Dig two graves before embarking on a journey of revenge.

        Igraine's face is not a welcome one in New Lyonesse. She is known to be the black knight who committed wholesale slaughter here and the people would like to see her in the dungeon rather than walking the streets of New Lyonesse. A wide space surrounds her as people giving her nasty looks also give the potentially violent woman a wide berth.

 

        The face of the Countess Cuchlia, however, is a welcome one in New Lyonesse. Ciara, who has tossed aside the last name given to her by the house of Chantris and Solaris, has been spending most of her time either in her county doing what she can for her people there, or here, in New Lyonesse. She has been in the area most of the day, helping those in need in whatever way she can. When the young woman she is speaking to goes pale white and backs away, she turns her Icy Blues the direction of the woman's gaze and lays her eyes upon Igraine. She stands upright more, flattening her dress, and places a gentle arm on the young woman giving her a warm smile before turning on heel and walking straight towards Igraine.

 

        "You should know better than to be here." This is all she says to Igraine as she clasps her hands together at her stomach. She stands there now, firm and defiant as always.
 

        Igraine pauses in her progress down the street as she is approached by Ciara. "I imagine the Lord of Monsalvat would disagree with your assessment, Countess. What business is it of yours where I go?"

 

        "I hold nothing but contempt in my heart for the Lord of Monsalvat" replies Ciara plainly, holding back her temper as best she can. "You assume that I habor any respect for the man anymore, or you." She steps closer, "It is my buisness where you go Black Bitch of Ascalot" she adds, the insult stated as a complete matter of fact. "Your pressence here is unwelcome, and always has been, you who are betrayer, and murderer." She pauses a moment, "You should be glad I have at least learned my lesson and do not draw steel against you where you stand. That, and for some reason Izett seems intent on showing me that you are not evil and can be saved, though I find that hard to believe."

        Igraine watches the other woman flatly, "On the contrary. You should be glad you do not draw against me. You are not even near me in skill with a blade and it could easily end with your death or injury." There's a pause, "And it's Black Bitch of Lyonesse or Black Dame of Ascolat if you must. I have nothing but respect for Izett. She has always been kind to me. Even so I do not encourage anyone to believe her opinion of me nor Harold's. Regardless, unless Regent Gerard tells me I am not allowed here, you certainly have no right to do so."

        Caira does all she can to control her anger and hatred for this woman, it's been known and public for a long time now. However, Igraine is correct, and every time Ciara has stood against her, she has failed. She chooses to gloss over the first part of Igraine's reply and moves on the part two. "I wish I understood how anyone could be kind to you..." she replies plainly, behind gritted teeth. "Then why are you here? Have you come to torment the people here? To gloat over them and laugh over their loss at your hands? Have you no goodness in you at all?" she asks her, motining with her hands to the people around them both who are no doubt still terrified of Igraine.
 

        Igraine gestures toward the embassy. "I was actually going to the embassy to annoy the graal knights with their inability to eject me from the grounds unless I attack one of them. Why? Did you want to join me? You don't like them any more than I do."

 

        Ciara blinks at her response, she's utterly dumbstruck at it and really doesn't know how to respond to her. "I, have no quarrel with the Knights of the Graal, I have a quarrel with the man that married you." She pauses a moment, and looks to the people around who are pleading with her with their eyes to at least keep an eye on Igraine, to which she exhales and turns back to face the other woman. "I will walk with you, if only to escort you to the Embassy and keep an eye on you."
 

        Igraine begins moving toward the embassy again. "Then we have something in common. I quarrel with him all the time. Though I have cause and I cannot imagine what yours is."

 

        Ciara exhales deeply and turns to walk with Igraine, "It is the only thing we have in common.." is her first reply before she slowly turns her gaze to Igraine, "He married you. That's reason enough." She smiles warmly and turns her gaze back towards the direction they both walk.
 

        Igraine notes quietly, "How can that be reason enough? He did not know I was a black knight when he met me and decided he was in love with me. You hate him because he was gullible when I lied to him?"

        "He knows who and what you are now. That, is reason enough." Ciara's reply comes plainly and without hesitation as they walk, her gaze remains focused forward.
 

        Igraine actually chuckles humorlessly in response, "I keep making that point to him. He ignores it, but he can hardly be blamed of his softness will not relent, only if he fails in his duties." She stops outside the embassy gate. "Are you coming in?"

 

        Ciara stops alongside her and turns to face her, "He can be blamed. For everything you have done, and all that he has allowed you to do, he can be blamed for it, and I do." She turns to look at the entry and then back to Igraine, "To watch you toy with them like pets? No." She steps closer to Igraine and stares her down, "I will find a way to end you. One day, somehow, someway, I will find a way to end you." She pauses again and takes a final step forward and maybe in these, she shows just how much her hatred of Igraine is perhaps pushing her towards the same fate. "I want you to see my face. I want to watch the light go out in your eyes, as tears stream down your face, as you choke on your own blood and gasp for air, as you realize that your death is coming, I want my face to be the last face you see."

        Igraine nods slowly, "Yes. That is just what drove me to my own excellence in combat. The desire to destroy someone. And I did. One day, you will be just like me. But I will make you one oath. When you come to kill me, I will not disappoint you. I will fight to my last breath. If you win, you will know you have defeated me. Perhaps you will find some satisfaction in it. I did not."

 

        "I will never be like you..." Ciara replies with gritted teeth. "I appreciate your oath and I give you the same in return." She begins to leave but stops, the last part of Igraines statement confusing her, she turns back around and stares at Igraine with confusion in her own eyes. "What?"

        Igraine turns to give Ciara her full attention. "I said my revenge gave me no satisfaction. I trained a lifetime for killing him and when I finally found him and my axe tasted his blood, I felt nothing but rage and disappointment. No satisfaction. My entire purpose was gone and it had solved nothing, changed nothing. Or so I thought. In truth it made things far worse for me."

 

        "I don't believe you.." Ciara replies plainly. "That's what you do Igraine, you hurt people, you murder people, you take life that isn't yours to take. How could you possibly have found no joy or satisfaction in killing the man you trained your whole life to kill?"

        Igraine nods, "You are under no obligation to believe me. I lie quite well when I choose to. However, I have nothing to be gained by lying to you at this moment. You are not important enough in my life to lie to, Countess. I killed him and it made me angrier than I had been before. Believe me or not. I have no need to convince you. Revenge made my life worse. At least before I could convince myself that once I had killed him, my pain would be over and I would find peace finally. After I killed him, I had to acknowledge I would never find the peace I thought his death would give me."

 

        Ciara listens to Igraine, and there's a moment there where she just might believe the other woman, but that moment passes. "I'm not even going to pretend that you're a decent person in there Igraine. Nor am I going to let you manipulate me like you manipulated the Grandmaster. Enjoy your time with the Graal Knights." She turns on heel and begins to walk away without saying another word.

        Igraine smiles coolly, "I'm not. I have never tried to manipulate you and I haven't tried to manipulate him since he found out who I really am. Enjoy your hatred. You will find in fuels you like nothing else. Never lose it." Then she too turns, finally making her way inside the embassy grounds.