(3)

The next morning started with a heavy knock on their cell's door. Caeda didn't pay it any mind, simply rolling over and grunting to acknowledge the sound, while Alexander sat up and waited, expecting someone to come in.

The door opened and a charr wearing finely decorated armor stepped in, with two more wearing enclosed helmets and encasing armor following in behind. They would've looked identical if it weren't for a slight height difference and unique tails. One resembled a feather duster with longer white fur hanging down along the entire length of it white the other sported a brown puff of fluff at the end.

A simple W was stamped near some of what must've been other marks of honor on the breastplate of the one wearing the decorated armor. Alexander looked up to get a good look at what must've been The Warden and was surprised to see four blunted horns. They all jutted back before gleaming golden caps halted them, all of them the same few inches long. The tip of his chin sported what looked like a rocky outcropping rather than the fur he'd seen on other charr. He could only make out one eye from where he sat, with a scar where its brow should've been, making for a natural scowl.

While he looked over the big guy, the puff-tailed guard walked over to Caeda and hauled her up. She resisted at first, but shot to her feet and snapped to attention once she saw who their decorated visitor was. The other guard came to stand next to Alexander, who was already looking at the incoming trio with one brow raised.

Their leader spoke with a deeply authoritative voice, not smooth but not nearly as rough as most other charr he'd heard. “Caeda Ripstep, as you already know, I'm pairing you with Alexander." He stopped and looked at Alexander's arm for a moment before turning back to her, his voice taking a much darker tone. “That means you are not to injure him! You're lucky we had a healer ready and luckier still that your partner is tougher than he looks." 

Alexander expected to hear her protest, but Caeda responded with a salute he hadn't seen before. She straightened out looking up to the ceiling, and placed a fist over her chest while firmly announcing, “Yes sir!" before relaxing somewhat.

He turned to Alexander now, his voice softening slightly. “You'll have to forgive me for your mistreatment. I've done what I can for your arm, but you're going to have to manage without it for some time."

Alexander squinted at the gentle expression on The Warden's face, trying to read his brown eyes. He couldn't sense any sort of lie or sarcasm, so he nodded and loosened up, taking a relaxed stance. But the other three in the room glanced between the lead and Alexander with disbelief. The charr next to him, a female judging by her lighter voice, asked. “Warden? Are you su-"

“I'm sure, if he has the tenacity to stand up to Ripstep. Then he can fight with his injuries."

Alexander looked down at himself and tried to clench his sling-bound hand into a fist, but only barely managed to curl his fingers in as his arm shook with the effort. Looking back up, he said. “You want me to fight while injured." It was spoken like a statement but his expression showed his disdain and worry clearly enough.

“For as long as that injury lasts, yes. You'll be armed. There wouldn't be any sport in putting you out there without a weapon." He nodded to Alexander's arm with a small smirk and one quirked brow.

“Oh please! I would've had her if she didn't have a neck like a log." His expression swapped to one of disappointment.

The female guard beside him raised an armored hand to silence him, but The Warden stopped her with a simple wave. “And that's why she'll be your sparring partner. Unless you'd like to make friends with someone else?"

Alexander's face twisted itself into a thick frown, his brows furrowing as he spat out the words, “Friend is the last term I'd use."

The Warden looked at him with a sympathetic frown and a shrug before turning and waving for the armored duo to follow. “I expect to see you two perform well." He stepped out of the room and started down the hall, calling back. “You'll be escorted to The Bane for sparring soon."

Alexander looked over to Caeda to see her standing at attention until the Warden was out of sight. She caught his confused stare and slumped onto her cot with a groan. “What do you want?"

He sat back down and tilted his head towards the door. “You folded for him right away. Why?"

She shot him a frown paired with a short snarl. “He deserves respect."

“What about the guards?"

Her frown leveled out and she suddenly looked tired. “Discipline."

He let out a short laugh while shaking his head. “Really? You were keen to disrespect the guards at that mining camp. So there must be history between you and those three."

She gripped the edge of her cot and spoke through grit teeth, only barely resisting the urge to test whether or not the chains would keep her from getting her hands on him. “That's not your business…" She took a deep breath and unclenched her jaw. “If you value breathing, you'll drop the topic."

His brows both rose but there wasn't an ounce of fear on him as he leaned against the wall behind him and fell silent.

***

The armored duo returned after what seemed like half an hour to escort Alexander and Caeda to a massive, metal coliseum with a firm, sand-topped floor made for both training and entertainment. There were all sorts of inner chambers and passages that branched out from the main area, no doubt meant for various pairs or teams.

