abcnovels
Chapter 394
Chapter 394: Good dreams (2)
ARIAL CAMP
On Arial camp the scenes are quite different compared to Harald camp.
The papnoticon priest and bishops that followed the army, spent time in singing the Sacred Songs, reading litanies and prayers, chanting anthems, and in other similar acts of worship, assisted by the soldiers, who gathered, in great congregations, for this wild worship, in the open spaces among the tents and around the camp fires.
It produced a calming effect and tranquility and peace for the soldiers for the great undertaking that is upon them now.
At length as the night grew darker and Dark Things sang their song in the wilds, they all retired to rest, feeling an additional sense of safety in respect to the work of the morrow by having, as they supposed, entitled themselves, by their piety, to the protection of Heaven.josei
Arial on the other hand that night after leading his horse to the stables take a little walk onto the grass pasture near their tent.
He found a good spot in one of the hills, a flat rock as he sits down and like always, like the time in Arrandy, Arial gaze upwards and marvel the stars.
Every time since they separated, Arial look at the stars.
And he wondered.
'Do you watch me, Elvenan?' he said, a voice that almost sounded like a whisper, muffled by the breezy winds.
'Do you see me in the stars? My stories? Did you hear my whispers? Did the Night tell you of my ardent desire to see you again? Or does the Moonlight whisper my words to your ears?'
He said, his eyes could not avert from looking at the sparkling stars that fill the night skies.
'As the night is dancing on the skies. I wish you were here. I wish you were with me. I wish it was us that is dancing in that sky, like the stars.'
Then Arial sense a movement.
'West, is that you?' He said without even looking back.
'Yes my lord, it is me.' The voice replied as he approached Arial, standing in his normal attire since his armor is being repaired after their battle near Borveaux.
'What are you doing still up? We have a great task tomorrow, West. Sufficient rest is important to the body.'
'I should ask you the same thing, my lord.'
'What is my lord doing here alone without any guards to accompany you? I worry about my lord safety since our camp is so near the enemy camp. So I followed you' West retorted
'Watching the stars.' Arial said nonchalantly
'A thousand stories, more and more' West said as West sit just beside his lord and also looking at the stars, trying to glimpse something.
'How did you know about that?' Arial said a slight shock that West said that phrase.
'Lisa once told me the story about that. That there is this one night, in a forest near the Knight Academy, that when you and Lord Kyle, Lady Helia and my wife was camping you all look at the stars and you tell her a story about the stars.'
'And what did she tell you?' Arial asked
'She said, that every stars that rest themselves on the Sky Above, each of them have their own stories, tragedy and love stories, sadness and happiness tales. Every star has a story to tell, she said.'
'She remembers that.' Arial said smiling looking at the stars on the clear night skies.
'She remembers you, my lord. That innocent little boy that gazes at the night sky with eyes that is full with curiosity and sadness.'
'She said that?'
'Yes.' West replied
Then a brief silence between the two men.
'You should not have come to join the expedition. I could have summoned another knight or lords to participate in the war.' Arial suddenly said. West shakes his head.
'I would not have it any other way my lord. I would like my unborned child to be proud of me.'
Arial scoffed
'Being alive is better. After all you only have one life. And maybe Lisa would prefer it that way. There is concern in her eyes when you departed with me. I promised your wife that I will bring you back alive. That is not an easy promise to made, Lord West' Arial said sighing
'You're right' West said chuckling.
'Call it my own stubbornness if it pleases you my lord. If my lord is allowed to have your stubbornness praised, why shouldn't I?' He said smirking
'HAHAHA.' Arial laughed.
'Indeed, that is true.' Arial nodded his head
And another brief silence as they both looked at the stars. Then West looks at his lord and finally musters his courage to ask him a question.
'Will we win tomorrow, my lord?' West asked as his lord is once again looking at the stars; almost seem entranced by the night skies, a face that shows longing and regret.
Then Arial listen West question and his facial expression changes.
Arial look at West and with a confident look he declares two words that dispel any doubt in West mind.
'We will'
The Arial get up from the flat rock and pat West back.
'Let us take some rest. We have to get up in the morning.'
West got up and nodded and together they returned to their respective tent, as they sleep with all the anxiety of tomorrow.
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In the morning, the army is convened for a grand celebration of praying and singing praises to the Lord Above.
The Prince Articon is chosen to lead the ceremony.
In this solemn service of religious ceremony, the Prince Articon, wears a coat of mail under his pontifical attire, and an attendant stood by his side, a Priest, while he is offering his prayers, with a steel-sharp pointed spear in his hand, ready for the martial prelate to assume as soon as the service should be ended.
Near the ceremony lies the Prince Articon horse, a white horse of a great breed, which is all saddled and bridled, ready to charge at the enemy at a moment notice.
Arial himself is mounted on his famous war horse, one that is called the fastest horse in the human continent, Firebringer.
His dragon armor scale he got during his time in the Dark Lands can be seen displayed prominently on his body with a few modifications as his family crest is emblazoned on the dragon scale.
Behind his back is the heavy glaive he received from the Orc King, a long and domineering appearance of the weapon which he named Blood Eater.
The standard which the Supreme Papnoticon had blessed was borne by his side by a young standard bearer, a son of minor noble houses who is very proud of the honor.
An older soldier, however, on whom the care of this standard officially devolved, had asked to be excused from carrying it.
The older soldier wanted to do his work using the sword and it is not appropriate for him to stain the Papnoticon banner with blood and murder.
Arial and his commanders stand upon the gentle eminence in the middle of the camp, and in sight of the whole army.
Everyone is struck with admiration at the splendid figure which their commander made—his slender and well-formed limbs covered with dragon scale, and his horse, whose form is as noble as that of his master, prancing restlessly, as if impatient for the battle to begin, neighing sometimes that sometimes sounds like a growling of a beast.
Then when the ceremony is finished, the bishop throws off his surplice, took his spear, and mounting his white charger, which was also all saddled and bridled beside him, he headed a brigade of horse, and rode on to the assault of the enemy.
Arial seeing this follow him from behind as they are going to meet their enemies down the Hill and once for all contend for the throne.
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