Features

A Celebration or a Setup?

As I looked around the Grand Hall, I could see the bondsmaids were doing their jobs and keeping the drinks and foods flowing smoothly, serving everyone with a smile. Watching some of the men with the girls made me chuckle as rarely did they realize how easy it was to read their expressions....sometimes too easy. I found myself wondering if Tyler had gone up to the ridge with the builder to plan the new clinic...the memory of seeing Judith's body there last was one I would never forget. My eyes glazed over and my brain became pleasantly soft as I thought of her in happier times. I felt my depression lifting and accepted another goblet of kalana. I decided that if Daria really had stood us up and couldn't go through with this, that I would have Remny take me back to the cabin quickly tonight. And then suddenly, there was Daria walking towards me from the other side of the room.

Only it wasn't the usual Daria. There was no smile, and she had a frazzled, frantic set to her features. Her hair was out of its chignon and half down her back, trailing hairpins. She gave me such an unsettling stare that I immediately stopped waving and began to walk toward her slowly.

Daria moved through the hot, crowded room as if in service to some fearsome mission, the idea of which panicked her. I knew she was scared to death of what could happen and I started to make my way towards her to settle her nerves. Once, she looked back over her shoulder and when she turned back to me, her eyes were full of uncharacteristic warning.

She was no more than three feet away and I believed I could almost make out what she was saying when my gaze was taken by a shadow presenting itself in the doorway. My eyes went right past Daria's face to what seemed at first to be just a shape, a dark image only vaguely present. Irritated by the distraction, I returned to Daria. But now Daria, too, had turned to stare at the figure partially hidden by the door frame. Slowly, I followed my friend's eyes. Drawn by instinct, images of obscured memory flashing through my brain, I watched as the shape materialized into a man. An odd figure, tall and muscular dressed in black, towering over everyone else in the room and with the dust of the plain seemingly still clinging to him. Even with all the huge Torvs in residence at the party, he dominated through his size and by that aura of cynical detachment that compelled even the most casual observer to attention. Several of those on the fringe of the crowd had turned to stare at him. It had been years but in less than an instant I could compute the long body, the lanky hair, and finally the facial features in profile, softened by age and uncharacteristic self-indulgence. As always, his eyes swept the room restlessly, but then he turned slowly, deliberately, in our direction. For Daria, shock and sensation overcame her.

She must have wobbled because I remember reaching out to support her waist with an arm. I, myself, felt as if I were living underwater, where images floated with exaggerated, time warped slowness. I heard Daria say my name, but when I turned back to acknowledge and reassure her, my eye was taken instead by Daria's earlobe, which was missing a tiny notch of flesh no more than an eighth of an inch long. Fixated suddenly on this absurd detail, all I could remember was that Torr had done the same thing to our son.......I couldn't get over that I had known Daria for so long and had never noticed the tender mutilation of her earlobe. Strange. My hand went to my own ear distractedly and I felt weak. The very air seemed altered and with my senses already heightened by what tonight really represented, the noise and heat of the room was beginning to make me feel hectic. My brain went this way and that. There was such a roar in my head and my heart knocked so violently against my ribs, I could not be sure of what I heard or saw. Against my will, my eyes went back to his face.

He stood in the doorway almost detached from himself, as if he was watching his own performance with wry amusement. Then his eyes found mine, their drowsiness liquefied, and like a dark and beautiful conjurer he began to send 'messages' to me, as he always had. He had always made me feel whenever he left my presence before as if he had just undressed all of me with those eyes of his, seeing right through to my very soul. It was then his mouth opened slightly and he gave Daria and I that long, slow smile of recognition.........

We both nearly jumped out of our skins when Vivien arrived to touch Daria's arm and tug her up to the podium. The room was so hot and everyone unspeakably miserable. Vivien made her presentation and Daria stepped forward to take the award, which turned out to be a crystal bowl. She mumbled some words about hard work and determination, most of it uninteresting and nearly inaudible because she had ducked her head so close to her chest that she couldn't project a single word.

When it was over, I rushed her out the door, down the long hallway and through the exit. Outside, at the top of the stone steps, I saw Drake and Popo waiting for her, two hopeful beacons in all of this. I remembered how we all had worked through this so there would be no one hurt and went over it in my head again as Daria said my name and gave me a steadying look. Lights and sounds seemed incredibly sharp and I detected the scent of Daria's perfume. It seemed to float on a cloud all of it's own, enveloping me. The air seemed cooler. Had it rained? Or had my heart simply stopped pumping blood around my body.