They were taken to one of these rooms, fair-sized and with a domed, glass ceiling. An array of weapons rested on tables and racks, all arranged on one side of the room. Most of them looked blunted, but the occasional spike or jagged edge was present. The two guards unchained the forced duo and led them to the arrangement of weapons, their shackles resting by the entrance.

Caeda gave the pseudo-armory a dismissive wave and walked to the other side of the room. The larger of the guards with his puff-tipped tail followed her with a dulled sword and handed it out to her as soon as she stopped. She looked like she was about to refuse as she wrinkled her snout, but eventually accepted it with a frown.

Alexander headed to the racks and scooped up a rugged hand-and-a-half sword with his working hand. Half of its guard was sheared off, which threw its balance forward and made it awkward to hold, but he lifted it just fine.

He walked opposite Caeda as the other guard followed him, leaving the length of the room between them.

The guard nearest Alexander spoke up once he turned to face Caeda. The clear, light voice that came out of the helmet marked them as a she. “Alexander, nod to Ripstep when you're ready to begin." He looked to her with some surprise, not expecting to hear a charr's voice without at least a little bit of rasp. The longer fur on her tail did look familiar though, Caeda had the same. While the other guard and The Warden only had the puff at their tailtip.

He looked across the arena to see his forced partner staring back at him. He took his time giving the bastard sword a few test swings, getting a better feel for the odd balance it sported. Once he was satisfied, he settled into a low stance and nodded.

Caeda charged with the nod, dropping to all fours and bounding towards Alexander, leaving her blade where she had been standing. She closed the distance in just a few strides, surprising Alexander with her speed but not much else.

He slipped to the side just as she reached him, raising and swinging his blade as he moved.

But his swing flew wide as he felt something strike his chest and carry him for a bounding step before throwing him into the wall at his back, ringing his bell.

Caeda halted her charge and slowly walked over to Alexander, almost savoring the moment. She crouched low in front of him with a disinterested stare and bluntly stated, “Dead." before letting out a long yawn.

He hazily looked up and narrowed his eyes at hers as he recovered from the dazing impact and tightened his grip on the sword.

His arm shot up and the tip of the sword stopped an inch away from her throat. He smiled and coughed out. “Dead… And sloppy."

Her yawn stopped mid-way and her eyes locked onto his. Alexander lowered his arm and sat forward as Caeda straightened out. “Your breath is still terrible." He gathered his legs under him and stood, pinching his nose shut. “Why drop your sword?"

She shrugged and turned her back, already moving back to her original position, not even looking at her discarded weapon. “I prefer to play with my food."

“I might look good, but I am not a meal." He took his place and stared at Caeda for a while with a contemplative frown before nodding to her sword. “Use it, you might take a round from me." He gave her his most provocative smile yet and settled into a tall stance, leaning hard on his back foot. 'I'll teach you to disrespect a member of the Ebon Vanguard.'

She took the bait, quickly leaning over to grab her sword before storming towards Alexander with a deep-throated growl.

He didn't move. He just maintained his smile and watched, hoping her overconfidence would lead to another sloppy opening. What he got instead was a wave of hot air as Caeda roared and charged him with her sword held high.

He let her close in on him and swing before leaning further back and slapping her overhead swing to the side with his own sword.

Alexander's stance wavered as he had to hit her blade harder than he wanted to in order to throw the swing off, but now he had his opening. He sprung forward like a fencer with a thrust aimed at her throat.

Her free hand grabbed his working wrist just in time, stopping him cold. All Alexander could manage was a gasp as she snarled and lifted him into the air.

He stared at her with a mix of surprise and pain, already trying to free his arm. She was squeezing his wrist tighter than she needed to and he feared that he was about to lose his hand.

Caeda's growling stopped, “Sloppy huh? You fell for that old rookie gag like a fool." She smiled wide and lifted Alexander to look her straight in the eyes, watching him wriggle like a worm on a hook.

He struggled in her grip, but the more he moved the tighter the grip on his wrist became. So he stopped struggling and glared at her, begrudgingly mumbling, “A cheap trick when I can only use one arm."

She sharpened her stare and started to squeeze Alexander's wrist tighter and tighter, the grip on his sword loosened and he grit his teeth with the attempt of holding it firm. Both guards put a hand on their weapons and started towards the two. “Drop him!" They shouted in unison.

She hardly reacted to the order, simply squeezing tighter and opening her mouth to split her smile open as Alexander's grip failed and he dropped the blade, groaning as he felt his wrist creak like an abused hinge.

The female guard drew her sword and half shouted half growled. “Now Caeda!" And she finally complied.

