Adventures Continue

[Moderator\'\'s Note: Bob continues the story of the naked Priest, and other ] [ misadventures. This leads up to just before the battle] [ we observed between Eselne and Rereshqala. ] Adlar hiFershena arrived at the House of the First Founder only slightly winded. The twelve-tsan jog from the tower was as nothing compared to the days-long cross-Empire assignments which he used to run as an Imperial Courier. As he rounded the last curve he could not prevent a chill from running up his spine at the sight of the imposing edifice. The House of the First Founder, so-called because legend claimed that this was the home built by the first human who the Gods placed upon Tekumel, was not truly "imposing" in appearance. A simple two-story stone-and-wood structure, it had a chimney to one side and a small porch off the front. But age, legend and reputation shrouded its simple facade in mystery. Adlar himself recalled exploring the house only months before, when he had arrived in the retinue of Lady Metlana. At that time the building had been no more than charred rubble over a basement full of gold and sausages. Since the house had, well, "healed" itself. When Lord Achan, a quiet Ketengku priest, had arrived at the house he had found it in the pristine and perfectly usable condition that it maintained today. The fact that the local peasantry claimed that the house had "eaten" some of their number in order to restore itself was certainly no more that the superstitious ramblings of the poor. Now the home\'\'s two original occupants, Jomu and his little sister Tsa\'\'a, were playing quietly on the porch, Tsa\'\'a clutching a little doll tightly to her shoulder with one hand. They greeted Adlar cheerfully as he trotted up. "Is your father home?" Adlar asked. Upon taking up residence in the house, Lord Achan had become the foster father to these foundlings. Adlar wondered if Achan had ever asked the children about the two small skeletons that Adlar had seen in the upstairs bedroom of the ruined building, or if Achan had quietly buried them somewhere. "He is inside, Lord Adlar, I\'\'ll fetch him," said Jomu in a most polite manner. Adlar was always impressed by these delightful and well-behaved children. "FAAAAAAA- THER!" Jomu cried at the top of his lungs. "I\'\'m right here, Jomu," said Achan, appearing at the door. "Greetings Lord Adlar." "Greetings, Achan," Adlar said, and quickly explained to Achan the situation at the tower and the anticipated imminent return of Lord Thuken. Achan nodded. "Let me gather my things and we\'\'ll be off," said Achan, with a glance at the skies, "If we leave now we should be able to make it to the tower before dark." One did not wish to wander the valley of Kashkomai at night. Raiding bands of Ssu, Salarvyani spies, and naked, sunburned priests of Ksarul had been known to accost those so foolish as to venture forth at night. "Please come inside and refresh yourself while we prepare for the journey. Children?" Everyone entered the house and there was a quick bustle of preparation, as Lord Achan gave instructions to the two old clan-women who served him. "And stay out of the basement." Achan instructed them, as the party opened the front door and stepped out... ...into the bustling street of a crowded city! "Jomu, I don\'\'t think we\'\'re in Kashkomai any more," said Tsa\'\'a, clutching her dolly. "Here, you, out of the way!" called an armored Tsolyani soldier, a Kasi by the looks of him, probably in charge of the cohort marching through this unknown city. Adlar looked quickly about: he had visited most of the major Tsolyani cities during his time as an Imperial Runner, but all he could see from his present vantage point were the crowded fronts of middle-class clanhouses and the dusty passage of the troops. "Excuse me, good sir," asked Adlar of the Kasi. "Could you direct us to..." he groped for an idea, "the Temple of Thumis, sir?" The Temple District of most Tsolyani cities displayed unique characteristics of layout and architecture which Adlar could use for recognition. "The temple of Thumis?" growled the officer, "Don\'\'t you know your way around Usenanu? The temple of Thumis is..." he curtly detailed a set of directions. Adlar returned to Achan, who had huddled the children in a doorway to escape the trampling soldiers. "Follow me," Adlar said, "We\'\'ll head to the temple district. I ought to be able to recognize where we are from there." Following the officer\'\'s directions, the four eventually arrived before the busy gate of the temple of Karakan. "Close enough," thought Adlar, and he approached a gate-guard and identified himself as a member of the Temple. "You\'\'re a Karakan soldier?" asked the guard, "Then why aren\'\'t you with the troops preparing for the battle?" Eager to avoid being impressed for combat, Adlar quickly replied. "I am an Imperial Courier, sir. These persons," he indicated Achan and the children, "have been good enough to travel with me from Sokatis. I have a message to deliver within the temple." "Oh, a message do ye? Well where is it?" The guard peered suspiciously at the empty-handed courier. "It is a verbal message, of great import," claimed Adlar. He hoped the guard would not ask for papers, as he bore none. In truth, the last time Adlar had visited Sokatis he had found the Offices of the Imperial Couriers empty, sacked by the troops of Prince Rereshqala or Emperor Dhich\'\'une as they wrestled for control of the city. At that time Adlar had used an official stamp found in the debris to place himself on indefinite leave of absence (with pay.) Then, being the ranking (and only) representative of the Imperial Couriers present, he signed the papers himself. "Oh, it\'\'s like that, \'\'tis