Saber looked at the woman's hands and then her eyes. The eyes were always the tell-tale sign of a liar. There she found no malice but a deep pain and determination. "I want to make some thing clear before I swear to you my fealty. I will demand justice, but I will not bring my sword against an innocent. Can you swear to me that you will not do me this dishonor?"
The hand lingered there, not quiet snubbed, but feeling a little foolish nonetheless. The woman's conditions washed over her, and Valerie took them in stride, answering without any hesitation. "I swear it," she vowed, with youthful eagerness.
Satisfied, Saber took the woman's hand in a firm grip without ever breaking eye contact. "Then I, Saber, swear to you the protection of my sword and thus my soul. I would have the name of my mistress?"
Valerie's shoulders lowered in relief, some tension in her chest uncoiling. "Valerie. ... Now the last remaining member of the Gauchevers family." She wrapped her arm around her middle, as if such a simple motion could keep her grief from splitting her in two. "...How good are you at moving heavy things--..." She gave a long, meaningful glance, requesting a name she could use for the woman herself.
"Mistress Gauchever," Saber nodded respectfully. It was always best to address formally unless requested to do so otherwise. Judging by the size of the rubble, this house had been quite large and the use of the family name pointed to Valerie being a noble woman by birth. As she dropped her hand away, the woman asked how much she could lift and then paused as if she wanted to address her as something besides Saber. She tilted her head at her mistress and placed a hand on her sword. "A name has power, and it is not safe for you to know it," Saber told her, "If Saber does not please you, then you may call me Lady. You would not be the first."
"Okay,
Lady, nice to meet you. I think." These were definitely not the most ideal circumstances to enter the war. She hadn't even been briefed. She had no clue what she was walking into, nor any idea why her father wanted that grail at all. She stepped away from the circle, gesturing towards the blocked east wing, left buried by scorched wood and crumbled pillars. A large stone chunk drifted up, and then was thrown to the side. The wood was left untouched by her magus. "What can you tell me about this war, and what we're expected to do? I'm afraid my education is.... incomplete. My father kept a lot from me, I-" she couldn't finish. She moved more stone off the side. This was going to take a while.
Lady blinked at her mistress in surprise. Education incomplete? How was this possible? Then again...she felt the warmth from her sword grow at her side. She knew exactly how it was possible, and it wasn't the worst problem they would face. "The Holy Grail is a magical item that chooses seven mages to compete for a wish to be granted by the victor in a war using summoned spirits as servants to battle. There are different classes of servants, all of which have their own strengths and weaknesses. All but one must be defeated before the mage and their servants wish may be won and fulfilled by the grail. Your mana supplies my presence here, Mistress. If you were to die, I would fade as well without someone to sustain me. This means the easiest way to end a servant, is to kill his master." Reaching out, she put a gloved hand on Valerie's shoulder with a gentle squeeze. "Which is why I must insist we leave this place now."
She actually knew most of that, which was reassuring. She had been informed about the oncoming war when she had received the circuits during her father's only visit years ago. But he had been brief and she had only been left with the vague instructions to prepare once she was healed. What had he wanted with the grail, she wondered. She glanced at the hand on her shoulder, not use to such a gesture. "But there might be things spared... heirlooms. I can't walk away with nothing, they could be lost."
Saber shook her head slowly, her honey colored curls catching in the hot breeze. "There is too much to sift through and this place is too open to attack. The one who did this may expect you to return and if he does have a servant on his own, it would mean battle here and now. Do you have some place we may go that is safe? Anywhere that is not where you are to be expected?"
Valerie swallowed hard, appropriately unnerved by the possibilities Saber spoke off. "Very well," she relented, finding it only a little hard to let go of her desire to retrieve her family's things. After her family's death, she found herself with a healthy sense of self-preservation, her grief be damned. Turning away from the rubble, she nervously scanned the dark landscape beyond the house, considering the woman's question. "...A city. Any city. In the eyes of society, I don't even exist. No one will expect me anywhere." She stepped closer to her servant, face sagging in resignation. "Get us out of here. I trust your judgement."