Dropping Alexander and turning around abruptly. She walked back to her spot with a close-lipped grin. The puff-tailed guard followed after her and started in on a scolding Alexander couldn't make out.

He landed on his back and took a moment to sit up and cradle his aching wrist as the blood flowed back into his hand. “I'm already crippled! Are you looking for a second handicap?" He thought about adding 'coward' again, but figured that it wouldn't end well for him.

The female guard beside him helped him to his feet and handed him his weapon before heading back to her position. He took it guardedly and shook his hand about, thinking for a moment before asking. “How about we both use just one arm, to keep things even?"

Caeda paused and thought for a moment. Then, with an annoyed sigh, she placed her left arm behind her back and started slowly advancing towards Alexander.

He turned and started walking towards her, his stance firm and his sword tracing short semicircles in front of him as he approached. Caeda slowed herself to mimic his pace and the two met in the center of the room.

She used her huge reach advantage to swing first, a half-hearted chop.

Alexander caught it on his blade and it slid off to the side.

She looped her sword up and swung again, this time with some effort.

He parried again, knocking the swing away.

She swung a third time, this time feigning a leftward swipe before twisting it into a thrust.

He saw the real strike coming and deflected it just as easily as the others, pushing forward each time.

Alexander had closed the reach gap and put Caeda within range of his own weapon.

He swung low, smacking her ankle with the tip of his blunted blade.

She hardly reacted to the hit and swung again, trying to catch him as he rebounded.

He stepped away from her strike and swung at her wrist as it went by.

She yanked her arm back with a grunt at the sting of the hit and took a sudden step back with the recoiling of her arm, readying a stab.

Alexander swung and missed as she stepped back.

He quickly followed it up with a lunge of his own and a successful swipe, colliding with her hip and forcing a pained growl out of her.

She delivered her stab with his strike.

He readied himself to parry the thrust immediately, eyes locked on her weapon.

She saw him moving to deflect her thrust and twisted her arm to bring her fist to bear instead.

He swung to parry the thrust, but swiped at nothing as it turned out of the way, leaving himself staring at a furry hammer of a hand.

The crossing punch connected like a mace would with Alexander's healthy shoulder. He staggered backwards with the hit, almost falling over.

He struggled to control his weapon as his shoulder started to grind in place, dislocated.

Caeda saw the opening and lunged towards him with a swipe aimed at the side of his head.

He bunched that arm up at the elbow and stumbled under her swing, regaining his footing as he crouched under her extended arm. He looked up to see an angry Caeda snarling down at him, her arm already starting to pull back, intent on knocking him over and finishing the duel.

So he decided to jump right into her gut, leading with the dislocated shoulder.

His full-body strike connected beautifully. Caeda didn't expect such a wild move and nearly doubled-over with the hit, her near-constant snarl interrupted by a rough “Oof!"

Alexander could feel her shadow bend over him and scrambled to the side, trying to lift his arm again. It protested with an ache but obeyed him regardless, his gamble had worked. He swung with all of his might at the back of Caeda's hand without hesitation. The swing hit hard.

She dropped her weapon and yowled angrily before straightening out and grabbing at her stinging hand with the one that was held behind her back until now. She looked down at Alexander to see him leaning forward and shaking out his arm. She spoke with equal amounts of surprise and frustration. “You rammed me!"

“Yes. You disabled my shoulder and I had to fix it." He stood up straight and tossed his sword onto the ground near her's.

“And if I used my other arm?" She looked thoroughly miffed, surprised that he'd beaten her.

“You would have had a further advantage and probably won.“ He tried to roll his shoulder around in its socket but it snagged halfway. “I don't understand the name Caeda Ripstep, it should be Caeda Armtear." He glanced up and gave her that same provocative smile, but his tone was more joking than insulting.

Her annoyance immediately turned into rage and she pounced on him.

One hand forced its way under his chin, the other pressed onto his shoulder as his back hit the ground. Her weight threatened to crush him outright. “NEVER insult my warband, insect!" She punctuated the word 'insect' with a hiss.

Alexander panicked and looked forward with an instinctual fear for his life. He could barely wheeze, “What..?" as his breath was forced out of him.

Both guards started rushing towards the two and The Warden suddenly marched in through the entrance, barking out the words. “Caeda! What did I say!?"

She leaned some of her weight off of him, sparing him any broken bones while growling out the words, “You said we're partners."

Alexander could feel himself start to black out as her weight kept any air from entering his lungs, his aches dulling themselves and his vision starting to blur.

