Location: Drullen Bell Keep, preparing for departure
Sir Dractor was back in his old haunt, the armoury. His armour, battered, bent, and pretty much wrecked in general during the Seige of Orion, had long since been repaired by the capable Rodurik.Lord_Of_The_LEGO wrote:Bjarn turned and counted out loud, "That makes...five, six, seven, eight...eight persons, for Shainya is going as well. Very good, our fellowship has been formed. Thank you, again."
Bjarn gave the Sign of the Elk and departed, as did everyone else.
"I'm still amazed that you were able to do anything with it," said Sir Dractor to the smith, as he donned the armour for the first time in months. It was slightly snugger around the waist than Sir Dractor remembered.
"It was just a matter of hammering out dents, and bending back folds," said Rodurik. "That done, it was remarkablely undamaged. I just had to re-temper it a bit, smooth over some of the worse spots on the edges, and polish it."
"All the same, its amazing from my point of view," said Sir Dractor, turning to leave. "And you have my thanks."
"It was a pleasure to be of assistance to one of Dametreos' great heroes," said Rodurik. "And it was a fine piece of craftsmanship to begin with. I am pleased to have had a part in restoring it to usefullness."
Sir Dractor nodded. Then he picked up his new shield (courtesy again of Rodurik. His old one had been totally destroyed in battle), and strapped on his greatsword, and departed the armoury.
He was walking down the halls when he met Shainya, coming out of another corner of the armoury. Her sword hung at her side.
"Do you still remember how to use that?" asked Sir Dractor.
"Not really," said Shainya, guiltily. "But I think it would come back with practice."
"Then you had better get some practise before we leave," said Sir Dractor. "There's very little doubt that you'll need it on this quest."
"It does look that way," said Shainya, somewhat sadly. "It's a pity, really, that it has to be like that." Shainya puased, and then changed the subject, becoming somewhat more cheerful.
"You know, I had the strangest thought," she said, "when Bjarn was saying that we eight had formed a fellowship. It almost didn't seem right. It was as if we were one short or something." Shainya laughed, and Sir Dractor with her.
"If this fellowship is like any that I have known or heard of," said the warrior. "It will be most unlikely indeed if we do not acquire companions, lose companions, and divide into smaller companies well before we reach our goal. Besides which, I am almost of the opinion that we have too many people already, although I cannot honestly say who I would leave out."
"Don't be ridiculous," said Shainya with a smile. "If it was left up to you, neither I nor Luxus would be going. You don't really think we'll be much use."
"You're wrong," said Sir Dractor with a shake of his head. "Although I would not take either of you along on a perilous journey if it were left up to me, I agree with Bjarn that Luxus must come along, for reasons as yet left vague. As for you, I am in a bit of disagreement with him, in that I think you MUST come. Somehow, you are tied up in this as well. I don't believe in fate, but I do believe that your presence will be invaluable on this quest, and I have a feeling, unfounded, that you are somehow tied up in this, if only by your love for Reno."
"Now I'm getting a little scared," said Shainya. "I, personally, don't think I'll be a huge help. I just don't want to risk letting Reno out of my sight again. And I DO want to be as much a help as I can."
"Then you should get practising with that sword," said Sir Dractor with a smile. "I've already said that you could be great with it if you applied yourself. But I would get onto practising soon. Bjarn wants to leave quickly, and get this done, although I do not know where he intends to go, and there will be little enough time, I fear, once we are actually on the road."
"I'll go ask Reno right away if he'll spar with me," said Shainya. Sir Dractor smiled, but shook his head.
"I don't advise practising with Master Regga," he said. "You're a bit too devoted to him. You need to practise against someone that has no emotional hold on you. Someone that you neither want to impress overmuch, or someone that you want to let win."
"You?"
"Not I," said Sir Dractor. "I might overwhelm you. It has been too long since I fought, that I might not be able to hold myself back. Try the guardsmen. Or..." he said with a cunning smile, "Radjar Kath. That man has skill. And idle time. And.... I think it might be within your skill, once you get going, to deal him a defeat. But time will tell on that score."
Sir Dractor headed off, leaving Shainya to think over his suggestions. It was apparent, that while Sir Dractor bore Radjar Kath no ill will, he didn't mind upsetting his pride, just a little.