The Tug of War
Storm clouds gathered in the sky, brooding dark mountains built in the sky. The jester made his way with all haste back to the travelling town which had made it’s way up into the mountains and were found huddled on a small ledge over the course of a mile. As the jester approached on they high pass he slowed in cautious remembrance of the treatment he received on his previous visit. The sentry guarding the rear of the camp nodded to him carefully and let him pass. As he rode through the camp the jester received many dubious look’s from the surrounding tents and he saw a small group of men muttering discontent on the very brink of the ravine. Without paying them heed he rode on, noting no one else in the camp until he came to Michael’s tent. Without announcing his presence the jester walked in, expecting to find the man sitting in thought or at work on his many maps. What he actually found was far more upsetting to the jester’s system. His bells gave him away, and as the woman scurried past him muttering apologies he felt for the first time as if his name was deserved. When Michael had finished reprimanding him for his poor manners they began talking in earnest.
‘I see a travelling existence suites you. I believe it must be direct reason from your mercenary history.’
‘Ay, tis so. Many night have been made all the warmer form a time ago until these days. Long could I speak, dark fool, but I know you are of disinterested mind where the exploits of men are concerned.’
‘On the contrary, I would be most interested to discover what exploits you have seen fit to partake of.’
‘Very well, I shall tell you. Have you spoken long to a woman, jester, ever in your foolish life?’
‘I beg you to curb the allusions to my trade of face, sir. As to your question, I shall answer that in the world there are women who I have spoken to, and I found them no different to the many men I shave talked long to. Am I to assumed from this that you have not done so, or mayhap you have, but only of late and with the flitting being who so quickly departed on my entrance?’
‘Once more you are correct. Such things we have spoken of! I could say long upon our talks, and I shall not begin to—’
‘I care not, but say only this, on what subjects have you talked, good soldier?’
‘Many and all. My career of foreyears. What the world is and why it is so to us. The actions of the villainous and crude.’
‘In such conversations there is much that is unworthy for the ears of a woman for whom the world is but background to all that is said and done.’
‘Maybe you speak truth of the women you know, sir, but I attest that such devotion as she grants me is not a thing which man can detest. She hears my words and replies in kind, and for that I am most grateful. Enough of this, say on why you have returned in such short time. Do you now believe me that war is raging in the world though you have not seen it acted out?’
‘Your words carry portent beyond your knowledge, Michael, for I have indeed seen such things acted as may make your new-warmed blood flee from your frozen heart. On this war of which you speak I shall say that I do not know yet of it’s nature, be it a war of the mind, body or soul. My fear is that it is a war in thrice, for then all defence must carry three-fold strength. I know there is war in the world, and I know that men must take sides or be caught with no reinforcements in the wilderness to be set-upon on all sides.'
‘Sir, may I remind you of my previous trade. I know much of the manner of war and I am well aquatinted with the conventions of battle. But I ask you, for your knowledge often bends in such a way, how are sides chosen when the worlds in seemingly a circle of combat?’
‘In such a question you have made concise the very worry of the world, sir. In answer you must ask all who wish to fight on what side they wish to fight, for only when a man is where he believes himself to be is the war made more than farce.’
‘All men who follow me are of the same mind. We are to go where you have directed and make a new town in the good place hence.’
‘Ay, this is a plan of age and venerable wisdom. Once more I ask, if only to elicit thought on the subject, are you sure that all men follow you in both mind and body?’
‘I am sir, men and women both.’
‘Let not the clouds of romance haze your vision to what may be! I have seen such lurking forces in this very haven that will make themselves a nuisance to your leadership in short time, or I am not judge of prophesy.’
‘I need not the dreaming guesses of a fool to tell me of the nature of men. The priest and his dark cohort are but a small measure in the number who follow, and they still follow each step as we approach our goal. Nothing more of them do I ask. Even once he declined to preach to the people who were bowing under the constant fight of the earlier roads. I have done all I may, and to my eyes he is nothing.’
‘Do not dismiss him as you once dismissed me, sir. Power to twist men is a dangerous thing. You have up to now harnessed that power well, but I fear we may see the results in a man of less fibrous morals in time. I ask you to be on your guard for that day, because I can offer no help when he makes his ordained strike.’
‘I hear your words, sir, but I fear they may be tarnished by cowardice from your time alone on the warring road. No man can take from me what I would not part with. I shall watch these men, because it would be foolish to ignore them, but I relieve you now of any obligation to assist when finally they do summon courage to speak loud.’
‘I admire your bravery Michael although I warn you that in time the war which rages in silence all around will finds it’s roots here in this very camp. I hope you have defence enough to protect your charges, for all people need a shield from the world and I am afraid you have volunteered for that short duty.’
‘So be it, I am aware and eager for that day to come.’
‘Eagerness for that which carries doom shows ignorance in you. I cannot make enough warning of the war in the world so I will say only this. You flee from the fire into the furnace. Maintain your temper and all will be well, but splinter in the heat and you, and all who follow you, will perish.’
‘I need not these doom-laden words, good sir. When you arrived I had forgotten all the troubles which hound my door for a time, and in a few short minutes you have cursed me to take the world upon my shoulders and guide it to a place I know not of. Go, go now and do what you must to pave our path with more than good intentions.’
‘It shall be so, and happily.’
The jester rose and walked out of the tent into the night. He pulled back his hanging hood and walked to the very brink of the abyss, looking hard into the howling depths. Long stood he there, until he heard the footsteps he knew would approach from the camp. Silhouetted by the fires of the camp the jester watched as the woman he had seen in the close company of Michael walked as a cloud on air towards him.
