"Pride and Prejuice" (Rockaxe) Thirty minutes had passed since the end of the knights' morning training. Camus still wasn't back yet. Miklotov quickly wished it wasn't so easy for him to get impatient. The fact that the Red Knights' commander hadn't returned yet most likely meant that he succeeded in gaining an audience with Sir Ridley, Two River's Kobold commander. Still, something about that possibility seemed almost unreal to the blue-clad knight. Sir Ridley was known to be a stubborn fellow--even more than himself, as Camus would quip--and not entirely trusting of HUMANS... So what was he going to do until Camus got back? Train a bit on his own? Fall asleep where he sat? Try to pry some answers from Lord Gordo and as a result, get the aging Matilda knights leader teed off? Miklotov breathed a heavy sigh as he leaned further against the iron-worked bench he was slumped upon, blue-garbed arms crossed and equally azure eyes staring almost blankly across the rooftops of the city. From where he sat, upon a fenced ledge overlooking Rockaxe, he could easily see the massive city gates and the raised portcullis that normally blocked passage into the town's formidable stone walls. Here, he would be able to spot Camus the moment he returned. Of course, he had been sitting in place for over thirty minutes and no sign of his friend emerged...maybe he was wasting his time? After all, he DID have a few responsibilities to take care of back within the fortress and it was already mid-morning... Maybe it was time to head back. The bench he sat upon was quickly becoming uncomfortable. Stifling a grunt, Miklotov pushed himself out from the iron-wrought bench and stood to his full height, stretching slightly to let the kinks in his back settle and pop. Camus was a year older than himself and more like a brother than anything; he shouldn't have to worry so much on whether or not he would make it to Two-River and back in one piece. Besides, he was more worried over something else, something much more close to home... Glancing over his shoulder at the city gates behind him, Miklotov smoothed the wrinkles out from his heavy uniform as he semi-marched his way back towards the Matilda knights fortress. The discomfort within his gut increased...but when it came to dealing with Lord Gordo...such was the price to pay. [Rockaxe, Matilda Knights' Fortress] "What...? They're STILL discontent!?" Miklotov halted mid-stride when the sound of Lord Gordo's loud voice carried to his ears. While he was still just slightly further down the hallway from where his Lord was, out of sight, it wasn't that hard to pick up the Matilda leader's thunderous voice within the perfect acoustics the stone fortress hallways provided. From the sheer volume rattling the walls, it was obvious that Gordo was flustering over something; the smaller, lower-toned voice of an intimidated subordinate meekly relaying sudden news was obviously not doing anything to improve the old man's fluctuating mood. Miklotov edged forward a bit, towards the end of the passageway, before it split to the left and right, and pressed his back silently against the wall, listening in with bated breath. "So they're STILL demanding some political power?" Gordo snorted audibly in obvious disgust. "They obviously don't know their place, the sorry ingrates! Isn't it enough that the knights protect them and their families?" Miklotov's eyes narrowed. What the Hell were they talking about...? The lower-ranking white knight that had brought the apparently bad news did his best to keep his voice from shaking. "They say that we haven't been keeping our pledge as knights," came the response. "In fact, one of their so-called 'ringleaders' is saying we're abusing our rank..." "Abusing our rank"...? Wait...it couldn't be that-- An expression of utter disdain creased Gordo's stiff elderly face. "Alexandra McKay, eh? The daughter of a red knight who married a Highland BITCH?" He scoffed loudly once again. "I'm not impressed with her so-called 'ideas'. I couldn't care less if she came here and told me personally! She's just a mere woman with worthless ideals--" "You sure you should be speaking so brashly, 'Mi'lord'...?" Miklotov's eyes widened slightly at the all-too-familiar tone of sarcasm and the strong, feminine voice that carried it. Carefully peeking into the adjoining hallway, making sure he wouldn't reveal his location, he quickly spotted the voice's owner, Alexandra. She was a fairly tall woman, although she still dwarfed the average Matildain man by about half a foot. Even so, she was strongly built and