Bait

[red_branch]

Cu Chulainn wasn't a patrolman, nor did he ever aspire to be one. He was the guardian of his country in the sense that he would respond immediately to dire threats but he had never been the man to watch every village one by one and butt his head into every squabble he saw. Despite that, he had a keen eye for trouble and countless thoughts about what justice was supposed to be--so, he tended to intervene in problems when they presented themselves if only because of the fickle nature of what justice looked like to him.

Two farmers were arguing over a fairy mound, claiming ownership over a magic bow that sprung out of it. It had been hovering in the air, moving around on occasion from their perspective. Cu Chulainn, puzzled, wondered if the two men were fools--as there was clearly a man in white attire holding the damned thing. He stepped down from his horse to approach the two in the middle of their quarrel, watching the bowman, who was ignoring them as he read from a thin piece of paper held up in front of him. The two men didn't notice the bowman at all.

The bowman met eyes with Cu Chulainn, perplexed.

"You can see me?"

"Yeah. You can call me Cu Chulainn and... I'm curious. Never seen an archer carry that kind of bow, before."

Their exchange of words was brief, if not polite on Cu Chulainn's end. The farmers backed off immediately when they saw Cu Chulainn speaking to what they presumed was a demented ghost clutching the bow and ran when the bow lifted and fired, trying to take off Cu Chulainn's head from the neck. The young man let out a terse sigh, unstrapping his spear from his back after avoiding the volley before making a bit more effort to close the gap and stride towards him. The dark-haired archer was stunned that his shot hadn't landed and even more so when the following dozen bolts were parried and redirected just as easily. He jumped up and kicked the bowman square in the chest, dropping him to the ground before there had been a few popping sounds.

Strange. It didn't sound like the sound of bones breaking--he didn't think he kicked hard enough to do that. The bowman stumbled back, coughing and wheezing, his eyes bulging open as he buried his hand in his clothing to pull out a vial. The thing had broken in the center and little white tablets fell to the ground, dissolving. The shocked expression he wore spoke more about what happened than whatever he could pull out with his strange accent.

"I--I can't stay here!"

He threw a capsule to the ground, blinding light shining and catching Cu Chulainn off guard. He stepped back, vanishing into a tear in thin air, just as a few more of the tablets landed on the ground where he had been standing. Cu Chulainn rubbed under his eyes before stepping over to the remaining tablets, picking them up with a scowl.

"What a pain--fairy mounds are just troubling these days. Nothing good comes out of the damned things anymore--"

As if proving him right, a dozen or so howling voices rose up in the woods, the town, and the mountains all at once. Screaming farmers and milling people came shortly after, clearly bothered by the owners of those inhuman howls. His irritated scowl deepened and he ran off, away from the mound and towards the sound of trouble, "Speak of the devil... and he'll come crawling right away, huh?"

Comments

[goneonenight]

[Yoruichi accepts the jerky with a nod of thanks, snickering as Laeg settles in.]

Well if it's your favorite, I can't wait to hear it.

[Cu Chulainn is starting to look downright surly, but it's the long-suffering sort of expression of someone who's simply resigned to hearing something they've heard a dozen times before. Laeg's obviously practically family, and in no fear of irritating or embarrassing a prince and a seasoned warrior. Yoruichi has retainers who treat her the same way, so it's warming to see something else they have in common.

She smiles up at Cu Chulainn, her expression bright and unguarded.]

Come on, I thought you wanted me to know more about you.

[red_branch]

[At a point, he was probably going to have to re-establish a reason for people to understand how honorable and dignified he was. That conversation was rapidly becoming problematic to his very image--not that he contributed any better reasons to make that the case lately. He spent that morning and the night before being a complete and utter mess of a prince, after all.

Surly didn't even cover it. One could probably hear the grumble in his voice.]


This is so incredibly unfair.

Get used to it, boy. It'll be a LONG day...

[And, as he cracked the reigns and they took off into the green, Laeg told Yoruichi the story of Cu Chulainn's knighting ceremony. Though he left out the part with his vow to Cathbad at the end, he didn't hesitate to embellish the childish tantrum thrown when he was denied a chance to be a knight. How he smashed all the spears in the kingdom until he was told he could go through the ceremony and how he had to be wrestled to the ground to keep him from breaking the chariots, too. Many bruises were shared that day and Cu Chulainn was red as a tomato by the end of it.]

[goneonenight]

[Yoruichi looks alternately appalled and delighted throughout Laeg's story, one hand lightly resting on the chariot rim in order to keep her balance. Her attention is divided between both her companions; Laeg is matter of fact, his hands deftly controlling the horses as he speaks. Cu Chulainn grows grumpier as his exploits are regaled and by the end he looks as though he might combust with embarrassment.

