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[center][color=red][h1]FLASHBACK[/h1][/color]

[h2][color=#C84808]Askel[/color] & [color=#7D7FDB]Marina[/color][/h2]

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[color=#7D7FDB]Time:[/color] Morning of Ignis 4
[color=#C84808]Location:[/color] Training Grounds → Food stall

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Beams of sunlight broke through the horizon, painting the training grounds with rays of light of the first morning light. There was stillness in the air, a silence that permeated the early morning where not even the birds had a chance to wipe the sleep from their eyes and sing their song. That silence was broken with the gentle thump of boots as two figures walked on the paved ground: two red-headed siblings carrying their weapons of choice on their belts, dressed for combat. 



It was just like old times, getting up at the crack of dawn so that Askel could spend whatever time he had to give Marina before he had to perform his duties as a squire. All those countless mornings sparring with her, giving her advice on how to handle her blades, he could only wonder how much she improved over the years while he was gone. 



He smiled so warmly at his younger sister with a fondness that he could barely contain. It had been too long since they had sparred, even when he had returned home. There was just not an appropriate time to ask since Sophia's untimely death and then Lucian's sudden decision to attend the Courting season had them all attending for one reason or another. Well, he couldn't complain; he at the very least got to spend some time with his family. 



[color=#C84808]"It's been a long time since we've got to cross blades like this."[/color] He commented while stretching his arms, gently swinging them in small circles to loosen his muscles. Askel soon stopped and cracked his knuckles loudly. [color=#C84808]"But you haven't been slacking, have you? Would be an awful shame if your talents went to waste,"[/color] her brother asked with a teasing smirk. There was no doubt that she had trained over the years; it was just some sibling banter.


Marina had been quiet behind him for most of the walk. The morning air tugged loose strands of her auburn hair as she reached the edge of the training grounds and stopped like she owned the place.


Then, with a deliberate pause, Marina stepped out from her cloak.


She was in proper training gear, [i]for once[/i]: a dark riding habit jacket fitted close through the waist, the cuffs fastened back to free her hands. A firm leather waistbelt was cinched over it, and her breeches were tucked into boots, her gloves already on—her fingers flexing restlessly.


A blade hung at her hips.


She rolled one shoulder, then the other. Only then did she lift her eyes to her brother.


The fond smile on his face hit her like it always did. Her lips curved into a smile back on instinct, and her expression melted as if the most precious thing in the world was before her, then it quickly fell. She hid it immediately by lifting her chin and looking unimpressed on purpose.
[color=#7D7FDB]“Slacking?”[/color] she repeated and stepped past him, practically stomping, her boots thumping softly on the stone. 


A flash overcame her vision, but she didn’t pause her movements: a loud tavern, a table overturned, some idiot reaching for her wrist as if he owned it. Then came the punch of adrenaline, the weight of a bottle in her hand, the way she’d moved against her opponent viciously.  Then quick as a spark, it was gone as fast as it came. She tilted her head at the thought, almost fond of the memory as she unsheathed her sword and pointed it with a grin that was more of a warning than anything. Her violet eyes lit up with intensity as one of the sun’s rays fell into place over her face.


[color=#7D7FDB]“Oh, yes,”[/color] Marina said, voice sweet as sugar, [color=#7D7FDB]“I’ve been [i]hard[/i] at work.”[/color]


What a fierce intensity! Just what exactly had she been up to for her to have such a spark in her eyes? Or rather, to make it even more intense than before. Her smile reeked of violence, a warning that she was going to come at him not as her brother, but as a warrior it intrigued him. There was a drive in her that pushed her forward, to hold her sword out as a challenger. 


A proud grin of an older brother weaved along his face; his gloved hand grabbed the handle of his sword and with a flourish unsheathed it. [color=#C84808]"I can see it in your eyes; you've gotten even sharper,"[/color] Askel commented though his grin turned into a smirk. He held his sword down in a side-stance, welcoming whatever strikes she had ready for him. His figure stood imposingly against the rays of the morning light. [color=#C84808]"But so have I."[/color] His own violet eyes found hers and locked in with them. 


Just how many have fallen to his blade? Images of the battlefield flashed before his eyes; memories of his blade being buried into his foes as he cut them down one by one in a desperate attempt to cling to life. Skilled warriors, many that had trampled upon the lives of others for their own benefit and he ended their lives. He shook those dark images from his head and brought himself back to the training grounds, to this moment. 


