Inspection [Open/Roland or Garrett Requested]

[severine]

War would be coming soon. Severine could always smell war on the air. It had only been less than a year since the Fated had begun to arrive on the shores of this city- her city. She had at first been content to simply watch the spread, study the beginnings of the infection, but now it was growing beyond her reach. They were beginning to thrive, to spread, to bring dissent. It would only be a matter of time before they began to breed, spreading their ideologies and dangerous abilities through her city. And if her spies were correct, they were beginning to infect the very walls of the castle. After the incident at the ball, that was simply unacceptable.

So she was here. In the training grounds. The place smelled of sweat and horse shit- the usual stench of the warrior type. The servants flanking her looked like they might wilt from the smell of it, but were doing their utmost to remain at attention in their heavy brocade-patterned sashes and velvet hats. Severine herself towered over the two of them, even without her enormous jeweled headdress. It was hotter today than it had been in a while, but her face didn’t show any strain.

The woman was in her fifties, but carried that age gracefully. What could be seen of the cool. deep copper-toned skin of her face was painted with makeup, doing it’s utmost to hide the wrinkles at her mouth and eyes. It could not hide the perpetual sneer on her lips, however. She would have her words with these so-called guards later, but for now she busied herself with simply watching for any signs of not-of-this-world ability.

Severine turned her head to one of her sweating servants, who jolted at being addressed suddenly. “Fetch Sir Garrett or Roland for me, I would have words with one of them. Either will do.” she waved her gloved hand idly, touching her finger to her cheek. Even with gloves on, she would not think about soiling her hands by touching anything in this place.

[Roland]

Roland was standing on the far end of the training ground. An animated statue of a warrior stood opposite him, it's stone sword brandished to strike. The creature moves towards him with surprising speed, but Roland was ready and he move towards it as well when the sword came down he reached up and identifying the faults and impurities as Ilta had taught him he snaps the sword with his hand before it could strike him. Then with his bare right foot touching the ground he opened up a hole beneath the goliath's foot causing it to stumble and with a focused magic filled strike he palm struck the head using the earth magic to cause it to shatter and the creature to go limp.

He inhaled the life force he had placed into the statue and turns to see the attendant who would have been standing there by now. Roland was in a short sleeved shirt with stout wollen pants and an open woolen jacket, a change from his usual leather one. He frowns and glares at the attendant as he rights himself and stands up straight.

"Yes what do you want?" He asks, narrowing his eyes and when the servant explains he looks across the yard at Serevine. What does that Fating woman want? He wonders and considers blowing her off, but if it was important she might just send the servant back and it would waste everyone's time and possibly get the pour kid in trouble. "To the Glades with it." He grumbles and then picks up his hat, puts it on and walks over to Serevine with an unhappy expression.

"What's the problem?" He asks her, getting straight down to business.

[severine]

Severine could hear the shattering of stone and turned her head as her servant caught up to Roland. The man was so inelegant for a mage- scruffy and unsociable and foul tempered at best. But he was a practical man, and while her friends did not approve of his single-minded pursuit of the law against even the nobles, that sort of drive could prove to be useful.

Severine did not turn to face Roland at first when he approached, as his mood was obviously foul. She tapped her gloved finger to her cheek and then lowered her hand after a moment, looking down at Roland with a thin smile.

“Has it been so long since your last inspection? I am simply here out of concern for his Majesty.” Severine lowered her arms, placing her hand on her hip.”There should be no need for concern. I had hoped that you would show me your facilities- I have heard that you have several new recruits. After that dreadful Fated incident at the ball, our security must be doubled. Do you not agree?”

[Roland]

Roland was unamused by the court woman's games as she clearly takes her time deciding to address him.I hate royals and their games. he reminds himself and turns to leave, if it was not important enough to warrant her telling him immediately it couldn't be that important.

When she does finally acknowledge him he turns around having already begun to leave. "I don't care to jockey status with you." He warns as he wanted to make his stance in this whole matter clear. Her widening smile only served to deepen his frown.

When she mentions an inspection he wrinkles his brow. The royal guard was rarely inspected, though he supposed it did happen from time to time. "If you need to inspect the city guard talk to Garrett, but I can give you an overview of what's going on with the royal guard. As you mentioned we have been getting new recruits to help replace those killed by the assassin and to increase the palace protection." He explains as he leads her to the far end of the training ground which contained a grizzled sergeant instructing them in drills.

