And He Sat On The Edge Of Skies: Chapter 2
"Your new friend has been making quite a name for himself lately," I said as I shook my head at the serving-girl, declining the offer of a goblet of wine. The duke was holding yet another one of his day banquets and thus etiquette demanded my presence, though I would rather be elsewhere doing something much more fruitful. Festivities at such times did little to improve my mood, although most of the other nobles present would likely disagree with my opinion, judging from their delighted conversation and manner.
"My new friend?" Mercedes replied, puzzled for a moment, before her eyes lit with understanding. "Ah, you mean the Arisen? Yes, after his deeds at the Stone of the Southwest, everyone is impressed with him. Even His Grace, as I'm sure you have noticed."
"Not everyone," I muttered softly, and she threw me a questioning glance. "The morale of the army has greatly improved, and that of the common folk, but–"
"–the same cannot be said for some of the members of His Grace's own court," she finished, and then smiled wryly. "Doubtless they are worried about their own position and their favour with the duke. But who are we to say aught about it?"
True indeed, I thought. Even now the two of us stood at the edge of the entertainment, both being strangers to the duke's court ourselves. At least I had my duties to keep me busy, and the respect of the men under my command. Mercedes had none – or at best, only a mockery – of those, though I doubt she was aware of her circumstances. While the gossiping nobles had enough sense and decorum to refrain from speaking about her situation whenever she was within earshot, they had no such qualms with me, for they had surmised that the other foreign knight was not interested in the welfare of his female counterpart. Mayhap they had even hoped to pit both against each other.
In truth, I felt somewhat sorry for her. For being a fool; a noble, idealistic fool, but a fool nonetheless. The poor little she-goat, I mused, but at least she would not end up a sacrificial lamb being offered to the dragon. She would be safe in her largely ceremonial post as the Captain of the Enlistment Corps, as she would not be sent to the front lines.
"I wonder why he was not invited to the banquet."
I shrugged. "The Arisen? I trust he would rather face a pack of starving direwolves, rather than face the wolves in the duke's halls again. Even I find the prospect of the former much more interesting."
She laughed. "You find direwolves more appealing than the young female nobles here who are more than eager to throw themselves at your feet? The handsome and mysterious foreign knight who has come to the aid of Gransys?"
One such female noble had gathered her courage and walked up to me, asking for a dance.
I politely declined.
She insisted.
I apologised and told her that while there was nothing more in the world that I would wish for than to accommodate her request, alas, I had to leave and attend to my duties.
The young lady looked disappointed, but only for a trifle moment before she set off with her gaze firmly locked on the unsuspecting Ser Raffe, her expression determined. I privately wished the poor fool luck.
"I bid you farewell, for I must now attend to my imaginary errand," I said, excusing myself.
The air of the gardens outside was a welcome refreshment; the meeting with the Arisen a surprise. I had just made my way out of the castle's massive doors when the portcullis was raised to reveal the boy, who ran all the way across the courtyard, drawing disapproving looks from the guards and some of the court attendants.
"Lord Julien," he said in greeting, "what brings you here?" He then immediately cringed, mayhap just realising that was not an appropriate question to a knight in the service of the duke.
"Imaginary direwolves."
"I… beg your pardon?" he asked, his head slightly askew in confusion.
"Nothing, nothing. What brings you to court, Ser Arisen? I trust it is with news of success in your latest task for His Grace?" I asked.
The Arisen's latest encounter with Salvation had led to the death of one of the cult's necromancers, Balsac. I knew that Ser Maximilian had been very pleased, but not Elysion. I did not care a whit, for the Salvation's problems were not necessarily mine. We both had our own goals, and just because the means to achieve them meant that we occasionally had to work together did not mean I enjoyed the cult's company.
"I must deliver my report to Ser Aldous," he said. He looked as if he wanted to say aught further, but as I waited, he fell silent.
"'Tis best for you to wait awhile," I told him, "unless you would prefer to wade through the banquet and the duke's many noble guests."
The boy's eyes widened in horror. "I believe that I shall wait. I can wait for a very long time, if necessary."
"A wise decision. I would keep you company, but I have matters to attend to."
The headgear he wore did little to hide his reddening cheeks. "Of course not, ser. Thank you for the warning."