[color=#C84808]"I wonder if you can back up that confidence."[/color] He asked with a dark grin. 


The silence between them stood heavy as he waited for Marina's first move to see what she would do, how she had evolved while he was away. 


[color=#7D7FDB]“My, my… look at you,”[/color] she drawled  with a cheeky little giggle then stepped toward him, moving with a vicious pace, like she was going for a clean opening strike then at the last second her blade [i]didn’t[/i] go for his sword. She aimed to slide her boot behind his ankle in a hook, her shoulder brushing close enough to potentially steal balance.


While Marina was fire flickering with loose sparks, Askel was calm and still. His breathing was even and measured though his eyes were sharp with focus. He watched as she swung her blade though he knew it was a fake out; it was in the eyes. Her intentions were clear to him because that's not where she was looking, so he made no effort to even raise his blade to block the attack. Instead, he decided to call her bluff. Askel quickly closed the distance between them and threw his side at her to hit her with all of his body weight to send her tumbling back. 


Marina staggered, boots skidding, shoulder aching from the impact.


[color=#7D7FDB]“Ow—excuse you?”[/color]


She almost looked like she’d lost it… then she let the stumble keep going. The moment he leaned in to finish it, she twisted with his momentum, slipped her foot behind his ankle, and yanked at his balance sideways just enough to make him catch himself. Her blade went up towards his guard, with the intention to force his arm wide.


Her grin returned, wicked. [color=#7D7FDB]“See? I let you have that.”[/color]


Feeling the disruption of his equilibrium by her well-placed foot hook, he focused all of his strength to slam his foot back down onto the ground to regain his balance. With a gloved hand he grabbed his blade to half-sword and held it against her strike to keep his guard from breaking. A big grin was painted on his face, a proud grin of a brother who has seen how much his sister has grown as a swordsman. [color=#C84808]"You've certainly improved. Good job at breaking my stance."[/color] He praised her happily. It only made his heart swell with joy to see how she has improved.


However, his grin turned into a smirk. [color=#C84808]"But you still have much to show me."[/color] Askel pushed her blade upwards to throw her arms up and push her back only deftly, his own leg swept from outside and hooked around her own foot while she stumbled. He quickly removed his hand from his blade and used it to grab her by the collar of her shirt before she could fall. 


The prince chuckled though there was no condescension. She had certainly improved; not just her skills, but her instincts. She was better than some of the soldiers in that regard, so surely it would've been fine to push her a bit.


He released his grip on her shirt. [color=#C84808]"Shall I raise the difficulty?"[/color] Expecting the answer, he held his blade forward in a Longpoint stance. 


Marina staggered backward, nearly falling backward with a sharp gasp. Then his grip jolted her forward and she found herself looking up at the currently frustrating, freckled face of her brother.  She groaned, her brows knit as she held his gaze. [color=#7D7FDB]“You got lucky.”[/color] She said defensively. With determination, she adjusted her footing and held her sword readily.  


[color=#7D7FDB]“Give me all you got!”[/color]


Askel had been more than willing to accommodate her; the way he moved was faster than before and the swings of his blade were heavy and reverberated throughout her body, and yet they were precise with clever feints thrown into the mix, and his parries were always perfectly timed. Whenever Marina had felt like she was beginning to close the gap between them, her freckled-faced brother was just a step ahead and then he was a step ahead again and again until it was obvious that this was by his own design. He was just skirting just a little beyond the border of her scope as a warrior, a sweet spot where she was not being knocked to the ground but not letting her win either. 


Askel the entire time in the face of her fiery determination was relaxed, at ease. The prince was using this as a moment to educate her, to subtly show the faults and bad habits that she may have accrued with her own self-training, but to also show her how she should properly execute something like feint or grappling with a two-handed sword. He knew that she was too proud and competitive to really take his feedback in, so this was the only method he knew to drill proper swordsmanship into her much to her chagrin. 


And after every bout he would look at her with a grin and simply say, [color=#C84808]"Again."[/color]


However, these repeated bouts would all come to an end; the sword in her hand flew into the air and clattered against the paved stone. Just inches away from her neck Askel held the blade before pulling away and sheathing it.


