We leave! [ALL]

Rhyllae smiled, knowing that for most it would certainly be a challenge. Smiling to herself, she drew one sharp arrow from her quiver.. Her arrows were fletched with gold feathers, while Keya's were white. It would be an easy way to figure out how much skill either of them hard. “You want to go first?” she asked.

“No. Together.”

Rhyllae raised an eyebrow for a moment before nodding. Quickly she changed her own stance to that of the archer she knew she was. The bow aimed up at the apple, as did Keya's. She knew though this would be only too easy. At the moment though they seemed equally matched in strength.

Then the two arrows shot forwards, arching through the air towards the apple on the opposeite side of the courtyard. One arrow fell short though, Keya's. Rhyllae watched for a moment before losing sight of hers. With a dull thud the apple fell, a gold tipped arrow embedded within.

From what she could tell, Keya couldn't tell who had it, and neither could she from such a distance.

“For those under Lindan Marcos' control in the battle I was not a welcome sight.” She smiled though. “Thank you.” For once it seemed that she had managed to surprise even Keya. Her freind was shaking her head. “What?”

“I can't believe I did not know you were going to win... I did not see that coutcome, nor any to be honest.” Keya sighed. “I guess we know where you were in that battle.. I think we lost at least twenty men to your arrows alone.”

“I had to do so to defend myself,” Rhyllae reminded her. “Its the only way I can fight.”

"That is something that is going to change, now that you are a dragon rider." Keya chuckled. Then she looked at Kiiron. "Are you an archer? Or a swordsman then?"

Kiiron bowed his head, dark tresses splaying over his handsome features.
"A true knight, my queen," he replied "both sword and arrows, but I must say that the sword is my preferred weapon."
He smiled slightly, tapping the blue hilted sword at his waist. It was not a true riders sword, yet still one of amazing elven craft. It had been his fathers before him, and had treated him well over the years.
"Shall I spar with you or another?" he questioned, eyeing Edmund with a small smile.

She smiled, resting her hand on the cool amber in the grip of her own sword. It was a true riders sword, one that had been made for her, but that her father had neglected to give to her. Gem though had hunted it down and given it to her yesterday. She knew that it was supposed to be hers, and she had wished to use it in the battle, but it had not been given to her yet. So she had been forced to use an older sword that her father had given her.

"You may choose your own opponent, Kiiron." She knew that though she would last longer in a fight than Sir Edmund, she knew it was up to him. Which fighter would he choose now, when faced with that choice?

He nodded and eyed the group, instantly cutting a few from his choices. He had watched them spar before, and he knew they were to dangerous to spar with, not against him of course, but rather themselves.

After a moment, he stopped between Keya and Edmund and shrugged slightly.
"I shall verse Sir Edmund, my queen, for it will be easier for you to judge my skill if you can watch rather then compete."

Edmund smiled slightly, more then happy to try the task. He knew this might be even harder then Keya, due to his pure elven blood, but he wouldn't give up. Not at all.

She nodded with a smile and stepped back towards where Rhyllae stood off to one side. "Show me what you've got, boys." Which one of them would be able to hold the other off for longer? She knew Kiiron had the advantage of being an elf, but she knew Sir Edmund was a good fighter. This would be an interesting fight. She knew that Sir Edmund was good, but how long would he last against Kiiron? Only time would tell. "And fight fair. For I will know if you do not."

"Of course," grinned Kiiron, nodding to Edmund as he pulled his sword from his waist. He was a good enough swordsman to not have to use training weapons, and he would never hurt, well more then bruise, his opponent. He was a gracious fighter, a gracious winner. Not that he expected to win. He was fast, yes, but that didn't mean anything on the plains of death.

Edmund smiled in response, gladdened to have this chance to prove himself once more. Picking up his training weapon once more, he didn't want to make a mistake and hurt someone, he moved into position.

Kiiron leapt forth with grace, going for the easy over head strike but Edmund danced out of the way with just as much ease.

The battle continued, it seemed like hours had passed but it was only mere moments. but finally, Kiiron made a final strike, not as tired as his opponent and disarmed him with ease and knocked Ed to the floor with the weight of his attack.

Putting his own weapon away, he offered a hand to help the man up from the floor and ran his other though his dark locks.

"Lle sessan dian exta tinko mex lle ori, nar quella."

The human looked at him with confusion, not understanding the fluid words that escaped him. Kiiron chuckled before repeating his words.

"You should be proud with how you fought, my friend," he smiled warmly "with some more training you will be able to best even the best of elven fighters."

Ed nodded, eyes wide and took the hand on offer before standing tall once more.
"Thank you, you were a worth opponent, and as I said to Queen Keya, I aim to be as good as you and the queen herself one day, then I know I have achieved my best."

She smiled as she watched them. When they were finished though she could not help but speak one line of elven. "Lle ori tinko gia grudo expa nieon lle." You fight with the grace expected of you. Sadly her elven was not the best, but she could speak it well enough to be understood. Keya grinned. Then she translated her words. "You fight with the grace expected of you, Kiiron. As did you, Edmund."

Kiiron smiled warmly at his queen, nodding his head to accepted the words.
"Thank you," he murmured, looking to Rhyllae and wondered what she thought of his swordsmanship. Only her opinion mattered to him, though he did take other into account.
"I am afraid I am a little rusty, I haven't spared in a very long time, my years have been to far roaming," he said and Edmund beamed at Keya's words.

"Thank you, once again," he said politely, unable to get the grin off his features. He had truly had an amazing day, and it was only a few hours into the heating sun.

"Any more tests for us?" Kiiron asked,

"Maybe a little," he admitted softly, only for her and Keya's ears "I had to give him a chance."

He shrugged slightly at Keya's question and sighed sadly.
"I no longer have my own bow, I shall have to carve one now that I have the time and materials," he said "and I have the normal range of a true elf, but I am a few years out of practise."
He paused "so, in answer to your question, I am no longer sure."

"There are a few that we have as spares here," Keya replied. She smiled. "I'm sure someone will get one for you."

"Don't waste the time. If you want, you can use mine," Rhyllae quickly inserted. She was grinning though, she knew her bow was more of the elves type, and would be more what he had once used than any human longbow. "Just don't breack it." He was stronger than her after all.

Kaya chuckled. "Maybe yours will be a lot more resilient than one of ours. When I had a go aaginst gem, her bow broke, and it was one of ours."

"Will you watch again, Edmund?" Keya asked. "We're aiming for the apple a little lower than the other one again." She smiled, pulling the strong back on her own bow testily. She was more than ready to give this a shot. She knew though that there was good chance she would lose. Rhyalle had easily beaten her.

There were some things she knew that she would never be able to do. Rhyllae had been strong enough to outdo her, even though they were both half elves.

The white tipped arrow arched up as well, this time barely missing the apple before diving. It had reached the height needed, just a little too soon. She knew without speaking that this time it had been a lot closer for some reason.

"I just was not quite strong enough." Keya replied. It was her own doing that had stopped her from winning at that. "And I have to admit, my sword is better than my bow." She never had been the best at shooting things.

"You did well though, to come so close to meeting one who has no human in them," Rhyllae responded. She smiled though. "You were evenly matched until the last second."

Both women smiled at him. "I do not doubt you once were a lot stronger," Keya said, with a small chuckle. "It will be interesting to see how I compare to you when you do have your old talent back. However I am impressed by both of you as it is."

Rhyllae smiled at her. "Though you know i cannot fight with a sword at all." Else she'd not have been taken like she had.

"You'll learn in time, Rhyllae."