Sorry About That... [open]

[Tracy]

Lieutenant Jameson Sersea's afternoon training session hadn't gone very well. It was his older recruits, a few runners, but mostly privates. They were an arrogant group and not a little hotheaded. It was the age really. Jamie liked his youngest group the best... his oldest recruits always made him nervous, especially because most of them were not much younger than him. This group was the one from which the youngest officers would be gleaned. Although it was already abundantly obvious which ones would be privates until they were gray.

This day he'd been forced to separate two of his trainees who'd dissolved into beating the stuffing out of one another. So intent were they on harming the other, Jamie had needed the help of two of his other recruits to restrain the troublemakers. Having threatened them to an inch of their lives... going even as far as to suggest they be tossed from Long Patrol training indefinitely, the both of them had apologized to him and to each other profusely. Although Jamie saw the sordid glares between them, he was fairly certain they wouldn't be trying to throw punches anymore.

Calling a frustrated early halt to the afternoon's training session (shouts of joy could be heard as his trainees ran off to lunch) Jamie snagged the two troublemakers by the ears as if they were leverets. "Not you two," he grumbled, and then shepherded the two ahead of him into the mountain, steering them past the mess hall into the infirmary. Neither of them were terribly hurt -a split lip here and a black eye there - but food deprivation was a far better punishment than Jamie could ever deliver. Clearly still outraged, he called out to whomever was running the infirmary. "Patch these cads up. They'll not be needin' lunch... I'm sure they ate enough sand." And without even a second glance, was on his way.

Jamie had relaxed during lunch. It was amazing what a nice big meal could do for one's mood. But now guilt was setting in. The young officer had done two awful things: he'd sicced his two troublemakers on a poor unsuspecting healer, and two: he'd done it during mealtime, effectively messing up any chance said healer had of enjoying her lunch.

Medics ranked high on the list of beasts you don't want mad at you. Just under cooks, he would place them. Sighing to himself, he pushed himself away from the table and quickly made a plate of the decent food he could scrounge up as well as a large goblet of mint tea. Balancing the food, he made his way back to the infirmary. Hopefully the two youngsters he'd dropped off would be gone by now. They'd surely feel too ashamed to show their faces at lunch at any rate.

Using his elbow to catch the infirmary door and then his heel to lever it open, he glanced in, plastering on his most apologetic face. "Bad form of me, earlier, wot. I come bearin' gifts an' apologies," he said, widening those sea-green eyes remorsefully. Jamie could be terribly adorable when he wanted to be... which was most of the time.

[Grath]

Roseleaf, called Rosie by any who didn’t think—and who were cuffed soundly for it—was not particularly jolly feeling that morning. In fact, she had spent the entire morning grinding herbs, preparing potions and draughts that could be stored and yapped at by a pair of young leverets who wanted to become healers. Point of fact she doubted that, those same twins had been after the Varilde quad to teach them boxing last week and Kenzie to teach them the saber the week before that.

And so it came about that she downed one of her own special headache teas and prepared to set down to a quiet lunch. Bless Dotty, the older harewife had brought her a plate from the mess hall, she didn’t know but that she’d probably eat the first youngster who spoke at her alive. And so when a irritated voice shoved two young privates into her main infirmary and absconded off to who-knows-where, she came out of her office to descend on the hapless harelads who had interrupted her sanctum.

“Patch these cads up. They'll not be needin' lunch... I'm sure they ate enough sand." And without even a second glance, was on his way.

Narrowing her eyes, she appraised the two before her. “Fighting, was it? Disorder an’ disrespect in t’ranks too, I’ll warrant. Well I’ll clean ye two bounders up, an’ then ye can get to work cleaning the infirmary, wot! No use ye just sittin’ here like a bunch o’ bally daisies!”

---

"Bad form of me, earlier, wot. I come bearin' gifts an' apologies," he said, widening those sea-green eyes remorsefully. Jamie could be terribly adorable when he wanted to be... which was most of the time.

