Stepping through the portal, he was immediately greeted by a kindly looking older man in blue robes. "From Stromgarde?" he asked. "Aye." Arion replied, "Do you know where I may find the embassy?" The mage smiled, "Of course, I can have a guard show you the way." Arion thanked the man, then waited off to the side as he went to retrieve a guardsman. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. He was at the top of a tower it seemed, very like the one in Stromgarde where he had been sent from. Bookshelves covered the walls, and two small tables were on the floor, also covered in books. The chairs looked well worn, as if people sat in them to study very often. A spiral stair was in the middle of the room, where the mage who received him had gone down. Arion decided to follow, so as to not make the guardsman walk all the way up the stairs just to come back down right after. The middle and ground floors were much the same as the top, but larger, and with more tables. As he walked out the entrance to the tower and out into the street, he noticed it was much quieter than he would have believed from such a large city. Not many people were about, and those that were typically moved alone, or in small groups, talking in low voices. Mages, he thought. He respected the power they wielded, but didn't think he would ever quite understand their ways.
The older man was back soon with a tall man in the silver and blue armor of Lordaeron. Arion greeted him courteously, and thanked the mage for his help. The man smiled, and without another word went back to his tower, presumably for more study. He turned back to the guard. "I am Corporal Arion Carral, and I have been assigned to the ambassador from Stromgarde. Would you be able to show me the way?" The guard nodded, "Of course. Capital City can be hard to navigate for newcomers. Follow me." They walked in silence. He was about to ask a question when they turned a corner out of the Mage District, and stepped into what seemed an entirely different city.
People were everywhere, merchants hawking their wares, patrons attempting to haggle down prices. Fruit and bread vendors moved through the crowds, passing out food to the shoppers in the market, and taking coin in turn. A kind looking woman handed him an apple, and as he reached into his coin pouch to pay her, she shook her head. "Always good to see a new face around here." With a smile, she continued down the street, weaving her way through the crowds to sell more fruit. He turned to his escort. "How did she know I was not from here?" The guard chuckled, "Pardons, but your eyes are wide as saucers looking at all the people about, so it's obvious you're not used to the crowds. Plus, your garb has the emblem of Stromgarde upon it, and she just watched you walk out of the where the travelers come by portal."
"I guess it is pretty obvious."
"Don't worry, you get used to it quick." The guard led him down a side street, and out of the market district. They emerged onto another lane. This one wasn't crowded with merchants, but children played in the street. As he and his escort went on their way, the children gave them only passing glances, returning to their games with giggles and scraped knees. They stopped before a large, gated manor. The gates were black steel, with the symbol of Stromgarde at their top in a deep crimson. The guard bowed, and then left to return to his post as Arion thanked him.
He wasn't sure whether to open the gates himself, or if there was somewhere else he needed to enter. While he stood in the street debating, he saw two men moving towards him from the manor. He rummaged in his pack for his orders, crisply folded in a pocket. He pulled them out, and waited for the men. They stopped right before they reached the gates. "Hail lad, what brings you to the embassy?" said the taller one, who seemed to be in charge. He cleared his throat. "I am Corporal Arion Carral, recently arrived from Stromgarde, with orders to report to Sir Damon Cole." The guardsman both smiled, and the one who had spoken earlier opened the gate. "You the new one, ey? It's good to meet you. My name is Trevor, and this lout next to me is Colin." The squat guardsman who had also come to the gate waved a hand. "Pleasure." Trevor moved to close and re-latch the gate. "Sir Damon is out right now, with Lord Zaraiah in some meeting with the king, so you'll need to wait to report, but we can start to show ya around."
As they entered the manor, he saw two more guardsman posted just inside the door. He nodded to them both. Trevor introduced him, "The ugly one on your right is Jay, and this old rogue to your left is Jared." Jay was a man of average height and build, with brown hair, brown eyes and a striking smile. He was not ugly in the slightest. He greeted him and shook his hand. Jared was short, and from the look of him close to the age of retirement. His black hair was well salted with grey, and he moved a little slowly, but greeted Arion courteously enough. Trevor led him to a round table, and took a seat, indicating him to do the same. Colin moved back out the entrance, presumably to return to watching the gate. Trevor poured him a cup of water, and then one for himself. As Arion began to munch on the apple he had been given earlier, the tall man spoke. "There is twenty of us in all, not including the Sir, but only us four on duty right now. Colin and I have the gate, while Jay and Jared have the manor itself. It's not a big place, so no need to have too many guards on duty. Eighteen of us stay here and guard the manor most days, while the Sir, Sam and Daren are the personal guard of Lord Zaraiah. Sam is being reassigned to the capital, so you'll be taking his place." Arion nodded, "And what does that entail?" Trevor took a large swig, then explained. "The ambassador goes to court each day, so you'll attend him there, inside his box in the gallery of the throne room. After court, depending on his mood, you'll be all over the city. Lord Zaraiah is an explorer at heart, and he gets restless sitting around the manor, so he never spends too much time here when he doesn't need to. Some days he'll be in the markets, haggling with the rest of them, and some days will be spent in the Cathedral, praying and conversing with the priests. He also takes regular rides outside the city, so you'll get to see some wildlife." Trevor smiled. "The ambassador is a good man, you'll like him. Oh and speaking of, I think that's him returning right now."
