(Archive) Azrubel Chronicles Part 6: Idle Chatter

Rowen points up the road toward the great gate, \"There is a very good inn just putside the great gate. Only a short walk from here, shorter by coach.\" He looks toward the guard approaching and smiles, \"I am still on patrol, so I can not join you. Perhapes you can find company in this warrior here.\" He smiles, salutes, and continues down the road.

[Doloran(#7634)] Bowing quickly to Rowen, Dororan turns to Krisorn as he hears his question. Smiling broadly, he replies, \"News are travelling fast, or you are used to make good guess.\" Motioning to his own garments, he continues, \"Or maybe I just look as a new recruit?\" Still smiling, he looks closely at the man, \"But you guessed well. I am Doloran, a new member of the Silver Ship company, even if I don\'t look as if I was ready to take my duties\", he finishes, almost laughing.

Krisorn smiles and says, \"I am Krisorn. Formerly of the woodsman of the land, pressed into duty amongst it\'s guards not that long ago. I have known the commander a long time though and learn quickly of the names of new recruits. Welcome. Silver ship eh.. Have you met any of your other companions?\"

Doloran nods as he replies, \"Well, besides the Commander himself, Kadareth and Rowen are the only two members of the company I had the chance to know. I\'ve just arrived, but...\" He suddenly stops as he takes a glance to the pooring rain. After a moment, he turns back to Krisorn, \"I\'ve just been informed... Have you heard the rumour? Is it true that the Commander has been poisened? I can\'t believe it!\", he says as he shakes his head.

Krisorn nods sadly and looks out into the rain, \"Yes. The commander has been poisoned. It is a foul deed in truth and I wish I knew who the culprit was. His continued poor health is certainly not going to help matters, especially where we have so recently had one of our corporal\'s murdered, and attacks by armed robbers within the very city itself.\" Krisorn looks at Doloran with a rueful grin, \"You\'ve chosen an interesting time to join the guard Doloran. Strange happenings are afoot and not all of them bode well for guardsmen caught in the middle. Don\'t be about by yourself in uniform at night. Unless you are a great deal better with a sword than I believe you to be.\"

Doloran smiles at Krisorn\'s word, \"Obviously, you look through people as if it was an opened door.\" Raising his head and trying to look like a brave and courageous man, Doloran continues, \"It is true that I haven\'t had the chance to show my abilities with a sword often in my life, but I am eager to learn.\" Moving closely to Krisorn and glancing at him, he says, \"I believe that someone like you could teach me a trick or two. I learn fast, you know.\"

Krisorn laughs, throwing his head back and says, \"Ahh lad. I\'m afraid that unless you wish to learn the art of the axe, a weapon both eminently useful in peace as well as in war, then I can\'t help you much. My father was a lumberman as was I for most of my life. Only the axe and my own hands do I know how to use with an amount of useful skill.\" Krisorn glances at the youth and says, \"Though I would think you would do well with either sword or axe at your side. By the look of you though a sword that makes you look a little nattier would be more appropriate than the dull head of woodsman\'s axe no matter that either is powerful in the hands of those who can use them.\"

[Doloran(#7634)] Listening carefully to the man\'s words, Doloran nods slowly, \"I will take your advice on that matter and see what I can learn out of a sword. You look like an experienced man, I saw it at the first glance.\" He takes another look at the pooring rain before he says, \"But I will have to find my Lieutenant before and learn the customs of the company. As the Commander told me earlier, I have plenty of things to learn. Coming here from Lebennin and starting a new life at the service of Gondor will not be an easy task.\" He sighs, \"And this weather, it\'s nothing to cheer one\'s up!\"

Krisorn nods and says, \"Ahh from the south ehh. Good woods down that way from what I\'ve seen. Hmm customs ehh. There arn\'t too many though you will need to get your uniform and other gear. Do you know who your Lieutenant is by the way?\" Krisorn seems to be enjoying the weather, his worn boots ignoring the water easily.

[Doloran(#7634)] Pulling out a piece of paper, Doloran takes a quick glance at it before answering Krisorn, \"It would be Lieutenant Jorelin, if I read it well.\" He smiles, \"The commander was in hurry I guess, I can barely make out the name he sribbled there. But I remember that he said something about the second squad.\" Ending his sentence, Doloran takes another look at the paper and hands it to Krisorn, \"Maybe you are more used to the Commander writing?\"

Krisorn takes the papper from Doloran and frowns slightly looking at it. He shakes his head and says, \"Hmm Jorelin.. Sounds about right but I\'m not sure anymore. My own status has been a bit in the air since my enlistment was only temporary in the first place. Since I decided to extend it though they are trying to figure out what to do with me. Maybe I\'ll find myself moved into a different squad at some point.\" Krisorn grins then and says, \"Welcome aboard though and hopefully we can keep you alive long enough for you to become an old hand at this. Stick by the veteran\'s and you can\'t go wrong really. The commander\'s a tough bird but he\'ll do you right when it comes down to it. And there aren\'t any healers better than ours, except maybe for those out of legend. So if you do get wounded if anybody can put you back togethor they can.\"

Doloran nods as he takes back the paper from Krisorn, \"Again, you are a man of good advice, that is sure. I will now try to find my Lieutenant and take my place in the squad.\" Pulling out his hand, he says, \"It has been a pleasure to meet you, Krisorn. I hope that your destiny will lead you where you want to be. If our roads cross again as I presume, I will be more than happy to talk with you again.\"

Krisorn smiles and accepts the proffered hand, \"Good luck to you Doloran. I look forward to meeting you again. Hopefully we may even be in the same squad. Find someplace dry this even and raise a cup to me if nothing else so that I can find some dry spot to wait out the rest of my day until I take up my duty. And find yourself gear and a weapon soon. You\'ll be needing them I\'m sure.\"

Doloran nods to Krisorn as he replies, \"I will surely find the tools I need quickly, and the next time we\'ll meet, you will barely recognize me, I bet.\" He smiles a last time to Krisorn and walks through the gate, disappearing quickly, almost running under the pooring rain.