“Bad form’s not t’least o’ it, laddie!” Roseleaf had her brother’s bad habit of calling anybeast more than a season younger than she lad and lass, as if she was some great age herself. She exited her office, paws crossed and brown eyes narrowed. “What d’ye think, I’m here to discipline yore hares for ye?”

[Tracy]

Jamie stood there in a doorway for a moment, eyeing Roseleaf with a mixture of amusement and confusion. Her indignation, while justified, was entertaining. When it became clear that she had no intention of helping him with his balancing act, he gingerly made his way into the room, setting down the platter and goblet on the nearby counter. He then turned around and leaned back against the counter, arms crossed casually.

“What d’ye think, I’m here to discipline yore hares for ye?”

"Not at all, m'gel. Merely wanted you to fix up their injuries, which I'm sure you did admirably. Did y'discipline 'em? " He grinned as he thought about the verbal beating he'd delivered on them, and that they may have come to the infirmary just to be yelled at some more. "They deserved it."

Although the young officer was very clearly buttering her up, with his sugar-coated tone, he at least sounded sincere. "Honestly though, I apologize for pawnin' them off on you. They ruined the whole session and I didn't want 'em off enjoying lunch. - Speaking of!"

Jamie had seen Roseleaf about Salamandastron, naturally, and they were close in age. He hadn't had any real run-ins with her, and he certainly hadn't encountered her in her own environment. Jamie avoided the infirmary like the plague. The one time he'd been outright forced into the infirmary as a teen, he'd snuck back out before he was seen to. He couldn't remember if Roseleaf had been in charge by then or not.

Nevertheless, she was a pretty thing, and as he looked over her defensive stance and her narrowed eyes, he wondered if he could get her to smile. Stepping to the side, he showed the meal he'd brought up. "Wasn't sure if'n you were able t'eat lunch... If you weren't, 'twas my fault." He shot her a sideways glance to see if she was relaxing. "The mint tea was particularly excellent this afternoon, so I brought some o' that as well."

[Grath]

"Not at all, m'gel. Merely wanted you to fix up their injuries, which I'm sure you did admirably. Did y'discipline 'em?"

Roseleaf eyed the other hare, wavering between amusement and writing him off as another slick-worded fool. She moved forward, clearing several important items out of the way of the tray, which was well-laden-down with food and a goblet of what seemed to be mint tea.

"Honestly though, I apologize for pawnin' them off on you. They ruined the whole session and I didn't want 'em off enjoying lunch. - Speaking of!"

She considered the apology, though he spoke with a silver tongue in an obvious attempt to flatter her, he seemed sincere. And she was hungry. Suddenly the sandwich waiting in her office did not seem as appetizing. And the officer, James?, was rather handsome. Nobeast could claim her spending her time in the infirmary had made her blind. No harm in a little company over lunch either.

"Wasn't sure if'n you were able t'eat lunch... If you weren't, 'twas my fault." He shot her a sideways glance to see if she was relaxing. "The mint tea was particularly excellent this afternoon, so I brought some o' that as well."

“Yore hares cleaned the infirmary.” She said, motioning about. “Had some other tasks they could do, but I sent them off just before ye came in.” After a moment, Roseleaf made herself speak again. “Awfully good o’ ye, ol’ chap. Sorry I snapped at you.”

[Tracy]

Jamie was pleased to see Roseleaf relax in his company, but he hadn't gotten the smile yet. It rarely took this long, but he appreciated a challenge.

"Yore hares cleaned the infirmary."

Jamie actually laughed at this. Not only had he verbally flogged the pair and had threatened to have them suspended from training, he had then deprived them of lunch, only for Roseleaf to set them to work. That was excellent! He walked across the infirmary and snagged two tall stools from next to a cot, bringing them back to the counter on which he'd placed the food. He set one beside Roseleaf and then took the other himself.

“Awfully good o’ ye, ol’ chap. Sorry I snapped at you.”

