Suspicions Unspoken: Valsert (Samheen 19th Early MT)

[Twilight]

Captain Xyale had summoned the Purple Guardsman, along with three others, to his office, and now he sat waiting at his desk for them to arrive. His office was not overly large; it did not need to be, and Xyale disliked being stuck indoors anyway, but this was delicate business and was best handled in privacy. The day was warm, and sun shone brightly through the window at his back. Still, he kept the window closed to ensure that his conversation with his Guardsmen would not be overheard.

Documents lay on his desk, and he fiddled with the edge of the parchment that had prompted the summonses. His face creased with a deep frown, as he contemplated the implications of its contents.

[valsert]

The fact that he was being summoned to meet with a Captain of the guard was somewhat surprising to Valsert. Sure he had done well in the Tourney, but good enough to be noticed by anyone? Not likely. His mind continued to contemplate the reasons behind his being called, until he reached the door to Captain Xyale’s office.

After smoothing out his uniform, and rapping loudly on the door, Val entered. All daydreams of this meeting being anything of good news were quickly forced from his mind by the look on the Captains face; new thoughts of reprimand replacing them.

Keeping his military bearings about him and hiding his slight limp from a sore leg, he strolled forward to the edge of the desk.


SIR! Valsert Forell reporting as requested SIR! He said, as he snapped to attention and presented a salute.

[Twilight]

Almost immediately, 3 other Guardsmen appeared behind Valsert, also announcing themselves to the Captain in turn.

“Gentlemen, come in,” Captain Xyale directed to the four men. As soon as the door was closed behind them, the Captain continued. “I have an order here to pick up and detain one Ashtallion Urdil, last known to be studying at the University of Magic.”

“Valsert,” Xyale went on, turning his full attention to the young Guardsman. “You were in the Tourney with this individual. Do you recall him? He was the one who… defeated the Caesar.” His tone sounded as though there were some doubts that ‘defeated’ was the proper word.

[valsert]

Catching the note in the captain’s voice, and understanding the unsaid doubts, Val began his evaluation and description of Ashtallion.

“Sir, I only saw him a few times, and was unable to view the spar with the Caesar. He was a bit taller then most of his race I have met, yet other then that his appearance was average for an Elf. Blue eyes, Gold hair…exedra. His weapon of choice was the staff, and his use of it at least compared to my own sword abilities, judging that we both lasted to the same round in the contest.”

“I could spot him in a group however.” Val thought for a moment before continuing “Sir, after we have him, assuming he does not resist, where and whom shall we deliver him? If he resists, then I assume we are to take him to the healers before anywhere else.”

Val studied the Captain as he waited for his response. A sort of gloom seemed to hang over the man. Val had felt the heaviness when he entered the room, it reminded him somewhat of the shadow dragon which once haunted his own dreams.

[Hoppy]

The three guardsmen that were ushered in to the Captain's office along with Valsert stood quietly to either the side or behind him, none of them quite reaching the size of the blonde guardsman.

None of them were anyone that Valsert would have recognized, one of them was a lanky older red haired fellow with a silent air of confidence about him that seemed to comfort people more than anything. At his waist were a pair of long daggers and by the looks of the handles and sheaths they had already been put to good use.

The other two guardsmen, the two that stood behind the others were a rarity indeed. No need for mirrors, each of them looked to be carbon copies of the other. Brown hair atop their head and a small goatee on their chin, the only marking diffeence between them seemed their choice of weaponr. One had a bow slung snuggly around his shoulder, a quiver of arrows jutting up from behind the other and a short sword at his hip that looked as though it had never left its bindings. His brother on the other hand had none of those things, in their place instead Valsert could see the handle of a much larger sword jutting up from behind the mans back.

All three watched and listened as Valsert spoke with the captain, nodding here and there in agreement with much of what Valsert and the captain had to say.

[Twilight]

The Captain nodded gravely as Valsert spoke, and then replied, “Urdil is training to be a Battle Mage, so beware. He’s to be escorted to the dungeon for questioning.”

It was an ominous declaration. People did not get escorted to the dungeon for trivial matters, and yet the Captain had not mentioned any charges or the subject of the questioning.

Xyale handed over the warrant to Valsert. “As you know him by sight,” he said, by way of explanation.”

“Any questions, men?” the Captain asked of the four Guardsmen.

[valsert]

Nodding his understanding of the captains words, Val took the warrant and silently hoped that the task would end well, and with less action then his last mission.

“Sir, with your leave, we will proceed now if you have no further instructions” he said, presenting a snappy salute.

Turning to his fellow Guardsmen, Val smiled slightly. “Gents, if you are ready, lets go serve the Caesar.” He said, as he motioned them to step outside.

Halting at the doorway, Val turned once more to the Captain.

“Sir, I have but one question unrelated to the current mission. Have you heard word of the Ship and Captain who escorted me back from Kislovan? He was to have gone to the healers for his wounds but I have not heard from him sence that time. It was understood between us, that he would see me again before he set sail for his home once more. It was his own fast and good work which insured my survival on the journy, I had hoped to offer him thanks once more before he left."

[Hoppy]

The three guardsmen that were to accompany Valsert came to attention and saluted quickly as did Valsert before he excused them from the Captain's attention. One, the older, likely a veteran of one skirmish or another seemed a little taken aback by a hasty departure but offered no arguement.

As Valsert asked his question about the ship and its captain, the men all wandered outside, they were either uninterested in the matter or respectful of Valsert's privacy. The twins nodded on their way out, the other harumphed to himself, perhaps an indication of where they stood.

"Whenever you're ready." the twins spoke in unison on the way out, an odd, almost eerie happening that sent an obvious shiver down the spine of the red headed soldier.

[Twilight]

Xyale’s expression looked a little less grave at Valsert’s question, and he nodded his understanding.

“I expect to see him this very Tradetide,” the Captain said. “I believe he is well and makes for Kislovan with this Eventide’s tide. I shall mention you,” he promised, before nodding his dismissal to the Guardsman.

((OOC: Whenever you’re ready, please join Ashtallion, who is not expecting you, in this thread.))

[valsert]

“Thank you sir, it means much to me,” Val said with a nod, before he turned from captain Xyale and closed the door behind him.

He could not suppress a grin as he looked at the twins, as they reminded him of a lewd joke he had once heard about a parrot and mirror. Not knowing these people well, he did his best to push aside the urge to laugh. He did not want to offend his peers, and it would only cause confusion and possibly gain him mistrust from the pair. Grinning broadly, he extended his had and offered introductions instead.

“I suppose we should get moving, but before we begin, I think it is always best to at least know the names of those who I serve with. We are all in this together, for good or bad after all. I am Valsert Forell, and you are?”