Of Dragons and War III

[Darion McNair]

"I hope your long talks with the Swordsman have made you realize that rashness is no thing for a king to have. Unfortunately, there will still be death. When and how you meet it is something that can be tampered with to a certain extent. You yourself being King of Muu has that power over many, many people. It is a responsibility you must come to grips with."

[Moonitic]

"That is true. And it's something I'm having an awful time coming to grips with, if the truth be known. Everything has happened so suddenly. The past few weeks...even the past year...have flown so fast, with so many changes." Meekal took a breath & continued. "Not long ago, I was just a boy. A boy happy to talk to my rocks & watch my big brother run off to get married. He ran off, all right...but because he did, I became the one who was supposed to marry. I became the one who was supposed to be king. None of this was anything I ever expected. I'm trying to do what's right, but I'm so confused. Everyone on this trip has something to offer, but me. I don't even feel comfortable in my own skin. Have you ever felt that way? That you just didn't belong?"

[Darion McNair]

"When I was forced to flee my homeland, yes. The place in which I was raised became one, large enslavement camp. I was one of the last free Bosconians, and I was being hunted. But I made my way to Arconia and now my place is under the Swordsman in the Aiovus Strike Force. There, and at the side of Ken-Dall. Did you ever concieve that you might become King? You were Prince of Muu, after all. You must have known that your rocks would not always be your only subjects." he shrugged a bit. "Keep in mind your Highness, I don't mean to be insulting. I know very little about your family and the man that your late father was."

[Moonitic]

"I thought for sure that Angelo would be King of Muu, & I would always be Meekal the Daft. My brother was raised for it. From birth, he was trained. I was ignored. No one thought it possible that I would become king. Only when Angelo ran away from his impending marriage did Father turn his eyes toward me." Meekal's jaw clenched, fists tightening at the memory of the former King of Muu. "He would rather have seen me dead than assume his throne."

[Darion McNair]

"And now it is your father who is dead, and you have the power." Darion nodded in comprehension. "You may not have been groomed for such a position as your brother was your highness, but it is upon you now. You must accept it, take up your sword, and train your mind to be a leader of men. Muu could prove to be a very valuable ally in the hard times ahead. Even more valuable still, its king."

[Moonitic]

"As I hope to be," Meekal returned. He looked around for a moment, unsure of what to do next, then stated, "I will feel a lot better to get back and assume the role that is mine. My kingdom needs me."

[Darion McNair]

Darion nodded and looked around at the rubble. Nothing more could be done here, they needed to keep moving. "How far is that town that Lady Rosaline knows the way to? It's clear by now there are no more survivors to be found." Meekal nodded and the two went off to find Rosaline.

[Iwant2bafencer]

Rosaline shook her head at Darion and Meekal's question.

"Walking it takes a few hours to get there, on horseback it's faster but we have Mr. Quinith and Sarah. We can't go as fast helping them as we could without them."

She looked up to the sun, it was a good ways past its zenith.

"You'd have to ask Nækos, he most likely knows where it is. I don't like the idea of staying here, but we may have to if we dont' want to be riding into the night."

[Moonitic]

They looked at one another, wondering who the lucky volunteer would be. None seemed very willing to speak up to ask, so Meekal said, "We can pull rocks. Largest wins."

"I'd hardly call it a win," Rosaline muttered.

[Darion McNair]

'I'll do it." Darion replied. The other two nodded quickly. If the lamb was going to lead itself to the slaughter, they obviously weren't going to stop it. He looked around to find. Going off, he found the Swordsman burrying the last of the murdered villagers. Darion stood there in silence as he watched the Swordsman place the last stone over the grave.

"Swordsman, your word is needed." he said after a moment. "There is nothing left for us here. Rosaline mentioned another town not far from here that we have a chance of making if we depart now. We but wait for your command as to whether we stay or go."

[Iwant2bafencer]

"Well not much more can happen to me today. I'll go." She offered.

She took a breath and then walked away to find Nækos.

"Nækos," She called when she had found him. He turned a little but said nothing else. "The others are wondering whether we should stay the night here or push on the the next town. We can make it there, but not before night fall. I told them it was up to you."

[Swordsman]

The Swordsman crouched beside the grave, slowly tracing Russic characters into the dirt next to it. "Take the group, and move along north. Meekal will be your commander in my absence. I will move to the next village and raise them, then catch up to you. Keep the sun behind your left shoulder for the rest of the afternoon, and then follow the stars tonight. Do not stop moving until I catch you, but travel all night - we must make all haste, and we have time to recover. Forget the road, but move due north."

"Meekal in charge?" Darion questioned.

"A man must be given a place to grow into, if he is to grow at all."

"Very well."

"Tend to the wounded once more, and then go immediately. I am off." He put a fist to Darion's chest. "Strength and will." And with that he turned quickly, jogging off toward Onyx.

[Darion McNair]

Darion nodded once "And to you." he said to the Swordsman's back. He had no idea whether he heard him or not but he turned around and made his way back to the group to deliver the message. Meekal was going to be in charge, it had to be done.

"Meekal!" he called, "The Swordsman has departed in advance of us for the village. He has left you in command." Darion observed the surprised look on Meekal's face but ignored it. "He suggests we move north and not to take the road. He will meet us on the way."

[Moonitic]

"All right, then." A look of resolve settled onto Meekal's person as he nodded once. He frowned, staring at the ground, calculating his next move. "Collect everyone and have them meet me here. We'll give them a briefing, then be on our way."

[Iwant2bafencer]

Rosaline rested a hand breifly on Meekal's shoulder.

"Rylus and I will get Sarah and Mr. Quinith."

Meekal nodded and Rose and Rylus moved to get their horses.

