P
PoetLore
Guest
Lorelle grinned at Talion as he revealed his face and hair. "I could almost claim you as a brother," she grinned pointing to her hair. "Well met fellow traveler." Her green eyes sparkled as she moved ahead and took her place in the line.
She was not as uncaring of who the sword had chosen as it may appear to Talion. She was at first very concerned about their being able to trust him, since he would be considered one of the Seven now, a group of men whose reputation and exploits were very well known in the kingdom not to mention were irrevocably connected to the legacy of her father. As the eldest daughter she had been groomed in all things pertaining to ruling the kingdom, from the least to the greatest and her father had been very clear about the importance of a name free of scandal and deceit. She was more than grateful for the good name that had been passed down to her, and she was trying to re-establish it now in the wake of Nikolais's treachery and cruelty. Still Talion had proven himself to be an able fighter and a selfless one, so her fears were slowly being assuaged, and with them would come that trust and sharing he might or might not be looking for from her at least.
Jarek was indeed feeling the loss of his best friend, especially at times like these, when they stopped to eat. It was at these times that they would pick at one another good naturedly to pass the time and relieve stress. Their rivalry had begun almost from the moment they'd met, but there seemed to now be a huge gaping hole in him at the loss of his dear friend.
Reiken hadn't expected to miss their banter as it had more often than not annoyed him to distraction, but seeing Jarek so sullen and the almost deafening quiet as they ate seemed to be nearly unbearable. "I quite agree Talion," he said to slice into that silence, "And I have come to trust Lorelle's visions as well. It is the logical place for them to hide, since the forest grows denser as we travel south as well. They should not be far now.."
Lorelle nodded, "Agreed. Let us hope that we find them before darkness falls."
They gathered up their things and were back atop their mounts and following along the stream for the next hour. Suddenly they were surrounded by men hanging from the trees with many arrows aimed at them. Lorelle's cloak was up over her hair as the chill had taken her, so luckily they could not see her. A large burly man dropped in front of Reiken and gave him a rough look, "State yer name and business in the south forest."
Reiken dipped his head diplomatically, "I am Reiken of Lingerloft and I seek Theron, leader of the Rebel army."
"Is that so? Mebbe ye've found 'im."
"I think not. I know somewhat of his look. He is a bit taller and fairer of hair. But nice try." Reiken curled the edge of his lips, "And I believe he would recognize my name as well."
"Pft." A second man dropped down and whispered into the first man's ear. The shock on the man's face was evident but only for a moment. "Follow us."
They traveled with the group being watched closely and always surrounded. Lorelle had to admire their organization and tactics. Her confidence in the Rebel leader rose a bit with each passing moment. these people were loyal and dedicated. Such things did not happen by accident, but were earned.
The sky started to darken as they traveled, signalling a coming storm, but they kept moving. They approached a large encampment, full of men, women and even children. These were her people and they were forced from their homes and into hiding. Her heart broke seeing them. Among them in the center of the group stood a tall man, not as tall as Jarek but taller than most. His honey gold hair hung down to his shoulders and he was graced with chiseled features and honed strong muscles. Seeing his men return with strangers on horseback he frowned and made his way toward them. The second man ran up to him and spoke softly and then retreated.
Theron looked up at the group, "Reiken of Lingerloft. Knight of the Seven. We had thought the Seven and the Queen had left us to fend for ourselves. We have done just fine without your help, and we are in no need of it now."
"We had much work to do, keeping the Queen and the princesses safe, and to retake Bracken into the hands of the rightful king. It was not our intention to leave you without hope or protection."
"And yes as your own words convey, we were not as important as Bracken, and the Queen, if she lives, has no care for her people nor the good name of her father."
Jarek was off his steed and about to thump the man when Lorelle's hand shot out. "No, let him speak."
Theron's eyes were immediately fixed on the second rider.
