#augustine considers fratricide once again

[scrollsfromarebornrealm]

Free Write #1: Reconnaissance

"WOMAN! STOP! JUST--STOP IT!"

"Ser..." Mathye didn't hear the squire at first, he was laughing too hard. Sucking in a breath, he turned his attention to the gangly-limbed youth before him. Halone bless the child, they looked extremely nervous.

"Lord Bishop, shouldn't we...do something?" Behind the squire, Estinien was running pell mell around the main training area for House Fortemps. And hot on his heels, screaming like an utter banshee was Riven--or rather, Valefor.

Who was currently the size of a goose. Apparently Riven's control over her Eikon was very good, she could shrink her size if need be to make hunting or (in this case, reconnaissance) easier. She had offered this skill to scout out Castrum Aquilonis, to which Haurchefant had welcomed.

Mathye had no idea how Estinien had gotten involved, nor what had happened to instigate yet another fight between the elezen and Riven. But the sight of the Azure Dragoon-now-turned-Dominant-of-Nidhogg running around the courtyard, seemingly having forgotten that he could simply jump to safety, being chased by a bird that just barely came up to just below his knees, was fucking hilarious.

"Ser--"

"The Fury has sanctioned this battle." Mathye decreed with a straight face, and then had to keep from choking with laughter at the stricken look on the squire's own. "It's alright, you're not going to get in trouble! Go about your normal duties."

"Mathye, what in the seven hells is going on--" Augustine hurried over--just as Estinien somehow tripped, falling down onto the hard-packed dirt of the training circle. With a scream Riven charged, starting to peck violently at any part of the dragoon she could reach. When that didn't work, she seized the back of Estinien's collar in her beak and started to pull as hard as she could. The First Dominant of Halone took in the scene, then fixed his howling older brother with a glare.

"Really, Mathye?"

"He said the Fury sanctioned this!" The squire repeated. This only set off Mathye even harder, while Augustine sighed. Estinien was still yelling and flailing, and Riven was still trying to drag him by her beak.

"Has she forgotten she can change back?" Haurchefant--who had come out behind Augustine--wondered aloud through chuckles. "And did Ser Estinien forget he could jump?" Side-eyeing his manically cackling sibling, Augustine stepped forward to try and resolve the mess.

"Riven!" He snarled, power echoing in his voice. Valefor and Estinien both stopped--the eikon looking at the group with beady eyes. She blinked.

<Oh.> A shimmer of aether--and Estinien's head fell back as Riven returned to her normal self. She pointed down at the dragoon.

"He started--aaaaahhagghh!" Estinien aimed a blow at the back of Riven's legs, sending the younger Dominant to the ground. Augustine facepalmed, while Mathye dissolved in laughter once more.