He was a King till she laid waste.
And he's got a head full of ideas
(let me tell ya) That you wouldn't believe
And he's got a heart made of pure gold
(and something else) Many tricks up his sleeve
And you might think he's a jester
Because he'll make you laugh til' you cry
(and what else?) You better come with your best
if you test him, unless you're ready to die
Sammei had to raise her voice over the rising cacophony of joyous Crystalesians.
“You still have yet to explain how you expect to summon Our Lady here to the battlefield. She has her own battles to worry about, including the defense of Azuhara. The Queen has never left the fortress as long as I’ve been General, and the swiftest horses would still take weeks to make the distance from here to Crystalys and back?”
“The Queen must come,” I replied, my eyelids fluttering against the overwhelming wave of exhaustion that racked my brusied frame “If Ella refuses then neither of these gambits will work. The Rain King will hardly be satisfied with eradicating you from his domain. He will hunt down Crystalysians to the last man. I hardly see him forgiving such an affront to his ego. As for swiftness, I’ll pick the speediest steed and we’ll return by magical means. Leave the Frozen Edge here. One of the confines of a transport spell is that it requires a focus that Ella and I will both be familiar with.”
The General turned her full scowl on her rowdy troops and they quickly jumped back into ranks. Turning back to me, a determined softness appearing in those features that I had never experienced before. Raising her signature blade over her head, she plunged it deep into the soft earth, the ground sealing the sword in an icy grip. It would take unnatural skill to dislodge it. Satisfied, Sammei voice commanded the final charge against Vasser Vitae, her soldiers forgetting their fatigue in the warm glow of false victory.
I could only imagine the bewildered faces of the Hydronians as they had to watch their beloved city recaptured, their pompous King ensnared in his own offense. I trotted as swiftly as my aching legs would carry me to the gnarled brush where the mounts were staked.
I was about to mount a particularly noble looking stallion when an offended whinny caught my attention from further down the line. Daego snorted in disdain of my chosen steed, eyes rolling. A uncontrollable smile warmed my face. Reaching deep into my rucksack, I pulled forth a leather packet wound in twine. I carefully unwrapped the delicate gift, a dank musk wafting from its interior. Bertulli root, a Gaian herb, blessed by the Queen of the Forests herself, was a rare gift indeed and one I only used in the direst of circumstances. I snapped one of the burgundy roots in half, giving one piece to Daego’s earnest maw and popping the other in my own. Its gummy texture and bitter taste were far from enjoyable, but its benefits far outweighed the momentary unpleasantness. Daego’s tongue lolled, whether searching for more treats or in protest to the herb’s sharp bite I couldn’t be sure.
As I saddled Daego, a smoldering fire raced just beneath my skin, numbing the sore muscles as it went. My chest bulged, taking in lungfuls of air and my hand gripped the saddle with renewed strength. Springing easily unto my mount, I could feel the herb’s effects shiver through Daego. Kicking my heels into Daego’s flank, the animal reared enthusiastically, eager to use energy it had never had since it was a prancing foal. Daego shot off down the muddy plains, kicking up fist sized chunks of dirt in its expedience.
We quickly left the glistening dome of Dumarkius’s prison and the white towers of Vasser Vitae to set in the western horizon like warring sun. The real sun blazed through a drizzly haze in the sky before us, reminding me that every tick could not be more vital. I knew the trade off with Bertulli root. Its momentary burst of energy was followed by an equal period of fatigue. In the amounts we had consumed, as soon as roots boon wore off, we’d both crash terribly, but what choice did I have?
So much of me feared returning to Crystalys. Had the campaign only been a couple months? It had felt like years since I had first sent foot into that eternal winterscape. My original mission was to protect the Snow Queen from Aeronian assassins. The Hydronian assault was just a way to keep the realm in balance. Ella’s mission had been to acquire the aid of Volgan’s rebel band of stone elementalists, but they were a dangerous bunch with unpredictable tempers. Even with my recommendation, Volgan has a penchant for distrust. Still I could not underestimate the young Queen’s capacity for diplomacy until I saw it firsthand.