“Really? Because it looks like you're ready to smash him!" He lost his calm demeanor and started running forward on all fours, catching up with the two guards and stopping just in front of Caeda and Alexander. “Up! Now!"

She begrudgingly stood and took one step away from Alexander, who gasped for air like someone who had nearly drowned.

The smaller guard stepped forward and lifted Alexander onto his feet as he looked between Caeda and The Warden, coughing as he wondered what sort of baggage the two of them carried with each other.

The Warden looked just as angry as Caeda and spoke to her first, “If you cause one more incident I'll use your pelt as a rug!" Then he turned to Alexander. “Both of you!"

Alexander started to protest, “Bu-" but he was cut short by a salute from Caeda, punctuated with an “Understood!"

The Warden's anger faded and he ran one hand over the black mane atop his head and along the back of his neck. He knelt down to look at Alexander squarely, “I won't order her off of you next time. Understand?"

With the light that shone in through the glass above he could make out the big guy's fur patterning clearly, especially as his eyes regained their focus. Brown and darker brown but with stripes of deep red like one would see on a tiger. Alexander's eyes met his and he nodded his understanding with an indignant frown.

“Good." The Warden stood again and ordered the female guard that'd been tasked with Alexander, “Take him to the new cells."

She saluted and led him to the entrance where she refastened his restraints and took him into the same corridor he was escorted through earlier. He could already hear The Warden chewing Caeda out and allowed himself a shallow smile as he and his escort left.

(4)

Alexander could hear the sounds of a fortress city at work through the walls of The Bane as they walked. He expected to hear others sparring and did notice the occasional clanging of metal striking metal without the usual rhythm he'd heard from blacksmiths before. It was somehow soothing to him, almost familiar, but the occasional taunt from filled cells that they passed by roughened his mood again.

They walked a while without saying a word to each other until Alexander asked, “Who is The Warden?"

His escort responded quickly. “The Warden is Gorge Steelforge, Iron Legion."

“And you are?"

“Fera Heartsplitter, Blood legion."

Alexander scrunched up his face. “Your surnames are odd."

She grunted and took her helmet off to hold it under her arm, the other still held the end of his chains. “A charr's surname represents their warband and skill. Every charr's warband is more important than family."

He pressed his lips together with how curt her response was. He looked up at her and could spot one half of a tired expression but bright eyes. The underside of her neck had the same white fur that was on her tail. It looked like the rest of her was a tanned yellow though, save for a thin, neatly combed mohawk of a mane that was a light blonde. He already made one charr angry enough though, so he calmly asked. “Why is that?"

Her tone softened a slight bit. “Because we grow up, train, fight, and die together, like brothers and sisters."

“Hmm…" He thought for a while as they walked, ignoring the jeers and taunts still coming from the cells they passed.

Just as he opened his mouth to ask another question, Fera stopped and gestured towards a barred cell. “Here we are."

The door was already open and Alexander waited for his restraints to be removed before walking in. It was a smaller cell with a high, barred window and a decent bed, but most notable were its barred walls, giving neighboring cells a clear view into one another. He could already picture Caeda resting in the cell neighboring his and grimaced.

Fera spoke as she closed his cell door. “Be careful around her Alexander. Ripstep is known for her violence"

He nodded and rubbed at his neck, “I can feel why."

Fera gave him a surprisingly warm smile and left the same way they had come.

'She's more pleasant than the others' Alexander thought as he walked over to sit on his new cot. 'Pleasant…' He put an elbow on his knee and a hand on his chin while his mind began working through ways to return home.

Some ideas were clearly better than others, 'Sneaking away could work. Fighting wouldn't, not while injured.' but they all ended with the same problem. Each plan was missing someone to help him through when one person wasn't enough, someone with more muscle. 'The guards, Fera..? No. The Ward-no, not at all. Caeda…' He sighed deeply. 'Of all the options...'

***

Time ticked by as the noise echoing through the halls of the prison grew louder as the day stretched on, a headache plaguing him. He thought about his mother in Ebonhawke and whispered a quiet prayer for her. “Please stay strong, you're in good hands. I'll bring back Roran and find father, for all of us."

“Whatever it takes." He leaned far forward and brought his brows together in deep thought, winding his way back a few days and humbling himself with a reminder of his capture, 'Hunted like a rabbit, but I took one down.' He shuddered briefly as he remembered the malicious grins.

He had left Ebonhawke alone on a personal mission, leaving behind friends and his remaining family in search of his missing brother and father. The journey ended with him face-down in the dirt, pinned under a dead charr and caught by its friends. He couldn't tell why he was imprisoned rather than outright enslaved as the stories said was so common, but he had other matters to worry about.