Still guffawing, she turns to face him.]

I almost wish I'd seen it...oh come on, you must be used to hearing about that by now. [She reaches up, poking at a bright red cheek.] Wow, you weren't even this red after your bath yesterday.

[Just then, the chariot hits a rut, throwing her against Cu Chulainn's chest before she can regain her footing. Then it's her turn to blush as she plants her hands on his chest.]

Umm, sorry. [Her grin fades, then snaps back.] Just for falling, not for laughing.

[red_branch]

[The abject teasing was bound to have him grinding his teeth to dust well before the sun set but he could at least assuage his irritation with the realization that a fight could break out and spare him the embarrassment.

Though, maybe it was poor form to hope for such a thing.

There were aspects of the ride worth complaining about but, somehow, there was a silver lining to it. Namely--that it was difficult to really stay sullen with the wind in his hair and that little shift in weight that had Yoruichi resting against him, albeit briefly. Almost on reflex, he put his hand on her shoulder, steadying Yoruichi under the rough movement of the chariot. With a touch of apology on his face, he smiled and turned back to the breaks in the forest Laeg had been pulling them through.]

We're just going to keep hitting bumps like this, Laeg. Let's take a stop here.

[Laeg grunted, a little annoyed at his story being ended a bit prematurely and at Cu Chulainn somehow innocently missing Yoruichi's expression.]

This boy... Very well, then.

[The blur of the forest had ceased and, drawn up beside a shallow creek, Cu Chulainn stepped off and held out his hand out for Yoruichi--more out of courtesy. He'd seen her leap hundreds of feet in single steps, so he had his doubts that she would trip.]

I'd say this is a good spot to stretch our legs and have a drink.

[More so, it was a good spot to try and catch a fairy's attention.]

[goneonenight]

[Thankfully, he doesn't seem to notice her fluster, turning to Laeg and suggesting they stop for a rest. It hasn't exactly been the smoothest ride, so it's hard to object. She hesitates a bare moment before taking Cu Chulainn's hand to step down from the chariot. It's not like he thinks she's some delicate flower; he did watch her beat the shit out of his uncle just yesterday. He probably just does this to every woman, so she won't make a big deal about it.

Even if her cheeks are still a little warm. To hide it, she turns a bit, looking around their impromptu rest stop.

The trees tower above them, lush and green. The plant life is completely different from what she's used to, but the mossy rocks and tangled boughs have a wild beauty all their own.]

Does the forest have a name?

[She has a good enough sense of direction to be able to find her way back if needed, but it's not a bad idea to be able to identify landmarks if needed.]

[red_branch]

Hm? [Perhaps the morning had been full of frustrations for her even though they were already quickly getting to the action of finding fairy mounds for her. Yoruichi didn't behave too differently than anyone else he'd met but it was more than a little evident that he didn't have much experience with princesses. Treating her like any other girl he knew must have felt unfair though, if that were the extent of his dissatisfaction, then maybe she was easier to please than he worried.

At her question, he'd already hopped a few stones into the fjord, hand poised inside his tunic to find a satchel.]

The forest? In a sense, yes. You'd call it 'Cronn's' forest. [He pointed his finger to the range of mountains they passed earlier, peeking over the trees.] So, you'd call this Cronn's Fjord.

[He saw Laeg pass him, surprisingly limber despite his age, with a few ropes rolled over his shoulder.]

Laeg? Where're you off to?

[Laeg snorted, holding up the rope.] Wood. Grey cracked part of the chariot out of excitement. Worry yourself and get in a sour mood so that he settles, boy.

Mmph. [Curious, he glanced back to Yoruichi after a moment longer spent searching the river for wisps. Nothing. There was rarely ever a spot in those woods without fae drifting around somewhere, so he understood it as the bad portent that it was. Yoruichi might have felt a growing presence to the north and one to the south of them, moving roughly at the same speed, though still somewhat distant. He looked back to Yoruichi waving at her as he yelled towards the forest.] Hurry, Laeg. Seems like this was a bad place to rest.

Yoruichi! Have you stretched your legs? It seems someone's going to try and surround us.

[goneonenight]

[Laeg passes them both, sounding as surly as ever as he searches for materials to repair the chariot. But Yoruichi suspects he's quietly fond of both his young lord and his horses, no matter what he says about them.

Cu Chulainn seems to be looking for something, frowning as he doesn't find it. Yoruichi starts to head towards him when he calls out, waving to get her attention. She's at his side in moments, focusing on the sense of two groups approaching them. The timing's too good for it to be chance.]

