The moonlight shone on our swords, mine was a thin, but long, blade Rythmus had given to me and his was the heavy sword standard to the guard. His name was Askimi and I knew him well. We circled around each other, swords held ready, yet hesitant. "Tristram, please turn back. I can pretend I didn't see you," he said.
"I can't Askimi," I replied.
"Elane isn't worth you dying for!"
I stopped and lowered my sword, stunned by the name I thought I might never hear again. Askimi stopped too, though his sword remained up. "Tristram, She misses you, probably more than you miss her, but trying to see her will do you two no good. We are in a tough spot with the war and there has been talk of asking you to return, but King Pontus would never allow it if you discovered you crossed the border. Please go back across and maybe we can try and get you reinstated as head of the guard..."
War? Tough spot? King Pontus rather than king Nami? reinstated? She misses me? To many questions came up just in that short statement alone! Askimi started to speak again but I held up my hand and he stopped... he still respected me as his leader then, but did he still see me as his friend? After a minute I spoke "if I go back across the border, do you promise to stay and talk with me? tell me what has happened since I left and of this war we are in?" Askimi actually smiled. I walked back to the edge of the forest and sat down, so did he. He let out a heavy sigh and laughed! "I've missed you so much Tristram! I thought you were actually going to make me fight you there for a minute!" I smiled myself. Of all the guards I had to meet at the border, it had happened to be the only who could present a challenge to me in a dual, my best friend.
Askimi and I talked for several hours. I asked him about the war first. A month ago a Palkin caravan was lost in the desert yet they blamed it on us, the Brackins. They retaliated by razing a border village. King Nami attempted diplomatic negotiations but he was poisoned apparently by a Palkin scientist staying in the palace. His son, Pontus, took the throne, brought in a new Viridi advisory, and declared war on the Palkins. While we have the strength and materials, the Palkins were currently winning due to their inventions. Askimi had yet to see any fighting having been posted on the neutral zone border in case the Palkins invaded it. I then told Askimi about my time in the jungle, meeting Alden and Tarka, and about Legion's plot to take over both the Palkins and the Brackins.
Light, warmer and brighter than moonlight, shined on our both our swords. Dawn had come. Troubled by the fact that the Viridi could be the masterminds, Askimi invited me to his camp to discuss this with the rest of the men. This was news to share and discuss, not to keep secret. I crossed the border this time without being confronted and followed Askimi with a new fire in my heart. I was a Brackin again and I had my best friend back. But the warmest fire was the one Askimi had so recently kindled, that I might see Elane soon.
Rythmus watched the events unfold from the trees. He did not particularly like the company of men and preferred to dell with his own thoughts. And dwell he must do for he heard troubling news in Askimi's story. To think that Legion had actually planted a counselor in the Brackin counsel and murdered the king was grave news for it wasn't what he had seen in the future. Legion's wish to change the future might actually be coming true...
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