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Of course once landed, those wings folded back under
the new shirt, designed for such, into the markings on his skin. Raphael
had given him such a shirt until he had ones made of his own. He
headed in the direction of the other, steeling his resolve to make
friends for there was definitely more respect than fear. "Good
evening, Sir Gabriel Vaughn at your service." Speaking as he drew
near, dark eyes intense.
If
Vincent felt the man's approach, he didn't look in his direction, just
returned to his study. "Sir Gabriel..." Vincent replied with
due respect even if he wasn't looking at him. With the title of Sir, the
man had earned the respect offered. "And a great service you would
be by explaining to me how this device is of any use to the training
process. It appears more a way to end up battered, bruised and
wet." He turned then, extending his hand to the man in a proper
greeting. "Have you attempted this before?"
He had
seen Vincent before but had not encountered him directly until this day.
Better here socially than eating dirt in sparring. Those days were
coming, numbered as they would be pitted against all four eventually to
hone their talents and gifts. Peter knew of his wings and didn't seem to
flinch or regard him as abnormal but then there were quite a few others
with gifts these lands seemed to draw or were born here. "Aye, I
have and made it as far as the last stage last time. It's a tricky devil
knowing each time it will be different for the timing. Sir Lancely is
good at that as well constructing such a device." Taking his hand
in a good warrior's grasp before released as he answered. "I was
under the impression Lazare wished to try it this time instead of
sitting on the cushions with the Lady Warrior." Hard to read those
dark eyes at times except perhaps a fleeting glint.
Bannon
was nearby as always, Vincent's shadow when he wasn't with the other
squires or tending to duties elsewhere. He had grown taller, put on more
weight but still wasn't much of a talker. Seeing Gabriel, he studied the
knight but would stay where he was unless Vincent called him forward.
There was a hint of mischief in his eyes as he looked away from the two
toward the water beast.
Vincent
was not one to be able to judge any for being ... different. "Yes,
it was my understanding as well. Yet, it seems our good knight has found
other entertainment...how convenient for him." Likewise, de
Beauvais was not one to show much emotion, if any, but he turned
searching out the shadows. "Bannon, care to seek out our comrade
and see what detains him?"
"No
need, Bannon." Lazare called to the squire, coming around from
behind the gauntlet. "I am never late, I am always where I need to
be..when I need to be. Cool your heels, Dragon." He waved Bannon to
stay where he was and started removing his shirt. He knew the possible
results of each section, better to be free of that particular article of
attire.
"Bloody
fool...then it's you to the gauntlet first. Since you are always where
you need to be, when you need to be." Vincent motioned with his
head to the entrance and took a few steps back, crossing his chest with
his arms to stand and watch.
"Perhaps
any one of a few he talks with?" Not that he followed who Lazare
might be interested in, hard to tell with one social as he was when Gabe
was social enough but still kept a distance. Speak of the devil and
there he was. He cleared his throat and set to getting the lads taking
off the tarps and getting the sections going.
Lazare
cleared his throat of a laugh and cut a look to Vincent. "Aye,
watch well and learn, de Beauvais." Carno pulled himself up onto
the contraption, stood a moment at the beginning and then shifted a
shoulder in preparation.
He
grinned at Lazare as he appeared then was over closer to watch.
"Lady Warrior, Sir Gabriel?"
Vincent
cut a look Bannon's way when he heard the lad ask after the Lady
Warrior. Regardless of who she may be, whomever Lazare wished to lounge
with was his own concern. He said nothing though, just returned his gaze
to Lazare as the man barked out a "here goes" and started
forward.
Gabriel
removed his shirt and sandals in case they wanted him to run it. He was
fine with either but it showed that intricate abstract seeming tattoo on
his back, the line of his spine clear as the lines snaked out, a few
longer ones around his shoulder to touch up the side of his neck on one
side, over his collar bone on the other. There was a patch of red ones
tipped in gold on either shoulder. Addressing the lad, "Mo as she
goes by, Maureen by full name. Warrioress in training." Arms
crossing over his chest as he took a stance near Vincent to watch Lazare.
Lazare
bobbed and weaved, dipping beneath balloons and watching his footing. He
slid through just as a nail nearly took one of the balloons closest to
his head. He stood, at last, safe through, grinning, but knowing full
well a bit of what awaited him.