And we were having such a nice ride. [It's not a complete surprise--they had come out to patrol, after all.] Should we draw them in or go out and meet them?

[red_branch]

Hm. Once, she said, it was common for a single group to be taken from two sides. No matter how flexibly you move, if you're in the middle of converging lines...

'She?' [Laeg parroted after Cu Chulainn, annoyed that the young man and lady hadn't seemed at all disturbed by their unfortunate circumstances. He'd already been feeding the horses their bridles once more, finding the poor things hadn't had much of a chance to graze and drink before being set to ride again. Cu Chulainn looked to Yoruichi, brightening at her suggestion but with a moment's hesitation, he shook his head.]

We won't have to.

Boy, I have a great need for you to take this seriously right now.

They'd been marching slowly, which must be why none of us noticed their approach. At this pace... right. The enemy's leader is coming to meet us. [The creaking of wheels and the heavy fall of hooves came along with it. Their meeting shouldn't have happened for at least a day more according to the prediction Cathbad kept to himself. A pristine white and gold chariot with a carriage was driving through the glenn, coming to turn on Yoruichi's side of the fjord. With one door at the side opening, a woman with a rather youthful appearance--almost seeming the same age as Cu Chulainn and Yoruichi--hopping out to fan her hair over her shoulder and address them with a cheery, chilly smile. The procession of men and women following her cart and carriage had, at first exuded no presence at all but upon leaving the boundaries of the forest, their overwhelming presence offered the stifling impression that each one of them had been far above the grade of a seasoned warrior.]

Right. That would be Queen Medb, Lady Yoruichi.

[And, as if it were meant to be, the whole group fed its attention to Cu Chulainn as he saw fit to open his mouth.]

It looks to me as if Yoruichi's a bit taller than she is.

[goneonenight]

[Yoruichi's stance is relaxed but alert as they draw closer, intending to take Cu Chulainn's lead on this. He knows the territory and the players, so she figures the best way to get out of this is to let him take the lead.

At first, anyway. She's hardly going to sit here passively when surrounded by enemies.

As the chariot approaches, Yoruichi's nose wrinkles in faint distaste. It looks utterly impractical to her eyes. If Cu Chulainn's chariot looks too old and beat up to function, this one looks like a good kick would topple it. Her lips twitch as she considers doing just that, leaving it in the field like a cow on its side.

The woman who exits the cart has a cold, insincere smile, reminiscent of many nobles she's dealt with in Seireitei. Someone who sees people as pawns, only good for what use she can squeeze from them. However, Yoruichi knows better than to underestimate her--the people surrounding her had been able to remain undetected until they got close. Rather than flare her own reiatsu, Yoruichi keeps it banked, happy to let them underestimate her until the moment she strikes.

Laeg's low voice identifies the leader as one of the crazy queens trying to bed Cu Chulainn even though she's already married to his cousin? Uncle? Whoever. Medb's eyes go straight to him, so there's no way for her to miss the way the utterly thoughtless, oblivious comment drops into the expectant silence.

Yoruichi's eyes slide to his in disbelief and exasperation.]

That's what you notice? [No wonder Laeg looks so fed up all the time.]

[red_branch]

Ah? What? You are, though.

[Though he certainly understood the weight of Yoruichi's exasperation, he didn't understand it. Praising someone's stature was good-natured and kind, wasn't it?

Well. Maybe not in using someone else's limitations to do so. Laeg shook his head, though he was still mindful enough to focus wholly on the army surrounding them and the cold, hostile beauty of Medb. The air around her was inconsistent. One could look at her and think her weak but the ranks around her were made up of soldiers that each bore immense power. That power fed back to her and back into them so consistently that it made her seem even more dangerous simply because it was inconsistent and unpredictable. The whole strength of the army both was and wasn't her own power.

Smiling sweetly, Medb made smooth, slow steps towards the trio on the bank of the fjord and tapped her whip against the flat of her palm with innocent curiosity. She laid eyes on Laeg briefly and then lingered longer on Cu Chulainn and Yoruichi, sharing neither the young man's apathy nor Yoruichi's trained caution. The two of them were interesting to her and, without hesitation, she spread her hands in a welcome.]

I see what powerful spirits you have, warriors. I am Queen Medb and I would love to lay claim to you rather than have you become my enemies in battle. Would you--

Oh, shut it, brat. [Laeg stirred, fingers gripping his sword handle as an altogether unfamiliar hostility boiled from Cu Chulainn's lips. Medb's warmth diminished, evaporating with the cold air that left the young man. She had no idea if she read him incorrectly but it wasn't as if they even had the time to consider the weight of his disrespect when one of her knights rushed forward, sword drawn from the hip. There was a moment of confusion among the ranks as one of Medb's closest men began drawing his sword in advance, making his way to the young man with fury driving each step.]

