1629, Fire Season, Illusion Week, Godday Eve
Context
With the Regiment, in the camp. Berra gets Kolyey up to speed again. Session S5W.16.
Events
Kolyey got peeled away from the group by a Rune Lord who needed a question answering right now. Lord Heenith is one of the very few people who would do that, and as the question was about riding conditions and horse readiness in the grazelands, it was not unreasonable to ask her. Still, that left her alone and without a leader. That usually means getting pinged for something, and in this case it was cooking. Humakti Regiments need specialised feeding, after all.
Several hours later, she is free of the cook-shop and can go try to find out where her friends are.
Kolyey mutters that if she never peels another vegetable, it’ll be too soon. She tries to look busy as she goes in search of her friends.
It does not take long to spot Berra’s horse, and after that it is all a matter of waiting while not being seen to be waiting.
Berra comes by soon after. “Oh, hey. Kolyey.”
“Priestess,” Kolyey replies with a salute. “I was wondering if you know what the High Command is up to.”
“Yeah, kinda. Let’s take a walk.” Berra gestures towards a busier bit of camp. “We can lose ourselves there.”
“Thanks,” Kolyey says as she walks beside Berra. “I hope we’re not going back to the Grazelands. The horses will be fine, but we will starve.”
“So. Probably not. We found out why the Yelmalians were getting arsey.” Berra rolls her eyes hard enough she should be getting dizzy.
“Oh? I am all ears.” Kolyey’s face suggests that she has a low opinion of Yelmalians.
“Someone in the Locaem has been…. sorry, I might have to go and take you so I need to not get this wrong. In the Locaem lands, where Sun County has seen it because it’s visible, there’s a new big chalk-dig in the shape of Elmal. The kind where you dig lines through the soil down to the white.”
“And huge pieces of artwork upset them why? Ah yes, it was probably done by Orlanthi as an insult.”
“Right. Kinda. And they decided that it wouldn’t be done except if Kallyr knew about it, at the very least. Not a splendid understanding of how Sartar works, but a fine insight into our allies.”
“Too bad we need them,” Kolyey comments. “We can’t afford to have them settle this on their time. We also can’t explain why Kallyr probably didn’t know.”
“That’s not gonna be our problem. Advice from Lord Eril to the Prince was to apologise and investigate. Apologising happens up here, but he mentioned investigation and Humakt’s magic. That means he’s likely to send someone. There’s some Duke or another up here in command but we’re going to have to talk to Count Sertanas. If they send us. They probably will.”
Kolyey sighs. “The things we do for the regiment. I will help you, but I don’t have that kind of magic from Humakt.”
“I have. Remember that the more you get from Humakt, the more you can give him. I been doing this a while now.” Berra is a couple of years older than Kolyey, no more. “I don’t know exactly how it’ll go, but I probably get to represent Lord Eril. I might have to bear his wyter sword, but this is an active campaign front so he probably needs everything he can get.”
Kolyey thinks about this for a moment. “Rank has its problems as well as privileges. I am tempted to ask Humakt for more magic, but my spirit feels a little weak.”
“It’s a tough call, and you gave to us already. When you’re ready, do. If you’re not sure you’re ready, do. But if you are sure you are not, don’t. A weak spirit is a killer of warriors.”
Kolyey nods. “I wish I could advise you on the enemy cavalry, but I haven’t seen them in action yet. We probably need those pikes.”
“Yes. Hopefully with someone like us being sent off, the command tent can say everything is attended to and the pikes will move. This is all about pride, but I think Lord Eril’s got Prince Kallyr ready to be nice. It depends on the Duke.” Berra rolls out her shoulders. “I could do with someone clear-headed about finding facts here, but he’s back in Nochet.”
“That is a pity. I hate to admit it, but Sages are good at learning facts. Unfortunately they avoid armies like diseases.”
“It’s… gonna be something like Orlanthi justice because I gotta balance things, not just follow rules. But I also have to be Humakti about it and not choose my kin over others.” Berra scrunches up her nose, thoughtfully.
“Our Lord will help you separate yourself in the name of justice.” Kolyey is trying to be reassuring.
Berra heaves a quick sigh, and shrugs it off. “Anyhow, we got the information because of Maalira. I’m thinking we should have a song about it, when it’s all blown over.”
“A song would be good. I can’t write songs, sadly.”
“Yeah. She deserves something for her cleverness. Oh god. Maybe I’ll have time to report all of this. But I’m probably going straight to Prax after the thing in the Locaem.”
“Prax? Why? The war is here.” Kolyey appears mildly surprised.
“It’s almost the end of Fire Season,” Berra points out. “And most of this army’s gotta go to the harvest. We spent a lot of time in travel.”
“I suppose. But why Prax?”
“I wanna talk to someone over there.” Berra shrugs. “I’ll probably be sending you back to the Regiment then, but it might count as service.”
Kolyey thinks, then nods. “It’s been an honor serving with you. Good luck with that talk. I suppose I will work on my balance while you go to Prax.”
Berra shrugs. “You’ll be with me for a while yet,” but she is already turning to walk back out of the crowds.
Kolyey says, “Farewell for now and thanks.” She then goes deeper into the crowd.
Berra goes towards the kitchens, to get something to eat.
