[spoiler]Of all people, do you really think I care? Lmfao I know the difference between character and the author. [/spoiler] “Why bother anyone? Because I’m interested.” [i]She remarked with a seductive smirk.[/i] “I’m sure you’re well aware of the difference between desire and desperation. Choice is ever important.” [i]She said, smiling at him.[/i] “And perhaps your choice is to take as you please... the Alpha in a pack always stands dominant and establishes itself... which you have most certainly done.”

"[b]Yes...[/b]" [i]Came the response, a might suggestively. Perhaps she was leaking leeway through his more...primal urges...[/i] "[b]...and my choices befit my status, and thus a common harlot is none of my concern. I have tasted of the supplest virgins of all dynasties, been with the most beautiful women ever to exist, barring one. Tell me then why I should lower myself to the somewhat pretty face of a common whore?[/b]" [i]Or perhaps not.[/i] "[b]Woman, I had spared you up to this point in the belief that your were an envoy of some sort. Your masters, or as they say now, your 'pimps', had my interest. Without them, I'm afraid you are but a nuisance and an obstruction to my day.[/b]" [i]Finally, she had gotten his gaze as Gilgalad swiveled his head to face her. His ruby eyes were yet impassive, their piercing gaze indicating his growing impatience and indifference to the cost of taking her life.[/i] "[b]You have but one more try to strike up a communication between myself and your superiors. If you waste it on another doomed attempt to seduce me, I shall claim your life as ransom for the wasting of my time.[/b]

“And how do you know I’m a common harlot when you’ve hardly even looked at me?” [i]She said, again offering a seductive smirk.[/i] “Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to judge a book by its cover? So often times you’re wrong... and in your case, you’re very wrong. I have no master. [i]I’m looking for one.[/i]” [i]She whispered.[/i] “Killers aren’t useful without reason... without guidance... I’m sure you’re well aware.” [i]There was more than just an innocence in her looks and smile. There was a dripping venom and something very off about the way she spoke of killers. The implications of her past were made clear. She was no common harlot. She’d been an assassin, and judging from her well-maneuvered cover and her looks, she was very good at playing people, getting them vulnerable, and doing her job.[/i]

[i]And with great shift in conversation, comes great surprise-ability. The King stopped in his walk, regarding the woman with suspicion.[/i] "[b]I see. Very well. Come with me, in silence, out from the city. This is a matter to be dealt with privately.[/b]" [i]With that, Gilgalad turned and strode off down the street, towards the exit, not looking back to see if she followed. He knew she would. ------------ The came to the crest of a hill, about two miles out of Dojoville. Around them were the plains of Tatakai to their right, the forest to their left. The Golden King stopped here, pivoting regally to face the Widow. As the sun came down and began to set, he gave a command, the first of many in her service to come, if she took the vows.[/i] "[b]Kneel.[/b]"

[i]The woman had followed him. This was precisely as she had intended it to go. Upon arriving at the location with the King, she did as told, dropping to her knees and awaiting further command.[/i]

[i]A sheening, akin to the screech of metal grating on metal combined with the ear ringing post-flashbang, filled the air around the woman as a golden disc of light formed behind Gilgalad's right hand. Completely flat, it was but a horizontal line to her from her lowered position. In color, the portals must have been very good emitters, because for her, the entire space around her was tinted in the regal color. She had little time to ponder over this as the hilt of an immaculately designed golden longsword emerged from the disc, stopping at level with the Golden King's hand. Taking it up with a reverse grip, the disc descended, unveiling the rest of the blade to the eyes of the assassin. Gilgalad's cold red eyes regarded her with all the authority of doom as he twisted his wrist, taking up the sword in a traditional grip now, allowing the point to rise up and find its way to her forehead.[/i] "[b]Woman, I know not your name. Give it to me, that I may know you as you embark upon the new journey of your life.[/b]" [i]The King raised his arm until the blade was pointed directly into the air. Around them, the autumn sky began to quickly darken, the glow of gold becoming more prominent from behind and around her. The portal from which the longsword had emerged vanished into itself, the light persisting.[/i]

“Anna. Anna Young.” [i]She said. The display was a bit much for her, too bright and too showy. What she had been used to were far more medieval and darker rituals, but this was... new. While she didn’t show it, she kept herself on her toes mentally, ready to move if something were to befall her. Trust was key. Trust was key.[/i]

