Something Like Home[OPEN]

Hunt had never visited Manthir in his life. And only a few weeks ago, he had found himself a refugee of the kingdom. Not just any refugee either, but a soldier, trusted to represent and defend a country that was no his own. He wasn't the first nor only of his kind however. Many Taknier had been displaced or disgraced or even exiled in the turmoil following the death of the First Prince and the Emperor's ensuing absence followed quickly by a newfound...eccentricity. To call the Emperor of the jewel of the east insane was perhaps the simplest way to put it though it was far from the truth.

But those politics weren't his problem any longer. He was a Taknieri without a home, and like many, had turned to Manthir as their closest neighbor. There were not very many exiles just yet, but with politics as they were under the god-emperor, there would only be more. Once, Hunt might have bothered to ensure those people had somewhere to go. But now...now he was one of them.

It was enlightening. And also...liberating. He still wasn't sure if either of those were good things, but he was determined to make it so. He could finally join the fight like he wished, after all. Now if only the King of Manthir would commit. Hunt understood why he hesitated, of course.

The words in Taknieri broke him out of his silent thoughts. "Sir?"

"Yes, Chaunce?" Hunt didn't turn to the soldier beside him. The man had followed him from Taknier, having be exiled for a similar reason. They were not friends, merely bound by similar unfortunate fates.

"You're doing that thing again."

"Does it bother you?" He turned finally, staring through the older man's dark scruffy beard, pulled up hood, dark eyes, and crisp dark uniform. Both were horse back, and while they had fur cloaks against the cold, both seemed...warm, even in the brisk autumn air.

Chaunce frowned. "Only when you look through me while you do it."

"Good." Hunt turned his pale gaze back to the tree and focused on it this time instead of through it. "It really is 'magnificent,'" he mused, speaking the Imperial word for it that most of the Manthiran's had used..

"And massive." The tree was wider around than a castle turret. Easily seven or eight wagons could ride through the thing if it was a doorway. Roots twisted and wrapped around each other, some creating pleasant archways to walk under, others worn by the feet of many using them as a ramp up. The trunk stretched high above, with branches unfurling out and around. Some almost reached close enough to touch if once climbed the tallest roots, but were always just out of reach. Now, with autumn set in, the wind rustled the blazing orange and red and yellow leaves, sending a few fluttering down like sparks cast from a flame.

"And massive," he echoed with a snort. While they had been in Manthir barely a month, they had been directed to visit the tree easily twenty times, especially after people heard them speaking Taknieri. "I think I understand why Emperor Kazen agreed to make this a monument." While the tree historically had little to do with Taknier, it was a relic of the old ways. And considering Manthir's throne was carved into it's sister tree, it was a fitting reminder of the kingdom they were in, but also the distant thrown of Taknier that supported them. "Those lanterns are made in the northern provinces. Thin metal cages surround a-"

"Sir," Chaunce stressed softly.

"Right." Don't talk too much. He sighed. "I'm going to take a lap."

His companion raised an eyebrow. "Uh, sure. I'll stay here." It was just barely a question.

"Good." Sometimes, he wished he had been exiled alone. Not that he disliked the man. But sometimes he wished no one here knew anything about him.

Hunt nudged his white stallion with his heel and directed him under one of the root archways, following the path that looped around the collection of roots and through natural courtyards and niches. There were a few others about, even in the cold, the old paying respects, young lovers enjoying a picnic, children playing tag and hide and seek. He rode with a silent smile, enjoying the comparative warmth of the air here compared to home.