Amalia
She is ready for this to be over, to turn and escape the woman's self-flagellation, to have no part in this bizarre play. The base of her staff drops swiftly down, leaving Roana's chin exposed. Sighing, Amalia half-turns away, tired from fury she doesn't know how to sustain. She has said her piece, and more than that. She is done. This is done.
Except that it isn't. Amalia is surprised when Roana stands, the warrior woman's voice calling out to her back. A frown on her face, she turns back to the woman- only to find hands locked on her staff, tugging it suddenly out of her grasp. "Hey!" she exclaims, more shocked than angry, her dark eyes following the stick onto the ground. The latest tirade barely registers in her mind; she is too stunned by this bizarre turn of events.
What does register is Roana's swing. More through instinct than any skill, Amalia raises her arms in defense, catching the blow between crossed wrists. "Ow!" The strength behind it is unsurprising: the other woman is muscular and built, clearly a fighter where the baker is not. Amalia drops her hands at once, wincing at the bruise she is sure will form.
Roana continues speaking, announcing that she has read, and spoken to Ronin, and so on. "And what have you learned?" she asks, half legitimately curious, half aching to hear what new line of nonsense the soldier is going to spit.
Except that it isn't. Amalia is surprised when Roana stands, the warrior woman's voice calling out to her back. A frown on her face, she turns back to the woman- only to find hands locked on her staff, tugging it suddenly out of her grasp. "Hey!" she exclaims, more shocked than angry, her dark eyes following the stick onto the ground. The latest tirade barely registers in her mind; she is too stunned by this bizarre turn of events.
What does register is Roana's swing. More through instinct than any skill, Amalia raises her arms in defense, catching the blow between crossed wrists. "Ow!" The strength behind it is unsurprising: the other woman is muscular and built, clearly a fighter where the baker is not. Amalia drops her hands at once, wincing at the bruise she is sure will form.
Roana continues speaking, announcing that she has read, and spoken to Ronin, and so on. "And what have you learned?" she asks, half legitimately curious, half aching to hear what new line of nonsense the soldier is going to spit.
