[Siona, Citadel Courtyard] Stop! Intruder! (Kurth)

[Duncan Sythe]

Timestamp: Last Cycle of Winter after the meeting with Raliric

The words had been said, it was done. The gray cloaked man who now decided from the mage tower and exited it to cross the courtyard was, however, very clearly not a member of the Argent sword.

Moving like a soldier, with a soldier's purpose any watcher could almost even be forgiven for thinking he might have killed Raliric and was now making his swift escape as he shut the door to the tower staircase behind himself, twisting the latch closed and then turning to cross to where he'd been directed to get food and a room, to make himself comfortable.

Beneath the cloak the black haired, blue eyed man wore a loose brown leather coat over a cream tunic, into which was tucked a gray cravat that surrounded his neck. A sword belt hung from his waist and he moved without a care in the world to make his way across the courtyard.

When all was said and done Duncan was satisfied with what had happened today and therefore made his way across the courtyard in full confidence that his work was done, that may however turn out to be wrong, very soon.

[Kurth Tathasir]

Kurth was walking along the courtyard, looking around interestingly at the town he just entered that brightening. He was passing knights going about their business, taking note to the several buildings surrounding the mage tower, when the human noticed a man cloaked in grey. Not all the people milling around the courtyard were in knight uniform, but he took notice to him particularly because, for some reason, he looked very familiar. The cloaked figure closed a door and started to walk away from the mage tower. From meeting with Raliric earlier that brightening, Kurth knew that door led to a staircase that led to Raliric Ered`Gard.

Kurth was on a perpendicular path with Duncan, and as he walked away from the tower, the squire changed his pace to intercept him. There was something about his face... something he recognized.... But he didn't know from where, and he didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. He didn't know if he was meeting Raliric for personal reasons unbeknownst to him, or if he was a spy or assassin of some sort. His liege did, of course, have many enemies. His hand rested beneath his black cloak on the handle of the longsword attached to his waist. It was better to be sure than to have this potential enemy have left the grounds without being confronted. And even so, if he was wrong, he had to be sure to be polite. To insult a friend of his liege would most certainly cause annoyance. As he caught up with the cloaked man he raised his right hand and shouted a greeting to get his attention.

"Serale. I don't mean to bother you, but I will need to see some identification."

As he drew closer, the fact that he recognized this man made him even more uneasy. It must have been a long time ago, he could not bring about a setting or time, or even a name. He made sure he was standing in front of the man when he asked this question, and he made sure to stand sword's length away in case he tried to pull something funny. He was slightly relieved that a few knights around them had stopped what they were doing to watch. In case something did go awry he would have some backup.

[Duncan Sythe]

Duncan stopped and closed his eyes for a merely eye blink, silence coming over his soul in that instant as he soared into Clara and turned to face his questioner, finding the peace and quiet, the calm within his soul before opening those blue eyes again to examine the man who was asking the questions.

Perhaps to Kurth's relief – or perhaps not if the man had been hoping for trouble – the man he'd stopped didn't appear at all perturbed by being asked for identification and hadn't pulled his hand quickly under his cloak or anything done else suspicious. Admittedly this was because he didn't need to in order to defend himself but then assuming every visitor for a mage was not a usual activity for any guard, except if they were guarding royalty or the Regent.

To the mage though the man before him raised a similar kind of 'seen you before' deja-vu, but probably even less so than for Kurth given the number of people Duncan had associated with, he sort of had a shorter list of 'people its important to remember'. Certainly the man's name had never come up, so he presumed Kurth had been with someone else at the time. With that in mind and in no small part due to the desire not to irk Raliric by exciting half his knights...and no desire to end up killing any mage in the courtyard idiot enough to freak if he had to defend himself, Duncan merely raised both hands away from his body slowly, letting his cloak fall from his shoulders to behind him.

This admittedly revealed his sword, but given his hands were no where near it, this probably didnt make much difference as armed men in a citadel were not unheard of, even armed visitors...and Duncan wasn't doing anything about his sword – yet at any rate.

“I am going to reach inside my coat for my visa.”

He said without intonation to Kurth, meeting the man's eyes with his own blue ones, his angular, pock marked face not twitching, even with concern at the situation he was in.

“My name.” Duncan continued as he put his left hand with its half glove to the side of his coat, opening it outward so Kurth could see the finely made inside with several concealed pockets closed by metal togs. “Is Duncan Sythe.”

