"Another game, my Lord?"
Logan smiled and let out a good-natured chuckle. "You're quite the adept hand at playing Castles, Reiner," he said to the servant. "My ego has taken an impressive lashing today."
A humble little smile from Reiner. "You've won twice, my Lord."
And Logan's chuckle became a full-on laugh. "Twice! Yes. Two times out of seven games. Well, I'd wager that this is a lesson in the follies of hubris if nothing else. I've played Castles plenty of times before my service in the Guard, but I, ha, suffice it to say I assumed my skill would be remarkable after becoming so engrossed in military matters."
"If I may share a thought, my Lord?"
"You may, Reiner." And then Logan waved off the repeated honorific. "And as I've said, Logan will do quite fine. Especially when we're sitting down at a table together engaged in board games."
Reiner nodded, still with that quiet smile. An older man, Reiner, who had been serving House Banick before Logan was even born—he was illiterate, but Logan would daresay that the man knew more about the world than many who could read. Reiner started to reset the board, placing all of the pieces at their proper starting locations for each side, and he said, "You don't sacrifice the pieces."
Logan looked to the board, to all of the red pieces, his pieces, that had been captured and taken off of the board in the previous game that Reiner was now placing back on. Reiner continued with that same calm and level voice, "To me, they're nothing more than parts of a game. Carved shapes of wood. Little representations of men, but not truly men. If a few need to be sacrificed in order for my strategy to work, then what's the harm? Especially if I win."
Reiner had the board set and ready. He looked back up to him. "But in the world from which you've come, Logan, the pieces have lives."
And Logan's smile returned, more genial than ever. "When I return to the North, there's a few choice commanders who could do with your advice."
Three out of eight games. Logan couldn't help but wonder if Reiner had let him win their last game, mayhap as encouragement and to help prove a point, but anything to pass the time was welcome.
Because all the beautiful trappings of the House Banick Estate couldn't distract him from the fact that his once-home had become his prison. Whilst remaining under suspicion for murder and for the kidnapping of Mina Pirian and Jiya Luana, Logan Banick had been placed on house arrest. Military foot soldiers were stationed by the Estate's doors, and Logan had to check in with them three times a day. He was, of course, quite cognizant of the fact that his family name had certainly played a part in keeping him out of a normal prison for long; those who were not of noble blood, whether they had the tacit nod of the Vestigare or not, would have been kept in a cell far less comfortable than his current surroundings.
The Estate, however, was rather much abandoned by anyone else with the last name of Banick. Theodore's doing, Logan had little doubt. He knew that Father, much like Reiner sacrificing pieces in Castles, was chiefly worried about the whole of the Banick family and not necessarily any one constituent part. Simply put, he likely didn't want any Banick to be around Logan while such a heavy charge loomed over him. Theodore was deadset on keeping House Banick within the good graces of the Republic.
Which, funnily enough, was because Logan himself had convinced him to do so during the Revolution. The whimsy of Fortune on full display, in how one thing lead to another and how the entire ensemble of events could swing about in a manner nearly poetic.
Today, the Banick Estate seemed especially quiet. There was a soft and constant rain outside, the gentle rhythm of which only seemed to add to this quiet. Even the servants had little to do, for there was really only Logan in the Estate—no Banicks nor minor nobles nor bannermen nor partners in business nor anyone.
Then came a loud knocking at the door.
Logan heard it as he was crossing the balcony in the foyer, hand gliding along the bannister. Reiner, down below at the foot of the twinned staircase, announced that he would answer it, but Logan called back, "No need, Reiner. I will."
Heh. My. If Theodore knew that Logan, a noble, a Banick for Kress's sake, was deigning to answer his own door, he'd be beset with indignation. But Logan did. He descended the stairs and made his way across the foyer and to the front doors of the Estate and opened them.
A Guardsman, of course. One of the men stationed to watch the Estate. The Guardsman, a bit surprised to see Logan Banick himself there, nevertheless said, "You have a visitor," and stepped off to the side to reveal the person behind him.
And a most welcome sight she was. Logan brightened the moment he regarded her, his smile warm and large.
"Kai."
