[Orb Post, Day 4--A CALL TO ARMS]

[a_wider_world]

[Obi-Wan peers into the Orb, and taps it lightly as if to test it.]

Ah. Well, I suppose it must be transmitting, then.

My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi. I serve as a Knight here, as I did in my own world, and as a Knight I believe the situation in West Haven deserves a very close investigation. I would like to organize an expedition to explore as soon as possible--say, tomorrow morning, at dawn.

Let me know if you're interested in joining us. We can, I believe, requisition horses and supplies for the journey.

Comments

[loyalbeyonddeath]

[Fakir has no knowledge of Rue's volunteering him as her bodyguard.]

I don't mean to speak out of turn, but do you even know how to ride a horse?

[a_wider_world]

I've ridden similar animals before. They're actually far easier for me to get used to than--ah, the sorts of ships we had in my world. After all, a living mount does tend to care if you crash.

[loyalbeyonddeath]

[Fakir, having heard just enough about speeders to know that they are incredibly fast and suspiciously under-armored, grimaces a bit.] That's true. But I have to wonder how similar they are, considering... well, everything you ever told me.

[a_wider_world]

Physically, no. But there's one very marked similarity: treat them with kindness, respect, and firm authority, and they become excellent partners.

[He offers Fakir a significant smile.]

[loyalbeyonddeath]

Mm. [He looks off to the side, giving a small smile of his own.] The principles are the same for a lot of things.

[a_wider_world]

Indeed.

By the way, what is this about you being the knight-escort for a young lady and her husband? [He's half teasing.]

[loyalbeyonddeath]

What.

[a_wider_world]

Oh, you weren't aware of your new employment? [There's a distinct twinkle in his eye now]

[loyalbeyonddeath]

I suspected she would do something like this, considering she let me stay in the wing after she closed it off. At least it's only a title that describes what I already do without being asked, not some additional responsibility. Still...

[a_wider_world]

[Oh wait a second. And here's the eyebrow arch again.] ...her husband wouldn't happen to be someone we know, would he? [He's not gonna mindpoke you for the answer, Fakir, but he is pretty suspicious.]

[loyalbeyonddeath]

Yes.

[a_wider_world]

[...you get a pat on the shoulder, Fakir. He thinks he may have figured out where this was going.]

You and I are on the King's business. Not on anyone's orders.

[loyalbeyonddeath]

Right. [His frown straightens out, but his shoulders remain tense. He sighs, and is quiet for a long moment.]

I wish things would stop changing all the time.

[a_wider_world]

[You know, he was going to launch into a remark about how change is part of life and the will of the Force, and how learning to accept it makes us better people. But he's learned a great deal since meeting this boy, and now he knows that sort of lecture is only half true. There's another component that's just as important.]

Some things are constant. [He squeezes Fakir's shoulder gently.] Valiant followed you. And I remembered.

[loyalbeyonddeath]

That's true. [His shoulders relax and slump, though his expression lightens a bit. And he realizes, for the first time since arriving in the Kingdom, just how lost he would be if Ben had forgotten him.]