The morning sun broke through the ornate bars of Dorian's chambers as he fumbled through a series of parchments with the king's words when a knock came upon his door. Dorian knew that it would be Lars coming to speak with him as he had requested only a few moments before, and he stood up from his seat and crossed the floor of the tidy room to receive his guest. Dorian grasped the large, round brass ring of the door, twisted, and pulled the door ajar to gaze upon his old friend. The short, stout dwarf looked up at him with his hands confidently slid between his belly and the thick wide belt that crossed his midsection. "Lars, come in..." Dorian said as he turned and approached the table of documents once again, his eyes glancing over the papers once more.
"Now, what's this all about, Dorian?" Lars asked insistently.
"You and Zeke seem to getting along quite nicely..." Dorian said.
"Aye, he's an honest lad, a free spirit, that one" Lars responded. "And strong! He's got a few things to learn, though, but that will come in time I'm sure."
"Indeed, quite a surprisingly talented fellow." Dorian agreed.
"Aye, talented for sure, Dorian. Why do you ask?" Lars queried.
"Lars, it worries me that things have come a bit too easy in the past few days. Since Zeke showed up, we have made great strides in our business, and I can't help but to think we're on to something big here. But I'm not convinced that there isn't something sinister just around the corner waiting for us all." Dorian looked at Lars who stared back at Dorian with a confused sort of look.
"Listen, if you think that Zeke..." Lars was quick to respond to Dorian's suspicions.
"Don't you question any part of his story? If Sa'Vahn were alive when we found Zeke then we could have, certainly, been able to dismiss any foul play." Dorian paused, thinking about the moments when he first laid eyes on Zeke.
"Zeke is a good lad, and don't you go telling the king otherwise, Dorian!" Lars clenched his fists as he heightened his tone. Lars had seen the truth in his comrade's eyes and witnessed the bravery in his actions. There was nothing to sound the alarm with this man he now found himself defending.
"Now, Lars, you've already said that he is strong and has talents, no?" Dorian reminded Lars.
"We all have talents, Dorian. Should I start wondering about you and Phillip now, too? Are you questioning me now, too?" Lars scoffed. This line of conversation made no sense to Lars. Furthermore, it made him uneasy and even a little bit angry. Questioning his senses about Zeke was the same as questioning him and his judgement Lars thought. "And what do you think will happen when he is found out to be true, Dorian? Let's say you do find him out to be a rogue with his own plans, or worse - working for them?" Lars looked at Dorian with a probing set of eyes, expectant for the worst from his companion of years.
"Then I would expect you to dispatch him with prejudice." Dorian paused again, staring into Lars' eyes. Dorian held his ground.
"Dispatch him with prejudice?!" Lars rumbled with the foul taste in his mouth. "What has become of you, Dorian? What nastiness has been birthed in your belly, man?" Lars was furious.
"Oh, nothing has become of me, Lars!" Dorian scoffed. "You know, as well as I, that I speak for the king on these matters. We've been fighting a war that has lasted for many years against the people. We can't afford to take even one misstep. Not one!" Dorian grew frustrated with the direction of the exchange. Lars simply didn't understand, and what was worse was that Lars was allowing his emotions to dictate his behavior.
"Did he not tell a consistent story, Dorian? Did he not risk his own life down in those caverns alongside of us all? Did Zeke not do everything he was asked? Has he not proven himself loyal enough for you or Polias?" Lars took a step back and clenched his teeth. "What has happened to you, Dorian? Has victory been too long coming that you have to create one? Do you have to sacrifice this fellow for your own glory?" Lars' words pierced Dorian through his heart. Dorian stopped and thought about the stinging word of the warrior before him, and he looked at the ire in his eyes. Was he right? It was true - Lars had always had good judgement. Dorian had always trusted Lars. There was no question about his loyalty and brotherhood. "Well, Dorian?" Lars finally broke Dorian's silence. Dorian sat down in the chair before him, and sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"All I want you to do is be careful, my friend, and act within the best interests of what we have fought for so many years. I would hate for any loving sentiment to cloud our judgement." Dorian's gaze softened, and fatigue ran over his face like tiny droplets of water. Lars relaxed at the sight of Dorian's new demeanor.
"I will act as my conscience dictates, Dorian. You know that." Lars said sternly.
"I would expect nothing less, Lars." Dorian replied. "And as I know you, I would have faith in that." Dorian smiled wryly at his friend who smiled back with the same sort of sentiment through his thick brown beard.
"Good." Lars said smartly. "Now, if you don't mind, I have to get ready for traveling with my friend." Lars turned towards the door and grasped its cold, brassy ring as Dorian did just a few moments before.
"This affair, I should think, shall surely be the death of me. I need to get away from it all for a few days and clear my mind." Dorian said causing Lars to pause and turn around.
"Rubbish." Lars said. "What you need is a swift kick in the bustle." Lars grinned as he pulled the door ajar and exited into the hallway, closing the door with an acute gesture of the wrist. within moments, Lars found himself in his own chambers. He removed the proud breastplate with the eagle insigna and set it aside. His hand brushed over the tell-tale signs of his loyalties, and he remembered the bravery of his brother, Byrum. He remembered how they had come to Altendon, and he remembered how they had fought to prove themselves to the men who said dwarves would never be valuable to the exploits of men. Lars felt a bit of pride and lament as he remembered that he had proven them all wrong.
It wasn't long before Lars found himself in the wide open space just within the stockade of the castle where he was greeted with the sunny smile of Dalmar who had been waiting for him. Dalmar stood beside two horses that had been fitted for traveling. Lars smiled as he adjusted the large axe on his back and hopped onto the back of his smaller horse, chosen for his own stature. Dalmar swung is leg over the back of his own mare, and together they rode through the gates of the castle into the city streets. Within moments, they passed through the entrance to the city proper and down the long hillside that parsed the tiny cottages and homes of the town's people. Once again, Dalmar took notice of the handful of small children running at the heels of their horses and he smiled at them. The sun seemed to hang in the sky just for them, bringing fair warning of fair travel up ahead.
The two travelers turned their horses to the west towards the treeline, and were soon enveloped with the darkness of the forest and its lonely path. The sounds of children and Altendon had disappeared by that time, and only the sounds of the clip-clop of horses' hooves could be heard among the swaying of tree branches and the occasional call of birds. The air took upon a woody smell bringing back memories of Dalmar and Lars' many travels through the world. While the two adventurers traveled together, they were in entirely different places mentally. As the day carried onward, they eventually found themselves through the forest and Dalmar, once again, peered out over the lonely rolling hills of golden grass. Dalmar halted his horse at the edge and peered over the hillside remembering the lonely trek of escape. He sighed as Lars paused his travel as well.
"What is it, Zeke?" Lars asked.
"Oh, nothing. Just a memory I wanted to hang on to for a moment." Dalmar smiled at Lars and kicked his horse in its side with the heels of his boots as the beast began to move into the cart path that cut through the hillside. Lars shrugged and followed suit, and together, once again, Dalmar and his friend rode into the unknown.
Invino Veritas
4/7/12
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