Training and lessons continue. Sanfor is not approached again, but he feels a building tension in the castle. The other recruits begin to stay out at night, returning to the bunks ever later, but no one will say what is going on. At training, Alaia and Sanfor are gradually pushed to the side by the other recruits as they group together. One day, Alpida visits to oversee the training. She shows up again the next day, and Garal does as well. For the next two days, both continue to watch the training from different sides of the courtyard, not speaking to one another.
OOC: Sorry this took so long. I wasn't quite sure what to do next.
OOC: You good, I wouldn't have seen it until a couple of days ago anyways.
Sanfor remains bewildered, trying to stay out of whatever is brewing, but feeling very out of the loop, and hence threatened.
OOC: (That's a thumbs-up, but those never seem to load properly so I'm writing this in case such an occurrence transpires. (Edit: It did; also, I accidentally quoted this post instead of editing it on my first try.))
IC: On the morning of the fifth day since Alpida's visits to training began, she awakens the recruits. "Training is cancelled today." She leaves without another word, closing the door behind her.
OOC: You good, I wouldn't have seen it until a couple of days ago anyways.
Sanfor remains bewildered, trying to stay out of whatever is brewing, but feeling very out of the loop, and hence threatened.
OOC: (That's a thumbs-up, but those never seem to load properly so I'm writing this in case such an occurrence transpires. (Edit: It did; also, I accidentally quoted this post instead of editing it on my first try.))
IC: On the morning of the fifth day since Alpida's visits to training began, she awakens the recruits. "Training is cancelled today." She leaves without another word, closing the door behind her.
IC: Sanfor wanders around the castle for a bit, ending up at the blacksmith shop looking for something to do.
OOC: (That's a thumbs-up, but those never seem to load properly so I'm writing this in case such an occurrence transpires. (Edit: It did; also, I accidentally quoted this post instead of editing it on my first try.))
IC: On the morning of the fifth day since Alpida's visits to training began, she awakens the recruits. "Training is cancelled today." She leaves without another word, closing the door behind her.
IC: Sanfor wanders around the castle for a bit, ending up at the blacksmith shop looking for something to do.
The whole castle seems quiet. The blacksmith gives him a nod before returning to his work. He hasn't been there long when Alaia runs up, out of breath. "They sent me to find you. Something big is going on. Come with me!"
IC: Sanfor wanders around the castle for a bit, ending up at the blacksmith shop looking for something to do.
The whole castle seems quiet. The blacksmith gives him a nod before returning to his work. He hasn't been there long when Alaia runs up, out of breath. "They sent me to find you. Something big is going on. Come with me!"
Sanfor doesn't ask questions, at least not yet, and follows.
The whole castle seems quiet. The blacksmith gives him a nod before returning to his work. He hasn't been there long when Alaia runs up, out of breath. "They sent me to find you. Something big is going on. Come with me!"
Sanfor doesn't ask questions, at least not yet, and follows.
She brings him to the courtyard, where a huge crowd is gathering. They push their way to the front to find a platform set up in the middle. The Black Knight stands on it, alongside Alpida and Bakar. Without his chair, the legless former Shadow Guard is slumped on the ground. He looks beat up.
Sanfor doesn't ask questions, at least not yet, and follows.
She brings him to the courtyard, where a huge crowd is gathering. They push their way to the front to find a platform set up in the middle. The Black Knight stands on it, alongside Alpida and Bakar. Without his chair, the legless former Shadow Guard is slumped on the ground. He looks beat up.
Sanfor doesn't speak, but he does think "oh no this can't be good" as he stands tensely next to her.
She brings him to the courtyard, where a huge crowd is gathering. They push their way to the front to find a platform set up in the middle. The Black Knight stands on it, alongside Alpida and Bakar. Without his chair, the legless former Shadow Guard is slumped on the ground. He looks beat up.
Sanfor doesn't speak, but he does think "oh no this can't be good" as he stands tensely next to her.
