The Kingdom of the Emerald Hills

He had planned to attend the joint midreign. The revelry would indeed rival all other jovious gathering. He stood in front of the wrought iron gates instead.

His path had led him here instead this holiday weekend. Most shoppes had been closed on the way here. The voices and music could be heard on the other side of the great alabaster walls. The scent of food and perfume was enticing enough.

He paced precariously throughout the boisterous streets. He hadn't been in a town this populated in a year or two. It was a bit of a treat. The bright colors, eclectic faces and clothing.

He had only been there ten minutes when a large barbarian with fiery red hair and beard howled in anxious surprise.

'Sutra! it has been a while!'
After blinking a minute, Sutra recognized the familiar face and smiled. Relieved to find a friendly face, he paused for a moment and traded conversations. The large man listened amused as he ate a bowl of baked potatoes. This served only to remind Sutra how he hungered for some real food. The duchy of Midnight Sun had been rumored demoted to a barony and the scarce food supply there had pointed towards difficult times. Paying his respects he nodded and left the kind company with directions towards the leather shoppe.

He strolled in and out of standing families, dressed in fine cloths gazing into the various shops of incense and shiny trinkets. Many despotic vagrants hung in the shade of tree canopies waiting for a lucky break. That's when he found it. The Knight had stepped into the street admiring the newly furnished shoppe. Sutra walked past him and appeared lost. With his back to him, Sutra paced slowly towards the proud man.

'Well, well, well, look what the cat drug in...' turning on his heel, the distinct chinging of boot spurs could be heard. The feather in his cap seemed to unfurl a little more. 'Sutra.'

Smiling, Sutra knew better than attempt to sneak up on this particular man. Sutra nodded and bowed respectfully.

'Sir Delphos...'

S
[cont]

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The general who advances without seeking fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do service for his sovereign, is the jewel of his kingdom. -Sun Wu

It'd grown quiet. The kingdom was at a solemn silence at the moment. Sutra was not aware of any internal strife at the moment. The powers that be appeared to have agreed on how to quell the resurgence of 'privateers' harassing the local sea merchants. He was certain that if they did not control the situation, things would resort to global war. And over what? Bragging rights over who held the strongest flag?

Sutra wearily shook his head. His brief visit with an elder was of much promise. He had learned much. History always fascinated the young man. Looking towards the western sun, Sutra was only a few hours ride from the newly reformed barony. He had left it a duchy; the once busy town was now a quite village. Rumors of how a welcome clan made their new home there had vividly circulated among the excited pilgrims heading south for the royal event.

The hoofed beat calmed him down a bit. It had been a couple months since he had the luxury of an equine companion. Its sleek arching neck reminded him of his uncle's horses. Sutra smiled. The rhythmic walk allowed him to review one of the last pages of a religious manual he had 'borrowed' from the 'holy' man. It contained interesting passages of blood and reckoning. It read like a twisted fairytale. How he liked a good story.

Mentally noting the latest developments, Sutra slid slightly to the left in the ill-adjusted saddle. He winched a bit but made due with what he had.

The internal dialogue was what kept him from being lulled to sleep. '...all the material components for this 'Norven's Sight' are herbal...five of seven plants of the 'ismi' class...there is only the old alchemist to the west who can procure such an elixir.' Sutra placed his fingers between the crisp material of the journal and skipped ahead a few pages. 'The glyphs on the obelisk are what maintain the gateway sealed...have managed to break six of the seven seals...can be restored by those who know the marks by heart..must destroy the obelisk.' Backtracking to the first page of the manual, the first page left untorn Sutra squinted to read the shaky handwriting. 'Norven's sight, once ingested will grant it's recipient the ability to peer into the umbra...never experienced this myself but I have felt their presence...at all cost, find the old man and kill him...'

Clasping the book shut, Sutra slipped it under his brown tunic. The sun had begun to set. He had about half an hour's worth of dawn. Digging into the steed's side he set off on a full gallop back home.

S
[cont]

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The general who advances without seeking fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do service for his sovereign, is the jewel of his kingdom. -Sun Wu