Before the Celebration...

The sun started to set as you continued to train on the Plateau. Many different Syndicate warriors made their way over to talk to you, cheer you on, congratulation you and help you train through out the days and nights. You stood around, watching your...yes your warriors train over and over again. Watching Ashe fight many different Sunriders with different weapons. Looking at Lexie as she continued to thrust and stab into the dummies and then you started to notice one other warrior. Another Sunrider, not training, just holding the steel weapons that are laid across the weapon racks, eyeballing the different items. At first you just ignored as you continued on your training but after many hours she was still moping around the weapon rack, picking up weapons, inspecting them and setting them back down. This 5 foot, 2 inch warrior, bleach blonde hair wrapped up in a pony tail, her golden brown skin bounced the harmful sun rays off, her dark black make-up showing off the affection in her eyes, her forearms and biceps, quite muscular for a female. You wanted to see who she was and why she was just hanging around all day by the weapons but not doing anything...

"Ready to go?"

You turn your head, looking at Ashe, who is side by side with Lexie, no weapons in their grips, dressed in some upscale silken gowns, just waiting to bring you to the Castle and enjoy your night of celebration. "Sure, yeah, we can go..." you mumble out, not loud enough to be heard.

"Darien?" Ashe questions.

"Uhh..." you think slightly "Who is that?" your hand points out at the random Sunrider.

"Who?" Ashe follows your gaze towards the Sicilian inspecting the weapons "Her, by the weapons? That's Rivianne." Ashe states clearly.

"Rivianne..." you mumble to yourself.

"Her and her husband use to run the Smelting Pot, the Sicilian's most revered blacksmith...well, did use to run it. Unfortunately, her husband died not many days ago. He went on a trading run to an outer city of the Syndicate. Bandits caught the small group of men off guard, killing everybody but one warrior and stealing all the goods. Pretty tragic if you ask me. I know she still tends to the blacksmith. Truth be told, she is the better blacksmith than her husband which is why he was always the one to go on errands. Plus, all these other scumbag kingdoms would never trust the word of a female blacksmith." Ashe just shakes her head, mad at the stereotype "We trust her though. We know she's a bad ass!"

"Poor women..." you think to yourself once more. "Rivianne, eh?"

"Either way, let's get up to the castle." Lexie says "Would hate to be late on the day we're celebration you, Darien."

"Seriously...let's go, Darien" Ashe replies.

"You guys go." you order "I'll meet you at the entrance to the mountain. I need a minute." you nod at the women.