The lieutenant had noticed how Roseleaf hadn't said his name and it occurred to him she may not know it. Sometimes he forgot about that. He was very good with names and faces, a trait he'd picked up from his stepfather, and a skill that had helped him progress so quickly in the regiment. Beasts liked it when you seemed to know of them.

"Jameson Sersea," he introduced himself, holding a paw over the counter to her. "Just call me Jamie." He noticeably did not include his title. Roseleaf wasn't a superior officer of whom he was trying to impress, and she also wasn't his inferior that had to call him by his title. He preferred his first name.

"An' no need to apologize," he continued. He winked at her. "Just accept mine."

[Grath]

Roseleaf had to laugh as the other did, thinking back on the youngster’s faces when told they were to clean the infirmary under her supervision. She believed firmly in keeping her domains spotless, but her morning’s work had created a bit of a mess and of course the twin leverets had not been of much use. It was rather late in the afternoon for lunch, and suddenly the sandwich she had been planning on consuming lost its appeal. She took the vacant stool with a quiet thank you and took a pastie off the tray.

"Jameson Sersea," he introduced himself, holding a paw over the counter to her. "Just call me Jamie."

“Roseleaf Wavebob.” She dusted crumbs off her paws and shook his paw. “Don’t call me Rosie.” She absolutely hated that name, had even hated it as a small leveret. She finished another pastie and dusted her paws off, taking a sip of tea. She felt subconscious, just sitting here eating while he just sat there. She hated just sitting still, period, so she jumped off her stool.

“Thank ye, Jamie.” She caught sight of her bow. Just HOW long had it been since she last posted? A couple weeks… She popped into her office, coming back after a little bit of drawer slamming with her archery glove and arm bracers. Perhaps she’d run into her brother, she’d seen him briefly in the mess hall three days ago when he returned, but not since.

“How’s about a little practice, lieutenant?” She asked, checking her pocket for a bowstring. “’cmon, I haven’t been out of this blasted infirmary in nearly a week.”

[Tracy]

There was the smile! Although his own demeanor had been what caused Roseleaf's laugh, he couldn't help but smile back in turn. Her smile brought out the pretty brown eyes. Now Jamie was feeling content with himself, settling down on the stool to let the haremaid enjoy her lunch.

Roseleaf... he knew that was her name, but he'd completely forgotten her surname. Wavebob... she was the Captain's sister. Had he known that before? He wasn't sure what to think of that. Mostly because he didn't know what the Captain thought of him. Nothing, it seemed. Jamie was a fairly self-confident soldier but he had a tendency to put a lot of stock in what his superiors thought of him. Oh well.

However, just as quickly as this visit started, it seemed to be ending. He sat there, dumbfounded, as Roseleaf wandered off into her office, rummaging through her things. Jamie's ears lifted, piqued with interest as she walked out, looking ready for battle.

“How’s about a little practice, lieutenant?”

All right, so she knew he was a lieutenant. He had to bite back a sigh... honestly he got enough of that from all his trainees all day long. It didn't matter. He slid off his stool as Roseleaf walked up with her bow, looking at it curiously. Initially surprised to see her with a weapon in her paws, he was downright taken aback to be invited along with her.

"I - well you -" Pause. "Certainly." Right? "I'm not the best archer. How are you?" He was genuinely interested. Torn between his desire to learn from someone better than him and his desire not to be outdone by the pretty healer, he decided just to follow her along and see how she was.

[Grath]

"I - well you -"

Roseleaf grinned, snatching a cloth off the counter and running it over the bow. It didn’t serve any real purpose, but it seemed to calm her, feeling the wood under her paw.

"Certainly." Right? "I'm not the best archer. How are you?"

“Best in t’place, if I do say so m’self, an’ I do say so, wot!” She winked at him, dropping the cloth back where she found it. Taking the bow by the middle, she led the way out the door, a cheery bounce in her step. It was good to get out!

“C’mon lad, afore we get stuck in here!”