He went on as he undid one tog with his right hand, suspecting the name may raise some memories as he'd been the Imperial Mage only a short time before and had his name plastered in the herald. Now though he had his brown leather bound visa out and opened it up to Kurth, extending it in his right hand and holding his left away from his body again, the manner he did it in suggesting he was used to being on the opposite end where Kurth was and knew what was expected to avoid hostile action being taken.

“I was visiting Raliric on a personal matter, he will be more than happy to confirm I am entitled to be here and welcome to bare arms if you wish to send someone to ask him.”

Duncan went on simply. Part of that argument came because Raliric had some mild degree of trust for him, the majority because he couldn't hurt any more with a sword than he could without one.

“Would you like this thrown to you or shall I place it on the ground and walk away?”

He asked finally. Possibly to his credit there was no sarcasm in the words, he was taking the request he was given very seriously...or at least appeared to be doing so. When it came down to it he could have do all manner of nastier things but Duncan did not flout his abilities to all and sundry, so complying with a simple identification check without being unnecessarily hostile didn't hurt him one bit.

[Kurth Tathasir]

Kurth kept his hand on the hilt of his sword, more of a caution than that of aggression. The human spoke the words that brought a brief moment of realization to Kurth's face - 'Duncan Sythe.' His eyes narrowed, and nodded and waited patiently as Duncan pulled out his visa and asked what he wanted Kurth to do with it.

"Just throw it to me, that's fine."

The squire was just trying to find out how he knew this man, but I suppose it was better to play everything safe. He took a good long look at the visa and tossed it back. Yep, Duncan Sythe. He knew that name. Kurth wracked his thoughts... was he in the herald? Yes, he was the imperial mage a while back. He didn't know if he still was. Surely he would have mentioned that when he asked for identification.

No. It was something else. Duncan Sythe. Duncan. Sythe. With Raliric? He thought a bit longer and it hit him like his trainer's fist. The tavern. All the while back in Primus Gaudeo, before he left for his journey. Yes, that was definitely it. Kurth released the grip on his sword and relaxed his legs, looking into the face of the man before him, a rosy hue of embarrassment spreading into his cheeks.

"I apologize for my rudeness, Mr. Sythe. I was simply concerned for the Knight Champion's safety. You know how it is these days. I thought I had recognized you from before. You had met with Raliric Ered`Gard at a tavern in Primus Gaudeo an era back, did you not? I am Kurth Tathasir, Raliric's squire. I was there that darkening, though I do not believe my foolishness has improved much from what it was then."

Kurth stepped back and took a slight bow in apology and continued.

"I remember your face, and now your name, but I do not remember - or perhaps even know at all - why you were meeting with my liege. If you don't mind my asking, obviously, what is your relationship with him? Is there something foul afoot?"

[Duncan Sythe]

Duncan squatted, his eyes never leaving Kurth and his expression reflecting no irritation even as embarrassment flooded the younger man's face. Carefully collecting his visa again Duncan tucked it into his coat and, straightening, adjusted its fit on his shoulders as Kurth spoke.

With Raliric? Duncan considered, yes, it was possible, although he didn't believe he'd ever been introduced to the man.

“No need to put yourself down for being cautious.”

Duncan remarked finally, mildly, studying Kurth intently, as if trying to decipher the nature of his curiosity. Ye Gods the lad certainly had a lot of questions, still, the introduction was perfectly good to explain his business in the citadel as Duncan remained standing across from Kurth in the center of the courtyard.

“And as for my business with your Lord, nothing more foul than the usual, at the time he needed my aid as a Mage, now? Let's just say the situation is similar.”

He then glanced around meaningfully at the few people still paying attention.

“Still, the middle of the courtyard is hardly a good place for conversation and I don't know your name, I wasn't introduced. So why don't you show me where I can get some food in this place and introduce yourself properly? I'd like to know a little more about someone who takes the protection of Raliric so seriously.”

An utter lie, but delivered with such casual aplomb that no-one would ever tell the difference. For if there was a skill in lying Duncan was a better Master at it than he was at being a mage, he'd made an entire life out of the profession, although ironically following his own set of rules. Thus he now offered Kurth an introduction and a drink with the former Imperial Mage of the Allerian Empire, he figured the offer was too good to resist and he, after all, hadn't answered the last question straight either and offered – at least seemed to offer – more answers if Kurth took him to the mess.

Which was true enough, Kurth would get answers, not necessarily ones he was likely to enjoy though. And besides, Duncan was hungry, he'd been planning to find the mess and an empty room anyway.