While he was more than a little upset that he'd, yet again, lost a bet to Aedan, he knew better not to comment on it. The younger man stood beside him, quiet, more somber than he had been through the whole ceremony. Rudyerd could be tasteless beyond limits at times, but he held his tongue now, waiting for the next name to be called. He couldn't help but think about how unfair it was for someone like Ser Drust to fall while people like Oisin, and that mouthy ex convict who didn't understand the importance of cooperation, dedication and sacrifice the ceremony required.
His attention returned to the event when the recently knighted Ser Cira was called. He'd spoken to her several times before the ceremony began, she having been there for a few weeks now. He'd taken that time to try to get to know her for reasons much less honorable than her reason for showing up. He learned that she'd lost her parents during the last Blight like he had - a tidbit he'd abuse every chance he got. Opening up about his past, losing his parents and rebuilding cities - it made him seem much more sympathetic than he really was. and than he really was, and became increasingly competitive as the Joining grew closer. That must have been something an honorable knight like her could appreciate about a man. But her eagerness to prove herself to everyone got in the way of any carnal intentions he had in mind. Being the only female knight from the West Hills, it was obvious to the senior Wardens that she spent most of her time and energy trying to impress them and everyone else. Being as petite as she was, it was impressive enough that she was a knight at all, but she was too impetuous to realize that.
But there she stood in the middle of the room, stripped of whatever pride she'd shown, chest deflated of its false confidence after having witnessed those better than her fall so easily. "I know she's small," he said quietly, head tilted a bit toward his friend. "But I feel like she might pull through this. Size obviously isn't a factor in this." This was proven by the two dwarves who'd come before her. "Besides," it was unnecessary for Aedan to turn and look at his friend, he heard the smirk in his voice. "She'd be a nice piece to keep around." He nudged the Rivaini suggestively, watching the knight take the cup.
"She's too inexperienced," Aedan offered, breaking his silence, even daring to smirk. Ruddy slowly looked to his friend, expecting further explanation when he realized what exactly he'd meant. Jaw clenched, he crossed his arms over his chest as he watched Cira raise the draught with vigor, and take a heavy sip down. She looked to determined to survive that he was sure she'd forgotten to let herself breathe. Her face turned bright red as she clinched her eyes shut tightly, her hands balled into fists, doing her best to fight through the pain that was clearly shooting through her body. It was too much, though. She fell to her knees, wheezing, her hands clasped behind her head as she cried out in agony. His mind wandered momentarily to an inappropriate place just as she fall back and landed still in the middle of the room. The quiet thump of her body hitting the floor drew his attention and a sigh. "Go on," he said quietly, rolling his eyes as Aedan glanced back to him with a shrug before removing yet another lost recruit from the center of the floor.