---

They reached the training hall with little incident. Roseleaf was floating on a feeling of elation, she didn’t quite know why but she felt happier than she had in a long time. She spotted Aidan right off, no surprise there. He was sheathing his saber, bowing to a younger opponent. She bounded across the sandy floor, leaping high before landing precisely next to his side, an arm draped about his neck.

“AIDAN!” Her voice was a high squeak, her eyes straining to watch the dagger placed just below her eyeball.

“Roseleaf!” His ears went stiff with shock and the dagger disappeared. “Rosie, what were ye bloody thinkin'! I coulda skewered you!”

[Tracy]

“Best in t’place, if I do say so m’self, an’ I do say so, wot!”

Jamie was extremely amused by this admission, with all the confidence in her tone suddenly. It reminded him of... well, him. However, even if Roseleaf was only halfway exaggerating, he was about to be shown up big time by this haremaid. Long-range fighting was never a passion of his, and while he could shoot a bow as well as any self-respecting Long Patroller, his skills were nothing to write home about.

The lieutenant had quickly noticed the light step and sensed the joyful feeling from Roseleaf. Granted, he had no real idea what she was like normally, so perhaps she was just a cheerful sort? In any case, Jamie liked to think he had something to do with her mood. He walked beside her down to the training hall, comfortable in the relative silence, which was unusual.

When they reached the training hall, he immediately recognized the various creatures present, including Aidan. He only momentarily forgot his relation to Roseleaf until the haremaid threw herself onto her brother. Well! That was Jamie's cue to calm down on his flirtations. Older brothers could be real killjoys in these kind of situations. Jamie was an older brother... he knew.

Although alarmed by the close call with the dagger, he tried to lighten the mood. "D'you two often greet each other with blades to the face? Charming."

He threw the Captain a quick salute, he knew his place, after all. But he slid a sly glance to Roseleaf, having heard Aidan call her by the allegedly off-limits nickname. "Rosie? That allowed now?"

[Grath]

Roseleaf hugged Aidan around the neck, a brief and fierce squeeze, before releasing him.. “Aidan Starpaw de Ffemrelle Wavebob! I know ye were raised wi’ a blade in paw an’ all, but I also know ye were raised better’n that!”

Aidan’s ears wilted, his expression was one of remorse.

Although alarmed by the close call with the dagger, he tried to lighten the mood. "D'you two often greet each other with blades to the face? Charming."

“No!” Aidan glared, his guilt forgotten. “Roseleaf snuck up on me, is all, wot! Still a little sharp from patrol, wot wot!”

Roseleaf decided to forgive her brother, he did look repentant and after all, she wasn’t harmed. She aimed a light hearted cuff at Aidan’s ear. He smiled, ducking easily, knowing he was forgiven.

"Rosie? That allowed now?"

“No!” They said simultaneously, Aidan stepping back a step to avoid a punch Roseleaf aimed at his arm. He ruffled her ears in a way he knew irritated her and looked at her bow, then at the lieutenant. “Showing Jamie here how t’shoot, Roseleaf?”

She bent the heavy bow easily, swinging it up and pulling the string back, relaxing, pulling back. She did this several times, to limber up the wood. “Yep!”

[Tracy]

Jamie's face lit up, amused by the siblings' unison reply. He thought about his own little sister... too young to be in the Long Patrol yet, but she wanted to be a runner soon. The idea of it terrified him.

“Showing Jamie here how t’shoot, Roseleaf?”

Jamie was pleased that the Captain had right off remembered him, but was definitely surprised when he referred to him by his first name. Still, the young lieutenant felt awkward referring to the captain by his first name, and in this particular situation just outright avoided saying his name while he worked it out in his head.

Nodding at the bow Roseleaf was limbering up, he glanced to Aidan. "She's about t'really embarrass me, isn't she?" he asked with a grin. Jamie was extremely skilled with his saber, and hoped, after losing his dignity in an arching demonstration, he might have an opportunity to show what a clever swordsbeast he was.