They heard the gates opening and closing, and Colin joking. Soft laughter followed, as four men came into the manor. One was richly dressed, another was clad in the crimson and black plate of an officer, and the other two garbed in the same way as Trevor and the others. The man in officers armor was the first to notice him, and Arion jumped to attention. The man in rich dress laughed and he recognized it as the same laugh he had heard in response to Colin's jest. "At ease soldier, we don't stand much on ceremony around here. I assume you're the new recruit we were promised?" said the man who could only be the ambassador, Lord Zaraiah. Arion stayed at attention. "Yes my lord, my name is Corporal Arion Carral, and I was told to report to Sir Damon Cole." The man in officers armor nodded, "That would be me. Consider yourself reported, and be at ease." At that, Arion relaxed, though he stayed standing. Lord Zaraiah was a young man, much younger than he had expected, no more than five and twenty. He was tall, with long, curly black hair that framed a teardrop shaped face. He was slender, but from the way he walked and held himself, you could tell he was not a weak man. His eyes were black as well, and they held what seemed like an eternal twinkle. Sir Damon was also tall, but his hair was golden, and stubble covered a jawline that seemed able to cut diamonds. Armor hid his form, yet his neck was thick with muscle, and you could assume the rest of his body was as well. The ambassador spoke again, "Welcome Arion, I hope Trevor here hasn't scared you off yet." Trevor let out a chuckle, "Not yet my lord, I was waiting for you to do that." He laughed again, that soft laughter. "I must compose a few letters, but as soon as I am finished we will have a proper introduction, Corporal Carral. For now, I leave you with the ever-capable Sir Damon." He made his way up the stairs that presumably led to his office, the two guardsman who entered with him in his wake. Trevor gave him a nod, then returned to his post by the gate.
Sir Damon fixed him with a stare. "Welcome to Lordaeron, Corporal. I trust Trevor has already shown you around?" He nodded, "Yes sir, a bit." Sir Damon nodded, "I'll finish the tour myself, this way." He went to the back of the room, where a large door stood. He opened it, and led him into what must be the common room. Other guardsman looked up from cards or dice, and most raised a hand in greeting. "This is where you'll spend most days when not on duty, though you're by no means confined here." The knight continued on, into another room off to the side. Beds lined the wall, ten to a side, with a large chest at the foot of each one. "This is where you'll sleep, you'll have the bunk all the way down the end on your right." He indicated which one. "You'll be expected to keep it clean and orderly. Sheets are changed every week, it's up to you to put them in the laundry area, I won't have the servants having to unmake your bed as well as wash your things, they work hard enough as it is." Arion nodded. Sir Damon gestured to a door at the end of the room, by where his new bunk was. "That's the washroom. Same rules apply. Keep it clean, the servants are here to serve Lord Zaraiah and any guests he may have, not us."
They left the barracks and went back to the common room. From there, the Sir led him through another door, this one opening out into the outside. They stepped out into a stone square, thirty feet by thirty feet, with training dummies in the shape of men lined down one side. There were four more guardsman here, three training with dulled swords, and one with a quarter staff. They stopped what they were doing and greeted their commander, and then Arion. He nodded at them all, unsure if he was supposed to speak during the tour. Sir Damon chuckled, "If you don't know what this area is, tell me now and we'll send you right back through that portal." They continued past the training square, while the other men returned to their drills. He led him through a beautiful garden, with flowers of all sorts blooming. Further on, there were a few peach trees, the fruit hanging heavy from branches. The golden haired knight reached up, grabbed two,and tossed one to Arion. He bit into it, and marveled at the taste. "Lord Zaraiah loves his peaches, so take care not to pick too many."
After they were done with their snack, he led him back through the garden, into the common room, and back to the entry area. From there, they went up the stairs. The first landing was all bedrooms, six in all, for when visiting dignitaries came to the city from Stromgarde. The third floor was two meeting rooms, with large tables surrounded by comfy chairs. This was where the ambassador would receive guests when there were too many to fit comfortably into his office. The fourth and final floor was given over entirely to Sir Damon and the ambassador. The captain of the guards rooms were spare, and his office was no more than a small desk with a chair on each side, and awards hanging on the walls. Sir Damon indicated the ambassadors rooms, but as he was occupied, did not show him inside them. They stopped and spoke to the two guards outside Lord Zaraiahs office. "This one here is Sam, you'll be taking his place." He indicated the muscular man on the right of the door. The man saluted, "An honor. I hope I'm leaving the ambassador in good hands with you, we'd hate to lose him." Arion nodded his head vigorously. "On my life, I swear no harm will come to him." Sam smiled. "I trust you. You have a capable look about you." Sir Damon clapped him on the shoulder, "And this one here is Daren, he'll be your partner." He gestured to the the black haired man. He was lean, and of an average height. Jet black hair was cropped tightly on his head, and fiery green eyes stared from under heavy brows. He smiled brightly and extended his hand, which Arion took. "Aye, I'm Daren, and I won't linger too long on the introductions, I expect we'll get to know each other well over these next few months." Arion smiled in return, "I look forward to it." Sir Damon grunted, "Now that introductions are over, we'll head back down to the gardens. We'll go over your duties there. Most days we'd use my office, but I need a bit of sunlight." Arion said farewell to the guardsman at the door, then followed his new commander down the stairs, and back out into the garden.
