Post by Alo Taleweaver on Jan 4, 2008 10:49:22 GMT -5
I am scared.
The realization hit me as I sharpened my sword for the third time today. Everything is packed, and my affairs are in order. I should be glad, hopeful even. I picked up the scroll bearing the army’s seal, and reread the short note for the hundredth time.
New Boot,
The order has passed you along to us. You will learn to fight as a proper soldier. If we deem you fit, you will begin your training with the holy men. Our next training cycle begins in a fortnight.
The Order of the White Hawks! I would have never set my sights on so lofty a goal, but the path is sitting at my feet. Movement of the tent flap brings my head out of the clouds. Orrin looks around my tent silently. I think he is here to say goodbye, but he isn’t one for words. He must be leaving for a patrol soon. He hates wearing armor needlessly.
“You leave soon. Washovaki teach you to fight.” He starts to help me gather my things, and I know something is wrong. We may not be kin, but we are family.
“You go patrol soon?” My mastery of their tongue is shaky at best. I hope I didn’t confuse the words.
“Thwa. I fight washovaki." It becomes clear to me at last. He needs me to fight with him, but I am leaving. I don’t know anything about this skirmish, and it would take at least a week to receive correspondence from my commander. I don’t even know if the cause is within my new restrictions as a knight. The prospect of family and friends fighting without me consumes my thoughts as I pack up the tent.
“I return soon. Family is big in my chest.”
I load the wagon and try not to think of how much this surrogate family means to me. As I toss in my tent I feel a cold wet feeling across where my arm rested against the wagon. Someone had been repainting the wagon and now it’s on me.
The idea flickers in my mind like a newly lit candle. Alo cannot disregard orders, but another orc could follow Orrin on patrol.
“Orcs ARE green. Green would be best.”
The realization hit me as I sharpened my sword for the third time today. Everything is packed, and my affairs are in order. I should be glad, hopeful even. I picked up the scroll bearing the army’s seal, and reread the short note for the hundredth time.
New Boot,
The order has passed you along to us. You will learn to fight as a proper soldier. If we deem you fit, you will begin your training with the holy men. Our next training cycle begins in a fortnight.
The Order of the White Hawks! I would have never set my sights on so lofty a goal, but the path is sitting at my feet. Movement of the tent flap brings my head out of the clouds. Orrin looks around my tent silently. I think he is here to say goodbye, but he isn’t one for words. He must be leaving for a patrol soon. He hates wearing armor needlessly.
“You leave soon. Washovaki teach you to fight.” He starts to help me gather my things, and I know something is wrong. We may not be kin, but we are family.
“You go patrol soon?” My mastery of their tongue is shaky at best. I hope I didn’t confuse the words.
“Thwa. I fight washovaki." It becomes clear to me at last. He needs me to fight with him, but I am leaving. I don’t know anything about this skirmish, and it would take at least a week to receive correspondence from my commander. I don’t even know if the cause is within my new restrictions as a knight. The prospect of family and friends fighting without me consumes my thoughts as I pack up the tent.
“I return soon. Family is big in my chest.”
I load the wagon and try not to think of how much this surrogate family means to me. As I toss in my tent I feel a cold wet feeling across where my arm rested against the wagon. Someone had been repainting the wagon and now it’s on me.
The idea flickers in my mind like a newly lit candle. Alo cannot disregard orders, but another orc could follow Orrin on patrol.
“Orcs ARE green. Green would be best.”