Chapter 3 (Day 1)
A Massive Tangent
Peering down upon the Water Empire's Wisdom camp from his perch upon a high rock, Sir Tangent the Massive found it difficult to contain his excitement. He knew he should be focused on the days and weeks of fighting ahead, but he had – much to his mother's chagrin – always found it difficult to see beyond the next thing in front of him. This was going to be recorded in the Chronicles as the most riotous act of troublemaking ever performed in a War. And despite the well-intentioned urgings of his companion, the illustrious Sir Mex Firebender, Tangent wanted his name to be written down in history along with the deed.
"You're a fool, Tangent. You're going to get us both killed before we even face the Pactio Monstrum Offensio."
Ignoring his friend's caution, the towering knight gathered his black cloak tightly around himself and surveyed the sprawling camp of the Water Empire's Wisdom faction. There seemed to be quite a gathering around a large bonfire in the middle of the camp. A giant tent was near the place, and Tangent, having more than a little experience as a cook himself, surmised it to be Wisdom's dining hall. The sun's last rays were fading fast and coloring the sky above the Blighted Lands a dark crimson, informing the young Fire Knight recruit that the time had come to move forward with his plan.
"Come now, Mex. If we cannot laugh at death, we'll always be afraid of it." Sir Tangent patted the breast pocket of his cloak to assure himself he had not forgotten the vial he had prepared. Quietly – more quietly than should have been possible for a man of his stature – Tangent crept down the gentle, ash-covered slope toward the Water Knights' tents. He could hear the muffled sounds of Mex following behind him and smiled. Even though Mex might complain, he knew he could always depend on the man to have his back when things got ugly.
As the two knights reached the base of the slope, they faded silently into the shadows of the white canvas tents. Neither wore their normal armor, having elected for stealth rather than defense. If it came to a true fight, neither of them entertained any fantasies of winning against the number of Water Knights gathered here. Neither even carried a weapon, except a tiny knife thrust through Tangent's belt. The best they could hope for was to be sent back to their camp – bound, tarred, and feathered.
As Tangent and Mex made their way through the camp, they narrowly avoided two Water Knight guards who were engaged in some kind of philosophical conversation about the meaning of life or some such nonsense. Tangent and Mex easily slipped past them. As the two neared the large tent that was their destination, however, Tangent turned and began to inch along the side of the large tent toward the gathering of Water Knights.
"Tangent! Are you daft?!" Mex whispered.
"Give me a moment, brother. I just want to see what these water boys are doing."
Tangent slid along the side of the tent and peeked around its corner. Gathered around the blaze of a large bonfire were over a hundred Water Knights, each garbed in full battle armor. A bard was playing a jolly tune on his lute nearby while servants danced. One by one, it appeared the knights gathered there were introducing themselves. Tangent listened to a few of the introductions.
"I am Mayhem of Devos Coreum." The man raised a wicked, flanged mace in air and banged it loudly against his iron kite shield. He wore chainmail that appeared to have been blackened and a dark cloak with a silver clasp in the shape of a winged creature. "This is my first time answering the Call. I fight because I refuse to live under the thumb of the Pactio scum. I will represent my brothers proudly in battle and I will make it through this war!"
The other knights applauded their fellow, the sound of iron-on-iron ringing loudly as gauntleted hands clapped. Sir Mayhem stepped back into the ranks of the Water Knights and the man to his left stepped forward. The Knight wore a suit of dark blue scale mail and a shimmering, golden cloak. In one hand, he held a long spear with a barbed tip and in the other a circular shield of dark steel upon which was emblazoned the image of broken chains. Embedded at the center of Sir Prometheus' chest armor was his heartstone, shimmering a bright blue that showed beyond any doubt the truth of his past victories.
"My name is Prometheus. I fought in the last four Wars, survived two. Don't mess around like this isn't serious. You have to live every minute like a soldier if you want to survive." Tangent swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat as he watched the man. Even in the Fire Empire, Sir Prometheus was famous; he had slain a basilisk in the last War.
"Tangent!" Mex's hand was on his shoulder now and pulled him back from the Water Knight gathering. "If we're going to do this, we need to do it now." Tangent stared for a moment into his friend's face, stunned. Mex's smooth brown skin and dark eyes, marks of a man from the Jungles of Juaca, seemed to knock Tangent out of his surprise. He smiled at Mex and motioned for the other man to follow, creeping cautiously toward the rear of the tent again. Once there he drew the small knife from his belt and proceeded to cut an opening in the canvas large enough for Mex, the smaller of two, to pass through. When the cut in the fabric was large enough, Tangent stopped and reached into the pocket of his tunic, procuring the vial of white liquid – vispial juice, a natural laxative.
"This should be their dining hall. Make sure to put all you can in whatever food you find." The large Fire Knight grinned and passed the vial to his friend.
Mex took the bottle and peeked into the tent through the hole Tangent had cut. The interior proved Tangent correct – it was indeed a dining hall. The large tent was empty of people, save an overweight cook dozing in the corner. At a table near Mex to the rear of the hall were three large, iron kettles suspended over fires. Deeper in the tent, two large boars were skewered on spits and roasting over yet more fires. The delicious smell of spices wafted throughout the tent, tantalizing Mex's nose.
Passing easily through the hole in the canvas tent, Mex made his way toward the kettles, watching the sleeping cook warily as he went. It was fortunate that the man snored so loudly he could have provided cover for an approaching army. Still, Mex's heart beat loudly in his ears and, not for the first time, he questioned why he ever let Tangent talk him into these reckless adventures. Mex would rather be back at the Strength camp, bouncing a lovely lady or two on his knee.
As he reached the kettles, he carefully removed the lid from the first and smiled. It was a mutton stew. Popping the cork from the vial Tangent had given him, he dumped a third of the contents into the steaming kettle. Careful not to make any noise, Mex did the same at the other two kettles until the vial was empty. Hastily, he sneaked back toward the hole he had entered through and slipped outside discovering Tangent crouched and waiting there.
"It's done. Let's get out of here!"
Hastily, the two Fire Knights retraced their path through the camp, encountering no Water Knight guards this time. When they were finally back to the small overhang from which they had first surveyed the camp, Tangent heaved a heavy sigh of relief, stood up to his full height, and threw back his black cloak, revealing a bright, orange tunic and his crimson heartstone, its meager light shining only dimly in the dark light. Cupping a hand at his mouth, the knight unleashed a massive bellow down upon the Wisdom camp.
"Wisdom! Hear, Hear!" He lit his torch and waved it furiously in an attempt to garner the attention of the Knights. The music, dancing, and festivities around the bonfire below abruptly stopped, and Tangent could see some of the Water Knights pointing up at him and shouting. Tangent heard Mex curse beside him before breaking into a full run, but Tangent continued his taunts.
"I am Tangent the Massive of Fire's Strength! I'm going to take Fire Empire to the top and defeat Water Empire! Remember me tomorrow on your looong ride to the Cliffs of Despair!" As he shouted the last part, he gyrated his rear-end suggestively, hoping the Water Knights remembered later that evening.
His mischief complete, Sir Tangent spun around, throwing down his still-burning torch and sprinting away from the Wisdom camp after his fire brother as fast as his long legs would carry him.
