Completed From Templar to Templar

[Saul Talith]

"Others are not so eager to agree." Saul said with a slightly amused smile.

Politics were not favored by him either, but being the leader of his own Chapter it was now something that he had to contend with.

A sigh escaped him, and eventually he pointed to one point of the map that Skuld would of course recognize. "Here is the place I think."

Herath, where they had all made their pact.

"The Fortress is large enough that we won't fill it for decades to come, and it's location in the east means we'll be centrally located for the current participating Chapters." Perhaps in time they would establish another fortress in the west. "Plus, if any choose to attack us it's more than defensible."

 

[Skuld Zajac]

The corner of her mouth twitched in response to his first words. People were foolish, but some could say the whole order was foolish for trying to make things work once more.

When he pointed to the map, she examined the place, noting location and listening to his explanation. She gave a nod, seeing as how it was likely a good place since that is where this had all began anyway. It wouldn't be a terrible idea, and the size would be a reminder to try and recruit more to the cause if that was even still a priority anymore.

"I agree with defensible, but we will have to feel out the old fortress first. Find any secret entrances and any openings that have been made over the years." She replied, guessing that he had already thought of all those possibilities. "You think they will agree to this one more readily?" Skuld mused.

 

[Saul Talith]

"The front of the fortress is secure at least." That much he knew for sure. "And we won't be able to occupy the rest for a while anyway."

Plenty of time to explore.

Herath was broken into three massive parts. The first was known as the foregate, though it was as large as any fortress on it's own. Here the regular troops were garrisoned, a defense against any attackers. Next came the Interior, where most of the arms, and recruits stayed.

Last was the Citadel. The piece of the fortress which held itself as the true gem. Herath held room enough for nearly twenty thousand men.

They would have nowhere near that. "They will agree, I think."

Hoped was more like it.

 

[Skuld Zajac]

Her head tilted back and forth. Even if it took a while, the exploration of the fort could be one of the last things she did for the Templars. There could have been a plethora of hidden gems among the stones of that fortress.

"Likely a good thing to keep to the front. Not like anything could pass near the place without being seen." Skuld acknowledged the placement of the grand place. It was also hard to miss, a clear sign to travelers such as herself as to where she was. In the future, it was likely to be a bastion of hope and safety.

Or at least, that is what Skuld hoped.

"Your questioning your own statement. That does not bode well." Skuld observed him with a more thoughtful eye, wondering why it was always a question if the magically they would agree to things. "Who is so opposed to a unification of the order and establishing a base to operate from?"

 

[Saul Talith]

"The ones who made the pact will all come." He was confident of that. "There are a few stragglers who will oppose it."

Saul shrugged. "What worries more is those who outright oppose it."

He pointed to the far north, directly to the left of where Elbion was marked upon the map.

"There are several Templar Chapters here who will directly go against us. The Black Templar, Shattered Shields..." Saul listed off half a dozen more after those two names. "They all have their reasons, though only a few can threaten us to any real degree."

His fingers tapped on the table.

 

[Skuld Zajac]

"Those who made the pact want something more permanent, and will have to hold ranks against those that seek to oppose it." Skuld noted, crossing her arms as he pointed on the map. She made not of it, but didn't think to hard on the matter.

"If they gather against the fortress, which I doubt, it would be an ugly thing to have to fight brethren once more." Skuld shook her head. "They seem all to eager to repeat history than remember it."

She paced for a brief minute, wondering what could be motivating the other chapters to such goals. "Why oppose such an alliance of the chapters? What is the gain from doing such a thing?"

 

[Saul Talith]

"They all have their own reasons." Saul said with a shrug.

Who was he to speak for them?

"Some hold hate in their heart, others consider us sinners, and some just think we're not worthy." It was something he'd thought about often. The Templar Chapters had fallen far since the schism, many had divided and broken into such different things that they weren't even recognizable. "Some will come around. Others...won't."

His head shook. "It doesn't matter. We have more than enough support."

Saul was confident of that.

 

[Skuld Zajac]

She eyed the commander, his explanation of the other chapters feelings shedding a bit of light on them that she had not guessed.

"Strong feelings to hold onto. It is sad that they would feel that way, but nothing to be done except deal with it as it comes." Skuld let the issue drop.

"Do you have any ideas on how you will communicate to those that choose to work outside of the fort? Or is that something to deal with later?" Skuld asked quietly.

She knew when she left, some in her chapter would seek her out. For varying reasons, but they would likely do so regardless of her leaving.

 

[Saul Talith]

He shook his head. "Later."

There were too many problems to tackle all in one go. Saul knew that if he spread his focus too thin things would begin to fall through the gaps. He couldn't allow that, particularly in a time where the details were where the important things would lay.

"The fortress first." He told Skuld. "Then everything else."

He'd only just managed to line up the engineers to come with him, and that had been enough of a pain.

 

[Skuld Zajac]

"I would take a guess that some of the other chapters might have ideas to share along those lines. Always handy to have another perspective on things, and maybe help build cooperation among everyone." Her tone was final as she spoke, letting the commander be at ease with the issue.

"If anything comes to mind, just let me know. I'll be working with my replacement to better understand his role in all of this while we travel." Skuld offered, her arms dropping to her side as she waited for his response.

 

[Saul Talith]

He nodded his head. "Things will come together."

There was a confidence in his tone, one that denoted more than just simple passion.

"We have our people." That was what mattered in the end. "There are those who stand against us, who push back as we move, but as long as we have the same vision, as long as we hold fast, we'll reunite the Order proper."

Saul was determined. "If it takes a year, a decade, or a lifetime. This is the first step, and we'll see it through."

He smiled at her, confident in his words.

 

[Skuld Zajac]

A smile appeared as the man spoke. It was that kind of determination that drove each chapter. It would be that belief that brought those separate chapters under the same banner and keep them there. At least, that is what she believed.

"Your words will inspire the hope in those values, and guide those under you to such goals. I believe this idea isn't so lofty with you at the head of this." Skuld affirmed, still smiling as she thought on his words.

"I can only hope that it does not take so long to achieve. If it should, the bonds between chapters will only grow stronger in that time." She noted, looking toward the entrance, remembering the myriad of tents and occupants that were organized in the area around them.

 

[Saul Talith]

"I suppose we will see." Saul said with a slight smile.

There was no predicting the future, not for them.

He'd encountered a witch once who claimed the ability, though her words had been a snake slithering through the mind. He'd not taken the offer of course, instead he'd cut off her head and ended the conversation before temptation was ever a problem. For some reason the memory came to him now.

"You should get some rest." He told Skuld. "Tomorrow will bring a long march."

 

[Skuld Zajac]

She gave a quick nod to his first comment, and gave him a wider smile at the last words.

"And you the same commander, we don't need you falling asleep mounted and moving. Take care sir." Skuld gave a snappy salute before exiting the tent, a bit of pep in her step with the relief she felt.

She returned to her tent, a brow raised in surprise when she found it assembled upon her return. She thanked who she guessed had erected it, and began to write a pair of letters to be sent before they left tomorrow.