[color=#C84808]"Alright, let's call it here."[/color] He announced with a satisfied smile. The man barely even broke a sweat; he looked just as refreshed as he did before he stepped onto the training grounds.  [color=#C84808]"You've gotten better, enough that you fend off a decently trained merc, but you've got ways to go before you can think you can take on a knight."[/color] Askel dug through his pocket and held a handkerchief out to his sister so she could wipe the sweat off her face.


Marina lingered in her spot, breathing hard, her knees wobbling until she finally dropped onto the stone. She stayed there with her knees up, forearms folded over them, staring at the spot where her sword had clattered away as if it had been the reason for her defeat.


She had tried [i]so[/i] hard. 


[i]Trained so hard.[/i]


And yet she still wasn’t good enough.


[color=#7D7FDB]“Wow,”[/color] she panted finally. Only then did she flick her eyes up at him. [color=#7D7FDB]“A ‘decently trained merc,’”[/color] she repeated, tasting the words like bitter medicine. [color=#7D7FDB]“...How generous.”[/color] She took the handkerchief when he snatched it and dabbed at her face. Her eyes stung from exertion and irritation and emotions she refused to acknowledge, but she blinked it away, jaw clenched.


[color=#7D7FDB]“You’re lucky I love you,”[/color] she added flatly. She tossed the handkerchief back at him and pushed herself up,but only made it halfway before she wobbled, and immediately pretended she hadn’t. Marina brushed imaginary dust off her jacket. [color=#7D7FDB]“Again,”[/color] she insisted, chin lifting. Then she inhaled, felt her lungs protest, and amended with a glare that could start a war: [color=#7D7FDB]“…in thirty seconds. I’m just… strategically… oxygen-deprived.”[/color] 


Askel brows knitted with concern over Marina's lack of concern for her own wellbeing. She had always been intense, but this was different; she was driven by something, something that scared her more than anything and it ate away at her core. It had to be something like that because for the life of him he could not understand why she was so shaken by their duel. Askel walked over to her and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. 


[color=#C84808]"Marnie, there's no point in wrecking your body over training,"[/color] cautioned her brother, his pleading eyes meeting her fury. [color=#C84808]"You are very talented, the fact that you've improved this much on your own is a testament to that, but you're holding yourself to too high a standard."[/color] He hated seeing her like this, one of the many lights of his life spiraling downwards. Was it the death of Sophia? The heart break of their dear older brother Lucian? Were these the factors that spurred her on or was it something else? All he wanted to do was to press her for questions, but Askel knew that was not the way; she was still feeling too raw.


He forced a smile on his face and patted her shoulder. [color=#C84808]"Come on, there's probably a stall where we can get a quick fix. It'll be just like old times."[/color] 


She huffed for a moment, glaring at the ground. For a second she looked like she might argue then her shoulders dropped and as did the fight in her face.[color=#7D7FDB]“.. Fine.”[/color] Marina relented. She pushed herself to her feet with exaggerated dignity, wobble and all, and brushed at her jacket as if she hadn’t just been humbled. Though she was unhappy about losing, her stomach growl was getting louder by the moment and she simply could not refuse something to eat.


[color=#7D7FDB]“Let’s get something meaty.”[/color]


Well, she was at least open to food, so, progress. Askel removed his hand from her shoulder and chuckled at her request; it was so like her. [color=#C84808]"Whatever your heart desires. It's my treat."[/color] 


Askel would lead his little sister away from the training grounds and back into the quiet of Sorian's morning streets that were just beginning to wake up. People scuttled around the wide-open streets making their way to whatever it was they needed to get to; jobs, schools, and whatever places others needed to get to. One place that caught Askel's attention was a cart with a crowd of people followed by the smell of meat, root vegetables, and fat wafting in the air. Judging by the smell, it was pie, penny pies to be exact; little hot pockets of pastry filled with whatever was on hand. 


[color=#C84808]"Must be a trusted one,"[/color] Askel commented with a single raised brow. [color=#C84808]"From my experience, you are either eating a domesticated animal or potentially someone's pet cat."[/color] 

Marina’s steps halted hard and fast. It was almost as if she had walked into an invisible wall. Her head snapped right toward him, her eyes narrowed with dramatic disgust. [color=#7D7FDB] “A—cat?”[/color] she hissed as if he had suggested cannibalism. [color=#7D7FDB] “Ah–Nope. I am not eating someone’s whiskered companion.”[/color] 


She stepped toward the stall and peered at the menu for a moment, before suggesting, [color=#7D7FDB] “Let’s just go with the beef ones.”[/color] 


It was then a broad-shouldered fellow bumped into her while sweeping past them. She stumbled, completely jostled by the movement, and glared over her shoulder at the back of his head. Her eyes snapped up and she instantly felt reminded of how small she felt in a crowd like this. 


