Disclaimer:
I don't own it. I make no profit off of it. I mean to offend no one's sensibilities. Please God don't sue.
Thank You: MOM: I love you
Tony-o: for courage & the right things to do
Miss Sharp: you put up with me for no reason I know
Stelmarta: more than words can say!
AlbrightIt was his job to load rubble onto the wagon. Once it was loaded it went to the processing center. He was happy doing what he did and admired the organization of the persons in charge. He was on the main thoroughfare of the camp and saw everybody coming in and out. Even the Heralds. They scared him slightly. Heralds were those responsible for the collapse of the black robe priests. They were the Demon riders and had evil magic they used to manipulate men's minds. The odd part was that the men of Valdemar had no fear of the Heralds, they respected them, loved them even. Did they not know of the evil purpose of the Heralds?
It was, he considered, a problem for later.
" Heyla Bright." He went by a shortened form of his real name.
"Hey-la Ser-gant major, sir!"
"You're gettin' there, fella. You've learnt our language pretty quick for a grunt. Not like these other lazy-butt slackers."
"I learn" he grunted, barely audible.
He had to tread carefully. No one should really know his education was any better than that of the average grunt. He could speak good Valdemaran, aristocratic if he must, but that was not the level of education of the average Karsite.
"You read an' write?"
"Some"
"Any Valdemaran?"
"Nope" Really he could, but that would be too much.
"Think you can handle a paperwork run?"
"Where?"
"King be wantin' to see our progress report. You think you can run it down to the tent?"
"Which one?"
"The one wit the little flag o'top"
"That?" He pointed
"Yeah"
"OK" Albright took the field folder of stiff leather, almost identical to similar folders with correspondence for his former army.
"Dis-missed!"
"Aye-aye Sir!" He did a crisp about-face. One instance of good in the Karsite system was an almost maniacal insistence on protocol. They were all in good stead on that count.
Albright wandered down to the working tent area. There were several tents, color-coded for ease of organization. The white was, obviously, the Heraldic circle. The Green was the Healer's collegium and the portable house of healing. Blue was the office of the Lord Marshal and the command staff. The other tent was also white; it however had a flag flying on the top, indicating that the King was in residence.
He steered wide of the Heraldic tents. No use borrowing trouble. The king's tent was in a protective ring. He mentally applauded the organization and protective skills.
"Bright, leader of line gang one four five reporting with general progress."
"OK one four five leader, you're cleared for entry. His Majesty's in the council tent."
"Aye"
Surprisingly the tent was no more elaborate than the tent that he himself shared with his mates. There was more stuff, boxes and papers and tables and chairs, but no gilt or spoils or jewels. Not like a regular King's tent.
"Heyla, Bright, got the report?"
"Yup, Swede, got everything here."
This was one of his tent mates.
"Good, wait here 'till I call for you, 'Kay ?"
"Fine"
Hoshi
Hoshi was happy with the progress of the Army. Although it was no longer strictly her concern, she was in charge of the Heraldic contingent that was now present. The trainee's had been sent home. Several of them had actually been elevated to whites and assigned to Hoshi for their 'internship'. Considering this was as much Hoshi's internship as theirs, they all relied on the expertise of Murdock, who'd come down as a plain Herald to 'help'.
"…and so ladies and gentlemen, the Holderkin have petitioned for admittance and I see no reason for denying them. We've checked it out under Truth Spell and most of the allegations against Karse have been genuine. They really want to join up. I would suggest a provisional statehood as per the regular admittance until it can be made more permanent. "
"All approve"
There was a general hum of consensus.
"Ok next order of business is… cleanup. We've got a report from the POW camps." The king nodded and one of the guards went to fetch the report.
A man walked in, he was of average height, weight, and build. There was nothing too remarkable, he was blond (half of them were) and well muscled (so were the other half). Nothing Hoshi should have given a second glance.
She was suddenly hit with recognition. This was no ordinary soldier. This was the Lord-Captain commander. She'd seen that face before. Hoshi lost whatever he was saying; she paid more attention to Albright's tone and person.
He had a low, scratchy voice. It was unusually accented and surprisingly gentle. His face was angular, but still handsome and unlined. He could be no more than thirty. He had a muscled frame, brown and well worked from training and experience. It was, she mused a very handsome combination.
"All agreed?"
She quickly came to awareness, having no clue what was just agreed upon.
"Hoshi!" Sophia hissed, "Where the hell did you go?"
She shrugged. "I saw something."
"WHAT?"
All the people in the council turned to look at them. She glared a Sophia. "It's nothing, just a … feeling. No need to shout about it."
"Should we be doing anything special or different?"
At this point her éclat with the council was so high; if she'd asked them to fly they'd do their damnedest to strap on wings.
"No, not really. I just want speak to that one when this is done," she motioned to the retreating back of Albright "to see if things go right."
"OK. Excuse me Mr…?"
"Bright" he grunted
"Mr. Bright, would you please stay for a while. When we're done here Herald Hoshi would like to speak with you."
"Why?"
Half the council turned at this rather unexpected comment. It was not the practice of prisoners to question orders of any variety, especially in the presence of one or more Heralds.
"She's got some questions for you about the gang lines. Is that all right?"
" Yes sir! I don't un-ter-stand very well, I not ketch it"
"Oh, well just wait out there"
"Aye-aye sir!" he crisply turned and left the flap shut.
The rest of the council session progressed without remark. Sophia stayed, as did the King and Hoshi.
"What was so all fired important that you had to shout over half the bloody council?"
"Hoshi saw something in that Karsite guy."
"You mean the prisoner?"
"Yes, I do"
"Well…?"
"It would appear that he is more than what he seems."
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"
"I think it would be best if that was explained by him"
The man himself came in and gave a crisp salute.
Hoshi smiled at him and motioned for him to sit.
"Well my Lord Captain Commander Albright, is there anything you had to say to us?"