And one of those matters could be heard coming down the hall, thumping through the corridor accompanied by the clank of her chains. Alexander shuffled to the end of the cell's bed and leaned forward to sneak a peek.

The thumping stopped and was replaced by the sound of an armored figure walking, Alexander froze and waited.

First was the puff-tailed guard, chains in one hand and a ring of keys in the other. Then he saw Caeda, who was walking at the same speed as her escort but moved like a leopard stalking its prey, in absolute silence. Alexander leaned back, surprised. 'She heard me?'

He leaned forward again to see her shadowing the guard. Her eyes locked on his as she held her head steady, claws already bared. Alexander straightened out and gave her a concerned look in response.

The guard opened her cell door and she crept inside with her restraints still on, never breaking eye contact with Alexander. The guard let out a harsh chuckle and locked the door behind her before heading further down the hall.

Alexander opened his mouth to speak, but her lips curled back in a silent snarl and he hesitated, mouth hanging open.

She spoke first, “I almost wish I killed you when I had the chance."

Alexander closed his mouth with a frown for a moment. “In the mine you mean? And almost?"

“In the mine, in our cells, during sparring, any time you were in reach." She began gesturing wildly, “The only reason you're not a crimson smear on the wall or decorating my claws, yet, is because He likes you."

He hesitated again, shuddering slightly before saying. “I'd like to say that I'm sorry." It was sincere, not at all heartfelt, but sincere.

She started to smirk but her snarl took over as she made a mock swipe at her throat, “I'm sure you are."

Alexander's concern turned into disappointment and he narrowed his eyes. “I'm sorry I insulted your warband, I didn't intend to." He started to gesture with his injured arm, but stopped himself as it ached with the movement. “If I truly cared for my health, would I really insult you as often as I do?"

Her expression softened and she questioningly raised one brow before returning to her snarl and saying. “Because you're a fool who likes to run his mouth and rely on the protection of others."

Alexander's expression turned into a full glare and he stood up. “I may run my mouth but I do not let others handle my problems for me. I've dedicated my life to protecting others and will not have my efforts trivialized by some rage-driven beast!"

“Protecting others huh? And how have you done that?" Her smirk returned, now she held the reins.

“I joined the Ebon Vanguard so I could keep my friends and family safe from the fiends beyond The Hawkgates." The word 'fiends' came out like a curse.

Her tone changed, a mix of venom and vague respect seeping in. “And how do you plan to do that from a cell, Vanguard?"

He broke eye contact and stared at the space between them, searching for an answer.

Caeda's smirk grew as she sat down, waiting for him to speak.

He grimaced. “I suppose I can't. But I hope to bring back those that left."

“They're already caught, nothing gets by the patrols that comb our lands."

He knew that from experience and looked down with a sigh. “They might have found a way. If not then I'll have to find them and take them back once I get out of here."

Caeda started to laugh, but she stopped herself and looked at Alexander with honest curiosity. “You have no idea where you are, do you." Her tone turned the question into a statement.

Alexander looked up, confused. “In a different prison, one that trains fighters?"

She nodded. “We're being held near The Bane, an arena for settling differences and hosting entertainment." Then she shook her head. “Which is in the Black Citadel..."

Alexander visibly blanched. “The Black Citadel!? The scrap stronghold built on the ruins of Rin?" He thrust his face into one hand and let out a long groan, “All because we fought in the mine."

She growled out. “That was a terrible move. You're lucky I was feeling groggy then or I would've taken that arm." She thrusted a finger towards his sling as she spoke.

The color came back to his skin and he started shouting. “Lucky!? I'm stuck in a war-worshipping forge fortress with a particularly hellish charr who hates my guts as my only. Remote. Ally!"

Scattered laughter sounded from some of the various cells not far from his, including Caeda's.

He sat back down and hung his head. “Laugh away, I still took a round from you with just one arm."

Caeda shook her head and flashed him an amused smile, “You're a spirited mouse, bold. I like that."

He shot her a scowl and mulled over whether or not he wanted to tear into her with the safety of the bars between them. “I'm just a mouse, but here I am with a bunch of big, bad charr. Which means one of us isn't as we seem… and you know why I'm here."

“Hmph…" She deflated with that and frowned at him. “I made a mistake and I'm here to pay for it."

He squinted at her. “A mistake? No, you would say more if you wanted to share more." He shrugged and laid down with his back to her. “I'll share more if you do, some day."

With an annoyed grunt, she laid on her back and stared at the ceiling for quite a while before he heard her start to snore. He fell asleep soon after with both his head and chest aching.