Fast Slash Chapter 10: Wakelo's Mission
Sorry about the long wait...if anyone actually waited. This is about Wakelo, Worza's brother. I enjoyed making this chapter.
A tall, rough bearded man gazed out over his future country. His hands gripped the stone rail that kept him from falling off his corridor balcony. He took his hand off the rail and put it on his steel blade's hilt that hung next to his waist. A breeze hit his face and forced his grey hair to flap in the breeze. He left the balcony and returned to his kingly room. A messenger burst through his door and caught his breath before he got on one knee and said, "My Prince, I have good news. Your brother, Prince Worza has been found just east of the castle in the city of Ply."
Wakelo looked at the messenger with an unchanging expression. He waited a moment before he answered, "Have you told my father of this news yet?"
"No, sir. I did what you asked and received the news before any one else. Once I heard the Prince was alright, I rushed over to the castle as fast as I could." The messenger answered, not looking up.
"Good. Tell General Tyra that she is too meet me in the stables tomorrow at dusk." The messenger got up, bowed, and left to go to the General. Wakelo stepped back out onto the balcony once again and mumbled to himself, "Ah, Worza. What did you get yourself into? First; there is some group terrorizing our kingdom and then you have to run off when they are attacking the most? What were you thinking?"
Later that day, Wakelo visited the training area, which was where the new recruits were being trained. Training instructor Pon bowed when he noticed Wakelo. "How can I help you my Lord?" Pon asked.
"Rest easy, Pon. You are one of my most trusted friends, I don't think I could lead without your support. I have come to ask that one of your recruits come with me on a trip." Wakelo whispered, glancing at the recruits who stopped and stared at them.
"I didn't tell you all to stop!" Pon yelled. "Keep going!" After that, the recruits quickly got back to training. Pon turned back to Wakelo and asked, "Might I ask why? Where do you plan to go?"
"I can't say. I couldn't drag you into what I'm about to do. I was never here, Pon. This never happened, got it?" Wakelo asked. Pon looked curious, but he trusted Wakelo with his life, so he nodded. "I promise I'll bring your recruit back unharmed."
"Alright." At that, Pon yelled, "Line up!" The recruits hesitated for a moment before obeying orders. They normally didn't line up unless they were in trouble. He turned to Wakelo, signaling that he didn't know what to say to them.
Wakelo gave a slight nod before he turned to all the recruits and announced, "I am going away for a while and I would like one of you to come with me." The recruits looked shocked at what he just said, but others looked curious and confused. Wakelo waited for someone to speak up, but when no one did, he decided to choose for himself. He walked down the line and looked at each and everyone of the young recruits. One looked proud and strong as Wakelo walked by. Wakelo stopped and looked at this six-teen year old boy before he asked, "What's your name?"
The recruit looked proud as he said, "Kole, from Arkid." His sounded proud, but Wakelo didn't see the same confidence in his eyes. Wakelo nodded before he continued. He was surprised to find that none of the other recruits looked as proud as Kole, though he wasn't looking for a proud and trained recruit who was about to become a soldier.
Wakelo stopped at the end of the line and looked at a very young kid, Wakelo guessed eleven years old, and asked, "What's your name?" Wakelo got down on one knee so he was level with the boy.
"Uh...Crey." He said timidly. Crey looked at the others but they gave him blank expressions.
"Would you be interested in coming with me, Crey?" Wakelo asked, still level with him. Wakelo felt tension spring into the air, but he showed no reaction to it. The youngest recruit received an honor worthy of generals, and the others knew it. Crey looked shocked. He managed a small nod before the Prince managed to his feet and turned to Pon. Pon looked just as shocked as Crey.
Wakelo nodded to Pon and began for the castle, but Pon caught up to him and asked, "My lord, why not take Kole? He is trained and ready for action unlike my youngest recruit. I would like to know your motives."
"Crey is an excellent fighter, Pon. You have to find that hidden ability before he becomes strong. Besides, I wanted to give you some time to work with your other trainees. I'll finish Crey's training while we are gone." Wakelo answered.
"Care to make a bet then?" Pon asked as Wakelo started walking.
Wakelo stopped and turned to Pon with a sly grin. "A bet? Sure. But I'll win like I always do."
"Not always, you have 102 wins while I have 103 wins. I'm winning. Let us see if you can catch up." Pon countered. "The bet is who has the better fighter when you return from wherever you are going."
"Alright then, shall we bet the usual?"
"Yes, and when I win, you will have to watch me eat an entire feast, while you get chained to the 'wall of shame'."
"I will make sure that you are the one who gets chained to the wall while I feast." Wakelo said grinning.
"We will see." Pon answered. "Where should I send Crey after he is prepared?"
"Tell him to meet me in the stables tomorrow at dusk." Wakelo answered, finally leaving the training area.
I have learned never to make a bet unless I know I am going to win. Anyway, whoever wins the bet gets to eat as much as they want too while the loser gets chained the wall and has to watch he/she eat the entire feast...its a crule but rewarding bet.