Old Friends with New Titles
Jan 11, 2017 11:18:18 GMT -6
Post by Kelvin H. Calderon on Jan 11, 2017 11:18:18 GMT -6
After several days of hard travel, they had finally arrived at the outskirts of the Sacaen war camp. A pair of outriders had met them as they approached. There was a smattering of confusion after Kelvin introduced himself as the dragon general. But, with some quick thinking from Zach, he presented a letter from the Khan himself. The riders, recognizing the seal of their Khan, escorted them into the camp. As they rode towards the rows of tents, Kelvin had to admit he was quite impressed. In another country, assembling an army of this size would have been quite the feat. But uniting the stubborn, independent clans of Sacae? That was an act of heroic proportions. Sure, they had a common cause in repelling the Etrurian invaders. Yet it was no less impressive. Selibas had come a long way from the nervous young man he had recruited into the Rebellion. To say that he was proud was an understatement.
Once they were inside the camp, they dismounted and one of the riders led the horses away. The other rider showed them through the rows and rows of tents. All around them, Sacaen men and women prepared for war. It was an all too familiar sight to Kelvin. His mind offered up flashes of his time in Linz training the burgeoning rebellion. Of the people struggling just to defend their homes. His thoughts lingered there for a moment, drifting to the one person he hadn’t seen since those days: Chelsea. During the war, she had decided to go her own way, leaving him with the ring he had given to her. He still carried it with him, buried in one of his saddlebags. Now that the war was over, he would sometimes retrieve it and ponder it wistfully. But back then, it took all his strength not to dwell on it. Kelvin had always known that if he lingered on his emotions for too long, he risked abandoning his post and all he had worked for. Some nights he almost had. He would find himself on the walls of Fort Macendew, staring off towards Sacae in the pre-dawn light. He would wonder where she was, and if she was alright. If she still thought of him. Walking past scores of Sacaen men and women, he wondered is she was among them. Chelsea had always been proud of her homeland. Kelvin was certain she would fight for it.
Finally, they arrived at the Khan’s tent. The rider stepped inside ahead of them and announced their arrival. “My khan, General Calderon and Grand Vizier Sjord have arrived from Bern.” Kelvin stepped in from behind him and removed his helmet. The young Sacaen had risen to greet them. Even now, amidst the army he had raised, he still seemed the idealistic youth he had met so long ago.
“Selibas!” Kelvin shouted, barely able to contain his excitement. He rushed forward, enveloping his former lieutenant in a powerful bear hug. Then, realizing that his platemail didn’t make for the softest hug, he released Selibas. “How the hell are you? It seems you’ve been quite busy since you left Bern.”
Once they were inside the camp, they dismounted and one of the riders led the horses away. The other rider showed them through the rows and rows of tents. All around them, Sacaen men and women prepared for war. It was an all too familiar sight to Kelvin. His mind offered up flashes of his time in Linz training the burgeoning rebellion. Of the people struggling just to defend their homes. His thoughts lingered there for a moment, drifting to the one person he hadn’t seen since those days: Chelsea. During the war, she had decided to go her own way, leaving him with the ring he had given to her. He still carried it with him, buried in one of his saddlebags. Now that the war was over, he would sometimes retrieve it and ponder it wistfully. But back then, it took all his strength not to dwell on it. Kelvin had always known that if he lingered on his emotions for too long, he risked abandoning his post and all he had worked for. Some nights he almost had. He would find himself on the walls of Fort Macendew, staring off towards Sacae in the pre-dawn light. He would wonder where she was, and if she was alright. If she still thought of him. Walking past scores of Sacaen men and women, he wondered is she was among them. Chelsea had always been proud of her homeland. Kelvin was certain she would fight for it.
Finally, they arrived at the Khan’s tent. The rider stepped inside ahead of them and announced their arrival. “My khan, General Calderon and Grand Vizier Sjord have arrived from Bern.” Kelvin stepped in from behind him and removed his helmet. The young Sacaen had risen to greet them. Even now, amidst the army he had raised, he still seemed the idealistic youth he had met so long ago.
“Selibas!” Kelvin shouted, barely able to contain his excitement. He rushed forward, enveloping his former lieutenant in a powerful bear hug. Then, realizing that his platemail didn’t make for the softest hug, he released Selibas. “How the hell are you? It seems you’ve been quite busy since you left Bern.”