21st of Spring, 515AV
Lapis Park
Ashar rode slowly through the tangled trails of Lapis Park, both Kavran and mount content to take things easy for today. There was not much excitement to be had on a mere patrol through one of the interior parks of the city, especially on such a beautiful day, which was the reason why Ashar had chosen it. After the insanity of the last two seasons, there was no way that he could just put himself back into his normal routine as if nothing had happened. That coupled with the importance of his recent Rite gave Ashar a lot to think about, and he wasn't quite ready to return to working with the squads just yet.
His fists clenched on the reins, and the horse whinnied nervously. A moment later Ashar was petting his hand down the side of the horse's neck, soothing it and returning to the leisurely pace they were taking. Quite a good amount of anger was building up inside of him, but he was trying to be careful of how it was let out.
Then Ashar had to consider, what exactly was he angry at? For a few days now he'd had this vague sense of enmity toward something, but he had yet to identify what was putting him in this sour mood. He was annoyed that people had been making a lot of excuses lately like his father and uncle, but that wasn't really something that would send Ashar into a thunder. Jek's silence continued to sadden and worry Ashar, but it wasn't something that would really work him up. There was something roiling just beneath the surface of Ashar's mind, making him angry constantly and for no apparent reason.
The horse continued its meandering path through the park, taking turns at its leisure without waiting for Ashar to guide it. He must have been through the park frequently enough to have his own preferred route, not that Ashar minded. It gave adequate time to think, who was his anger directed toward? The answer was elusive, for no one he could think of seemed to increase his irritation any more than any other. Even when he considered the possibility that he was angry at himself it did no more click with him than any other possibility. Although he could not come to an answer, he did not give up. There would certainly be time to think about his anger later.
Instead, Ashar tried to focus on something more lighthearted. Looking around at the surrounding park, he watched the residents of Riverfall enjoy the late sunny morning, several setting up picnics amidst the tall grass sprouting out of the ground. They were laughing, smiling, generally enjoying themselves after the long winter.
Seeing people find pleasure in the day did something to lift Ashar's mood, but it did not banish his anger. Actually, noticing these people enjoy their day with such ardor seemed to perpetuate his temper. What was it that was bothering him so? These innocent people whom he had sworn to protect and served happily, their joy conserved his anger as much as his pride. What could these people possibly have done to anger him so?
A thought arose, but Ashar quickly banished it. Perhaps it was not anything that they were doing that was making him angry. Rather, perhaps it was something they were not doing, not acknowledging. The last two seasons were embroiled with apparent insanity, the entire city suffering a severe personality disorder. Ashar and Jek witnessed it firsthand, succumbing to it like all the others; it was Jek's actions during this period that were the reason for the dark brother's silence. So many things had happened during that season when people were not themselves, so many things that Jek in particular regretted. Actions unbecoming of certain characters, particularly the Kavran, which was a great source of shame for Ashar as well.
Maybe that was it. Two seasons of insanity had just occurred, and no one seemed to notice. Moreover, no one seemed to care. Few people Ashar had seen were acknowledging that it had even happened, instead just going about their day to day business as if nothing had been wrong in the first place. It felt as if people were in denial about all the hardships, the regrets and tragedies that occurred over the autumn and winter.
And that pissed him off.
Lapis Park
Ashar rode slowly through the tangled trails of Lapis Park, both Kavran and mount content to take things easy for today. There was not much excitement to be had on a mere patrol through one of the interior parks of the city, especially on such a beautiful day, which was the reason why Ashar had chosen it. After the insanity of the last two seasons, there was no way that he could just put himself back into his normal routine as if nothing had happened. That coupled with the importance of his recent Rite gave Ashar a lot to think about, and he wasn't quite ready to return to working with the squads just yet.
His fists clenched on the reins, and the horse whinnied nervously. A moment later Ashar was petting his hand down the side of the horse's neck, soothing it and returning to the leisurely pace they were taking. Quite a good amount of anger was building up inside of him, but he was trying to be careful of how it was let out.
Then Ashar had to consider, what exactly was he angry at? For a few days now he'd had this vague sense of enmity toward something, but he had yet to identify what was putting him in this sour mood. He was annoyed that people had been making a lot of excuses lately like his father and uncle, but that wasn't really something that would send Ashar into a thunder. Jek's silence continued to sadden and worry Ashar, but it wasn't something that would really work him up. There was something roiling just beneath the surface of Ashar's mind, making him angry constantly and for no apparent reason.
The horse continued its meandering path through the park, taking turns at its leisure without waiting for Ashar to guide it. He must have been through the park frequently enough to have his own preferred route, not that Ashar minded. It gave adequate time to think, who was his anger directed toward? The answer was elusive, for no one he could think of seemed to increase his irritation any more than any other. Even when he considered the possibility that he was angry at himself it did no more click with him than any other possibility. Although he could not come to an answer, he did not give up. There would certainly be time to think about his anger later.
Instead, Ashar tried to focus on something more lighthearted. Looking around at the surrounding park, he watched the residents of Riverfall enjoy the late sunny morning, several setting up picnics amidst the tall grass sprouting out of the ground. They were laughing, smiling, generally enjoying themselves after the long winter.
Seeing people find pleasure in the day did something to lift Ashar's mood, but it did not banish his anger. Actually, noticing these people enjoy their day with such ardor seemed to perpetuate his temper. What was it that was bothering him so? These innocent people whom he had sworn to protect and served happily, their joy conserved his anger as much as his pride. What could these people possibly have done to anger him so?
A thought arose, but Ashar quickly banished it. Perhaps it was not anything that they were doing that was making him angry. Rather, perhaps it was something they were not doing, not acknowledging. The last two seasons were embroiled with apparent insanity, the entire city suffering a severe personality disorder. Ashar and Jek witnessed it firsthand, succumbing to it like all the others; it was Jek's actions during this period that were the reason for the dark brother's silence. So many things had happened during that season when people were not themselves, so many things that Jek in particular regretted. Actions unbecoming of certain characters, particularly the Kavran, which was a great source of shame for Ashar as well.
Maybe that was it. Two seasons of insanity had just occurred, and no one seemed to notice. Moreover, no one seemed to care. Few people Ashar had seen were acknowledging that it had even happened, instead just going about their day to day business as if nothing had been wrong in the first place. It felt as if people were in denial about all the hardships, the regrets and tragedies that occurred over the autumn and winter.
And that pissed him off.
