Phoenix held back a snort, but Roman was none too discreet. 

"Get ready to bleed? Really?" His face scrunched as he turned to Noelle. "Is it just me or was that pretty bad?"

"Definitely ridiculous," Noelle said with a nod, folding her arms. "An intimidation tactic that has failed completely." 

This time Phoenix did snort, loudly. The burly man's scowl darkened, his shoulders tensing as he glared at them.

"You think you're funny? We'll wipe the smiles right off your faces."

"There he goes again," Maverick muttered under his breath. Unfortunately, the burly man heard him.

"You first, boy."

The woman nodded, letting out a breathy, humorless laugh. "That's right. Let's see if you're still laughing when Norn is done with you." She gestured to the burly man.

"Me?" Norn grinned over at the woman. "I don't think he's ready for me. Do you want a crack at him, Wanda?" 

Wanda cocked her head to the side, her short brown hair  fanning out. "Why not? He looks timid."  She pulled a sharp dagger from a hilt at her waist, and Phoenix's back went rigid.

"Hang on," she said, stepping in front of Maverick before he could enter the ring. "Where's his weapon? They made us leave our swords in the castle."

Wanda quirked an eyebrow, her smirk setting Phoenix's teeth on edge. "Who says he gets a weapon? We're here to see what he can do. Maybe it's high time his pretty face got a few decorations." She turned her head to reveal a long, thin cut along her neck - still fresh. "Pain is how you learn."

Straightening, Phoenix stared Wanda down. "You'll not lay a hand on him with that knife if he isn't armed to defend himself." She could sense Maverick's amusement behind her, but didn't turn. 

"And who are you? His mommy?" Wanda asked, batting her lashes.

"His sister," Phoenix said with a sneer. 

"And his Guardian," Roman added from just behind them, but Wanda didn't seem to hear him. 

"Does baby sister want to go first?" Wanda asked, still smirking.

Phoenix glanced over her shoulder at Mav, who ushered her forward with the wave of his hand, grinning from ear to ear.

"It's better if I do," Phoenix said, turning back toward Wanda. "You couldn't stand one hit from him."

"You don't think women can hold up their own?" Wanda asked, bobbing her head from side to side as she held her hand to her chest in mock offense. 

"Oh, I could hold my own against him." Phoenix mimicked the action, placing her hand to her heart, her eyes wide. "I just don't think you could."

Wanda bared her teeth. "You have no idea whom you're speaking to. I'm one of the highest ranking Militia officers -"

"We'll see." Phoenix stepped into the dirt circle, going as far as to turn her back on Wanda - something Norman had told them never to do if actual danger was involved.

If you're using mental tactics, turning your back on your opponent is both an insult and an insinuation that you don't know what you're doing. They'll think they have the upper hand. Prove them wrong, but never do it against someone you're outmatched with.

As Phoenix expected, Wanda surged forward. For a "high ranking officer," Wanda's guttural grunt of rage denoted inexperience. Phoenix could hear her coming before her other senses even kicked in.

Sidestepping the intended attack, Phoenix grabbed Wanda's dagger hand and twisted, forcing the weapon from her fingers. She plucked it from the ground before Wanda even had time to realize what happened.

"What the hells?" Wanda held her wrist protectively, massaging it. "You've had training."

"Never said I hadn't." Phoenix tossed the dagger back to her. "You never asked. You assumed. And when we were making jokes," Phoenix said, turning back to Norn, "it's because you're behaving as though this session here is a dangerous situation. We've traveled from Treywick, facing the Army more than once, your crazy banshee lady, and more. We're here to help, but we aren't here to be treated scum."

"Besides," Noelle added from the sidelines, "he's the heir." She jerked her thumb toward Maverick. 

Norn arched a brow, turning his attention to Maverick. "You're the Tremaine?"

Maverick fidgeted where he stood. "I'm a Knight, but yeah."

"Norman's son." Norn nodded, stepping forward. "It's an honor to meet you."

"Now it's an honor?" Roman asked, smiling over at Noelle, who grinned. "He was a bug to be squashed a minute ago."

"We can't have the heir fight in a battle," Wanda said, stepping around Phoenix. "He's too valuable." 

"I'm trained in combat." Maverick shifted, affronted. 

"Doesn't matter," Wanda said, hands on hips. "If something happens to you, we're done for." 

"That's not entirely true," Maverick said. "There are other options. Who says I'd even be any good at ruling?"

"Either way," Norn gestured to the ring. "I'd love to see what you know." 

Fifteen minutes later, Norn lay on his back in the dirt, Maverick standing over him with a grimace.

"I'm sorry. I tried to tell you." 

"That," Norn let out a wheeze, "was...amazing. I've never met anyone with the gift of strength that strong."

"He is royal," Roman said, helping Norn to his feet. 

