Leonitus
09-26-07, 02:46 PM
As they approached the chambers of court he noticed several people standing in small circles deep in vigorous discussion. He wondered if the hierarchy was in turmoil or the princess was just missing , or perhaps about to wed. Whatever the case, the grand halls were abuzz with hushed voices until their presence was noticed, then silence fell over the room like a deep blanket of new fallen snow. Apprehension gripped the back of his neck and his senses flared warnings, “they speak of me!” he said to the Captain. “Yes, strangers cause quite a stir in Valeria. Few venture into these lands without escort.” Leonitus recoiled form the stares on his countenance. He glared back at the largest of the crowd, hoping to incite actions against his presence. But the entourage gained the entrance to the kings chambers and passed from view of the minions waiting in the antechamber.
Footmen greeted them and escorted them to the throne where the great Equus sat pompous and arrogant with his indignant visage poised for chastisement. “Who is this vagrant who despoils my countryside?” The Captain knelt before the king and spoke, staring at the floor in front of him, “He gives us not his name my lord.” Equus leans forward and eyes Leonitus suspiciously and asks, “Wilt thou not give me thy name?”
“Most expediently my lord, I am Leonitus, Lieutenant in the Royal Guard of Arthuria, under the rule of Queen Vaylia, priestess of the Temple of Uul, God of all creation. I have been sent to find the lost city of Boozantia. My fleet was lost in a storm at sea, and my flagship ran aground upon some unknown reef off your western shore, and I was washed ashore without knowledge of my crew or cargo.” At this the king sat back hiding a smile of disbelief and thought for a moment, rubbing his great red beard. Then he spoke slowly and deliberately, “You know not of the fates of your crewmen, yet you venture forth to my city, for what pray tell, contemplating plunder? I might have you chained and flogged for a thief.”
“I think not milord, you do not look to be the foolish kind, I merely search for my comrades and a little food perhaps. I will happily work for my found. I have skills useful to any man.” With this Leonitus drops to one knee on the floor but keeps his gaze steady in Equus’ eyes. He struggles to keep his face straight and without smirk of amusement. Equus then smiles and rises to point at his visitor and says, “Rise and join me in my midday repast, and we will decide your fate after we’ve eaten.”
The king then strolls past Leonitus and out a door to the left of the throne with three footmen scurrying after him. The Captain stands, looks at Leonitus, and shrugs his shoulders then indicates the passage the king has just disappeared through.
Leonitus rises and follows the king feeling like he is being led to slaughter but he must eat. He hasn’t eaten in two days, his stomach believes his throat has been cut. The next room is a grand dinning chamber with golden oil lamps suspended above the forty foot table set with silver accoutrements. A roast pig sets at the far end with large vessels of baked vegetables, bread, and flasks of wine for two. A large wheel of cheese sat on a smaller table to the right of the head chair, which had fine, red velvet upholstery, and gold trimmed ebony arm rests. The other chairs around the table were similar, but smaller. The king sat at the head of the table carving the pork with an emerald studded carving knife, chewing a mouthful as he worked. He looked up and gestured to the seat to his right with the knife and said, “Come, come, sit and eat your fill. Let me pick your mind for your true intentions.”
Leonitus walked slowly past the vast table glancing around the room. The walls were adorned with paintings of past monarchs, divided by a singularly descript coat of arms. He seemed to remember that coat of arms from somewhere in his past, but could not quite remember where. There must have been twelve kings before Equus, or that was all the present monarch would recognize. He reached his appointed chair, uneventfully, sat and began to savor the succulent pork and vegetables laid before him. His apprehension began to subside as his belly rejoiced with fulfillment. The king rambled aimlessly about the incompetence of his underlings, the concubines lack of beauty, and the general disapproval of the court magistrates on his decisions on anything at all.
Soon the one-sided conversation ambled around to Leonitus and his travels. “When did you leave your homeland, and how far had you traveled before your misfortune off our shores here?” Leonitus raised his gaze to meet the kings and said, “We had been sailing due south for eighteen days, without sight of land or vessel. We feared our directions were misinterpreted, but they were all we had to steer by. I was told three weeks south would bring us to an island of vast riches and beautiful people. A land rich with milk and honey, abundant game, and vineyards with grapes the size of apples.” The king chuckled between bites of bread, finished his goblet of wine and as he poured another he said, “I am curious as to the origin of the directions you received. I know of no such island within sailing distance from our kingdom. Surely this is not the land of which they spoke.”