Lorelle gracefully alit off the horse and approached the man who spoke with such vehemence against her. She had expected as much, but hearing it stabbed at her in a way she had not been prepared for at all. There was no mistaking her regal bearing or gait, and when she pushed back the hood of her cloak a gasp spread through the crowd and people began to fall to their knees. She looked around at the people and spoke in a clear and commanding voice, "Please..please rise. I should be bowing to all of you. You have my thanks, gratitude and humble servanthood for the loyalty you have all shown to my father and this kingdom. I do not deserve your fealty, but I am hopeful that i can earn it back on my own right."
Reiken stood next to her, "I assume you recognize Lorelle of Azimuth, rightful Queen and heir to the throne."
Theron nodded, "I do indeed. I admit I did not believe you survived, in fact I had hoped that was the reason you had not returned. But now I am forced to believe you simply did not care for your people enough to come back and fight for us." There was venom in every word and a hard steel in his blue eyes that clearly conveyed his thoughts about the young Queen that stood before him.
Again Jarek stepped forward but Lorelle stopped him, "No, he has a right to speak his mind. He has earned it as he has the loyalty and dedication of these people." She forced herself to look up at him and face the fear she had been fighting this entire journey, "I have come to ask for your help in defeating Nikolai. The Seven are scattered and the task cannot be accomplished with four people. If you cannot do so for my sake, then I will beg you to do so for the sake of my father who served this land with honor and dignity and for the sake of my mother who's blood must be required at the hands of her murderer." She stood silent then and waited.
Theron watched her and he could see the pride, the hurt, the passion and the humility such a request required. His own feelings of betrayal and distrust were cast aside as he turned to the people, "I will defer to you. What say you?"
There was murmuring among the crowd, some shouting, some arguing and even a few fistfights, but eventually that second man stepped forward. "I have hoped for this day," he said standing before Lorelle, "You were always kind and fair much like your father. You are our only hope of being free from this tyrant. We will fight for you."
Lorelle reached out and took his hands in both of hers, "My thanks Benjamin Vicker." She said and then looked at everyone else, "I will prove worthy of this trust. Thank you all."
Theron furrowed his brow when she addressed Ben by name. Did she know them all? Did she remember him?
She was not as uncaring of who the sword had chosen as it may appear to Talion. She was at first very concerned about their being able to trust him, since he would be considered one of the Seven now, a group of men whose reputation and exploits were very well known in the kingdom not to mention were irrevocably connected to the legacy of her father. As the eldest daughter she had been groomed in all things pertaining to ruling the kingdom, from the least to the greatest and her father had been very clear about the importance of a name free of scandal and deceit. She was more than grateful for the good name that had been passed down to her, and she was trying to re-establish it now in the wake of Nikolais's treachery and cruelty. Still Talion had proven himself to be an able fighter and a selfless one, so her fears were slowly being assuaged, and with them would come that trust and sharing he might or might not be looking for from her at least.
Jarek was indeed feeling the loss of his best friend, especially at times like these, when they stopped to eat. It was at these times that they would pick at one another good naturedly to pass the time and relieve stress. Their rivalry had begun almost from the moment they'd met, but there seemed to now be a huge gaping hole in him at the loss of his dear friend.
Reiken hadn't expected to miss their banter as it had more often than not annoyed him to distraction, but seeing Jarek so sullen and the almost deafening quiet as they ate seemed to be nearly unbearable. "I quite agree Talion," he said to slice into that silence, "And I have come to trust Lorelle's visions as well. It is the logical place for them to hide, since the forest grows denser as we travel south as well. They should not be far now.."
Lorelle nodded, "Agreed. Let us hope that we find them before darkness falls."
They gathered up their things and were back atop their mounts and following along the stream for the next hour. Suddenly they were surrounded by men hanging from the trees with many arrows aimed at them. Lorelle's cloak was up over her hair as the chill had taken her, so luckily they could not see her. A large burly man dropped in front of Reiken and gave him a rough look, "State yer name and business in the south forest."
