“Now let’s just get you out of that toga,” Darma said, taking Annsi by the hand and leading her into her bedroom. When Darma opened up a tall oak wardrobe, it was stacked high with beautiful garments, with several glowing dresses hanging beside it.
Darma first removed the pins that held Annsi’s toga in place, and then unwrapped the cloth from around her. Annsi was clothed only in a loincloth around her waist, and she shyly covered herself up with her hands.
Darma pushed her arms to her side saying, “You don't need to be bashful. It’s just us women. Besides these are some remarkable ornaments. It’ll be hard to fit you in any dresses of mine with a mountains this high.”
Darma cupped one of Annsi’s breasts in her hand and said, “We’re going to have to find a dress to hold these up these heavy lumps of flesh. You’ll want to accentuate them. They’re your weapons. And so many men will be your enslaved prisoners by their destructive power. But surely that’s what every woman wants, isn’t it? A captive husband to take care of her?”
Darma pulled several dresses out of the closet and laid them out. She ordered Annsi to try each one of them on in succession. As Annsi tried on dresses, Darma lectured. “We’ll have to put some effort into making you as feminine as you can. The army’s made you fit and trim, but hasn’t exactly accentuated your feminine curves, though you have a beautiful shape. Of course, we won’t be able to tell anyone you’ve been in the army. We’ll have to make something up. Maybe we could say you’ve been staying at the Aresan Court or you’ve been travelling for a long time. Unfortunately, those men want us women brand new like a loaf fresh out of the oven—fresh and virginal and untouched by any other man—and it’s hard for them to believe a woman who’s served in the army could possible be one of those. I can confess to you that I was not married off as a virgin, though I did an excellent job of convincing Dorin that I was. If you don’t mind me asking, is it the same with you?”
Annsi nodded her head as she pulled the third dress onto her and showed it off. “Some handsome young soldier?” Darma asked with a smile, adding with an even bigger smile, “Or perhaps several young handsome soldiers?”
“Just General Alles,” Annsi shyly admitted, “Only him.”
“Oh wow!” Darma replied with admiration, “You don’t have low standards at all. You go straight for the best. We might have trouble finding a man that’ll suit your high standards.” She laughed and then told Annsi, “Just kidding. The men will be yours for the choosing.”
“I should confess though that, in the course of my relations with Alles, I may have become impregnated,” Annsi said, looking down at her belly.
Darma tenderly touched Annsi’s belly and said, “That is exciting. That’s some great child growing in your belly, with an enviable pedigree: the child of Alles and the great-grandchild of whatever Aresan King who was Alles’ father. I hope this was recently.” Darma commented on the last of the dresses that Annsi was wearing, a shiny silver dress that fit closer than the others, “Now that one looks nice.”
“Yes, most recently,” Annsi replied.
“Then you’ll have perhaps until the end of Madrus before you start showing, and three seasons from now until it pops out. If we can get you married soon enough, then you can talk your future husband into thinking it’s his. We might be getting ahead of ourselves, but, of course, when the time comes to fulfill your wifely duty, you’ll have to pretend you don’t know what you’re doing. So long as you can remember how clumsy you were your first time, you’ll be golden.” Darma laughed a little at her own comment.
“But I won’t bleed,” Annsi admitted with some apparent shame.
“We’ll worry about that later. Now we need to take care of your hair. As I said, we want to make you as feminine as possible. And we’ll have to hurry, lest we’re late for dinner.”
Annsi and Darma arrived at the perfect time to Arianna’s dinner, only just barely late enough to be the center of attention of all the guests who’d arrived on time as they entered, but not so late to be irksome. Darma was the star of the evening, as usual, but as the piece of jewelry hanging on her arm, Annsi dazzled by her association with her. With Darma there to aid her in conversation, she said interesting things, made humorous jokes and made herself memorable enough that, by the end of the evening, she already had more than one interested suitor.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Aresan Clan pt 92
The Creature of Virtue was a frightening animal as she approached close to Roderick, who was unarmed and unprotected, but she lowered herself submissively when she saw him standing there waiting for her. She bent her forelegs to lower her head down to the ground while her tail still remained high in the air lilting slowly. The large feline waited, and Roderick tossed a large piece of meat in her direction. She snapped up the meat off the ground, exposing the sharp, white teeth as she chewed.
Roderick cautiously moved forward and touched his hand to the head of the cat. She was covered with a thick layer of gray, striped fur, and as he felt through her warm coat, the animal rumbled with an approving purr. He held out the garment which contained Mill’s scent before the nose of the animal and she gave it a sniff.
“He is banned from the city,” Roderick explained to the cat as he touched her head, “If you should smell him, kill him.”
Roderick then dropped another piece of meat for the animal, and she gobbled it up just as quickly. Then he clapped his hands twice and said,” Now off you go,” and the animal departed through the entryway from which she came.
Amida found her time of confinement to be something of a recreation. She was able to reestablish her schedule: sleeping when she wanted to sleep, exercising when she wanted to exercise, and eating when she wanted to eat. And with no duties or chores that she was bound to daily perform, as was the norm in the cloisters, she had more free time to relax and meditate.
The female Itinerant, Chrissina, who had been left to attend her, brought her food. The food, at least from Amida’s perspective, left something to be desired, since it mostly consisted of freshly caught meat. It was not the round and varied diet of the cloisters consisting of several carefully prepared and processed meals.