it?" grinned the guard, "Well, take y\'\'self on in, I wouldn\'\'t want to interfere with Imperial business." Unusually helpful, the guard even directed the four to a refectory within the temple where they could refresh themselves. [Moderator\'\'s Note: You know, he really does a good written imitation of ] [ Phil in character. :) ] Making their way into the temple courtyard, the four travellers quickly made their way to the refectory. Stepping inside, they found a buffet fit for an Imperial Prince laid out along one wall. Meats, fruits, and delicacies of all sorts were heaped and arranged in a veritable wall of delights that was much picked-over. Adlar got the sense that they had arrived just after a great feast of some sort, for slaves and acolytes of the temple scurried busily about the daises clearing away the low tables and eating-mats scattered carefully about. Nevertheless, there was no shortage of food for the four of them. They approached the buffet, deigning not to wait for a slave to serve them, months of living on Kashkomai\'\'s native dna-gruel having taken their toll. Before they could reach the buffet, however, a crowd of heavily armored men appeared at the other side of the refectory, striding quickly. Glittering in golden armor, one shorter but muscular individual seemed to be the focus of an intense walking conference. Around him, proud warriors leaned in close to listen and to advise, and all strode hurriedly across the hall towards the exit. Adlar\'\'s mind worked quickly, putting together the clues before him: troops marching through the city; a great feast prior to their departure; a man in golden armor in the temple of Karakan; the rapid consultation of hurried warriors. There was only one thing to do: he threw himself prostrate upon the floor, Achan quickly following his lead. Had Adlar and his comrades simply stood still, the busy group likely would have marched past without noting them. Now, however, they were forced to either acknowledge the tall man on his face before them, or at least step over him. "Rise," called Prince Eselne, for surely it was he, "Who are you?" The Prince was noted for his disdain of protocol and gruff manner. Fighting not to stammer, Adlar rose and stated, "Adlar hiFershena, mighty Prince." The proper pronouns and honorifics for addressing even the highest persons were drilled into him during his training as a Runner. "Well, well, what of it," barked the Prince, "Have you a message?" For a moment Adlar wondered if the gate-guard had somehow forewarned the Prince of his arrival. Then, staring sheepishly down at his running sandals Adlar realized that they still bore the stamp and sigil of the Imperial Runners where the straps crossed over the arch of his foot. The sharp-eyed Prince had identified him as an Imperial messenger! "Mighty Prince," he began, by way of grabbing a few moments in which to think, "I bear a message from..." his mind whirled "Prince Rereshqala! In Sokatis!" Adlar knew that Prince Rereshqala had but recently moved through the area around Sokatis with his army. Prince Eselne held the western portion of the Empire, far enough away for confirmation of Adlar\'\'s message to be difficult. His words caused the Prince to grunt with surprise. "Rereshqala, that dog!? What could he possibly have to say to me now?" "Mighty Prince," continued Adlar, "Prince Rereshqala seeks an... alliance, a truce and a union of forces, to move against certain forces in the north." Truly, Adlar had long thought just such an alliance should occur, to counter the Princes of Change holding the center of the Empire. If he must risk his life by deceiving a Prince of the Empire, let it at least be in a good cause! Prince Eselne\'\'s retinue burst as one into uproarous laughter at Adlar\'\'s announcement. "A truce?" the Prince roared, "Are you mad, son?" One of the Prince\'\'s advisors leaned close to speak to the Prince, and he grunted, "True." Turning to Adlar he said, "You say you came from Sokatis? How long did you travel?" Now once again Adlar thought furiously. It was fortunate for him that Prince Eselne eschewed magic and telepaths, for his lies would be quickly discovered by even the simplest sorcerer. "For months sir. I was injured by Salarvyani raiders, and this good Ketengku priest," he indicated Achan as a distraction, and the surprised priest of the Healing-God nearly jumped, "and his children travelled with me during my recovery. The road was long, Mighty Prince." The Prince and his retinue laughed again, "Too long, Runner! Events have outpaced your message! Even now I go to march against my brother across the Missuma River, and your tardy message fails against the ramparts of my determination! Rereshqala\'\'s head will adorn a pike before noon tomorrow!" Adlar blanched, but the Prince had already forgotten him, whirling and stalking away with his generals to plan the morning\'\'s battle. Adlar and Achan stood stunned, staring after the Prince, their appetite for the feast forgotten. It was little Tsa\'\'a, of all people, who broke the silence. From behind them her voice piped up, "That poor man." Adlar and Achan turned as one, as one they said, "What?" "He\'\'s going to be dead soon," Tsa\'\'a said, her face twisting with grief as she cuddled her doll close to her ear. "What, will he lose the battle tomorrow?" asked Adlar in amazement. He had learned to accept the strange abilities exhibited by Achan\'\'s foster-children. "Oh no," Tsa\'\'a said, her eyes tearing. "He will be dead within the hour." [TO BE CONTINUED] ----- Chris Davis Moderator, The Blue Room blueroom@prin.edu The Blue Room\'\'s FTP site: http://nexus.prin.edu or ftp://nexus.prin.edu Available 24 hours a day, except when my PC is down, or unavailable.