RVA: Shadow of Doubt, Suspicion
Feb. 17th, 2016 08:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jeriendhalThe next morning began very pleasantly. After waking up in Ali's bed, quite cramped with the two of them trying to fit in it, but quite comfortable with Salli pillowed against Ali, the young bodyguard guilt-ed her out of bed to try and get Salli back into her exercise regime. After changing into her body suit, they'd headed out to the holy arbor and gone through the usual stretching exercises. Then for variety's sake Ali also decided to throw in some of the basic combat moves that she'd begun training Salli in, begun way back when they had traveled together on Salli's Grand Tour, when Ali had been posing as an ordinary minder for hire.
Many of the moves were offensive, designed to inflict enough pain for Salli to get out of grabbing range of any potential attacker; Elbow jabs, foot stomps, and occasional well placed knee to the groin. Some were defensive, mostly blocking potential strikes, particularly if the person was armed. Salli was actually becoming quite accomplished knocking down Ali's arm when the latter had a knife in her hand.
Towards the end, the now familiar figure of Zaker approached from the direction of the manor, a paper cup filled with tea clutched in one paw.
“Morning Milady, Blacksailor,” she greeted, leaning against a pillar.
“Good morning, Zaker.” Salli sucked down the last of her water, while Ali scowled at the other bodyguard. “What brings you here?”
“Morning patrol of the grounds,” Zaker reported. “With that graffiti attack on your car, I thought it would be best to make sure there weren’t any other nasty messages left lying around.”
“Sensible,” Salli agreed with reluctance. “And were there?”
“Nope,” Zaker said laconically. “May I ask what you were up to earlier? It sounded like you two were fighting when I was coming near.”
“I’ve trained Lady Sallivera in some basic defensive combat moves,” Ali told her, before Salli could reply.
“Really?” Zaker asked, giving Salli an appraising look. “Most Nobles don’t go for that sort of thing, when they’re as high up the ladder as a Viscountess.”
“Most Nobles haven’t faced the threats I and my brother have,” Salli told her.
“You don’t think your Ali can do the job?” Zaker pressed.
Salli, who could see the hackles rising on the back of Ali’s neck, rested a calming paw on the young bodyguard’s shoulder. “Ali believes in preparing for all possibilities, including that some attacker might disable her somehow. She was wounded once before in my defense, and what she had taught me before that moment served me well.” In her mind’s eye Salli could still see that terrible scene, when she had found Ali, after the vixen had been gut wounded, pelt shaved off completely, and bound to a punishment frame in the cold rain, left to die of exposure by her former captain, the pirate Bloody Margo.
Was Zaker aware that Salli had killed the guard watching over Ali’s slow, painful death? Salli had beaten him to death with a piece of iron rebar snatched from a nearby construction site, the club smashing his face in, the hot blood washed away in the cold rain. I have killed, Zaker. Have you? Do any ghosts haunt your footsteps in the dark of your memories?
“Smart move then,” Zaker agreed, but then added, “Still, the best way to defend someone is not to get hurt yourself.”
“That’s just cowardice,” Ali snapped. Salli gave her shoulder another squeeze, but from the expression on Ali’s face she wasn’t in the mood to back down.
“It’s called being sensible. I’m not sure if ‘suicidal’ is a good character trait for a bodyguard,” Zaked said, her usual smile not wavering.
Salli caught her temper at the insult towards Ali, her claws pressing into the skin of Ali’s shoulder to hold her still. “If you are so doubtful of Alinadar’s skill at protecting me, why don’t we take the opportunity to allay your concerns?”
“Milady?”
“Means she wants me to punch you,” Ali translated with false cheer.
“Don’t think so,” Zaker demurred.
“I disagree,” Salli returned. “I am well aware of Alinadar’s combat skills. I have no proof of your own.”
“Ah, proof.” Zaker’s smile turned up into something wry, as if laughing at a private joke. “Well, if Milady commands.”
“I do,” Salli said firmly.
Zaker nodded, pulling off her coat and setting it aside, piling her belt, keys, and wallet atop it before rolling up the sleeves of her shirt. She stepped into the circle, giving Ali a formal pre-combat bow, paw pads pressed together in front of her at chest level. Ali returned the salute, her eyes not breaking contact with Zaker’s, before settling into a loose limbed defensive stance.
