The tortoise was at the pond for a drink one day when he noticed the man staring down into the water. The man did not move while the tortoise ca and went, and he thought it so strange that he ntioned it to the mockingbird when they next spoke.
The tortoise asked what made the man stare at the water so.
The mockingbird replied that the man was not staring at the water, but at what he saw in it.
This irritated the tortoise, who knew that man saw his reflection in the water, and he said as much to the mockingbird. The mockingbird replied that it was not his reflection that the man stared at either. It was what he saw in the water that captivated the mans attention so.
Frustrated, the tortoise asked what the man saw in the water aside from his own reflection.
The mockingbird replied that there are things in the minds of n that exist only there, that are more dear to them than anything in the world. He told the tortoise never to interrupt a man who has caught a glimpse in truth of sothing that ought to dwell only within his mind, for n treasure such glimpses beyond reason.
The tortoise said that it seed foolish to treasure sothing that could not be felt or touched. The mockingbird agreed, but said that n still caught hope on occasion that such things could not only be touched - but grasped, kept, and obtained.
If the tortoise ever saw a man that lifted his eyes from the water and still saw hope, the mockingbird warned, he should keep far away.
- Pre-Gharic Ardan manuscript, vellum, c. 500 PE
Airing his need for a few volunteers in the camp was a simple exercise, in practice; the n simply walked around loudly discussing Michaels intention to pursue the Ardans, and the Safid gift for quiet circulation of news ant that everyone knew before his hair had dried from the shower.
The next part turned out to be much harder. Michael let his sight drift up higher, taking in the crowd of Safid soldiers waiting in the camps main mustering area. It was not a mob, milling about in the afternoon sunlight; the Safid officers had co to so sort of understanding amid the rumor and hearsay. n waited in their ranks.
Too many n in too many ranks. He had expected a few to show, for in any group of n there would be those with more daring than sense. But before he knew it a company had ford, then two. By the ti the fourth company had ford Michael was staring in disbelief, his heart pounding as he silently willed the rest to stay away.
Eventually, the flow of n dwindled. Nearly a full battalion of Safid stood in the mustering area, expectant, their veiled eyes looking to Michael.
Well, Sobriquet murmured. Heres your few n.
He gave her a pained look. Its too many, Michael hissed. I wanted a handful of volunteers. Not - all this.
You presented them with a test, Michael, what did you think they were going to do? she asked, exasperated. They live for shit like this. If you dont want this many then tell them to go back to their tents. Or that you cant take them all. She jabbed a finger at his chest. But tell them sothing, before they decide that youre the test.
Michael nodded; the conversation stilled as he turned to walk in front of the waiting soldiers.
He was no stranger to speaking. After the Assembly, a crowd of soldiers was no issue. But in the Assembly he had faced down n who took him for his fathers son, who saw a boy that bore little resemblance to the man Michael knew himself to be. Their stares had ant little.
Dwelling on how others shaped themselves to him had made Michael wary, though, attentive to the glint in each eye. The man the Safid saw was likewise a stranger to Michael. It was more disturbing by far to look out at the sea of faces and know that they thought too much of him. That he had a holy path, that his words rited consideration beyond those of normal n. There was a pressure there, crushing in ways that his soul could not stand against, and he felt sweat on his skin as he stepped forward.
Im Michael, he said, drawing a whisper of Stanza into his voice so that all could hear. Although Ive been going by a few other nas lately. Id like you to forget those nas for a mont and listen to what Im saying. He turned to gesture to the distant hills. The Ardans are regrouping. Theyll likely attack again. The Sword still leads them, and the Seer guides them.
He shifted his gaze back to the n. Theyre a threat, but not the one we need to worry about. The real danger is west of here, probably skirmishing with the Great Fla as we speak. That doesnt an that the Sword and the Seer arent dangerous; it ans that we need to deal with them as quickly as possible and go where were truly needed.
There was a murmur of acknowledgnt from so of the n; most stayed focused on him, waiting for him to make his point. Michael took a deep breath, ordering his words.
I dont know if I can defeat the Sword, he admitted. Hes already fought the Shield, and left her wounded. The presence of the Seer ans we wont be able to take them by surprise. He paused. Its going to be incredibly risky, and if you decide to accompany theres a very good chance that youll die.
Michael looked out over the sea of veiled faces, trying to et as many eyes as he could. But if we dont fight, I believe that the Fla will die, and that his killer will join our enemy with more strength than we can stand against. So rather than wait to be picked off one by one, we should probably pick them off instead. His eyes stopped on one Safid soldier who was clearly staring at him from behind his obscuring black cloth.
The boy looked very young, to be wearing such a uniform.
Im not asking any of you to co, Michael said. I advise against it, in fact. Strongly. Your lives are forfeit if you join , and I cant guarantee that youll die in service of anything but my foolishness. But we could use a few more n, so if any of you are willing-
He paused as a scattering of soldiers stepped forward imdiately. Not all of them, not even most. More than Michael had expected, though, given that he was actively trying to dampen their fervor. In their wake, another handful of n stepped forward, then their fellows beside them. Several officers ca along with them, spurring their n to do the sa; the young man in front took a firm step without shifting his gaze.
So voices broke the quiet, muttering to their neighbors or laughing at their own audacity; one man in the back looked around with a grin and cupped his hand to his mouth.
My soul to the One! he shouted.
Michaels gut turned to ice; he fixed the man with a stare; so others in the crowd cheered and repeated it. More n stepped forward.
He turned to glare at Lars, who smiled back. What were you telling them? he hissed. I specifically didnt want-
Nothing! Lars insisted. The other man held his hands up, though his smile grew. I imagine so of this lot must have heard and the boys shouting that back in Daressa, when we were trying to get a rise out of them.
Michael looked back to the crowd, unconvinced, feeling sick to his stomach as more of them stepped forward. Not to follow Michael, or in service of his plan, but to follow a man who Michael wasnt sure stood here at all. Their pledges rang out all the sa. Most of the crowd had stepped forward by this point.
Stand in front of a verifex, I didnt say anything to them, Lars insisted. Yet he still smiled. Michael couldnt bear to look at it.
Sobriquets voice drifted close to his ear, low and amused against the surge of emotion from the front; her veil dimd their cheers. Whats the matter? she murmured. Dont you trust Lars?
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