| Being back sure felt good. You cannot get bored in these lands. Everything is shifting continuously. Some good, some bad. The only bad news I heard when I came back is the injury of Keina. Seems she was tortured along with another called Kimi by a drow that I heard Talon torched. She seems...changed to me. As if...as if she has forgotten many things. She does remember us and things that have happened in the past yes. But...it is as if the child has completely embraced her drow heritage and is learning our native language from scratch. It is odd because she never did that. If anything when you asked her she would always say she was half elf and not half drow. We had some fun together yesterday and at least she forgot her troubles for a bit I hope.
The next although not that much surprising be Vesper. When I left for my trip to Gorimdor we were still allied with them. When we came back I was told to defend Trinsic against them. Although I have not really understood why I have done so and will do so until told otherwise. That is why when myself and the Mauls Ranec and Shelly walked by the gate and saw Kaelyn being dragged injured and unconscious by numerous Vesperians we had no choice but to confront them. The end result was predictable. What was not was that they took me prisoner as well.
Kaelyn was unconsious and dragged by one of em sloppily. The nagging person left her there so I offered to carry her. It is better than being dragged across half the lands. Shown to a cell I was coupled with Kaelyn who had come out of her sleep. Needless to say she was quite agitated to be in the same cell as me. I requested they gave her some medical attention and they actually did it.
Was expecting the usual. A beating here, a lashing there, for opposing the forces of Vesper. Surprisingly that never happened. Not only was the cell more like a luxurious inns' room I was treated with the respect that my rank holds. Was offered ale by Davion himself and we had a quite...pleasant chat...
Our chat made me realise one thing. I do not know who our real enemies and friends are. We have been allied and warred with every single faction I can remember, apart from the Guardsmen Militia ofcourse. Those are true enemies. The rest...Let's just say there are friends and likings everywhere, but real hatred for someone? Not anymore. At least not for me. I am a soldier following orders. Sentimental nonsense like what happened with Devante have no place in this. There is no need for anything like that to happen again. I will fight Vesper as I am still ordered to fight them when defending Trinsic. But I can still have a good bottle of ale with them it seems.
Fighting upstairs. Seems the army has mounted a rescue mission. I wish I could get word out that it was not needed. I wish I could warn them that the Vesperians here are many and well organised and prepared for an event like this. The fighting sounds stopped coming from above and moved outside of the building. I could tell they were being pushed back.
Talon had got through though and we left together.
Back in Trinsic I saw that noone was seriously injured so that was good. The message was delivered as well.
Hanse was right about one thing. Our numbers are low. We are not the army we used to be. The council has not been sending us the reinforcements needed. But what he said showed me that we are still a formidable fighting force. That Kaldorian soldiers are still someone you would not want to have fighting against you. What they don't know is that while I was in Gorimdor I spoke to a few people. Things might be changing soon.
The Mauls are back up in numbers. I plan to get them up and running and active once again as they used to be. I tried to start this on thursday but for unforseen reasons I had to cancel that. A temporary delay. But our biggest problems are the lack of skirmishers. Mauls can box up and move straight on taking hits. But it is hard for us without skirmishers harrasing the opponents making our advance easier and with less casualties.
Shelly is doing great. And I am happy with her. Everyone seems to have forgotten about things apart from Kaelyn. I believed that yesterdays trouble would have softened her up a bit but it doesnt seem so. And not only her. Even the Duke's mood seems to have changed towards me. Tough. I cannot do anything to help that. Let them curse behind my back all they want. Everyone gets whats coming to them sooner or later. Even myself.
I think I will be hanging around Vesper a bit more if they don't attack me on sight. Seem like a more pleasant bunch these days than the Trinsicans. They act as if they are also doing us a favour to be there. Like they are putting up with our being there even though we have been injured in their defence many a time. No matter. Time will ultimately decide.
One last ale and then I'm up to the room for rest. Shelly has not returned yet. She must be having more of that girl talk with Jhan. Corwin was a surprise. He changed his appearance. Changing appearances is something you do when other things change inside you. He was more intimidating. Maybe this means that the young Maul is starting to see things for what they really are like I have. I hope that lass he is with now does not change him back.
After a month of good life...being battered and bruised feels good. I am living again.
__________________ The bears shall live ferever! |