EA#35:
Read From the Beginning or the start of Trial Two or Three or Four or Five
The Mountain in the Clouds, Part Thirty-Eight
“
We arrived at the main camp of the army later that morning.
It was near midday and the Army of the Gilded Dragon took a brief repose for lunch.
Quick tents were tossed up for the commanders and generals, but most of the soldiers simply found a spot to sit or lie down on for a bite and a rest.
Captain of the scouts Jall Hilgon had led us through the morning, catching up with the main forces slowly and trying to find our way to the fore.
The army had marched surprisingly fast, and we had really hustled to find the head of the lines of armored warriors.
It was a sight to behold. To see the golden armor shine, to witness the intricacy of the platemail that each wore, and the fine craftsmanship of the weapons. There were pikes and spears and halberds, longswords and broadswords and claymores, and countless bows and crossbows towards the rear. The cavalry led the front lines with stout stallions also coated in gold mail, and the ornate helmets of those riders were awe-inspiring and intimidating.
The sounds of horse hoof and metaled boots in perfect sync, by the thousands I was sure, was such a cacophony of thunderous foot fall the likes of which I’ve never heard before or since.
Dust rose in the air in their wake, and the short grasses and thistle bushes of the Barrow Lands were no match for their constant march forward.
When they stopped for lunch, at the sharp call of a horn, the brief silence that followed was almost meditative. Then a brief spat of orders from commanders was followed by the more relaxed sounds of human conversation and casual merrymaking over food.
I must give the army credit for one thing that struck me beyond almost all else, which was this: as we walked along side them they never batted an eye of my giant friend, Gumpelthwomp. True, I will admit a couple heads may have turned, but they turned back just as quickly, as if all they had seen was a bird flying past. These soldiers were highly trained and never showed any signs of faltering.
That is, until the army halted for lunch. Then it seemed that nothing was the talk but about this massive figure walking amidst their ranks. Though I could not hear the specifics, I am sure it was a mix of wonder and fear.
Jall Hilgon was unphased by all of this and kept his attention only forward towards our destination.
When we reached the front of the army, where the elite held camp, Jall showed us into the center of a circle of the largest tents. Gumpel had to tiptoe through so as not to crush anything or anyone, and a number of soldiers leapt out of the way at the sight of his approach.
“Maybe it’s best if you stay put here,” Jall suggested to Gumpel.
“I go with Magi!” Gumpel roared, startling most of those around.
“I, I, I mean no offense,” the captain returned. “Please understand…”
“Gumpel, my friend,” I interceded. “I will be fine. You are simply too big to follow any further.”
“Ok,” said the giant. He sat down in place, prompting many to jump for cover or else be squashed under his weight.
I almost chided him for his carelessness, but decided to leave my oversized friend to his own devices as long as he’d stick with me. After all, I did have a close call with him before.
But things were different then. And they were certainly different now.
“Are you ready?” asked Jall Hilgon.
I nodded and the captain showed me into the grandest tent there. Two guards stopped us with crossed staves, but Jall spoke quietly and quickly to them and they parted their weapons. I couldn’t be certain, but their demeanor gave me the impression that they were not to be trifled with, despite holding such simple wooden sticks, finely crafted though they were. Their garb was more clandestine than the others of the army, donning red leather accents through the joints in their lithe-looking golden suits of armor.
Jall gestured me to follow as he entered the tent.
Within I saw a large open-air space filled with many men, most of them surrounding a central portion of ground upon which was laid an extensive sheet of parchment. I assumed it to be a map, or some plans of some sort, and they seemed intensively involved in a conversation concerning it.
The captain scout and I skirted the edge of these men, who often glanced up at us with curiosity, but then returned to their focus on the paper before them.
We approached the far end of the group, at which point one man stood tall and proud above the rest and approached us with wide arms.
“Ah,” he said, his armor shining brighter than any other. He wore a cape as well, velvet red, and his head was adorned with a crown emblazoned with gems and rubies. “I have been warned about your return, captain. Tell, me, why is it that you have brought a stranger and a giant into our midst, may I ask? What is it that they told you to warrant this? What place could they possibly have here, amongst our generals and myself?”
“Your liege,” Jall said, bending to one knee and bowing his head. I half-heartedly followed, not sure if it was what I was meant to do or not, but keeping my eyes warily on the captain scout. “This man said that he must join us and help us win this war. His giant friend seems very loyal to him and calls him a Magi. I cannot confirm or deny this. But the giant has shown no hostility but when he defended himself… and single-handled disarmed my whole squad.” He shifted in embarrassment as he said this.