That being said, Amida liked this woman Chrissina: she was large, strong, tough and generous. Chrisssina provided bounteous plates of food for her: catching the game, cooking it over a fire and stuffing a hearty portion through the window for Amida as she called out sweetly to her, “The food is ready,” in her own language.
Chrissina didn’t know a word of Omnian so Amida would struggle to communicate to her with her limited command of the language. “Thank you for the food. It tastes wonderful,” Amida would tell her as she took the meat and would slowly gnaw at it with her hands.
The room itself was stocked with artifacts that the Itinerants had collected for trading: bits of ancient brickwork and cement, fragments of wood and bits of glass, metal tool, utensils and coins. The most valuable pieces were works that harkened back to the forgotten craftsmanship of their forebears: small statues, painted ceramics and fragments of design and lettering from the walls of buildings.
After being delivered her latest meal, Amida called out to Chrissina, “Hey beautiful. When am I getting out? You hear anything?”
“I am not beautiful,” Chrissina said, peaking a smiling face through the window. She was a young woman and had a vigorous liveliness in her face, “But they’re sure to take you back soon. We don’t want to hold you here forever. It’s a lot of work to look after you. I mean nothing bad. I like you. Just that I could be helping my tribe.”
Amida nodded in understanding when she heard this and replied, “No hurry.”
When Annsi showed up at Darma’s house and was led in to see her, Darma’s first reaction, when she saw Annsi, was, “Oh no! We can’t take you to Arianna’s house looking like that.”
Annsi was wearing the same outfit she’d worn when she’d dined with Darma and Salles and she looked down at herself self-consciously. Darma had to immediately explain herself when she saw the way that Annsi looked so hurt and dejected. “No dear. It’s not that you don’t look beautiful. You do look beautiful. It’s just that when you go to dinner with people like these, it’s not enough to just look beautiful. You have to have to look expensive. You have to make the men think that if you were a trinket they were buying off a shelf, they’d have to pay a high price for you. These men, you see, are not looking for a bargain. You’re already beautiful, but these men are looking for something beautiful and costly.”
“But I’m not costly!” Annsi objected, holding out the somewhat worn fabric of her toga.
“Oh, but when we dress you up, you will be,” Darma said.
Roderick cautiously moved forward and touched his hand to the head of the cat. She was covered with a thick layer of gray, striped fur, and as he felt through her warm coat, the animal rumbled with an approving purr. He held out the garment which contained Mill’s scent before the nose of the animal and she gave it a sniff.
“He is banned from the city,” Roderick explained to the cat as he touched her head, “If you should smell him, kill him.”
Roderick then dropped another piece of meat for the animal, and she gobbled it up just as quickly. Then he clapped his hands twice and said,” Now off you go,” and the animal departed through the entryway from which she came.
Amida found her time of confinement to be something of a recreation. She was able to reestablish her schedule: sleeping when she wanted to sleep, exercising when she wanted to exercise, and eating when she wanted to eat. And with no duties or chores that she was bound to daily perform, as was the norm in the cloisters, she had more free time to relax and meditate.
The female Itinerant, Chrissina, who had been left to attend her, brought her food. The food, at least from Amida’s perspective, left something to be desired, since it mostly consisted of freshly caught meat. It was not the round and varied diet of the cloisters consisting of several carefully prepared and processed meals.
That being said, Amida liked this woman Chrissina: she was large, strong, tough and generous. Chrisssina provided bounteous plates of food for her: catching the game, cooking it over a fire and stuffing a hearty portion through the window for Amida as she called out sweetly to her, “The food is ready,” in her own language.
Chrissina didn’t know a word of Omnian so Amida would struggle to communicate to her with her limited command of the language. “Thank you for the food. It tastes wonderful,” Amida would tell her as she took the meat and would slowly gnaw at it with her hands.
The room itself was stocked with artifacts that the Itinerants had collected for trading: bits of ancient brickwork and cement, fragments of wood and bits of glass, metal tool, utensils and coins. The most valuable pieces were works that harkened back to the forgotten craftsmanship of their forebears: small statues, painted ceramics and fragments of design and lettering from the walls of buildings.
After being delivered her latest meal, Amida called out to Chrissina, “Hey beautiful. When am I getting out? You hear anything?”
“I am not beautiful,” Chrissina said, peaking a smiling face through the window. She was a young woman and had a vigorous liveliness in her face, “But they’re sure to take you back soon. We don’t want to hold you here forever. It’s a lot of work to look after you. I mean nothing bad. I like you. Just that I could be helping my tribe.”
Amida nodded in understanding when she heard this and replied, “No hurry.”
When Annsi showed up at Darma’s house and was led in to see her, Darma’s first reaction, when she saw Annsi, was, “Oh no! We can’t take you to Arianna’s house looking like that.”
Annsi was wearing the same outfit she’d worn when she’d dined with Darma and Salles and she looked down at herself self-consciously. Darma had to immediately explain herself when she saw the way that Annsi looked so hurt and dejected. “No dear. It’s not that you don’t look beautiful. You do look beautiful. It’s just that when you go to dinner with people like these, it’s not enough to just look beautiful. You have to have to look expensive. You have to make the men think that if you were a trinket they were buying off a shelf, they’d have to pay a high price for you. These men, you see, are not looking for a bargain. You’re already beautiful, but these men are looking for something beautiful and costly.”
