Another wonderfully realised co-op commission by the marvellous and super friendly artist  bluehunter

This picture continues the events of the following commission:
The Tournament Training

In this co-op commission with the wonderful :iconortaon, Hunter once again created a fantastic atmosphere with the evening lighting and the glow of the torches, and he did an excellent job of implementing our two characters.

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The air in the large courtyard of the barracks was icy, illuminated only by the flickering light of the torches in the twilight of the setting sun.
Meanwhile, thick snowflakes floated down from the darkening firmament onto the white ground, which made a dull crunching sound with every step.

Smoke rose from the chimneys of the living rooms of all the houses in Weitwacht, which were closely packed together within the well-guarded city walls. Inside the windows of Falcon's Solace Castle, which sat mightily and protectively on a hill above the city, torches and fires illuminated the stone interiors.

Steppen and his training partner Gunnar – two soldiers from different houses who had gathered here for a royal wedding – used the remaining evening light to warm up in a training fight, until their bodies, packed in thick gambesons and training armour, seemed to steam in the winter air.

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Exhausted but still walking with pride, Gunnar strolled towards the barracks gate at the end of training, while Steppen was still bringing the training swords and shields back to the armoury room.

At the same time, a small group of five canid soldiers, led by a chevalier, a female knight, came up the earthy path to the barracks to ask the stationed guards for admission...

Gunnar looked at the strangers leaning against the wall near the gate and tried to recognise their crest.

"My name is Elodie... Chevalier, on behalf of King Lucien du Sablier. We are travelling through and will spend a few days here... and would like to have our weapons ground by your armourer..."

‘King Lucien du Sablier?’ it occurred to Gunnar... He knew that name... The ruler of the House of Frères de l'Obsidienne. King Herold was allied with this noble family, whose coat of arms showed a black horse on a silver background and lived far to the west. However, he was surprised that soldiers - and then only in such small numbers - had strayed into this part of the world at this time of year.

Elodie handed the guards a letter, whereupon she and her men were allowed to enter the barracks...

When Steppen walked out of the barracks door, the strangers were already coming towards him. The black stallion eyed the soldiers no less surprised than Gunnar had been before... but just as he was about to turn to his training partner, his gaze met Elodie's as she passed by.

Steppen couldn't say if and when he had seen a female knight before, but he immediately lost himself in the cold blue of her eyes... her gaze so sharp, full of pride and yet so unfathomably soft, as if she saw a side of him at that moment that he himself had not known.

For a moment, her gaze also lost itself in the chestnut-coloured eyes of the stallion. Was it the surprise of meeting a Friesian here of all places? Was it the aura that emanated from the powerful fighter?
For an instant, their hearts seemed to beat slower, along with time, as if the sound of footsteps and the flickering movement in the air stretched into the endless space of this encounter.
One look, one feeling – and the mood changed. The chevalier and the soldier, two souls who had recognised each other through the random dance of glances... as if fate had led them to this exact moment.

Both looked after each other without stopping... before each looked ahead again. Elodie dismissed her men to the forge... while Steppen looked at Gunnar, who turned away from the wall. "So... ready for the beer?" he snorted impatiently.

The two horses trotted down the small path towards the city... but Steppen, who still couldn't quite shake off the feeling of admiration for the foreign beauty, asked "Tell me, Gunnar... do you know what kind of soldiers they were? Or rather, who the female was who led them?"

Gunnar snorted and said "I don't know her name, but they come far from the west... from the House of Frères de l'Obsidienne"

"Hm... far from home" Steppen mused thoughtfully...

"Yes... they'll probably stay in town for a few days... that's all I heard.... What's up? Don't tell me you've got a crush on her?" Gunnar suddenly laughed at the top of his lungs. He hadn't failed to notice Steppen's glances at the yard and his curiosity about the foreign warrior spoke volumes for him...

Steppen just put his hand on Gunnar's shoulder and said "My dear Gunnar, you are allowed to drink anything but you are not allowed to know everything... I always welcome your opinion... as long as I ask you!"

Gunnar snorted slightly and added, amused "Well, it's really none of my business. But if you really want to try your luck, walk past the monastery or the inn tomorrow... they've probably found accommodation there. But don't get your hopes up... A knight and a simple soldier... be glad if she lets you polish her armour"

Steppen couldn't get the image of her face out of his head, though, and just replied calmly "We'll see, Gunnar... we'll see..." before they both reached the tavern...