dressed in the baggy white tunic, black breeches, and knee-high black boots of a man. Even the red-streaked black hair that framed her tanned, copper-eyed face was cropped a bit short, seeming to defy the age-old Matilda tradition that women should keep their hair at least half the length of their backs. She was obviously the type of woman who took the word "tomboy" as a COMPLIMENT! Even now, a heavy, defying scowl was brandished upon her face, sharper than even the edge of the sharpest knight's sword and causing her to look about four years older than her age of twenty five summers. Alexandra McKay...Miklotov had known her about as long as he had known Camus, and she was just about as close, if not closer. Her father had been one of the highest-ranking red knights within the nation, but died in a Grasslands-Jowston skirmish when she had only been five years of age. Not only that, but he supposedly brought shame to his country by taking in a HIGHLAND woman as his wife...something unheard of in this day and age. After her father had died, Alexandra took care of her sickly mother and fought off scores of heated insults and even beatings from her less-than-accepting peers. Her life, even when she had met him and Camus, was hardly a pleasant one. Miklotov always thought 'Alex', as he and Camus called her, to be brash and uncouth, although he found a particular charm about that, seeming that she was the ONLY Matildain woman that he knew of that didn't take his blunt attitude as an insult. Still, he knew her to be caring to the core, that she had a sense of justice that rivaled even that of many of the KNIGHTS. She was modest and appreciated honestly; she knew how to carry herself. It wasn't like she DIDN'T know how to be a lady... But a woman shouldn't needlessly throw herself into harm's path... Right now, Alex was hardly showing any trace of her feminine side as she glared straight into Lord Gordo's gray eyes, her own reddish-hued eyes narrowing in obvious disgust. The white knight that had initially relayed the news to Lord Gordo had quickly vanished, not wanting to be caught up in the heated situation. "That's hardly the tone a TRUE Matilda knight would take to a lady, is it?" she remarked, retaining her Ice Queen demeanor as best she could despite her obvious anger. "Hmph!" Gordo crossed his hefty arms and shot Alex a glare of his own. "I'd only do so if there WERE a lady present, but all I see is a filthy little upstart!" Miklotov bit his lip hard, nearly drawing blood as he felt his own anger surging. Once again, Gordo's chauvinist personality was making less than a favored impact... Alexandra's expression melted into one of pure rage. "I came because I feel that women deserve a speck of RIGHTS in this country!" she spat, roaring almost directly into Gordo's marble-like face. "Last night, a group of your rowdy squires went into town and caused chaos at the tavern! A damned fight broke out because one of the waitresses, one of my FRIENDS, refused their drunken advances! Are we to be SUBJECTED to such humiliation!?" They did WHAT!? Gordo's expression remained impartial. "You know there are a few minor prices to pay for living in a nation protected by knights--" "PROTECTED!?" Alex very well looked as though she were about to actually ATTACK the Matilda leader as she grabbed the cuff of his uniform, almost jerking his hefty form forward. "Women have things they wish to protect themselves! And we wish to protect our DIGNITY! Are you saying you'll forgoe any justice for us!? Is this why you don't allow women to become knights alongside those they CARE FOR!?" "Deceitful INGRATE!" Gordo snapped as his gauntlet-covered hand immediately clasped the hilt of his massive broadsword, the weapon edging out slightly with an audible CLACK. He angrily swatted Alex's hands from his robes hard enough for the woman to cry out in startled pain. "You CARE to lay a hand upon me!? Order prevails because women are SUBSERVIENT to their lords as per Matilda TRADITION! You're as worthless in battle as a COWARD! Did you ever THINK that maybe all your kind is GOOD for is to cook and CLEAN!?" THAT comment was the straw that broke the camel's back. Miklotov took as much as he could stand to hear as he stormed out from his hiding place, fixing his burning gaze upon his lord... "What kind of KNIGHT would DARE to strike at a woman!?" Looks of sudden surprise dominated both Gordo's face and Alexandra's face as they spun around to face the fuming blue knight. "M-Miklotov...?" Alex stammered, obviously doing well to fight back the slight tears of pain welling