Fool of a boy! Know to respect Queen M--

[He couldn't utter a further word once the front of his throat was caved in, Cu Chulainn snapping a stone from his clenched fist in an arc that killed him well before he struck the shore of the fjord. Despite the finality of his proclamation, there wasn't an ounce of fury in him. All in a short moment, he shifted the nature of their opposition and raised his voice so he would be heard. The cold snap of ice in his voice kept many hands from reaching for their swords similarly.]

Never forget whose territory you're standing in and that you're uninvited. I am Cu Chulainn, Lady Scathach's finest pupil, and I'll gleefully take the heads of any who pass this fjord without my permission.

[Though her forced seemed to buckle under that threat, Medb found herself nearly snapping her crop in her hand, eyes dazzled with excitement and glee--not wanting to interrupt in the slightest until he was done and, when he finished, she snapped her fingers.]

Mead, you fools! I want to have drinks with this mad fool of a warrior!

[--To which, Cu Chulainn looked quite over-tired.]

[goneonenight]

[As powerful as Medb undoubtedly is, Cu Chulainn obviously sees her as a nuisance. No, not the person herself, given all the damage she's done, but her attentions. His response to her is a far cry from the cheerful flirtation with which he treats Yoruichi.

And the speed with which he kills the attacking knight is a reminder that this open, good-natured young man is his country's most feared warrior. But rather than concern over her subordinate, Medb is practically panting, her eyes locked on Cu Chulainn to the exclusion of all else. The man himself looks utterly done, an expression Yoruichi has yet to see on him.

It must be unnerving, to be lusted after by a woman--your uncle's wife--who tries to kill everyone around you.

Is this what she does? Just tramples over dead bodies to hang all over you?

[It's rude to talk about someone like they're not there, but hell, she started it. Besides, there's no scenario where she winds up on Medb's good side, so there's no point in trying.]

[red_branch]

[The cruel Queen's persistence was something else. While one might have expected someone with multiple spouses to be lascivious just by merit of that fact--Medb was one of many leaders who married many others for political reasons but she stood out as one who would happily brand herself as a nymphomaniac, content to spend quiet days lulling near anyone she enjoyed glancing at into her bed. The two of them could agree that sex was inherently better than political talks but she enjoyed both.

Moreover, she didn't just demand someone's body. Everything a warrior owned was hers, their bodies and titles, weapons and magic included. Medb's magic was one that borrowed and blessed, making every single man there and in her lands a part of her power. That was her contrast with Cu Chulainn, who would have stood alone had fate not twisted with Yoruichi's unpredictable arrival.

So, the Queen finally deigned to acknowledge Yoruichi as her insult landed where it was intended. Medb's dazzling, pink eyes rested on her affectionately--as if gazing into the eyes of her lover. Cu Chulainn stilled, realizing Laeg had deliberately avoided meeting Medb's eyes. Medb took Yoruichi in, adoring her and using every ounce of her wit and experience to inform herself of what kind of warrior she was. There was a terrifying intelligence in her, betraying the paper-thin personality she liked to indulge herself with the rest of the hours of the day.

Strangely, Medb positioned herself in just the right point of distance between Cu Chulainn and Yoruichi that would have made it difficult to catch her off guard--as if she'd simply known the range of the two at only a glance.]

You're so rude! Not that I mind at all, my dear. After all, I'm so easily charmed by those who make threats quietly, veiled behind snide remarks. Blades in their scabbards or drawn to ring in the air are equally powerful, just as a blade in the dark carries its own deadliness. I...

[Medb, turning her pristine, white heel in the sand, took a few steps towards Yoruichi will maintaining that ideal position with each motion as if she was commanding her position no matter where she went. She was utterly defenseless by any other measure and, despite that, she was completely fearless. Realization dawned upon him and Cu Chulainn raised his hand and, by proxy, his lance. The cruel tip of it was pointed right at her throat, readied. Swords were fully drawn at that point, each warrior paying Cu Chulainn deserved respect as they acknowledged that it wouldn't be a matter of sending a handful of soldiers to get between him and their Queen.]

Yoruichi, no matter what she says--be aware that she's blessed by the gods to charm those who find her beautiful or appealing. You can spare her pity or compassion but if you think favorably of her, then you'll have to contend with her will.

[Medb, stunned, brightened more at Cu Chulainn's warning. His choice of words, the threat he made--something left her utterly delighted and, as if on cue, a number of warriors came from the back of her carriage with a massive cask of wine.]

