Three relatively-eventless days later, they had emerged together on the southern side of the jungle at the edge of the grasslands. Kae’lo felt a distinct sense of freedom as the wind carried the humidity and the jungle smells away. The open air didn’t carry the close comfort of the mountains, but was significantly better than the dank jungle had been.

Zekra also seemed to have been brought alive by the breeze. His tongue flickered in and out of his mouth and Kae’lo frequently saw him smiling. Though breezy, the hot summer sun beat down on them from above.

Zekra would often disappear for large amounts of time with the excuse of scouting ahead, but then would return with a small plains mammal to eat. It was a suitable arrangement for the most part. They both enjoy their solitude. Yet at night around the fire, they slowly grew to know each other more.

Zekra was the only surviving egg of a clutch that had been taken by small predatory birds, and amongst the Caldoreans, parents were not directly involved in raising the young. According to what the elders of his tribe had told him, he had been born in the nest of the birds in a dark cave. It was said, though Zekra was dubious, that the dark and the cold of the cave resulted his white coloring, a stark and barren color given because he was born in a stark and barren place. Ironically, in some small way, Kae’lo found it comforting that he was born in the cave rather than out in the dreaded openness.

Kae’lo, Zekra learned, was the son of wandering merchants who had abandoned him with relatives in the mountains. Early on, he had decided that he wanted to be a trader or store owner, and he had started saving money obsessively in order to have the funds to venture out into the wide world. He had obsessively saved money for years to purchase his meager possessions and the trading supplies in his pack, and then he ventured forth.

They were both outcasts of sort, though one by social mandate and the other by personal preference. As they travelled, they began to understand each other more and more.

---

Kae’lo stopped talking as they drew topped the hill above the Caldorean camp and it spread out below them.

He glanced at Brandus, “Well, it seems that will be the extent the tale for now, as we’re pert near there. To make a long-winded tale into a sentence or two, Zekra and I became fast friends. He overcame the stigma of his scales, and I succeeded in creating my pub. Last I heard, he was a commander in their army and one of his tribe’s leaders.”

“… So what does that have to do with the situation in which we find ourselves now?” Brandus probed.

Kae’lo smirked, “Well, the first sub-matria is the highest military rank that a Caldorean youth can obtain prior to ‘the counting’. To obtain it, you have to kill at least 20 strong adversaries in battle or one-on-one combat. So either she is here to kill me, and as my second-in-command probably you as well, or I’ve no idea at all.”

With a quick rustling of leaves, three Caldorean warriors stepped out of the long grass near the road wielding wicked looking long-barbed spears. One seized the reigns of the horses. The other two pointed their spears at Kae’lo and Brandus and gestured that they should step down out of the wagon.

Brandus gave a morose grin as they disembarked the wagon into the Caldorean’s custody, “…I don’t suppose that it’s still early enough for me to opt to put up my own tent and go home…?”

Kae’lo chuckled darkly.

---

“The darkness, that which is evil, often rears its head at the most inopportune of times. It is the nature of evil to seize advantage whenever the opportunity presents itself. The smallest foothold can sometimes turn into an event that changes the world. Guard yourself against such evil lest you become its victim, or worse, lest you become its perpetrator.”

- A Practicum for Living, Chapter One, By the Poet

Valith had excused himself early from the luncheon after eating little, he claimed exhaustion, but had reassured them that he would be rested and his preparations would be completed by the time the evening festivities began.

Lorenth walked down the hall lost in thought. The plush red rugs that ran the length of the halls were soft under his sandaled feet. As a child, he used to run barefoot down these very halls with his brother. Laughter had abounded.

It pained Lorenth to see Valith like he was right now. Battle-weariness had etched lines on his face and the cynical insanity of having taken human lives was hidden right behind his eyes. If you looked for it, you could see the strain.

Even the king had given Valith an alarmed second look upon arriving. This was an unusual expression of concern from his father in a semi-public venue. Lorenth knew the king loved both his sons, but held that his position dictated that personal love was best expressed in private. Public acknowledgement and pride was fine to express in public, but the more casual displays of familial affection were far more intimate.

Lorenth reached his quarters and went inside.

There was a hastily scribbled note on the nightstand next to the bed. All it said was “Your preparations are complete.” It was written in the hand of Marcellus so Lorenth knew that his horse had been readied for his ride later that night. It would be good to get out of the city and away from the noise. Even with his brief respite today, he could already feel the tension of his duties starting to mount and he knew that his duty had only just begun.

