Astrayan
Posts: 14
XP: 0
Level: 1
Offline
|
Post by Rwaht on Apr 30, 2016 5:11:04 GMT
 He stood on a hill between the forest and Hamlet, watching leaves drifting in the wind. It was strange that they should fall at this time of year. He looked towards the town. The sun was setting, and the day had grown late. Still no one had come. "This damn fool idea of yours will get you killed, Orin."He supposed that were possible. It was hardly a well-kept secret that the Sayera Forest was falling more and more under rebel control, but senior officers knew the truth of it: not even the village of Hamlet could be trusted, despite the Imperial barracks situated square in the middle of the town. Perhaps they can't be trusted because of the Imperial barracks square in the middle of the town.That, of course, was why he was here. The temporary barracks, the guard postings ... they weren't working. The last tax collector had left town with half what he'd expected to take and a fistful of excuses about a "bad market." That money, no doubt, had gone to the rebels. The taxes had been, as far as Rwaht's superiors were concerned, the last straw. So they'd sent him, because he was known for diplomacy. Not that they cared about diplomacy. The Empire just wanted its money--that was the nature of an Empire, and Rwaht understood it. The nature of the rebels was altogether different. Most of them are barely children. They can't understand what this could mean. If the rebellion ever came to full scale war.... Things were already tense enough, with the presence of the Outworlders. Rwaht didn't like doing what he had to do, but if it brought peace, he would pay the price. No matter how he felt about it. He'd left a message at the Wayward Tavern, requesting a meeting with any individual among the rebels who wished to talk. No doubt they would think it was a trap. No doubt they might be planning a trap for Rwaht himself. Then so be it. He was not afraid. He'd turned his back on fear fifteen years ago. MADE BY VEL OF GS |
|
Astrayan
Posts: 8
XP: 0
Level: 1
Offline
|
Post by Quillfeather on Apr 30, 2016 5:27:36 GMT
{  } Word travelled quickly of a new knight in town. The rebels had the barracks well scoped, had an idea of what kind of force they had. Not that it would do them any good--it was just a minor edge if the tension broke, but no one wanted to bring war down upon Hamlet. At least, no one in the rebels. The fact that they were sending higher ups this way meant the Empire was getting anxious, and it was only adding to the growing tension. It has to be a trap, they told her when word of the message arrived through the Sayera Forest. Quillfeather sat quietly and listened as ideas were tossed about by her people. We should just make him wait! cried one. Let's set our own trap! cried another. But Quillfeather already knew what her course of action was in this case. If the description of the knight that had been sent was right . . . Cries immediately changed tone when she said she was going. People begged her not to. She reassure them it was not a trap. She would be okay. Still they weren't please, but that was all she could do. She had a meeting with a very important figure. If they had sent him this far away from the Imperial City then it was a serious matter, something she had to deal with. And there he was, standing like a stone sentinel upon that hill. A man Quillfeather hadn't seen since she'd worn the uniform herself. The Empire's Favourite Dog. She didn't dwell. He probably already knew she was there. She stepped out of the forest and into plain sight, climbing the hill to meet him. Her spear was very visible, even though she wouldn't need it. He wouldn't attack her unarmed, unaware. "I must really be stirring the pot if they sent you out here," she said aloud, decidedly breaking the palpable tension. MADE BY VEL OF GS |
|
Astrayan
Posts: 14
XP: 0
Level: 1
Offline
|
Post by Rwaht on Apr 30, 2016 5:42:53 GMT
I suppose I won't die today. He remembered her, of course, though he'd only guessed that she might be involved with the rebels. He didn't blame her. Could even understand the appeal. He'd stood with his back to the forest, figuring that the rebels would either think that he was trying not to pose a threat, or that he was an idiot. Either was preferable to them thinking of him as an invitation to open war. He didn't turn as she approached, though he heard her steps. He remembered their cadence, from so long ago. Or was that just a trick of memory? "You are," Rwaht said simply, at last turning to look at Piper--the woman that was now called Quillfeather, if he understood correctly. He wasn't surprised by the spear, though he found some part of his honor was offended. He hadn't brought his sword. Without seeming to, he took in her appearance. She'd gained a tattoo since he'd known her. Still fought with a spear--he wondered if she'd improved. In ways, she reminded him of himself. And in other ways, she only reminded him of the differences. "You need to be careful," he said at last. "Blood will be spilled over this rebellion of yours." MADE BY VEL OF GS |
|
Astrayan
Posts: 8
XP: 0
Level: 1
Offline
|
Post by Quillfeather on Apr 30, 2016 5:51:53 GMT
{ } MADE BY VEL OF GS |
|
Astrayan
Posts: 14
XP: 0
Level: 1
Offline
|
Post by Rwaht on Apr 30, 2016 6:07:18 GMT
He failed to stop himself from chuckling, a soft, gentle sound. He'd wondered if age would have changed her. Not much. He supposed that was admirable. A part of him envied that. "Actually," Rwaht said, "I think if you asked the men they'd be more likely to call me a freak. Not a god. I think they're nearer the mark." His catlike eyes and silver hair hadn't done much to make him popular among the common troops, though he supposed he hadn't helped matters by failing to act like one of them. Strange as it was, the Knights had never quite accepted him for who he was. A part of him felt that he would have fit in more among the rebels. But they hated him even more. That was almost funny. "Are you so sure about all of your people?" Rwaht asked. His voice was not unkind. "Can you say there are no eager young men and women ready to fight injustice, who have not fully considered the consequences of their actions? There are always those who fail to appreciate the price. You know that. On your side ... and on mine. Whether the Empire or your rebels are to blame, blood will be spilled." He glanced out at the forest. He wondered if an archer was waiting there to kill him. Maybe even on her command. "I want to avoid that. No matter the cost."