A few minutes pass as more people arrive. Then the Black Knight clears his throat and gestures to Bakar. "Most of you know this man. He has served this kingdom for longer than almost any of us. He was a member of two separate iterations of the Shadow Guard, including the group that served me when I last ruled here, and only left them when he lost his legs to the brutality of the Xain Empire while attempting to gather intelligence on their forces. Unfortunately, I believe this injury not only damaged his body, but also his spirit, and his mind. For that is the only explanation I can find for the discovery my agents have made. Last night, Alpida, a valued member of our current Shadow Guard, discovered him plotting seditious acts against the kingdom and against my person. Though we have questioned him to the best of our ability, he has refused to give up even a sliver of information about who his co-conspirators are or about his ultimate plan. Even now, there could be traitors among you, plotting to destroy everything we hold dear. I swear to all of you, my faithful and I will do our best to uncover the plot and prevent whatever acts of vile betrayal may await, but we can only do so much. I implore you, all of you, to do what is right. If you have any information about this conspiracy, please, come to me, and we will work together to save this kingdom. Only through cooperation and trust is this possible." He pauses here and whispers begin to circulate through the crowd before he continues. "Unfortunately, Bakar has refused cooperation. He has refused trust and has chosen to defy me and the kingdom. He is a traitor, but he feels no remorse for his actions. Any who choose to follow his example will be dealt with in precisely the same way. Alpida?" The Black Knight nods to the gray-skinned woman as she hands him a hefty axe. He lifts it high above his head and brings it down. Bakar's head rolls.
Sanfor doesn't speak, but he does think "oh no this can't be good" as he stands tensely next to her.
A few minutes pass as more people arrive. Then the Black Knight clears his throat and gestures to Bakar. "Most of you know this man. He has served this kingdom for longer than almost any of us. He was a member of two separate iterations of the Shadow Guard, including the group that served me when I last ruled here, and only left them when he lost his legs to the brutality of the Xain Empire while attempting to gather intelligence on their forces. Unfortunately, I believe this injury not only damaged his body, but also his spirit, and his mind. For that is the only explanation I can find for the discovery my agents have made. Last night, Alpida, a valued member of our current Shadow Guard, discovered him plotting seditious acts against the kingdom and against my person. Though we have questioned him to the best of our ability, he has refused to give up even a sliver of information about who his co-conspirators are or about his ultimate plan. Even now, there could be traitors among you, plotting to destroy everything we hold dear. I swear to all of you, my faithful and I will do our best to uncover the plot and prevent whatever acts of vile betrayal may await, but we can only do so much. I implore you, all of you, to do what is right. If you have any information about this conspiracy, please, come to me, and we will work together to save this kingdom. Only through cooperation and trust is this possible." He pauses here and whispers begin to circulate through the crowd before he continues. "Unfortunately, Bakar has refused cooperation. He has refused trust and has chosen to defy me and the kingdom. He is a traitor, but he feels no remorse for his actions. Any who choose to follow his example will be dealt with in precisely the same way. Alpida?" The Black Knight nods to the gray-skinned woman as she hands him a hefty axe. He lifts it high above his head and brings it down. Bakar's head rolls.
Sanfor doesn't feel too much remorse, having never felt a particular attachment to his instructor.
