one-way, arrive at Solenne with minimal breaks. They were there before the Kressians at the very least, and they were to have an audience with the higher nobles that ruled in Arcel’s stead during his wartime absence. The Tourrare were seldom welcomed with open arms in the Grand City, especially with the King and Queen away from their thrones.
[color=#0054a6]”Solenne! The Capital of Parrence and the seat of power. You will probably be spending some time here, my young devotee.”[/color], he smiles warmly towards Snorri as the boy continues to keep a low profile, whereby his true identity could cause trouble if discovered. [color=#0054a6]“Some food, some lodgings, then we approach the palace to speak to the lords that rule in King Arcel’s stead.”[/color]

[hr]

The decision makers in Solennes behaved as one would expect when the fate of their King was a gamble with a lot to win and just as much to lose. Asier pleaded his case - they needed to pull in reinforcements and seize the initiative against the Kressian rising. However, the lack of good will the horse people held toward at court and the politics that ruled Solennes led to a slow and ineffective processing of information. Before long, scouts began to report the breaching of their border by a Drugunzean army they had believed to be stonewalled by their ally Otto.

Most of the decorated fighters and Generals were in Chamonix or at the front against the main Eskandish threat, leaving Solenne, a capital thought to be far too remote and grand to be touched, was in great peril. Asier was one of few that could potentially lead this, with Gèrard Castel bolstering their ranks. They did have another weapon at their disposal, although Sasha had omitted to mention it, until now.

[color=98A4B1]”We have a dragon.”[/color] they claimed out of the blue, for what seemed to be no apparent reason, as they stood by Asier. [color=98A4B1]”A Monsigneus-turned-Gehenna Tyrannus. Tamed by Maerec de Solennes. He is on his way here.”[/color] Segu was busy grooming himself while Sasha overlooked the fields beyond Solennes from the top of the city’s walls. Fields that would soon be flattened, scorched and repainted with blood. [color=98A4B1]”They cannot be trusted - The men and women you spoke to. The way they look at us puts me off.”[/color] the armoured Squire reached over to give a couple of pets to the cat with the leathered underbelly of their otherwise massive gauntlets, [color=98A4B1]”Be prepared.”[/color]

Asier twirls the moustache part of his beard, [color=#0054a6]“There is doing this the Tourrare way, of course, dear Sasha.”[/color] He smiles brightly towards the chunk of iron and its kitten, [color=#0054a6]”We appeal to the people directly. Brother Castel can get the church on side. We get the commoners, and the nobles would be swayed into action. We will get some of the locals on board, then we will go out to slow down the advance and by the time they reach the walls, we will have an army fit enough to face them”[/color]. He gives a wide mischievous smile, [color=#0054a6]”What do you say to that, my squire?”[/color]

[color=98A4B1]“Okay”[/color]

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