Thread: Spoils of War (Decay&Maria)

Tristan stood in front of the defeated champion with his sword at the ready and eager to hear the decision and he hoped it was the correct decision. Of all the things he wanted to do killing a true warrior was not one of them, not that day. Besides, he could get not only information but leverage with someone so talented, someone people surely knew of. The plan wasn't perfect sure but it was the best idea he could come up with to put the fighting on hold for a little while, allow people to rest and perhaps even see their loved ones before the battles proceeded to rip the lives of good men away. Not only that but he was slightly curious just what the man beneath the armor looked like, what the small but ferocious warrior would do in order to further resist or even try to escape. To Tristan it was more than a simple option it was about seeing something he hadn't seen before, a combatant worthy of fighting him, one who despite Tristan getting the drop on had fought hard and with great skill. If he were lucky perhaps he could even set up negotiations with the Cardonian royal family, see if they wanted their precious champion back. Of course every little hope was soon crushed when the soldier approached him, the Prince keeping his sword at the ready up until the moment he heard that voice again. The voice of a woman and while it could have been a young boy he had began to believe that it really was a woman. Then, like it was nothing she admitted it and requested he kept his mouth shut, ensured that nobody from his camp including himself touched her. It wasn't a simple request really, to keep her gender a secret, but it wasn't like it mattered. Tristan had fixed the problem with his men, severe beatings and possibly worse for forcing a woman. He could understand the nervousness though and he took a deep breath, nodding and speaking in a low voice as well. I will ensure nobody knows that you are a woman and I assure you that you are in good hands, that my men wouldn't dare touch a prisoner of war in such a way, not while I am around and not while I am Prince of this kingdom. Now come on, I need to move you before things get complicated, especially now that I know you are a female. With that Tristan walked forward and grabbed the unnamed female champion by the arm, pulling her behind lines of his soldiers until they were behind with some of the less adventurous officers. Tristan had one of them dismount their horse and grabbed some rope, tying the champions hands before jumping on the horse and pulling the captured soldier on with him. Have the men push them back a ways and then disengage, do not chase and attempt a route, just scare them off and return to the encampment, we have much to discuss, or we soon will. With Tristan's orders given the officers nodded and he rode off, ignoring the odd looks he was getting when he left the battlefield to escort a prisoner back to the camp personally. Usually he would have requested a grunt do it, possibly someone too young or inexperienced to be on the front line but with such special circumstances he found himself acting without thinking, riding with the bound prisoner back towards the came without giving it a second thought. It was preposterous really, that Cardon was so desperate that they sent women into war. Not that women couldn't wield a weapon or fight but it wasn't how things were supposed to work, it went against everything soldiers and knights stood for. Tristan remained silent the entire ride to the encampment, going around a large natural rock wall and down a small path to a huge group of tents, some men still around guarding and doing necessary tasks. Tristan's head had been full of questions on the ride over but he couldn't find the answers. Normally he would just throw a prisoner in a guarded tent or have them chained to a post to keep them from escaping but the situation was not normal, he couldn't leave a woman by herself among soldiers. Sure he was the leader and he liked to think they respected him enough not to do anything but that was not a risk he could take. So after much deliberation he cursed under his breath and made his way to the largest tent in the encampment, his own tent. He sighed as he dismounted the horse, getting the soldier down as well, the Prince looking around to make sure nobody was suspicious about the enemy champion. Then, still without a word he ushered her inside the tent and it was not what one would expect. Inside was not luxury or splendor but minimal. There was a large table in the center with maps and papers scattered about. One corner contained a few additional weapons and another set of the armor Tristan was wearing. There was a bed but it was makeshift and small and even the food was average, what a normal soldier would eat. It was mere his lodging for the battles though and he hadn't taken any pains to make them royal or exquisite. The true matter at hand was not his room but the person in it and Tristan, after moving towards the center of the room, narrowed his eyes and looked at the captive. Okay I have a large amount of questions but let's start with simplicity and work our way up... He took a deep breath and got between the soldier and the tents exit, making sure there would be no running, though doing so within an enemy camp would be stupidity. First of all I want your name and I want you to tell me how a woman ended up fighting on the front lines... He had yet to remove her armor and see who she was, Tristan's mind was so boggled that he hadn't even done something as simple as look upon the captives face.