“And why should I entertain this idea of a dangerous heathen and a his faker friend?” the king demanded. “And why for that matter should I applaud or even allow the embarrassing falter of you and your squad?”
“Your liege,” Jall seemed more nervous. “Good questions, both. And I must say that it may seem unwarranted from many a standpoint, I understand. But all I can say is that I have a good feeling about them. The giant could have slaughtered us clean and he didn’t. And this man, Magi or no, has an uncanny friendship with the same giant. This is unusual, to my mind. The giant may be a fierce ally. And this man… well.. his conviction was so unwavering, so pure when he demanded he must help us… I didn’t really know what else…”
“Yea, right, you didn’t know,” the king enjoined. “I suppose I can expect you to find paths and use your eyes, but we don’t keep you around to do the big thinking do we? At ease, captain, and I will speak to this stranger myself.”
The man before me spied me up and down, He had a face of puzzlement and curiosity about him, but I could not make out whether he had good or ill feelings towards me as of yet. And I felt that I am often fairly accurate in discerning those things, especially these days.
“So, Magi,” the king asked in a somewhat mocking tone, “what brings you to me? What gives you such conviction to join us? What can you even do for us? I mean, why the hell am I even talking to you? Give me one good reason, or I’ll have both you and your friend sent sent to Hemsworth Deep for war treason just for interfering in our business. I don’t have time for…”
“If I may…” I began.
“Excuse me?” the king seemed taken aback. “You don’t interrupt me. Have you never been before a k…”
“I have been before a king before. And king or no, I don’t care right now,” I was surprised to hear myself say. “You say you don’t have time for, whatever you think is going on, and I say you do. But that I don’t have time for games of civility. I am here for a purpose and I mean to serve it and do what I must. You may take me at face value, or you don’t and that’s fine. Don’t waste my time. I will find my way with or without you. But I have a feeling it’s best if I find it with you.”
The king stood standing before me, appalled. All the generals and commanders present ogled me, muttering amongst themselves, none quite sure what was going on. No one knew what to do, or how to respond. The whole tent was stunned to silence. I would have included myself, but I felt no fear in that moment. I felt nothing but surety and confidence. Looking back on it, I must congratulate myself, pat myself on the shoulder. For whatever I had said and however it may have looked to these people of pomp and circumstance, it worked.
“Well, I’ll…” the king tried. “Who did you say you were again?”
“I didn’t,” I answered. “Which is actually more common an event than I can count these days. But I will tell you. I am Troy Desten of Ham, and I am here to assist in the ending of your war.”
The king furrowed his brow and tugged at his chin. He shook his head and said, “Troy, Troy… no, no, no I don’t know any Troy Desten. Nor have I heard of Ham. Where is this…? Wait, so you are admitting that you are not the Magi my captain claims you are?”
“It’s a long story,” I stopped him. “And who’s to say if I am a Magi or not?”
The king pondered for a moment, holding his chin and peering at me so inquisitively. He shook his head, then at last queried, “And you say you are here to bring an end to this war?”
“That is what I said,” I replied.
“And how do you propose to do this?” the king asked then. “I mean, after all of our efforts. Our years in this conflict, our combined talents in commanding this army… and you? Who are you to come to us with some magical unseen way to end this war against one of the most vicious warlords this land has ever known?”
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly.
The room erupted into laughter that lasted, it seemed, for several minutes though I knew it must have been very brief in reality.
When they all quieted down again the king spoke, “You must take us for fools! You offer to help us, yet you do not know how? Why, again, are we even entertaining your presence here?”
“Because,” my voice boomed then as though the gods themselves were commanding my body and words, “You do not know what you do. You do not know what you walk into. Your opponent is more powerful than you can imagine and he is more prepared than you may think. From his vantage point, you are but flies walking into the spider’s trap. They are but counting the days and hours to your demise. Your adversary is laughing even now at your naïveté. You are foolish, King Dramand of Hemsworth Deep. You and your generals are in need of redirection. You are in need of my help, more than you know. I will offer it, with the aid of my friends, but I will offer it but once. You must trust the decision and take hold of this opportunity, despite what you might think from your limited perspective. If you do not choose this alliance, the gods themselves cannot help you. It is your choice, of course, what you do. Everything is always your choice. Do you choose divine intervention? Or do you strive forth with your egoic minds, even unto your own damnation?”
This was one of those moments that bought awe and complete silence to all present, myself included. And these feelings were growing stronger within me. It struck me that I somehow intuited the name of this king, even though I had never heard it spoken. I myself was as taken aback as any there… though some part of me was beginning to accept, even expect, this sort of occurrence.
And I waited for their response.
And no one knew what to say.
“
Thanks so much for reading.
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Blessings to you,
Matthew