"This war is not meant to involve those who are not mages. A populated area may prove protective." Lady paused, her eyes scanning over the area carefully. The remains of the house were remote and the woods unpredictable. Were there no horses? No. Humans used vehicles. "We must make our way to a town. Have you a means to travel other than by foot? A car, perhaps?" The word was odd on her tongue, but she felt like that was the correct way to say it.
Valerie was surprised at how easy it was to remember things from when she lived here. It had been a decade, but she led Saber out the door and around the dark footpaths of the building with no issue. She pointed silently to a detached garage behind the west wing, a pulse of strong wind blowing out the door straight off its hinges. She peeked in, her hair standing on end as she strained to make sense of the overwhelming darkness inside. She didn't dare turn on the lights, afraid of drawing her families killer to her like a beacon. Her eyes adjusted, and she sighed in relief. "Only if you can drive?" She pointed to a row of keys hanging next to the door. How many cars did they have?
Lady followed her to a separate building, making sure the only sounds in the area were their soft foot falls in the ash and the light tink of her armor. Inside there were rows of vehicles. She was not gifted with knowing exactly which the best was, but she chose one based on its plain look. They did not need to attract attention. The keys were hanging from the hooks, each with a single tab that matched the insignia on the car. She chose the one with a cat and then went down the rows until the same cat model appeared on the hood of a black car. "This one." She unlocked the door and then tried to climb into the driver’s seat only to find that was a difficult task with armor and a sword buckled to her belt. "This is not made for battle, I see," she chuckled to Valerie, "How strange it is to be in a human world." Her instinct was to change into something more suitable for the task, and at her will the armor melted away to a blue floor length gown with flowing sleeves. "Is this appropriate for a guardian in the presence of her mistress?"
Valerie raised her brow at Saber, amusement bringing light to her previously dull gaze. "Uh... I mean, if you want the world to think
I'm the guardian here, sure?" Valerie wore simple traveling gear-- canvas pants and a black v-neck. She wore a shawl over it like a cloak, the pin she had used to summon Saber having been clipped back at her neck as they had walked over. She slipped into the passenger side, an uneasiness filling her. "...You
sure you know how to drive?”
It appeared that formal wear would not be required when traveling with her mistress and that was a relief. She disliked wearing cumbersome skirts. A hint of a smiling flickered over her lips and she willed the dress to change into an outfit befitting what Valerie stated a guardian would wear instead. A pair of simply black pants, tucked into glossy black boots, a blue v neck t shirt and her hair braided down her back became her clothing. As she climbed into the driver's seat, and stuck the keys into the ignition, Valerie gave her an uneasy look. "I would not say I know...sometimes you must simply try." With the engine running, she gripped the wheel and then frowned. She had forgotten to add herself a pair of gloves and the pink jagged scars over her hands were out on display. As quickly as she noticed, a set of finger-less black gloves appeared over her hands. "Mistress you may want to strap in." Clicking the gears into what she assumed was forward, Lady hit the gas and gave them a squealing start out of the building. As she slung them down the paths, toward the lights in the distance, Lady stole a glance at Valerie. "I am sorry that we could not stay to recover your family's things." Apologies did little, but it was all she could offer at the present time.
The drive was short but once they came into a populated area to the north, Lady realized that she had to slow her pace. Her stops were rough at each red light, and she was rearing to go when the light turned green. The way the engine made the roaring sound was a pleasing sort and while she knew they were there on business it was impossible not to get some measure of enjoyment from it.
Rows of shops lined the streets, but most were darkened, obviously not open for the night. Lady only hoped she could find an inn or tavern for them to stay in. One where her mistress could reside in safety and make whatever protections she required. A taller building appeared with many windows, so Lady came to a lurching halt outside the door, bumping the curb a bit. “I think we may inquire about a boarding room inside.”
( In collaboration with
@Scarlet )