Thread: Sword & Shield

That was low. That brought a wicked little twitch to the prince's features. It was her voice more than anything, her tone. It told him that she probably wasn't bluffing. It told him that she just might submit him and his men to that, that though these be warriors who did not fear death, nor dismemberment... dishonor, and in such an unspeakable way... It was the greatest insult any brave man would ever be put through. And which man in the entirety of this camp wouldn't turn gay for him for just a little while? Maybe, maybe not for his men, but for him, for the famed Silver Devil, who wouldn't? Who the hell here wouldn't? That wasn't arrogance, that wasn't Tierian being smug and thinking he was that damn good looking - no, nothing of the sort. That was him knowing the way people got with mob mentality. That was him being very aware that these men would jump at any opportunity to drag him through the mud, even if it meant them trudging through the mud with him. Not a soldier here would pass up the chance to degrade their finest enemy. It would probably be a source of jovial bonding between the men, even. The thought made him sick. It was that which got to him far more than anything else, that she went there. That she went there, and that he knew how true of a threat that really was. Additionally, disgusting. Were it only the slow deaths of his men... Tierian could bear that. It wasn't because he was too proud to beg for them to be spared, but that he knew Percival, and he probably knew a few of the others this cunt held as well. They'd never forgive him if he begged for mercy. He didn't bring girls to war, unlike, it seemed, Ellencia did. He brought men, proud warriors who would die with a shit-eating grin in the name of their chosen banner before they begged for an inch from their enemy. Was it pride? Yes, but not a foolish one. It was the sort of pride, the type of mentality that had seen his troops through to so many victories so far in this war. It's what saw Percival through now, for though he screamed at the loss of each digit, the muscled brute's veins bulged as he spat at the man with the blade, shouting the beginning of a story Tierian knew well - once upon a time a man had sex with a goat, and that goat gave birth to a child. This was the family that founded Ellencia, and the reason why they were all so damn ugly. The prince smirked. Percy had told it by the fire last night, sharping his axeblade in preparation for the coming battle. Now, though, his good friend didn't even get to the punchline before one of the men cracked him in the face with the butt of his weapon. No, Tierian thought. His men were of a special sort. If this twat truly had a handful of them captive, none of them would forgive him for begging for mercy on their behalf. Still, that didn't make Keara's other threat any less potent. Turned his goddamn stomach, it did. Alright, he said finally, simply, not once pulling his eyes from the struggle in the middle of the circle. He wouldn't beg on behalf of his men, but for himself... He wasn't about to invite that sort of thing. Freedom was preferred, of course, but death came second. Dishonor was third. That... that wasn't even something to be considered. He would get her back. You win. I surrender to you. Calm. Somber. But he'd say nothing of being her bitch, whatever the hell she thought that entailed. I remain unconvinced you are who you say you are, that a woman could ever stand up to me in the way the Lion does in battle, but that aside, if you will cease any further action against me and my men from yours, you have my word that I will remain well-mannered. Would that be enough? There, he said simply, his face pale, but stoic, eyes on the circle of men.