The Duchess, the Archer, and her Captain (Serrus-es)

[Benedali Serrus]

[member="Maka Sumoto"] [member="Arick Serrus"]

Benedali scowled and punched Maka in the arm. She gave a little smile, though, to show that she was joking, before whispering, "You do realize he could throw you out under the pretenses of you being a threat, right? In that jurisdiction, he's ranked higher."

In a louder voice, she called, "Arick! Please, come back down, will you? I'm still alive!"

 

[Arick Serrus]

[member="Benedali Serrus"] [member="Maka Sumoto"]

"What a... Pleasant uprise." Arick shouted, he too had clearly known he had the power to toss the Archer out, and seconds after his feet hit the ground the elites he had been with earlier filed out of the shadows behind Maka, "I still don't trust you, you may stay, but not in the castle." Arick snarled, "Don't even try to defend him." He said, looking at Benedali, "Even if we knew he was on our side, we have no where for him to stay."

The guards stepped forward, corralling Maka, and started to push him towards the gate.

 

[Benedali Serrus]

[member="Arick Serrus"] [member="Maka Sumoto"]

"Oh for the love of--" She made a hand motion, at the guards and, coupled with a glare, had them halt. She then turned towards her brother, and, grabbing his arm, dragged him a way aways from Maka and the guards.

Once she stopped, Benedali fixed a bone-chilling look upon Arick. "Look, I understand that Maka could have killed me, but he didn't. Not even after you, the most powerful of my guards, left. Don't you think he would have taken advantage of that if he wished me harm?" She grasped his shoulders. "And, if he's a spy, wouldn't it make sense to keep him close to us? So that we may keep an eye on him? Remember Papa's saying: keep your friends closer and your enemies closer."

Letting go, she whirled around and stalked over to the guards. "Escort him -- gently -- to the west wing. He can have his pick of the guest bedrooms."

 

[Maka Sumoto]

Maka just shrugged, confused. He would've slept at the foot of the castle as he had at other places where he wasn't welcome. Keeping watch, letting his combat and Force senses stretch around him. For a moment, he toyed with the idea of just going along with the brother's wishes, and sleeping outside like some kind of alley cat. But that would've offended the duchess, who was trying so hard to keep him here. So, he stood there, and smiled crookedly as he watched the red-headed beauty chastise her older brother.

Then he looked up at the guards, and laughed, "Well, to the west wing we go, gentlemen. I trust you'll give me a lovely tour and some interesting souvenirs."

[member="Arick Serrus"] [member="Benedali Serrus"]