Dawn, 3rd Sun, 9th Moon. Ground force Barracks
My equal commander. Kaiser reviews Murrih's message. I'll be glad to see this old horse. Kaiser tugs on a teal shirt over sturdy pair of brown breeches. He fastens on his belt, a dark sheathed sword, carrying pouch, canteen, and a collection of daggers, hidden all over him. Before he leaves he puts a small locked chest in his pack. No larger than a lady's jewlery box. Just in case I have to play healer on this trip. He throws his packs on his firm back and locks the door to his rarely used home.
Outside the barracks, most of the men are already in formation. The muddy wet dawn promised a dirty ride through the forest. the main road from the ground troop barrack is only packed dirt. Since the creation of the new castle, no one has paved this road. Dark and strong Sedadth in his teal cloak, checks the supplies and packhorses. Kaiser notices his friend's newly developed back pain. Poor man's getting old. He looks again at his former teacher, friend, and fellow plotter. Twenty more years and I'll never have that prestige. Prince Owen's white shirt starkly stands out from the surrounding crowd of dark men and horses. Kaiser mounts his black stallion as Sedadth raises his hand for departure. The group goes forward at a leisurly walking pace. Kaiser rides naturally on his old black stallion who even wants to frolick on such a dreary day. Forward to Sedadth, glancing at a pathetic looking Owen. Sure as Murrih's words, another person rides behind Sedadth. Before Kaiser catches up, the rider puts his brown hood over his head. Sedadth turn his head and smiles at the unknown rider then nods to Kaiser.
"To the back with you. We need a sharp eye in the rear." Kaiser points a finger in protest as the cloaked rider laughs.
"Well, If ye havn't figuired it out yet. ye'd not be too alert." Sedadth gestures to the other rider, "Go with him."
"But, sir, I -" Kaiser turn his horse around obediantly and rides to the rear of the procession, followed by the hooded rider.
"Ye'v not figuired who I am yet?"
"No, not yet." Humbly disgraced, Kaiser tries to gather all his clues. He rides unaturally. Like a limp. On his shield. A dark run and a crossed with a feather and a wand, on a orange background bordered in dark green and dashed purple.
"You're a ground troop officer in The Southern Lands."
"Yes" The cunning rider smirks. "And from your shield alone, you are a ground troop commander in The Northern Lands, a knight, and a mage."
"Yes" Kaiser bows his head in all humbleness. What a plotter I am. At the gate, the group dismountes to confirm their identity with the palace guardmen and the city guardsmen. The hooded rider standing next to Kaiser, still not revealing his face.
"Whats this?" he asked frightened.
"Rebellious times. No trust. Justice isn't good enough for some types of men. We have to check with the guardsmen to confirm our identity." The hooded rider remained externally confident, but to Kaiser he was obviously afraid. He pulled his hood closer. and hand signed at his side. To a nearby viewer or even to one with knowledge of the language, his fingers were twitching inaudibly. To Kaiser he was spelling loud and clear.
" You are a man of MIND and ACTION?" Kaiser lazily said
"Yes." as it could be mistaken for a comment on the weather. Suddenly the man turned to Kaiser, grabbing two fistfuls of his shirt, and revealing his petrified face.
"Are you a madman or a traitor?" he hissed. Kaiser's falters at the impact. His face. That sharp blade like nose and that sickly pale skin. and those foggy grey eyes. Kaiser slowly reaches for the mans face weighing his every action. He cups it in his hands, sliding back his hood to confirm the identity with white blonde hair.
"Tarik?"
"Kaiser." The two men hurl themselves into a brotherly embrace.
"Tarik, you havn't changed at all." Laughing, Tarik backed up to fully view Kaiser.
"Kaiser, you've grown. in a directions. We were the same looking at eleven."
"I'm even taller than Jette now."
"Jette the giant? We thought he was a mountain." Tariks laugh broke off as all seriousness came into tone. Only his long time friend could notice the ill panic in his flawless countenance.
"Kaiser? Those guardsmen."
"Its all right. Normal procedures. Just get your legal papers and your stamp." after another laugh, "Tarik, you're always worrying." Sedadth trots towards them.
"Well Kaiser, you take action, but you're minds a bit late." In a more formal tone, "Lord Tarik, you just need your papers and stamp. It's a new regulation. The other lands are expected to have this", he geustures to the guardsmen, "soon." Kaiser followes Tarik to his horse. Tarik takes a large flat marble case from his saddlebag. Kaiser makes an impressed whistle at the expensive slab of marble. Tarik beamed,
"Why thank you. I made it myself. I also made . . . these." He opens the case, revealing a set about twenty different colored stamps scattered in slots fit for forty. Each had a delicate sculpture on the top, and a seal on the sides. Astonished Kaiser whispered,
"Tarik. How many are these?"
"Twenty-one"
"They're all yours?"
"Yes, but the ones on the right side have died. The Southern Forces are terrible about that. They are ordered to search for a criminal and just pick the nearest peasent off the streets, pretending he's the accused." Tarik chooses a marbled grey eagle with a raised foot perched on top and follows Kaiser to the gate. Ten years of absence from one another should have made them mistrustful. But Tarik and Kaiser quickly regained the boyish foolery without second thought.
Darkness, outside woods
©Astri_Amaroq 2002
