CHAPTER 7: CONTEMPLATION Written by: Janus_Senpre Starring:

Ulster

--- Sacred King Calendar, Month 9 , Year 216 ---
-- Town south of Lothian --

[Editor's addition:] The cycle of drunkenness and strange ideas continued for several days, indeed weeks. In the meantime, the boat sat unfinished and unminded. One morning Ulster awoke particularly disturbed. [End editor's addition]

(Perhaps a walk around town will relax me...)

Walking through the sands of Lothian's sprawling coastline, Ulster quickly finds the road leadng towards the small town. Although wanting to get his mind off things, Ulster quickly finds himself assaulted by the circulating thoughts that erupt within his head.

(Hmmm... could Iscalio ever be what it once was once more...? Half of our knights are gone... That brute Bagdemagus off to serve another lord... That vain witch Victoria and moneygrubbing Daffy quickly scampering themselves to our conquerors... Miguel off to search for his siblings... Lucia just disappearing... and where in the world did those youngsters Teath and Hula go off to?)

Walking down the dirt path towards the small hamlet, Ulster upruptly stops to survey the land that was once his own. Shaking his head, the former bishop of Iscalio numbly shakes his head.

(Our monster forces are depleted... Our soldiers and servants scattered... Castle Caelsent is in enemy hands... If an oppurtunity were to arise, would his majesty even think enough of it to seize it? Who knows what that man is thinking?)

Looming over him in the distance were the outskirts of the seaside town. Ulster could make out the forms of smiling children playing and content parents going about their work.

(When was the last time anybody in Iscalio looked like that? Certainly not during my lord Dryst's rule... These people look so happy and content. What were they thinking when the discovered that their own monarchy had been conquered?)

Turning his head back towards the lush sprawling coastline behind him, Ulster could barely make out the barely audible laughing and speaking of his former king and retainers from far away near the sea.

(I have to do something... Something... Anything! But can I sacrifice the potential happiness of the people of this country by helping to reinstate the 'Mad Monarch?' No...)

Ulster shakes his head furiously.

(He is still my king... my liege... I have devoted my entire life and loyalty to that man... We have already lost everything... what more can we lose now by trying?)

Ulster steals another glance towards the town.

(No soldiers... Either the main garrison hasn't arrived from Lothian... or our conquerors did not see fit to station Rune Knights at Lothian... Perhaps Lothian lays undefended? Perhaps even Caelsent...?)

Grunting, Ulster turns back towards the town, a cloud of thought and intrigue.