“But I’m not costly!” Annsi objected, holding out the somewhat worn fabric of her toga.
“Oh, but when we dress you up, you will be,” Darma said.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Aresan Clan pt 91
Lipmon lay upon a bed, his head propped up by several soft pillows as a young female servant set some food down beside him: steaming chicken stock, with a chunk of bread, some slices of beef and berries. He looked at the food eagerly and thanked the servant with a smile.
Roderick entered the room just as the servant was leaving and found Lipmon plopping a few berries into his mouth with great pleasure.
“I've never eaten this good in my life,” Lipmon commented when he saw Roderick enter, “And all it took was for me to witness my entire village destroyed and almost be killed twice.”
“The merest trifle,” Roderick replied sarcastically and smiled along with Lipmon who at least presently seemed to be able to see it all in a positive light. “But I was arriving to tell you that I am going to be returning to Orinda-forr for a few days,” Roderick continued, “I would take you with me, but your doctor recommends that you not be moved. I should think that you won't mind staying here, since the luxuries that the High Priest can provide are far superior to those you would find in my more modest home.”
“I’ll stay,” Lipmon said, “But it’s not the luxury that makes me want to stay. It’s that I need to recover quickly so I can join the army. From what I hear, they march soon, perhaps in only a few days.”
“You want to join the army?” Roderick asked, a bit surprised, “Why?”
“Because, if our army meets any resistance from the Omnian armies, then the man who gave me this scar will be surely among them,” Lipmon said, touching his face, “The same man who kidnapped Tann.”
“I can do nothing to discourage you,” Roderick replied shrugging his shoulders with disappointment, “Though you should be told that war is neck-deep in horrors and you are not a trained soldier. If they should give you a sword and let you out onto that battlefield, then certainly you can make the attempt and I hope luck is on your side.”
“I will,” Lipmon said with resolve, “And I won’t fail.”
“Then I may not see you again,” Roderick conceded, “Since you’ll probably have marched by the time I return.”
The two men shared a sober parting, and afterwards Roderick walked from the room. He exited from the High Priest’s castle, which was directly adjoining to the palace complex. He took a rickshaw to the house where he’d been staying in Waldoon and where his carriage waited. His baggage had already been prepared and the horses harnessed and ready, such that he merely had to step into the carriage and his driver immediately put it into motion.
It took most of the day for him to travel to Orinda-forr. He was driven over the bridge and through the gates of the village, waving to the guards that currently manned it. The horses were led up a sloped road, which approached the spacious home he occupied overlooking Orinda-forr. The house sprawled across the hill, its upper stories peaking up above the trees and it’s bottom story fronted by a set of stone columns.
The driver pulled directly into the stables. Roderick hopped off immediately and told his driver, “I’ll send someone to grab my trunk,” as he promptly walked towards the side entrance to his home.
A servant was there to open the door and deferentially said, “Welcome back, sir.”
“See to it that my luggage is brought in,” Roderick said, handing the man his jacket. The servant bowed and said, “Of course, sir.”
Roderick passed through the house and entered a room on the ground floor at the back known as the bestiary. The room was cold since it opened to the exterior. He put his lips to a mouthpiece attached to the wall, and, with all of the strength of his lungs, he blew. The mouthpiece connected to a pipe that spiraled upwards and opened as a large horn, which spewed its sound into the forest.
Roderick’s wife, Esma approached, though she didn’t enter the bestiary with him, instead speaking through a barred window, “Nice to see you back. What’re you calling the creature for?”
“Aleck has been excommunicated,” Roderick said as he reached into a leather sack and pulled out a piece of clothing that had been taken from Mill. A few minutes later a great lynx ran into the bestiary. She halted when she saw Roderick standing there waiting for her.
Roderick entered the room just as the servant was leaving and found Lipmon plopping a few berries into his mouth with great pleasure.
“I've never eaten this good in my life,” Lipmon commented when he saw Roderick enter, “And all it took was for me to witness my entire village destroyed and almost be killed twice.”
“The merest trifle,” Roderick replied sarcastically and smiled along with Lipmon who at least presently seemed to be able to see it all in a positive light. “But I was arriving to tell you that I am going to be returning to Orinda-forr for a few days,” Roderick continued, “I would take you with me, but your doctor recommends that you not be moved. I should think that you won't mind staying here, since the luxuries that the High Priest can provide are far superior to those you would find in my more modest home.”
“I’ll stay,” Lipmon said, “But it’s not the luxury that makes me want to stay. It’s that I need to recover quickly so I can join the army. From what I hear, they march soon, perhaps in only a few days.”
“You want to join the army?” Roderick asked, a bit surprised, “Why?”
“Because, if our army meets any resistance from the Omnian armies, then the man who gave me this scar will be surely among them,” Lipmon said, touching his face, “The same man who kidnapped Tann.”
“I can do nothing to discourage you,” Roderick replied shrugging his shoulders with disappointment, “Though you should be told that war is neck-deep in horrors and you are not a trained soldier. If they should give you a sword and let you out onto that battlefield, then certainly you can make the attempt and I hope luck is on your side.”
“I will,” Lipmon said with resolve, “And I won’t fail.”
“Then I may not see you again,” Roderick conceded, “Since you’ll probably have marched by the time I return.”