"Be right back, m'gel," Jamie said, laying a paw lightly on Roseleaf's shoulder to get her attention before jogging off across the training compound. Rifling through some spare weapons always kept around the hall, he picked up a springy, if aged, bow. He didn't feel like going all the way to his own barrack to scrounge up his own. He grabbed a couple quivers off the wall of reusable practice arrows before jogging back over to the siblings.

"Right, let's see what you got, eh?"

[Grath]

"She's about t'really embarrass me, isn't she?"

“Pretty badly.” Aidan admitted with a grin, “She did it t’me all the flippin’ time, ‘til I got wise and stopped tryin’ t’best her wi’ a bow.” His dagger appeared back in his paw, a flick and it flashed to bury itself in the center of the bull’s-eye. Aidan winked at the lieutenant. “Still better’n Rose wi’ a blade though, wot!” He went to retrieve the dagger.

"Right, let's see what you got, eh?"

“I’m a little rusty.” Roseleaf warned them, accepting one of the practice quivers from Jamie and ignoring the quiet snort of disbelief from the captain. She went through the shafts, discarding ones that did not match her strict requirements. Eventually she had six arrows, the rest went back into the quiver. She stuck five point-down in the sand, notching the sixth to her string but not pulling it back yet. She squinted at the target, noting its distance.

“On yore mark, sah.” She said to Jamie.

[Tracy]

Jamie smiled a bit as he looked at the captain, then back over at Roseleaf. However, he looked briefly to Aidan again to see the officer land a perfect shot with his dagger. That was also something Jamie wasn't great at... again, it was longer-range combat. The lieutenant's skills laid in swordfighting and fighting with his own paws, being an effective boxer as well. Jamie always intended on honing his archery skills, he just never got around to it. But what else was life other than a opportunity to learn?

While the haremaid prepared herself, Jamie pulled on the bowstring several times, testing its tension. It was not as well-made as his own bow, a family heirloom, but its not as if it was really going to effect his performance. Kneeling, he pulled an arrow from this quiver, not really giving any thought to the arrow's integrity. Instead of standing back up, he stayed in a kneeling position, it seemed easier to control his aim that way.

"All right, ready," and he paused, waiting for Roseleaf's cue and loosed his arrow. He hit the target, but quite possibly in the least effective manner possible. The tip tapped the curved edge of the target, causing the arrow to glance off and bury itself uselessly into hardpacked sand below.

Jamie stood and looked over at the other two. "Ah... range shot," he said with a cough.

[Grath]

"All right, ready,"

Roseleaf sighted along the shaft of the arrow as she pulled the string back, releasing it and in the same motion leaning down and plucking another from the sand. She repeated this until all six arrows clustered in the bull's eye. One straddled the line between that and the next ring. She looked over to see how Jamie had done.

"Ah... range shot," he said with a cough.

“Of course.” She said, winking at him. “Its important to know the range of yore chosen weapon.” There was a devilish glint in her eye, though her words and tone were perfectly serious, her eyes gave her away. She was teasing him. Aidan eyed the two strangely, he hadn't seen Roseleaf smile so much in months, let alone tease someone. So he was glad for the distraction when he spotted young Nico.

“Nico!” He called, motioning to the young hare.

[Nicodemus]

He was wandering, rather aimlessly, with his head in the clouds. It wasn't anything new for the young hare; he loved to dream. A small smile stretched across his dark-furred face, and light up his bright blue eyes. They were the eyes characteristic to his family, for the young hare was a Varilde. Nicodemus L'Ouest Doux Troisieme Varilde, to be exact, the younger brother of Southpaw and Eastpaw Varilde and the older brother of Leilani Varilde. His paw wandered aimlessly over his drawn saber blade, and his eyes wandered with it. There was a romantic quality to a blade that Nico was addicted to- so much so that he looked over as many blades as he was allowed to.

