6 June 2012
"It seems to me," Hollar said, as we entered his tent, giggling as we did so, "that you've decided to kiss and make up. How charming." "We didn't kiss, just made up. And anyway, we were just halfway through a story which involved you, your partner, and some very angry..." "Samuel! Please don't!" "Oh please! He won't mind. He'll just get a little bit embarrassed, but not show it on the surface, and get his own back on us by sending us on some horrible task which probably involves wandering through sewage! So what's to lose?" I had to admit, he had read Hollar pretty well. He had done that exact same thing many times to me before. "So just get it over with!" "I shall do so gladly. It seems that this Guillermo is intent on destruction, and if he is able to carry out his plan successfully the consequences will reach further than the city states it is meant to destroy. I believe that if he is allowed to do so it will mean that collapse of the whole nation, and others beyond, and we, as a clan of the Samirrin Elves will not be able to find a safe haven wherever we go. It is because of this that I have decided to let you, Samuel, continue with his mission to stop Guillermo, accompanied by my Second, Lily." "What?" "What?" "Both of you will foil this plot, if I didn't make myself clear." "Sorry, it's just that the mission is my mission, and I don't want some incompetent elven warrior ruining it and making it more conspicuous. No offence." "Some taken. And, personally, I don't want to have to endure the four day hike from here to wherever this evil mage has set himself up with a spot-faced teen who has severe anger issues and needs to keep control of a very annoying hitchhiker. No offence." "Enough. You two will have enough time for bickering on the hike from here to Samarra, and I would get yourselves ready quickly. The day is still young, and you can make the most of it while you can."
And that was that. With a casual wave of the hand he dismissed us, despite our protests, and turned back to eating his breakfast. I stormed away from the mage off to my tent to pack. How dare Hollar lumber me with his pathetic, ill-fated "quest"? It was obvious that he was going to fail. I had liked Samuel with a provision to getting him out of my hair in the next few days, and then I could say goodbye, return to normal life as the second in command and promptly forget about him. Now I was probably going to have to endure his holier-than-thou complex, his arrogance and his snobbery for at least a week, and most likely more. I was livid. And I definitely wasn't in the mood to talk to Kieran as he walked into my tent.
An Order • Opuss № I