CHAPTER 8: A RUDIMENTARY REUNION Written by: Janus_Senpre Starring:
Ulster	Bagdmagus

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

Walking along the winding gravel road that led into the small coastal Lothian town, Ulster could not help but let his guard down. The cries of morning birds and children at play were a welcoming respite from the usual loud mouth jabbering and arguing that he had grown accustomed to. The rays of sunlight on his face were a comfortable presence and the small gusts of wind and morning air did well to soothe his nerves. In spite of his usual nervous and tense demeanor, Ulster relaxed.

Thats when everything went wrong.

With a loud grunt, a lumbering monstrosity suddenly barreled its way through the nearby hedge directly into Ulster. Without even a quick gasp of bewilderment, the poor bishop of Iscalio was hoisted into the air and then given an excruciatingly painful and suffocating bear hug. Laughing out loud in a harsh guttural tone, the ogre released the frail bishop and Ulster fell to the ground gasping for air.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Ulster immediately looked up in recognition to his humongous assailant.

(...No way... I thought I had seen the last of him...)

It was Bagdemagus.

~~~
Ulster and Bagdemagus sat in the shade of a nearby tree along the roadside. The stern bishop had his knees drawn up to his face and was still trying to stretch out all of the aches that his burly companion had managed to inflict upon him in greeting. The gigantic warrior drank deeply from an aleskin, his massive broadaxe protruding from a nearby log.

Ulster closed his eyes and sighed. "I had thought to have seen the last of you my big friend. I thought you had gone off to another country... Why are you back in Iscal-err... back here?"

The big berserker finished his drink with a great gulp of satisfaction. Golden ale trickled down his chin. "Thats what I thought too. I wanted to keep fighting you know? And now that the country has fallen, I wouldn't be able to keep fighting as long as I stayed here..."

Ulster stared while Bagdemagus continued.

"Right after I said my goodbyes after the last castle fell, I made my way north to find work you know?" Bagdemagus chuckled. "Didn't get very far..."

Ulster stretched his legs.

Looking off towards the hillside over the side of the road, Bagdemagus displayed a very deep look that exuberated a sort of intelligence. A look that Ulster seldom saw.

"And?"

"Hold up. I'm thinking."

"... no rush."

The mighty warrior sighed. "Anyways, I figured I go and work for Leonia or something. All of those holy men and what not running around over there, they're always short of guys who actually know how to fight, you know?"

Ulster nodded.

"Didn't work out though. I couldn't even make it past the Hadrian border. Shut up tight those Leonians. Won't let anybody in... or out they said. Preparing for an attack from Esgares they said. I guess I don't blame them... After they saw what happened to us! Hahahaha!!!"

Ulster grimaced at the reminder.

"Anyways, I never did fancy that book brain King Cai of Caerleon. Men have to have spines you know? I just don't know about that King Cai, and I didn't feel like walking all the way to Caerleon just to find out you know? I also didn't feel like walking all the way over to New Almekia either... or Norgard for that matter. They may have a lot strong guys, but its just too cold up there..."

"What about Esgares? I heard Daffy and Victoria were headed there..."

"Nah. That place isn't for me. I may not like King Cai, but even I'd work for him before I work for a guy like Zemekis. Besides... I heard, working in Esgares... or any other country for that matter is pretty strict you know? You got your regulations and your proto- whatever and ranks and officers and all that nonsense. I liked it when things were easy and simple. Like how King Dryst had things... That was pretty good you know?"

Ulster leaned back until his head found the tree trunk behind him. He shifted into a comfortable position.

"So... I thought that country or no country... Dryst would still find a way to have fun and fight... So I came back here to find you guys..."

Ulster looked over to Bagdemagus, a inquissitive expression upon his face.

"How did you find us then Bagdemagus?"

"Pretty much luck I guess. While I was wandering around the Caelsent countryside, I ran into two kids in the middle of the forest. Well, I was pretty hungry then so we decided to have lunch together and talk. I only had some ale on me, but the girl *it was a girl and a boy* had lots of meat, bread, and this really really really good fruit."

"... kids you say?"

"Damn! That fruit was good!" Bagdemagud licked his lips. "Best fruit I ever had. When I asked them where they got it, they said they bought them in Caerleon... imgine that?"

"What did these kids look like? What were they doing? Were they from Caerleon?"

Bagdemagus shrugs. "The girl was pretty. She wore this green traveler's cloak and had short black hair. Very pretty. The guy had brown hair and wore this red coat and armor. Carried a sword too... looked like he knew how to use it... I guess. Dunno if they were from Caerleon or not, but they said they were on their way to a friend's house. Some monk. Forgot his name."

"How did they know we were here?"

"They didn't. I asked them if they had seen you guys, but since they didn't know what you looked like I had to describe you guys to them. They hadn't seen Dryst or Iria or Camden or you, but they did mention seeing a guy dressed like a clown buying supplies in a store they were in. They said they overheard the clown telling the shopkeeper that he was going south. I figured the only guy crazy enough to walk around town by himself in a clown get up must of been our good friend Gallo. So I figured you guys probably headed down to Lothian and I tracked you here."

Ulster grinned in spite of himself. (Well... isn't that funny? Something good finally came out of that crazy clown's costume...) Ulster shook his head. (Incredible...)

"That was pretty smart of you Bagdemagus... But now that you've found us, what do you plan to do?"

"Hahhahaha... Why Ulster my man! I plan on convincing the boss to rebuild Iscalio!"

"You what!?"

"We can't very well eat Caerleon fruits if don't conquer it first right?"

With no suprise to himself, Ulster found he was at a loss of words.