An Angel Called Eternity

The Field Rat's Banquet - Lykourgos VIII: Forwards March

Lykourgos VIII: Forwards March

The Twenty-Seventh Day of the Tenth Moon, 872 AD.
Haestinghen, Eastern Teleytaios, Klironomea.

He still couldn't believe it. Angels above, it had worked! The same thoughts rattled through his mind some four days after the man had awoken, the monumental nature of the event not lost on him. He'd compiled so many questions he needed to ask when the man next woke, having been assured it would be no more than a few weeks now by the Seer.
Surely it couldn't hurt to wait here until he woke again, could it?
He knew many of his advisors didn't agree with that point. Ser Romanos was failing at hiding his rising impatience, and Elikoidi's usually well-meaning barbs had been turned into insults born of frustration.
It didn't matter. Something was clearly going on here, and he didn't intend to be left in the dark when it came to a head.
He could afford another weeks wait.

Dreamwulf was sat to his left as Lykourgos consulted his notes, Eros the next seat over. Nasos moved deftly around the edges of the room with Ilias, cleaning and sweeping with brooms so as to make themselves useful whilst the council was held.
Well, was supposed to be being held. Romanos and Elikoidi were still yet to show themselves.
Normally when the prince's two closest advisors came to council meetings, each attempted to outpace the other, desperate to get the seat at the prince's right hand only to deny it to the other. Not this time.
When Elikoidi and Ser Romanos did stride into the room that was being used as a makeshift Inner Council chamber, they had their heads held high and were walking side-by-side with each other. Not only that, but they were ten minutes late.
They were never late. Their pride wouldn't allow it.
Neither moved to take the seat to Lykourgos' right. This time they sat side by side, opposite the Prince.
"You're late. You're never late."
"We need to talk, your Grace."
The words were obviously laced with as much forced politeness as Elikoidi could muster, his teeth grinding as he took a breath. Ser Romanos continued from where Elikoidi left off.
"You need to move again. We can't sit cooped up here forever, waiting for some mystic to wake up. He's not going anywhere, your Grace, so why can't we continue the fight?"
He shook his head.
"I understand your concerns, but this is just as important as the war, if not more so! Think of what this man could tell us, what he must know! The Seer seems to revere him, perhaps he's also some sort of powerful magic-user! How can we abandon that?"
Ser Romanos looked affronted.
"Your Grace, you'd have us abandon the war? And for what, the potential that this man might be someone of importance from the past?"
Lykourgos shook his head.
"I don't intend to abandon the war, merely wait another week. Just one more week, that's all."
Romanos slumped in his chair, and Elikoidi stared, mouth agape.
"A week? A WEEK?"
Elikoidi stood and strode around the table, jabbing an accusatory finger at the prince.
"NO, NO, ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY NOT! IF HE'S BEEN ASLEEP FOR CENTURIES THEN HE CAN WAIT A FEW MOONS MORE, BUT THE THRONE IS IN FRONT OF YOU! YOU HAVE A DUTY TO SEE TO, AND SO HELP US WE CANT JUST CARRY IT OUT FOR YOU!"
"Eli, listen, I know-"
"No, you don't, and that's the problem. You've got the upper hand and you're willing to throw it away and wait here for nothing. Don't you remember how much you wanted this? The kingdom, yours to rule, yours to save, yours to improve."
Lykourgos looked away.
"Look, I'm sorry if you aren't happy with this. But it's my decision to make."
If anyone else looked at Elikoidi then, they would have seen scorn and malice in his eyes. Lykourgos knew better. When he looked to his friend there was confusion and sadness hidden beneath it as he shouted.
"MAKE IT THEN. SEE WHERE IT GETS YOU, YOUR HIGHNESS."
Elikoidi's words seemed to shock himself more than anyone else. Lykourgos knew he didn't mean it, not really. Eli had always struggled with his temper, and would sometimes say something Lykourgos knew he regretted, but it had never been anything like this. Even if it didn't sound bad on a surface level, Eli had just insinuated that Lykourgos was not the heir to the throne, nor the rightful king. Let us be done with this, Eli.
