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Once more [[Cynyr]] was riding towards Hindon during autumn. This time it wasn’t his wife he was worried for but for sir [[Ennis]]. He hadn’t heard from the man since that big discussion in Countess [[Ellen]]’s Solar, afterwards [[Ennis]] had made himself scarce and left [[the Rock]] seemingly in deep thought. He remembered [[Ennis]]’ last words to the assembly, that he would ride into [[faerie]]. The thought of losing his friend to that unpredictable hell had haunted [[Cynyr]] through the autumn. Now he aimed to put his fears to rest. As the newly minted [[Vassal Knight]] rode into the courtyard, he cast his eye around for the warden. As [[Cynyr]] dismounted he caught sight of [[Ennis]] in the stable. Sir [[Ennis]] waved and came to the door to greet the other man. “''Sir [[Cynyr]], welcome.''” A new wrinkle between [[Ennis]]’ eyebrows seemed to have settled into his skin. He looked somewhat older than when they had last seen each other. “''Sir [[Ennis]]!''” [[Cynyr]] smiled, happy to see his friend “''I’m glad to see you in good health.''” “''I am alive,''” [[Ennis]] answered. “''It’s always something. You look good my friend. Here let me take your horse.''” [[Cynyr]] hesitated for a moment and glanced at [[Ennis]]’ squire. “''If it pleases you sir…''” [[Ennis]] took the horse inside, while looking it over. “''I’m learning from sir [[Victus]],''” he said while studying [[Cynyr]]’s horse. “''He has informed me that I have to learn a few things about [[horses]] still and I am humouring him.''” Cynyrs’ bushy eyebrows climbed the ladder of his forehead. “''Is that so? I think I could perhaps give a pointer or two if you would like…''” “''Please don’t,” [[Ennis]] said with a smile. “I have already had my lecture today. Another day my friend.''” “''Oh.''” [[Cynyr]] looked momentarily crestfallen, robbed of a chance to divulge in his singular obsession with [[horses]]. “''Well, another day then. But, please Sir, what on earth would you have to learn in sir Victus’ opinion?''” “''Quite a few things,''” [[Ennis]] said avoiding answering the question. “''I know he’s a better rider than me, and a more acquired knight so I’ll listen, but I don’t particularly like being told that I’m bad at something''.” “''Well, I’m sure we can all stand to better ourselves in many ways.''“ [[Ennis]] gave a laugh to that: “''Tell that to the famous one-legged-knight.''” [[Cynyr]] looked momentarily nonplussed, then slightly embarrassed. “''Ah, hm. Well.''” He grinned sheepishly. “''Sir [[Victus]] is a great man, who has achieved many great things. He has been extremely fortunate. However, I cannot help but feel that he would never have been as great without that luck. His many [[adventures]] are impressive, but perhaps not something one should seek to recreate''”. [[Ennis]] stopped in his work and looked at [[Cynyr]]. During the silence between the two knights the two squires slipped out without as much of a word. “''What are you getting at [[Cynyr]]?''” [[Ennis]] said finally. The other man dug around his saddlebags and retrieved two flasks of [[Ludwell]] Cherry Red. “''Share with me, and I’ll tell you?''” [[Ennis]] chuckled dejectedly, with but an edge of his usual good humor. “''Alright then, but don’t let my wife see.''” The two men took their escape to the ruins of the old [[Roman Villa|roman villa]], and found a room filled with the echo of faded grandeur within. Soon a small fire danced merrily in a hole in the floor, and both sat on precarious remains of furniture, drinking their fill. “''You always do bring the best liquor,''” mused [[Ennis]] who was resting his head against the stone wall behind him. “''By Dionysos' beard, I needed that.''” “''You are far too kind sir [[Ennis]], [[Ludwell]] still has a long way to go if it is to produce truly good wine in any quantity.''” “''But, it’s a good start.” [[Ennis]] tilted his head and looked a [[Cynyr]]. “So tell me... tell me whatever it is you need to.''” “''I’ve been thinking lately, about that strange boy [[Padern]], the mad knight in brown, and the [[forest]] Sauvage. Thinking about duty, and about what it means to be a knight.''” “''And?''” “''Well. We owe our lord everything, yes? As knights of his house, we are his, our lives are spent in service. As vassals, our first duty is to our lord’s