The two men shared a sober parting, and afterwards Roderick walked from the room. He exited from the High Priest’s castle, which was directly adjoining to the palace complex. He took a rickshaw to the house where he’d been staying in Waldoon and where his carriage waited. His baggage had already been prepared and the horses harnessed and ready, such that he merely had to step into the carriage and his driver immediately put it into motion.
It took most of the day for him to travel to Orinda-forr. He was driven over the bridge and through the gates of the village, waving to the guards that currently manned it. The horses were led up a sloped road, which approached the spacious home he occupied overlooking Orinda-forr. The house sprawled across the hill, its upper stories peaking up above the trees and it’s bottom story fronted by a set of stone columns.
The driver pulled directly into the stables. Roderick hopped off immediately and told his driver, “I’ll send someone to grab my trunk,” as he promptly walked towards the side entrance to his home.
A servant was there to open the door and deferentially said, “Welcome back, sir.”
“See to it that my luggage is brought in,” Roderick said, handing the man his jacket. The servant bowed and said, “Of course, sir.”
Roderick passed through the house and entered a room on the ground floor at the back known as the bestiary. The room was cold since it opened to the exterior. He put his lips to a mouthpiece attached to the wall, and, with all of the strength of his lungs, he blew. The mouthpiece connected to a pipe that spiraled upwards and opened as a large horn, which spewed its sound into the forest.
Roderick’s wife, Esma approached, though she didn’t enter the bestiary with him, instead speaking through a barred window, “Nice to see you back. What’re you calling the creature for?”
“Aleck has been excommunicated,” Roderick said as he reached into a leather sack and pulled out a piece of clothing that had been taken from Mill. A few minutes later a great lynx ran into the bestiary. She halted when she saw Roderick standing there waiting for her.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Aresan Clan pt 90
Mill languished in his cell: hungry, cold, bored and anxious over his fate. When his door was once more opened without prelude and the guard entered and told Mill to get onto his feet immediately, he thought this might be the point when his fate would be finally resolved.
“Hurry to your feet. You’ve been tried and you’re going to be sentenced momentarily,” the guard said, “I ain’t letting you keep them waiting.”
Mill tried to promptly lift himself to his feet, though his muscles were stiff and sore. He followed the guard out of the cell, through the prison, and up the stairs to a window-lit hallway. This time he was led out outside, through a door into daylight.
When he stepped down the stairs to the dirt-covered street, he saw that crowds lined the thoroughfare that he was being led down. As soon as they saw him they launched into an onslaught of booing and yelling curses in his direction. Soon rocks were being launched at him, small ones mostly, cast at his body, bruising him on the arms and on the side, even a few striking his head.
“You’re not allowed to throw stones at him,” the guard shouted halfheartedly after several stones had already struck Mill, and the stones were brought to a halt.
Mill was led to a square, which had been cleared. In the center of it were a pair of parallel posts that protruded out of the ground. To these, Mill was led. As soon as he arrived, his shirt was stripped, leaving him topless before the crowd. Then one of his wrists was snatched and it was wrapped in a wrist strap attached to one of the poles. His other wrist was affixed to the opposite pole, and then ropes were pulled until his arms were fully splayed. His ankles were next affixed as well until his legs were spread, leaving him almost no room to move.
At this point, a crier who stepped forward read out the sentence. Mill could see the man just to his side and he shouted to the assembled crowd, from memory, a statement as it had been related to him: “Citizen Aleck of the city of Orinda-forr has been found guilty by a duly assembled court of law of having committed espionage on behalf of enemies of the Order of the Fourth Road to Divinity. Citizen Aleck has been cooperative and helpful in providing information to the Order, and for this reason leniency has been sought and granted. Citizen Aleck will be punished with a mere forty lashes to be administered immediately, and will be subsequently permanently excommunicated from all lands, cities and villages of the Order of the Fourth Road to Divinity from hereon and to the end of time.
“May it be the will of God that all punishment be just and that every man be punished in proportion to his crimes. Let the punishment commence.”
At this point Mill saw the crowd erupt in cheers. He could only turn his head to see behind him, and it was just enough to see a man bearing a large, leather bullwhip approaching. He clenched his body as something of a defense against the whip, and that long and unendurable period of anticipation began. It was then that he saw what appeared to be Kayla standing in the crowd, looking at him with a look that appeared to convey empathy for his plight.
When the first blow struck, he entirely went limp as energy was sapped from him by the agony. A long stinging line stretched across him after the thin tip of the whip violently slapped his back. The pain lingered and a red mark was left. The man gathered up the bullwhip, and, as soon as he’d done so, he swung it out to its full length. It again slapped him across the back, creating an agony that not only equaled, but stood on the shoulders of the one before.
More whips came in close succession. The pain of each lingered, like an echo, and as the number of whips increased, the echoes amplified into a cacophony of suffering. Mill’s skin was split open, leaving long bleeding wounds across his back, which dripped in red drops and made his back a mass of spattered red.
By the time the forty whips were finished, Mill didn’t have the strength to stand and he had to be carried from this square back to his cell. There he was dumped on the ground and left to suffer the still potent pain of his many wounds. At the time, he did not have the presence of mind to notice that he wasn’t being immediately released and banished from town, in accord with his excommunication.
“Hurry to your feet. You’ve been tried and you’re going to be sentenced momentarily,” the guard said, “I ain’t letting you keep them waiting.”
Mill tried to promptly lift himself to his feet, though his muscles were stiff and sore. He followed the guard out of the cell, through the prison, and up the stairs to a window-lit hallway. This time he was led out outside, through a door into daylight.