MADE BY VEL OF GS |
|
Astrayan
Posts: 8
XP: 0
Level: 1
Offline
|
Post by Quillfeather on Apr 30, 2016 6:16:56 GMT
{ }
MADE BY VEL OF GS |
|
Astrayan
Posts: 14
XP: 0
Level: 1
Offline
|
Post by Rwaht on Apr 30, 2016 6:29:07 GMT
"The Empire does want to stop this before it starts. They lose less money that way. The people hate them less. I have no delusions about what the Empire is." Rwaht's voice was barely above a whisper, now, and he was looking towards the sky. It was one of those beautiful, clear nights where you could see the moon hanging in the blue of the sky. "You know, I agree with you. Rounding up the Outworlders, putting them in immigration camps ... it is wrong." He shook his head, a gesture so subtle it might have been invisible if not for the shaking of his hair. "But there are few alternatives. We know nothing about these Outworlders. All it takes is for a handful to be dangerous, powerful criminals, and innocent civilians may die. Some of them have technology which vastly outstrips our own."There are no easy answers, but I don't think you'll find them in war. If it comes to it, the Empire will fight. You know that, and I know that. That's what an Empire does." He extended a hand towards her. "Unless you and I, tonight, can find a way to stop this before steel finds flesh. Before the dreams of rebels and knights alike turn to ash." MADE BY VEL OF GS |
|
Astrayan
Posts: 8
XP: 0
Level: 1
Offline
|
Post by Quillfeather on Apr 30, 2016 6:39:36 GMT
{ } MADE BY VEL OF GS |
|
Astrayan
Posts: 14
XP: 0
Level: 1
Offline
|
Post by Rwaht on Apr 30, 2016 16:25:59 GMT
"The same way people who disagree have always stopped bloodshed. Talking. I had hoped we could find some middle ground. Perhaps if I could have presented your beliefs to the Empire, maybe I could have changed some minds...." Rwaht sighed, and shrugged, almost sadly. "I see now that course of action doesn't appeal to you."Rwaht walked past her, looking towards the forest. He knew they were in there somewhere. Men and women whose time was drawing to a close. Even if they won, any rebellion bore a massive cost of life. Surely, Piper--Quillfeather--had to understand that. But idealists were hard to reason with. Ideals did not bleed, and the ones who cherished those ideas held them above such petty matters as blood. "The problem is, idealists do bleed," Rwaht muttered, more to himself than anything. "Just like everyone else."He walked down the hill a ways, towards the forest, so that Quillfeather towered over him behind him. Forests held a strange fascination for him. They had ever since he'd been a child. "An Outworlder doesn't have to be a serial killer for there to be a loss of life. They could simply be confused, or angry. Many of the Outworlders believe we have orchestrated this entire affair. All it would take would be for one of them to be as hotheaded as you. Or as bitter as I am. Many of the people whose freedom you resent would call you an Imperial dog. It's understandable. They see us all as the same. Some of them scarcely have the mental capacity to cope with what's happened; they come from places where the belief in another world is unheard of, or anathema. I've spent time in the camps, Quillfeather. I've seen them. I agree, they're mostly just people ... but they are people in extraordinary circumstances."Rwaht turned back to her, his face expressionless. "Tell me, what is your plan? I'm just a Knight. You're just a rebel. How do you hope to change things? Will you kill until you get your way? Will you stumble from victory to victory in the ultimate hope of toppling the Empire? It is not perfect, but the Empire represents the only peace Astrae has ever known. Is peace so inconsequential a thing to you?" MADE BY VEL OF GS |
|
Astrayan
Posts: 8
XP: 0
Level: 1
Offline
|
Post by Quillfeather on Apr 30, 2016 17:17:59 GMT
{ } MADE BY VEL OF GS |
|
Astrayan
Posts: 14
XP: 0
Level: 1
Offline
|
Post by Rwaht on Apr 30, 2016 17:44:19 GMT
"I don't believe the Outworlders are something else. I just believe they're people. People can be capable of terrible things." He turned back to look at Quillfeather. In a way, she was one of his mistakes. His time among the Violators was among the things he was least proud of, and he'd met her then. He frowned. "Of course this is just a formality to the Empire. That doesn't mean I can't try." Rwaht walked up the hill, back towards Quillfeather. He only stopped when they stood side-by-side. "I'm as curious as to where they came from as you are. If it were up to me ... I would not have started these immigration camps. But there are questions that need asking." Rwaht shook his head, one last time. "To an Empire, corralling people is the easiest way to ask those questions. It's an Empire. It's naive to expect it to act like anything else. Tell me," Rwaht said, for the first time sounding as though he were displeased. "When the first of your volunteers dies, or when the first young Imperial Knight filled with delusions about the golden honor of the Empire he's known all his life, or when the first Outworlder dies ... what will all your talk mean, then? Will you insist that you still represent the freedoms of the man who's died for you? Of the young son who your people have killed? The dead don't have the luxury of idealism, Quillfeather."He turned to leave. As he did, he turned back, looking at her one last time. "By the way," he said. His voice sounded cold, though he didn't mean it to. "I like your name." MADE BY VEL OF GS |
|
Astrayan
Posts: 8
XP: 0
Level: 1
Offline
|
Post by Quillfeather on Apr 30, 2016 17:54:41 GMT
{ }
MADE BY VEL OF GS |
|
Astrayan
Posts: 14
XP: 0
Level: 1
Offline
|
Post by Rwaht on Apr 30, 2016 19:14:15 GMT
"When this is all over ... if we're both still alive." Rwaht said. "I'll hold you to that, Piper. Don't die."He began to walk back towards the town. No doubt, this had been as futile as Quillfeather had insisted it was. But he had to try. No matter what, he had to try. Fin MADE BY VEL OF GS |
|