A few minutes pass as more people arrive. Then the Black Knight clears his throat and gestures to Bakar. "Most of you know this man. He has served this kingdom for longer than almost any of us. He was a member of two separate iterations of the Shadow Guard, including the group that served me when I last ruled here, and only left them when he lost his legs to the brutality of the Xain Empire while attempting to gather intelligence on their forces. Unfortunately, I believe this injury not only damaged his body, but also his spirit, and his mind. For that is the only explanation I can find for the discovery my agents have made. Last night, Alpida, a valued member of our current Shadow Guard, discovered him plotting seditious acts against the kingdom and against my person. Though we have questioned him to the best of our ability, he has refused to give up even a sliver of information about who his co-conspirators are or about his ultimate plan. Even now, there could be traitors among you, plotting to destroy everything we hold dear. I swear to all of you, my faithful and I will do our best to uncover the plot and prevent whatever acts of vile betrayal may await, but we can only do so much. I implore you, all of you, to do what is right. If you have any information about this conspiracy, please, come to me, and we will work together to save this kingdom. Only through cooperation and trust is this possible." He pauses here and whispers begin to circulate through the crowd before he continues. "Unfortunately, Bakar has refused cooperation. He has refused trust and has chosen to defy me and the kingdom. He is a traitor, but he feels no remorse for his actions. Any who choose to follow his example will be dealt with in precisely the same way. Alpida?" The Black Knight nods to the gray-skinned woman as she hands him a hefty axe. He lifts it high above his head and brings it down. Bakar's head rolls.
Sanfor doesn't feel too much remorse, having never felt a particular attachment to his instructor.
The Black Knight sets the axe down gently. "I suggest that you all take the rest of the day to think on what you have seen here. I will not tolerate traitors, but if you come forward now I may find some small measure of mercy. If any of you have anything to report, you may come to Alpida at any time. You may go now." The crowd begins to file out.
Sanfor doesn't feel too much remorse, having never felt a particular attachment to his instructor.
The Black Knight sets the axe down gently. "I suggest that you all take the rest of the day to think on what you have seen here. I will not tolerate traitors, but if you come forward now I may find some small measure of mercy. If any of you have anything to report, you may come to Alpida at any time. You may go now." The crowd begins to file out.
Sanfor follows the crowd out, feeling rather like an outsider looking in on this affair. Maybe he wasn't as integrated into this society as he thought.
The Black Knight sets the axe down gently. "I suggest that you all take the rest of the day to think on what you have seen here. I will not tolerate traitors, but if you come forward now I may find some small measure of mercy. If any of you have anything to report, you may come to Alpida at any time. You may go now." The crowd begins to file out.
Sanfor follows the crowd out, feeling rather like an outsider looking in on this affair. Maybe he wasn't as integrated into this society as he thought.
As they leave, Alaia pulls him aside. "We need to talk."
Sanfor follows the crowd out, feeling rather like an outsider looking in on this affair. Maybe he wasn't as integrated into this society as he thought.
As they leave, Alaia pulls him aside. "We need to talk."
"I can't promise I'll do much talking, but sure." Sanfor agrees, slipping out of the stream of the crowd.
As they leave, Alaia pulls him aside. "We need to talk."
"I can't promise I'll do much talking, but sure." Sanfor agrees, slipping out of the stream of the crowd.
They walk to a quiet corner. "Okay, look," whispers Alaia, "Garal and Bakar told me that they talked to you after your dinner with the Black Knight. I need to make sure that you're going to stay quiet about that."
"I can't promise I'll do much talking, but sure." Sanfor agrees, slipping out of the stream of the crowd.
They walk to a quiet corner. "Okay, look," whispers Alaia, "Garal and Bakar told me that they talked to you after your dinner with the Black Knight. I need to make sure that you're going to stay quiet about that."
"I'm a naturally quiet person." Sanfor says cautiously.
They walk to a quiet corner. "Okay, look," whispers Alaia, "Garal and Bakar told me that they talked to you after your dinner with the Black Knight. I need to make sure that you're going to stay quiet about that."
"I'm a naturally quiet person." Sanfor says cautiously.
"Good. It's just . . ." Alaia trails off, and then continues, emotion faintly audible in her voice, "Bakar was a good man. Garal's a good man, too. What's happening here isn't right. I don't expect you to join us, but don't cross us either."
![[y]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/WYWPH2VRo26pOFDid7QZ.png)
(That's a thumbs-up, but those never seem to load properly so I'm writing this in case such an occurrence transpires. (Edit: It did; also, I accidentally quoted this post instead of editing it on my first try.))