He
ducked his head when Vincent looked his way -- old habit that was hard
to break but then he looked at Gabriel and nodded. "I've seen her
practicing. Just didn't know her name, sir." He automatically took
up an at-ease stance, and hit a grin. The squires had been placing bets
on whether the king's men would attempt the beast.
Lazare
rubbed down one arm and then the other, darting forward to maneuver
through the sensitive flags. His confidence got the better of him and he
smacked into a flag, but to his advantage, it was not one that triggered
a cream shower. He glanced down with a grimace to the water trough below
but quickly made his way through and not yet a victim to the beast's
vengeance.
He
looked to Vincent with a grin, stepping forward as he did. The
water sac swung so close Lazare almost lost his balance. Concentrate,
Man, egging Vincent on could wait! He picked up his pace, practically
dancing with the large water filled sacs and the arms that swung them
about. He was almost crawling when he exited, taking hold of one of the
boards for support. Castor's mind was a wicked thing to be sure!
"You are but half way there,
Carno!" Vincent called, nodding slowly. He was, without admitting
it, rather impressed with Lazare's progress.
This
was Lazare's favorite section and he was, indeed, smiling as he started
in.
He
glanced at Vincent and Gabriel then watched again, moving slightly so he
could see better. He was going to be a few coins richer after tonight.
Into
the next section he darted, already struggling for breath. He hopped
away from one geyser to avoid the next, constantly glancing up to watch
for that damnable seaweed and the stench that would accompany it.
Having stepped too long on one particular spray of water, the seaweed
dumped, clinging now to his head and shoulders as he slipped and slid
his way to the other side. The good thing about going first, he wet the
way for Vincent to follow! Reaching for a safe hold, he pulled himself
through to a safe place to scrap the seaweed from his shoulders and drag
it from his hair.
As
Lazare made it through the next section, both of Vincent's brows shot
up. He looked to Bannon. "Will you be wanting to try, Zimmer?"
Fine lines creased at the corners of his eyes but he didn't smile.
Having spent so much time with Vincent though, Bannon would recognize
that expression.
Now
that he didn't expect! He looked at the King's man then nodded
slowly. "Of course, sir." Better to do it in front of them
then his friends the first time!
Over a
barrel, two, but then they started to roll. He had thought he wouldn't
mind being doused in that gel, but as the barrels started to spew, he
started slipping, and grappling for a hold, and scrambling for a
foothold to fight his way through.
Lazare
was not too proud to scramble on his hands and knees, and he did, as
best he could, until he was safely through this portion as well. He came
even more slowly to his feet though. Why had he challenged Vincent to
this test? Someone...remind him!
He was
impressed with Lazare's stamina as he continued to manage through the
gel to the last part.
The
last section now loomed before him. He surveyed his final threat, eyeing
that rope, and if nothing else, hoping he could at least grab hold of
that! He drew in a deep breath and shouted out a war cry - shooting
forward! He started to get ahead of himself, glancing beyond the rope to
the end of the gauntlet, so much so that he didn't watch his footing and
soon the water shifted its course and before he even knew what was
happening, he was slipping down the ramp. "Ah, hellno..." This
close! Lazare's hands were wet and slippery from past sections and he
attempted to grip that rope, but he felt his hands sliding off the hemp,
even as he threw his body weight into the swing of it. It was,
perhaps, that he had managed to pitch the weight of his body into the
swing of that rope, and even as his hands slid off, he went sailing out
of the other end of the gauntlet, as if on the very breeze itself. He
landed in the dirt beyond, rolling to his back to just grin up at the
darkening sky. He threw a fist into the earth and rolled to his feet,
bowing to none other than Vincent de Beauvais.
de
Beauvais could only...stare. For the longest time, he just looked at
Lazare as the man began to shift his feet about in the dust in some sort
of weird victory dance. Vincent looked to the gauntlet, then back to
Lazare. "Well..done." Is all he could say. For, indeed, it
was...well done.
The surprise was,
horns and whistles went off in a booming sound with some fireworks
when he made it through all the way. Seems Lancely had added a little
surprise.
He
let out a laugh, eyes bright as he watched the fireworks and the dance.
"He's the first to make it the whole way through."