"We've increased the combat training regiment and have been bringing in veterans from the city guard to augment forces. A lot of the new recruits are getting put into the city guard until they can develop a lot of the skills a guard needs." He finishes his explanation and waits for comments before moving on.

[Garrett Blade]

The guard at the gate to the Training Grounds had spotted the royal blooded woman the moment she had walked passed. The young trainee rushed from his post to the barracks where Garrett laid quietly within his room. Alone to his thoughts for a short while before the trainee began knocking on his door.

His one good eye cracked open in annoyance at the expected intrusion; Sitting up the moment the young man jiggled the door knob open and entered Garrett's room. He didn't walk all the way in the room, he did stand at the door where he could address the Royal Captain the arrival of Lady Severine. A brow raised and Garrett sat there with a some what surprised expression on his face.

Now that was something odd an a little unusual to hear. That woman would never leave the First District. Let alone leave the comforts of the castle and away from the king's graces.

" Severine…"

Garrett sighed, shifting his body over to place both his feet firmly on the cold wooden floor. Where he then took his time to put on his boots, hand brush his hair. He mulled over the thoughts and questions of why this sudden visit. However once he finished tying on the heavy leather cloak, he was greeted by yet another man who came in behind the trainee who had left moments before to return to his post.

Looks like it was his turn to dance in front of his woman. Garrett nodded, letting the servant give his message. " Lead the way." Garrett gestured, following behind the servant out of the barracks and to where Lady Severine was standing. A small smile placed on his lips as he held out his arms in a welcoming manner.

" Lady Severine, You look well today. What brings you here and away from the safety of the castle?" Garrett smiled, stopping only a few feet from the royal woman. His eye shifting to turn his attention to Roland. It seems that he had the right idea, too bad he couldn't run away at this point. Time to face the bull by the horns and grin and bare it. Garrett nodded to Roland, before looking back at Severine.

[severine]

Severine laughed at Roland’s cutting remark, but it was mirthless- clear and cold like glass. What an uncouth fellow. He would learn quickly though. She smiled thinly, following alongside Roland in long strides, her stiff cloud-grey dress brushing the grass beneath her feet.

“Please, tell me of your new recruits. I would be terribly honored to meet some of them, as long as they are loyal Novian citizens. It would so aggrieve his Majesty if our illustrious ranks were... polluted. Are these new recruits terribly experienced in the art of defending his Majesty?” she turned her gaze to Roland, tapping her cheek again. Before she had a chance to speak more on the subject, her thought was distracted by the arrival of Sir Garrett. She turned her head to the young man’s tall figure and handsome face, her thoughts returning to the same thought she had when she saw him for the first time.

Bastard.

Severine turned her smile to Garrett, extending her gloved hand to him. “Oh Sir Garrett, you say that as if I am in danger in the company of you and Roland. But I know that you will not allow any harm to come to his Majesty’s eyes. I only act in his best interests, after all.”

Severine waved her hand flippantly, looking over the barracks. “I was just asking Roland to tell me more about your new recruits. Do you have any details to add, Sir Garrett?”

[Roland]

Roland leads her along and continues to show her the facilities when she asks about his new recruits. He stops and turns to face her, towering over the woman. "I will introduce you to some recruits, but we both know that's not what you are actually asking. I do not have the time or inclination to play these games. If you have an individual you have concerns about then we can go talk to them, if not then you can get your servants to do some interviewing." He says before resuming his walk, he did not like being played games with and nor this pointless run around.

"If you are concerned about the non-novarians that we hire I assure you they are not used in the king's personal guard, but there are plenty of other jobs available to use them for and the royal guard needs competent people at a time like this." He says seriously, whether this would allay her fears or change the situation he did not know, and frankly did not much care.

Roland found himself almost glad that Garrett had decided to show up, though he shrugged in response to the man's nod. If Serevine had actual concerns about the fated than she could take her issues up with Garrett, after all he was precedent. Roland was still not sure what to make of Garrett, though overall he was a nice change from the normal noble who had his place.

Roland can't help but snort at their exchange of subtle insults. "Veiled meanings, Garrett you know Serevine is safe in the training ground, and Serevine the king has eyes, last I saw they were in his head." He says before striding on.