Marcellus was, no doubt, off enjoying the company of his beloved. Lorenth smiled. At least someone would be able to enjoy the festivities of the day.

It was still two bells until the traditional birthday announcement would commence and the king himself would declare the celebration had begun. Landon felt the urge to go view some of the festivities in town as they were set up.

He wrapped a hooded cloak about himself and stepped out the door. He made his way through the castle and out the keep entrance where he was joined by two of the royal guard with standing orders to protect him whenever he went anywhere.

The main market area rested at the base of the keep walls and he opted to walk rather than take a horse. Besides, with the streets crowded, it’d likely be faster than waiting for his guards to clear a path immediately ahead of him for his horse. Walking also provided a greater degree of subtly to his exploration, which was always preferable to a grand show of rank and status in Lorenth’s opinion.

Immediate to the base of the keep walls was the open market area. By order of the king for the security of the keep, and by ancient tradition, permanent buildings were prohibited from being placed in the open area. The entire area could be used by anyone with merchandise to sell. Most of the time this was local farmers with a dozen or so more exotic vendors, but the annual birthday celebration sold the farmers out of food quickly and the travelling merchants moved in to sell their wares.

The most ambitious vendors, those who had arrived early enough, would be set up on the main throughway from the keep to the walls. Lorenth made his way there in a meandering way. It took the better part of a bell for him to explore to his satisfaction.

He finally reached the stalls of the most ambitious of merchants. One particularly boisterous tent stood out more than the other, beside it sat a large garish cart painted a variety of greens, oranges, reds, and purples. There didn’t seem to be any particular color scheme as various boards were painted multiple colors.

Two young boys, stable hands judging based on their clothes, laid back on the driver’s seat with their legs stretched comfortably to the foot board. Their hats were over their face and Lorenth would’ve thought they were asleep except that every so often one would lift his hat slightly to peer out for a moment. Movement caught Lorenth’s eye, on the other side of the tent from the wagon a young girl no more than the age of four was trying her best to stealthily sneak to the front of the tent. Lorenth hadn’t noticed at first, but a large barrel with a bright red apple on it was is front of the stall.

Lorenth glanced at the boys, the older of the two peered out from under the brim of his hat silently. He had obviously noticed the girl’s feet moving below the lowest reaches of the tent sides, which did not stretch all of the way to the ground. Lorenth considered what the boy would do. The girl cleared the front of the tent and darted towards the barrel. Lorenth braced himself to intervene on the girl’s behalf and perhaps purchase the apple for her, but it wasn’t necessary. The boy just watch her take the apple and go with a slight smile. After the young girl had safely made away with her prize, the boy hopped down and took another apple out of the barrel and set it on the barrel top again. Then he climb back to his perch and smile again before pulling the hat back down.

Lorenth approached the young boys with curiosity. “You there, what is the purpose of letting that young girl steal an apple? Aren’t you concerned that she’ll learn to be a thief?”

The oldest boy tipped his hat back and opened one eye. The smile passed his face again. “Perhaps, sir, and if you’d like you can most certainly try to find her. However, each year the owner of this cart gets here early just to get this spot. While the best spot in the market, or at least one of them, he does it because right across the way is an orphanage. Both me and my brother here grew up in that poor house, and our uncle, that is to say the owner of these apples, he sends us over there the night before to tell all the kids that they may have an apple. That said, we knows they likes a challenge wot presents itself. Without it the orphans just get an apple and not the game as well. So we pretends that we’re laying here to guard and when they ‘steals’ an apple without getting caught, they can tell all their chappers…that is to say the other kids, sir… the whole story later.”

Lorenth’s eyes opened wide in mirth. “I see. Well then, that does sound rather harmless. I suppose that we’ll just have to let it be for the time being. Is your master about? I’d like to congratulate him on this scheme.”

“Sadly, no, sir. He sent us ahead to set up for the day. He’ll be here before the festivities, rest assured though. Perhaps you can swing round to visit him tonight?” The boy looked hopeful, further confirming his integrity in Lorenth’s mind.

Just then the bells in the keep began to toll three o’clock. Lorenth would soon be required to attend the royal kickoff of the celebrations and to make it in time, he must leave now. He frowned. “Sadly, no. I won’t be able to come out until much later tonight.” He thought for a moment. “Still, I would like to meet him. Please give him this.”