Finally, the partings went quite quickly. The oracle stayed in her hut during the whole preparations, only showing her wrinkled face when the last men were departing.
But before that, they had to gather the horses that were grazing peacefully around the village, put together the sacks of spices and the jars of dyes, and make sure everyone was armed correctly.
Amyntas understood that his new prized saber could be considered as quite the luxury when compared to the others' blades. Most weapons were rusty, some even had moldy hilts.
However, they all carried a second weapon, a Khyrgyz recurved bow. They all had good craftmanship and were in much better state than their sabers. Curious, Amyntas turned to Borislav.
"Are all of the men archers ?"
"Not only the men. The women too."
"Impressive…"
"We may have ancestors that came from every corner of the continent, but we are also trained in the nomads' way."
"It's quite smart indeed. Better fight like the locals if you want their protection."
"Hah. Even if you wanted to fight like a Greek you wouldn't be able to."
"Thank you…"
"What ?"
"Hehe, nothing."
(Shit. I said that out loud.)
"So can I get a bow ?"
"Even if I had one to give you, what's the use ?
I highly doubt you learned horse archery."
(Well, it was among what the Divines taught me, but I guess there's a stark difference between theory and practice…)
"You could show me, just like you did yesterday !"
"Hah. Be glad I even gave you that blade.
Just get ready."
(You miser.)
Two men approached them, wearing leather armor and long sabers, looking one notch higher than the rest of their group. Amyntas finally recognized the two when they took off their helmets, they were Borislav's two lieutenants.
They gave him a dark glare before speaking to their leader. Amyntas prudently chose to stay silent.
(What, jealous that I'm monopolizing him. Don't worry, I won't try to woo such a miser.)
"Borislav, all men are ready, but Blagoy's missing to the call."
"I say we should just leave him here. He may be able to learn something from the women."
(Poor Blagoy doesn't seem to be very appreciated…)
"I know where he is. Just go fetch him in the meadow, near the training grounds. And bring him his weapons too. I don't want him to make us lose more time."
(You are the one that chose to leave him though.)
One of the two, the oldest went to grab something lying among the merchandises. He came back holding two axes of muscovite confection.
"I got them. Let's go."
Only when the two of them were out of hearing range did Amyntas resume his unending questioning.
"Hey, I thought everyone used sabers, why does Blagoy have axes ?"
"Because he can't shoot with a bow for his life. He's good at throwing though. Artinis knows why."
"And how did you get your hands on Russian blades ?"
Borislav sent him a weary and annoyed glare. It wasn't the first he gave to Amyntas since the last few hours.
"You are worst than a chattering ghost. We got them from bandits, just like everything else."
(Liar. The Tsardom never sent caravans to the South and their people never leave the country. Bandits from the Hetmanate would never dare to cross the northern frontier either. There is some story behind all this.)
[A suspicious mind is the first step to live a long life… and also to paranoia. All leaders have to pass through this though.]
While Amyntas was lost in thoughts, the merchandises had been loaded on a few horses. Those would have to be led by other horsemen, since they could not carry both the packages and a rider.
Borislav strong voice raised over the chattering villagers, women giving worried advices to their husbands while children were running around the calm horses.
"Be quiet !
Annara, your part."
"Listen !
The oracle predicted bad omens. You all know about this. This village is in the middle of the Azure Lands, and doesn't have much to fear. But for you all that will be crossing the Khaganate during a week, the travel will be much more dangerous. Do not forget the omens. Be prudent, travel safe and secure."
(This speech… so refreshing. She washed away my worries just now.)
"Alright. Let's go."
(And dear Borislav is as sunny as usual.)
They left without turning back, and Annara's words had lowered their spirits so much that only the sounds of hooves could be heard. Amyntas would never be satisfied without asking questions though, and he moved closer to Blagoy, since Borislav was flanked by his two lieutenants.
(I need to get as much information as possible. I cannot miss any opportunity else I will be unprepared when the Saints decide to descend. Aaaaaaaaaah I wish they had chosen a monarch for that kind of tasks. They would have it much easier…)
[They tried. Many times. But no matter if it whether they chose a Khagan, a Basileus or a Tsar, it failed. Even I… couldn't manage it.]
"Blagoy !"
"Hmm ?"
"I saw your axes. Where did you get them ?"
(I doubt this dumb bear will be able to lie.)
Indeed, Blagoy wasn't a very capable liar. But his stubbornness didn't make it easy for Amyntas either. Shifting his eyes aside, he answered uneasily.
"Well… we just took them from bandits, like the other weapons…"
"Really. So you looted robbers for years, and once, just by pure luck, you found a pair of hatchets that are impossible to find so far in the south ?"
(If there is a secret, I will find it. And use it. I need followers after all. Aaah, what's better than blackmailing ?)
"Yeah… it can happen you know…"
"Really ?
Do you think we may find muscovite blades in Saleen ?
After all, there are thousands of people there, they must have had many more encounters than you, right ?"
"Maybe… I mean, I don't know…"
Watching Blagoy's eyes sifting in every direction possible, Amyntas knew he was close to succeeding.
"Hey, let's ask the next travelers we meet !
They may know where we can find some !"
"NO !"
Blagoy's shout made a few heads turn towards them, which in turn made his face redden significantly.
"I mean… you can't… be-"
"Because what ?"
"Erm… er…"
"Yeah ?"
[This one is gifted in pressuring people huh ?]
"I-I can't tell you…"
"Why ?"
"I c-can't…"
"Go on, I'm sure it's no big secret !"
"The blades belongs to Borislav !
He just lent them to me !
Just go pester him, okay !"
(Well, I may have gone a bit far, but at least I got a result.)
"Hehe… How about I tell you a story, to be forgiven ?"
"A story ?"
(As I thought. He truly doesn't need much to be hooked.)
"Yeah. Do you know the Tale of the Divines ?
It's quite popular in the Old Empire."
"No… please tell me !"
Looking a bit disgusted by Blagoy's shiny puppy eyes, Amyntas began narrating.
"A long, long time ago, when the world was not even there, when humanity had not shaped the earth and forged iron, there was only one thing.
Darkness. It was the Age of Night, and nothing existed except the darkness that covered the infinite and unknown.
But another thing appeared. The One that was given a consciousness. The very First Being. The Creator.
The Creator did what It ought. It created. Endlessly.
Yet It cared not for his creation. He birthed them, the left them to decay in darkness. His creation could only see his shine once before dying. The only and most beautiful sight they witnessed. The Moon.
Yet, one of his creation refused to fall to such fate. He refused to be born and to die in darkness. So that human, Artinis, raised in the black sky.
And he cut The Creator in two. He did so with his bare hands, that were the sharpest blades of the world.
As The First Being died, his shine reflected on Artinis hands, and fulfilled his wish. Artinis then became the Sun, and brings an end to the Night each day, and so for eternity."