“Well met Lord Calyrex. And a pleasure it is to meet thee as well, Sir Glastrier.”
He says, giving a bit of a respectful bow himself. Humble indeed, King Calyrex was. Unlike himself, who was more strict, and to the point about things. The other seemed much more relaxed than anything else, until he had heard that Excelsius was also a king. Fearless too, unflinching as he showed his respects, even despite Excelsius’ intimidating size.
“These lands may no longer be what they used to, But they are still your lands, Lord Calyrex. There is no need to be so modest. Prithee. Tell me more about this land.”
He lies down, belly on the snow. It’s cold, and crunches a bit under his weight. It’s something he rarely experiences out in the Weald, the woods catch much of any snow that falls, only a mere blanket covers the ground at most at any given time.
“And please, tell me more about thyself as well! How long hath thee watched over these lands?”
Though the Good King Calyrex was warmed by the kindness of Excelsius’ words, it found itself disheartened at their implication.
“There is much truth to your words, Your Majesty. Indeed they are my lands... and I am to blame for their decline. For many a year, I was without power and unable to attend to them... Even now, I possess but a paltry fraction of my former glory.”
“They were once lush, with greenery as far as one could see. Yes, so splendidly did these lands flourish that the humans named them the Crown Plains, and myself the King of Bountiful Harvests! Though I cannot give you a precise count, I watched over those Plains for many, many years... Until, regrettably, my people began to forget me. As their memory of me began to wane, so too did my powers...”
So it was that the desolate Tundra came to stand in place of those bountiful Plains, sheets of frozen white laid out over once plentiful fields by an endless, wintry wind. Calyrex regarded it now in wistful silence.
“Loathe as I am to admit it... I lost heart, until a boon was delivered unto me in the form of a human child. That child’s aid has allowed me to regain some of my power and begin to reacquaint myself with these lands once more. I am still in the midst of this quest—nay, just at the start of it! Time changes the land as it changes us all. There are perhaps new reaches of this tundra even I have yet to see...”
The possibility filled the Good King with vigor—so much so that only too late did it take notice of just how much it had said, some of it quite unnecessary. A flicker of shame crossed its visage before it turned away from the stretch of snow and unto its patient companion. The sight of the Crowned Sword Excelsius was resplendent even in repose. Perhaps this was nothing more than the glamour of faefolk, yet still this conversation had granted Calyrex a peculiar sense of solace. Thus it continued:
“Forgive me my boldness, Your Majesty... but somehow I cannot shake the feeling that you and I have met before. Long ago, perhaps... Further back than my memory serves. Are you certain our paths have never crossed?”
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