Syvak yourself!”
Kael scratched his beard. “I was meaning to ask you, where can I wash up?”
Kael was given an escort—or a guard as he saw it—to show him to a bath house. The baths were separated into two sections, one for the regular citizens and one for the military. The soldiers enjoyed many more comforts than the rest of the population, with servants waiting at full attention to tend to every need. After a quick swim, Kael moved to a small, fire-heated pool to relax his tired muscles. Almost instantly, his thoughts turned to Caius.
What courage. To face your death alone, without hesitation. And what was that look on Dacien’s face? Horror? Suspicion? I wonder what he thinks of me now! Just stay alive, Caius. You just need to make it until we send someone for you.
“Excuse me, Sir?”
Kael turned to the servant.
“Shave?” asked the man, showing Kael the razor.
Kael was about to send him away, but paused. “Please,” he accepted instead.
The night air was cool on Kael’s newly shaven face. Perhaps it was the bath, or his new look, which was sure to please Dacien. But for some reason, he felt good about where he was. Even though he had traveled for nearly a year to return to the city of his birth, only to find it demolished and his mother missing, he didn’t feel out of place. In fact, he felt like he belonged here.
He stopped walking and leaned over the stone wall. His guard stopped as well, always keeping a few paces of distance between them. Gazing out over the water, Kael smiled at the beauty of Leoran . Night had fallen and all along the banks of the lake, the firelight of numerous homes and businesses reflected off the water. He always felt the need to explore his surroundings and had spent the last few hours wandering the city with his silent companion. He was at once uplifted by the signs of life and saddened that these people were in danger.
There is always someone who seeks destruction!
Feeling a sudden sense of urgency, Kael headed back in the direction of Dacien’s living quarters in hopes that the General’s council had already met. He returned to an empty room, but didn’t have to wait long until Dacien returned.
“Well?”
Dacien slumped into a chair. “You look different.”
“So you approve?” Kael asked with a smile.
“Do you care?”
“Not really,” Kael admitted. “So what happened?”
“It was…strange.”
Kael raised his eyebrows. “Would you care to elaborate?”
“He wasn’t the least bit skeptical of your information.”
“Well that’s good news,” Kael replied, wondering what was the matter with his friend.
“He’s mustering an attack party to intercept the Syvaku, and he’s leading it. It was as if he was bored and wanted something to hunt. I cautioned him that this enemy is unpredictable, but his mind was already made up.”
“So when do we leave?” asked Kael.
“We don’t. The General wants to handle this matter with his own soldiers. He’s leaving at dawn.”
Kael felt a little relieved, but mostly offended at being excluded from this fight. “What did he say of Bastul ?” he asked to change the topic.
Dacien straightened his posture. “We spoke of that before you arrived. He was sympathetic to the condition of the city. But he was also quick to point out that Bastul is one of the most remote cities in the Empire and not likely to receive much in the way of aid from Orud . It seems that we will have to rebuild slowly, using the resources available.”
A few minutes of thoughtful silence passed before Dacien rose from his chair. “I will see you in the morning. I’m sure the General could use some help getting started.”
Kael took the hint and headed for the door, only to find that his escort was waiting outside to see him to his own quarters. “Good evening,” he said to Dacien and walked out.
Morning came far too quickly for Kael, who awakened to a bright shaft of sunlight streaming in through an open window. He lay
Kael scratched his beard. “I was meaning to ask you, where can I wash up?”
Kael was given an escort—or a guard as he saw it—to show him to a bath house. The baths were separated into two sections, one for the regular citizens and one for the military. The soldiers enjoyed many more comforts than the rest of the population, with servants waiting at full attention to tend to every need. After a quick swim, Kael moved to a small, fire-heated pool to relax his tired muscles. Almost instantly, his thoughts turned to Caius.
What courage. To face your death alone, without hesitation. And what was that look on Dacien’s face? Horror? Suspicion? I wonder what he thinks of me now! Just stay alive, Caius. You just need to make it until we send someone for you.
“Excuse me, Sir?”
Kael turned to the servant.
“Shave?” asked the man, showing Kael the razor.
Kael was about to send him away, but paused. “Please,” he accepted instead.
The night air was cool on Kael’s newly shaven face. Perhaps it was the bath, or his new look, which was sure to please Dacien. But for some reason, he felt good about where he was. Even though he had traveled for nearly a year to return to the city of his birth, only to find it demolished and his mother missing, he didn’t feel out of place. In fact, he felt like he belonged here.
He stopped walking and leaned over the stone wall. His guard stopped as well, always keeping a few paces of distance between them. Gazing out over the water, Kael smiled at the beauty of Leoran . Night had fallen and all along the banks of the lake, the firelight of numerous homes and businesses reflected off the water. He always felt the need to explore his surroundings and had spent the last few hours wandering the city with his silent companion. He was at once uplifted by the signs of life and saddened that these people were in danger.
There is always someone who seeks destruction!
Feeling a sudden sense of urgency, Kael headed back in the direction of Dacien’s living quarters in hopes that the General’s council had already met. He returned to an empty room, but didn’t have to wait long until Dacien returned.
“Well?”
Dacien slumped into a chair. “You look different.”
“So you approve?” Kael asked with a smile.
“Do you care?”
“Not really,” Kael admitted. “So what happened?”
“It was…strange.”
Kael raised his eyebrows. “Would you care to elaborate?”
“He wasn’t the least bit skeptical of your information.”
“Well that’s good news,” Kael replied, wondering what was the matter with his friend.
“He’s mustering an attack party to intercept the Syvaku, and he’s leading it. It was as if he was bored and wanted something to hunt. I cautioned him that this enemy is unpredictable, but his mind was already made up.”
“So when do we leave?” asked Kael.
“We don’t. The General wants to handle this matter with his own soldiers. He’s leaving at dawn.”
Kael felt a little relieved, but mostly offended at being excluded from this fight. “What did he say of Bastul ?” he asked to change the topic.
Dacien straightened his posture. “We spoke of that before you arrived. He was sympathetic to the condition of the city. But he was also quick to point out that Bastul is one of the most remote cities in the Empire and not likely to receive much in the way of aid from Orud . It seems that we will have to rebuild slowly, using the resources available.”
A few minutes of thoughtful silence passed before Dacien rose from his chair. “I will see you in the morning. I’m sure the General could use some help getting started.”
Kael took the hint and headed for the door, only to find that his escort was waiting outside to see him to his own quarters. “Good evening,” he said to Dacien and walked out.
Morning came far too quickly for Kael, who awakened to a bright shaft of sunlight streaming in through an open window. He lay
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