We approached the Water Wall sooner than I had expected, Daego’s enhanced eyes picking out a path through the marsh. Its posts were abandoned and its water quiescent. I shook my head at the sight; something that had once been so formidable now seemed incredibly benign. Without breaking stride, Daego made the leap, sleek body rippling with Bertulli augmented muscle.
As we continued our harried ride east, my thoughts drifted back past few days. Under the guise of jester, I’d advised nobles and vassals, kings and queens, watched armies march valiantly off to war. I’ve made lightening quick decisions and strategies that have toppled empires and caused others to rise, but it had all been so distant. Just stones moving on a gameboard. Court politics and espionage had been my game of choice. I was no soldier. I was an observer, a contemplator. Seeing the haunted eyes of the young mage, holding the ragdoll body of his mentor, the unfortunate troops caught in the Water Walls flow, made my fight the stinging wet that clouded my eyes. It made Sammei’s coarse demeanor seem understandable and Javanelle’s spunkiness looked heroic. These warriors would watch their compatriots perish, not stones removed from a board. Mentors, friends and lovers lost in a game of kings and queens.
I winced as I saw the fringes of the Ahzith jungle appear at the wild boundary between the two nations. No amount of Gaian root could make Daego fly and navigating the tangled landscape would cost us precious time. I tugged at Daego’s reins to slow but my mount ignored my suggestions. The trees loomed closer with each thunderous gallop but no amount of yanking at my horse’s bit could sway him from his course. A focused determination reflected in the beast’s eyes as Daego plunged into the vegetation. Twigs snapped in protest at our intrusion, and Daego clopped up the bole of an enormous downed tree. Taking another stomach twisting leap, the horse landed onto an ancient vine, old as the jungle that bore it, that wound a twisting highway through the boughs of the gnarled trees. Without breaking stride, the foolhardy steed navigated a spiraling path through the dizzying heights. The Bertulli certainly didn’t impart any bravery to me. Whether Daego had just sensed the urgency or suffered from herb induced insanity I couldn’t say, but I could swear I saw a grin appear every time I yelped in terror.
Because a Jester unemployed is nobody's fool
(let me tell ya) That you wouldn't believe
And he's got a heart made of pure gold
(and something else) Many tricks up his sleeve
And you might think he's a jester
Because he'll make you laugh til' you cry
(and what else?) You better come with your best
if you test him, unless you're ready to die
Sammei had to raise her voice over the rising cacophony of joyous Crystalesians.
“You still have yet to explain how you expect to summon Our Lady here to the battlefield. She has her own battles to worry about, including the defense of Azuhara. The Queen has never left the fortress as long as I’ve been General, and the swiftest horses would still take weeks to make the distance from here to Crystalys and back?”
“The Queen must come,” I replied, my eyelids fluttering against the overwhelming wave of exhaustion that racked my brusied frame “If Ella refuses then neither of these gambits will work. The Rain King will hardly be satisfied with eradicating you from his domain. He will hunt down Crystalysians to the last man. I hardly see him forgiving such an affront to his ego. As for swiftness, I’ll pick the speediest steed and we’ll return by magical means. Leave the Frozen Edge here. One of the confines of a transport spell is that it requires a focus that Ella and I will both be familiar with.”
The General turned her full scowl on her rowdy troops and they quickly jumped back into ranks. Turning back to me, a determined softness appearing in those features that I had never experienced before. Raising her signature blade over her head, she plunged it deep into the soft earth, the ground sealing the sword in an icy grip. It would take unnatural skill to dislodge it. Satisfied, Sammei voice commanded the final charge against Vasser Vitae, her soldiers forgetting their fatigue in the warm glow of false victory.
I could only imagine the bewildered faces of the Hydronians as they had to watch their beloved city recaptured, their pompous King ensnared in his own offense. I trotted as swiftly as my aching legs would carry me to the gnarled brush where the mounts were staked.
