Nearing the end of their one week stay in Colchis before they left again to return to their military outpost on the Kirakles Isles, Nike had had ample time to familiarize herself with the outlay of the Kotas mansion, enough to ensure that she was capable of carrying out her new duties as the crown prince's personal bodyguard well without any slip ups.

Having taken the afternoon off so she could head to her small hut she called her home within the city whenever she was back from campaigns, Nike had just returned to the residence of the royal family to resume her duties, she would go round the outer pathways to head to the back rooms to slip in through the servant's entrance. Just as Nike lay her hands on the doorknob however, a sudden figure caught the corner of her eye, and the twenty four year old diverted her gaze to the figure scaling down the wall.

The long hair... along with the stories which Vangelis has told her as they trained in the mornings, left Nike no doubt who it was when she noticed the fine manner her chiton was made. And someone of her rank should in no way be climbing out of windows.

Her decision quickly made, the commander of the Red Knights was quick to jog over, her tunic and pants making it easy for her to eat up the distance. Positioning herself to stand right beneath should anything untoward happen, Nike looked up, shading her eyes from the sun. "Princess Athanasia, I... don't think your parents or brothers would be happy to see you this way?" the commander spoke out loud to make her presence known.

It wasn't new, apparently. From what she had heard upon her first day being in the Kotas residence at her briefing by the head of security in the residences, the princess was known for her escapades, and all the guards had always kept an eye out for her.

In a way however, Nike knew how she felt. She was constricted too, albeit not like Athanasia was. Instead, the girl was constricted by the lot life had doled her, and the path she had chosen to be as safe as she can be back when she had arrived in Colchis at the tender age of twelve. Constricted by the image she had presented to others as the tough and versatile Commander Nike, she could no longer indulge in her more frivolous notions - that meant death for her, at this point of her life, and her lie.

Wincing as she fell, Nike jogged over to where the princess had fallen, a properly apologetic look on her face as she heard the snarl of the feral teen princess. "I give my deepest apologies, Princess. I did not mean to give you a fright." Immediately, the apology flew out from her, as the fall must have hurt, if not injured the princess. Luckily, Nike sighed when she got on her feet and dusted herself, a sure sign that there was no lasting damage.

Hearing her intentions, Nike raised her brow. As far as she knew, her general and the princess's eldest brother, was with his parents. Zanon, the second one and a prince that Nike was fairly close to, seeing as he was getting himself into scrapes that Nike fished him out of, was off seeing his latest conquest. Prince Yiannis and Prince Silas were both with their military units, and as such were not in residence. As part of the guard, Nike made it her business to know their locations - besides, it was only because Vangelis was with his parents that Nike had saw it safe to leave his side, since the monarch's had their own retinue of guards who would see to her general's safety.

"Prince Vangelis is with your parents on business matters. Your other three brothers are not in residence." her eyes fell on the bow and arrows the princess pulled out, and a spark of amusement lit in her eyes. While Nike knew it was probably a futile manner to drag the princess back, the least she could do was ensure no harm came to her. "But perhaps... If you wouldn't mind princess, I could escort you, to wherever it is you seek to go?" the commander bowed at her waist at the princess, extending a hand to her with palms facing upwards.

If nothing at all, Nike proved to be a dashing male, even if she was only posing as one. With the chiselled jaw and combed back hair, her smile was a practiced one of charm, as the slight tease in her eyes as she waited for Athanasia's response. "Tis my duty to see you safe, and no harm shall befall upon you while you go on the adventure you seek, my princess."

The displayed show of teenage rebellion was in a way nostalgic to Nike. She had seen a multitude of them in her military camp, with stubborn ego that had either been trained or beaten out of them by herself or her general. Most young upstarts who joined as new trainees had swagger that would've gotten them killed on the battlefield, and it was something that necessited harsh training. But on the princess, it wasn't something that can be trained.

Luckily, years of training idiots to not die on the battlefield had been enough to train Nike's patience.

The woman laughed, shaking her head to Athanasia's query. "I was not quiet - you were simply very focused on climbing down. Which, might I add, was spectacular. It is no wonder everyone keeps an extra eye out for the safety of you, my princess. Tis a great skill to have." Nike praised, a twinkle in her eye signifying her genuine compliment.

