Chapter 66: The Lonley Commander.

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Lonley Commander.

Bongo has never been jealous of Drogger Noog. He’s almost a whole generation older, castle born and castle raised, and more experienced as a leader and a soldier, but he’s never begrudged Drogger the title of Second Captain for a moment.

Many of the noble houses opposed his appointment, in part because he was too young, but predominantly because he was too common , and if Bongo had sided with them then the way up the military ranks would have been barred to him forever. But he hadn’t.

At the time it had surprised even him, a little. The status quo of the castle was one that was deeply ingrained in even him, and to go against it so brazenly was quite unheard of.

And yet, when it came down to it, Drogger had had his complete, and unwavering support. Because in his mind, there was no man more deserving of the title Captain.

All throughout his training he had been a diligent, honest soldier, and he had worked his ass off to gain the respect of his peers. And, unbelievably, he had.

But it wasn’t just his fortitude, or his work ethic, or even his skill as a soldier that had made Bongo support him so wholeheartedly.

Those traits were valuable in a leader, but Drogger possessed another gift --a rarer gift --that Bongo believed was far more important.

He couldn’t just lead men, he could inspire them.

Drogger Noog was a man who saw potential in everyone, and everything, and more importantly, saw no reason why they should not live up to it in its fullest.

When he spoke, it didn’t matter how he was raised or where he came from, there was just something about him that made people listen , something that enthralled peasants and kings alike, and that could hold an entire court spellbound.

Tell a man his whole life that he will be nothing, then sooner or later he’ll start to believe you , he’d once told Bongo, and in some way, his words had felt full of gratitude. But if you tell him he can be anything, then maybe one day he’ll believe that instead.

Ever since his appointment, he had been criticised --often and loudly --for his training methods. They were too harsh, they all said, too long, too much. But they still came when he called, perhaps because unconsciously, they wanted to be the men he saw they could be, and under his watchful eye, the Crade army had become the mightiest and the grandest it had been in generations.

Drogger never fails to astound him.

And now he’s done it again.

He’d been alarmed, of course, to hear that Khobi had been getting involved with the young Lord Rogard, because in his mind that was exactly the opposite of staying out of trouble.

By all accounts he’d been behaving himself, but he’d figured that it couldn’t hurt to check up on how things were going, considering that Montrel’s reports were coming less frequently, and not without a certain degree of bias.

In hindsight, he probably should have had a little more faith in Drogger’s ability to keep men in line.

The training ground is exceptionally lively when he arrives. It’s a nice, somewhat jarring change to see the open spaces he’s been used to over the last year full again, no matter what he tries, whenever Drogger is away on official royal business the crowds, and his soldiers’ work ethic seem to go with him.

No matter. It doesn’t take long for Drogger to whip them back into shape.

Speaking of...

" --Captain!" a man calls out to him from nearby as he catches him loitering on the periphery. He raises a hand in greeting, all smiles. "It’s good to see you again! It’s been a while."

"It has indeed, my Lord," Bongo replies, gripping the proffered hand and shaking heartily.

"Ynoro, please," he rolls his eyes at having to correct him again. " My Lord is my father."

"Of course," Bongo chuckles, because this is a conversation they’ve had many times. "My apologies. You’re looking well. How was it being on the road?"

"Dull," Ynoro sighs dramatically, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead and dismissing his sparring partner with the sheathing of his sword.

"Drogger’s no fun sometimes, I tell you. All business, no pleasure, if you get my meaning."

Bongo does.

" --I mean, surely one of the perks of venturing to far off lands is getting to know some of the local ladies, am I right?" Ynoro continues, either ignoring or blissfully unaware of the pain in Bongo’s expression.

Knowing Ynoro it’s probably the latter. "Every new kingdom we visit I think to myself ’ this will be the place my dear friend finds love ’ but here we are."

"...Have you ever thought he’s not interested in finding someone?" Bongo inquires, even though he’s certain that Drogger would have made numerous attempts to convey this exact point.

"Of course not," Ynoro scoffs dramatically.

Clearly it still hadn’t worked.

" Everyone’s looking for someone," he explains, sweeping an arm across the horizon with a graceful flourish. "Us. Our wayward prince. Our lovely princess.

Even our dear Second. What man wouldn’t give the world for the love and company of a beautiful woman?" Bongo can practically see his eyes sparkling wistfully, gazing out into the distance at some future visible to only him.

"And there are so many out there, you should see some of them, Bongo, Nangagi especially is home to some delightful creatures. Just because we don’t always get it right the first time doesn’t mean we should stop trying altogether --"

While Bongo appreciates his optimism, he’s fairly certain that that doesn’t justify trying to set up a friend that quite obviously doesn’t want to be set up.

" --I mean, just because she wasn’t right for him doesn’t mean no one is," he points out, "There’s a beautiful lady out there just waiting to fall in love with him, and he won’t even go looking for her."