Before his friend could speak Dreamwulf moved to place himself between Lykourgos and his two friends, his empty gaze scornfully levelled at Elikoidi. No, he's burnt his anger out. Don't challenge him here, please.
But his thoughts were lost on the others. Dreamwulf was doing as was expected of him, and the prince knew that Elikoidi's anger would be stoked by such an action.
"That's quite enough, yer Lordships. I'll not have you shout at his Grace. Not while im here."
The spymaster's own glare met the blind man's, hackles raised at the challenge. Eros sat still, trying to make himself as small as possible, while Nasos shooed Ilias out the door, to the quiet protests of the young cupbearer.
Elikoidi spat his words, his reason lost to choler.
"Oh great! His blind fucking dog wants to protect him now!"
"That is my job, Ser. I follow where the prince leads, not where others tell him to go. You'd do well to remember that."
"Oh, oh you fucking CUR!"
Elikoidi wheeled to face Lykourgos, still seated at the table. His taught skin was stretched into a sneering, angry visage, though his hurt was still visible beneath it.
"Put your mongrel's fucking leash back on, your Grace, and remember your DUTY!"
Dreamwulf snarled in response, his hand reaching down to his belt.
Lykourgos stood, putting a hand on his shoulder whilst Romanos did the same to Elikoidi.
"Come on, we're all on the same side here."
The knight looked to Lykourgos, but Eros spoke before he could continue.
"We really should be moving, your Grace. Leave behind a guard for the man and the Seer, but we need to continue this war. You said it yourself back in Aenirhen; if we stand by merely observe our enemies movements, then we've already lost."
Lykourgos braced his arms on the table. Before him stood his two options. He could either stay here and fulfil his private goal of the past two or three years, his occult interests at last bearing fruit, or he could set out immediately and win the throne.
His duty was clear, no matter how much he'd rather sit and wait for the former.
"Besides your Grace, perhaps by the time we pass back through he'll have awoken for true."
He looked around at the voice, surprised that it was Nasos who spoke.
"You're right. I'm sorry. I've allowed my personal obsessions to override my duty. We move out at noon tomorrow."
"South to the two sieges, or west to the capital?"
He rubbed his chin.
"You'll know come the morning. Ready the men to leave at daybreak either way. Dismissed."
Romanos and Elikoidi bowed, a relieved smile on Romanos' face and a forced on Elikoidi's. With his anger burning out, experience told the prince that his friend was soon to throw himself into his work to avoid melancholia. Eros moved to follow them, no doubt off to spar with Romanos again. The prince sighed.
"Come on Dreamwulf. I need a drink."
The two moved to leave the room as Nasos shook his head. They passed Ilias, who was aimlessly kicking his feet into the air from the chair he was sat on just outside the doors.
"Attend us, Ilias."
"Aye, your Grace."
"Ale, if you please. We've an early start tomorrow."
Dreamwulf nodded.
"Aye, not a bad shout. Nothing worse than a headache from wine."
"Cloves and cinnamon as well Ilias. Honey too."
He turned his head at Dreamwulf's confused grunt.
"The days grow darker and the nights longer. I think it'll be nice to have some mulled ale."
"Can't say I've had it before your Grace. Cloves and cinnamon aren't exactly in my price range."
Lykourgos smiled at him, knowing the gesture was lost on the man.
"Well, they are now! Come on, let's get a fire going and get comfortable. I fancy talking for a while with someone who..."
He turned his face away as his cheeks began to flush.
"With someone who isn't either disappointed or angry with me at the moment."
Dreamwulf patted his shoulder.
"Well, I'm 'ere your Grace. Besides, it'll pass. They want what's best for you, they just don't know how to word it all proper."
"Yeah, I guess. Come on, we need to get a fire going in the hearth."
The bigger man nodded.
"Right then, let's get too it."