Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Gray watched as the Squires retreated at his command. When the beast turn on him however Gray's heart raced. The beast was going to try and leap at him. For a handful of trill the world slowed for Gray as the beast gathered power into it back legs and began to launch itself at him. Though before it could finish pushing off the ground it lost traction and its legs shot out from under it. Sending it head first into the stone of the street.

Then in the blink of an eye the Squires with bows let loose their flame arrows, and with the cries of a thousands voices the fight was over. It took Gray a second to comprehend what had just happened. The beast had thrashed from a trill before simple vanishing in a puff of shadow. Taking a quick look around to be sure they were clear, Gray finally lowered himself to the ground.

While the squires went about resting and tending to those that were wounded, Gray made his way over to Hannes. "You did good Hannes. You'll make a fine Knight someday." Gray said patting the squire on the shoulder. Soon after the squire who had taken charge back at the gate approached him. Something about her seemed familiar to Gray, a small itch at the back of his mind that said he recognized something, but couldn't place it. With an internal shrug to the feeling Gray answered the Eidisi woman. "No need for the honorific, my name's Gray." He answered, holding out his hand to the Eidisi, "and I'd say you all helped me just the same. I not sure how long I could have continued to face the beast alone."

Saeri, Gray noted the woman's name. She was an exceptional leader and had proven it today. As she thanked Gray again, Gray just waved the compliment away as though it was a fly. It had been his duty to help, and always would be, Knight or not.

"We should be relieved within a quarter-break, but we could definitely use a man of your caliber.” She asked, her words making him look around. She was right, her peers were exhausted and she too was battered and looking like someone that had been wrung out twice and left in the dirt.

Gray frowned at the request for a moment, before answering. "I'll stay and help keep watch, but I'm going to do it from out of sight. No offense, but I'd rather not be around when Knights start showing up."

With that Gray turned and made his way to the nearest alley. On the border between the warm light of the setting suns, and the cool blackness of the shadowed alley Gray stopped and looked over his shoulder. "You did well leading your peer's today Saeri." Gray offered the compliment, though his words seemed heavy with some dark emotion. "But remember this, if you continue on the path of a leader, there will come a day where you will lead your men into something they can't handle, and when that day comes it will be your burden to decide who lives and who dies." With that Gray continued on into the shadows.

Gray kept his word and watched over the squires and the gate until their relief came. As the did Gray gave a small salute to the tired and worn out squires before disappearing down the alleys of Lowtown and into the growing dusk.