said.
“Good. Now please enjoy your meal,” the old man said, gesturing at the food.
Once they had finished eating, Tomaris walked with them to the great hall. Hansa was standing there with a couple of soldiers holding Jake and Hailyn’s horses, saddled and ready to go. Jake noticed a large bag in Hansa’s hand. After he had slung his saddlebags and strapped the sword to his saddle, he turned back to Tomaris.
“Commander Hansa,” Tomaris said, gesturing towards Jake. Hansa came over and handed Jake the bag. He took it, finding the bag heavy and hearing the soft clink of coins. He looked back to Tomaris.
“I said I would provide you with gold to hire a ship,” Tomaris said softly. “Keep it safe until you reach your destination.”
Jake nodded and reorganized his saddlebags, pressing the gold to the bottom and covering it with his other supplies.
When he was finished, Tomaris stepped closer to him and Hailyn. “Now, you leave on a mission that will test your courage and resolve,” he said softly. “Watch over each other and hold faith that the Creator will provide you with the skill and power to overcome the demons’ dark power. Stay in the Light and the Darkness can never take you.”
He reached out and gently embraced Jake, then Hailyn. Once they mounted their horse, Tomaris spoke again. “One last counsel,” he said. “Stay off the roads and avoid others as much as possible. The sword radiates energy that both clerics and demons can detect if they are close enough.”
Jake nodded. “I can’t thank you for all you have done for me, Tomaris,” he said quietly. “I will try to not let you down.”
“My dear boy, you have done more than any could have expected. You can never disappoint me,” Tomaris replied with a wide smile. “It has been my honor to have had a small part in your life.”
“Now, go. May the Creator grant you His protection,” he said, raising a hand in farewell.
Jake and Hailyn returned the gesture and spurred their horses forward, riding out of the Keep.
Tomaris watched them ride away, and then turned to Hansa. “Commander, please have a messenger with a fast horse standing ready. I will have a letter that I need sent to Sanduas.”
“As you command,” Hansa said as Tomaris slowly walked back towards his study.
…
In the late afternoon, with the sky overcast with gray clouds threatening rain, a small party appeared at the gates of the Keep. Hooded and cloaked, four in number, they rode directly to the gate and waited. The sentries called down for Commander Hansa. With archers covering him from above, Hansa had the gate opened. He strode out and confronted the group.
“I am Commander Hansa of Tomaris’ Guard,” he said, voice neutral. “What business brings you to the Keep?”
“I’m glad to see that you are maintaining good order, Hansa,” a familiar voice said. The person closest to Hansa reached up and pushed his hood back, revealing a handsome dark face with an amused smile on his lips. The others also lowered their hoods.
“Greetings, Captain Deepwood,” Hansa said warmly, saluting. “It is a blessing to see you safe and returned to us.”
“I’m happy to be back,” Moshanna said as he slid out of his saddle and shook Hansa’s hand. He gestured back towards the others. “With me are two clerics sent by Jonas of Sanduas, Halana and Taric, whom you may remember.”
“I do,” Hansa replied. He bowed slightly to the clerics. “Be welcome to the Keep, Sister Halana and Brother Taric.”
“This is the Lady Sharin,” Moshanna said as he held out a hand to help her off her horse. “She is my heart and my life. She will be joining us at the Keep.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Commander Hansa,” she said politely. “Moshanna has told me of the great respect and affection he holds for you.”
“It is my honor, my lady,” Hansa replied, bowing deeply to her.
“Good. Now please enjoy your meal,” the old man said, gesturing at the food.
Once they had finished eating, Tomaris walked with them to the great hall. Hansa was standing there with a couple of soldiers holding Jake and Hailyn’s horses, saddled and ready to go. Jake noticed a large bag in Hansa’s hand. After he had slung his saddlebags and strapped the sword to his saddle, he turned back to Tomaris.
“Commander Hansa,” Tomaris said, gesturing towards Jake. Hansa came over and handed Jake the bag. He took it, finding the bag heavy and hearing the soft clink of coins. He looked back to Tomaris.
“I said I would provide you with gold to hire a ship,” Tomaris said softly. “Keep it safe until you reach your destination.”
Jake nodded and reorganized his saddlebags, pressing the gold to the bottom and covering it with his other supplies.
When he was finished, Tomaris stepped closer to him and Hailyn. “Now, you leave on a mission that will test your courage and resolve,” he said softly. “Watch over each other and hold faith that the Creator will provide you with the skill and power to overcome the demons’ dark power. Stay in the Light and the Darkness can never take you.”
He reached out and gently embraced Jake, then Hailyn. Once they mounted their horse, Tomaris spoke again. “One last counsel,” he said. “Stay off the roads and avoid others as much as possible. The sword radiates energy that both clerics and demons can detect if they are close enough.”
Jake nodded. “I can’t thank you for all you have done for me, Tomaris,” he said quietly. “I will try to not let you down.”
“My dear boy, you have done more than any could have expected. You can never disappoint me,” Tomaris replied with a wide smile. “It has been my honor to have had a small part in your life.”
“Now, go. May the Creator grant you His protection,” he said, raising a hand in farewell.
Jake and Hailyn returned the gesture and spurred their horses forward, riding out of the Keep.
Tomaris watched them ride away, and then turned to Hansa. “Commander, please have a messenger with a fast horse standing ready. I will have a letter that I need sent to Sanduas.”
“As you command,” Hansa said as Tomaris slowly walked back towards his study.
…
In the late afternoon, with the sky overcast with gray clouds threatening rain, a small party appeared at the gates of the Keep. Hooded and cloaked, four in number, they rode directly to the gate and waited. The sentries called down for Commander Hansa. With archers covering him from above, Hansa had the gate opened. He strode out and confronted the group.
“I am Commander Hansa of Tomaris’ Guard,” he said, voice neutral. “What business brings you to the Keep?”
“I’m glad to see that you are maintaining good order, Hansa,” a familiar voice said. The person closest to Hansa reached up and pushed his hood back, revealing a handsome dark face with an amused smile on his lips. The others also lowered their hoods.
“Greetings, Captain Deepwood,” Hansa said warmly, saluting. “It is a blessing to see you safe and returned to us.”
“I’m happy to be back,” Moshanna said as he slid out of his saddle and shook Hansa’s hand. He gestured back towards the others. “With me are two clerics sent by Jonas of Sanduas, Halana and Taric, whom you may remember.”
“I do,” Hansa replied. He bowed slightly to the clerics. “Be welcome to the Keep, Sister Halana and Brother Taric.”
“This is the Lady Sharin,” Moshanna said as he held out a hand to help her off her horse. “She is my heart and my life. She will be joining us at the Keep.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Commander Hansa,” she said politely. “Moshanna has told me of the great respect and affection he holds for you.”
“It is my honor, my lady,” Hansa replied, bowing deeply to her.
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