Patches of wispy-like clouds passed over the moon, in the humid night
sky.
Pomperaque was unusually quiet this night and the star-gazing Cardinal
Orren had noticed it. He also felt ill-at-ease, this night.
With pale blue eyes he looked at the moon for most of the evening and
after midnight he saw an odd sight in the northern skies. It was a
vision that he did not want to accept. At first he thought that his
tired eyes were causing the vision but the corresponding feelings that
he had when he saw the strange sight, made him take notice, and he
reported it to the ArchBishop.
Orren was one of the most trusted Cardinals in Manguino's legion of
coenobites. He had all the qualities of his late father, Cardinal
Allen, and this was fitting, as he was the great sainted cardinal's
eldest of thirteen sons.
Cardinal Orren had gained the favour of the ArchBishop, not only
because of his decent from Allen, but he had saved Manguino's life
when some oppressed peasant attempted to kill him several years ago.
For his reward, Orren was given the command of Phoride's armies and he
became somewhat of an administrator, in place of Manguino.
He resembled his father, Cardinal Allen, so closely that many were led
to believe that when Allen died, his soul entered into the body of his
first-born son, Orren. With this belief came Orren's high honours and
unquestioned obedience from those around him. He was conscientious and
he improved on Manguino's spy network, spanning the continent. He
wanted to know anything and everything about the other states and
kingdoms, realising that Manguino's concentration on producing progeny
with Eckma left his rule and life vulnerable to hostility.
Now, Orren had never before played on his intuitive impressions
concerning threats against the cleric rule, but this night had actually
frightened him.
It was late when he went to call on the ArchBishop Manguino, finding
him in his usual circumstance with Eckma -- even that late at night --
and being accustomed to it all, Orren didn't hesitate to reveal his
vision to him.
He pounded on Manguino's chamber doors until he was told to enter and
while he watched his master, and Eckma, in the glass pool, he paced
around them recounting the details of his vision.
"I had been startled this evening by a sight in the sky, my Almighty!"
Orren told him.
"What kind of sight?" asked Manguino while he sucked on Eckma's neck.
"I was watching the moon and from behind a cloud, I saw the Mons!"
Orren revealed.
"Now how is it, Orren, that you hadn't seen the Mons when there was a
personal threat upon me?" queried the ArchBishop.
"Mons is an omen of threat to all -- not just to one. It's an omen of
war. What's more, a great
war. I was not the only man to see the Mons. Several others have seen
them, too. Peasants and Prominants, and some of our own Monks saw
them." Orren told Manguino.
Manguino took Eckma's breast from his mouth and he looked at Orren with
annoyed eyes.
"Do the Mons tell of what kind of danger may befall us?" Manguino
demanded. "If so tell me. If not, find out!"
Orren took all his strength to keep from showing anger against
Manguino, then he spoke calmly.
"The Mons are a portent of doom and destruction, my ArchBishop. The
visions came to us to warn us and to have us prepare for surprised
aggression."
Manguino listened to Orren but didn't feel threatened by what Orren
thought he had seen.
Manguino was certain that nothing would happen to his rule. Jessuum
Benitar promised him before giving him the puzzling prophesy:
"Tell those of your court, the Prominants, if you will,
but never is it to be repeated to you, for on
that day when that request is done, so should it
be the end of your rule in Pomperaque."
Manguino remembered and he told Orren about it, but Orren didn't
believe in Jessuum Benitar's words.
"As long as I do not hear the prophets' words again, all will be well,
and since I will not ask it to be read to me, I shall be safe."
promised Manguino.
"Do you believe in a prophesy that may have no merit and dispel that
which your most
trusted servant, and others, have seen?" Orren was angered and spoke
in a booming voice.
Manguino bobbed in the water and Orren just stood there. Both were
quiet until Manguino came out of the water and wrapped a robe about
himself.
"How did you see the Mons? Single, coupled, regimented?" Manguino
requested to him to tell more of his vision.
"There were four separate apparitions, great one. Each was a knight of
his own colour -- black, red, white and ashen. Each rode on a horse of
their same colour. They came from behind thin clouds, and made their
way towards the city and its heart. Yet, as they reached the roof tops
of the city, they vanished."
The account assured Manguino that nothing was amiss. He knew, as well
as anyone, that doom only came if the Mons were seen to ride through
the main streets of the doomed city.
