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"What kind of knight are you?" Julien sneers at the Tachonis boy.
And a boy he is: underdeveloped, sallow skin, dark robes with only a simple chest plate for armor. And yet his green gaze cuts through Julien, leaving him uneasy and off-balance. And the slight tilt of his head is unnerving. "One that can keep you alive, I assure you, my Lord."
Julien eyes the book holstered to Occtis's side. "I didn't think I was gifted a scholar."
The short burst of laughter is breathy, wheezing out of Occtis's throat. "Do we not contain multitudes?"
"Apparently," Julien says. Aranessa, if present, might have scolded him for being too barbed. But she wasn't here, instead she had summoned a vassal to escort him to her at her seat of power.
A knight with a haunting expression who's staring back at him, unblinking.
Occtis's lips quirk up at the corners. "I do not wish to waste resources on a test but I will if I must, my Lord."
Julien smirks and rests a hand on the hilt of his sword. "Show me."
As Julien goes to pull his rapier from its sheath, Occtis blurs in front of his. He barely sees the dark pommel hidden beneath Occtis's robes as the Tachonis knight rushes towards him.
Julien's sword is in his hand for just a moment before it goes flying out of his hand, clattering to the ground. Occtis's own sword very gently tilts Julien's chin up so their eyes can meet.
"My Lord!" A guard says.
Julien's face feels hot, blood boiling, but he calls out, "Stand down," to the guard, his eyes never leaving Occtis's.
Swiftly, expertly, Occtis moves the blade away and sheaths it. He turns his back pointedly from Julien to pick up the fallen sword. And, to Julien's surprise, he kneels, turning to present the blade to him. "I'm sorry for any trouble I've caused," Occtis murmurs. "I can only do that after some rest." Louder for the room to hear, he continues, "I am sworn to serve you until such time as the Lady Royce releases me from your service, or if you choose to do so."
Julien hears the thudding of his heart in his ears. He wants nothing more than to run the knight in front of him through with the proffered rapier. Instead he closes his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath in. "Of course, Sir Occtis." He takes the blade as gracefully as he can, sheathing it. "Rise, we have much to discuss."
Occtis rises to his feet with an unnatural grace. Julien suppresses a shudder. "Come."
Julien turns his back to the knight, leading the way to his chambers. Occtis is a shadow behind him, following silently. There is strangeness a foot if this man is to be his champion. But Julien trusts his head of house, and so will continue to play the game.