[goneonenight]

[When Medb turns her gaze on Yoruichi, it doesn't quite have the desired effect. Rather than being charmed by her smile, Yoruichi finds her even more off-putting. One thing that's been drilled into her since she was a child is a sense of responsibility towards those who swear loyalty to her family. Vassals and soldiers fight in their name, and in return, House Shihouin offers protection. Any leader who would ignore then death of one of their own just to flirt with people who clearly have no interest isn't worthy of the name.

Cu Chulainn breaks in, his voice cutting off Medb's cloying voice. No wonder the woman is so confident--her soldiers are probably all compelled to die for her at the slightest provocation. Disgust wells up in Yoruichi at the thought--no one should have their free will taken like that.

Looking Medb full in the face, Yoruichi lets one hand rest of the hilt of her zanpakutou.]

Shouldn't be an issue. She's not really my type. [A smirk plays on her lips, as though the very idea of being enthralled is laughable.] How long have you been chasing after him, anyway?

[red_branch]

[The air of tension that welled up in an instant wouldn't dwindle for some time but, as far as anyone could tell, Medb and Yoruichi were cheery in their own rights. Rather than seeing Yoruichi's resistance and obstinance as a wall to impede her, the Queen warmed up to her so quickly that she was near tempted to fetch the drinks for herself. Fortunately, there were already men unhooking a cask from the back of the carriage.

Medb, even in her excitement, still hung on one word. Cu Chulainn, it seemed, had been careless while she was careful--keen on taking every little word and spinning it to her advantage. There was only a moment's hesitation as she seemed to give thought to something and make a decision. The atmosphere grew heavier as the numerous eyes set on Cu Chulainn were now fixed on Yoruichi.

She stepped towards Yoruichi instead of reaching for the Hound. Her boots pushed stones aside almost daintily as her stride carried her forward with alarming ease. From afar, it was a mundane, arrogant strut. She didn't care for the man she stepped over and cared even little for the danger of death that was her sword. Her eyes were so undisturbed by the chaos of a potential battle that it was unnerving even to Cu Chulainn, who seemed somehow hesitant to thrust his spear in those passing moments.]

To say I've chased him would be an overstatement. I've made offers and he's declined. When I chase? I bring my warriors with me and lay waste to anyone who gets in my way.

[Coquettish in her lightly furred attire, Medb looked more the part of a maiden than a warrior queen. The crop she held in her hand would be better suited smacking the back of one of her oxen than anything else and yet, she held it with the same certainty as a sword.

Information. She was beautiful and demure and loathsome and maniacal. The moment her crop touched her open hand again, that sweet tone of voice became even more sickly and venomous. Cu Chulainn felt a chill run down his spine as the Queen seemed content to shower them all with her real bloodlust--a malevolence veiled in adoration and love. She would bend and break anyone and anything to gain power and prestige. At her core, no matter her sweet disposition, she was a true madwoman of a warrior at heart.]

That said? I'd rather talk about you, 'Shihouin Yoruichi'. Your star has yet to grace the sky and I would love to know why that is.

[goneonenight]

[Medb is obviously used to controlling any given interaction. Yoruichi's clear disinterest is simply disregarded, as though her change of heart is a given. The light in the other woman's eyes is...unwholesome. Yes, that's a good word for it--corrosive and sickly and harmful to anything it touches.

Yoruichi has no intention of sharing more than she needs to. Medb must have eyes and ears in the castle, because while Laeg had addressed her by her given name, there's no reason why the queen should know her family name.]

I'm sure you would. But why don't we just skip to where I decline your offer as well, and go on from there?

[There's grumbling from her attendants, much as there had been when Cu Chulainn had spoken with less than the respect they demanded for their queen. But seeing their fellow soldiers cut down with such little fanfare seems to have cowed them all a bit.

But there's obviously no getting out of here without more bloodshed. Yoruichi lets out a long, quiet breath, her stance relaxed and ready.]

[red_branch]

[Yoruichi's personal barrier had been difficult to overcome. Cu Chulainn took notice of how guarded she'd become, using her voice and posture to dissuade Medb from drawing too close. He could recall the few moments that she'd let her guard down around him, never appalled or infuriated by firm when she was unhappy with an advance.

In comparison, she was offering Medb sheets of ice for her effort. In a way, it made him a little more confident, though he knew better than for it to obfuscate the moment. Yoruichi, more than most, understood the importance of never letting her will falter. She showed her strength differently but he could tell it still stemmed from a place similar to his own.

Medb, fully distracted by Yoruichi, hadn't noticed that slight hesitation from Cu Chulainn, showing restraint by not challenging her outright.]