Salli failed to see what signal triggered the start of the combat, but between one moment and the next the two vixens were motion, exchanging a flurry of blows and kicks almost too fast for her to follow. A sweep kick from Zaker dropped Ali to the ground, the smaller vixen rolling away and coming back to her feet, catching Zaker's ankle as the other bodyguard kicked out, overbalancing her and forcing Zaker to land painfully on her tail.
Ali's attempt to follow this by body slamming Zaker was foiled when her target also rolled out of the way. The two vixens separated, keeping their distance as they sized each other up again, both beginning to breathe heavily.
They charged forward once more. Zaker had a definite height advantage, but Ali was able to duck easily under some of Zaker's blows, viciously going for her opponent's stomach and groin, forcing the taller vixen to dodge backwards. Ali followed that up by a kick to Zaker’s left knee, dropping the bodyguard once again.
“Hold it!” Zaker called out, holding up a paw. Ali stood over her, fists clenched, obviously debating whether to heed this or continue the attack.
“Hold, Ali!” Salli called out, and the younger vixen nodded, taking a couple of steps back and relaxing as Zaker pushed herself to her feet.
“You win,” Zaker puffed, favoring her left leg.
“Giving up that easily?” Ali taunted.
Zaker glared at her, kneeling down cautiously to retrieve her gear and pull her belt back on. “I’ve got my duties to attend to. Can’t do them if I’m in hospital getting my leg reconstructed.”
“Fair enough,” Salli intervened. “The match goes to Alinadar. Zaker, go take some painkillers.”
The bodyguard nodded, limping off as Ali began to gather up their own gear from the earlier training session.
“Feel better now, Ali?” Salli asked, as they began walking back to the house.
“I’m not sure,” Ali said, her face troubled.
“I thought you’d enjoy taking some of your frustrations on Zaker.”
“Well yeah I did, but the thing is...” She scratched her ears briefly, gathering her thoughts, “I don’t think she’s just a bodyguard.”
Salli glanced down at her. “How do you know that?”
“She’s been trained in proper claw-and-fang combat, and kept it up. Most bodyguards are just minders who know how to use a stunner and are able to push drunks aside when need be. Zaker there, she’s a proper challenge. If I hadn’t gotten that hit in on her leg she might have been able to overcome me if the fight had gone on much longer.”
“My brother has been trained in claw-and-fang. It's not uncommon for people who've had Service training or are Military caste,” she pointed out.
“Yeah, but no offense to Lord Rolas, but I kicked his arse when we fought. He's big and strong, but the moves weren't natural to him anymore. Zaker, she's a professional.”
Salli quirked an eyebrow up. “Professional what, in your opinion?”
Ali frowned. “Not sure. Gonna find out though. Count on it.”
Many of the moves were offensive, designed to inflict enough pain for Salli to get out of grabbing range of any potential attacker; Elbow jabs, foot stomps, and occasional well placed knee to the groin. Some were defensive, mostly blocking potential strikes, particularly if the person was armed. Salli was actually becoming quite accomplished knocking down Ali's arm when the latter had a knife in her hand.
Towards the end, the now familiar figure of Zaker approached from the direction of the manor, a paper cup filled with tea clutched in one paw.
“Morning Milady, Blacksailor,” she greeted, leaning against a pillar.
“Good morning, Zaker.” Salli sucked down the last of her water, while Ali scowled at the other bodyguard. “What brings you here?”
“Morning patrol of the grounds,” Zaker reported. “With that graffiti attack on your car, I thought it would be best to make sure there weren’t any other nasty messages left lying around.”
“Sensible,” Salli agreed with reluctance. “And were there?”
“Nope,” Zaker said laconically. “May I ask what you were up to earlier? It sounded like you two were fighting when I was coming near.”
“I’ve trained Lady Sallivera in some basic defensive combat moves,” Ali told her, before Salli could reply.
“Really?” Zaker asked, giving Salli an appraising look. “Most Nobles don’t go for that sort of thing, when they’re as high up the ladder as a Viscountess.”
“Most Nobles haven’t faced the threats I and my brother have,” Salli told her.
“You don’t think your Ali can do the job?” Zaker pressed.
Salli, who could see the hackles rising on the back of Ali’s neck, rested a calming paw on the young bodyguard’s shoulder. “Ali believes in preparing for all possibilities, including that some attacker might disable her somehow. She was wounded once before in my defense, and what she had taught me before that moment served me well.” In her mind’s eye Salli could still see that terrible scene, when she had found Ali, after the vixen had been gut wounded, pelt shaved off completely, and bound to a punishment frame in the cold rain, left to die of exposure by her former captain, the pirate Bloody Margo.