Shadowmaker was back by the house so Rose walked quickly to get him. It was then she saw a beige spot off towards the edge of the grove she and Zelda had been at earlier. Rose couldn't help but smile at the old roan. Rosaline's father Lucian had brought Buttercup home when Rose was seven. He and Rylus had trained her and she'd been with the family ever since. Not once had she wandered too far from home.
Buttercup's ears perked up when Rosaline let out a low whistle. She turned her head then walked slowly over.

"Hello old girl," Rosaline soothed as she stroked the mare's neck.


A few minutes later Sarah was on Buttercup and Mr Quinith was on the back of Rylus' horse. They quickly rejoined Meekal and waited for the rest of the group.

[Darion McNair]

Darion grabbed his knapsack and made ready to depart, like all the others. Darion was pleased that Meekal was taking the leadership initiative. For a second there, the Bosconian wondered exactly how the king would react to authority being thrust upon him. He tired his knapsack to his saddle and proceeded to grab a piece of bread out of it and eat. He starred at his horse, his nameless horse. The devastation of Caledon still lay heavily on his heart. The memories he had that had lead up to his flight from Bosconia came flooding back to him: the places, the people, the events.

People came to his mind as well, faces of those in his Bosconian guerilla regiment that were long since dead. He knew them all well; many were from his home town in Bosconia. He knew their families, their personalities, their lives, and for many of them their deaths as well. The one who came to mind first was Arcite, Darion’s former lieutenant and second in his regiment. Arcite Palagon had been a friend of his since childhood. Celebrating with Darion in times of joy and lamenting with him in times of sorrow, Arcite’s personality was an unchanging foundation that Darion had learned to depend on. They had trained together under the same weapons master since they were young and were assigned to the same unit. The only discernable difference between Darion and Arcite that Darion could tell was that he was alive, and his friend was dead.

“A name.” said Darion, patting his mahogany color steed. “Arcite seems a fitting title. You should wear it well.” Slinging the knapsack on his back, Darion mounted his newly named Arcite and made his way back to the meeting place that Meekal had indicated.

[Iwant2bafencer]

Rosaline stood rather impatiently with the rest of the group. She finally made sure Sarah was alright and began to walk away.

"Rose," Rylus started after her.

She held up a hand and shook her head. "I'll be back in a minute."

"Alright," he relented and went back to the group.

Rose walked slowly down the main street, slowly looking from one chard building to the next. She got to the middle of the road and stood, turning slowly and looking at the remains of the place she grew up as she lightly clenched and unclenched her fists. Everything was silent, cold, it was like standing in death's home.
A beam behind her suddenly fell to the ground with a crash. She spun, hand on her sword to watch the ash billow upward. She relaxed a little and watched as a pot rolled out of the house, surprisingly still in good condition.

She walked slowly to the pot, picking it up and turning it in her hands. There was a large chip at the top but the rest of it was fine.
Her anger at last getting the best of her, she spun and hurled the pot against a near by wall. It shattered into hundreds of pieces.

[Darion McNair]

"Where's Rosaline?" Darion asked as he met with the rest of the group, also on horseback. "I thought she was already here."

"She went to go get the survivors and bring them here." Meekal replied. His eyebrows knit together. "I thought she would be back by now."

Suddenly Darion heard what sounded like something very fragile shattering violently. "What was that?" he asked, turning his head in the direction of the sound. Without another word he urged Arcite on toward the sound. Rylus, Meekal, and the rest of the group followed close behind. They rounded a burt out building and Darion glanced inside to see Rosaline on the verge of tears flinging anything she could find against the wall.

"Rosaline, we must depart . . ." Meekal began. It was then that he saw the look in her eyes and how she suddenly fixed her eyes on Darion.

[Iwant2bafencer]

"Now it's we must depart?" She seethed. "Rose, I know we've stayed here in the place where you grew up," she paused to fling another pot, causing people to duck instinctively, "but now that you've had time to think about what's happened, we should go."
She picked up a tall glass vase and swung it at a pillar, it too shattered.
"As long as we're on you're schedule!" She cried.

"La . . Rosaline, you said yourself the next town is . . ." Darion tried to help but she spun, drawing her sword and held the tip at his throat.

"Do not tell me what I said, I said it did I not? I thnk I know what it was!" She cried angrily, she paused unmoving.

"Rose," Rylus tried.

"Shut up Rylus," she snapped, her eyes never leaving Darion's.

"What right do you have to try and befriend me?" She hissed quietly at Darion, "These burnt out shells, the dozens of dead people, it's all your fault."

"I . ." Darion began.

"These were my people!" She screamed, "I know everything about everyone of them. Do you? Do you know anything about them? How about David Sadler? Did you know that today is his eleventh birthday? Or Joseline Smith, she was three months pregnant when I left. Her child would be near ten, her and her husband Ryan would be celebrating their ten years of marrage this summer. Did you know that?" She shook her head slowly as the tears began to run down her face, " You wouldn't would you?" she whispered.

"Rosaline," Meekal spoke strongly yet quietly, "why don't you put the sword down?"

She shot him a look and then backed away from Darion, lowering her sword. She turned her back to the group. Darion took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Rosaline's head came up and she glared at the back wall as her chest heaved in anger.

"Rose, why don't we go outside?" Rylus questioned quickly knowing she was about to snap.

Bringing her sword up, she gripped it tightly in both hands and spun. Her target was the same pillar she had smashed the vase against but it looked to be like she was aiming at Darion. Darion's sword was clear of its scabbard in a flash and their swords met with the loud ringing of metal on metal. Rosaline swung again low, this time fighting with him. She needed a fight and she didn't care who it was.

[Zelda]

The Queen heard fighting, and rode up to see what was going on...
"ROSALINE!" her voice rang out through the ashes, echoing against the trees, "STOP IT NOW!"