“This valley is plush, but I fear it is not the land of which they spoke. I wonder if the tale of the lost city is naught but legend or folk lore.” Leonitus’ appetite nearly quenched now, his hands lay beside his silver plate. His goblet nearly empty, he raised and finished it, then said, “If it please milord, I would try to locate the rest of my party along your eastern coastline. I fear for their safety and wellbeing.” The king leaned back in his large chair and slapped his rotund torso and looked at Leonitus querulously and said, ”I shall assist you in your search, my captain and his patrol shall escort you to the furthest reaches of my realm and seek out your forlorn countrymen.” Then to the footmen waiting in the wings, “Steward, call the captain of the guard to my chamber.”
Footmen greeted them and escorted them to the throne where the great Equus sat pompous and arrogant with his indignant visage poised for chastisement. “Who is this vagrant who despoils my countryside?” The Captain knelt before the king and spoke, staring at the floor in front of him, “He gives us not his name my lord.” Equus leans forward and eyes Leonitus suspiciously and asks, “Wilt thou not give me thy name?”
“Most expediently my lord, I am Leonitus, Lieutenant in the Royal Guard of Arthuria, under the rule of Queen Vaylia, priestess of the Temple of Uul, God of all creation. I have been sent to find the lost city of Boozantia. My fleet was lost in a storm at sea, and my flagship ran aground upon some unknown reef off your western shore, and I was washed ashore without knowledge of my crew or cargo.” At this the king sat back hiding a smile of disbelief and thought for a moment, rubbing his great red beard. Then he spoke slowly and deliberately, “You know not of the fates of your crewmen, yet you venture forth to my city, for what pray tell, contemplating plunder? I might have you chained and flogged for a thief.”
“I think not milord, you do not look to be the foolish kind, I merely search for my comrades and a little food perhaps. I will happily work for my found. I have skills useful to any man.” With this Leonitus drops to one knee on the floor but keeps his gaze steady in Equus’ eyes. He struggles to keep his face straight and without smirk of amusement. Equus then smiles and rises to point at his visitor and says, “Rise and join me in my midday repast, and we will decide your fate after we’ve eaten.”
The king then strolls past Leonitus and out a door to the left of the throne with three footmen scurrying after him. The Captain stands, looks at Leonitus, and shrugs his shoulders then indicates the passage the king has just disappeared through.
Leonitus rises and follows the king feeling like he is being led to slaughter but he must eat. He hasn’t eaten in two days, his stomach believes his throat has been cut. The next room is a grand dinning chamber with golden oil lamps suspended above the forty foot table set with silver accoutrements. A roast pig sets at the far end with large vessels of baked vegetables, bread, and flasks of wine for two. A large wheel of cheese sat on a smaller table to the right of the head chair, which had fine, red velvet upholstery, and gold trimmed ebony arm rests. The other chairs around the table were similar, but smaller. The king sat at the head of the table carving the pork with an emerald studded carving knife, chewing a mouthful as he worked. He looked up and gestured to the seat to his right with the knife and said, “Come, come, sit and eat your fill. Let me pick your mind for your true intentions.”
Leonitus walked slowly past the vast table glancing around the room. The walls were adorned with paintings of past monarchs, divided by a singularly descript coat of arms. He seemed to remember that coat of arms from somewhere in his past, but could not quite remember where. There must have been twelve kings before Equus, or that was all the present monarch would recognize. He reached his appointed chair, uneventfully, sat and began to savor the succulent pork and vegetables laid before him. His apprehension began to subside as his belly rejoiced with fulfillment. The king rambled aimlessly about the incompetence of his underlings, the concubines lack of beauty, and the general disapproval of the court magistrates on his decisions on anything at all.
Soon the one-sided conversation ambled around to Leonitus and his travels. “When did you leave your homeland, and how far had you traveled before your misfortune off our shores here?” Leonitus raised his gaze to meet the kings and said, “We had been sailing due south for eighteen days, without sight of land or vessel. We feared our directions were misinterpreted, but they were all we had to steer by. I was told three weeks south would bring us to an island of vast riches and beautiful people. A land rich with milk and honey, abundant game, and vineyards with grapes the size of apples.” The king chuckled between bites of bread, finished his goblet of wine and as he poured another he said, “I am curious as to the origin of the directions you received. I know of no such island within sailing distance from our kingdom. Surely this is not the land of which they spoke.”
“This valley is plush, but I fear it is not the land of which they spoke. I wonder if the tale of the lost city is naught but legend or folk lore.” Leonitus’ appetite nearly quenched now, his hands lay beside his silver plate. His goblet nearly empty, he raised and finished it, then said, “If it please milord, I would try to locate the rest of my party along your eastern coastline. I fear for their safety and wellbeing.” The king leaned back in his large chair and slapped his rotund torso and looked at Leonitus querulously and said, ”I shall assist you in your search, my captain and his patrol shall escort you to the furthest reaches of my realm and seek out your forlorn countrymen.” Then to the footmen waiting in the wings, “Steward, call the captain of the guard to my chamber.”