Kveldulf watched Cid as he was accessed on the situation by Leonidas. He bit his lower lip and slowly pushed away his meal as took in the information.
“Doc,” Cid said after a long pause, “From now on, no more reports from you when I’m eating.”
“We should probably add before we retire for the evening, to play it safe,” Leonidas replied.”
“I don’t care,” said Cid, holding the back of his hand to his mouth and trying to stifle a pronounced bout of indigestion.
“So, what’s next move, Cid?” Silvius asked with a strained voice and holding his stomach.
“If Fortress Adamant is the last place for the enemy to be using, then I think we should start taking the fight to them. Though I want us there in force, gods only know what sort of things they have over there.”
“I agree,” said Kveldulf. “That thing we killed wasn’t a threat, and if we’re dealing with demonic presence that changes much of the situation.”
“Should we alert Captain Laurent and the city guards so they’re not unaware?” asked Hypatia.
“I’ll tend to that first thing tomorrow morning,” said Cid. “We’ll coordinate efforts for a city defense. And once that’s done, we’ll go to Adamant.”
“And we’re sure this is the last place where a leystone is at?” Benkin asked.
“Most likely,” said Leonidas. “On the way back, I double checked with the stone at the Unyielding Fortress and there’s still something happening at one of these points.”
“And if all the others ones are accounted for,” said Hypatia, “That would leave Adamant.”
Cid scratched the back of his neck. “So, this is it,” he said, “I can’t promise this will be an easy mission. And it’s safe to assume they’ll know we’ll be coming.”
“I’d be surprised if otherwise,” said Kveldulf.
“Which means we’ll need to be on high alert when we go in,” Cid continued. “Whatever plans they have with the city, whatever preparations they have for us, we need to ready for anything.”
“No heroics then,” said Jeanne.
“You’re kidding?” Silvius replied.
“This is a clandestine mission,” said Cid, “Not the first of this type we’ve been one. Though stakes were not nearly this high. Even then, the last thing we need is someone getting hurt trying to be a hero.”
“The glory of war belongs to the dead,” said Kveldulf somberly.
“I want us all to come home and see the rewards we’ve all been due. I know we did not expect to find all this chaos and machinations and so much weirdness when we came together. But everything we’ve gone through, everything we’ve suffered and put on the line, I want any of you to be rob of what you have so justly earned.”
“Same goes for you, big ole’ fluffy cat,” said Jeanne.
“You’re lucky I like you, you incarnate of chaos.”
“Why does everyone keep saying that?”
“Gee, I wonder why?” Kveldulf said sarcastically.
“In any case,” said Cid, “Let us get some rest, and prepare to leave tomorrow. It’s going to be a long journey and we will all of our strength before the end.”
Stolen novel; please report.
As the others slept, Kveldulf sat by the fire place at his room in the inn. His mind riddled with thoughts to keep him from slumbering. He had thinking of parents much over the last few days. In the quiet moments.
When they weren’t traveling, collecting documents, or engaging in mortal combat. When he wondered if this was all a futile effort, doomed to failure and another tale of ignominy for his house.
He wondered what their thoughts would be if they saw him now? Would they be proud? Would they feel dishonor? Were they aware of any of what he’s done since they left this world? All of his heart, he wanted to say yes, but there was the lingering doubt behind every thought and hope.
For five centuries the name of his house tied with the worst qualities of any person. Few taking the time to see past actions he had no hand in. Maybe with this final act, his house would be lifted the burden of eternal shame?
Perhaps.
But he, so far as he knew, the last of his line. A noble house pushed the very point of extinction. If he does not do what must be done, who will take his banner and break this curse of honor? This thought gave him a cold feeling running up his spine. His hands shook as imagined them unmoving, sans the very spirit of life itself.
He clenched them tightly as he tried to think away from fell thoughts. There was a knock at the door, taking him by surprise. Moving to the door he opened it, seeing Allianna on the other side.
“Evening, Master Kveldulf,” she said in a calming voice. “Is all well, you seem to have something on your mind?”
He nodded. “I am well, my lady. Please come in.”
She entered, closing the door gently.
“I heard from some of my sources that you and your friends have narrowed down the bases for Callanband’s allies.”
“We have, we intended to move out in the morning after telling Captain Laurent.”
“Good, we may need the preparations before this is all over.”
Kveldulf let out a heavy sigh.
Allianna tiled her head to the side. “You do have something on your mind,” she said with certainty.
“Its just … it is hard to find the right words.”
“I would start with what seems to burden you the most.”
“I’ve been thinking about my parents. A lot given recent events.”
Allianna nodded. “I would imagine. I lost both of them over five thousand years ago, and the pain of their loss is as fresh as if it had been yesterday.”
“Sometimes I feel like I’m starting to be free of the pain, and then it comes right back with a vengeance.”
“I noted that in our conversation at my parlor.”
“I still feel terrible for my actions.”
Allianna chuckled. “No harm came from it. Though I do remember hearing something about your line having a reputation for their, how was described, oh yes, battle fury.”
Kveldulf chortled uncomfortable. “My parents used to tell me of that as well. It was said this was a gift from the war god, Thull. For strength and vigor in battle, we became like animals. Surrendering our humanity, for a brief moment, to bring fear into our enemy’s ranks.”
“That’s what I was told, myself. Though before I stepped onto my first battlefield, I was informed the practice had become a tradition long abandoned.”
Kveldulf nodded. “My parents said it was a part of a heathen past. A part of the dark days, when blood flowed like water in the creeks and rivers of the world. And the crops of these lands were feed by the bodies of those fallen on battlefields.”
Allianna lifted her eyebrows briefly. “Such are things said by those who vilify those who bring them shelter and glory, when they call to the field has long since faded. Beaten and shamed into the next generation until what should be valued is belittled and the vain and witless worms bring down the world into fire and ruin.”
“I thought it was good to be in control of your emotions. Would it not be better to temper rage when prudence can bring a better world.”
“If one could truly control their emotions, then yes. But no one person can. Our emotions are akin to the forces of nature. We can either control them or be rid of them. What we can do is find peace with them. There is no shame is feeling angry, just as there is no shame for feeling love. But neither should be giving full reign on your thoughts. And trying to control them will only build them up until they overcome you and steal your mind. Any one who speaks of one emotion being naturally better over the other should not speak of what they do not understand.”
“But surely anger is the drive that pushed society into ruin.”
“No, Kveldulf, that is greed. The want of glory, the want of gold, the want of land and power and all the things one can never fully attain, that is drive societies to ruin. And that not mastering, not controlling. For even greed in moderation can be beneficial, whether it is sustaining needs or superfluous wants. They all requiring mastering and mastering requires an understanding of oneself, that which control cannot abide, and demands the acknowledgement of an undeniable truth.”
“And what truth is that?”
“That it is the acceptance of one’s flaws, not the denial of it that gives you the strength you need to overcome.”
“If it was simple as that,” Kveldulf said, rubbing his hands together.
“If only,” Allianna said. “But I have come with something else.”
“You have?”
“I have,” she said, moving to the door and after she opened gestured several servants into the room, each one carrying an item cloaked in fabric and placing it in his bed.
“I am afraid I am a little confused, my lady.”
Allianna turned to the servants. “Thank you, you may wait until I am finished here,” she said to them before turning to Kveldulf. “I felt since the hour is near to face the hand of Callanband, it would only be right if the last of the house of the White Horse …,” Allianna unfurled of the items, revealing the cuirass cloaked in Kveldulf’s heraldry, “… to find honor in a hard won victory, if this is the hour of our defeat, to be seen fighting the devilish host and defend our people, one last time.”