land and command, foremost to serve in war.''” “''I’m not disagreeing with you. Our oaths are our most important duties.''” “''Yes. Well, I’m concerned about these new ideas that the boy and the mad knight is spreading. After all, if a knight runs off on some crazy adventure, he cannot fulfill his duty to his Lord, to be ready to go to war. I feel like I should try to discourage those notions, they’re dangerous, and I’m not sure if they are actually disloyal to the oaths we've sworn.''” [[Ennis]] peered at [[Cynyr]] for a brief moment and then sighed. “''A wise man once said that ‘The first duty of a man is the seeking after and the investigation of truth’. Tell me sir [[Cynyr]] how I can be… truly be a knight if I don’t know my own past?''” [[Cynyr]] peered into his cup, and pondered while refilling it. “''I leave the truth to the priests. I follow my lord and my oaths, no matter what the truth is.'” He raised his head an looked at [[Ennis]]. “''I know who I see in front of me, and who I know to be my friend. You are a good and loyal knight, as good a man as I have known. What matters it what has been? What is now is the important thing.''” “''Ah, true. But it is my now. It is every moment, every interaction and all the doubt I face. Tell me that it doesn’t affect me. That it doesn’t affect my work as a knight. And the priests? Really? What truth do they hold?''” “''What I mean is that it is not really our place to determine the truth, that is for our Lords and betters who can spend their days in thought over such things''” “''Every man is a philosopher in his own right. It all depends on the questions we ask ourselves. Questions all men ask''.” [[Cynyr]] nodded, taking a slow swallow out of his cup: “''Well, I guess you’re right about that, we are sitting here having this discussion after all, two [[Wine Philosophers|wine philosophers]] in truth''”. He grinned, and continued: “''But I think you prove them all wrong by being alive, and by doing as good work as you have. Their doubt really doesn’t matter in the face of your deeds. However, if you were to die in some faraway [[forest]] or fen, that doubt would only grow in your absence.''” “''Well, I would be dead,''” [[Ennis]] said flatly, “''I would not care then.''” [[Cynyr]] grimaced “''True, but our actions echo through time, and through those close to us. By being alive you can bring your families closer together, dead you will tear them apart''”. This seemed to strike a note with the other knight. [[Ennis]] took a deep swallow of the wine. “''You’re a kind soul [[Cynyr]]. I know what you are telling me, and I know that there is weight to your arguments. I sometimes feel as if the opposite was true though, and that there would be less… intrigue if I’d never made it out of [[Hantonne]] that winter. I felt it even stronger when Sir [[Maelgwyn]] argued against my legacy.''” He took another swallow and looked [[Cynyr]] in the eye. “''Are you telling me to give it up?''” “''No, that's not what I'm saying. I believe that Hindon is yours by right. Sir [[Maelgwyn]] is a great knight, but careless of the needs and motivations of others. I know that you have lost much, and I understand that you strive to regain whatever time you lost, even if it means going into faeri. But in doing so, I fear you may instead be throwing away the time and life you have now. By staying alive, by waiting, you have a chance to regain your birthright''”. “''You must understand [[Cynyr]]… I… am very bad… at waiting''.” [[Ennis]] smiled hopelessly. The other man laughed, a sudden sound full of mirth and leg slapping. “''Yes, yes you are. Then don’t look at it as waiting, look at it as experiencing, living [[Ennis]]! Living is now, not then, not later''.” [[Ennis]] sighed and lay on his back. “''I guess I can try'',” he said staring up at the sky through the impressive holes in the equally impressive roof and second floor. “''Mmm.''” grunted [[Cynyr]], laying back as well. “''It’s not such a bad thing to be a [[Vassal Knight|Vassal knight]], or a Warden of a great manor. Would you like to show me your new lands tomorrow, my friend?''” “''That sounds like a good thing to do, but lets sleep in the stable tonight. I am far too drunk to face [[Supera]] neither today nor tomorrow morning''.” <comments />
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