Right to the chase? Well, I can always offer again and again, but I'll give you pause for when the first time I decide to ask you truly comes. [That, by itself, was enough to change something in their sliver of time. Yoruichi had defied her openly and Cu Chulainn felt the slightest acknowledgement of her strength. With that, something clicked.

When he spoke up again, his voice fell lower and started to drip away, losing the humble intensity he maintained in his initial speech. It was looser, somehow more friendly despite the tense atmosphere they all built together.

It was enough to make Medb hesitate to answer him right away when he teased her, caught off guard by his sneer. Wide-eyed, she paid mind to the one person made completely comfortable by a situation that could have wound up with many, many dead.]

Mmph. A fear of rejection? Who would expect such a thing from someone who grins so confidently?

[Laeg went stark still when the young man's voice shifted, as if a familiar sort of excitement was rumbling through him at a moment's notice, ready to overtake everything. The prince had many, many bad habits. Though he hated bards that provoked with words, he knew he was speaking the truth when he brought up their already excessively tense conversation.]

More than that? You're barely paying attention to the situation. You've got so many strong warriors here, right? If they're not careful, I'll suspect a few of them of inching closer to catch me off guard.

[goneonenight]

[The more they interact, the more Yoruichi's distaste for the other woman grows. Medb is everything she can’t stand; full of herself and needlessly cruel, hiding it all behind fake smiles and poisonous sweetness. She simply keeps plowing forward, disregarding anything that doesn’t fit the narrative she’s built in her mind.

Or so she’d thought. Even Medb looks a bit unsure at Cu Chulainn’s shift in mood. Kyoraku Shunsui is one of the most dangerous men Yoruichi knows, despite his the lazy, good-natured face he most often shows. She’d only seen him drop the facade once, during a disciplinary matter for one of his officers who had been accused of demanding favors from his younger female recruits. By the end, the man could barely speak, his body so limp with terror that two guards had to drag him away.

She suspects anyone left after Cu Chulainn is finished will be in much worse shape.

Yoruichi’s eyes flick to the guards advancing on them.]

They are getting closer, aren’t they? [She focuses on one in particular. He’s handsome and rangy, with pale hair and cruel eyes–a fitting match for the woman he follows. He narrows his eyes, in what’s supposed to be an intimidating glare. Yoruichi gives him an unconcerned look in return before rolling her eyes. No one raised by Shihouin Sayo is easily intimidated.]

I don't know what you think you want, but you're not going to like what you get.

[red_branch]

[Within that open space, walls had begun falling in place. Yoruichi's icy distaste, undisguised, complemented the warm and friendly smile turning up on Cu Chulainn's face. Laeg stood between them, his fingers tense around his lance as he seemed the most intent on a quiet afternoon out of the three of them. Peace was an admittance of defeat in a situation like that. Yoruichi's pride had set her against Medb and it succeeded in making her a more prominent target. There were eyes on her, save for a few.

The majority of those warriors felt parched, their throats dry in anticipation of something dangerous coming down upon them but the more seasoned ones among them understood that she wasn't wanton and reckless. She was rational. She could 'scare them off' and many of them could walk away, alive or aiming to reposition for a better opportunity later. Medb's little chat didn't need to end with a fjord awash in blood.

Very few of them paid Cu Chulainn the same mind. The disarming nature of his smile threw off their sense for danger as far as his present threat went and the cheery sing-song of his voice was even less alarming. ]

'She'll crack under pressure and be forced to negotiate'. That's what's on his mind, I'd wager. [He'd only glanced at that one particular warrior in passing, writing him off in that moment. The one Yoruichi set his focus on hadn't flinched at all from her threat or Cu Chulainn's teasing. Rather, he straightened his back, set his hand on his shoulder and rolled it so that anyone watching could see the strength in his arm. His voice rumbled, seething from the insult levied to him by two he'd seen as a mere pair of whelps.]

Boy. Don't you put unsavory words in my mouth. On my Queen's orders, I'll strike the both of you down in a single stroke of my axe.

[Medb, realizing she'd been too focused on the possibility of an attack, snapped back to warn her honor guard.]

Don't presume to know--

[The next time he interrupted, Cu Chulainn left the whole group of warriors, Medb included, tense with the way he'd suddenly conjured a thorny series of runes in the palm of his hand. The spell shuddered with a binding tied and bound in vows of death. Though no one had ever seen runes inscribed that way before, they seemed to understand what he'd created as if on instinct. If Cu Chulainn used those runes, it would create a curse. He'd turned that friendly smile on Yoruichi next, leaving Laeg horrified that the suggestion would even come up.]