When he stepped down the stairs to the dirt-covered street, he saw that crowds lined the thoroughfare that he was being led down. As soon as they saw him they launched into an onslaught of booing and yelling curses in his direction. Soon rocks were being launched at him, small ones mostly, cast at his body, bruising him on the arms and on the side, even a few striking his head.
“You’re not allowed to throw stones at him,” the guard shouted halfheartedly after several stones had already struck Mill, and the stones were brought to a halt.
Mill was led to a square, which had been cleared. In the center of it were a pair of parallel posts that protruded out of the ground. To these, Mill was led. As soon as he arrived, his shirt was stripped, leaving him topless before the crowd. Then one of his wrists was snatched and it was wrapped in a wrist strap attached to one of the poles. His other wrist was affixed to the opposite pole, and then ropes were pulled until his arms were fully splayed. His ankles were next affixed as well until his legs were spread, leaving him almost no room to move.
At this point, a crier who stepped forward read out the sentence. Mill could see the man just to his side and he shouted to the assembled crowd, from memory, a statement as it had been related to him: “Citizen Aleck of the city of Orinda-forr has been found guilty by a duly assembled court of law of having committed espionage on behalf of enemies of the Order of the Fourth Road to Divinity. Citizen Aleck has been cooperative and helpful in providing information to the Order, and for this reason leniency has been sought and granted. Citizen Aleck will be punished with a mere forty lashes to be administered immediately, and will be subsequently permanently excommunicated from all lands, cities and villages of the Order of the Fourth Road to Divinity from hereon and to the end of time.
“May it be the will of God that all punishment be just and that every man be punished in proportion to his crimes. Let the punishment commence.”
At this point Mill saw the crowd erupt in cheers. He could only turn his head to see behind him, and it was just enough to see a man bearing a large, leather bullwhip approaching. He clenched his body as something of a defense against the whip, and that long and unendurable period of anticipation began. It was then that he saw what appeared to be Kayla standing in the crowd, looking at him with a look that appeared to convey empathy for his plight.
When the first blow struck, he entirely went limp as energy was sapped from him by the agony. A long stinging line stretched across him after the thin tip of the whip violently slapped his back. The pain lingered and a red mark was left. The man gathered up the bullwhip, and, as soon as he’d done so, he swung it out to its full length. It again slapped him across the back, creating an agony that not only equaled, but stood on the shoulders of the one before.
More whips came in close succession. The pain of each lingered, like an echo, and as the number of whips increased, the echoes amplified into a cacophony of suffering. Mill’s skin was split open, leaving long bleeding wounds across his back, which dripped in red drops and made his back a mass of spattered red.
By the time the forty whips were finished, Mill didn’t have the strength to stand and he had to be carried from this square back to his cell. There he was dumped on the ground and left to suffer the still potent pain of his many wounds. At the time, he did not have the presence of mind to notice that he wasn’t being immediately released and banished from town, in accord with his excommunication.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Aresan Clan Summary - Parts 81-90
Kayla asks Mill what he knows, claiming that she has been specifically asked about the Omnia’s plans of conquest. Mill doesn’t deny that what he said before about the conquest. Afterwards, she is released from prison, revealing that she was a confederate of Mill’s captors.
Erek-Monte drags Amida to a basement-level room from some ancient building and locks her within in order to secure her so they don’t have to drag her around with them. In the Cloisters, because Amida hasn’t been heard from, the Sages decide to put Jule in an improvised holding cell in the Cloisters’ storage cellar.
Alles, as promised, speaks with the Closed Table in private and lays out why securing the northern border is strategically and militaristically sensible. Though Anders and his faction oppose him, a majority is in favor, and the Omnia agrees to assist in fortifications for the Aresan Clan. Anders is infuriated, and starts contemplating how he could quietly get rid of Alles, especially since he is the major barrier to forcing the Aresans to join the Omnia.
Dylan-Nantes visits a farmhouse where he had slain the entire family simply in order that he might steal the father’s clothes and thus blend in when he had entered Lamosa. He changes back into his Itinerant clothes and leaves.
It is the first day of Madrus, which is a feast day. At the cloisters Noone and Eloh join the Sages and the residents of the cloisters for a large feast, at which Arrs and Sanda are seen flirting. Salles shares the feast with Darma, whose husband, Dorin, has recently returned to spend the first evening of Madrus with her. Unfortunately, Dorin eats profusely, making him tired and making it difficult for Darma to persuade him to sleep with her that night. Meanwhile, Annsi spends Madrus with her mother, who encourages her daughter to marry.
In Waldoon, Robair returns, reporting to Saurek that Still Creek is destroyed and it is the fault of the Omnians or the Aresans. Saurek communes with God, and then gives a speech to the gathered armies to the effect that the Fourth Order has come under attack and they will conquer their heathen opponents.
Mill is taken from his cell and is sentenced to forty lashes and excommunication. It is administered publicly in front of a large and hostile crowd. After being whipped, fatigued and in pain, he is thrown in his cell again, with no indication that he will soon be released.
Erek-Monte drags Amida to a basement-level room from some ancient building and locks her within in order to secure her so they don’t have to drag her around with them. In the Cloisters, because Amida hasn’t been heard from, the Sages decide to put Jule in an improvised holding cell in the Cloisters’ storage cellar.