When his name was called, Nico was startled out of his thoughts, and the paw holding his saber jerked in his surprise. The end nicked his paw, and Nic squeaked softly, sheathing his blade. He reached the captain inspecting the paw ruefully. "Wish ye wouldn't, vermin were just about-." Nicodemus saluted with his other paw. However, his attention wasn't totally fixed on the older hare; Nico was still partly day-dreaming. Catching himself, Nic snapped his attention back to Aidan, stammering his apology. "Ah, sorry sah, wasn't thinking exactly-" Realizing that he was babbling, Nicodemus promptly shut himself up, blushing. He didn't mean to ramble, but his head wasn't exactly down to earth yet. In the back of his mind, Nico was still dreaming: this time about his long-lost sister, Crystin. Not dead, just lost. Nic had firmly believed for years that his sister was still alive; his position on the matter didn't change not matter what. But that didn't matter. Nicodemus watched the captain curiously, wondering what it was that the older hare wanted him for.

[Tracy]

Jamie looked at the collection of arrows stuck into the bulls-eye and shook his head, struck with a mixture of disbelief and admiration. He looked over at Aidan, as if blaming the officer for not adequately preparing him for the for the humiliation about to be inflicted upon him. Then he looked back at the target, then finally over at Roseleaf. He hesitated, then feigned being unimpressed with a snort.

"How long has it been since y'practiced m'gel? That was positively miserable," he said, shaking his head as if he was disappointed in her. Pointing at the target, he managed to keep a straight face as he continued. "I mean, jus' look at that one all... barely on the bulls-eye. Awful."

Jamie knew Roseleaf was teasing and it was cute. He couldn't help but play along. When Aidan was distracted by the arrival of Nicodemus, Jamie used the brief moment to flash Roseleaf a playful smile, touching her arm in a manner that suggested he was only teasing. "No, that's amazing. I wish I was half as skilled."

While Nico walked up, Jamie stooped and took out another arrow while the others were momentarily distracted. Stringing the bow, he sighted it after the same target, lined up his shot, then loosed the arrow. This time he hit the target and it landed just outside the bulls-eye. Oh good, if he didn't land that shot he would probably have had to go into hiding.

He lowered the bow then, and looked over at the newly-arrived hare. Jamie didn't know Nico that well... He knew he was part of the Varilde brood of course. But Nico was a quiet type, and Jamie didn't associate too much with quiet beasts. Not to say he didn't get along with them, they were just not the crowd you would see the young officer hanging around.

"Afternoon Nico," he greeted with a nod. "Was jus' giving Roseleaf here some archery tips," he said with a completely straight face.

[Grath]

“Wish ye wouldn't, vermin were just about-." Nicodemus saluted with his other paw. However, his attention wasn't totally fixed on the older hare; Nico was still partly day-dreaming. Catching himself, Nic snapped his attention back to Aidan, stammering his apology. "Ah, sorry sah, wasn't thinking exactly-"

Aidan smiled warmly at the younger hare, he was the only Varilde he didn't see dashing about hither and yon. He was more interested in dreaming and hanging about Seasand's forge. “'Tis nothing, lad. I just thought ye'd like to join our little group.”


"How long has it been since y'practiced m'gel? That was positively miserable," he said, shaking his head as if he was disappointed in her. Pointing at the target, he managed to keep a straight face as he continued. "I mean, jus' look at that one all... barely on the bulls-eye. Awful."

Roseleaf looked sidelong at Jamie, one eyebrow quirked sardonically. “I did say as its been absolutely ages, an' I'm a little rusty.”

“No, that's amazing. I wish I was half as skilled."

“Well, I have heard,” she looked over at her brother, then back at the lieutenant. “that you're fairly good with a blade.” She shouldered her bow and walked over to her target, tugging hard to pull the arrows out.

"Afternoon Nico," he greeted with a nod. "Was jus' giving Roseleaf here some archery tips,"

“Of course he was.” Roseleaf said with an equally straight face, coming up to swat him on the back of the head. “Perfect shot, 'e is, wot.”

