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Vagrant - Part IV


           “Yes,” Van replied simply, still with a smile on his face.  “Undoubtedly.  Finnian Pell is still my brother.  You were my brother too, once.”
“I still am,” Thrace barked.  “Perhaps an older brother, admittedly.  I think the two of you are fools and I do not believe this is a good idea.  Van, you have natural talent but it takes discipline to be a soldier.”
“Thrace please,” Van grew earnest and let the smile fall from his face.  “Let me prove to you that I am not a cynical man.  I simply have not found what I was put on this earth to do.  I want to do something I believe in, with people I believe in.  Let me fight for you.”
Thrace looked hard at Van, studying the resolve of this would-be recruit.
“You’re drunk,” Thrace said simply.
“A bit, yes,” Van admitted, the smile returned so easily.  “But I’m honest when I’m drunk.”
“Please Thrace,” Finnian pushed.
“You understand you’ll have to change your entire way of living if you join my battalion?” Thrace put to Van.
“Of course,” Van answered.
“Will you?” Thrace pressed.
“I will,” Van put a hand to his heart.
“Then let us drink to our newest recruit…” Thrace raised his glass.
Van and Finnian looked at each other with stunned smiles.  Quickly, they raised their mugs and touched them together with Thrace’s so that all three vessels were linked above their heads.
“…and to the dyad of Finnian Pell and Van Orel.”
“Here here,” Van and Finnian said as one.
The three of them brought down their mugs and drank deep.  Then, they talked - for hours; about the past, about the present, and all the possibilities that this new, exciting future held for them.

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Vagrant - Part II

           “Or is that three?” the shorter man joked. “Damned right it’s three!” Van shouted as he hugged this small man. The small man hugged back with equal force.   Van was impressed.   Finnian Pell had gotten much stronger since the last time Van saw him.   They released each other and Van was suddenly struck by something. “Are you drinking two ales at once?   Why order three?” “It’s a day of celebration my friend.   Thrace has been made captain of his own militia.   He should be joining us at any moment to share in the festivities,” Pell said. “Thrace is a captain now?” Van asked.   “I’m not surprised.   He was always the most ambitious of us.   The most disciplined.” “It’s true.   But to be a captain at only twenty eight years old is no easy task, even for one who works so hard,” Finnian replied. “You gentlemen can sit,” Cecily said.   “I’ll bring your ales to the ta...
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