>>5237645Brassus ignores you entirely. “Aly, is that you, girl?” His voice is a grating rasp, one of a man who has spent his whole life breathing the sands of countless arenas and the arid air of the badlands of the western Empire. To your surprise, his face is kind. You cannot find it in you to broach offense at the breach of decorum.
“It is, Brassus, it's good to see you.” Alys sounds genuine. But at the worst time she winces and grabs at her mostly healed wound.
The muscled man's face drops. “You are hurt, child.” He all but snarls at you. “Was it him!? Did he hurt you!?” Friedrich draws his sword just as Brassus puts one of his blades in each hand. He back steps, snarling. His countenance is that of a wolf. Old wolf, that's what Alys had called him. For his part Salaf seems unsurprised, and even amused.
You hold a hand up to Friedrich, knowing full well that this man can land his knives in you before Friedrich could even begin to swing. Alys taught you, and he taught her.
Alys steps forward, her arms out in a gesture of peace. “No! Brassus no! This is...” She looks over at your worried countenance. “... this is my man.” Brassus looks confused for a moment. And then he falls on the ground laughing, his knives still held in his hands but flailing around as he loses control. Friedrich looks like he's about to burst open in fury, but remains still as the former pit fighter rises to his feet. A few of the knights look to each other uncertainly, as if trying to parse what they just heard.
“Why did you not say such, Aly! A joy to meet you then, friend! You make the girl happy, I am happy too!.”
You nervously scratch the back of your head. “I, uh, I do try.”
Brassus seems thoughtful for a moment. “Yes, try. All anyone can. My regrets for the anger, it comes easy to an old wolf. Aly! Who did hurt you?”
Alys smiles. “He bashed the man's face into bits.” She says it with almost an unsettling relish, but then she was stabbed, and it's not like the man behind the bashing gets to be sanctimonious about it.