Alles, as promised, speaks with the Closed Table in private and lays out why securing the northern border is strategically and militaristically sensible. Though Anders and his faction oppose him, a majority is in favor, and the Omnia agrees to assist in fortifications for the Aresan Clan. Anders is infuriated, and starts contemplating how he could quietly get rid of Alles, especially since he is the major barrier to forcing the Aresans to join the Omnia.
Dylan-Nantes visits a farmhouse where he had slain the entire family simply in order that he might steal the father’s clothes and thus blend in when he had entered Lamosa. He changes back into his Itinerant clothes and leaves.
It is the first day of Madrus, which is a feast day. At the cloisters Noone and Eloh join the Sages and the residents of the cloisters for a large feast, at which Arrs and Sanda are seen flirting. Salles shares the feast with Darma, whose husband, Dorin, has recently returned to spend the first evening of Madrus with her. Unfortunately, Dorin eats profusely, making him tired and making it difficult for Darma to persuade him to sleep with her that night. Meanwhile, Annsi spends Madrus with her mother, who encourages her daughter to marry.
In Waldoon, Robair returns, reporting to Saurek that Still Creek is destroyed and it is the fault of the Omnians or the Aresans. Saurek communes with God, and then gives a speech to the gathered armies to the effect that the Fourth Order has come under attack and they will conquer their heathen opponents.
Mill is taken from his cell and is sentenced to forty lashes and excommunication. It is administered publicly in front of a large and hostile crowd. After being whipped, fatigued and in pain, he is thrown in his cell again, with no indication that he will soon be released.
<-- Summary of Parts 71-80 Summary of Parts 91-100 -->
You can see all parts of The Aresan Clan written so far collected here.
You can see all parts of The Aresan Clan written so far collected here.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Aresan Clan pt 89
Robair galloped upon a fatigued horse through the cramped streets of Waldoon at such a rapid pace that people had to leap out of his way. When he pulled up to the front steps of the palace he immediately dismounted and ran up towards the entrance.
When he entered into the main courtyard of the palace, he found it not sparsely crowded as he usual would, but now packed with troops. The troops were lined up in rigid rows of parade formations and were being marched about. Their discipline and order was admirable: the arms and legs of hundreds of men moved in unison and they maintained the straight perpendicular lines as they moved.
Robair hastily crossed the courtyard to the congregation hall, cutting through the crowds of soldiers. As soon as he entered, he found the pews now crowded with devotees silently praying. He progressed to the door of High Priest Saurek’s office, and the guard opened it up as soon as he saw him approaching. Inside, the High Priest was speaking with a few of his advisors and had his secretaries flanking him on either side. But he came to an abrupt stop as soon as he saw Robair enter.
“You saw Still Creek-forr?” Saurek asked, focusing the intense stare of his wrinkled face upon the recently arrived scout.
“Ashes,” Robair reported, soberly nodding his head as he spoke and lowering his eyes out of respect, “All the buildings: gone.”
“Itinerants? Onutians?” Saurek asked, furrowing his brow in an interrogative countenance.
“Definitely from the Aresans or the Omnians,” Robair replied, “We found the remains of a goat that had been sacrificed in the style of that region. It’s unmistakable.”
Saurek sat back in his chair. He looked like he was trying to present the displeased expression of one disappointed that fate had forced him to take such extreme measures, but a small smile sneaked onto his face. “Close the doors to the temple. We are at war,” he announced, “And I shall have to consult with God. I’ll address the crowds afterwards.”
After Saurek stepped inside the ground-level temple, the great metal doors were pushed closed behind him. The only light remaining in the room was that of the small flames on the pedestals and the natural light that entered through the distant ceiling.
He made the ascent, and during this time crowds began to gather around the citadel. Slowly the soldiers fell out of formation as they were ordered to gather to hear some words from the High Priest. Attracted by these crowds, many others joined, and gradually the crowd around the citadel swelled.
As Saurek made the descent he stopped at a door that was some few dozen steps above the bottom step. The door opened to a small balcony, which overlooked the courtyard and now looked down upon the spontaneously assembled crowd.
“Citizens and adherents of the Order of the Fourth Road to Divinity. It is on this day that I announce to you that the boundaries or our sacred dominion have been violated by foreigners,” Saurek began to speak, sending his capacious voice out over the crowds, “Nay, our borders have not simply been violated, destruction has been perpetrated upon our land. A village has been destroyed. Every building in it burnt to ashes. Every citizen killed mercilessly. And for what? I will tell you. Because the Omnia and the Aresan Clan seek conquest. They seek to conquer this whole land. And they will not stop until they succeed. I know this because God knows all and He communicated it to me.
“Now, what does God ask us to do in response, you might ask. Well, when I was atop this citadel just moments ago and I communed with God, He presented me with a vision. I saw a vision of valleys submerged in the blood of our enemies. I see their blood dripping through the ceiling of Darholl, where, after we slay them, they shall be sentenced for all eternity for their wickedness. They believe in false and foolish teachings: that there are many gods there to protect them. But I and my predecessors have spoken with the one God and know that He does not favor those who reject him. There is no blessedness for them in the afterlife.
“Too long their godless ways have obstructed the path of the righteous. We shall bring God to their lands at the tip of a sword. The tips of the swords of you soldiers here, and the many others we are gathering together to attack. With our strength and with the strength of God behind us, we shall be victorious.”
Applause and shouts of approval spread across the crowds at these words.