After exchanging a few words and joking with the men in the common room and training area, they found themselves back under the peach trees. The knight sat down underneath the branches of one, with his back on the trunk, and indicated Arion to do the same. After he had found a suitable tree of his own, the Sir began to explain his duties. "As I said earlier, you'll be replacing Sam as one of the ambassadors personal guards. I've read your file and spoken with Sir Andrew, and from what I've heard and read, you're already one of my best swords, that's why I've chosen you to partner Daren." Arion nodded. "Thank you Sir. I'll keep him safe." Damon nodded, then continued. "As such, you'll attend him everywhere. At the normal places, such as the gallery of the throne room while King Terenas holds court, and in any meetings he has with the King or other important members of the government. But you'll also be with him when he goes out into the city, which he does quite often. He's given no one cause to wish him harm, but out there in the streets you never know who could be lurking, so you must be vigilant at all times. Even for mundane threats. Just last week, the lord was chatting with a fruit merchant, and didn't see a large stack of barrels tipping over. If it wasn't for Daren, it may have been the ambassadors head that burst upon the stone with the melons. But since he had an eye on his surroundings, he was able to grab him out of the way, and we were able to get him home with just a lightly bruised shoulder." The captain of guards stared at him then, hoping to drive home the lesson. Arion nodded again. He had been doing a lot of that today. "I'll keep my eyes open at all times, I swear it." The older man grunted in response. "Good. Tomorrow will be your first day. In court a great many things may be said, and not all of them must reach other ears, am I understood?" Arion swallowed hard. "Of course Sir, my ears will be closed." The knight graced him with a smile. "Not all the way closed I hope, Lord Jason likes to discuss the happenings in court with those of us that attend him in his box. Just don't discuss it in the common rooms, or around the city." The knight rose suddenly. "And now that that's settled, time to get your gear issued." Arion rose as well, and followed him out of the garden. They made their way back into the common room, and to a door that he had not noticed before.
When they entered, he saw swords, spears and shields in racks upon the walls, and pieces of armor along the other side on orderly shelves. "All the armor is the same, find your size and equip yourself. For weapons, he have arming swords, long swords, and hand and a half blades. Choose whichever you prefer. We also have eight foot spears, but those are generally for manor duty, so you won't need one of those. Make sure you grab a dagger for your belt, as well as a cloak. Once you're done, come see me in my office, and we'll write down what you took for the records." With that, he turned and strode from the room.
Arion turned to the weapons rack, and immediately selected one the larger blades. After some debate, he grabbed a sword belt rather than a baldric, and went to find his size in the neat piles of armor. For his torso, it was a black studded leather vest. Black leather was also the choice for gloves. Around his neck, a crimson steel gorget, with the symbol of Stromgarde upon it in silver. His pauldrons were crimson as well, and matched the steel vambraces he latched to his forearms. His breeches were a soft black leather, with steel toed, thick soled boots for his feet in the same color. More crimson steel went on his shins, the greaves matching gorget, shoulder armor and vambraces. He strapped his sword belt to his waist, and then slid a long steel dagger into a sheath on his right hip, opposite his hand and a half blade. He then moved to the back of the room, where he chose a hooded red cloak made of runecloth. He also picked up a woolen arming cap, which seemed to be the only part of his gear that wasn't red or black. Lastly, he picked up a helmet. Black steel, it fit his head tightly. No visor, but a T-shaped slit on the front for his eyes. He could see surprisingly well, it didn't hinder his peripheral vision much.
After arming and armoring himself, he made his way to the top floor, where Daren and Sam whistled at the sight of him in his new gear. Grinning, he knocked upon his commanders door. Sir Damon opened it, looked him up and down, and nodded in approval. He took a seat behind his desk, and pointed at the chair across of him for Arion to do the same. After he sat, they went through a list of items, and he signed his name after each piece of equipment. After this was done, the Sir put the papers away in a cabinet, then waved his hand in dismissal. As he was leaving out the door, the Sir called after him. "It's good to have you. It's getting late, so make sure you're well rested for tomorrow, we rise at first light." Arion saluted, then closed the door behind him.
As he went down the stairs to his bunk, he suddenly realized how tired he was. He stumbled into the barracks, where a few men were already snoring softly, and barely made it to his own bunk. He stripped off his armor and placed it on the rack by the head of his bed. As he lost himself in the feathery softness, he thought to himself. Maybe Lordaeron won't be too bad...
