[Mkguild] The Illusive Chain: Coincidence (5/?)

[Azariah Wolf]

Part 5!

-LurkingWolf

___

While Nathan made for the keep to speak to the commander, Balrog and Vic 
made for the barracks to store their things.Neither of them made for the 
baths just yet, as they wished to first be certain that the subject of 
the vision did not require immediate attention.Once everything had found 
a place, the two made their way to the barracks' common room.Victor sat 
without question at one of the empty tables.Balrog went to see about 
some provisions first, but he had soon returned, bearing a large flagon 
in either hand.

"It's not as good as the Mule, but what is?" the man commented, giving 
an encouraging smile.He placed both vessels on the table, pushing one to 
victor's side of the table.The young man could easily smell that his 
patrol partner had brought some of the darkest liquor available.

Victor, head held in the palm of one hand, caught the sliding container 
and held it briefly before him before pushing it back."I really do 
appreciate the thought, Balrog, but I feel that I need my wits about me 
for the present," he said, voice quiet and pensive.

Balrog sighed and took the returned flagon, sliding his already-empty 
ale to the side."How are you holding up?" he asked, taking a gulp of the 
hard liquor.The boy had a point about the need for a clear head, but he 
would not have to worry about that for three or four more pints.

The boy shook his head slowly, taking his time before he answered."To be 
honest, Balrog, I'm scared out of my mind," he replied at last.His voice 
shook uncertainly as he looked at the man across the table.

The disguised lutin nodded in understanding."I cannot say that I 
completely understand, but plague is a frightening concept in any 
context.At least we're safe here for the moment."

"That isn't what frightens me," Vic said seriously."What about my mother 
and father?My sister?They're all in the Keep's walls.Balrog, my sister 
is only three years old, if she catches the plague..."

Balrog slapped the table with his open palm, stopping the boy's speech 
and drawing more than a few unamused glares from around the room."Stop," 
he ordered in a voice that permitted no question."This is the Keep we're 
talking about.Healer Coe and his assistants are the most competent group 
of medics that I have ever encountered.If any place in the world would 
be capable of defeating the plague at all, it would be the Keep."

"I realize that, but there has never been a nation that defeated the 
plague.It is not an enemy that you can fortify against, nor one whose 
plans you can understand and thwart.It is a cold, merciless, pitiless 
killer.The healers can be the best in the world, and men will still die 
in a plague."

The older man frowned, taking another gulp of his drink to give himself 
time to think."It is true, plague is not a rational enemy.That does not 
mean that dedicated men cannot control it if they make an effort."He 
tapped the table with one finger a few times to draw Vic's attention."I 
cannot lie; the next few weeks will be dangerous, but panic is precisely 
the reaction that we need to avoid.Panic would send the plague to the 
rest of the Midlands in the arms of men who believe that they are saving 
their families.Panic allows men to run to the north, telling all of our 
enemies that the Keep is weakened.Panic is as much the enemy as is the 
plague."

Victor nodded."I understand.Still, what if I could have been there?What 
if I could be there with my family to help and comfort them?"

Balrog shook his head."I hear that the quarantine has been in effect 
since early in the afternoon yesterday.Even if we had returned to the 
Keep as intended, we would simply have seen the flag ourselves, and we 
would have been forced to take shelter somewhere, even if perhaps not 
here.Our change of plans had no effect on whether or not we were within 
the walls."

The young man conceded the point, but was still not satisfied."Whether 
or not I could have made it, I still wish that I could be there."

"As much as I hate to say it, you might have done more harm than good 
within the walls," Balrog noted."You are neither a healer nor a mage, so 
your role in aiding the Keep would have been negligible at best.You 
would have been just one more avenue that the plague could have used to 
get to your family at the worst.Also, knowing you, you probably would 
have fought to stay on your feet for several hours after being affected 
yourself.It would not have been worth the dangers."

Victor finally admitted that Balrog was right, but the concern on his 
face was still clear to see.The older man gave a supportive smile.

"Don't worry; give it a few days, a few weeks perhaps, and this will be 
just a passing memory.You will be with your family, and the joy of 
reunion will be all the greater for the peril of the days between."He 
gave a self-satisfied smile before taking one last gulp to finish his 
tankard."In the meantime, we may have need of your javelins and your 
sword before we get to that far end.Our skills will undoubtedly be put 
to use in an effort to contain the panic we spoke of previously."

Vic nodded with a noticeable increase in confidence."As long as they 
give me enough time to rest before our next venture, that is certainly 
an effort in which I can be of assistance."He shifted in his chair to 
sit up a little straighter."In the end I suppose you are correct; I am 
far better suited to this role than I would have been to any role inside 
the Keep."

Balrog smiled."There, that's much closer to the irrational degree of 
confidence I expect from you!"

Victor managed to laugh briefly at that."I think you meant that as a 
compliment, so thank you.I did learn from the best, after all."

Balrog waved his hand vaingloriously and dipped his head as a sort of 
mocking bow as though he had been given some great recognition."What 
better thing to do with my life than to pass on my flaws to the next 
generation?" he asked.The young man before him chuckled again, but his 
eyes quickly turned to the side as his mind ventured into the darker 
reaches of thought once more.

"Are you certain that you wouldn't like at least a pint of ale?" he 
asked, trying to turn Victor's attention away from those thoughts.

"You may drink mine, thank you," the boy replied.Looking up, he 
continued, "Actually, it seems that we may both be needed."

Turning to follow Vic's gaze, Balrog saw Nathan approaching their table 
quickly.He waved a paw to beckon them, and Balrog was quick to make his 
way towards the black wolf.

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