It isn't your turn, Queen Medb. So, Lady Yoruichi--I've an epiphany! A spell that could kill two birds with one stone. You'd like to shove that guy's words down his throat, right? You get to show your strength and the rest of Medb's men get to live and breathe a little longer.

[goneonenight]

[The soldier sneers, making it clear that he sees neither her nor Cu Chulainn as any kind of threat. Which makes him stupid as well as short-sighted. But even he can't miss the danger inherent in Cu Chulainn's next act.

She doesn't recognize the runes of course, but she can feel the malevolence of them. Medb's entire entourage is taken aback, and even Laeg looks on in quiet dismay. She should be more worried, but despite not knowing him long, she firmly trusts that while Cu Chulainn might be cavalier with his own safety, he wouldn't take hers so lightly.]

If it will end this standoff sooner, I'm all for it. [She flashes him a dark grin.] I'll never pass up a chance to show a man he's not as good as he thinks he is.

[red_branch]

[It was common knowledge that the children of gods were creatures influenced by the world around them. In times of peace, those children of mighty beings were innovators and inventors. They were diplomats and artists. In times of war, those children were horrors and nightmares brought to life.

Cu Chulainn completed inscribing the runes of Ath N'Gabla, holding out both his hands to the soldier and to Yoruichi. In other nations, turning down such a ridiculous prospect would be fair. The soldier Yoruici had come to face off with was stricken and pale but he still approached Cu Chulainn with the expectation that he couldn't turn the offer down.

The sunny smile he offered Yoruichi in return for her confident grin had been a stark contrast to his explanation. Medb looked to her soldier and fixed cold eyes on him, assuring him that he had no choice in the matter anymore. No matter what, he would accept as he knew there were things worse than death to befall someone who'd placed his ego before his pace.

Even without hearing Cu Chulainn's explanation, the soldier touched the rune offered to him. He swallowed hard, as if trying to accept what was to come. It only left Yoruichi, her rune and her choice whether to accept it.]

You won't have any better chance to show it than now, Lady Yoruichi. The Shoal of the Four Branches... It's an old tradition of Ulster's warriors to duel under this decree. When you two accept, the duel will begin.

[Laeg said nothing, gripping his sword more tightly for fear of a single complaint gaining the prince's anger. There were few ways to truly enrage that boy but when those sore spots were found... it was always a disaster.]

When the circle is cast and you agree to the duel, neither of you will be able to leave it until the other is dead.

[goneonenight]

[At home, Yoruichi is in a strange position. People vacillate between expecting the world of her due to her family, or dismissing her due to her youth and gender. Cu Chulainn doesn't want her to die, therefore, he wouldn't have suggested this if he thought there was a chance she would fail. He simply takes it as a matter of course. Outside of her best friends, no one, no one, had displayed such utter faith in her.

Despite the tension in the air, Yoruichi draws in a long breath, flashing Cu Chulainn a slow, brilliant smile. It lights up her face, and she looks at him like he's the only person present. The duel, the enemy, the danger are all forgotten for that brief moment. It's the oddest thing, but she can almost feel something snap into place between them, as though his unquestioning trust had strengthened a newly forming bond.]

Huh.

[She breathes the word, reaching out to touch the last rune. Almost reluctantly, she tears her eyes away from Cu Chulainn to face her opponent. Her warm smile fades to something sharper, regarding Mebd's soldier as no more than an obstacle to be assessed and torn apart. His earlier arrogance is gone, his expression that of a man looking at his own death.]

[red_branch]

[Faith was a tricky thing. When she met his eyes next, he'd seen someone behind hers that he hadn't seen before. Trusting others came easily for him. There were dishonest people that he could trust to lie like vipers and honest people he could trust to give him everything they had. So long as they were true to their nature to the very end, he found it easy to admire them and he hadn't known whether or not Yoruichi would stand up and trust in her strength the way he had. Among the people that stood at the top like they had, some were still too cautious to bet on themselves.

So, when she spoke the word, he lit up. Wild, happily endeared and ready to be her first fan in Ulster, he'd set his hands on his hips and followed her eyes until the moment she turned to face her enemy. The sensation of being on the border of clashing hot and cold winds came with an uncanny stillness, fully present in the nature of his spell. There was a barrier cast in a circle around the two opponents but neither Medb or Medb's men could interfere with the battle. The nature of the spell denied anything but retreat for those in its borders who didn't match the names of the two inscribed.]

Seth Mac Want and Shihouin Yoruichi.

[The two names scribed burned in the air with furiously hot embers. Laeg kept his curses to himself, horrified by Yoruichi's display. He'd wondered if he misjudged the princess and whether she would be the young prince's foil or another source of his near endless fuel. Medb, crossing her arms, turned from the shore and went to take a seat on a boulder half-embedded in the fjord. If she were close to the site of the battle, then she was wholly unconcerned.