I was about to mount a particularly noble looking stallion when an offended whinny caught my attention from further down the line. Daego snorted in disdain of my chosen steed, eyes rolling. A uncontrollable smile warmed my face. Reaching deep into my rucksack, I pulled forth a leather packet wound in twine. I carefully unwrapped the delicate gift, a dank musk wafting from its interior. Bertulli root, a Gaian herb, blessed by the Queen of the Forests herself, was a rare gift indeed and one I only used in the direst of circumstances. I snapped one of the burgundy roots in half, giving one piece to Daego’s earnest maw and popping the other in my own. Its gummy texture and bitter taste were far from enjoyable, but its benefits far outweighed the momentary unpleasantness. Daego’s tongue lolled, whether searching for more treats or in protest to the herb’s sharp bite I couldn’t be sure.
As I saddled Daego, a smoldering fire raced just beneath my skin, numbing the sore muscles as it went. My chest bulged, taking in lungfuls of air and my hand gripped the saddle with renewed strength. Springing easily unto my mount, I could feel the herb’s effects shiver through Daego. Kicking my heels into Daego’s flank, the animal reared enthusiastically, eager to use energy it had never had since it was a prancing foal. Daego shot off down the muddy plains, kicking up fist sized chunks of dirt in its expedience.
We quickly left the glistening dome of Dumarkius’s prison and the white towers of Vasser Vitae to set in the western horizon like warring sun. The real sun blazed through a drizzly haze in the sky before us, reminding me that every tick could not be more vital. I knew the trade off with Bertulli root. Its momentary burst of energy was followed by an equal period of fatigue. In the amounts we had consumed, as soon as roots boon wore off, we’d both crash terribly, but what choice did I have?
So much of me feared returning to Crystalys. Had the campaign only been a couple months? It had felt like years since I had first sent foot into that eternal winterscape. My original mission was to protect the Snow Queen from Aeronian assassins. The Hydronian assault was just a way to keep the realm in balance. Ella’s mission had been to acquire the aid of Volgan’s rebel band of stone elementalists, but they were a dangerous bunch with unpredictable tempers. Even with my recommendation, Volgan has a penchant for distrust. Still I could not underestimate the young Queen’s capacity for diplomacy until I saw it firsthand.
We approached the Water Wall sooner than I had expected, Daego’s enhanced eyes picking out a path through the marsh. Its posts were abandoned and its water quiescent. I shook my head at the sight; something that had once been so formidable now seemed incredibly benign. Without breaking stride, Daego made the leap, sleek body rippling with Bertulli augmented muscle.
As we continued our harried ride east, my thoughts drifted back past few days. Under the guise of jester, I’d advised nobles and vassals, kings and queens, watched armies march valiantly off to war. I’ve made lightening quick decisions and strategies that have toppled empires and caused others to rise, but it had all been so distant. Just stones moving on a gameboard. Court politics and espionage had been my game of choice. I was no soldier. I was an observer, a contemplator. Seeing the haunted eyes of the young mage, holding the ragdoll body of his mentor, the unfortunate troops caught in the Water Walls flow, made my fight the stinging wet that clouded my eyes. It made Sammei’s coarse demeanor seem understandable and Javanelle’s spunkiness looked heroic. These warriors would watch their compatriots perish, not stones removed from a board. Mentors, friends and lovers lost in a game of kings and queens.
I winced as I saw the fringes of the Ahzith jungle appear at the wild boundary between the two nations. No amount of Gaian root could make Daego fly and navigating the tangled landscape would cost us precious time. I tugged at Daego’s reins to slow but my mount ignored my suggestions. The trees loomed closer with each thunderous gallop but no amount of yanking at my horse’s bit could sway him from his course. A focused determination reflected in the beast’s eyes as Daego plunged into the vegetation. Twigs snapped in protest at our intrusion, and Daego clopped up the bole of an enormous downed tree. Taking another stomach twisting leap, the horse landed onto an ancient vine, old as the jungle that bore it, that wound a twisting highway through the boughs of the gnarled trees. Without breaking stride, the foolhardy steed navigated a spiraling path through the dizzying heights. The Bertulli certainly didn’t impart any bravery to me. Whether Daego had just sensed the urgency or suffered from herb induced insanity I couldn’t say, but I could swear I saw a grin appear every time I yelped in terror.
Because a Jester unemployed is nobody's fool