Chapter 4: King's Play: Part III and Part IV

III

The professor was writing in his study; he didn't care what was happening out side. His notes were much important that some parade. They were scattered everywhere. He found a few of them that were important and started arraigning them in on a single piece of paper. He was doing his second edition of the Great Sieges; he always liked the leave notes behind his book. People liked to read them. The only thing that was bothering was which note to place first; he decided on the elven days of the week.

Days in a week:

1. Meversizin       
2. Returdin          
3. Tuerdus
4. Wesard
5. Frieldas
6. Xerdes
7. Zesturd

Note: the names are used from the elven language; the tradition at that time was to use a lot of elven names. So, there is nothing strange about that. I've tried to trace the first recorder use. By my calculations, it was in 2:10 of the First age. The first recorded user of this system was Pier the Toothy, a jeweler by trade. Nothing else is known how he got the idea.

He stopped for a moment, looked at the paper, he will need more than one. He stood up, went through the room and took a pile of paper. He thought for a moment and started writing again.

The Girdian army is unstoppable. That isn't a statement; that's a fact. No one is strong and agile as they are. We have defeated nations, kingdoms and empires. Everything you have heard is true. It isn't an exaggeration; it's true.

Like everyone else, we too, have our humble origins. Long ago, we were a small community of merchants. Over time, the community grew into the kingdom you see know. Nothing has changed, and I hope that nothing will. To all those who don't know us; we are savages that still use stick to beat each other. I hope that someday, someone will find my notes and change the picture that the world has created for us. Many have tried to change that picture; many have failed. Generations after us will try.

Names of the month that some races use:

The month system appeared in the Age of Journey and is still used today. The Age of Journey was 36 097 years ago; a really long time to use the same names. At that time it was the best system they had; I don't want to say anything, maybe, it's better than the system we have today. But that's only my opinion, nothing else. I leave it to future generations to discuss if we were right or wrong.

Under that he wrote:

I gathered the months of four the widest spread races. Their moth system is the same; the only difference is in length of the months. To the Elves the months on average last about thirty days. In the dwarven calendar moths on average last about thirty-two days. Months, in the human calendar, on averagely last thirty-three days. The Toheren months on averagely last thirty-five days.       

Elven	Dwarven	Human	Toheren
Yeasrtui	Desarte	Jurtiul	Veaswrtul
Raertru	Feasrt	Seafers	Herduilt
Mirdiun	Xervert	Vardurl	Btreft
Terdern	Gurdei	Nuirtin	Sandul
Hardurn	Loverin	Werdin	Highsun
Merden	Zaeru	Qweurduin	Piouren
Gecerst	Asgurt	Berfert	Jurturen
Raedet	Seferdein	Herebein	Keweren
Werderain	Severdein	Ferdein	Haredun
Waveren	Dwarferen	Tuverin	Utevien
Winterwane	Asherwren	Mervern	Gluzgoroyth
Wizertein	Viderdeiren	Gerderein	Gwalwedur

IV

The feast was in full swing; the knight were drinking, and some of them even started dancing. A lonely knight sat at his table, looking at the with his green eyes, he wasn't pleased with what he sees. Knight acting like fools, the times have changed. In his time, this was unheard of, let alone witnessed by someone. He couldn't take it anymore. He stood up and left the hall.

“Did you ever search behind the meaning of this?” Sir Tert said, drinking his cup.

“What do you mean?” Sir Gert looked at him shocked. He lowered his tankard.

“Don't you see, that this all is a game?

“What kind of a game?”

“The king's, game of course.”

“What would the king want with that?”

“That's easy, he wants Lady Joanna for himself.”

“Who wouldn't?”

“Don't know a man who wouldn't.”

“With those attributes.”

“That's the point. He has us all in his hand.”

“How?”

“He knows our every secret.”

“So, he's the puppet master. Don't tell me, that he's looking to remove the competition.”

“I believe so.”

“Thanks, for the warning.”

“What are friends for.”

Sir Tert turned, sat down with Sir Gert and the two of them started competing who will drink more.

“I'm going hunting. Want to come?” Sir Gert said, after he finished his second tankard.

“Yes.” Sir Tert said, after he finished his third tankard.

“You're gonna lose.”

“I don't think so.”

“We will see.”

The knights divided into two groups. The first one group was with Sir Tert and Sir Gert. The second one strayed at the tables at were served.

“You have heard about the bounty?” one of the knights said.

“What bounty?” Olgierd said.

“On that blasted wolf.”

“Tell me, more.”

“They been hunting that wolf for years. Nobody, ever caught him. They say that he has at least a hundred scars. ”

“We will see.” Olgierd stood up and left the hall.

A crowd gathered around them.

The king looked at them from the balcony, his eyes were focused on them, and he turned his head to see the other part of the hall. He liked what he saw. One of Joanna's admirers was fighting the other. The king stopped to watch.

The first one took his sword out and lunged at the second one. The second stumbled and fell, avoiding the blow. He got up to his feet, searching for his weapon, he didn't find any. He took the nearest thing he could find a candlestick that was decorated with gold a sapphire. The first one lunged again, he was slow, and the second one with such speed hit him in the head. The first one continues a few more step, turns, looks him in eyes and falls to the ground like a sack.

Not a bad move, the king thought. Not bad at all. Every year, I see something new. I have important matters to attend to. Who know, maybe, she will notice me? I hope so.

The king left. Sir Tert and Sir Gert turned their heads to see what happened. The first admirer was lying on the floor with a smile on his face.

“What's with him?” Sir Tert asked.

“Who knows?” Sir Gert answer, waiving his hand.

“I bet, that you can't guess.” Sir Tert stood up, pointing at him.

“I smell a challenge.” Sir Gert took three steps back. “We shall see.”

“It's on.”

“After you.”

They went to the admirer, looked at him for a couple of minutes. Sir Gert stepped back.

“Are you ready?”

“Ready, as I will ever be.”

“What's he thinking about?”

“About the bells of the Rietan cathedral. I can hear the ringing from here.”

“Not bad.”

“What do you think?”

“That, he saw a group of cupids dancing around his head. Maybe, he's in love.”

Sir Tert tuned, looked at the crowd, he paused for a moment. After he had thought a question, he decided to ask the crowd:

“Gentlemen, what do you think?”

“Judging by his face, he's already in the cathedral.” The crowd said as one.

“I win.” Sir Tert said.

“Two out of three, then.”

Who is that man, he thought. I've never seen him before. He must be someone new. They're going to be bush. Maybe, I should stay and watch?

Don't tell me, that he's gonna knell in front of him. None of the girls have done that to me.

He continued to find his friend. He found him, on a balcony with a girl he saw before.

“Don't mind me, I was about to leave.” he said.

“On the contraire, we were waiting for you.” Sir Tert said, freeing his face from the girl's firm breasts.

She took a step forward, knelt in front of him and started untying the laces on his pants.