When he entered into the main courtyard of the palace, he found it not sparsely crowded as he usual would, but now packed with troops. The troops were lined up in rigid rows of parade formations and were being marched about. Their discipline and order was admirable: the arms and legs of hundreds of men moved in unison and they maintained the straight perpendicular lines as they moved.
Robair hastily crossed the courtyard to the congregation hall, cutting through the crowds of soldiers. As soon as he entered, he found the pews now crowded with devotees silently praying. He progressed to the door of High Priest Saurek’s office, and the guard opened it up as soon as he saw him approaching. Inside, the High Priest was speaking with a few of his advisors and had his secretaries flanking him on either side. But he came to an abrupt stop as soon as he saw Robair enter.
“You saw Still Creek-forr?” Saurek asked, focusing the intense stare of his wrinkled face upon the recently arrived scout.
“Ashes,” Robair reported, soberly nodding his head as he spoke and lowering his eyes out of respect, “All the buildings: gone.”
“Itinerants? Onutians?” Saurek asked, furrowing his brow in an interrogative countenance.
“Definitely from the Aresans or the Omnians,” Robair replied, “We found the remains of a goat that had been sacrificed in the style of that region. It’s unmistakable.”
Saurek sat back in his chair. He looked like he was trying to present the displeased expression of one disappointed that fate had forced him to take such extreme measures, but a small smile sneaked onto his face. “Close the doors to the temple. We are at war,” he announced, “And I shall have to consult with God. I’ll address the crowds afterwards.”
After Saurek stepped inside the ground-level temple, the great metal doors were pushed closed behind him. The only light remaining in the room was that of the small flames on the pedestals and the natural light that entered through the distant ceiling.
He made the ascent, and during this time crowds began to gather around the citadel. Slowly the soldiers fell out of formation as they were ordered to gather to hear some words from the High Priest. Attracted by these crowds, many others joined, and gradually the crowd around the citadel swelled.
As Saurek made the descent he stopped at a door that was some few dozen steps above the bottom step. The door opened to a small balcony, which overlooked the courtyard and now looked down upon the spontaneously assembled crowd.
“Citizens and adherents of the Order of the Fourth Road to Divinity. It is on this day that I announce to you that the boundaries or our sacred dominion have been violated by foreigners,” Saurek began to speak, sending his capacious voice out over the crowds, “Nay, our borders have not simply been violated, destruction has been perpetrated upon our land. A village has been destroyed. Every building in it burnt to ashes. Every citizen killed mercilessly. And for what? I will tell you. Because the Omnia and the Aresan Clan seek conquest. They seek to conquer this whole land. And they will not stop until they succeed. I know this because God knows all and He communicated it to me.
“Now, what does God ask us to do in response, you might ask. Well, when I was atop this citadel just moments ago and I communed with God, He presented me with a vision. I saw a vision of valleys submerged in the blood of our enemies. I see their blood dripping through the ceiling of Darholl, where, after we slay them, they shall be sentenced for all eternity for their wickedness. They believe in false and foolish teachings: that there are many gods there to protect them. But I and my predecessors have spoken with the one God and know that He does not favor those who reject him. There is no blessedness for them in the afterlife.
“Too long their godless ways have obstructed the path of the righteous. We shall bring God to their lands at the tip of a sword. The tips of the swords of you soldiers here, and the many others we are gathering together to attack. With our strength and with the strength of God behind us, we shall be victorious.”
Applause and shouts of approval spread across the crowds at these words.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Aresan Clan pt 88
Darma sat at a dining table richly spread with food: a whole cooked goose, potatoes, corn and sweetened rolls. She wore a sparkling blue dress that shimmered when she moved and brought out the brightness of her eyes. She looked eagerly at the food, impatient for her husband to join her. Salles sat opposite her in the same beige frock he always wore, inspecting the food with a look more resembling confusion and apprehension: this was not the type of food that a Sage would normally consume and he wondered how this rich food would agree with his stomach.
Onur came in and placed the last of the food on the table, a sweet potato pie still steaming with warmth.
“Thank you, Onur. This looks wonderful. I'm sure we'll love it,” Annsi gushed, “And we won't need you anymore tonight. You can go home and spend the Madrus Feast with your family.”
Onur bowed and said, “Thank you mistress,” and then he disappeared from the room.
Moments later Dorin entered the room, dressed formally and cleanly shaved. He was a short man, a bit round around the middle with a dull, expressionless face. His eyes seemed to be staring at something far off into the distance and his mouth was permanently fixed in a flat, neutral position, partly open. As he walked, he leaned his head back and pushed his paunch forward, like one trying to show off his well-fed belly as a proud achievement.
“How do I look?” he asked his wife as he came forward and kissed her on the cheek. She simply nodded and said, “Good.” He sat down and began to grab food and place it on his plate. “Good thing you were here to keep my wife company while I was away. Thank you,” Dorin said to Salles.
Salles simply nodded as Dorin started filling generous portions onto his plate, Darma reached out and gripped his hand with hers and then told him gently and sweetly, “Don’t take too much. You know how tired you get after dinner when you eat too much.”
“I can eat as much as I want,” Dorin replied in a deep, commanding voice, “It’s a holiday. It’s my obligation to eat generously, in honor of Madrus.”
“But what about the other duty of Madrus?” Darma asked gently and sweetly, “Don’t you want to … tonight … together.”