[Nicodemus]

Nico waved cordially to Roseleaf and to Jamie, smiling. "I'm afraid I'm no good with a bow, wot. Lani always beat me out, don'cha know, an' I could never best my brothers in boxin'!" His laugh was gentle, as was everything else about his personality, and he patted his saber hilt lovingly. "Give me a blade any time, sirrah; 'tis nought like a fine saber or a workin' forge. Anyways, sah, I'd love t'join ye three, if'n ye don't mind me around!" Company was one thing that Nico was always ready to provide, whether the other party wanted it or not. So, he turned his attention back to Jamie.

"Let's see, sah. I've never watched too much o' archery, an' I don't think I've ever seen a perfect shot, wot wot!" Nico's eyes were bright and expectant; he hadn't understood the joke. Seeing Roseleaf's and Jamie's straight faces, Nic had no chance of knowing that they were joking so, completely innocently, he motioned for Jamie to take a shot.

"Please sah, I'd love t'see! I can't shoot too well myself, but my sister does-oh, sah, are they comin' back soon?" His attention flickered from Jamie to Aidan in a blink of an eye. "They've been gone a good while, and I want t'see them again soon, y'know. One's family is even more important than one's blinkin' work, if'n ye understand, sah."

[Tracy]

Jamie grinned when Roseleaf swatted him in the back of the head. "So violent! No need to be so jealous, m'gel." He'd left her the perfect opening to ridicule his sub-par archery skills, and instead she'd just played right along again. At first, he thought he'd escaped outright humiliation, right until Nico took his joke seriously.

He tilted his head a bit as the younger hare kept speaking. Nico was not at all like his older brothers, with whom Jamie got along with very well. He was even less like his sister, who Jamie had run into a couple times, including once throwing her out of a training session some time ago for insubordination.

Initially, he considered keeping up the act, but given the hare's inability to recognize it as a joke to begin with, continuing just seemed mean. Jamie smiled a little, holding his paws up as if he was giving himself up. "Sorry lad, 'twas a joke. Your sister'd probably show me up in archery all the same." He nodded over at Roseleaf. "That'n's got all the skills," he said, his voice laden with admiration for the haremaid. "She just made a fool o' me."

"So you should a-" Jamie paused abruptly, and turned to look at Roseleaf curiously. He'd heard what she said earlier, but it only just registered. "Wait a tick. You've heard I'm good with a blade?" he reiterated, noting the haremaid's pointed look at her brother.

[Grath]

"Give me a blade any time, sirrah; 'tis nought like a fine saber or a workin' forge. Anyways, sah, I'd love t'join ye three, if'n ye don't mind me around!"

“Ah yes, you’re t’one interested in smithin’, wot!” Aidan said, nodding at the younger hare. "Sa’gent Seasand says ye have a real touch for t’fire.” That was practically heaps of praise from the close-mouthed sergeant, she was as old as the mountain with a northern brogue as thick as the smoke from her forge fires.

"Let's see, sah. I've never watched too much o' archery, an' I don't think I've ever seen a perfect shot, wot wot!" Aidan exchanged a look with his sister, one of those looks between siblings that spoke volumes. It seemed Nico took things very literally.

"Please sah, I'd love t'see! I can't shoot too well myself, but my sister does-oh, sah, are they comin' back soon?" His attention flickered from Jamie to Aidan in a blink of an eye. "They've been gone a good while, and I want t'see them again soon, y'know. One's family is even more important than one's blinkin' work, if'n ye understand, sah."

“’Fraid I can’t say, old chap. Left t’mountain as I was comin’ in, don’t know much about their mission, sorry old chap, wot.”

"So you should a-" Jamie paused abruptly, and turned to look at Roseleaf curiously. He'd heard what she said earlier, but it only just registered. "Wait a tick. You've heard I'm good with a blade?"

“Of course, one might question my source, wot!” She dropped the arrows in the quiver. “Tell ye wot. I’ll let ye gain a little back, why don’t t’shoot us wot ye can do with a blade?”