There were so many pairs of eyes—A few too many. They lingered on her and Askel—Some curious, some amused and mostly all nosy. 


Without thinking, she slid closer to her brother and hooked her fingers into his sleeve. Though Marina hadn’t thought about it at the time, she had instinctively repeated a movement that had happened time and time again since they had been children. Young Marnie had been a little more frightful at times, hiding behind her older brothers whenever she had been uncomfortable. 

But this time, she tugged him closer as if she was claiming him under her protection. Her eyes flashed as another figure passed them, as if warning them to stay away.  


Askel patted her fluffy auburn head with his rough, calloused hand gently. [color=#C84808]"Marnie, your face is going to get stuck that way if you keep doing that."[/color] He warned with a joking smile. She always hid behind Lucian and himself when frightened, but this was different; that was a look to kill. It was a look he had seen before many times, people fiercely wanting to protect those they held dear even if they needed to drop a body or two. 

Once they were at the front of the line, Askel had ordered some beef pies for them. In fact, he ordered more than the average person would, but he was damn hungry and he knew Marina was too. So, there he was, holding a bag full of steaming hot beef hand pies. 

Askel had handed one to her as they walked before taking a bite himself, except it was hot, fresh out of the oven kind of hot. He opened his mouth and began to blow it, making a 'huafu huafu' sound in an attempt to cool down the piping hot filling before swallowing. 

[color=#C84808]"Maybe we should let it cool down..."[/color] Askel suggested with a sheepish grin.

They’d been moving toward a nearby picnic table, but Marina hadn’t slowed down once. In fact, she’d already taken a vicious bite in the middle of Askel’s sentence. For one glorious second, her face held steady in stubborn triumph.


Then her eyes went wide. [color=#7D7FDB]“AHHHH!”[/color] Her yelp was muffled.  She slapped her free hand against her mouth, cheeks flushing, glaring at the pastry. [color=#7D7FDB]“It’s—”[/color] she choked, swallowing wrong,[color=#7D7FDB]“[i]volcanic.[/i]”[/color] She sucked in a sharp breath through her teeth, then immediately took another bite out of pure spite.

Of course, even after his warning she would willingly eat a molten hot pie in some act of defiance. His hand covered his mouth as he sniggered at the sight of his sister just being a complete and utter mess. [color=#C84808]"I told you that it was hot, Marnie!"[/color] The bench creaked slightly under his weight, and he placed the bag down with a slight [i]plop.[/i]

With knowledge from his mistake, Askel ripped one of the pies in half and blew the hot filling in an attempt to make it less scalding hot. [color=#C84808]"So, first time in Sorian, right? Is there anything that you're looking forward to?"[/color] It was a hopeful attempt to distract her from whatever thoughts she had from before. 

[color=#7D7FDB]“I didn’t get to hear your full statement—”[/color] Marina started to protest, half-muffled by food stuffed in her mouth. It was then the beef betrayed her.

The moment she swallowed, the heat hit the back of her throat.  Her breath caught, and she made the silly mistake of inhaling sharply, and it only made it worse. Her hand flew to her mouth. She coughed and her eyes watered instantly. For a long while, she just sat there, blinking hard and trying to pretend this wasn’t happening.


[i][color=#7D7FDB]“—oh gods—”[/color][/i] she suddenly rasped through her fingers. She fumbled at her belt with jerky fingers until she found her flask. Then Marina yanked the stopper free, threw her head back and took a hurried pull. She didn’t even bother tasting the contents, she just let the cool liquid wash over her tongue and down her throat.



It helped, but not fast enough. She swallowed again and winced, pressing her knuckles to her lips as if she could physically keep the burn from climbing back up. Another quick sip. Then another. When she could finally breathe without coughing, she lifted her watery violet eyes to Askel with pure accusation, like this was somehow [i]his[/i] fault.



[color=#7D7FDB]“Feel bad for me,”[/color] she demanded hoarsely, her tone almost indignant. And before he could decide whether to laugh, she grabbed his hand and planted it on top of her head, forcing it gently into a petting motion all in the manner as if this was a medical necessity.

A bright laugh burst from his lips as she forcibly used her hand to pet her head. [color=#C84808]"Alright, alright! I feel bad for you."[/color] Askel continued the motion of stroking his sister's head like she was some child struck with the flu. How many times had her stubborn willfulness gotten her into a spot of trouble? As many as there were stars in the sky, he was certain. 

Then casually a moment later, she returned to his question, [color=#7D7FDB]“Mm. Second time here,”[/color] she replied and then took a moment to clear her throat loudly. [color=#7D7FDB]“I think dad brought me with him here once, years ago. Our parents always preferred dragging us everywhere else in Caesonia instead.”[/color]


[color=#7D7FDB]“Mama always hated Sorian,”[/color] Marina informed him casually, her voice wistful, [color=#7D7FDB]“because she said she wanted to strangle King Danrose.”[/color] Another shrug, as if strangling kings was a normal domestic opinion. [color=#7D7FDB]“She can’t even stand the sound of his voice.”[/color]



She took another long sip, then held up a finger to signal him to wait as she swished it around to soothe her tongue. When she finally swallowed, she sighed. [color=#7D7FDB]“But the Caesonian people?”[/color] she continued, shaking her head. [color=#7D7FDB]“They’re not too bad.”[/color] Her eyes then brightened with the promise of gossip. [color=#7D7FDB]“I can give you my reviews, if you like. I’ve met enough of them both here and at Varian parties.”[/color]

Askel propped his head up with his hand as he listened to her talk, lazily chewing on hot pie. Knowing that manners maketh man, he swallowed before he spoke. [color=#C84808]"I think we have about the same opinion on Caesonia, especially on King Edin from what I've heard. Remember, I travelled through here on my own so my perspective on the matter may be a bit different than yours."[/color] His hand reached over and grabbed another hot pie before splitting it open again to let the interior cool down again.

[color=#7D7FDB] “King Pee-din.”[/color] Marina corrected him with a scoff.

A smirk crossed his face, and he leaned in closer to his sister. [color=#C84808]"But gossip of the nobles and the royal family were typically in the purview of those I interacted with normally. Got anything useful for me before I wander back into the wolf's den?"[/color] A man like Askel knew that rumors could be worth their weight in gold and his sister was a damn gold mine.

Marina’s brows jumped, and she sat up straighter.  She cleared her throat again, but this time it was [i]pure performance[/i]. For extra drama, she smoothed her skirt with exaggerated dignity as if she were about to deliver a proclamation. [color=#7D7FDB]“Right,”[/color] she said, bright-eyed and entirely too pleased with herself. [color=#7D7FDB]“Let us go through the list, shall we?”[/color]


Her gloved fingers drummed a rhythm against her knee to introduce her speech, [color=#7D7FDB]“Starting at the top. King Peedin?”[/color] she sighed, as if the name itself tired her. [color=#7D7FDB]“Bad. Obviously.”[/color] She flicked her wrist as though casting him away. [color=#7D7FDB]“Alibeth,”[/color] she continued, and hummed thoughtfully. [color=#7D7FDB]“Pass…. And Wulfric is colder than the worst winter,”[/color] she declared.  She huffed, then softened a little, like she couldn’t help it. [color=#7D7FDB]“Auguste is sweet,”[/color] she allowed, chin lifting. 


And then she brightened. [color=#7D7FDB]“But Callum and Anastasia?”[/color] Marina leaned in, delighted. [color=#7D7FDB]“Now there are the interesting ones. Both are a hoot and holler… I can hardly wait to see Callum again.”[/color]

Marina picked up another pie, took a bite, and chewed with the serious concentration of a woman doing important work. [color=#7D7FDB]“Onto House Damien,”[/color] she declared, then nodded once, satisfied with herself. [color=#7D7FDB]“All right.”[/color]

She pointed the pie vaguely in the air. [color=#7D7FDB]“Count Calbert Damien is really charismatic,”[/color] Marina said, like it annoyed her to admit it. [color=#7D7FDB]“He knows exactly what to say, and he says it well. Also, his hair is absurd. It is the most luscious hair I have ever seen on a man.”[/color]


[color=#7D7FDB]“And Crystal… Never met. I’ve heard she’s always sick.”[/color] She took a breath, like she was reorganizing her thoughts into a proper list, then continued without missing a beat.

