Autunm after-noon|Obsidian, Mount Humontis

[aivea]

Before Audra can do more than open his mouth to speak, a man in the garb of a noble rushes over and says to the mercenary, "There you are, Audra! I do hope you are not trying to pick another fight with these gentlemen..."

"Oh relax, Croix. They just want to ask me a few questions about honor," the mercenary replies calmly.

"Honor? You shame our family and it is those of your like who are holding our blood from becoming nobles in name as well as dead. I cannot see how someone who forsook their honor and turned skill for duels into skills for sale to the highest bidder would be one to ask of such things. You are a mercenary, brother -so much as shame fills me at the word-, and I have heard of your reputation for taking any job. That is not the act of someone with honor! Where were you when our home was attacked by the traitorous dogs who raised their hands against their fellow Storms in the name of power? Why, you were within shouting distance and too concerned with a personal rival to come to our aid. Honor?! You disgrace the word in speaking it and you should already know that a man is nothing without honor. Redeem yourself back to being at least decent then you may dare to try to regain that which you've lost!"

[Toyoll]

Nyala was startled by the sudden appearence and imediately took a disliking to him.

As soon as this mystery man started down right insulting Audra, she started to growl. He was a part of her new pack, damn it and if you attack a packmate, you attack them all. So out of complete reflex, she shouted out to Audra's brother, "Hey, Face-ache, get down from your high-horse and simmer down, would ya? You're annoying the living daylights out of me."

Nyala turned to Noel, as she had elected him leader of his group, "Forgiveness has a great part in being noble, does it not?"

[Kender Bard]

Noel didn't really want to get in the part of someone else's feud. Looking acutely uncomfortable, he says, "Ah, well, er... Uhh.. That would.. depend on what is being asked to be forgiven and whether or not there has been some form of atonement."

Cobalt kept his mouth shut.

[Devon]

Devon pipes in for the first time since he got there. "I think Audra should be given a chance Sir Noel..what do you think Cobalt? It seems to me for such an honorable man Croix is very rude...what honor could there be in a honorable man to disrespect another man in the manner Croix did to Audra." Looking to Audra Devon gives a smile. "Go ahead and answer the questions Audra."

[Kender Bard]

Noel and Cobalt relax, and both give an approving nod to Devon.

[aivea]

Croix bites his tongue and narrows his eyes at Audra. He's aware of his temper and that it must have created a rather unflattering impression.

With a vaguely triumphant look in his eyes, Audra glances over at his brother before thinking back to the question. He answers after a few seconds, "Well, I certainly wouldn't fight someone who is helpless or unarmed if I had a choice, no matter what they'd done to me in the past." Because that would be boring and just because I gave up Croix's version of honor doesn't mean I don't have my one version. If I'm going to call myself something, I'll do a damn good job to seem like I was honest about it. "I think I would keep walking until our paths crossed on a day that they were armed and able to hold their own."

After saying that, the mercenary nods, satisfied with his answer.

[Kender Bard]

"Good," Cobalt remarks solemnly. "Next question - if it meant saving your life, would you willingly let yourself be taken prisoner?"

[aivea]

That question doesn't require much thought at all. Audra shakes his head and answers nearly empathicly, "No. I'd rather die than let myself be captured."

[Kender Bard]

Both men gave nods of approval.

"If you had a chance to defeat your enemy by striking him from behind, a surprise attack, would you take it?" Cobalt asked gravely.

[aivea]

The mercenary tilts his head in thought then decides he's overthinking and just to go with what his first impulse was. "No. I'd try to get their attention so they would turn around and fight me, though."

Croix blinks. "Well, well... maybe I misjudged you."

Audra doesn't reply to his brother with anything other than a slight smirk.

[Kender Bard]

Noel smiles broadly. "Well, well, that sounds fine enough for me. Are you still keen for a fight, though? I've no objections, but it's not necessary."

[Toyoll]

Nyala watched the questionning silently, a little miffed at being ignored. She understood Audra's answers, but shook her head anyway.

It would be untrue to say that Nyala was without honour, she was proud of who and what she was and that fact alone made her behave like an Officer should. The difference lies in the way she was brought up. A predator is opportunistic, take what you got, when you got it and that was the end of that. Nyala would have answered differently to some of the questions as a result.

The Beast flicked an ear and eyed Croix, she smirked, reading his expression like a book. Nyala found it amusing how Audra put him in his place.

The she-wolf looked up at the grey sky just as the rain began to relent. Nyala sneered, growled, then shook her head, shedding the water from her hair and furry ears.

Nyala then took her water-logged tail and began to ring it out, "This is just dandy, gentlemen, but what in Forces' name happens now?" she grumbled.

[Kender Bard]

Cobalt blinks. "Well, the sir challenged us to a duel, and if he still wishes to do that, we will accept. If we defeat him, we will welcome him into our ranks if he wishes, as per the agreement. From thence, I believe we will strike back to Maelstrom and present ourselves to the Queen."

[Toyoll]

Nyala glance up from drying her tail and frowned, ".....Maelstrom?" she turned her stormy eyes on Audra.
But...What about my quest...? she thought.

Nyala grew nervous again, was she going to be left alone after all...?

[Devon]

Devon looks to Nyala. "Maybe you should try it too. Being a knight that is..no one said it was gender specific."