Kailani Tal'deneshaar
Logan smiled and let out a good-natured chuckle. "You're quite the adept hand at playing Castles, Reiner," he said to the servant. "My ego has taken an impressive lashing today."
A humble little smile from Reiner. "You've won twice, my Lord."
And Logan's chuckle became a full-on laugh. "Twice! Yes. Two times out of seven games. Well, I'd wager that this is a lesson in the follies of hubris if nothing else. I've played Castles plenty of times before my service in the Guard, but I, ha, suffice it to say I assumed my skill would be remarkable after becoming so engrossed in military matters."
"If I may share a thought, my Lord?"
"You may, Reiner." And then Logan waved off the repeated honorific. "And as I've said, Logan will do quite fine. Especially when we're sitting down at a table together engaged in board games."
Reiner nodded, still with that quiet smile. An older man, Reiner, who had been serving House Banick before Logan was even born—he was illiterate, but Logan would daresay that the man knew more about the world than many who could read. Reiner started to reset the board, placing all of the pieces at their proper starting locations for each side, and he said, "You don't sacrifice the pieces."
Logan looked to the board, to all of the red pieces, his pieces, that had been captured and taken off of the board in the previous game that Reiner was now placing back on. Reiner continued with that same calm and level voice, "To me, they're nothing more than parts of a game. Carved shapes of wood. Little representations of men, but not truly men. If a few need to be sacrificed in order for my strategy to work, then what's the harm? Especially if I win."
Reiner had the board set and ready. He looked back up to him. "But in the world from which you've come, Logan, the pieces have lives."
And Logan's smile returned, more genial than ever. "When I return to the North, there's a few choice commanders who could do with your advice."
* * * * *
Three out of eight games. Logan couldn't help but wonder if Reiner had let him win their last game, mayhap as encouragement and to help prove a point, but anything to pass the time was welcome.
Because all the beautiful trappings of the House Banick Estate couldn't distract him from the fact that his once-home had become his prison. Whilst remaining under suspicion for murder and for the kidnapping of Mina Pirian and Jiya Luana, Logan Banick had been placed on house arrest. Military foot soldiers were stationed by the Estate's doors, and Logan had to check in with them three times a day. He was, of course, quite cognizant of the fact that his family name had certainly played a part in keeping him out of a normal prison for long; those who were not of noble blood, whether they had the tacit nod of the Vestigare or not, would have been kept in a cell far less comfortable than his current surroundings.
The Estate, however, was rather much abandoned by anyone else with the last name of Banick. Theodore's doing, Logan had little doubt. He knew that Father, much like Reiner sacrificing pieces in Castles, was chiefly worried about the whole of the Banick family and not necessarily any one constituent part. Simply put, he likely didn't want any Banick to be around Logan while such a heavy charge loomed over him. Theodore was deadset on keeping House Banick within the good graces of the Republic.
Which, funnily enough, was because Logan himself had convinced him to do so during the Revolution. The whimsy of Fortune on full display, in how one thing lead to another and how the entire ensemble of events could swing about in a manner nearly poetic.
Today, the Banick Estate seemed especially quiet. There was a soft and constant rain outside, the gentle rhythm of which only seemed to add to this quiet. Even the servants had little to do, for there was really only Logan in the Estate—no Banicks nor minor nobles nor bannermen nor partners in business nor anyone.
Then came a loud knocking at the door.
Logan heard it as he was crossing the balcony in the foyer, hand gliding along the bannister. Reiner, down below at the foot of the twinned staircase, announced that he would answer it, but Logan called back, "No need, Reiner. I will."
Heh. My. If Theodore knew that Logan, a noble, a Banick for Kress's sake, was deigning to answer his own door, he'd be beset with indignation. But Logan did. He descended the stairs and made his way across the foyer and to the front doors of the Estate and opened them.
A Guardsman, of course. One of the men stationed to watch the Estate. The Guardsman, a bit surprised to see Logan Banick himself there, nevertheless said, "You have a visitor," and stepped off to the side to reveal the person behind him.
And a most welcome sight she was. Logan brightened the moment he regarded her, his smile warm and large.
"Kai."
Kailani Tal'deneshaar
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