He told Orren not to worry about the Mons, ensuring him that everything
would be fine.
"We are safe, as long as we don't become stupid, Orren." Manguino
calmed down.
"Could I be granted the privilege to study that prophesy that Jessuum
gave to you? he made a small plea to Manguino and was to do so under
the condition that he doesn't read the prophesy aloud!
Orren also asked Manguino for his permission to mobilize the Phoridene
Army, as a precaution, but this he wasn't given to do because of
Manguino's belief that they were under no threat of overthrow.
Orren left Manguino to continue his obligation with Eckma, and he was
more disillusioned now, with Manguino's attitude, than what he was when
he saw the Mons.
He never went to sleep that night. He had all his Generals meet with
him in his own chamber, and with them, he decided to have the armies in
battle-ready status, as a precaution.
Orren had never proceeded against Manguino's orders and better
judgement, but this time it was unanimously agreed between his men
that, to be safe, they should pay heed to the Angels of Mons.
The next morning was beautifully sunny and warm.
Lloyd and Boyce had walked for about two hours, from Gothal, before
reaching the northern gates of Pomperaque. Pomperaque was truly
different than they remembered it to be when they left it, some eleven
years ago. There were hardly any horses and carts in the city. Most
of the transportation was made up of large cumbersome cars, with
wheels, that ran along metal tracks.
The city was highly mechanized and all the machines were powered on
electrical energy, and there were few things in the city that were
old. Everything was newly built and only a few years old.
Some of the few older buildings in the city were the Halls Cathedral
and the rundown, and abandoned Blue Mansion. Also, the town square was
just a renovated version of the old square and the men walked through
it remembering the way it used to be.
At the very spot where Brook and Dearborne were executed there was a
marker made of precious metals and it was put there by the citizens of
Pomperaque who never wanted to forget the two greatest people that had
ever lived as Phoride's elite.
It wasn't a large marker. Manguino had forbidden that. He also forbad
the writing of specific sentiment, or the placing of names. All the
marker said: "May they be forgiven in the next life."
Zoro bobbed up and down while sitting on Boyce's shoulder and it cawed
in a frantic manner. Due to its behaviour, then men moved away from
the monument and off to one side of the town
square where there were many vendors busily selling items such as food
and clothing, jewellery and home-stuffs.
The men slowly walked from kiosk to kiosk and they checked some of the
goods being sold until they finally came upon the kiosk where Empal had
his goods displayed.
The market brought back memories for Boyce; remembering the fun that he
used to have when he was out with Dearborne.
Empal's kiosk was in the same place as it had always been. This
brought for Boyce some degree of security and stability, and it also
helped his confidence to go ahead with the plans that have been made
for his retake of Phoride.
Empal had seen the two men and was now finally relieved from the worry
that he had for them throughout the passed month, since they left
Besten.
He knew that they were supposed to have arrived in Pomperaque long ago,
having taken the shorter route, but he knew that there had to be some
good reason and he was certain that they would be told to him.
He saw the strange crow perched upon Boyce's shoulder and he saw how
dirty and ripped their clothing was. Other than their wandering
appearance and their stale smell, Empal thought to himself the
traveller's prayer of thanks, to God.
They came up to Empal's stall and they stayed around there for a while
choosing fruits that were the ripest and biggest for their price.
"You have good fruit here, old man!" said Lloyd, as he picked up an
apple and bit into it.
"Would you trade or pay money, for that?" asked Empal as he pointed at
the apple.
Zoro jumped down onto the stall, from Boyce's shoulder, and started to
pick at some grapes
and corn. Empal waved it away and he looked somewhat annoyed.
"We'll have that, which my bird began to eat, and a kilo of apples, and
two pomegranates!" said Boyce.
"I don't wish to sound less than trusting, sirs, but I would care to
see my payment first." Empal stated while he looked at them with
wariness.
A huge monastic guard came to Empal's kiosk and glared at the two men,
and Empal. He saw the strange crow, now back on Boyce's shoulder and
squawking at him.
In a booming, but tinny sounding voice, the guard spoke to the
strangers and Empal.
"Do these men give you trouble, Virunese?" he asked Empal.
"No!" he answered. "I just wanted payment for my goods before I give
it to them!"
The guard looked to Lloyd, who took another bite from the apple that he
had in his hand.