up in her copper eyes. "W-what are you doing he--" "This has nothing to do with you, Miklotov!" Gordo growled, releasing the hold he had upon the hilt of his weapon. "Stand down and mind your own business!" Miklotov's smooth face contorted with unbridled rage. "Alex is a close friend of mine," he growled, pacing up to the two, all-the-while glaring directly into his aged lord's stony eyes with a look befitting of a man ready to kill. "The Knight's Code is strictly against the striking of women, or have you FORGOTTEN?" By now, Alexandra's former mask of anger had melted one of near-panic. "Miklotov, please," she pleaded, walking over to him and grasping his arm, as if trying to pull him away. "You don't have to do this--" "Have YOU forgotten that a knight has due process to gain compensation when he is wronged!?" Gordo howled, cutting Alex's protests off. By now, was visibly shaking with anger. He and the blue knights' commander were now pretty much standing face-to-face... "Wronged...? WRONGED?" Miklotov glared at his lord with an incredulous air. "It's a knight's duty to see that if if a wrong is committed, as Alex has plainly stated, he bring justice where it is deserved! SHE was wronged way before even YOU were, 'Lord Gordo'! Women should be CHERISHED, not flung around like chattel--" "STAND DOWN NOW, MIKLOTOV!" Gordo roared, drawing out his sword with a blur of movement. Enraged, the old white knight fixed the tip of his blade just mere hairs away from Miklotov's vulnerable neck, causing the other to flinch and break out in a cold sweat. "One more cowardly word from YOU and I won't hesitate to inflict the most GRIEVOUS public punishment that I can think of! How DARE you speak in such a manner to your Lord!?" Miklotov found himself unable to speak as he clenched his teeth visibly. Alexandra's face tightened in almost inhuman anxiety as she once again tugged upon her friend's arm. "Mik, there's no use in getting involved," she murmured, her eyes fastened to the glinting blade at the blue knight's neck. "I started this...so there's no use for you having to get into trouble on my account..." A short moment of silence and stillness enveloped the three. Gordo's blade continued to hover dangerously close to Miklotov's throat as the blue-garbed knight stared defiantly at the sharp weapon's tip. Alex held her breath, almost afraid to exhale for fear that Gordo would suddenly decide to run Miklotov through...but in the end, Miklotov backed away, bowing his head in submission, frustration clearly imprinted upon his sweat-encased face. Lord Gordo's rage began to subside as he pulled his sword away and promptly sheathed it. "I'll overlook this base woman's insults this once," he growled, brushing harshly past Miklotov and drawing nasty glares from the blue knight and his companion. "However, if she crosses me one more time, she'll get the equal punishment that wayward knights receive! She wishes equality, so she'll get it!" Miklotov and Alexandra watched in simmering silence as they watched Lord Gordo’s white-robed form disappear further down the hall, his armored footfalls soon giving way to the loud SLAM of a heavy oaken door shutting. A heavy sigh of relief quickly passed Miklotov's lungs. "I apologize profusely for that," he murmured, taking hold of Alexandra's hands to make sure she didn't suffer any sort of cuts or bruises. "If it weren't for the fact that I'm tied down by the Code..." Alexandra looked away and shook her head. "It's not your fault," she sighed. "I started the whole thing. I had what was coming to me. ...But thanks for saving me back there. For all I know, Gordo would've cleaved my head from my shoulders if things got worse." "Still..." Miklotov seemed to fumble for words. "I don't believe women should PLACE themselves in the path of danger. You know Camus and I are willing to help you if you need it. I mean...how long have we been friends? You shouldn't have to hesitate to ask." Alex went silent. Her eyes were fixed upon the floor, her face a mixture of frustration and sadness. Miklotov grimaced and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "...Nevermind I said that," he whispered, putting a hand on the young woman's shoulder. "I'll go ahead and escort you back to the tavern." This time, Alexandra looked up and smiled faintly. "Thanks a lot, Mik," she replied. "Think nothing of it," Miklotov answered, smiling slightly himself as he gently led his friend down the cold, silent stone fortress hallway. "A knight shouldn't refuse a friend, anyway."
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