Wanda pouted off to the side, glaring at the two of them. "Strength doesn't mean anything against a blade through your gut."

"He's trained with the sword," Phoenix snapped back.

"Plus if you have someone who can heal you, are you really in any trouble?" Noelle asked, looking to Phoenix.

"You have a healer?" Wanda jerked around, attention now solely for Noelle.

"No," Roman said, so nonchalant Phoenix nearly laughed. "We assumed you would. Aren't you gathering people with special abilities? Isn't that why we're here?"

Phoenix stared at Roman, shocked to see he was actually lying about her gift.  When he glanced her way, he gave the smallest shake of his head.

Just as he'd done when he lied to Helena.

"No," Wanda said. "We don't have a healer. We can't find one. They don't grow on trees, you know. Only Guardians - and very special Guardians at that - have the gift. None of ours do."

"When will we meet them?" Phoenix asked, jumping at the change of subject. "The other Guardians?"

"Why would they want to meet you?" Wanda asked. "What could possibly-"

"I'm sure we've been dying to meet them," someone said from behind. 

Phoenix and the others whirled around to see the newcomers - three striking individuals who'd approached soundlessly. Phoenix hadn't even noticed their signatures until they'd made their presence known.

How do they do that?

The speaker was a woman almost as tall as Phoenix, her umber skin flawless and smooth, though her eyes denoted wisdom of years beyond her appearance. A man stood at either side of her, one light skinned and fair haired, reminding Phoenix of Youlden and Eric, but with narrow shoulders and a wispy frame. The other man stood square, his width almost as great as Youlden's, but without the height. He alone had markings on his arms - green in color against his russet skin. 

"We've heard there's another among us," the woman said, her gaze flickering over each of them, pausing on Youlden before landing on Phoenix, taking in her exposed arms and neck. "We wanted to introduce ourselves."

She walked with a grace Phoenix had never known. It was as though she flew toward them, hovering above the earth. When she stood before Phoenix, looking her up and down, Phoenix felt exposed, uncomfortable.

"I am Quilla," she said, stretching out her forearm in greeting. Phoenix accepted, clasping her hand against Quilla's arm as Quilla did hers.

"Phoenix Knight," she said, unable to stop staring. "How did you sneak up on us?"

The willowy man offered a smile from behind Quilla. "That would be me." He stepped forward, extending his arm. "Yoro - I have a knack for masking signatures." He cocked his head to the side. "Although you seem perfectly capable of masking yourself, unless you truly aren't that powerful?"

"Yoro," the other man snapped, brows scrunching, creating wrinkles on his bald head. "Your rudeness is appalling."

Yoro's eyes widened. "I was only curious." 

"Pollemius at your service,"  the bald man said, extending a muscular arm and smiling warmly. "It is a pleasure to bring another into the fold." 

Quilla's eyes were on Youlden. "I think they trick us. They have more than one. Faint as it may be, I can sense him from here." 

Youlden's brows arched and he shook his head. "I'm sorry, my lady, but I'm no Guardian." 

"You knew your parents?" she asked. Youlden shook his head. "No, of course you didn't. Come forward. We'd like to meet you." 

"Your work here is finished," Pollemius said to Norn and Wanda. "We can continue testing their strengths without you." 

Norn nodded and bent into a bow before marching off. Wanda, on the other hand, crossed her arms.

"I don't answer to you. Jem is my commander and Helena my leader. You--"

"Are tired of your attitude. You may go now." Pollemius dipped into a shallow bow and beckoned for her to leave. Wanda stormed off in a huff.

"So," Quilla said, removing one of Youlden's gloves and inspecting the black marks on his hand. "You have the markings, but still don't believe you're a Guardian?"

"Why don't you two have markings?" Phoenix asked, gesturing from Quilla to Yoro. "I've never met a Guardian without them."

"You haven't met many Guardians, then," Yoro said. "It's the mark of the Ancients - a sign of who sired you. The stronger the Ancient blood, the more likely you'll have the marks. Those of us with just one Ancient parent are far less likely to show them."

"Unless we had a powerful parent, like I did." Pollemius grinned over at Yoro, who stuck out his tongue. "My marks tie me to my mother." He tilted his head back, pointing up at the blue sky. "She's an Eastern Star and can be seen right there at night. Her name is Pleione."

"Enough small talk," Quilla said, a grin spreading across her face. "Let's learn what you can do."

Oooooh who is ready to see what the new Guardians do? Who is ready to see what YOULDEN CAN DO?
He still doesn't believe he's a Guardian - do you think he's right or is he about to be proven sooooooooo wrong?

Also, who likes having more information on the markings? Who is wondering if we've already MET other Guardians who just don't have them?

Ahhhhhhhhh all the questions! Answer them and I'll see you Monday for a display of power!