84th of Summer, 514.
It must have been the sixth or seventh bell of the early morning when heavy knuckles shook the door like the squirrels patron wanted to break the door down, more than demand entry. Though it took a few minutes for Arch to get his bearings and crawl out from under the landscape of bedsheets, he eventually made it out from underneath in time to see the crimson Akalak staring at him from the open doorway. Already dressed in full plate-mail with his shield and spear at hand, one had to wonder just what drove him to arrive so early.. but all the squirrel could think was how much he wished he could go back to bed. The Akalak was impatient, though. "Get up. Your mount is outside, saddled and whining. You've got five chimes to straighten yourself and then I want you on that dog." It was a damn good thing that the squirrel didn't have any clothes, or armour to put on.. or need of a rinse, or the like. All the human-like creatures needed bells before they were ready to see the outside world.. although both the squirrel and the Akalak knew that none of that shyke would be necessary today.
In four chimes, the squirrel stepped out of his dorm - and nearly walked straight into Xarex, who stood with his halter, bridle and saddle already set in place. Next to him sat Ser Iros on the back of his simply massive war-horse. Rather than the usual dulled expression that didn't seem to show anything at all, he wore a much colder face with piercing eyes and a mouth set in tight disapproval.. even though the squirrel hadn't done anything wrong at all, as far as he knew. The pages had delivered all of their letters, he'd been trying his hardest during training.. he'd not caused serious injury to any pedestrians on his usual patrols. In fact, the more he raked his brain for any signs of reason, the more paranoid he became that he'd done something bad.. even though he couldn't remember doing any of it.
Arch was so self-absorbed in thought, that he barely noticed he'd been staring at Xarex without moving for almost ten chimes. At least until Ser Iros coughed rather loudly and pulled him from his stupor. "I haven't got all day, and neither have you. Get on and let's go." He didn't need any more than that, and the squirrel grabbed the side of the saddle with both paws as he hopped up onto Xarex's back and settled into place. Though it was comfortable for the squirrel, apparently Ser Iros had other ideas - he didn't even bother setting off. "Straighten your back. Push your reins forwards. No, farther." The squirrel was tempted to ask why, but he obeyed until the man was satisfied. Then, at long last, they set off at a slow trot.
The Akalak went slow deliberately, so that the squirrel would be forced to trot ahead of him. Likely, so that he could continue shouting corrections at the squirrel all the way through the city and for the front gates. "Straighten your back. Shoulders back. Head high, you're a member of the Order, act like it. That's better. Chest out." The farther he went, the more difficult it was to keep a steady hold on the dog between his legs and his direction.. but he persevered, with wobbles here and there. He could only be thankful that there weren't many people out and about at such an early time to watch the squirrel fumbling in his simple riding exercise. And that there weren't many people he'd need to be avoiding that day. With the giant of a horse looming behind him, people quickly learned to make way.
Only at one moment, during their ride, did the squirrel pick up the courage to ask exactly what was going on. "Ser, where are we going?" Unfortunately, as he suspected, he immediately regretted this choice. "You shouldn't question your superiors in their actions, Squire Archailist. Now keep that tail down, it's spoiling your posture." After that, the walk was done in silence - broken only briefly by the constant nagging tone of his patron that nibbled at the corners of his concentration.
It must have been the sixth or seventh bell of the early morning when heavy knuckles shook the door like the squirrels patron wanted to break the door down, more than demand entry. Though it took a few minutes for Arch to get his bearings and crawl out from under the landscape of bedsheets, he eventually made it out from underneath in time to see the crimson Akalak staring at him from the open doorway. Already dressed in full plate-mail with his shield and spear at hand, one had to wonder just what drove him to arrive so early.. but all the squirrel could think was how much he wished he could go back to bed. The Akalak was impatient, though. "Get up. Your mount is outside, saddled and whining. You've got five chimes to straighten yourself and then I want you on that dog." It was a damn good thing that the squirrel didn't have any clothes, or armour to put on.. or need of a rinse, or the like. All the human-like creatures needed bells before they were ready to see the outside world.. although both the squirrel and the Akalak knew that none of that shyke would be necessary today.
In four chimes, the squirrel stepped out of his dorm - and nearly walked straight into Xarex, who stood with his halter, bridle and saddle already set in place. Next to him sat Ser Iros on the back of his simply massive war-horse. Rather than the usual dulled expression that didn't seem to show anything at all, he wore a much colder face with piercing eyes and a mouth set in tight disapproval.. even though the squirrel hadn't done anything wrong at all, as far as he knew. The pages had delivered all of their letters, he'd been trying his hardest during training.. he'd not caused serious injury to any pedestrians on his usual patrols. In fact, the more he raked his brain for any signs of reason, the more paranoid he became that he'd done something bad.. even though he couldn't remember doing any of it.
Arch was so self-absorbed in thought, that he barely noticed he'd been staring at Xarex without moving for almost ten chimes. At least until Ser Iros coughed rather loudly and pulled him from his stupor. "I haven't got all day, and neither have you. Get on and let's go." He didn't need any more than that, and the squirrel grabbed the side of the saddle with both paws as he hopped up onto Xarex's back and settled into place. Though it was comfortable for the squirrel, apparently Ser Iros had other ideas - he didn't even bother setting off. "Straighten your back. Push your reins forwards. No, farther." The squirrel was tempted to ask why, but he obeyed until the man was satisfied. Then, at long last, they set off at a slow trot.
The Akalak went slow deliberately, so that the squirrel would be forced to trot ahead of him. Likely, so that he could continue shouting corrections at the squirrel all the way through the city and for the front gates. "Straighten your back. Shoulders back. Head high, you're a member of the Order, act like it. That's better. Chest out." The farther he went, the more difficult it was to keep a steady hold on the dog between his legs and his direction.. but he persevered, with wobbles here and there. He could only be thankful that there weren't many people out and about at such an early time to watch the squirrel fumbling in his simple riding exercise. And that there weren't many people he'd need to be avoiding that day. With the giant of a horse looming behind him, people quickly learned to make way.
Only at one moment, during their ride, did the squirrel pick up the courage to ask exactly what was going on. "Ser, where are we going?" Unfortunately, as he suspected, he immediately regretted this choice. "You shouldn't question your superiors in their actions, Squire Archailist. Now keep that tail down, it's spoiling your posture." After that, the walk was done in silence - broken only briefly by the constant nagging tone of his patron that nibbled at the corners of his concentration.
