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Chuk

Chuk

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Before he could follow his thoughts any further, the dinner arrived. The scent of freshly cooked pheasant reminded him that he had hardly eaten since the previous day, and thoughts of anything besides food vanished as he heaped his plate.
- -- - -- - -- - -- -
"What's it like?"
Aletayr had just finished his third plate when Salrina hit him with the question. He was comfortably full, and his mind was elsewhere. "I'm sorry, what?"
"What's it like? Out there in battle, I mean."
"Terrible. Absolutely horrible." The words left his mouth almost before Aletayr processed the question.
"Really? I mean, that's what my dad always says, but the King doesn't make it sound so bad, not with his talk of glory and honor."
"Really," Aletayr responded, looking straight into her beautiful, curious eyes. "It's something I'd never wish on anyone. I watched one of my closes friends die yesterday, a man I've known for half my life." He struggled to keep his voice from breaking. "No one should suffer that. No one."
"So the King just talks up the honor and glory because he has to?"
"I suppose that's why. He does have this whole nation to inspire, a whole nation to protect. And I'm not sure he's seen it first-hand. But you'd have to ask him to be sure."
"But it really is nasty, then," Salrina said. "You're not just saying that 'cause I'm a girl. It really isn't a place for girls as my father might say?"
"Yes, and I promise you nasty is an understatement. I cannot imagine anything worse. But I don't suppose that necessarily means women have any more or less of a place there than anyone else. I've know a couple who are as good in battle as almost anyone else I know."
Salrina leaned closer, her eyes shining. "So you think women should be allowed to join the guard, then?"

10-Mar-2011 11:53:06

Chuk

Chuk

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Taken aback, Aletayr stared for a moment. "Well yeah, I guess so, if they really want to, and they don't have other responsibilities. But listen to me! If they had any sense, they'd stay as far away as they can, just like anyone. There aren't words for how awful it is, for the horror and the fear, the desire to run, to hide; there is nothing that can describe the feeling in your stomach when you watch your best friend vanish in a ball of magic fire.
"But you still don't understand. I can tell you this, but it's still nothing comparable to the truth. You can't understand 'til you've been there. I hope you never understand."
Her face fell as he spoke. "Yeah… I wish that too," she said, "but it's already too late. I was in Kryma when it fell; there were things… things that I saw and I still… I can't talk about…"
Her voice broke at the end and tears welled in her eyes. They were only there for a moment, glistening in the light before she pulled out a kerchief and dabbed them away.
Aletayr watched awkwardly. His heart was turning in his chest. The pain in her beautiful face reminded him all too much of the emptiness that had replaced Keran in his heart. He wanted nothing more than to reach out to her across the table, to wrap her in his arms. His hand started across the table, but he pulled it back. Finally, he said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring back bad memories. I just… I didn't mean to take it so far."
She smiled wanly. "No, don't worry about it. I brought it up anyway. I guess…" She paused. I guess I just understand more than you realized."

10-Mar-2011 11:53:35

Chuk

Chuk

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"Yeah, it - uh, I see that now," Aletayr said, and unable to meet her still-damp eyes, he took another swallow of wine. When she said nothing, and his mind continued to give him no useful ideas, Aletayr began to fiddle with his silverware, drawing invisible figures on his plate. When he looked up, Salrina was still watching him, and he hurriedly turned back to his perusal of the plate. A moment later she excused herself, smiling when Aletayr glanced up once more.
Once Salrina passed out of earshot, Aletayr felt Veril's elbow jab into his ribs. "Be careful," the old general said with a wink. "Pretty girls are always trouble. A sword, battle, hell even death I'll stare in the face, but I've never been able to handle a woman. Nor understand one. And if I'm not mistaken, that one has taken quite the interest in you."
He winked again, but Aletayr just blinked and barely kept his mouth from dropping open. "What?" he demanded.
Veril laughed. "I'd say that last smile was a tad more than juts polite. If you're not careful, you're gonna find your heart going places your mind's not gonna understand."
He winked a final time and turned back to his wine, leaving Aletayr feeling like someone had slapped him across the face. He couldn't comprehend the idea of someone fancying him. Of course he had had the little kid crushes while he was at the Academy, but he'd quickly grown out of those. A few of the subjects, such as Ahriele, now fell amongst his closest friends. But no one had ever been attracted to him, and he could hardly believe it possible. Thankfully, before he could work himself into a panic, the King stood and range the silver bell again.
"I thank you again for coming this evening," he said. "Tomorrow will be a day to mourn our loved ones, to begin to rebuild. There will be a memorial service in the city square for all those who fell in defense of our city. I would ask you all to attend and show your respect to the fallen.

10-Mar-2011 11:54:02

Chuk

Chuk

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"Know, too, that we will not let their sacrifice be forgotten. We shall avenge their deaths. We shall chase the Zamorakian monsters to oblivion. We shall retake the Academy and we shall rebuild Kryma. We shall take back what is ours, all the lands that they have stolen from us. We will not let the enemy attack us again and leave our innocent civilians dead in the streets of our own cities!
"We must take the fight to them and pursue them until they are no more. I pray you will support this endeavor to the fullest extent. Follow our Lord and eradicate the evil that swallows the land! As Saradomin wills, so do I lead. And I pray you will follow."
He turned and strode from the hall. As soon as he was gone, every voice broke into conversation, clamoring to be heard. Indignant complaints rose above, louder than the rest.
"What nerve! He can't speak of attack already!"
"I don't believe it! We've nearly been wiped away, and now all he wants is attack; he just wants us to sacrifice more of our sons."
"First he says to show our respect for those who died, but then he walks over it with none of his own. How can he speak of such a thing?"
Almost as soon as such sentiments were voiced, others rose in answer.
"He's right. Can't you see it? The Zamorakians will be back. We can't survive another attack like this; we can't give them the time they need to rebuild."
"It's for our own safety, for the safety of our future. It's terrible, of course, but war calls for drastic measures."
"If the Zamorakians return, maybe they'd win, and then all our dead, those today and those of the future would be for nothing. You'd die for nothing; we'd all die for nothing. Don't you see? We can't let that happen!"

10-Mar-2011 11:54:24

Chuk

Chuk

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Aletayr could only sigh and shake his head. He understood, of course. The tactics he learned at the Academy said the same. But more war, more fighting, he didn't want that, especially not when he would be involved. It was his duty, though. He'd have to fight, maybe even lead, order men to their death. At least he was protecting some people. He wished he could focus on that, the lives he would be saving, but always in the forefront of his mind were the lives that he saw himself spending.
The hall dissolved to chaos within seconds. People stood to lend more weight to their arguments, shaking their fists. Many pushed their way to the exits. Salrina made her way back through the throng against its momentum. By the time she got back to the table, her parents had already left.
"What happened?" she demanded. "What caused all this?"
"The King started talking about taking the fight to them. You can tell how it went over. No one likes it, but there are some who realize it's necessary."
"Of course no one likes it. It's too soon after the battle, especially with such heavy losses. Emotions are too high. I don't care if it makes sense from a military view, but it was tactless and disrespectful to bring it up tonight. Many here are like you; they lost friends or relatives today. They can't bear the thought of losing more."
"And from the sound of it, he won't be giving the Guard more than a week's rest. He didn't say that outright, but it's what I got out of it. I know I won't be ready then…" He sighed. "they made me a hero, but I don't feel like one. I'm not a fighter."
Salrina smiled. "You haven't sounded like one tonight, but you manage it awfully well, and the people need you. I know it's a burden, one you don't seem to like very much, but we thank you for bearing it. We trust you with it."

10-Mar-2011 11:54:42 - Last edited on 10-Mar-2011 11:55:06 by Chuk

Chuk

Chuk

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Aletayr shrugged. "Yeah… I know," he said and lapsed into silence, once more staring at his plate.
After giving him a few moments to stop brooding, Salrina finally changed the subject. "Did you see my parents leave?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. They left soon after the King's speech. Headed out that door there."
"Ah, they probably headed back to the Inn, thinking that's where I'd gone. I should probably head back." The corner of her mouth twitched. "You wouldn't know anyone staying at the King's Watch, would you?"
"The King's Watch? That's actually where I'm staying. I guess I should be getting back. Would you mind if I accompanied you?"
"Of course not," she replied and broke into another grin. For some reason, Aletayr had the creeping suspicion that she had known exactly what he would say before she asked the question.
The walk to the inn passed all too quickly for Aletayr. Salrina talked most of the time, and though he remembered little of what she said, Aletayr found himself mesmerized by her voice, almost as if it were music. He was loathe to speak himself, to break the enchantment, even when she asked a question. When the King's Watch came into view, he purposely slowed his steps to gain as much time with her as he could.
Despite his efforts, they covered the last few yards in moments and reached the door. Both he and Salrina reached for the handle at the same time, and her hand brushed against his. She giggled softly, and Aletayr thanked the night for hiding the color in his cheeks. "Sorry," he murmured automatically and opened in the door.
"My family's in the second to last room on the second floor," Salrina said. Another playful, knowing smile tugged at her lips. "Where's yours?"
"Mine's the last one, at the very end of the hall."
"Ah, I guess I'll get to endure your company a little longer." She couldn't hold the smile back any longer, and it spread from ear to ear until she was almost laughing.

