“Never underestimate a man because of his appearance, Jon,” said the First Rider. “I’ve killed a lot of men who did that.”
“I believe you,” said Jon, just as Sorus returned with another armload of wood and dumped it by the fire.
“That should be enough for tonight I’d think,” he said. “Come on Odellius, leave those pots long enough to show me what these mushrooms of yours look like. I’m sure Jon and the First Rider have things they want to discuss.”
Odellius nodded his huge head and looked at the pan on the fire that had just began to pop and fizzle. “Watch that oil,” he said to both Jon and Vipsanius. “When it starts to sizzle throw one of the fish on there,” he finished and began to walk towards a small copse of trees with Sorus.
“Not much time,” said Vipsanius to Jon with a glance at the pan. “Come on and help me fillet these fish or Odellius will have our hides.” With that the First Rider went back to the stream and pulled in the line of fish. He and Jon set out to clean each one using sharp little knives made for the purpose and provided by the huge knight earlier.
“This is a lot easier with the right tool,” he said to the First Rider as they finished the first two and tossed them in the pan where the flesh immediately began to crackle and give off a delicious odor. “What sort of tool are you looking for here in Elekargul?” said Vipsanius to Jon as they continued to work at the fish that remained.
“Like I said, First Rider,” started Jon but was interrupted immediately.
“Call me Vipsanius if you will,” he said. “First Rider is more for ceremony and battle. Here in a camp I like to think I can be just a man, for a little while at least.”
“My father talks about that,” said Jon, “about how responsibility can wear a man down. I can see how your system of changing rulers every year has its advantages. I’d think that consistency of rule is important as well. You know in Caparal they elect a new ruler every four years?”
“I know something of Caparal,” said Vipsanius. “The Tales of Yumanar as written by Owondo are well known even this far south.”
“Of course,” said Jon and slapped his forehead. “How could I forget those stories? My older brother used to read them to my sister and me when we were children. The great Yumanar, who left Caparal and saved the Republic. I don’t remember them being particularly political though, mostly high adventure as Yumanar, Owondo, and the others traveled the world.”
“There are some that are more politically orientated than others; the less famous ones are more interesting from that point of view. When Owondo wrote of the different political systems they ran across he often compared it to the Republic of Caparal,” said the First Rider his hand in his chin. “As a boy they were less interesting to me, but as I’ve grown older, I find that they have their nuances on a level beyond adventure and excitement. Perhaps if the Black Horse allows me to grow older I’ll find another aspect to them as well. The stories claim Yumanar wandered for fifty years after he abdicated the throne and restored the republic. That is a long time and a lot of writing.”
“You said earlier not to judge a man by his appearance,” said Jon. “You shouldn’t judge one by his age either. I know I’m only seventeen but my father taught me to lead and to rule from even before I can remember.”
“I’m not judging you, Jon,” said the First Rider. “That being said, you are only seventeen and there is only one way to gain experience. It is good your father has sent you on this long journey, and if you survive I’m sure you will prove an able leader in Tanelorn. However, I am not particularly interested in your future as a leader. I am interested in my current rule and I think you are here for something besides making alliances. Tell me now.”
“The Staff of Sakatha,” said Jon as he looked down at the First Rider.
Vipsanius nodded his head, “You want to collect it for Tanelorn?”
“That’s right,” said Jon, “but not to use it. My father wants to keep the most powerful items of the Old Empire out of the hands of those who would use them for their own ends.”
“What if I wanted it?” said Vipsanius. “What if I promised to use it for good, to help both of our nations, to free people, to conquer the Dorians and make them a free nations, to conquer the orcs of Adas Jdar, to defeat the insect men, what if I promised all of those things?”
Jon sat silently for a moment with the knife in one hand and a half-finished fish on the rock in front of him, “My father says that the relics cloud the mind and that no one, not even with the best intentions can use them for good. He thinks that the gods, well, he doesn’t think of them as gods, just powerful creatures left over from the Old Empire now posing as gods, he thinks they warp the minds of all people and that the only chance a freedom loving nation has is to remove their influence.”
“What was that?” said Odellius as he suddenly appeared with Sorus in tow. They held a small cloth sacking bulging with round little mushrooms. “That the gods are really not gods at all?”
“Odellius,” said the First Rider, “Jon and I are discussing matters of state.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt First Rider,” said the huge man. “It’s just that what Jon says sounds like something Imprilius told me after you went to bed the other night.”
“We can discuss that at another time,” said Vipsanius and looked up to the massive knight, “for now Jon and I need to talk about this Staff of Sakatha. You and Sorus work on dinner while we finish our conversation.”
“Yes, First Rider,” said Odellius, clenched his fist in a salute, and went over to the fire to examine the fish. He immediately pulled a spatula from a leather wrap which contained a number of utensils and flipped the little fish over with practiced ease. “Bring those mushrooms, boy, we want to saute them in this little pan here.”
“So your father plans to destroy the staff?” said Vipsanius, a small frown on his face. “I’m not sure I approve of that, but I can see where it might be best to destroy them entirely rather than let them do evil.”
Jon paused for a moment and said nothing.
“Go on,” said the First Rider and put his hand on Jon’s shoulder with a little pat.
“My father,” started Jon, “you have to understand I don’t necessarily agree with everything he says, my father isn’t certain about the entire concept of good and evil. If you, as leader of Elekargul do something like destroy the insect men, or conquer Adas Jdar in the name of freedom, isn’t that evil from the point of view of those nations? Likewise, if the reptile men of Darag’dal were to obtain the Staff of Sakatha and wage a terrible war of conquest wouldn’t that be in their own best interests?”
“What is good for me is evil for someone else,” said the First Rider with a nod of his head.
“I suppose that’s the concept,” said Jon with a shrug. “I’m not sure I totally agree with it, and my brother Val and he fight all the time about just that. But, to answer your question, my father doesn’t plan to destroy the Staff of Sakatha or any other relic of the Old Empire. He thinks that’s as bad as using them for your own ends.”
“What does he plan to do with it then?” said Vipsanius as his hand came to his chin. “It seems you either use it or destroy it and hope that your intentions are for the best.”
“My father doesn’t think anyone’s intentions are for the best when it comes to those old relics. He thinks these creatures, gods as we call them, created the relics during the Old Empire and that they warp anyone who owns one of them to their will,” said Jon. “I’ve held some of them,” went on the boy and his eyes became distant and he clasped his hands and ran his thumb over his fingers. “I think there is something to that idea.”
“You’ve held relics of the Old Empire,” asked the First Rider, and Odellius paused for a moment to listen closely to the conversation.
Jon nodded his head, “My father means to hold them, keep them away from those who would use them and be manipulated by the ancient powers,” he said. “I’m not sure it’s possible but that is the plan.”