Daria stepped over to me, kissed me on the cheek, took the crystal bowl and left quickly with Popo and Drake. In the darkness, I could barely make out that they were far enough away. I looked up at the sky. There were no stars, only a thick, mist. I was very nearly to the sidewalk when he stepped out from behind the fountain. I hesitated on the sidewalk, looking back towards Trevelyan Hall and then the old familiar pull of vengeance exerted itself and I fell in step with.....Seth.....walking out into the dark street, knowing everything was in place.....

In the still of the night.

It is that time when one is most alone within his thoughts. His sword laid near his slave curled to his feet and his eyes wide open staring up from his couch.

A year ago if you had told him his life would have taken this turn he would have laughed in your face. Then again 10 years ago if you told him he would be of the Caste of warriors he would have sworn you were drunk.

Warrior is merely a man who lives by the honor of his code. Word given it can be relied upon as if it were the very foundation stone of a city. Honor to some it means nothing. But to him it is what should be killed over. Yet warriors so called brothers so easily tarnish a man's name without a second thought, like gossiping women with nothing better to do.

If a group of warriors yell that a tree is on fire yet you see no flames? Are they liars? Are they truly warriors at all?

To stand with a group is easy to do, he should know this as a pirate he stood with many men and not one of them honorable. But to stand alone. When all others boldly brashly declare distrust and say wrong has been done. Do you simply kill them all? Over the words that sound like they come more from women than men?

No proof given, no crime or dishonor even named. Yet these men for no other reason than to attack a brother who has done more active work for Caste than any that spit forth these lies.

When he approached the men of his own city that is where he saw honor. "Put yourself above the pettiness. To attack a fool for the sake of words would not be an honorable act."

Many can spout scrolls and wave tomes but few know what it is really like to walk the path of a warrior. The only truth is in your words. Your actions are done for your homestone, your caste, your family and you are the one at the end of a long line of others you put before yourself.

He asked, "What are we to do about these false warriors who know not the true codes yet parade the colors boldly?" His mentor answered. " In time each will meet their fate as the Priest Kings desire it is their plans in motion. As men and warriors of this great place Gor we can only do the harshest of things to them." "Kill them I said?" He shook his head wisely no. "Pity them for they do not deserve the honor of dying by the sword of true warriors."

With those words said all of the Warriors of Rorus who had gathered nodded their heads.

"So it is said so shall it be! Hail Rorus!"

Tal warriors of Gor! Time it seems has a way of slipping away, already it is time for me to impart my wisdom upon the pages of the Times. My most important piece of recent news is that I am once again companioned, to the lovely Eusimjane. She has been a life saver in these recent hands of change in my life and I am eternally grateful, plus she does wonderfully well with my 3 en var old son Ti, who now moves faster than a greased tarsk and seems to have a new obsession with touching anything breakable. There also seems to have been some influence somewhere of the Karian kind as anyone who crosses him is now deemed a " land lubbing sea sleen". Needless to say, we now have many of those in the Hunter household, so much so I have considered taking to the Thassa. Arrrggg! Also new news is, I was raised in chair for the Scarlet Council from second to first, due to the early resignment of Darius N Riggs. Razi Tende also resigned and I wish them both well and the best of luck and only hope I can do nearly half as good a job for the remainder of my term. Mjane and I have been traveling as of late, we were companioned on the beautiful beaches of Bazi and then traveled to Brundisium where we were warmly welcomed. I am truly enjoying the relaxation and feel that my position of ambassador to Sais is much more well suited to me than administrator. Which brings me to my next subject, Damian Frost has stepped up as Administrator of Sais now, and is doing a stand up job. Hats off to you brother and I offer my congratulations and hope others will as well. Many happy, successful en vars of leadership to you! Lastly I would like to address a mistake that was made in the Gorean polls. It would seem I was nominated as " best outlaw" which caused me to chuckle. I am probably the worst outlaw Gor could ever produce, as Mjane is fond of pointing out, I am a city boy. I cannot hunt and last time I tried, I was horned in the arse by a tabuk. I also cannot fish well, even when I tried tarn fishing :: still working out the kinks on that one:: and I cannot build a lean to. To be quite frank, camps give me hives, so no, I am not an outlaw and the mistake has been corrected in the polls I have been assured. I do wish all happy holidays from myself and my family, even you land lubbing sea sleens and until next time, be well!