Post by Seek on Apr 16, 2013 17:33:51 GMT 10
Title: Challenge
Rating: R
Word Count: 720 words.
Pairing: Kel/Lalasa
Round/Fight: 1B
Summary: AU, Lady Knight Kel decides to take matters into her own hands.
Warnings: Warning for implied abuse, sexual or otherwise. Lalasa has not been treated well.
-
"Lady Kel..." Lalasa begins. I almost, almost curse to myself. One eye has begun to swell, and her lip has split and is beginning to bleed again. When the anger starts, I almost surprise myself. It is a fierce, slow-building rage that curls within me and won't be denied. The law is on Vinson's side. How a noble's servants are treated is between the noble and himself. Or at least it is considered ill manners to interfere with how another nobleman treats his servants. I hold out a handkerchief for her; as she takes it, I see fierce lines of red along the insides of her arm. Scratches.
I don't care about noble etiquette.
She holds the handkerchief warily, like I will strike her for daring to touch it. Perhaps Vinson has taught her that. Another thing to add to his tally. "Use it," I tell her tartly. "You're bleeding."
"It's nothing--"
"Go to the kitchens," I say, keeping my voice brisk. "Get a piece of meat for that eye, Mistress Isran."
I do not think I am angry; perhaps my hold on my Yamani mask is beginning to crack. She takes one look at my expression, bows, and beats a hasty retreat. I wonder if I should have given her money to see a healer, and resolve to speak to Alanna after this is done. I turn around, and look for Vinson of Genlith. After I became squire to Lord Raoul, Joren mostly gave up trying to get me to give up on my knighthood and quit, except in subtle ways. Since then, I'd never crossed paths with Vinson. Perhaps I should have. I find him talking to Garvey of Runnerspring--another of Joren's cronies, I'd jousted with him once when he was squire to Sir Paxton of Nond. That much is a waste; Sir Paxton is a kind man, and Garvey is nothing like him. Strange enough that Sir Paxton took Garvey as his squire.
It would be better were I in armour. But Eda Bell, the Shang Wildcat, has taught me some tricks about using my weight and my fist catches him full in the jaw and smashes him backwards. He staggers, collapses to his feet. Blood drips from my fist, but I don't think it's mine. I'd have felt it if my knuckles were broken and I know just how hard to hit and how to hit. Vinson spits out a mouthful of blood. That jaw is going to swell. The entire room falls silent. I have just offered grievous insult to Vinson, and the Code of Chivalry is clear about what he can and cannot take. And especially, not from me. Not from The Girl.
I stand over him, and say, loudly, "Vinson of Genlith is not worth the paint on his shield."
The hush grows ominous. I say, "I've seen what you've done to them. You beat them, use them. You think that paying them puts you above them."
"Wench," he finally growls, through a mouthful of broken teeth and blood. "You think you can interfere with how another noble treats his servants? This is what it's about? The slut with the lovely eyes?"
My boot finds his stomach. He must fight, now. He wheezes, curls up in a bloody ball from the force of the kick. I say, my voice cold, "If you do not demand satisfaction, Genlith, then you'll just have a whole room watch how you've been beaten up by a girl. That's if you're not too afraid to face me with a lance."
Genlith mumbles, "Fine. So be it."
"Time and place," I snap. As the challenged, he has the right to name it.
"Tilting yards," he retorts. Where else? "Next month."
"You will not lay a hand on her until the match," I say. I step very close to him and stoop down. Quietly, so the rest cannot hear what I say next, I add, "A nobleman's grant does not shield men from the Court of the Goddess."
He knows what I am referring to. I have seen Lalasa's bruises. The anger does not go away; I have sharpened it, focused it into a weapon which I can use. If I can't protect Lalasa, what kind of knight am I?
"Until then," I tell him, and stalk off.
Rating: R
Word Count: 720 words.
Pairing: Kel/Lalasa
Round/Fight: 1B
Summary: AU, Lady Knight Kel decides to take matters into her own hands.
Warnings: Warning for implied abuse, sexual or otherwise. Lalasa has not been treated well.
-
"Lady Kel..." Lalasa begins. I almost, almost curse to myself. One eye has begun to swell, and her lip has split and is beginning to bleed again. When the anger starts, I almost surprise myself. It is a fierce, slow-building rage that curls within me and won't be denied. The law is on Vinson's side. How a noble's servants are treated is between the noble and himself. Or at least it is considered ill manners to interfere with how another nobleman treats his servants. I hold out a handkerchief for her; as she takes it, I see fierce lines of red along the insides of her arm. Scratches.
I don't care about noble etiquette.
She holds the handkerchief warily, like I will strike her for daring to touch it. Perhaps Vinson has taught her that. Another thing to add to his tally. "Use it," I tell her tartly. "You're bleeding."
"It's nothing--"
"Go to the kitchens," I say, keeping my voice brisk. "Get a piece of meat for that eye, Mistress Isran."
I do not think I am angry; perhaps my hold on my Yamani mask is beginning to crack. She takes one look at my expression, bows, and beats a hasty retreat. I wonder if I should have given her money to see a healer, and resolve to speak to Alanna after this is done. I turn around, and look for Vinson of Genlith. After I became squire to Lord Raoul, Joren mostly gave up trying to get me to give up on my knighthood and quit, except in subtle ways. Since then, I'd never crossed paths with Vinson. Perhaps I should have. I find him talking to Garvey of Runnerspring--another of Joren's cronies, I'd jousted with him once when he was squire to Sir Paxton of Nond. That much is a waste; Sir Paxton is a kind man, and Garvey is nothing like him. Strange enough that Sir Paxton took Garvey as his squire.
It would be better were I in armour. But Eda Bell, the Shang Wildcat, has taught me some tricks about using my weight and my fist catches him full in the jaw and smashes him backwards. He staggers, collapses to his feet. Blood drips from my fist, but I don't think it's mine. I'd have felt it if my knuckles were broken and I know just how hard to hit and how to hit. Vinson spits out a mouthful of blood. That jaw is going to swell. The entire room falls silent. I have just offered grievous insult to Vinson, and the Code of Chivalry is clear about what he can and cannot take. And especially, not from me. Not from The Girl.
I stand over him, and say, loudly, "Vinson of Genlith is not worth the paint on his shield."
The hush grows ominous. I say, "I've seen what you've done to them. You beat them, use them. You think that paying them puts you above them."
"Wench," he finally growls, through a mouthful of broken teeth and blood. "You think you can interfere with how another noble treats his servants? This is what it's about? The slut with the lovely eyes?"
My boot finds his stomach. He must fight, now. He wheezes, curls up in a bloody ball from the force of the kick. I say, my voice cold, "If you do not demand satisfaction, Genlith, then you'll just have a whole room watch how you've been beaten up by a girl. That's if you're not too afraid to face me with a lance."
Genlith mumbles, "Fine. So be it."
"Time and place," I snap. As the challenged, he has the right to name it.
"Tilting yards," he retorts. Where else? "Next month."
"You will not lay a hand on her until the match," I say. I step very close to him and stoop down. Quietly, so the rest cannot hear what I say next, I add, "A nobleman's grant does not shield men from the Court of the Goddess."
He knows what I am referring to. I have seen Lalasa's bruises. The anger does not go away; I have sharpened it, focused it into a weapon which I can use. If I can't protect Lalasa, what kind of knight am I?
"Until then," I tell him, and stalk off.