A Blessed Knight

Augustus had travelled for two days southward now, leading a small party of Nasher's guardsmen in the delivery of crucial supplies to the forces guarding the far approach ..

And then he remembered Iser's words spoken in private confidence a few days before his departure.. There was to be an astouding sight in the skies this night, and she had encouraged him to find a secluded spot to witness this display of heavenly oddity.. If he missed this astronomical event, he might never have such occasion again.

And so, Augustus called the entourage to an early stop to set camp for the night, and as the guardsmen began to unpack the tents and prepare their evening victuals he quietly guided his steed away from the campsight to watch in solitude...

As his compatriots voices faded into the night behind him, Augustus ascended through the forested hillside.. Finding a clearing at it's peak, he thought.. "Ahh, this should do nicely for the observation of the heavens.."

He knew that Iser's knowledge of the movement of heavenly bodies was extensive, and her predictive powers were mysterious.. further, her subtle words of advice in the past had been suprisingly insightful and accurate... Yet still, Augustus was not prepared for the sight he was about to witness...

The full moon directly above shone with greater clarity than ever he had witnessed.. And the canopy of stars bore not only the familiar constellations which had guided many of his travels, but also seemed sprinkled with a multitude of tiny sparkles which had never before revealed themselves..

Slowly.. one edge of the bright, full moon became shrouded in darkness.. Augustus frowned worriedly as the shadow gradually began to swallow the beauty of this silvery sphere.. He wondered what meaning this might have and if such a progress of darkness might bode poorly for the good of the realms...

Then, as the moon was nearly fully darkened, a flaming star from the southwest came streaking into view... like a chariot it soared, and as suddenly as it appeared, the darkened moon began to glow in warm golden hue.. and a swath of white light, naye in fact a crescent halo formed at it's edge, and the smiling expression of the moon beamed down.. seeming to gaze directly at Augustus...

A feeling of peace and well-being flowed through him as he was bathed in this near-holy light.. and Augustus stood in awe as he gazed into this beauteous night sky.. then,

With hardly a rustle, from the surrounding forest came a fawn... followed by another.. and then a stag of emmense proportion... and then three doe.. one after another he was joined by the deer of the forest until there was more than a score in the clearing with him...

Not grazing.. not wary of his presence... they seemed to have no other purpose than to be present.. They would occasionally glance his way and seem to give an approving nod.. Then as quietly as they came, they singularly wandered back into the forest..

As he stood there alone in the clearing, Augustus watched as the darkness receeded from the silvery moon until it shone again in full brightness.. His mind drank in the moment, and his heart tried to fathom it's meaning...

He drew his sword and placed its tip in the soil before him, kneeling and with head bowed... "By all that I know to be good.. this night has indeed been blessed.. Our path is true and sure. By this sign am I reassured.."

With a deep breath, Augustus stands and steps to his steed, mounting.. With one last look around this blessed grove, he rides down the hillside back to camp.. renewed in his resolve to continue his campaign for Unity.. and somehow he felt safer in this pursuit.

My Brothers and Sisters...

As many of you know, I have been travelling the last few days in a move to a new city.. This tale is in fact based in fact.. The main differences are my steed and entourage were in fact a Hertz-Penske Truck towing my car behind, and rather than the south of Neverwinter, I was in Alabama.. Hehe.. But those are minor differences ;) Right..?

There really were 20-something deer that came out of the woods..!!!

Anyway.. I felt this trip was blessed ;)

Augustus
Knight-Baron of the Table Round
Guild Elder
Ambassador to the Dryad Grove