Was Zaker aware that Salli had killed the guard watching over Ali’s slow, painful death? Salli had beaten him to death with a piece of iron rebar snatched from a nearby construction site, the club smashing his face in, the hot blood washed away in the cold rain. I have killed, Zaker. Have you? Do any ghosts haunt your footsteps in the dark of your memories?
“Smart move then,” Zaker agreed, but then added, “Still, the best way to defend someone is not to get hurt yourself.”
“That’s just cowardice,” Ali snapped. Salli gave her shoulder another squeeze, but from the expression on Ali’s face she wasn’t in the mood to back down.
“It’s called being sensible. I’m not sure if ‘suicidal’ is a good character trait for a bodyguard,” Zaked said, her usual smile not wavering.
Salli caught her temper at the insult towards Ali, her claws pressing into the skin of Ali’s shoulder to hold her still. “If you are so doubtful of Alinadar’s skill at protecting me, why don’t we take the opportunity to allay your concerns?”
“Milady?”
“Means she wants me to punch you,” Ali translated with false cheer.
“Don’t think so,” Zaker demurred.
“I disagree,” Salli returned. “I am well aware of Alinadar’s combat skills. I have no proof of your own.”
“Ah, proof.” Zaker’s smile turned up into something wry, as if laughing at a private joke. “Well, if Milady commands.”
“I do,” Salli said firmly.
Zaker nodded, pulling off her coat and setting it aside, piling her belt, keys, and wallet atop it before rolling up the sleeves of her shirt. She stepped into the circle, giving Ali a formal pre-combat bow, paw pads pressed together in front of her at chest level. Ali returned the salute, her eyes not breaking contact with Zaker’s, before settling into a loose limbed defensive stance.
Salli failed to see what signal triggered the start of the combat, but between one moment and the next the two vixens were motion, exchanging a flurry of blows and kicks almost too fast for her to follow. A sweep kick from Zaker dropped Ali to the ground, the smaller vixen rolling away and coming back to her feet, catching Zaker's ankle as the other bodyguard kicked out, overbalancing her and forcing Zaker to land painfully on her tail.
Ali's attempt to follow this by body slamming Zaker was foiled when her target also rolled out of the way. The two vixens separated, keeping their distance as they sized each other up again, both beginning to breathe heavily.
They charged forward once more. Zaker had a definite height advantage, but Ali was able to duck easily under some of Zaker's blows, viciously going for her opponent's stomach and groin, forcing the taller vixen to dodge backwards. Ali followed that up by a kick to Zaker’s left knee, dropping the bodyguard once again.
“Hold it!” Zaker called out, holding up a paw. Ali stood over her, fists clenched, obviously debating whether to heed this or continue the attack.
“Hold, Ali!” Salli called out, and the younger vixen nodded, taking a couple of steps back and relaxing as Zaker pushed herself to her feet.
“You win,” Zaker puffed, favoring her left leg.
“Giving up that easily?” Ali taunted.
Zaker glared at her, kneeling down cautiously to retrieve her gear and pull her belt back on. “I’ve got my duties to attend to. Can’t do them if I’m in hospital getting my leg reconstructed.”
“Fair enough,” Salli intervened. “The match goes to Alinadar. Zaker, go take some painkillers.”
The bodyguard nodded, limping off as Ali began to gather up their own gear from the earlier training session.
“Feel better now, Ali?” Salli asked, as they began walking back to the house.
“I’m not sure,” Ali said, her face troubled.
“I thought you’d enjoy taking some of your frustrations on Zaker.”
“Well yeah I did, but the thing is...” She scratched her ears briefly, gathering her thoughts, “I don’t think she’s just a bodyguard.”
Salli glanced down at her. “How do you know that?”
“She’s been trained in proper claw-and-fang combat, and kept it up. Most bodyguards are just minders who know how to use a stunner and are able to push drunks aside when need be. Zaker there, she’s a proper challenge. If I hadn’t gotten that hit in on her leg she might have been able to overcome me if the fight had gone on much longer.”
“My brother has been trained in claw-and-fang. It's not uncommon for people who've had Service training or are Military caste,” she pointed out.
“Yeah, but no offense to Lord Rolas, but I kicked his arse when we fought. He's big and strong, but the moves weren't natural to him anymore. Zaker, she's a professional.”
Salli quirked an eyebrow up. “Professional what, in your opinion?”
Ali frowned. “Not sure. Gonna find out though. Count on it.”