He makes it sound like a travesty --like some sort of crime, even, and Bongo wonders for not the first time how on earth he came to be one of Droggers’s closest friends. "He must be so lonely," he laments.

"Has he told you that?" Bongo asks, because that sounds more like something that Ynoro’s gone and inferred with little evidence.

"Not in as many words."

Ah.

"Well, maybe next time," he points out, even though he doesn’t hold out much hope. Ynoro’s been trying to find Drogger the (real) love of his life ever since his wife ran off with another man, and has been wholly unsuccessful. And it’s certainly not for lack of trying.

Where most men would have quit pressing the issue years ago, Ynoro remained steadfastedly undaunted by Drogger’s complete, and sincere lack of interest in falling in love. In his rose-tinted eyes, no one was a lost cause when it came to matters of the heart.

"There’s always next time," Ynoro agrees wholeheartedly, "That’s the spirit my good Captain. Us eligible bachelors can’t afford to linger on our failed romantic endeavours, can we?"

"I suppose not," Bongo replies, even though he’s never been one to, as he says, linger on failed romantic endeavours . He’s been married to his job for a long time, and he’s pleased to report that it’s a marriage that’s endured.

"So, I take it you didn’t find anyone to your fancy?" he infers, because that would be the sort of news Ynoro wouldn’t be able to keep quiet.

"Plenty, actually," he says, proving Bongo’s guess correct. He looks forlorn about it, but not in the least bit defeated. "In our most recent travels I came across many young ladies worthy of praise, but alas, not one that stood out above the rest."

"Next time, then," Bongo tells him, because the prospect of seeking the love of a woman never fails to put Ynoro in a good mood. Not that he was ever discouraged by his bewildering inability to find a match.

It was one of the castle’s most enduring mysteries --why a handsome, courteous young man of such fine breeding, wealth and military prowess, had yet to win himself a wife. "In any case, I’m looking for Drogger."

"Oh, he’s running drills," Ynoro informs him, dropping some of the wistful longing from his voice and toning back the shimmer in his eyes as he points across the training grounds. "Shield combat, I think it was. And I don’t think it’s going well."

"Thanks."

Bongo hears Drogger before he sees him, and Ynoro’s guess was correct. It’s not going well. As he draws closer, he can see what exactly the drill entails, and understands.

Not all men have the innate coordination to wield a shield as well as a sword, and they’re finding out the hard way what happens when they can’t.

Drogger’s about the only one not covered in dirt and bruises, and the poor souls who’ve lucked out and drawn him as a drill instructor, look delighted with the distraction that his arrival provides.

" -- Pair up !" he shouts, before they can get too excited, "And keep those shields up! I don’t want to see any more blood from you lot again, is that clear?"

" Yes sir !"

"Good," Drogger declares, and sheaths his sword with authority as he wanders over to greet Bongo. Pairs form around him as he moves through the crowd, and by the time he reaches him, the sparring has already begun. He’s obviously been working them hard. "Captain, it’s unusual to see you in this part of the castle. What brings you here?"

"Khobi Frost," Bongo answers, "It’s my understanding that he and the young Lord Spidra have been..." How should he put it ? "...Somewhat at odds."

"They want to fight each other," Drogger states bluntly. "I heard about what happened. It sounds like he caused quite a scene." It had certainly added an entirely new dimension to Lord Spidra’s party.

"You could say it’s a tendency of his."

"And you’re here to check up on him?"

Drogger wasn’t stupid. He could read between the lines just fine, and he could hear the rumours flitting around the castle just as well as anyone else.

"Unfortunately," Bongo admits dryly, "If he’s causing trouble, then His Majesty needs to be made aware --where is he, by the way?" It had suddenly struck him as strange that he had seen neither hide nor hair of Khobi yet. Or even heard him.

He’s become so accustomed to entering a situation to find him at the centre of some sort of madness that it’s almost a little concerning that he’s not.

There’s just something about him and his presence that draws the eye. Unfortunately it also attracts trouble --and with such astonishing regularity, in fact, that its absence is almost unsettling.

Drogger, seemingly unfazed by his sudden concern, glances briefly at the sky and then out into the distance as if trying to pinpoint something.

"There," he prompts, pointing when Bongo can’t for the life of him make out where on earth he’s meaning.

Even with his help it takes him a while to figure out what exactly he’s looking at, but after a fair amount of squinting, he finally manages to distinguish a familiar shape amongst the rest.

On closer inspection, it’s definitely a haze shaped like Khobi, but Bongo has no idea how Drogger managed to pick him out from the crowd from this sort of distance. "They should be just about finished up for the day, by my guess."

"They?" Bongo echoes, sounding both confused, and a little alarmed. To his eyes it looked like Khobi was the only man left running. Which in itself was bordering on insanity --it was already well into afternoon, if he was still going then he must have been at it for hours . But Drogger just nods, like things were proceeding as intended.

"Rogard’s running too."

What?

It’s impolite, but Bongo can’t help it. He stares at him.