"Pay the man, vagabonds!" ordered the guard as he put his right hand
on the case of his electrophore.
He watched the younger of the two men throw a gold bit to Empal and
Empal put on a half-happy, half-surprised expression, while he filled a
small basket for them.
The guard turned to Empal after he saw the gold coin thrown to him.
"It would be wise not to judge strangers on their appearance, vendor.
You never know what wealth you may accumulate from them!"
The guard started to walk away and Boyce laughed a little to Lloyd and
Empal, then the guard turned around once more and showed Empal a small
triangular device, slowly rubbing his finger over it.
"Don't forget to pay the tax cleric when he comes around."
The guard continued to walk away from the stall and Empal filled the
basket with the rest of the fruit that the two men ordered.
Boyce cautiously winked at Empal and spoke to him in a taunting voice.
"Old man ..." he said. "Where can my friend and I get lodging and a
bath?"
Empal stopped for a moment and looked around, then he pointed across
the square to a small side-street.
"Down that way is a tavern called The Lion's Skull Inn. The owner
should be able to put you up there for a few days. Just tell them that
Empal sent you."
"We are greatly obliged ... Empal!" exclaimed Boyce and he took the
basket of fruit and they made their way around the square to the small
street where the tavern was located.
Boyce had thought it to be an odd sight, seeing some of the old
familiar people, who were now older, still working their same kiosks,
and some of the stage shows that he remembered were still exhibited for
the people, but now just a little different and less spectacular. Of
course, he thought that they lacked spectacle value since he was now
older.
He turned around for a moment and looked towards Empal, standing with a
tall Cardinal beside him. The Cardinal was collecting the church's
share of the tax.
They made their way slowly to the tavern and when they got to it, they
walked in and headed for the flat-table and he ordered a mug of cider.
When the tender brought to him the cider, Lloyd stopped him and asked
him for lodging.
"Tender! We are strangers in this city and we would care to stay here
in the inn. Empal, the vendor, said that you may be able to have us?"
The tender was going to tell them that there weren't any rooms
available, but Lloyd's mention
of Empal's name, and the leer that Lloyd gave to him, made him
reconsider.
"I do have one room that you can both use. I'll take you to it when
you are finished here!" he told them.
Lloyd downed the cider immediately and the tender shrugged then showed
them to their room.
"My name is Cavander!" said the tender as they walked up the stairs to
a room at the end of the top hallway. "If you want privacy, this is
one of my best rooms."
He lead them down the hallway then motioned for them to stop while he
went into a large room, which was obviously his own, and brought out a
large bundle of bedding.
Once inside their own room, Cavander closed the door and looked at them.
"I know who you are, and why you are here!"
He kneeled to them and kissed Boyce's hand.
"I'm your servant!" said Cavander.
"To your feet Cavander." ordered Boyce and helped him to his feet. "I
will not be like Manguino to have men, who are in most cases better
than he, to kneel before him."
"I hope that we can trust you, and count on you for support!" said
Lloyd.
"Whatever you ask of me I shall do, even if it means to lose my life
for you!" promised Cavander.
"The main thing I ask of you, Cavander, is that you do not treat us as
our status. This I ask of you even so to the point of treating us as
lesser than peasants."
"It is important that you do this!" added Lloyd.
"I will do your bidding!" nodded Cavander, then he took the bundle of
bedding and from
inside it brought out a small cask and a smaller square box.
He opened both containers and the two men saw their contents. The cask
was full of gold bits and the smaller square box had two
electrophoric-laser guns, like those which they had lost.
"You will need this while in Pomperaque, masters!" Cavander echoed to
them what Empal had told him they were to be used for.
He was ready to leave their room after he made the beds for them, and
he was about to open the door, he looked straight into Boyce's eyes.
"We all loved your father and mother, my Lord!" he said.
Boyce nodded to him.
"Yes, I know, Cavander!"
Cavander sighed then left the room and the two men decided to sleep
through part of the afternoon.
By the time that dusk came around, Boyce and Lloyd were awake and they
had a nice bath down the hall. They dressed in clean clothes then went
down to the tavern and had something to eat and drink.
When they were dressing they discussed with each other their needs to
start recruiting people and their only conclusions were to either risk
being given away by some satisfied follower of the ArchBishop, or to be
killed by some desperate sorts who would take them for spies or just as
troublemakers.
