This post has the following content warnings:
Jaim, Gael, Dasil, and Istaim in Arcania Artefactum
« Previous Post
Permalink

-thus We impart unto you responsibility for Our Firstborn, His Highness the Prince Gael Tian of Cialin, Heir to Our Throne, that he may be educated in warfare and command as befits one of his station-

 

Jaim sets the letter down, running a hand over his forehead to sooth the ache formed by its contents. He brushes his thumb over one eye, sighing as it comes away wet, and then wipes at them more firmly with the heels of his hands.

'Our Firstborn', in a letter addressed to the king's disowned son... It feels like a slap to the face. 

In truth, despite his damp eyes, the contents of the letter are causing him more stress than sorrow, as the idea of being responsible for the eldest of his younger brothers in the middle of a warzone is less than appealing. Gael is sixteen, and while he is trained in combat and reportedly a fine battlemage for his age, he has no practical experience on the battlefield, nor in commanding troops. Yet as a prince he will be expected to lead.

Jaim doesn't expect he'll find the lessons he has to impart difficult to grasp, but his inexperience could easily kill him, and will most likely kill some of the soldiers placed under him before he learns. 

There's nothing to be done about this problem, however, and moreover it's a worry for later. Gael won't be leaving for the front for over a month, busy finishing up his final year at the Sanctuary Academy. Then he will be escorted from Tianitok to Fort Helen by a force of royal guards, to be left in Jaim's care. 

Having been half-raised by the royal guards, Jaim has great confidence in them. However, given the state of the world, it doesn't hurt to add a little insurance. Just in case. 

Reaching for his pen, Jaim starts in on a letter of his own...

Total: 15
Posts Per Page:
Permalink

Seated on horseback on a rise across the deep river valley from their destination, Gael pauses to take in the view. Fort Helen is well fortified, situated with its back and eastern flank against a steep jut of rock, while its western and southern sides are guarded by a running water moat connected to the river. Two high walls rise around it, the gatehouse connecting the two, the only approach being a stone ramp leading up a good twenty feet above the base of the walls, which turns back on itself twice along the way. As the largest and possibly the best defended fort in the country, Fort Helen is the obvious place for the Commanding General of the southern warfront to make his center of operations.

It's also the obvious place to send a crown prince in need of command training, and thus here Gael is. 

Permalink

"Enjoying the view, highness?"

Permalink

He blinks, turning to look at his guard as they come up on his right side, reining in their horse next to his and giving the fort a quick, calculating look. 

"...I am, Professor," he agrees after a moment. "It looks well-fortified, and well-maintained." 

Permalink

"Your brother runs a tight ship," they murmur.

Permalink

He tenses, glancing behind them, and then relaxes once he realizes there's no one close enough to have heard their words.

"Yes," he agrees. "Or so it seems from a distance."

Permalink

"Doubt already?" They snort. "Well, we'll know for sure once we arrive. Time is passing you by, young prince," they turn their horse to give them a better view of the royal guard contingent behind the two of them. "Pick up the pace! The fort's in sight, it'd be a shame if we had to spend the night camping across the valley because you lot can't move more than a few feet a day!" 

Permalink

There's some grumbling from the guards, but the pace is picked up. In no time at all, they'll find themselves riding up the road to the gatehouse, where the fort's defenders wave them through to dismount and greet those arrayed inside. 

Permalink

Jaim is among them, and he steps forward at a measured pace once the horses have been retrieved and led away by the fort's hostlers.

He bows, "Your highness," he greets, "Welcome to Fort Helen."

Permalink

Gael controls a delighted smile into a pleasant one, bowing his head just the slightest amount in return, "General Jaim. The state of your fort does you credit, as does that of your troops." 

Curious, he glances past Jaim to take in the rest of the greeting party.

Permalink

The rest of the party consists of the command staff and Jaim's Elites, each of the latter wearing their general's insignia on their coat - mantled golden wings on a blue background. Jaim's Elites are the most diverse set in the royal army, most of them hailing from Sanctuary and thus being descended from refugees from all across the two continents. It looks like there's even a pair of islanders, a man and a woman, with their long blonde hair tied up at the crown of their heads to waterfall down their backs in a stream of beaded golden braids. 

Standing a few steps behind Jaim is an Inteli man who wears the marking of his lieutenant. He bows to the prince once he notices his regard, offering him a friendly smile. 

Permalink

Jaim glances behind him, "Ah," he waves the man forward, "Your highness, this is my lieutenant, Dasil Loen-ya."

Permalink

"It is an honour to meet you," Dasil offers. 

Permalink

Gael smiles at him, connecting the man to Jaim's descriptions of his lover. "Likewise," he says, before turning his attention to the rest of the group. 

Permalink

Jaim proceeds to introduce him to them. Once this is done, and all the niceties have been observed, they begin to disperse, some remaining to join Jaim in leading him and Istaim to a large building across the wide green from the gatehouse, all but two of them splitting from the group once they're inside. 

"We've prepared quarters for you and your guard in the VIP rooms here," he explains as they climb the stairs inside to the second floor. At the top of the staircase, he motions to the correct doors, "I will leave you to freshen up from the journey," he adds, "You will find me in the war room on the first floor once you are ready." 

Permalink

Gael opens his mouth to ask him to wait, and then stops, noting the two soldiers who had joined them on the second floor. With an internal sigh, he closes his mouth, and nods, "Thank you, general," he says, before retreating into the room and closing the door. 

This Thread Is On Hiatus
Total: 15
Posts Per Page: