<font color='#0000FF'>When she had skidded past him, Mandrake had been weighing the staff. Tis an good weapon, firm and sturdy he thought as he heard Alliah admitted that he had won. He spun around feinting an attack at Allaih with the staff when he sensed her presence behind him but what he saw surprised him. She stood there with an shocked expression at him that turned his grin into an concerned face. "Lady Alliah have i done wrong?" he asked stepping torwards to her with the staff in hand. "why do you look at me like that" he questioned , his whole body tensed thinking that he had done wrong in touching her staff. "here i didnt know that you did not like hands on ya staff" Mandrake held out the staff balanced on two paws as he looked at Alliah with concern mirrored in his eyes but his face was like that of an lost 'dragon unsure of what to do.</font>
<font color='#810541'>Alliah's brain sputtered and began to work again at the sound of Mandrakes voice. Still in shock she didn't even realize that the expressionless mask was gone. Her golden eyes came back into focus and she realized she had been staring at him. A bright pinkish hue spread across her cheeks. Once again the raw emotion was left unchecked by Alliah. <span style='color:navy'>"Done? N- nothing. You've done nothing. Nothing at all..."</span> She stared at the outstreched staff for a few minutes before her mind registered the fact that she should take it back. With still shaking hands she grasped the staff and slide it into its caseing on her back with practiced ease. <span style='color:navy'>"I- I dont mind people touching my staff. That wasn't it..."</span> She glanced up from the patch of weeds before her which had suddenly become very interesting and smirked at Mandrakes expression. She let her eyes drop again to the weeds. After a moment or two she looked back up at him, flicking her dirt covered hair out of her face. Her face was dead serious. The golden eyes hard and relentless as they looked into his. <span style='color:navy'>"Where did you learn how to fight? Who taught you to fight like that?"</span></font>
<font color='#0000FF'>His face turned into an grin as he watched her grow embrassed then as soon as it split its face it became an serious expression as his eyes narrowed. He was seeking an reason on Alliah's face into why she asked about the Warriors Way and it appeared no answers could be given. "Why do you ask me this Lady Alliah?" it was spoken softly but carried with it an underlaying feeling of annoyance, everytime he revealed his knowledge of fighting many 'dragons pester him to teach them. Now it appeared she was going to ask him to teach her. "Lady Alliah, do you see this flaming sword across my chest?" he asked pointed an extended claw at his chest "only 'dragons that are in" he delibrately left out the name of the clan, the only known clan that taught their members in the Warriors Way "can learn but if you wish to learn then i cant help you Lady Alliah, it is not mine to give' He hoped that she would give him the reasons to why she asked and why she was so shocked with the way he fought.</font>
<font color='#810541'>Alliahs face flickered from a dead-pan seriousness, to confusion, to surprise and then finally settled into irritation. <span style='color:navy'>"L- learn? Did you hit your head while we were fighting or something?! I didn't say a thing about wanting to learn! Besides, I dont need to be taught. All I need to do is watch you to pick up your "secret" moves.</span> She glared at him. Not quite sure as to why she had taken to the defensive. He had been nice enough while talking to her. Always the polite individual it seemed. Maybe it was her bruised ego after the loss. Maybe it was the fact she was still in slight aftershock. Maybe the refusal to even concider teaching her, just as her father had, even if she hadn't asked about it hit a nerve. What ever the case Alliah found herself in the middle of a teenage tantrum. Why was it whenever she acted her age it was always the downside to being younger that was seen... She covered her suddenly severly anoyed mood with the mental mask. Her features smoothing out into a placid expression, but her eyes remained cold and her voice sharp. <span style='color:navy'>"Whatever. I dont need you or your cult's moves. I was only asking because I've only seen a technique like yours once before. My father used to use the same type of moves when he was training me."</span> She turned sharply on her heels and began to stomp towards the beaten patht hat would lead to the next town.</font>
<font color='#0000FF'>Mandrake chuckled as he watched her stamp off like an little brat. He waited until she vanished out of view before walking slowly to pick up is armour. There was an slight smile that could be seen on his face as he pulled his shirt over himself and sheathed his sword. Guess i should catch up with her and protect her from the bandits he thought knowing that she didnt need his company but he needed the company. He had traveled the world as an wandering warrior, never staying in one place for long. The Dre-Seynor clan always welcomed him especially the children that clamoured to know of the world outside and the "heroic" fights he had been in even if he extraggrated it an bit....well perhaps an lot. He narrowed his eyes as he tensed his body for an long run cutting across the field, leaping from trees to trees that aided him along his path til he appeared right in front of Alliah. Soon he had swiftly picked up the pace and was well ahead of Allaih's trail. He sat there waiting for Alliah to pass so that he could greet her with an joyous smile. her father knows of the Warriors Way? he contemplated then i must ask her if she then knows of the Dre-Seynor clan he thought as he relaxed his eyes awaiting the stomps of Alliah.</font>