10-Mar-2011 11:56:20

Chuk

Chuk

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Aletayr turned bright red again, and suddenly reached a realization. "You knew! You knew I stayed here and where my room was!"
The smile vanished, her laughter ceased, and Salrina composed her face into quintessential innocence. "No, of course not," she said. "I wouldn't have asked if I knew."
The corners of her mouth started twitching again, and after a few more minutes her laughter broke free again. "I saw you leave earlier. You must've had something else on your mind, since you don't remember seeing me."
"Oh," Aletayr said sheepishly. "I guess I didn't realize my memory was so bad already." He joined her laughter and gestured for her to lead the way up the stairs. "Ladies first."
By the time they reached their rooms, Salrina and Aletayr were no longer laughing. Aletayr quickly bade her goodnight and turned towards his door, but Salrina grabbed his arm and pulled him gently back.
"I don't know if you remember," she began, then hesitated. Aletayr waited, perplexed.
When she resumed, the words rushed out. "Well, while you were training in Kryma, I sometimes watched the guards practice the sword. I saw you there a lot, and it was really nice to finally meet you, Aletayr. Oh, and I'm Salrina. I don't think I mentioned that."
She blushed and tilted her head, not meeting Aletayr's eyes. His own cheeks burned.
"It was… I'm glad I met you too," he managed.
"Goodnight," she murmured, and slid into her room.
- -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- -
When he finally roused himself from the daze in which Salrina had left him and realized he was standing in the middle of the hall, Aletayr hurried into his room. He stopped short as soon as he closed the door behind him. An oil lamp already glowed on the windowsill, and there was a hooded man sitting in a chair by the corner.
"Keryz?" Aletayr said. "Is there a problem? Surely not another attack?"

10-Mar-2011 11:56:51

Chuk

Chuk

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"No, no, nothing like that, Aletayr. No problem. All the same, I've got news, and you'll likely want to be sitting down when you hear it."
Aletayr moved to his bed, removed his shoes and collapsed onto it, leaning against the headboard and thinking of Salrina's hand brushing his. Her skin was so soft and…
"Aletayr?"
"What? Oh, right. Yes?"
Keryz chuckled. "Veril mentioned a girl taking an interest in you. Seems you're doin' the same. Sorry to distract you from that, but I really think you're going to want to hear this."
Believing he now had Aletayr's attention, Keryz spoke again, more seriously. "When I was in the Academy, I met an old colleague, an old Commando. A member of the King's secret force, if you will. He was wounded mortally, but before he died, he mentioned his last mission, a mission to Relnor, a mission to rescue Relnor's King."
Aletayr's mind had already drifted back to Salrina, and he failed to notice the mention of his home or father. Keryz continued, unaware his presumption of Aletayr's attention had been wrong.
"His mission was successful. Aletayr, your father might still be alive."
Aletayr jerked upright like he had been struck by lightning. "I'm sorry, sir, but did you…? No, you couldn't have. I must've heard wrong. Could you say that again, sir?"
"I said your father might be alive."
Aletayr frowned. "That's a poor joke, sir. My father fell in Relnor all those years ago."
"That's what I'm telling you kid: he didn't. My friend helped rescue him and managed to bring him safely to the mainland. According to my friend, he's somewhere in the north."
"He's dead, Keryz! As much as I want there to be some miracle, this is real life. If he was alive this whole time, I'd know. He'd at least have visited me; there's no way he would've let me and my mother think he's dead if he wasn't."

10-Mar-2011 11:57:29

Chuk

Chuk

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"He would've if he had to, Aletayr, if he was made to. There are any number of reasons the commandoes wouldn't have let him see you. What he wanted wouldn't have counted to them at all, if it could cost them anything. They wouldn't have let him go to you if they had an reason against it."
"Dammit, Keryz! Why wouldn't they at least tell us? We're his family. They should've told us; we deserved to know."
"Like I said, there are numerous reasons, and if you calm down, you'll think of 'em."
Aletayr took a few deep breaths. "I suppose so," he muttered. "But it doesn't really matter anyway. You said he's in the North. That means he'd be dead now anyway, since Zamorak owns it all."
"He was with Commandoes, Aletayr, and they're better even than your Elites. By a ways, if I may say so. Do not be too sure he is dead, even if he is deep within the enemy's lands. And I'm sorry to leave you like this, but I had only a few minutes, and I spent most of them waiting for you. I wish this news had brought you more hope rather than anger, and I hope now that you'll find hope in it as you think it over. Goodnight, Aletayr. I'm sure I'll see you in the coming days."
After the Battlemage left, Aletayr rose and stepped into the washroom. He dunked his head in the lukewarm wash basin, trying to force his jumbled thoughts into alignment. They failed to cooperate. Going back into the other room, he stripped to his undershorts and climbed into bed, though he was not yet ready to sleep. He lay on his back staring at the ceiling, and waited for the two sides of his brain to stop throwing thoughts at each other.
When they finally quieted, only one memory remained in the forefront of his mind, overshadowing the rest -- even the news of his father. Finally drifting into sleep, Aletayr dreamed of Salrina's hand brushing his.
- - - - End - - - -
- Twenty-three -

- - End of Part One of Echoes of the Gods: Silence Fractured - -

10-Mar-2011 11:58:11 - Last edited on 10-Mar-2011 11:59:12 by Chuk

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