Single strokes and thrifty movements, the horsehair brush danced on the wooden figure of the Great Rider. Kolla dipped the tip of the brush in the pool of scented oil in the bowl. Droplets of oil met the floor as Kolla again brushed the figure.
When the figure was oiled and shiny on all sides, Kolla put the brush on the side as well the the bowl of scented oil. He knelt in front of the figure, closed his eyes and mumbled a prayer true to his heart.
This custom in their religion was mocked by outsiders as wasteful. Scented oil, after all, is a valuable commodity. Even the believers in the ghetto of Bivon would find ways to rub their figure of the Great Rider and his endless steed with oil.
But Kolla never thought of it as wasteful. The Great Rider provides strength to his flock and scented oil was the least they could do to return the favor.
Kolla bowed one last time at the figure before turning around and walking towards the door. Once outside, he was met with the rowdiness of their guests. The once silent hall of his house was now populated by Calgarian officers and knights. Not once did these proud men took a moment and greet him a pleasant night. It is not that he wanted their fake greetings but it is customary for guests to at least show respect to the homeowner.
Kolla's stride was slow. His old boots which was a gift from his old late friend rubbed against the smut-blackened floor. He went to a room and knocked.
The door soon opened and a woman faced him "Dinner is served my lady"
"You never change Kolla" Her brownish eyes looked at him with sadness "Call me something more intimate. I have been living here for almost a decade now and you still act like a stranger around me. Seymore is the name given to me by the parents that bore me. Call me that"
"Facing the Priestess of the Great Rider requires one to show respect and not familiarity"
"The Great Rider fated us to meet Kolla. His endless steed carried our strings together" She raised her look towards his scar. The emeralds that hung on her ears glistened "You are troubled"
Kolla offered his hand and she provided hers. He led her to the dinning room.
"You should have fled"
"Because a knight came to visit us?" Her teeth showed from her smile
"He came here with violent intents. I may have fallen into the state of being a hostage but you could have fled. You are the highest among our faith "
"I am as important to the Great Rider as a little child in the ghetto of Bivon. My worth is equal even with the people of weakest faith. In the eyes of the Great Rider, everyone is equal. His endless steed does not discriminate"
"Still you should have escaped my lady"
"Nothing is without a reason Kolla. Everything happens because the Great Rider saw it fit. You know what I saw in the smoke?"
"News about your vision has spread my lady. I am not doubting your divine abilities but your vision seems to be a little vague"
"Visions are vague only to those who think it is. The Great Rider's wind brings out the truth from the mist"
They reached the door to the dining hall. Lady Seymore went in first. . The King was seated on one end with the Queen by his side. Balian was on the side with a young Calgarian officer named Corwell. There were fifteen knights positioned around the room and ten of the royal guards.
Lady Seymore sat on one end and gestured for Kolla to sit beside her. He did, with a heavy heart as he knew the grim future that awaited them.
"Your Majesty" Lady Seymore bowed towards King Brice and Queen Sharon "I hope you like the food here in the west. Dried sheep blood and cheese biscuits may be strange to you. Also we prefer drinking fermented milk rather than wine here. I just hope we didn't disappoint the royals"
"Not bad but could be better. The fermented milk thing is putrid and sheep blood is not of my palate" King Brice said. He was immediately elbowed by the Queen.
"It is good Lady Seymore" Queen Sharon smiled "The hospitality you provided us will not be forgotten"
"Oh I hope you forget our hospitality Your Majesty" Lady Seymore put a piece of dried sheep blood on her mouth "You will soon be in chains. We don't want you remembering that"
Lady Seymore's statement drew the stares of the five people around the table including Kolla.
"In chains?" Queen Sharon asked
"Yes. Grand Master Balian here wants to capture you, King Brice, Earl Kolla and me" She bit another slice and smiled.
"Is this true Balian?" King Brice asked
"Sadly Your Majesy. I have paid your royal guards already. Their loyalty to you is weaker than I thought. Outside, my knights are cleaning up those who are loyal to you. Poor things. Loyalty should be given to competent people. The rest of your host has turned against you also. There is no escape. So should we do it now or should I give you time to finish dinner first?"
"I prefer you do it after we finish eating" It was Lady Seymore who spoke
"Ah, the Priestess. We are similar, you and I. We both have the highest authority in our respective faiths"
"The only difference is that my authority over the believers of the Great Rider is unopposed while you are being challenged by the famous First Spear"
"Not for long Priestess Seymore. I shall destroy him. Enough of that" Balian leaned closer "I am curious as to why you remain here despite knowing that I am planning on capturing you"
"Faith I guess" Lady Seymore shrugged "I saw a vision in the smoke. I saw a man in armor on top of a lion. Countless horses were riding with them. The lion roared. It was as loud as a thousand thunders. It was as terrifying as death itself. The man in armor waved its sword and cut off a serpent's neck. The horses trampled the remains"
"That is an unusual vision. Vivid and terrifying if I should guess. But visions are things of soothsayers. I believe in facts. Now I would like to continue eating with you" Balian rose and wiped his mouth "Unfortunately I just lost my appetite. Finish your meals oh dear hostages"
Balian and the Calgarian officer went out of the room. The two monarchs, Lady Seymore and Kolla were left with the guards. Kolla was staring at the Priestess. He still couldn't understand why she let herself be captured. He just drank some fermented milk and hoped that the Great Rider will grant them his wind.
**********
News of what happened in the west reached Bivon the next day through a pigeon from one of Freya's spies. Erik was reading the report on his desk and the two ladies were, like always, sitting in front of him.
Freya had almost finished her book while Emily still had the frown on her beautiful face. Erik lowered the paper and turned an eye on her.
"You've been glaring at me for days. If you fall for me then that will be a problem as I am already promised to someone back home"
"Your jests are funny at first but they get sour after a while. This setting of ours is getting too familiar. For the past weeks we have been sitting here and doing nothing"
"Sometimes doing nothing is the best thing to do" Erik continued with the letter "Henry is pacifying the north, bringing it into our control. We cannot rush him. He will be here soon and then we will start doing something. That is our strategy Your Majesty. Well speaking of strategies, this priestess is good"
"The priestess of the Great Rider just got captured" Queen Emily said
"That is a strategy. Also I think the vision she saw was all made up"
"Care to explain?"
Erik put down the paper and rubbed his eyes "Only she knows if she really saw a vision. I bet she's only spreading propaganda. A man in armor riding a lion? That's reeks of Henry. And getting captured is a good plan. She could have escaped and rallied the tribes in the west against Balian. Her chances of winning will be slim but if she ever won then that will be a bad tale to spread. The priestess defeating the Grand Master- that will continue the hate between the two faiths. Things will be different if a young and famous knight like Henry would be the one defeating Balian and saving the priestess in the process. The relations between the two faiths will be knitted together. Life is about tales Your Majesty"
"Or she could just be blessed with the vision and all of these are caused by divine intervention" Freya said.
"Can't rule out that possibility but my own belief leans more on her using her brains" Erik said
A horn sounded, two blasts indicating the arrival of an ally. Erik looked out the window.
"About time we get our First Spear back"