Roen fidgeted with her mask.
Captain Anden Anduron smirked from behind the desk, a glass of dark amber liquor in his hand, as he watched her adjust the Brass Blades turban on her head. “It’s a little crooked. Here let me, Sultansworn,†he snickered as he set the glass down and stood, reaching over and tugging at the mask.
“Gratitude.†Roen stood still despite the fact that his hand seemed to linger a little too long on her mask and cheek, giving him a nod in thanks when he withdrew them. She still was squinting to adjust to the mask over her eyes, she could not understand how the Brass Blades worked with these on.
Captain’s one pale eye narrowed in a sly smile, one finger tapping on the patch that covered the other eye. “I am spared the mask, I prefer to have this on.†He looked her up and down. “Why, in the chainmail and the turban, I’d never know there was a Sultansworn under there somewhere.â€
Roen nodded, looking over her new armor. The haubergeon was lighter than the plate-mail she was used to, but the way it hung from her shoulders, she still needed to get accustomed to it. Her hand came to pause on the large scimitar that hung from her hip. She unsheathed it, swinging it a few times in the air to test its weight. Â
“Standard weapon for the Brass Blades.†Anden scratched his chin. “Are you familiar with the scimitar... Ser Deneith?†The pause before he spoke her title was obvious, with a veiled disdain in his tone.
“Ah, just Roen. Please.†She offered him a polite smile. “And nay, I have not wielded these before.â€
“Well Roen, I’d advise getting familiar with them. We wouldn’t want you to seem out of place with the rest of us, mm?†He paused when she looked back at him, one corner of his lips crooked oddly; whether it was from contempt or amusement she could not say. “Best forget your days as Sultansworn while you are with us. You are a Blade now, you need to look and play the part.â€
Roen blinked, feeling her jaw tense at his words. Undoubtedly the reminder of her suspension stung, although it was more guilt than hurt pride that rose. Natalie had told her that it was the investigation into the fire at the Nanawa Mines and the resulting theft of the ceruleum core that resulted in their leave from the Order. Roen knew that had Natalie filed a timely report on the matter, perhaps some of this could have been avoided. But she had not, because she had let the members of the Ala Mhigan Resistance go. She had taken Roen’s word that her Master at Arms and his associates sought to bring no harm to Ul’Dah. Instead, Natalie had quietly turned her efforts into finding the thief, and retrieving the stolen core. But before wrongs could be righted, the theft, the fire, and what looked like a cover-up by the Sultansworns, were uncovered by the Immortal Flames.
‘We have enemies, Roen. Those that would like to see the Sultansworns fall. So rather than disgracing the entire Order, we need to take the blame for this.’  Natalie had said in a reassuring tone, no blame in her eyes. ‘We work for the Brass Blades through our suspension, and this will get sorted out.’ She had given Roen a small squeeze on the shoulder, as if to reassure her again that this was not her fault. She would not accept any more apologies.
Roen straightened and nodded to Anden, the Captain who took it personally upon himself to orient her at the Brass Blades headquarters. “I am looking forward to serving as a Brass Blade, Captain.†A part of her knew this to be a demotion; Natalie’s furrowed brow had made it clear that this was something she should not be looking forward to. But despite their somewhat tarnished reputation, Roen believed that most of the Brass Blades did serve the good of Ul’Dah, protecting the citizenry as best they could. It was the Brass Blades after all--not Sultansworns or Immortal Flames--who tirelessly and thanklessly patrolled the streets of Ul’Dah.
Captain Anduron arched a brow at her then chuckled low. “I think you actually mean that, Roen.†He stepped out from behind the desk, walking around her as if to examine her front and back. “It is not just looking the part, you need to learn how to work as a Brass Blade. We work as a tight unit. Trust amongst your fellow Blades is a must. What we do, we do as one. We cover each other’s backs. The strength of the Blades fails if even one of us falters.â€
Roen gave him a sidelong glance as he came back around. “Aye. The Sultansworns have a similar Oath, we stand shield to shield. We have faith in--.â€
Anden silenced her by putting a finger against her lip. Roen stiffened as he leaned in, ilms away from her face, his one eye narrowed with scorn. “Tsk. You are no longer Sultansworn now, remember? No Oaths here. Just loyalties to your fellow Blades. Understood?â€
“Aye. Captain.†She said sharply, trying not to obviously lean away.
He answered her with a smile that rose too quickly and easily. “I am glad we have an understanding, Roen. You heed my words and we will get along just fine.†He glanced from her to the door as a large Roegadyn lumbered in. “Broken Nose! You are finally here.†He waved him over.
Roen glanced over her shoulder then turned about face, as she looked up to the looming figure of the Roegadyn. She gave him a polite nod, recognition lifting her lips upwards. She had seen him patrol near Ruby Road many times. He answered her with a grunt, his one cheek bulging with grassweed he was chewing.
“We have some new recruits! It seems a few Sultansworns will be gracing our ranks with their esteemed presence.†His tone just barely hid the ridicule. He stepped up next to her, laying a hand on her shoulder. “Perhaps Roen here can follow you a bit? And you can take her out on a few caravan patrols outside the gates?â€
Broken Nose quirked a dark brow at the Captain, eyes darting between her and his superior. His chewing came to a pause.
Anden smiled back at him, his hand still resting atop her shoulder. “Show her how things work, Broken Nose. She is one of us now. Best she learn the ropes quickly.â€
Roen managed the best smile she could, nodding in reassurance to the Roegadyn. “I am eager to learn.â€
Roegadyn narrowed his eyes, and exhaled with obvious disappointment. But he voiced no complaint in front of the Captain. He saluted to Anduron and turned back towards the door, motioning for her to follow.
