The higher one's Rank was the closer one was to a Royal. Orgeeg stood at the furthest perimeter line surrounding Queen Lamical who lounged on a bench in the middle of the Palace Westwing's orchard. He couldn't even clearly see the Queen from where he stood. Orgeeg held a grim expression as he reminisced the times when he'd stood closest to the Royals, close enough to even smell their exquisite perfumes and hear their conversations. Of course his talents had drawn the eyes of the King and he'd been summoned before the chosen one of the Gods who went ahead to promote him even further to the role of the Kingdom's spy. The King had brought him closer to Tabrimas than he'd ever been before casting him down to the lowest depths.
"You think something is up with the Queen?" Rank 297 asked. She stood several steps behind him, closer to the distant Queen. Orgeeg didn't answer her, he had more important things on his mind than to indulge in gossip with the lowest of the low. He was ambitious and this trait won't ground him in his current position for long, there was no need to get familiar with the Ranks closest to him for he will soon rise back to his former glory and once that happened he would be able to stop Masutap. His fingers dug into his palm as he thought about the Rank One's blatant betrayal of duty and the fact that he was the only one who knew about it and the least capable of doing anything.
"She refuses to eat, she doesn't indulge in her usual entertainments and.. Do you think it's something to do with Desan's death? It can't be. After Desan's death she still ate but after the Commander betrayed his duty and ran-"
"Shut up!" Orgeeg interrupted the Rank 297. "Just shut up, please." He didn't know why he had to be polite after every outburst. Orgeeg had realized that in order to rise he'd need to tutor some aspects about his personality. He needed to become more eloquent and a lot less tongue tied. He also needed to portray a more aggressive air and be a lot less polite. "Fucking shut up." He added.
The Rank 297 complied and silence engulfed them at the outcropping of fruit trees where they stood. The silence was interrupted by boots crunching on the dried leaves spread about the ground as three Royal Black Guards approached. Rank Four, Rank Eleven and Rank Thirteen made a bee line for Orgeeg. At first he'd thought they'd come to replace the Guards closest to Lamical but it was a conflicting thought provided the Black Guard did not shift guards midday. The Guards came to stand before Orgeeg and Rank Four gave him a small bow that was mirrored by the Ranks flanking him.
"Orgeeg." The middle aged Rank Four who always had a fatherly smile on him shone said smile in Orgeeg's direction and Orgeeg couldn't help returning it.
"Tell me you've come to invite me to one of your realm renowned meals." Orgeeg said.
Rank four laughed with his head tilting back. "Alas, I wish the same but I'm here for more urgent business old friend." He leaned closer, "the King summons you, he has an urgent mission in mind for you." Rank 297 who stood behind Orgeeg gasped.
Orgeeg fought down the urge to ululate with joy and kept a straight face. "Is it Commander Rehny? Has the City guard failed to find him?"
"I'm afraid so but who can blame them after what happened to their Chief. Did you know the tip of a Telinete's horn is mostly pointed carapace? Sharper than a blade I tell you." Rank four said while turning to point the way. Orgeeg obliged and walked behind Rank Four with the other two guards flanking him. The Rank four talked animatedly about Telinete Rhinos, something he seemed to know a lot about. All the while Orgeeg vowed to whole heartedly give everything he had to the mission the King was to give him. A second chance was like sight returned to a blinded man, it deserved to be cherished.
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The mission no doubt was about the Commander Rehny who'd somehow managed to escape the throne room after an attempted assault on the King. The Guards were alerted of the Commander's escape and three top Ranks pursued and caught up with him, the men's bodies were found headless outside the stables where the Commander had dashed to. The Black Guard's numbers had plummeted spectacularly against the Commander and Orgeeg wondered what the purpose of Ranking was if the most battle capable died so easily. But then again there was a reason Rehny was feared, the man wielded the black sword.
"Enough about Telinetes, I've discovered a new recipe involving Galiu Meal and cow udders.." The Rank four launched into talks of food and Orgeeg took note of the fact that they weren't heading to the throne room where the King was most likely to be found. Instead it seemed like they were heading to the training grounds behind the Eastwing where Black Guards normally trained and lounged. The time of day meant the training grounds would be empty provided majority of the Black guards were on duty and those who weren't assisted the City guard to search for the elusive Commander. Orgeeg became increasingly aware of the two Ranks flanking him, their strides were in unison and the tilt of their necks were slightly in his direction with their hands lingering close to their short blades.
He forced a laugh at Rank four's statement about sheep intestines and shook his head while at the same time peering in either direction. They were yet to approach the hallway leading to the training grounds that was some distance away. The ground they walked upon behind the palace leading from the orchard to the Eastwing that crested behind the Southwing was almost bare save for two Black Guards in black leather who stood talking loudly further to his right while facing the Southwing. To Orgeeg's left was Leba's chambers, he knew the Prince wasn't around and hence he failed to see the need for Guards behind the Prince's chambers.
"... if you boil the eggs at the right temperature while simultaneously boiling the fish.." The Rank four continued, a smile in his voice. Orgeeg knew if he looked behind him chances high he'd find a Royal Black Guard tailing them, maybe two of them. Counting everyone that would be probably seven Black
Guards surrounding him and he was certain the hallway leading to the training grounds held more Guards. It's how he would have done it if the roles had been reversed. Orgeeg sighed and the Rank four stopped talking. Still, they marched on.
"Why?" Orgeeg asked, not bothering to hide the angst in his voice.
"We found the rope used to tie the late Rank Thirty Four in your trunk." Rank Four replied without looking back. The two guards on either side drew their short blades. Still, they marched on.
"Let me guess, Masutap ordered my trunk searched." Orgeeg said, he swung his hands with each stride but every swing brought his right palm closer to the hilt of his short blade.
"She is the best at the Form of Intent, she had everyone's trunk searched." Rank Four said. The cheer he'd held in his tone was gone but he hadn't bothered to reach for his short blade, yet. Orgeeg sighed once more.
"Don't make me do this, four, I'm being framed." Orgeeg said.
"Do what? You've supposedly betrayed your duty, we're just going to interrogate you to garner more information then we shall see what comes next. If you're being framed we'll find out about that too, then we can all have a nice warm meal after it's all said and done." Rank four said, they were still some distance to the entrance of the hallway leading to the training grounds and Orgeeg could see the two guards to their distant right following while still chatting animatedly. It would take them seven seconds to reach them incase Orgeeg reacted. Seven seconds were enough.
"Nice warm meal huh? I'd like that." Orgeeg said and stopped marching.