The
horns and whistles would bring Karl to the window of the castle to look
out and, if he could see the gauntlet from that height, he'd see Lazare,
flailing and strutting with some semblance of a demented peacock's
dance.
He applauded Lazare,
laughing with his dance but certainly earned for what the gauntlet put
him through. "Aye, that I know of, he is the first to conquer it
but then the timing will be changed again each time." This to
Bannon.
Vincent
rubbed at the back of his neck with the palm of his hand, tearing his
gaze from the strutting, prancing man back to the gauntlet. "What
say you, Gabriel? Would you wish to follow...that? Or shall I?"
Vincent dropped his gaze to Bannon. He would see the boy at least
attempt it, but not before the knights. With the young man's current
progress in training, de Beauvais knew the position was well understood.
"I
will defer the honor to you Sir Vincent, being I have been twice upon it
but willing to go after you." Sweeping a hand the gauntlet's way
with a touch of a wicked grin. "No time like the present."
Once
more a dip of head to Gabriel and Vincent crossed to climb upon the
machine. He slid his foot along the opening, this part at least would
not be as slippery as the rest. Dark gaze narrowed as he eyed the
balloons, the spikes, then his lips thinned. There was a time he would
have told Lazare where to take his challenge and exactly where to stuff
it, but, here he stood, facing a foe which had nothing to do with actual
skill, but more luck. This is where he found himself. This is where he
would continue. And so...it began.
Lazare
slid on around to the front of the gauntlet to get a better view of de
Beauvais. "You...are going down, Mighty Warrior!" He shouted
to his comrade even as Vincent took that first step forward.
Vincent
dipped his head and started through, only halfway when a spike pressed
into a balloon, spewing water over the warrior's head. Vincent quickened
his pace but that didn't save him from the trap door opening beneath
him. Hold
on! He
didn't know about that! He swung about, his hands wet from the water,
and he grasped at the pole to keep from plummeting below.
He was
holding his breath as he watched slippery wet hands trying to hold onto
that pole.
Out for
a walk - he'd eaten far too much at dinner than was usual - Cole heard
the sounds around Lancely's water dragon and went to investigate. Seeing
others, one of whom he believed he recognized as his brother, he made
his way silently to join them.
His
grip tightened and he hauled himself up, swinging to the other side of
the hole to gain an unsure foothold. Had this very first section done
him in, they may very well find only ashes the next morning. The
soles of his boots were now also wet, making for precarious footing, but
he caught hold of the entrance to the next section and stopped there,
studying what awaited him next.
Well,
he held his breath, eyes going wide. A glance toward Gabriel and the one
who had joined them and then another toward Lazare and he was back to
watching Vincent.
"Mmmmph."
Lazare grunted with a grin following. If only!
He
caught sight of Cole, his presence felt with the prickling of hair along
the back of his neck, in a way he learned to discern it was a brother of
his. "Cole," waving him over in invitation then gestured to
the three others. He most likely would recognize the two kingsmen.
"Sir Lazare, who you have met and Sir Vincent," indicating the
one on the water gauntlet presently. "His squire, Bannon."
The
King's Man stationed safely on the ground looked to Cole with a nod of
greeting. Not wanting to miss Vincent's next venture, he was quick to
return his gaze.
"Good
evening, Sir Lazare. Bannon." A nod greeted each; he'd acknowledge
the renowned Sir Vincent when he was finished with the monster. Turning
his gaze to it, he draped an arm over Gabriel's shoulder lazily and
watched with
interest.
"Good
evening, Sir." He bowed slightly, and was immediately watching
Vincent again.
Gabriel
shifted his weight to accommodate for the arm and subsequent weight
added, his arms crossing mid chest as focus turned on Sir Vincent.
Vincent's
jaw tensed, released, tensed and he stepped forward into the next
challenge. Weaving a path past the flags, he twisted and turned to avoid
any possible contact. He had never seen the machine in action before, so
was
unsure
what would transpire if he failed to avoid touching those flags. Knowing
Caster's warped mind, however, Vincent didn't wish to find out. In and
out, shift and pivot, until he made it to the other side. He glanced
behind
him
only once, then turned to survey what awaited him. Balloon bumpers? Were
you kidding? He stood a moment, taking in what he could of the trials he
would soon face, then started in.
Continued.... |