Surprised at how defiant she was, in a way Nike had to say she could see where it came from. In a family of four boys, it was no doubt that Athanasia was not only overprotected, but probably felt she had something to prove to her elder brothers. Knowing the feeling, since she herself has had to grow up proving her worth as a man of equal value to other males in her regiment, Nike shook her head. "I never thought of that, my princess. In fact, I am of better skill with a dagger then I am with a bow and arrow, so you likely surpass me in that aspect. However, I do suspect you may need help in lugging your catch back since I'm sure you'll be able to target a large kill. Perhaps I can offer my assistance there?"

Watching the wary gaze the princess offered, Nike did not retract her hand, and instead kept it palm facing upwards as she introduced herself. "Commander Nike of Acaris, Crown Prince Vangelis's personal bodyguard. I would not be here for long but while I am, I want nothing more then to watch over your safety whenever I can, my princess." She flickered her gaze towards the stables, and then back at Athanasia. "Now to hunt, we'll need horses. Would you like me to ready your steed for you?"

She recognized the pride - it was uncanny, how similar it was to her brother's,and she's watched over Vangelis long enough to recognize the similarities between the young princess and her eldest sibling. It was the same fire, zest and will to survive that existed in both, and Nike found herself just as willing to protect the young princess as she was to do the same for Vangelis.

She did appear surprise however, something which surprised Nike herself. Was she not offered this help much? But.. ah, she was a princess, was she not. A far, faint memory Nike had reminded her that once upon a time, her mother had also told her to not jump in puddles, run like a heathen, and that a lady should always have her hair in braids so as not to look as if she had just been tumbled. But that was a time long gone, so far away that Nike had almost forgotten. Instead, she nodded easily, as if there was nothing else she would like to do.

A light shone in Nike's eyes. "A dagger you say, your Highness?" the woman commander echoed. She bent down, and reached for something in her heavy leather boots. Pulling it out, the sunlight glinted off a very sharpened and polished dagger. For a lowly commander, Nike owned an ornate dagger, golden hilt with emeralds embedded that shone in the sunlight - something that one would unlikely find on a regular military male. It was Nike's mothers, the last thing she had of her parents that she had snatched that fateful day as she escaped from Acaris. She had found herself in Colchis the next day, and she had never returned.

But Nike had relied on that dagger for protection, and it now followed her no matter where she went. She grinned as she flashed it to the princess, before tucking it back in to her boot again."Deal." she agreed shortly, and then smirked when the princess further questioned her motives. "Because I believe everyone needs a chance to learn. You should too, Princess. However, you do need someone to make sure no harm comes to you. I would rather that be me, then to leave you alone."

When the yells started, Nike hard it too, and her short hair flicked as she turned to the back. The next thing she knew, the princess had already started running, and with little to no choice left, she started running after the lithe figure of the young princes, her paces kept steady and constant behind her, easily keeping up from the daily sparring and stamina training the military did while out on a campaign.

Only when the princess stopped, did Nike follow suit, her breathe coming in heavier gasps, shallower albeit not out of breathe. Turning to check on the princess, the woman grinned, and offered the choice to the princess. "Shall we start with your dagger then, Princess?"

Used to military trained sharpness, Nike's eyes followed Athanasia's figure as she headed to place her bow against the tree, and then back to the middle of the clearing. She had spied the dagger the young princess had brandished earlier, and had noted the fine make, with the studded Colchian blood rubies and jewels in its hilt, fitting for a princess of her make. But what Nike was surprised with was how fine her own was as compared to the princess. She had never questioned where her mother's dagger had came from... but now, the woman found herself mildly curious.

The curiosity had no time to bed fed however - the princess was eager to start, and the woman was only more then glad to go with her, happy to see a woman who wasn't just prim and proper for once. Then again, with how the Kotas siblings were like, Nike couldn't say she was surprised.

"I got mine from my mother... a long time ago. She said it would protect me. Just like yours will protect you.' the woman smiled a confident smile, as she did the same as Athanasia, pulling out the dagger from its sheath she always kept tucked in her boot. There, she took a few steps closer, and angled her hold on the dagger so Asia could see. "Hold it downwards, and grip it tight. This allows your to use the earth's natural pull and your weight to drive the dagger in deep, as you attack." A faint memory came of her general telling her how Vangelis had trained Athanasia in minor self defence mechanisms.

