D
Dreamless
Guest
Original poster
"But the nerve of such a letter, Sir Vega!" One of the princess's closest maidservants huffed as she changed the wrinkled sheets on Vega's bed. "Who does this blasted mercenary think he is, gushing such feelings to someone of your stature? What disrespect!"
"Like I explained, Ellah, the message was hidden." This was the third time Vega was forced to explain the letter that Volan had sent back with the Skyknight whose assistance she had lent him. It was a clever tactic on Volan's part, and it had certainly worked; he had successfully fooled everyone whose eyes had fallen upon the message. "War breeds the necessity for clandestine correspondence... Have you seen my breastplate? Why isn't it with the remainder of my armor?"
Ellah bit her lower lip. "It is being polished, Sir Vega... But you shouldn't need it now, at any rate."
"And why not?"
"I have... His Majesty told me... We are not to forget the festival."
Vega felt heat rise to her cheeks. "We can't afford the distraction. We--"
"Sir Vega. Morale is dropping, and fast; we are struggling to keep our men fighting for us." Ellah sighed, shaking her head. "We need a reason to smile, and His Majesty promised our troops that we would not lose ourselves or our culture to this fear. And your presence... You can raise spirits, in your very demeanor. So His Majesty hoped you might spend the day in town to help prepare for this evening."
She was right. Much to her chagrin, the focus on war was fostering fear and dwindling spirits. The Solstice Festival... It was not so frivolous when you considered how it strengthened spirit through its culture. Caris was correct in his judgment. They couldn't afford to forfeit this chance to nurture was little morale and faith in the monarchy was left.
"I don't like this... we can hardly spare a moment of preparation," the Skyknight sighed. "But... I can see your--and Caris's--reason. We have already forfeited so much self-care and celebration out of fear."
Leaving her armor behind for perhaps the first time in as long as she could remember, the Skyknight left her chambers. "Should anyone need me, our men or the mercenaries alike," she said with a sigh, "Tell them they can find me in the village."
"Like I explained, Ellah, the message was hidden." This was the third time Vega was forced to explain the letter that Volan had sent back with the Skyknight whose assistance she had lent him. It was a clever tactic on Volan's part, and it had certainly worked; he had successfully fooled everyone whose eyes had fallen upon the message. "War breeds the necessity for clandestine correspondence... Have you seen my breastplate? Why isn't it with the remainder of my armor?"
Ellah bit her lower lip. "It is being polished, Sir Vega... But you shouldn't need it now, at any rate."
"And why not?"
"I have... His Majesty told me... We are not to forget the festival."
Vega felt heat rise to her cheeks. "We can't afford the distraction. We--"
"Sir Vega. Morale is dropping, and fast; we are struggling to keep our men fighting for us." Ellah sighed, shaking her head. "We need a reason to smile, and His Majesty promised our troops that we would not lose ourselves or our culture to this fear. And your presence... You can raise spirits, in your very demeanor. So His Majesty hoped you might spend the day in town to help prepare for this evening."
She was right. Much to her chagrin, the focus on war was fostering fear and dwindling spirits. The Solstice Festival... It was not so frivolous when you considered how it strengthened spirit through its culture. Caris was correct in his judgment. They couldn't afford to forfeit this chance to nurture was little morale and faith in the monarchy was left.
"I don't like this... we can hardly spare a moment of preparation," the Skyknight sighed. "But... I can see your--and Caris's--reason. We have already forfeited so much self-care and celebration out of fear."
Leaving her armor behind for perhaps the first time in as long as she could remember, the Skyknight left her chambers. "Should anyone need me, our men or the mercenaries alike," she said with a sigh, "Tell them they can find me in the village."