Reiken dipped his head diplomatically, "I am Reiken of Lingerloft and I seek Theron, leader of the Rebel army."
"Is that so? Mebbe ye've found 'im."
"I think not. I know somewhat of his look. He is a bit taller and fairer of hair. But nice try." Reiken curled the edge of his lips, "And I believe he would recognize my name as well."
"Pft." A second man dropped down and whispered into the first man's ear. The shock on the man's face was evident but only for a moment. "Follow us."
They traveled with the group being watched closely and always surrounded. Lorelle had to admire their organization and tactics. Her confidence in the Rebel leader rose a bit with each passing moment. these people were loyal and dedicated. Such things did not happen by accident, but were earned.
The sky started to darken as they traveled, signalling a coming storm, but they kept moving. They approached a large encampment, full of men, women and even children. These were her people and they were forced from their homes and into hiding. Her heart broke seeing them. Among them in the center of the group stood a tall man, not as tall as Jarek but taller than most. His honey gold hair hung down to his shoulders and he was graced with chiseled features and honed strong muscles. Seeing his men return with strangers on horseback he frowned and made his way toward them. The second man ran up to him and spoke softly and then retreated.
Theron looked up at the group, "Reiken of Lingerloft. Knight of the Seven. We had thought the Seven and the Queen had left us to fend for ourselves. We have done just fine without your help, and we are in no need of it now."
"We had much work to do, keeping the Queen and the princesses safe, and to retake Bracken into the hands of the rightful king. It was not our intention to leave you without hope or protection."
"And yes as your own words convey, we were not as important as Bracken, and the Queen, if she lives, has no care for her people nor the good name of her father."
Jarek was off his steed and about to thump the man when Lorelle's hand shot out. "No, let him speak."
Theron's eyes were immediately fixed on the second rider.
Lorelle gracefully alit off the horse and approached the man who spoke with such vehemence against her. She had expected as much, but hearing it stabbed at her in a way she had not been prepared for at all. There was no mistaking her regal bearing or gait, and when she pushed back the hood of her cloak a gasp spread through the crowd and people began to fall to their knees. She looked around at the people and spoke in a clear and commanding voice, "Please..please rise. I should be bowing to all of you. You have my thanks, gratitude and humble servanthood for the loyalty you have all shown to my father and this kingdom. I do not deserve your fealty, but I am hopeful that i can earn it back on my own right."
Reiken stood next to her, "I assume you recognize Lorelle of Azimuth, rightful Queen and heir to the throne."
Theron nodded, "I do indeed. I admit I did not believe you survived, in fact I had hoped that was the reason you had not returned. But now I am forced to believe you simply did not care for your people enough to come back and fight for us." There was venom in every word and a hard steel in his blue eyes that clearly conveyed his thoughts about the young Queen that stood before him.
Again Jarek stepped forward but Lorelle stopped him, "No, he has a right to speak his mind. He has earned it as he has the loyalty and dedication of these people." She forced herself to look up at him and face the fear she had been fighting this entire journey, "I have come to ask for your help in defeating Nikolai. The Seven are scattered and the task cannot be accomplished with four people. If you cannot do so for my sake, then I will beg you to do so for the sake of my father who served this land with honor and dignity and for the sake of my mother who's blood must be required at the hands of her murderer." She stood silent then and waited.
Theron watched her and he could see the pride, the hurt, the passion and the humility such a request required. His own feelings of betrayal and distrust were cast aside as he turned to the people, "I will defer to you. What say you?"
There was murmuring among the crowd, some shouting, some arguing and even a few fistfights, but eventually that second man stepped forward. "I have hoped for this day," he said standing before Lorelle, "You were always kind and fair much like your father. You are our only hope of being free from this tyrant. We will fight for you."
Lorelle reached out and took his hands in both of hers, "My thanks Benjamin Vicker." She said and then looked at everyone else, "I will prove worthy of this trust. Thank you all."
Theron furrowed his brow when she addressed Ben by name. Did she know them all? Did she remember him?