"This is called a high guard." Nike continued, holding the dagger above her head, the sharp end at the imaginary attacker in front of her. "Point your shoulderblades back, and open your legs. See your free hand?" she wriggled the free hand that was also held up and in line with her head. "You can use it to either distract your enemy, or use it to grab their own weapon hand -" she feigned the action she had just explained, and then followed it with a downward swipe of the dagger she held. "When you do this, your weight will swipe it all the way down. As far as you can go." With that, the woman straightened up and gave her a smile and an encouraging nod. "Now you try. Careful now, don't let your chiton tangle you up."

It figures that Vangelis would have taught her some ways of defense - the man was far too protective by half, and had a serious heroicsm complex that just added on to Nike's workload. But it was a major reason on why she admired her general, and was not surprised when Asia mentioned he had been busy. Afterall, she was right behind him when he was busy, so she merely gave the princess a laugh as she wished on more interesting lessons. "Sometimes, we have to go through uninteresting things to learn better stuff. It teaches us patience and makes us more versatile and adaptable." she responded with a cheeky wink.

Watching carefully as Asia mimicked her movements, Nike nodded as she asked, and then moved forward. Standing behind her, Nike reached forward, barely noticing how closely she was standing as the commander focused on correcting her grip, and tightening it around the hilt of her own dagger. "Firmer hold on your whole hand - it isn't just your wrist. Engage your upper arm and it will be a firm swipe." she leaned in further, brushing her fingers briefly to show Asia where the muscles were, before stepping back.

"This will not kill - merely make them hurt enough that you can get away. It's a downward slash down their chest, so a wide enough arc so even if they dodge, you would still get some hold somewhere."

Nodding, Nike understood what Athanasia was saying. It was why she stayed in her riding pants and tunic, partly because it was simple and easier to get in fights when necessary, and partly because with her in a chiton, it was too easy to guess her secret. With pants and a tunic, she could keep up the guise and no one could guess. "Tis true, especially as footwork is very important. One makes the mistake of thinking too much on the hands, they forget their feet and trip, which is a fatal mistake in a fight." Nike let her gaze drift down, and smiled as the girl tossed her blade. She was deft with her hands, Nike would give her that. "Alright, now if you happen to enter an attack too early like so." she stepped towards a tree, and used an overhanging branch to simulate an arm. Nike placed her blade against the branch, and gestured at it. "If this happens, do not stop. Use it to twist it around the opponent's wrist, bring your blade up around it," she demonstrated by twisting her wrist so the blade heads upwards and around the branch and then with a firm hold, brought it down with a grip hard enough that it shaved the edges of the branch off. "Use that to disarm your opponent. Got it?"

Nike had cocked her head when the princess had jumped back - she was a woman, technically. To her, she simply did not realize that a man would usually not go so near one of the opposite gender unless they fancied the other, and she was barely twenty-five herself, new in the whole idea of genders and with the added layer of having to navigate the waters as a man in disguise. But she did remember the fact that lowly soldiers usually did not take such liberties, and firmly reminded and scolded herself in her mind to watch her actions.

Nodding, the commander grinned, running a hand to the loose, dark locks that were short cut on her head. The princess was a fast learner, and for that Nike can see where she got it from.

"That is a fair question." Tossing her blade to the side, she waved a hand at Athanasia, grinnnig. "Come over, attack me. I promise I won't hurt you." Naturally cheeky, young still and quite unharmed from the elks of the battlefield, Nike still retained some of her childish youth at the age.

When the princess attacked low, Nike was quick to take a sidestep so the arm went harmlessly down the front of her body. In the same motion, the commander used the arm nearest to Athanasia to grasp her upper arm, and the other hand further from the princess swung down to grasp the wrist, where Nike froze in that position. "Just watch the direction of your assailant, and get into this position so the dagger can't harm you. Then disarm their wrist by twisting it backwards. Your aim is not to overpower them, but to outwit them by your smaller size and faster movements." It was the exact same way Nike fought, except ever since Vangelis started teaching her, she had begun to use the gravity of earth to aid her in her fights so it was less noticeable that she fought differently.

Stepping back, the commander picked up her blade again. "Okay, let's go over the high guard again. So you get used to it." Nike moved her legs into her defensive stance, and allowed the princess to use her as target practice. For over half an hour as the sun moved, the commander drilled the three moves she had just taught Athanasia, so that it would be ingrained as muscle memory. At the end of it, Nike wore a satisfied grin, and nodded. "I think we can stop for the day. No sense in pushing further and tire you out. otherwise you won't get to show off to me with your bow." With a wink, Nike slide her dagger into its sheath in her boot, and then waited for Athanasia's instructions for her.