The Besieged
Posted: 2007-08-14 02:25pm
The traveler took step after weary step and wondered how many leagues they had yet to travel. His gaze was so focused on his feet and his next step that he unknowingly walked into his trail mate.
"Ho there friend. What have I done that has offended noble Eadglis? For surely a friend so doughty and true would not think to abuse the poor back of Eanmund save with great reason. So for any slight I have given whether imagined or true I beg your forgiveness."
"No Eanmund, you have given no offense. Rather my feet have grown used to the walking and I did not think to direct them."
"Well then in that case mayhap I offended your feet; and their carelessness is revenge for the ill I have done. Hence I must beg their pardon, that they do not in the future heap abuse on poor Eanmund's body."
Eaglis (who found his supply of mirth waining after so many leagues) found this jocularity more irksome than soothing. He thought within himself "How do my friend's spirits remain so high. For surely the long leagues have broken my humor, and I am out of sorts." But rather than rebuke his friend he asked "Why have you stopped?"
"Ah. Eaglis the peremptory, ever unwilling for talk. Well if you have no time for jokes, then I shall at need restrain myself. Our guide has stopped and vanished into yon thicket. I would guess that he means us to make our camp there for dusk approaches."
Then Eaglis smiled for no journey is so long and grim that the prospect of a rest does not gladden the hearts of the travelers. And then his thoughts stopped in fresh disquiet for their guide suddenly appeared from out of the thicket, and Eaglis marveled at his woodcraft that he should move with such stealth. Their guide gestured for them to follow and they were presently withing a small hollow concealed by a seemingly impenetrable thicket, and sheltered by a solid roof of green. And with fresh amaze he watched their guide move around with swiftness and ease. And if Eanmund's humor seemed uncouth, then their guide's ease seemed a blasphemy. For Eaglis and Eanmund were both bent and limping with weary back and feet. And yet their guide had trod the same long leagues as they, and he was smaller of frame but bore the lions share of the small band's possessions. And he again marveled at their companion who was so wood crafty and whose strength and endurance seemed to match that of the mountains.
The stranger interrupted his musings. "Would you help me order the camp? I will start the fire that we may eat our meal."
The companions set to work and they were presently ordered around the fire eating a stew of rabbit and wild herbs. Eaglis finished the soonest for he had a hunger well suited to his stature. He moved to fetch more wood for the fire when their strange guide restrained him.
"No I think we will let it burn down. I have journeyed with you for a fortnight and learned much of your lands and people. For you have been ever generous with your tales and your conversation. But I have been more sparing with my speech, for I am wont to wander alone, and am unused to company. I would rather use this time to tell you of my people. I am of the Serac's of the southern realms. My people have much skill in arms, so you doubtless have heard many tales of us.
"I will not speak of those deeds for some are grim and poorly wrought. And some are great and noble things that will be spoken of with fondness and hope until the world ends. I will not either speak of our current dominions, for they are well known as well. Rather I would talk of the arising of our martial vigor. The battle that set us upon the victorious road we now tread.
"This story is rarely told, and almost never to outsiders, for there is sadness and shame over our weakness. But there is also great courage. Before I tell you this though, you must hear a very little of our early history
"In our early years we had no inclinations to the martial talents. Rather we were farmers, hunters, farriers, millers, and the like. Our king kept small men under arms to halt the work of the bandits which plague the borders of civilization. Our neighbor kings were of like mind and so for the most part peace reigned.
"But tidings came from the west that a terrible army approached. Our king entered into a leaguer with our neighbor kings and our young men went to war.
"Ho there friend. What have I done that has offended noble Eadglis? For surely a friend so doughty and true would not think to abuse the poor back of Eanmund save with great reason. So for any slight I have given whether imagined or true I beg your forgiveness."
"No Eanmund, you have given no offense. Rather my feet have grown used to the walking and I did not think to direct them."
"Well then in that case mayhap I offended your feet; and their carelessness is revenge for the ill I have done. Hence I must beg their pardon, that they do not in the future heap abuse on poor Eanmund's body."
Eaglis (who found his supply of mirth waining after so many leagues) found this jocularity more irksome than soothing. He thought within himself "How do my friend's spirits remain so high. For surely the long leagues have broken my humor, and I am out of sorts." But rather than rebuke his friend he asked "Why have you stopped?"
"Ah. Eaglis the peremptory, ever unwilling for talk. Well if you have no time for jokes, then I shall at need restrain myself. Our guide has stopped and vanished into yon thicket. I would guess that he means us to make our camp there for dusk approaches."
Then Eaglis smiled for no journey is so long and grim that the prospect of a rest does not gladden the hearts of the travelers. And then his thoughts stopped in fresh disquiet for their guide suddenly appeared from out of the thicket, and Eaglis marveled at his woodcraft that he should move with such stealth. Their guide gestured for them to follow and they were presently withing a small hollow concealed by a seemingly impenetrable thicket, and sheltered by a solid roof of green. And with fresh amaze he watched their guide move around with swiftness and ease. And if Eanmund's humor seemed uncouth, then their guide's ease seemed a blasphemy. For Eaglis and Eanmund were both bent and limping with weary back and feet. And yet their guide had trod the same long leagues as they, and he was smaller of frame but bore the lions share of the small band's possessions. And he again marveled at their companion who was so wood crafty and whose strength and endurance seemed to match that of the mountains.
The stranger interrupted his musings. "Would you help me order the camp? I will start the fire that we may eat our meal."
The companions set to work and they were presently ordered around the fire eating a stew of rabbit and wild herbs. Eaglis finished the soonest for he had a hunger well suited to his stature. He moved to fetch more wood for the fire when their strange guide restrained him.
"No I think we will let it burn down. I have journeyed with you for a fortnight and learned much of your lands and people. For you have been ever generous with your tales and your conversation. But I have been more sparing with my speech, for I am wont to wander alone, and am unused to company. I would rather use this time to tell you of my people. I am of the Serac's of the southern realms. My people have much skill in arms, so you doubtless have heard many tales of us.
"I will not speak of those deeds for some are grim and poorly wrought. And some are great and noble things that will be spoken of with fondness and hope until the world ends. I will not either speak of our current dominions, for they are well known as well. Rather I would talk of the arising of our martial vigor. The battle that set us upon the victorious road we now tread.
"This story is rarely told, and almost never to outsiders, for there is sadness and shame over our weakness. But there is also great courage. Before I tell you this though, you must hear a very little of our early history
"In our early years we had no inclinations to the martial talents. Rather we were farmers, hunters, farriers, millers, and the like. Our king kept small men under arms to halt the work of the bandits which plague the borders of civilization. Our neighbor kings were of like mind and so for the most part peace reigned.
"But tidings came from the west that a terrible army approached. Our king entered into a leaguer with our neighbor kings and our young men went to war.