[i]The rest of the ceremony proceeded, the sword falling first to her left shoulder. Some words were said, in a language somehow both harsh and elegant all the same, words lost to time and yet pervading all throughout it, their weight falling upon her shoulders. Around her, the world seemed to slip into water color, reality waxing, waning, and bleeding. Around her, the hills, plains, and forests of Tatakai shifted into an ancient hall, filled with the greatest of treasures, decorated and built in such beauty as had never before been seen, and would never be seen again. The sword lifted over her head, and fell again flat upon her right shoulder, followed by more words. Lastly, the sword lifts up to her head, falling flat upon the crown of her skull. The atmosphere now was oppressive, and physically heavy upon Widow. Should she try, she would find she could not even lift her head to look up. After another sentence of the alien language, the shifting stopped, what colors of the hall there were now began to slip away, like so much water down the drain. The weight that had been layer upon her was lifted, gingerly, like a blanket peeled back by a caring parent in the morning.[/i] "[b]Anna Young...your King has spoken...[/b]" [i]The King extended his arm to the side, flipping the weapon in his hand back to a reverse grip. Letting go of it, the blade hung in air as it began to dissolve into golden dust, scattering to the sky before disappearing completely.[/i] "[b]You are to be...[/b]" [i]He croons, looking down on her with those brilliant red eyes.[/i] "[b]...my example.[/b]" [i]What senses she had would be screaming at her now, tearing themselves apart from the lustful turned murderous tone of the King. Whether that would save her from the seven various weapons that had been launched at her back from the portals he'd opened four feet behind her at the start of the "ceremony."[/i]

[i]She’d been under the influence of opiates and neurotoxins before, both of which were akin to the current feeling. Her past life had been one of playing parts and taking part in things that would kill or maim most people, and this was no exception to her. She took a deep breath, and her motion, despite the pain and what she felt was sluggish reaction time, she moved like a cat. She rolled to the side, staying low and making sure to stay low. So long as she knew up and down, she could save herself. The experience reminded her of what the diluted version of a certain neurotoxin did, one that had nearly killed her once before. This king was no different than the last. Arrogant. Vainglorious. And overconfident in himself. Just like the last, he’d failed to kill her, to even wound her. Even under the influence of what he had done, her training shone through.[/i]

[i]A savage grin broke across the King's face as she moved, his eyes, now widened from pleasant surprise, now following her dash to the side. His left hand followed as well, the wrist flicking up, splaying the fingers wide as his palm swept its own sight over the grasses. Again the sheening noise sounded, three of the golden discs opening to either side of her, the head of various weapons sliding soundlessly through. On either side, the weapons were aimed at her thigh, midsection, and a little in front of her to guard a forward dash towards Gilgalad. As she stopped her dash, the portals each unloaded their deadly items, the weapons firing at near sonic speed.[/i] "[b]Yes! And thus are my suspicions answered! Survive for two minutes, harlot, and I'll judge ye worthy of my Legions![/b]"

[i]She didn’t respond, no snappy comebacks, no taunts, no flirtatious words. She had to focus. Two minutes would be hell but it was possible. Dropping to the ground, she went prone, though not without the last weapon grazing her back and ripping the back of her jacket open. Once prone, she rolled to the side, and forced herself to her feet rapidly. She was without a weapon that could do any serious damage to her opponent, and thus she would have to dodge and outmaneuver him, which given her size and training, would not be terribly hard.[/i]

[i]More portals opened, three in a vertical row, with four of those positioned to make a square around her, yet aiming in. Through them came arrows, knives, sword, spears, double-headed war axes, and the like. Say what you will, the Golden King knew enough to stay with what he was good with. Flicking a wrist, the portals soundlessly unloaded their weaponry at her.[/i]

[i]She leapt and rolled backwards out of the entrapment. With the effects of whatever Gil had done to her wearing off, she was seeming to get a little bit faster and little bit more graceful. The woman was no mere harlot. She was something else entirely.[/i]

[i]The clapping of heavy metal together was heard as more portals opened, eight in a horizontal row, two vertical, facing her from the front, aimed for her legs and chest, their weapons ornate heads and blades sliding forth before firing. Over the sheen, Gilgalad called out.[/i] "[b]Ah, yes, a gymnast! I trust your flexibility is doubly useful in your mongrel life, Anna![/b]"

[i]She leapt clean over the horizontal row and rolled sideways away from those which had opened up vertically. The weapons missed her, her motion too rapid and well-timed. She’d debated on offering her own smart-assed comments, but focusing was a little bit more important.[/i]

"[b]Very well! I'll admit you're far nimbler and faster than the average whore! Your reward?! No I shall actively try to kill you![/b]" [i]The threat is delivered as an open box of portals opens up, three high and six across for one face, the top and bottom empty. A mixture of smaller and larger weapons, promising a hailstorm. This time, the fired in diagonal sequence, starting with the top right weapon of each face and descending from there, each weapon now firing at sonic speeds.[/i]

[i]She repeated her general movements, ducking again beneath them, and managing to get another hunk of her jacket shorn off, before finally retaliating. While she hadn’t had weapons, she did possess some rather helpful distractions, namely the smoke pellets in her jacket pocket. While they were trite, they were far safer than using a flashbang or a concussion grenade. She couldn’t afford to disorient herself. Quickly, while on the ground, she rolled like a log and retrieved the pellets from her jacket pocket before detonating them between the Golden King and herself, cloaking herself in a thick haze of particle-filled smoke.[/i]

[i]Perhaps obscuring her vision of the Golden King, and more importantly, his weapons, was not the best choice. Relentless in their pace, various weaponry rocketed through the smoke, randomly shooting out, nearly twelve at a time, locations randomized as they came through, ornate, golden, and each coming faster than the last.[/i]