Post by wordy on Aug 30, 2009 15:37:35 GMT 10
Title: RIP Faleron
Rating: G
Prompt: Puzzles, #6
A/N: So I'm in a Faleron mood, and when I'm in a Faleron mood I write fic. ;D This fic is kind of prompted by the idea of the strategy/tactics/whatever class and the fact that Faleron had to ask Kel for help in...maths or something. And you're lucky (or is that unlucky?) because I almost got very carried away and turned this into a big ol' Kel/Faleron fic. Maybe next time.
“I think my leg has fallen asleep,” Faleron said. He was sprawled out on the grass, some kind of red sauce rubbed all over his tunic, and an arrow in his chest. It was uncomfortable, to say the least. And sticky.
The Stump had a group of pages gathered around him, examining as if he was, in fact, a corpse. He let his tongue loll out the side of his mouth; if he was dead, he might as well play the part.
“Sir, Faleron moved, I saw him.”
“That’s quite enough, Queenscove, unless you wish to take the place of King’s Reach and do it more realistically,” came Lord Wyldon’s dry voice. Faleron suppressed a grin.
The King had decided that in addition to their optional classes on strategy and battle tactics, the older pages were to attend more in-depth classes on tracking and the like. Today’s lesson was on judging which direction an attack had come from, and who had been the attacker.
“Wouldn’t it have come from the north? That’s the way he’s facing, and...”
“Not likely,” Zahir cut in, “He could have turned when the arrow hit him or rolled around on the ground before he died. You can’t just assume he fell straight away.” There was some murmuring as the pages discussed Zahir’s point. Faleron cracked open an eye to look at Wyldon. He was frowning, but that wasn’t unusual. It seemed he wasn’t going to give any clues either.
“I think,” Kel began slowly, “we have to consider more than just the corpse—sorry Faleron—to do this properly. This is about tracking as well.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Faleron recognised Neal’s voice. He sounded bored. We’ll make a knight of you yet, Queenscove, Faleron thought to himself.
“There’s trees over there, to the east. That would make perfect cover for an archer,” Kel replied, pointing at the trees.
“But why wouldn’t an archer shoot from the Palace wall, Mindelan,” interjected Wyldon, “What makes you think King’s Reach was shot from that direction?”
There was more murmuring from the pages. Faleron heard movement, and suddenly he could feel Kel leaning over him. He tried not to breathe.
“Angle, sir. The arrow would be entering his chest at somewhere between a 135 and 180 degree angle, but it looks like it was actually shot horizontal with the ground.”
This statement caused much more discussion before finally Wyldon settled everyone down. Neal earned himself a day’s work in the stables.
Long after everyone had left and he had returned to his room, ridding himself of his messy clothes and lowering himself into a warm bath, a small, snide part of Faleron’s brain kept reminding him that he wouldn’t have been able to figure it out. This only bothered him because it was true.
Rating: G
Prompt: Puzzles, #6
A/N: So I'm in a Faleron mood, and when I'm in a Faleron mood I write fic. ;D This fic is kind of prompted by the idea of the strategy/tactics/whatever class and the fact that Faleron had to ask Kel for help in...maths or something. And you're lucky (or is that unlucky?) because I almost got very carried away and turned this into a big ol' Kel/Faleron fic. Maybe next time.
“I think my leg has fallen asleep,” Faleron said. He was sprawled out on the grass, some kind of red sauce rubbed all over his tunic, and an arrow in his chest. It was uncomfortable, to say the least. And sticky.
The Stump had a group of pages gathered around him, examining as if he was, in fact, a corpse. He let his tongue loll out the side of his mouth; if he was dead, he might as well play the part.
“Sir, Faleron moved, I saw him.”
“That’s quite enough, Queenscove, unless you wish to take the place of King’s Reach and do it more realistically,” came Lord Wyldon’s dry voice. Faleron suppressed a grin.
The King had decided that in addition to their optional classes on strategy and battle tactics, the older pages were to attend more in-depth classes on tracking and the like. Today’s lesson was on judging which direction an attack had come from, and who had been the attacker.
“Wouldn’t it have come from the north? That’s the way he’s facing, and...”
“Not likely,” Zahir cut in, “He could have turned when the arrow hit him or rolled around on the ground before he died. You can’t just assume he fell straight away.” There was some murmuring as the pages discussed Zahir’s point. Faleron cracked open an eye to look at Wyldon. He was frowning, but that wasn’t unusual. It seemed he wasn’t going to give any clues either.
“I think,” Kel began slowly, “we have to consider more than just the corpse—sorry Faleron—to do this properly. This is about tracking as well.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Faleron recognised Neal’s voice. He sounded bored. We’ll make a knight of you yet, Queenscove, Faleron thought to himself.
“There’s trees over there, to the east. That would make perfect cover for an archer,” Kel replied, pointing at the trees.
“But why wouldn’t an archer shoot from the Palace wall, Mindelan,” interjected Wyldon, “What makes you think King’s Reach was shot from that direction?”
There was more murmuring from the pages. Faleron heard movement, and suddenly he could feel Kel leaning over him. He tried not to breathe.
“Angle, sir. The arrow would be entering his chest at somewhere between a 135 and 180 degree angle, but it looks like it was actually shot horizontal with the ground.”
This statement caused much more discussion before finally Wyldon settled everyone down. Neal earned himself a day’s work in the stables.
Long after everyone had left and he had returned to his room, ridding himself of his messy clothes and lowering himself into a warm bath, a small, snide part of Faleron’s brain kept reminding him that he wouldn’t have been able to figure it out. This only bothered him because it was true.
I liked the general insight you brought into this -- it's refreshing to read.
And Kel being a math wiz was fantastic! 