Their final decision was to start with the lower classed folk of
Pomperaque; those who
usually had to steal in order to survive. These were the oppressed.
Moreso than going down to the tavern to eat and drink, the two men went
down to the tavern to flaunt their moneys and so to entice some
criminal types to come and rob them.
They weren't going to walk the streets of Pomperaque this night.
Instead, as soon as they ate, and listened to some of the common folks'
songs about the history of Phoride and its heros, they returned to
their room and waited for their, hoped-for, late-night visitor.
The moon had already traversed most of the night sky and morning wasn't
too long from coming.
It wasn't until about two hours before dawn that the men heard the
sounds of uninvited guests entering their room.
Boyce quietly took to the door while Lloyd slowly crept to the window
and they both waited for the predicted rush that the visitors would
make into the room.
Then it happened. Both door and window flew open and the expected men
rushed into the room and dove onto the beds jabbing into them with
knives.
Lloyd and Boyce allowed the men to stab the beds for a while until they
realized that there wasn't anyone in the beds.
Now, Lloyd switched on their portable electric light and illuminated
the bed and two scruffy-looking young men.
"Trying to rob someone is one thing, killing is quite another!" Boyce
said to them and suddenly the two men rushed Boyce, thinking that only
one of them was in the room and when they came very near, Lloyd
punched the men and took their knives from them when they were on the
floor.
They rushed both men this time but Boyce and Lloyd's training to fight
hand-to-hand, helped them to quickly subdue the two robbers.
The four men just looked at one another while Boyce had them seated in
a corner, Lloyd covering both of them with what the men knew was an
electrophore, of sorts.
"Are you two the ArchBishop's spies?" one of the criminals asked Boyce.
"No, we're not!" answered Boyce, then he took a small sack of gold and
poured it out on the nearest bed. "We are grateful that you accepted
our invitation to join us here!" he added to them.
The two criminals looked at one another and they both knew that they
were tricked into coming.
"It seems to us both that you dislike the ArchBishop Manguino!" Lloyd
said to the two men.
"We are not the only ones that feel his tyranny! There are many, but
only a few of us try to do anything about it, in whatever way that we
can!" the larger of the two criminals said in a voice that started to
get louder.
"Now there's no need to scream, my friend. We are not unlike
yourself." Lloyd said to him and then he put away his gun.
"We would like to hire your services and buy your loyalty!" proposed
Boyce.
"Loyalty cannot be bought, but what do you offer?" asked the larger of
the two criminals.
"We offer to you this gold," Boyce pointed to the gold on the bed.
"and we offer to you honourable positions in the new government. If
you accept you must follow both of us blindly or else you will be
killed. If you do no accept we shall hand you over to the monastic
guards and have you charged for whatever crimes you have committed, or
even those you haven't committed."
"You give us a hard choice." said the smaller man.
There was a brief quiet in the room while they all exchanged looks.
"Hard choices ..." Lloyd began. "are often-times the choices most
worth making!"
The bigger criminal stood up and folded his arms upon his chest.
"It seems we are inclined to accept your offer ... Masters!" he said.
"Very wise!" Lloyd responded.
" -- And in this new wisdom, you will be our compatriots and will not
address us as master." Boyce expressed his intent of partnership. "I
am called Boyce Loebh, and this is Lloyd Bartlett."
"I am Mingo, and this is my brother, Bix." said the larger man,
pointing to the smaller man.
"Mingo ... Bix; a new era has dawned in Phoride with your
acceptance to serve this man." Lloyd said to them, regarding Boyce.
"In the shortness of time you will be told all about this young man and
our plans to depose the ArchBishop."
Bix got up off the floor being helped by his bother. They both turned
slightly, and faced Boyce.
"On this new day you have become honourable warriors -- the lieutenants
of the only son of Brook and Dearborne Scullion-Blue -- heir to Phoride
and the protector of the Northern United Alignment. This is Boyce
Loebh Scullion-Blue." Lloyd finished.
Mingo and Bix gawked at Boyce then kneeled as they whispered his name
in surprise. They new his great and respected name.
"Do not kneel, my new friends! We are all equal in the eyes of God.
In battle, don't fight for me, but fight for the freedom of Phoride and
for your families -- as I will fight for the same. And from this time
forward call me only by the name, Boyce."
"We pledge our lives to you, Boyce!" Mingo and Bix hailed Boyce as
they slowly stood up.