The Union - Chapter 263 A Visi

The carriage suddenly stopped, waking Leopold from his sleep. He yawned and rubbed his white beard.

“Why did we stop?”

“Inspection” Rupert said beside, the old royal guard looked different without his usual armor.

Leopold slid the window open. A breath of salty wind skirted inside. He shut his eyes, raised his nose and indulged.

“Now this is air Rupert. I have grown to miss the ocean breeze. In the past, the late Marquis Benedict Connel would only seldom invite me to Greenwater.”

“I know” Rupert’s back remained straight like a tower of Nirvana. “I accompanied you in all of your trips to Greenwater. You always had doe eyes whenever you look at the ocean.”

“Ah who wouldn’t? The ocean is a wonder. It is water Rupert. Same water with the river and lakes. But it is endless. Tell me a thing more preposterous than that.”

“More preposterous? Maybe the fact that you just dragged me from my sleep one night and brought me in your unplanned trip. That is more preposterous than the ocean sire.”

“It is not unplanned. I’ve been meaning to meet William since spring.”

“But trips require planning. We are short on coins, you only have me as your guard and you didn’t even bring supplies.”

“That is part of the adventure. Omniscience. I feel like a young man again. I’ve actually had the idea of just riding a horse with you. You and me, riding to Holm, two men cucked by the same arse. But alas we are old and so the carriage is inevitable.”

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Two soldiers walked briskly to the carriage. Both men wore the splendid uniform of the Vanadians.

“Bern Ceolin, Eight Century, Goldentrout Legion. You are entering the vicinity of Holm. I must ask for your identities and purpose of visit.” said one of the soldiers, a sharp-chinned man with a hazel hair that flows out of his helm.

“Leopold Castonia and my companion is Rupert Coln. The carriage driver is Fres.”

“Leopold Castonia?” The sharp-chinned soldier glanced a look at his companion. “The Leopold Castonia? Father to His Majesty?”

Yes boys, Leopold thought. The King is my son.

“In flesh. You’ve heard about my son’s latest victory right?” He asked, smiling.

“Of course sire. He…”

“He smashed the Hadeans!” Leopold leaned further out to the window. “The Hadeans had fortified a crossing. Trenches! And towers! But no, my son still slapped them with defeat. Oh glorious. It was glorious. He forced the Hadeans to attack him instead. I think…”

“Sire” Rupert pulled him. The royal guard pointed to the back. “Other travelers are waiting to be inspected. I think talking could wait after we are out of the way.”

“Right” Leopold gave a nod. He again leaned out of the window. “Anything else?”

“Pardon us sire but we still must ask for the purpose of your visit.”

“Ah yes. I am here to visit my son William.”

“The General? Do you want us to send you an escort?”

“That will be great”

***

“Do not slouch!” William’s voice boomed in the fort. The fifteen hundred men snapped into attention despite their trickling sweat.

He walked with hands clasped behind and regarded them with a glare. They were in formation and full armor. They were a fast learner batch. But their form still lacked pride.

“Slouching reveals your tiredness to the enemy. Once they see you slouch, they gain courage. Never slouch. Even when you die do not slouch.”

He halted, boots gripping against the powdery brown soil. His armor bugged him down. His helmet was sweaty and slimy on the inside. But William maintained an appearance fit to his rank.

“At ease. Sit” He barked. The Vanadians sat on the ground in one crisp movement.

“You all might be wondering when you are going to taste some action. The Castonian legions are grinding Wismar into dust as we speak. The Vanadian navy is sinking Calgarian ships left and right. But you are stuck here. Now do not worry. It will be soon. By the end of the month I think.”

There was commotion in the ranks. The Vanadians buzzed.

“I told you to sit but I didn’t give my permission for you to talk.”

The murmurs died like snuffed candle. William trotted froward. “Of the five Vanadian legions yours have the least training and you men are the greenest. I…”

William was interrupted by his squire running to him. The lad made a clumsy salute.

“A carriage arrived sire”

“And?”

“They say it is your father”

William rumpled his forehead. He eyed the squire, searching for a semblance of a jest. But the lad was serious it seemed.

He turned to the trainees. “Rest. We resume in a while. And if you still slump, none of you will go to Wismar. Am I understood?”

“Yes General”

William strode to the gate of the fort, still not removing his heavy armor. Not in front of the men, he thought.

“Are you certain that it is my father?”

“Who else has a name of Leopold Castonia and..” The Squire’s attempt of a jest was squished by William’s glare. “I mean yes. I think it is him sire.”

The carriage was a dull one when William saw it. The horses were exhausted though Castonian stallions were not known for their stamina. The driver was a hired one instead of the royal coach driver. Te carriage itself was old and creaky.

Beside the carriage was an old man dressed in old clothing. His hair was pure white now and his skin was saggy. His face was a mirror of William’s square chin, dark eyes and thick brown hair- only older.

It is him, William thought.

***

His son was still in armor and sweating. William’s arms were thick just like his all those years ago and Leopold was sure that he once had that beautiful brown beard. William reminded him of his youth.

I have three sons. One is a King. One is an idiot. One is a warrior. Omniscient, you have blessed me enough.

Leopold approached his son, halting a few paces away.

“You are here.” William said.

“I haven’t seen you for five years and you talk to me without warmth”

“I apologize” William looked down. “Come to my room. I’ll offer you some refreshments.”

William beckoned and Leopold followed. This wasn’t the reunion he expected. William was somehow cold to him.

William’s room was tidy when they arrived. For a man who commands the whole of the Vanadian legions, William lived simply. The walls were unadorned. The bed was a single neat straw topped with cloth. There was a table with folded papers.

William unfastened his armor and helm and then taking an effort to put the thing on a rack. He changed his shirt dripping with sweat into a simple tunic.

Leopold took a chair given by the Squire and sat by the table.

“There are tea leaves inside the box on the table.” William said.

“You don’t have something more biting to the tongue?”

“I don’t drink. Alcohol is prohibited inside the fort.”

“You can just slip a bottle or two. You are the head of the legions.”

“If I did that then I would be like…” William stopped as he stared at Leopold.

Me, right? Leopold thought. Dishonest. Dishonorable. Impious.

William whisked his hair of sweat and sat on one chair. “I have sent my squire for food and hot water.”

“Good” Leopold said. Their conversation was beginning to stale. He must make it flow again.

“Is Wasp still alive?” He asked.

“In the kennel. The men are afraid of him.”

“Let them be afraid. He is your most loyal guard. The kennel would serve to dull his ferocity”

William didn’t respond to that. He just stared at Leopold. “Father why are you here?”

“What do you mean why? To see you of course. You rarely respond to my letters.”

“I didn’t have the time. I have to train the Vanadians.”

“I understand. Forgive me. I just want to see you. I’ve heard that the Vanadian legions will set sail soon. You will go to Wismar with Timothy. I want to see how my son have grown before he leaves again.”

“And Nirvana?”

“Braun is managing it. Don’t worry.”

“And he let you go? You are old and you only have Rupert as your guard.”

“You think he would? Of course I employed some tricks. Braun has been holding me from visiting here for months. Too risky for my health he says. I bet he just wants my help in managing Castonia.”

“You lied to him” William said, shaking his head. There was disappointment in that tone.

“Sire” someone knocked on the door. It must be William’s squire. Finally, the food.

“Edmund Vanadis request your presence sire” The squire continued. “It is urgent the messenger said.”

“I should go” William rose. “You can stay here. There is food and you can ask my men for things you require.”

“No, no” Leopold said, also rising from the seat. “I will go with you. It is time to meet the old man”