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Date Written: 3/05/2004 Sora Kazuma Prologue Secluded deep in the forest, past a shallow river and hidden by underbrush lies a small fortress on the Romandian border where our story begins. Sunrise never came early enough for the soldiers stationed there; it was still black in the sky and yet the bonfire centered in the middle of the encampment was roaring to life, filling everything nearby with its amber glow. An enticing smell was wafting up from the kitchen, the scents promising of cake and corey. People scurried in and out of the central light, trying to finish their chores as quickly as possible before the sun rose. There was always the possibility that the order to move into battle would arrive today, though no one speak the thought for fear of it becoming reality. Without any conversation the encampment was a serene place this morning, even if tension and fear were hidden underneath. "Meltari!" The cry rang out from a young page, who came flying into the center of the camp before turned sharply on his small heels and rushing up the steps of the northern wall. "Captain Meltari!" The captain had just been checking on his lookouts, who had been awake all night at their posts and were about to retire, blinking as he heard his name being called out. He turned, his face growing serious as the seconds passed. "Captain?" on of the lookouts asked softly. "Hold a minute Ceil,� he said sternly, his steely eyes watching the boy as he dashed along the narrow pathway on top of the stonewall. He strided forward to meet the youth, who was merely exhausted from running the length of the camp. "Easy lad." he smiled as he recognized the child in the dim light. "Now, what's the matter Ran?" The page promptly reached into his small cloth side bag and pulled out a thick, tri-folded piece of parchment and handed it directly to his superior. "The messenger... who delivered it...said he rode from the capital five days ago, and has spent two without sleeping. He said, it was urgent news...direct from the royal council." The boy managed to get out in hurried words as he struggled to catch his breath. Wasting no time when he recognized the wax seal of Her Majesty, he tore open the letter and read the finely printed words inside. After years of practice, reading the queen's small cursive didn't help him here as his mind stumbled over the words in this note. This was it. The entire reason his troops had been ordered to stay here and set up camp, and the reason they had had to defend this area at all costs. "Meltari?" Looking up from the blur of scribbled text, he watched as his two top officers made his way toward him. The first stared at him a moment, deep cerulean blue eyes searching his face and trying to comprehend the look on his captain's face. "It's a mission go, isn't it?" he spoke after a moment, his voice monotone. The second officer huffed, glaring over at the first. "You are about the most sensitive man I have ever met." he muttered to him, as if it would change the current situation. Meltari simply nodded. "It is." Looking down at the boy, he smiled. "Thanks lad, for taking care of such an important matter. Head back to your room and get some rest, and if anyone else tells you otherwise, you tell them to come see me." The child beamed, knowing he would be getting some well-earned alone time, seeing as no one would undermine the Captain's authority. "Thank you sir." he grinned, his smile full of gaps where he had lost his baby teeth. He bowed to him and scampered off past the other two soldiers, disappearing into the shadows. The first officer just shook his head, long bangs of silver-blonde hair falling into his view. "So you're really going through with this?" Meltari looked over his back toward the tired lookout leaning in the doorway. "You're dismissed." he said kindly, knowing that all of his night workers would want to be getting to bed as soon as possible. "And pass the word along to the other men as well." "I'm grateful Cap'n." the stocky guard replied tiredly, finally stepping off his post and leaving the three young men alone. With the more immediate matters taken care of he turned back toward his comrades and the situation at hand. "Yes, I'm really going through with it." he said, stalking past them both and heading towards the stairs. "It's orders from the capital. And when have you been one to complain anyway Illiado?" "Since my best friend and the leader of these men was selected to go find some woman using a method that has never even been tested." the silver-haired men shot back matching his superior in stride. "Her Majesty and Mesheba both think I can find her and I agree that I can do it." he said lightly. "As much as I hate to admit it, I'd like you stay on this planet and not get lost somewhere out in the sky." his second officer replied, pushing a strand of long raven hair off his shoulder. "For once Illiado's right." "Star-searching is dangerous Mel. It's an ancient method that hasn't been tried since the ancients themselves were toddlers. What happens if you never come back?" the man by his side added, a determined look crossing his face. "First, star-searching will drop me off right where I need to be to find her. Those wizards have already found out the right coordinates and I know where I need to be to get back. I'll be fine." he grinned. "But if I don't make it, feel free to throw a gala in my honor, or something like that." he sighed as they reached the ground level of the camp again. "No," he spoke again, his voice serious. "If I don't come back, Cardille, you take over in my place." "You better not wimp out on us Akinita." his second officer huffed but nodded as he stalked away, the raven curtain behind him swishing at his hurried stride. "And Illiado, you head back to the capital where you belong." he put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "There are more important things than battle, and I guarantee anyone who calls you a coward because you need to be elsewhere will be haunted eternally by my spiteful poltergeist." he smiled. "If I'm not back by sunrise tomorrow, head home and take my brother with you." Illiado simply nodded as he watched his superior walk away. Letting out a sigh, he stared upward into the dark sky. �Be safe." he whispered, glancing at the stars. As the white steed tore out of the camp, its rider pressed firmly against its back, his best friend remained on the steps at the northern wall, locked in prayer. Hopefully everything would go okay and he would return, soon. As light finally made its way into the dark blanket of night, the outline of a massive tree became visible miles off through the forest. Hopefully by sunrise, Meltari wished, he would be at his destination and away into another world. |
