Empires of Ashes

*aye she's somewhere nearby*

*Ket is walking down the steps of the walls, a short time after trajan leaves.*

he hears some thuds nearby

*his hand is on his sword in a second, turning towards it*

he finds LI, currently punching rocks, cracking them as she does so

*Realising this, his hand leaves his sword, and he approaches.*

she keeps going, not noticing she now has an audience

"A strange time to be making a road."

"Keeping in shape."

*he nods to himself a few times* "Right... Okay."

she stops and looks at him "Is...something wrong?"

"Just... processing that. The fact you're exercising... by punching stones."

"....yes?"

"most people would break their hands"

"Not me"

*By time Madara has finished arming himself, both armies are already marching in a column out of the town. Mordred and his men lead the way with a near constant stream of scouts and messengers riding to and from his position*

Ket: "I noticed that."

"I normally use helmets. I couldn't find any."

Ket: "There are plenty in the keep. The garrison aren't using them anymore."

"The legionaries get uncomfortable around me."

Ket: "I can understand that. You're different. People don't like that."

"...I know"

"We're not so different, now i come to think of it."

she turns to look at him, clearly a bit confused by that

*He reaches up, and takes off his helmet, turning it over in his hands, looking into the eyeslit.* "I dare say i'm not an expert on Dracia. But would put my right hand on the fact, you didn't have a choice in what you are."

"....I don't remember"

*he runs his thumb across the brow of his helm* "Hmn... There is contention among scholars, as to whether a Clavae are born, or created somehow. I tend to lean towards the latter."

"I don't know."

"Its mostly a philosophical point. What sets us aside from the legionaries who... are... disturbed by you. They volunteered, became soldiers. *he pauses, and looks up at her* We were made... into weapons."

"....how many have you killed?"

"I don't count, Too many, not enough. Depends who you ask."

"....I tried to count once"

"I assume you didn't get far."

"...." *she sits down on a nearby rock*

*ket takes a knee in front of her.*

"I see their faces sometimes"

"We all do."

"...you do?"

"I do. The frightened ones, ones... maybe i didn't need to kill."

LI goes quiet. just sitting there, her gaze meeting the floor

"But... That is the way of things. Men with power let others kill for their ends, so they need not feel the weight of killing."

she stays quiet.

*he looks down at his helmet again.*

"It ends for you"

"It ends for both of us at some point. On the tip of a spear, most likely."

"No. It won't end for me. Not until the gods themselves are rotting corpses."

"Clavae die like the rest of us."

"I haven't yet. Its been.....centuries, I think."

"Sorry... What?"

"Since my earliest memories."

"Thats... How could... Thats Impossible."