I was about to make my farewell when I recalled my earlier conversation with Mercedes. "A moment, Arisen?" When he nodded, I continued, "It would do you well to seek allies in Gran Soren. You and Ser Mercedes have some things in common; both of you are strangers to court society, for one. She needs an ally, a true friend. As do you."
"I think I understand," he replied, his voice thoughtful, and his expression somewhat hurt. The boy must have thought that his accomplishments were enough to secure respect among all the gentry, and was let down by the truth. Still, 'twas better for him to know it now, rather than much later.
I took my leave. The Arisen's pawn was waiting at the castle gates, and he bowed slightly when he saw me. "Good day, Lord Julien," he said, his tone respectful.
"Lucas?"
"Yes, Lord Julien?" he replied, tilting his head in a gesture similar to that of the boy's. He also seemed to be surprised at being addressed directly. Not many humans would have had the inclination to do so, for the myrmidons have always been eyed with suspicion, and more often than not, repulsion. Even I found their eerie, blank faces somewhat discomforting at times, but not so with this pawn in attendance of the Arisen.
"You seemed different when I saw you last. Now you seem more… animated. Livelier."
More human, mayhap?
I dismissed that thought as quickly as it had surfaced.
"Oh. After a time, some pawns tend to resemble their Master, whether in terms of disposition, or even appearance," the pawn explained. "I believe that I am beginning to experience the same."
"I hope you do not acquire your Master's manners then."
"Your pardon, ser?" Again, the quizzical gesture.
I shrugged. "He has naught."
-x-x-x-
It was another week before I saw the boy again, and when I did, I told myself to have a word with him about his uncouth habit of running almost everywhere.
"Arisen, you are upsetting some of the people in the castle with your rushing about," I said to the boy when he had just ran across the castle gardens, waving a hand to get my attention, much to the distress of one of the gardeners, who now looked sadly at the freshly-trampled blooms he had lovingly tendered. "Surely no errand is so important that you must jostle everything and everyone in your path," I reprimanded.
"What? No, yes – I mean, I've an important message for you," he said, ignoring my words. "'Tis from Ser Daerio."
Ser Daerio's garrison at the Stone of the North was one of the many that came under my jurisdiction. "What is it?" I asked. The Arisen then explained the supply situation at the garrison. After he was done, I nodded and told him that the issue would be swiftly remedied. At the same time, I silently chided myself; I should have not been remiss in keeping track of the supply lines. A personal gesture would be appropriate to reassure the men in the garrison, I decided.
The boy did not mind delivering some rations from my own personal larder to the men in the garrison. In fact, he seemed quite eager to return to Windbluff Tower. I noted with no little amusement however, at how he ran the first few steps to the castle gates, and then abruptly stopped. The boy then turned to look at me with a guilty expression on his face, waved one hand in apology and then walked away.
I could have sworn one of the gardeners let out a huge sigh of relief.
-x-x-x-
While the Arisen had ceased his habit of running in the castle, I learned some days later that he still needed to learn to knock.
He came barging into the chamber I used whenever I dealt with some mundane matters that involved writing missives and such, startling the cleaning maid. After profusely apologising to the poor woman, he asked me for advice.
"A griffin hunt?" I repeated, while he nodded. Ambitious, but I trust the boy would do well in the hunt. He had shown great skill and promise in all the tasks assigned to him, completing them to a most satisfactory manner. However, the duke's men may not possess his skill and enthusiasm, and I warned him of that.
He thanked me for the advice and was about to leave, when I asked him to wait. "I must confess," I told him in all honesty, "that at first I had not expected much from you. Clearly I was wrong. You have proved yourself time and time again."
"Thank you," he said, beaming with ill-disguised delight. "You have no idea how much that means to me."
"'Twas my pleasure. Is there aught else you require?"
Alas, whatever words he wanted to say would have to wait, for a knock on the door interrupted our conversation. One of the guards entered the chamber with a few rolls of parchments in his arms and proceeded to explain the instructions he had been trusted with to me. When the guard left, the Arisen had already gone, but he had left a small cloth-wrapped bundle on my writing desk.
I opened the bundle to find that placed in the folds of the cloth was a freshly-baked pie; one commonly made for the festivals here in Gran Soren. I had developed quite a liking for the treat during my time in Gransys, but I was certain I had hidden it well. Not even my men knew of my frivolous secret, except for–
I sighed and shook my head.
"Ser Daerio has a big mouth," I muttered to myself, but I did not bother to fight the smile that surfaced on my lips.