Seth, on the other hand, drew his sword in one smooth gesture. There was no signal for the battle to begin but rather--the moment their names were scribed, there was the sense that the spell had taken effect. For the sake of formality? Cu Chulainn lifted a hand and...]

Three.... Two.... One.... Go! [A flash of silver followed. Seth, digging his heels into the grit of the sand and stone beneath him, lunged towards Yoruichi despite the fear that caged him. Sweat ran down his cheeks, eyes bulging to take in the whole of the world at once. By all means, he was far from a trivial opponent in order to stand by Medb's side but he wasn't one who could rise to the rank of a Captain, none the less a prodigy.

The gulf he was trying to cross was simply too vast.]

[goneonenight]

[There are times when it's useful to be underestimated. Holding back some of your power allows you to take your opponent off guard when it's most effective. But hold back too much, and you make yourself into a target for those who prey on the weak.

Seth is clearly caught in an unenviable spot. Back down, and he's sure to be punished by his sadistic bitch of a queen. But he's obviously not convinced he can win this fight. His lunge, respectable enough by most standards, looks painfully slow to Yoruichi. His hand grips his sword too tightly, and he's dripping with sweat despite the fight barely having begun. She might almost feel badly for him, but he'd brought this on himself.

Coolly, she dodges his wild slash, not bothering to unsheathe the sword at the small of her back. Finishing this with her bare hands will send a message. Before he can regain his balance, Yoruichi is inside his reach, too close for him to use his sword. She sends a short, powerful punch into his midsection with enough power to pulverize his ribs and crush his insides. The noise is...disturbing, but she tucks the feeling away to deal with later.

He's dead before he hits the ground, his sword still loosely clasped in his fingers as silence falls around them.]

[red_branch]

Though the great majority of the warriors could see Yoruichi with the assistance of their druids and magi--they couldn't keep up with how she moved. There were a great number of eyes glued to where she'd been, hoping to take in how a foreign warrior did battle but it yielded them little information.

By the time Seth swung, it was apparent to any seasoned warrior that Seth was dead. Even when he'd been intimidated, he performed without flaw but it was no better than acting as a mannequin. Medb's smile cut into her cheeks with fascination as she followed Yoruichi's every move before it was made. The warriors around her remained puzzled by the outcome as the gut-wrenching sound of Seth's body being crushed and collapsing hadn't even hit them before their Queen was skipping forward. Cu Chulainn, who had been busily admiring the stance Yoruichi had taken to raise her fist, found himself puzzled by the Queen's strange awareness of when Ath N'Gabla would break... and when it would permit someone else to enter the field.

He hadn't a moment to offer Yoruichi her deserved praise or even to demand that Seth's body be taken care of with respect before the Queen roared with a peal of delighted laughter. In her hand, she tapped her riding crop without a care for being within the range of someone who'd proven their might as thoroughly as Yoruichi. She'd been only a moment from speaking Yoruichi's praises before she'd turned to face Cu Chulainn, who'd leveled his spear head in her direction with a deep-seated scowl.

"What fool interrupts," He began, gripping his spear so tightly that a thread of blood ran down from his palm. As cool as he kept his voice, he was deep in a well of fury for the arrogance of the Queen who, even then, offered a joyous smile and despite the hushed silence of her bewildered men. Despite Yoruichi's domineering strength and despite Cu Chulainn's rage. "...before the winner is called? Before the one who is killed is buried? Do you not know respect?!"

[goneonenight]

The quiet is broken by Medb's glee, darting towards the fighters without even a glance at her fallen warrior. Yoruichi's dismay at having so easily killed someone is drowned out by a deep upwelling of disgust at the queen's reaction. If there had been any goodwill in her towards the other woman, this would have absolutely killed it.

Even at her young age, Yoruichi knows that the responsibility inherent in her position; the vassal families serve, and in return, House Shihouin protects. Anyone who doesn't understand that dynamic isn't fit to lead. But Medb obviously just sees everyone as pawns, to be thrown away when they're of no more use.

But Yoruichi's anger is nothing compared to Cu Chulainn's, who looks one breath away from gutting Medb where she stands. She shifts, ready to cover him in case he launches an attack; even knowing that she's not fully unaware of all the politics involved, she wouldn't be able to blame him for killing her right here.

Yoruichi looks at the rest of Medb's followers, her expression full of disdain. "This is your queen?" She flicks her hand, letting droplets of Seth's blood patter to the ground. "How many more of you will she throw away?"