Will you stop saying it should be obvious?

Drothnan, standing together with Hyleas, watched his mentor from a safe distance - Almar was at Perun's side up on the hill, respectfully keeping a few steps behind him and Chiang as they argued. Drothnan had never seen his teacher this angry before. Actually he had never seen him angry at all. At his side, Hyleas sighed. "Well.. I hope he doesn't do anything rash this time.. Did you see his eyes? He looked like he was ready to take on the entire Karavan encampment by himself.", the youth whispered, nodding up at Perun. Drothnan shook his head in response. "No, he is not that rash.. Or he would already have done it.".

When he heard about the fight that had broken out at Sterga's stand, he had run there, suspecting his teacher was involved. As it turned out, he wasn't - his girlfriend was. There in front of Sterga she had almost burned down a tent and beaten up three refugees, leaving one with bone broken. A guard from the Company of the Broken Spear had restrained her before she could hurt more of the bystanders or Sterga himself. She was known for her spirit yes, and his teacher found that attractive, but the young Miss Mara'Tyr had stepped across a far bigger line than usual this time.

To his left, Hyleas folded his arms, watching Chiang the Strong reply to Perun, the gist of the response being lost due to the neutral manner of the Zorai. "Our teacher is right you know, this punishment brings shame to the Rangers. Did you see Almar's face? He couldn't believe it either.".

Drothnan looked at the fellow youth at his side for a moment before answering. When Hyleas heard about the punishment, he had gone to find Perun at once, being ready to calm and stop him from doing anything reckless. As it was, their teacher hadn't known anything before going into her hut and discovering it for himself. The youngest of the Ranger trainees had stood guard outside that hut, ready to calm him when he exited. They had halfway expected him to charge out in full armour, axe at the ready, running towards the Karavan camp. Luckily for both their teacher and the Rangers in general, that hadn't happened. "Yes, it is not our way Hyleas. But neither is it that easy. What Miss Mara'Tyr did was frankly.. quite bad. We could not really punish her by having her shovel more Mektoub dung, could we?". Hyleas nodded, a slow frown coming to his face as he thought. "No, but.. There are other punishments. Better ones.", he said with youthful certainty. "Even banishment would be more fair. At least that's understandable.".

Drothnan understood him well enough, but unlike the more practical minded Hyleas, he was able to see the politics, tiny as they were, beneath this. "She didn't want to be banished. And when the Karavan suggested to carry out this punishment instead.. There is a balance here Hyleas. The Rangers run the camp yes, but, you know, look at those Kami and Karavan beings.. You have heard the tales - just one of them could lay waste to the entire Ranger contingent here without breaking a sweat.. if they even do sweat.", he added. He knew the Rangers had given in because of expediency, as part of the daily politics that kept the camp running without incident. And he knew his teacher hated this more than anything - hated that the Rangers failed their ideals, regardless how small this case was, in favor of political expediency. Their ideals were exactly what distinguised them from all other homins on Atys - their justification for existing. The ever-idealistic Almar would feel the same as Perun, probably even worse.

Up on the hill, the argument between Perun and Chiang had apparently come to a close. A small throng of refugees had gathered to watch, perhaps mostly so because they all had business with Chiang. Their mentor walked down the hill towards the two waiting Matis. Almar followed, casting one last look at Chiang before bowing and hurring after Perun, his young face kept carefully neutral. Perun's face on the other hand looked like a rolling desert thundercloud, far from his usual jovial way. Drothnan didn't know whether it was Hyleas or Miss Mara'Tyr who had succeeded in calming him the first day, but that he had been calmed was quite fortunate for all of them. "Drothnan, Hyleas.", Perun said by way of greeting as the four Matis met up beneath the hill. "Remember this day. Remember not to sell out on your principles when you are Rangers.", he bade them seriously, Hyleas and Almar nodding sincerely. Drothnan found himself nodding as well. "Yes Sir.", he said, switching to the formal tone they didn't often make use of when alone. "It's done now, it can't be undone, but it will not happen again, Chiang and I agree on this at least.", Perun commented, casting a look of repressed rage toward the Karavan camp before turning back to his three charges. He was visibly trying to appear like his usual self, and only succeeding partly. "Sir?", Hyleas inquired, sensing there was something else.

Perun looked at the three with obvious satisfaction, pride warring with his anger. "Yes, and Chiang tells me he finds your skills and behaviour very much adequate for Ranger trainees. Congratulations, you've passed the midway evaluation.". The three Matis nodded somberly, a serious but obviously pleased, relieved look passing between them. Hyleas even began grinning before he remembered the previous mood. "We depart for the new lands in a few days, to continue your education there. I have been given full leave to teach you as I see fit before your final trials.. And that's exactly what I'm going to do.", their teacher explained with vehement insistence.

Yep, new Perun post.

Well.. No comment.

Nice new avatar Wheri

And so did I.

He sat down on the small knoll outside of Yrkanis, the wind from below threatening to whisk away the fine vellum he was putting a pen to just now. Behind him, a young male Matis in turquoise armor stood at attention, two swords hanging at his waist.

Perun was writing his sister, both concerned and annoyed. So his family, his former family, as it were, had fallen on hard times while he had been away. And now the sister he loved was also affected by those ill fortunes.

Ignoring the roars from below him, Perun frowned, looking decidingly unhappy with the situation, a grimace few saw on his face usually. His mother had come upon him in Yrkanis. He hadn't seen her in over a year, and the first she did was to invite him to tea, even inviting his friend and the young Matis girl along. That was a bit suspicious already, but he had hoped that she just wanted to show her more congenial side.

He shook his head, staring up at the huge branches overhead. Well, it had turned out she wanted a loan from him. From him, the son who had turned his back on the family and the noble name. They must be more than a little desperate, and likely his mother was doing this behind the backs of his father and brother. It didn't matter though - he would not help his family prosper. Their worldviews, morals and deeds were not ones he wanted to support, and perhaps it would even be healthy for them to get down to Atys a bit.

He stood up, the finished letter in his hands as he waved Almar over and told him where to deliver it. His sister did not deserve this.. She wasn't like the rest, and had earned her life in comfort, with the man she loved. Perhaps he could help her without helping the rest of the Kalesins.

Watching the ranger recruit walk down to the road, a rare smile of pride played over Peruns lips. Almar would become a leader of homin in time, and he would teach other Matis about honour and tolerance by his actions alone. All of his charges would in time he thought. If they survived of course. Even though they could be wild and reckless at times, inspired by Perun himself, they did have a clear line as to what was right and what was wrong, a line Perun hadn't had himself at their age, 3 years ago. Perhaps he still didn't.

Perhaps what he was up to now wasn't exactly honourable, but he felt like doing it, and at least the old Perun always did what he felt like doing. Perhaps he hadn't changed at all, he mused, heading into Yrkanis to find a girl the old Perun had known.

Clearly, it's a map of southern Anauroch..

Uh.. From Spore? Tricksssssy hobbitsss!

You got it Miho, easy on the omniscience

More stories, they just keep coming