“Please Darma,” Dorin replied, “These things shouldn’t be discussed in front of our guest. Especially a Sage. They’re celibate, aren’t they? They’re supposed to close their mind to all those worldly cares. Such thoughts cloud a man’s mind, you know.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Salles said, “We aren’t actually celibate. We are simply forbidden to marry. I actually have a daughter.”
“See, he can handle all of this talk,” Darma said, “He’s an adult.”
“Still, it shouldn’t be talked at the dinner table, no matter whom we’re eating with. Would you talk about it if your mother was around?” Dorin asked. He had by now stuffed some food in his mouth and was trying to speak while he held the food in his cheeks, and the clarity of his words suffered as a result.
“Of course, I would,” Darma said with a playful smile, “We talk about it together. She gives me advice.”
“Alright, that’s enough of this. Surely we can conduct conversation at the table without having to revert to the basest topics.”
“Of course, my dear,” Darma said without apparent guile or sarcasm, “We can speak about whatever you wish. What is it you’d like to talk about?”
“I don’t know,” Dorin said, his mouth still stuffed. He, in fact, didn’t appear to want to talk at all, since it only seemed to be interrupting his eating, so they ate in relative silence. Darma told Dorin about some of the recent events: the visit from Alles and Annsi, and the horrible murder of their neighbor’s daughter.
Meanwhile, Salles ate cautiously, mostly confining himself to the goose and the corn; Darma sampled from everything, but only took small portions; whereas Dorin ate generously and unconstrainedly.
By the time the dinner was completed, Dorin was stuffed and had to slowly waddle into the living room to relax and let the food digest. Salles excused himself early, saying he was off to bed, allowing the two of them to be alone. Afterwards Darma flirted profusely with her husband. She coaxed, seduced and cajoled, never stinting, never giving up, always trying to aim him towards sharing their bed together, even as his body tilted him towards sleep. She reminded him many times that it was the luckiest night of Madrus on which to conceive, and only with great effort succeeded in her efforts.
Onur came in and placed the last of the food on the table, a sweet potato pie still steaming with warmth.
“Thank you, Onur. This looks wonderful. I'm sure we'll love it,” Annsi gushed, “And we won't need you anymore tonight. You can go home and spend the Madrus Feast with your family.”
Onur bowed and said, “Thank you mistress,” and then he disappeared from the room.
Moments later Dorin entered the room, dressed formally and cleanly shaved. He was a short man, a bit round around the middle with a dull, expressionless face. His eyes seemed to be staring at something far off into the distance and his mouth was permanently fixed in a flat, neutral position, partly open. As he walked, he leaned his head back and pushed his paunch forward, like one trying to show off his well-fed belly as a proud achievement.
“How do I look?” he asked his wife as he came forward and kissed her on the cheek. She simply nodded and said, “Good.” He sat down and began to grab food and place it on his plate. “Good thing you were here to keep my wife company while I was away. Thank you,” Dorin said to Salles.
Salles simply nodded as Dorin started filling generous portions onto his plate, Darma reached out and gripped his hand with hers and then told him gently and sweetly, “Don’t take too much. You know how tired you get after dinner when you eat too much.”
“I can eat as much as I want,” Dorin replied in a deep, commanding voice, “It’s a holiday. It’s my obligation to eat generously, in honor of Madrus.”
“But what about the other duty of Madrus?” Darma asked gently and sweetly, “Don’t you want to … tonight … together.”
“Please Darma,” Dorin replied, “These things shouldn’t be discussed in front of our guest. Especially a Sage. They’re celibate, aren’t they? They’re supposed to close their mind to all those worldly cares. Such thoughts cloud a man’s mind, you know.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Salles said, “We aren’t actually celibate. We are simply forbidden to marry. I actually have a daughter.”
“See, he can handle all of this talk,” Darma said, “He’s an adult.”
“Still, it shouldn’t be talked at the dinner table, no matter whom we’re eating with. Would you talk about it if your mother was around?” Dorin asked. He had by now stuffed some food in his mouth and was trying to speak while he held the food in his cheeks, and the clarity of his words suffered as a result.
“Of course, I would,” Darma said with a playful smile, “We talk about it together. She gives me advice.”
“Alright, that’s enough of this. Surely we can conduct conversation at the table without having to revert to the basest topics.”
“Of course, my dear,” Darma said without apparent guile or sarcasm, “We can speak about whatever you wish. What is it you’d like to talk about?”
“I don’t know,” Dorin said, his mouth still stuffed. He, in fact, didn’t appear to want to talk at all, since it only seemed to be interrupting his eating, so they ate in relative silence. Darma told Dorin about some of the recent events: the visit from Alles and Annsi, and the horrible murder of their neighbor’s daughter.
Meanwhile, Salles ate cautiously, mostly confining himself to the goose and the corn; Darma sampled from everything, but only took small portions; whereas Dorin ate generously and unconstrainedly.
By the time the dinner was completed, Dorin was stuffed and had to slowly waddle into the living room to relax and let the food digest. Salles excused himself early, saying he was off to bed, allowing the two of them to be alone. Afterwards Darma flirted profusely with her husband. She coaxed, seduced and cajoled, never stinting, never giving up, always trying to aim him towards sharing their bed together, even as his body tilted him towards sleep. She reminded him many times that it was the luckiest night of Madrus on which to conceive, and only with great effort succeeded in her efforts.
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