[color=#7D7FDB]“Duke Lorenzo Vikena, as we’ve all heard, is a mess,”[/color] Marina said, and there was a clear note of amusement in it, [color=#7D7FDB]“but he’s funny. I’ll give him that.”[/color] She lifted her brows. [color=#7D7FDB]“His stepdaughter, Lottie, is sweeter than a fairytale princess. I think she’s lovely.”[/color] 

She kicked her feet back and forth for a moment as she savored another taste of her pie.  [color=#7D7FDB]“The Edwards children are both fantastic,”[/color] she finally went on. [color=#7D7FDB]“Drake and Ariella are both gorgeous and kind.”[/color] Then her expression lit up with interest once more. [color=#7D7FDB]“Their father Duke Gideon is the best man in the entire kingdom, hands down.”[/color] She said with full conviction, like she’d sign her name to it. [color=#7D7FDB]“And his wife is somehow the worst woman in the kingdom. I do not understand how that happened, but it did.”[/color] She took another bite and shrugged. [color=#7D7FDB]“Duke Laurent Petit is…”[/color] Marina paused, searching for the politest version of the truth, then gave up. [color=#7D7FDB]“…nuts. His wife is fine, though. That’s about all I’ve gathered so far.”[/color]

The royal and noble families were varied, for better or for worse. 

An appreciative smile flashed upon Askel's face [color=#C84808]"Informative as always, Marnie. You are a lifesaver; I don't know what I would do without you."[/color] She seemed to be in a better mood, thank goodness. After such a defeat from earlier, all he wanted to do was to find a way to lift her up. 

His words brought about both the biggest and most genuine smile from Marnie that he had seen in a long time. Her eyes lowered, and she brought her pie closer to her chest. 

So, by his dear sister's judgement there were a handful of nobles and of the royal family that he could extend a hand of friendship with help from her no doubt. To his relief, at least there were some of the royal family that were more personable and that they were other nobles that fit her approval. However, her praise of Duke Gideon had caught his interest. He seemed like a stand up fellow and the fact that both of his children have met her approval was a sign that perhaps that this was a good man that raised two excellent children.

Wait, [i]both?[/i] 

Askel arched his brow and asked inquisitively, [color=#C84808]"Hold on, isn't there a third Edward's child?"[/color]  

Surely, he was not misremembering such a detail. He scratched his cheek, unsure if his own memory was to be trusted. [color=#C84808]"I may not be too up to date with the current affairs of Caesonian nobility, but even I have heard the rumors that Duke Edwards adopted their youngest from the streets though you know how rumors are."[/color]

[color=#7D7FDB] “Hmm. Think you’re right, actually... I do recall there were more than two Edwards children, come to think of it. I just have only met the two so far.”[/color] 

[color=#C84808]"Perhaps he's a recluse?"[/color] Askel offered a possible explanation. Not all nobles held a love for parties and social gatherings, especially if they were not so politically motivated. 

[color=#C84808]"But you know, you didn't answer my other question. Surely there's something you're looking forward to on this trip. Come on, what is it that your not so little heart desires?"[/color]

[color=#7D7FDB] “ Honestly? “ [/color] Marina began and paused. She gathered her thoughts for a moment. Then finally she admitted, [color=#7D7FDB] “I followed Lucian here. I just want to know he’s okay,”[/color] Marina continued, voice firming as she spoke. [color=#7D7FDB]“And now that you, Sylvia, and Ambrose are here too…”[/color] Her chin lifted, eyes sharpening with that stubborn devotion of hers. [color=#7D7FDB]“I want to protect all of you.”[/color]

Now all the pieces were falling into place. Her desire to protect them all was the reason why she had taken her loss against him so poorly, and he had compared her skills to that of a trained mercenary. Foot meet mouth. 

Askel reached over and gently enveloped her hands with his, rough and calloused. He smiled at her adoringly. There were very few people that he loved as much as her; all he wanted to do was to protect her. It was his duty as their brother and as their knight though he could not deny his strong-willed sister. She was going to do what she was going to do. 

[color=#C84808]"How about this? You'll help me look out for our family and we'll have each other's backs. Does that sound like a good deal?"[/color] 

Marina smiled faintly, her mind wandering back to a conversation with Lucian. [color=#7D7FDB] “Sounds like the [i]best[/i] deal. ”[/color]
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