Lightstar Family/Xarnelf/Roleplay 39

Haruspex Maximus

After the knight had gathered his scattered and decimated unit together some distance south of the battlefield, his scout returned from Larmebsi bearing news in the form of two letters, one sent from Lord Orphen and the other sent from Lord Helios.

Quickly, he opened the General's missive first, believing it to contain greater import pertaining to their current situation. Within the letter, he discovered orders for them to retreat from Lantzas. Though his heart called for him to stay to help the Arcaeans still left behind, his mind could not refute the logic that his unit of eleven seriously wounded men could offer no more significant assistance to their ally's severely depleted militia.

"Jint, order the men to leave behind any unnecessary equipment. Lighten our burdens so that we may leave this region as soon as possible. In our present condition, we can do no more for our allies, and the General has ordered us to regroup in Larmebsi."

Xarnelf turned to the other note in his hands sent from the Pontifex. He stared curiously at it for a few heartbeats, trying to divine its contents. Had Lord Orphen already decided so soon? Shaking his head to clear away his cloudy assumptions, the knight broke the seal and unfolded the missive.

After a short moment, his eyes widened slightly in surprise. So he truly does believe that I am worthy of the position. Very well then, I shall do all in my power to not disappoint him nor the realm.

He turned to the second page and found an attachment of the current laws for him to review and revise as he saw fit. The long journey back would provide me plenty of time to do so, he sighed, thinking of the brave men that he had had to leave behind, never to return home to see their families again. Pausing all movement, the young noble wondered at his dulled feelings concerning his men; how different they seemed compared to what he had felt after his first battle, one which ended in failure as well!

He attributed his hardened heart as an inevitable side effect of increased experience and perhaps maturity. A small part of him mused it might even be an unconscious defense mechanism put in place to distance himself from the acute feelings of pain resulting from the loss of his men, but he quickly waved it aside as inconsequential.

A greater responsibility had been placed upon his shoulders, and he resolved to meet the challenge head-on and unwaveringly.