<font color='#810541'>The forest was really quiet. Silence had never bothered her before. She had spent most her short life which meant a lot of time with only ones thoughts. Even when she had been/visited her father he wasnt one to speak much. No, silence was not a stranger to her. Yet, for some reason, she found it strangly disrupting as she walked down the beaten path. <span style='color:navy'>"I almost wish that arrogant fool was here... I kind of miss the company."</span> She paused in mid-stride and smacked herself, hard. <span style='color:navy'>"What am I saying! ... But, he was kind. It was nice being able to talk to someone who didn't want something from me for a change."</span> She snorted. <span style='color:navy'>"Yeah, right. I must be loosing my mind!"</span> She continued to stroll down the road, totally ignorant of the individual passing her by in the trees. However, she did spot a dark figure sitting on the edge of the path only a few minutes later. A small smile made its way onto her face even as she called out in her most annoyed tone; <span style='color:navy'>"You again? What do you want now?"</span></font>
<font color='#0000FF'>He grinned "want? nothing except to keep you company Lady Alliah" He stood up, looking at Alliah with an amused expression as he pointed out her smile, small as it was 'why are you smiling? do i look so amusing to you?" he pretended to look disappointed as he felt his face and shook his head, looking at his clothes as he did so. "i dont see anything amiss Lady Alliah?" He extragragged an sad look with puppy eyes as he stared at her. Then this face was transformed into an grin as he walked to her side. "do you want me to go? i will if you can not bear the company of an happy 'dragon " he was serious about the question as he thought that Alliah preferred to be alone. If she said no, he would follow her and "acciently" meet her in the town she was headed for. He hoped she would accept his company since he liked finding out about her guarded character.</font>
<font color='#810541'>She shook her head as his playful antics as if disapinted by them, but still couldn't hide the amusement that shone in her eyes. <span style='color:navy'>"I guess the company would be welcome if you have absolutly nothing else to do until we reach the next town."</span>She let out a hugly exageratted sigh. <span style='color:navy'>"But once there I have to look for work. I'm pretty much broke..."</span> This time the sigh was a real one as she started walking down the beaten path again. In the forest a number of eyes watched the pair. The owners kept absolutly still, compleatly invisible in the deep shadows of the trees. They watched the two young 'dragons walking before them and grinned. A malicious gleem in their eyes and crooked grins on their faces showing broken yellowed teeth.</font>
<font color='#0000FF'>He grinned as he walked alongside of her. "money?" he laughed "what do ya need money for Lady Alliah?" he asked as he adjusted his sword so that he carried it comfortably. An scent came to him as he walked but he dismissed yet it spoke of danger as he lowered his head pretending he had noticed no such scent as alarm bells rang in his mind. "Lady Alliah.." he whispered "there is danger in the air be careful" his voice had an urgent and pleading notice in it as his hand slowly came to the hilt of the sword where it waited for an signal to pull it out and taste blood once again.</font>
<font color='#810541'><span style='color:navy'>"Well for starters I generally like to EAT. Not everyone enjoys living off the land you know. Then there's inns, clothing, supplies, tools to care for my weapons, and and I send what I can home."</span> She shrugged. <span style='color:navy'>"Figure I may as well help the old man out. He's not as young as he used to be and he took care of me on his own for years."</span> Alliah's eyes opened wide. She couldn't believe she was speaking so... freely! She eyed Mandrake with a guarded face. He was to calm. Something about him caused her to open up to him, lower her guard. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but was unnerving for one who had spent most of their life hiding their thoughts and feelings from others. Her sharp gaze caught a slight movement in the trees. It would have gone unnoticed if she hadn't already been looking that way... at Mandrake... She cursed him silently. Even when he wasn't trying to he was helping her. "Lady Alliah... there is danger in the air be careful" The warning was so quite she barly caught it. She simply kept walking in reply. Her rolling gait staying loose and free. She saw the males hand slowly reaching for his sword and cursed him once again in her mind. Her voice too was just above a whisper, even then it held a fierce unyielding note to it. <span style='color:navy'>"Get your hand away from the sword! I know you can draw that thing before they could do anything so DONT touch it. In this region the bandits attack in groups. Very LARGE groups. If we're lucky they will think were still oblivious to their presence and attack us with just a few members at first. If they think that they have been detected they will all come at us at once. Need I say that that is not a wanted outsome?"</span> Her head stayed forward , but her eyes darted to the trees. She hadn't seen or heard any other sign of their presence. These guys knew their trade. They probably wern't to shabby with their weapons either. So far they didn't seem to realize Alliah and Mandrake knew of them. To make idle chatter and hopefully enforce the bandits belief that they were still undiscovered Alliah simply began to speak. She winced at her voice. Even to her own ears it sounded a bit strained. The words comeing out forced and awkward. <span style='color:navy'>"So... you just travel around? No motive or anything to it. Just wander...? If you dont mind me saying so that seems a bit pointless."</span></font>
<font color='#0000FF'>"Lady, i want them to come to us" he removed the grip on his hilt "dont you see, iam indeed an wanderer....an wanderer who knows how to take care of himself" He looked at her "i know about bandits, i killed many and wounded many before on my travels.....but to wander is to be free of restraints placed on you Lady Alliah" An movement flashed out of the corner of his eye "don't underestimate me Lady Alliah you do not know me, when i fought you that was just an small look into what i can really do" he smiled then he caught an glimpse of the sun's reflection on an fast moving object heading torwards him. It appeared they thought him more dangerous and intented to kill him and move onto Alliah....saving her for rape. "Alliah get on the ground now!" he growled as he spun around, his sword in his hand. He moved fast bringing the sword up into an block as an iron studded arrow slammed hard into the blade. An iron-shodded arrow had the capablity to pierce an hole through metal armour at close-distance but it was fortunate the range was far from them only making Madrake step backwards from the shock of absorbing the blow. "vokcing bastards dented my blade" he cursed as he looked at his sword, it was offical now. They had came as twelve 'dragons revealled themself from the forest by Mandraje's estimation. The only bad thing was there was also four 'dragons on the other side behind him and the face that they appeared skilled in the use of the sword by their stance as they looked at Mandrake and Alliah with an cruel glint in their eyes. Mandrake chuckled as he yelled out "you like to do it dirty do ya? he shook his head as fury took grip of him "come then let us fight" he chuckled and held his sword above his head as he roared an war-cry as the 'dragons begun to break into an run torwards them.</font>
<font color='#810541'>Alliah snorted at his comment. <span style='color:navy'>"Arrogant bastard... Still thinks I'm a 'Lady'.</span> She gently touched the scar that marred her face, but was unable to make any sort of reply to his absurd comments as a bolt flew out of the forest only to be stopped by Mandrake's blade in mid-flight. The bandits stepped into the sunlight. 12 facing Mandrake the other 4 on her side of the path. She grunted as they charged the pair in the path. She heard Mandrake yell out a war cry, once again the familitarity of it shocking her, but there was no time to wonder. The bandits were upon them. She grabbed her quarterstaff with one hand, a small dagger with the other, and attacked the first of the four bandits coming towards her yelling at Mandrake as she did so, <span style='color:navy'>"Hey I'm a wanderer too yea know. I can take care of myself. I dont need your help!"</span> The staff hit the first dragon across the face with a crack. He clutched his broken jaw with a stiffled scream and staggered away. Alliah turned, the dagger plunging into the shoulder of the next bandit and twisting in its spot as she finished her turn. His blood splattered her white coat, soaking her left side with crimson. <span style='color:navy'>"And stop calling me a Lady!"</span> She growled low in the throat and turned to face the third bandit on her side. The staff came up in both hands, the dagger left in the bandits shoulder, and with a sickening wetness crashed into the 'dragons throat crushing his windpipe. His eyes bugged out at the sudden lack of air and he collapsed sputtering to the ground. Alliah turned to face the next bandit only to find him already behind her. She jumps to the side but not quickly enough recieving in return a long gash along her thigh. With a feral scream she grabed a second small dagger from her belt and throws it at him. It lands with precision in the center of the bandit's chest. Alliah wipes some sweat out her eyes as well as some of the blood-red hair. Preparing for the next attack.</font>