The Captain pat her back before she stepped towards the door. “Welcome to the Brass Blades, Roen Deneith.â€
Captain Anden Anduron smirked from behind the desk, a glass of dark amber liquor in his hand, as he watched her adjust the Brass Blades turban on her head. “It’s a little crooked. Here let me, Sultansworn,†he snickered as he set the glass down and stood, reaching over and tugging at the mask.
“Gratitude.†Roen stood still despite the fact that his hand seemed to linger a little too long on her mask and cheek, giving him a nod in thanks when he withdrew them. She still was squinting to adjust to the mask over her eyes, she could not understand how the Brass Blades worked with these on.
Captain’s one pale eye narrowed in a sly smile, one finger tapping on the patch that covered the other eye. “I am spared the mask, I prefer to have this on.†He looked her up and down. “Why, in the chainmail and the turban, I’d never know there was a Sultansworn under there somewhere.â€
Roen nodded, looking over her new armor. The haubergeon was lighter than the plate-mail she was used to, but the way it hung from her shoulders, she still needed to get accustomed to it. Her hand came to pause on the large scimitar that hung from her hip. She unsheathed it, swinging it a few times in the air to test its weight. Â
“Standard weapon for the Brass Blades.†Anden scratched his chin. “Are you familiar with the scimitar... Ser Deneith?†The pause before he spoke her title was obvious, with a veiled disdain in his tone.
“Ah, just Roen. Please.†She offered him a polite smile. “And nay, I have not wielded these before.â€
“Well Roen, I’d advise getting familiar with them. We wouldn’t want you to seem out of place with the rest of us, mm?†He paused when she looked back at him, one corner of his lips crooked oddly; whether it was from contempt or amusement she could not say. “Best forget your days as Sultansworn while you are with us. You are a Blade now, you need to look and play the part.â€
Roen blinked, feeling her jaw tense at his words. Undoubtedly the reminder of her suspension stung, although it was more guilt than hurt pride that rose. Natalie had told her that it was the investigation into the fire at the Nanawa Mines and the resulting theft of the ceruleum core that resulted in their leave from the Order. Roen knew that had Natalie filed a timely report on the matter, perhaps some of this could have been avoided. But she had not, because she had let the members of the Ala Mhigan Resistance go. She had taken Roen’s word that her Master at Arms and his associates sought to bring no harm to Ul’Dah. Instead, Natalie had quietly turned her efforts into finding the thief, and retrieving the stolen core. But before wrongs could be righted, the theft, the fire, and what looked like a cover-up by the Sultansworns, were uncovered by the Immortal Flames.
‘We have enemies, Roen. Those that would like to see the Sultansworns fall. So rather than disgracing the entire Order, we need to take the blame for this.’  Natalie had said in a reassuring tone, no blame in her eyes. ‘We work for the Brass Blades through our suspension, and this will get sorted out.’ She had given Roen a small squeeze on the shoulder, as if to reassure her again that this was not her fault. She would not accept any more apologies.
Roen straightened and nodded to Anden, the Captain who took it personally upon himself to orient her at the Brass Blades headquarters. “I am looking forward to serving as a Brass Blade, Captain.†A part of her knew this to be a demotion; Natalie’s furrowed brow had made it clear that this was something she should not be looking forward to. But despite their somewhat tarnished reputation, Roen believed that most of the Brass Blades did serve the good of Ul’Dah, protecting the citizenry as best they could. It was the Brass Blades after all--not Sultansworns or Immortal Flames--who tirelessly and thanklessly patrolled the streets of Ul’Dah.
Captain Anduron arched a brow at her then chuckled low. “I think you actually mean that, Roen.†He stepped out from behind the desk, walking around her as if to examine her front and back. “It is not just looking the part, you need to learn how to work as a Brass Blade. We work as a tight unit. Trust amongst your fellow Blades is a must. What we do, we do as one. We cover each other’s backs. The strength of the Blades fails if even one of us falters.â€
Roen gave him a sidelong glance as he came back around. “Aye. The Sultansworns have a similar Oath, we stand shield to shield. We have faith in--.â€
Anden silenced her by putting a finger against her lip. Roen stiffened as he leaned in, ilms away from her face, his one eye narrowed with scorn. “Tsk. You are no longer Sultansworn now, remember? No Oaths here. Just loyalties to your fellow Blades. Understood?â€
“Aye. Captain.†She said sharply, trying not to obviously lean away.
He answered her with a smile that rose too quickly and easily. “I am glad we have an understanding, Roen. You heed my words and we will get along just fine.†He glanced from her to the door as a large Roegadyn lumbered in. “Broken Nose! You are finally here.†He waved him over.
Roen glanced over her shoulder then turned about face, as she looked up to the looming figure of the Roegadyn. She gave him a polite nod, recognition lifting her lips upwards. She had seen him patrol near Ruby Road many times. He answered her with a grunt, his one cheek bulging with grassweed he was chewing.
“We have some new recruits! It seems a few Sultansworns will be gracing our ranks with their esteemed presence.†His tone just barely hid the ridicule. He stepped up next to her, laying a hand on her shoulder. “Perhaps Roen here can follow you a bit? And you can take her out on a few caravan patrols outside the gates?â€
Broken Nose quirked a dark brow at the Captain, eyes darting between her and his superior. His chewing came to a pause.
Anden smiled back at him, his hand still resting atop her shoulder. “Show her how things work, Broken Nose. She is one of us now. Best she learn the ropes quickly.â€
Roen managed the best smile she could, nodding in reassurance to the Roegadyn. “I am eager to learn.â€
Roegadyn narrowed his eyes, and exhaled with obvious disappointment. But he voiced no complaint in front of the Captain. He saluted to Anduron and turned back towards the door, motioning for her to follow.
The Captain pat her back before she stepped towards the door. “Welcome to the Brass Blades, Roen Deneith.â€