The Tourney at Ashford

Derrick didn't really have much to do in the morning's guard duty didn't seem to mean much in this kind of setting so he had most of the morning to himself. Dressed in some simple traveler's he wandered the streets of the Castle town, mostly to get a better lay of the land. It was highly unlikely anything strange would happen, but it was part of his duty to know how to get his Lord out of danger if it came to it.

His breakfast hadn't been long ago, but still he kept his eyes open for anyplace that might sell food. Lunch was still pretty far away after all.

Kaliya was moving through Castle Town with purpose, on errands known only to herself. Her bright yellow dress, the fine fabric fluttering and floating about her as she walked, was impossible to miss, the cheerful colour like captured sunlight.

It was impossible to miss the beautiful woman walking through the streets, and Derrick found himself watching her for a few moments as she moved in his direction. He turned his gaze away a few moments later though, a dress like that said noble woman, and Derrick had no business looking at a woman like that. There were plenty of cute commoner girls around anyways.

His turning away came just a little too late. Kaliya paused and peered at the young man with a curious smile. She bobbed a curtsy, little more than a nod of her head and a swish of a skirt made of a sheer fabric that left little mystery about the shape of the woman beneath. "Well met, Serr, how are you this pleasant morrning?" Her accent had a lazy sort of quality to it, the Rs trilled off the tip of her tongue.

The thought she had caught him looking brought a faint blush to his cheeks, and he used his deeper bow to try and help himself recover a bit from his embarrassment. "Ah, I'm no Ser, Milady." He offered letting his eyes settle on the safest place to look, the center of her brow. "Just a retainer in the service of the Algoods."

There was a small pause before he remembered to answer her question. "But I'm Okay this morning... How are you Milady?"

Anotherr blushing beauty, Kaliya smirks a little at the youth's reaction. "Only 'okay'?" she queried, "now why would that be?"

That brought a slight frown to the young mans lips. What was wrong with being just okay? Deciding it was probably a bad idea to say he hadn't really thought about it, he finally came up with some sort of answer. "Because it seems like a okay sort of day?"

Kaliya nodded her head in acceptance of this response, "then perrhaps I can do something to make it betterr." She points to a street vendor with a cart, "would you like a mug of ale?"

He wasn't quite sure how a mug of ale was going to make his day better... Or what was wrong with his day being ok in the first place, still he didn't frown any further then he already did. "That would be nice Milady, but it would be inappropriate for me to accept. A lady like yourself shouldn't be seen drinking ale with a common solider."

Kaliya didn't appear off put by this, though she did seem to study him curiously, "verry well. Now I believe," she says with a teasing smirk, "that next you shall say that you arre sorry, and therre is somewherre you need be. Am I close?"

Women were confusing. "I don't have anywhere I need to be, Milady." He offered easily still not quite sure what game she was playing. "I just didn't wish to cause you any trouble."

"Arre the Algoods such terrible masterrs that you fearr to speak with a lovely lady on a fine day? Orr perrhaps you are still frrightened by girrls?" Kaliya's tone was lighthearted, ugh, put it back in the oven, this one is not yet done.

"No Milady, they would not begrudge me such a thing, but I am a commoner, I always try to remember my place." Which generally wasn't having a lady buy him an ale.

"So, if you are still wanting to I'll happily accept your offer, Milady. "

"Excellent," she purred in her exotic accent, crossing to the vendor and paying him some coppers. "It is a warrm day, the weatherr is clearr, and I would enjoy some ale and converrsation. You do not seem so common to me, do you have a name?"

Derrick resolutely tried to ignore the purr as he walked with the older woman towards the stall. She was an attractive woman, but she was merely here for a bit on conversation after all.

"Derrick." He offered his name easily. "A retainer of House Algood as I said. Could I ask for your name Milady."

The vendor handed them each a mug and Kaliya took a generous draught before answering, "You may ask, Derrick," and his name rolled off her tongue with a purring trill, "it is good to ask questions. Wherre fools fall afoul is asking them at the wrrong time, orr of the wrrong perrson. I am Lady Kaliya Rredding."

Maybe he shouldn't of told her his name, at least with the way she was saying it. Taking a slow sip of his ale as she spoke, he tried to figure out something to talk about that might entertain a lady.

"Ah... it's nice to meet you Lady Kaliya." He struggled a bit with the foreign sounding name, but he at least thought he managed it well enough. "I think I'm more used to following orders then asking questions, Milady. Though I'll try and remember your advice."

Kaliya was appraising the youth with a smirk and she inched closer, "are therre any events of the tourrney that you will be parrticipating in, Derrick?"

As she inched closer he inched a little away, trying to keep a more appropriate distance between them. "The Grand Melee, Milady." The youth replied, taking a sip of his ale to fight off the feeling of embarrassment sneaking up on him.

"Perhaps one or two others as well, but I've not decided for sure ."

She wasn't so unsubtle as to immediately follow up as he adjusted the distance between them, smiling at the young man with a decidedly predatory smirk. "Wonderrful. I am glad you have this opporrtunity. What weapon shall you favourr for the melee?"

Derrick didn't know enough about women to notice the predatory nature of her smile, but he had long ago decided she was after something. Information maybe? It might explain the line of questions at least. "I haven't really decided. Likely a blade of some sort, though a spear is a possibility as well."

"I'll be a bit more certain when I see the condition of the field."

She seemed genuinely surprised by the answer, "I look forrward to it all the same. It will be a delightful display."

"I hope so... I'm told I'm rather good with a weapon after all." He replied, unsure of what he said that had surprised her. "I don't think I have a chance at winning mind you, but I hope to at least do fairly well."

"Do you like things like that? the various events in a tournament like this that is?"

"It is not about the winning, Derrick. Some games cannot be won, and many do not need to be." Kaliya eyed the youth's arms and chest, "skill is imporrtant."

With a noncommittal murmur, "I enjoy the displays of strength and skill, but I do worry so. I do not like to see people become hurrt." Her tone changes significantly, "there are so many betterr ways to show off one's talents."

Derrick hasn't ever really played a game that couldn't be won. Weren't all games about winning after all? All that he knew was the way she was looking at him was making him blush, do he once again took a drink from his Ale.

"Fighting is just about the only talent I have, Milady." He offered after a moment. "I dont know if there are all that mant ways to dhow it off without actually fighting."