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[Khenal]

I walk towards Charity's office, deep in thought.  Rumor had it that the General was coming.  If true... Hugwax wouldn't be far behind.  I try to put the thought away for later, I had business to attend to now.  Charity wanted to talk to me about something.  I salute the guard at her office, then knock on the door.

"Lady Charity?  You wished to see me?"

[KingStrongbeard]

Charity is pacing in her office. She jumps at the knock on the door but quickly remembers that she had sent for Khenal.

"Ah yes Khenal please come in. We have much to discuss."

Charity continues to pace back and forth.

[Khenal]

I enter and close the door behind me, giving Charity a small bow.  It's mostly for my respect for her, but maybe just a little because she doesn't like it, which in turn earns her respect.

"Are you alright, Charity?"  I ask, watching her pace.

[KingStrongbeard]

Charity continues to pace, she looks up to make sure the door is closed, seeing that it is she continues pacing while looking at the floor, her face clearly worried. "Khenal, I don't know if you've heard, but General Dostob is coming here. Do you know what that means?"

[Khenal]

My ears lay back and I can't help but growl.

"Hugwax..."

[KingStrongbeard]

"Yes, Hugwax." Charity stops pacing and walks toward Khenal. "Khenal, she's been sending me letters for years here. She's the reason we've been hanging our flanks out in the open working on the road system, she's the reason we've been clear cutting the jungle, she's been ordering us to do these things, and we are way, way, /way/ behind schedule, and she's coming here to check on our progress." She get's very close to Khenal now, "Khenal, she's, she's already tried to kill me once. What if she blames me for this?"

[Khenal]

My eyes harden as Charity speaks, my gaze drifting to the distance as I can almost hear Hugwax laughing...  I shake my head as Charity gets closer, trying to focus on here and now.

"Then I and the rest of your guard will treat her like any other filth that walks in from the jungle, thinking they can disrupt the peace or harm you and your family."

[KingStrongbeard]

Charity smiles. "Thank you Khenal," she says, as her smile then fades as quickly as it appeared. "I, I'm sorry to have to ask this of you. I already trust you more than anyone in Glitterglen save for my husband, but...I need you to swear that. Please, just swear to me that you will take my orders above her's, above anypony's, no matter what. Please. Osal, Madush, and Traphe have already sworn similar oaths, it's just you, that I need to hear it from."

[Khenal]

I carefully consider her question and my answer, for this is not an oath to take lightly.  After several moments, I slowly shake my head.

"Above all, Charity?  No.  My wife, my foals, my personal beliefs, I will not swear any oath to place anypony above them."

I lower my head, to be on even level with Charity as I look into her eyes.

"But above Hugwax?"

I smile. 

"Absolutely."

[KingStrongbeard]

Charity nods to Khenal. "I understand, your family, your family must come first. Then above her, above the Princess, above the General, above Hugwax and Dostob. Please swear that to me. Please swear that you will not place their orders above mine. Only then can I rest well. Can you do that my friend."

[Khenal]

I draw my spear and levitate it horizontally before me as I kneel, bowing as I swear.

"I swear to you, Lady Charity, that I will follow you above Hugwax and her General."

[KingStrongbeard]

Charity smiles as Khenal swears his oath to her. "Yes, very good Khenal. Now, I have something else to tell you. We have two new pegasi recruits for the guard. They've not killed so much as a parasprite in this lifetime, but they are eager and I sense they have potential."

Charity walks over toward the door and opens it a crack. "Madush, dear, please go and fetch the new recruits."

"Yes, ma'am."

Charity closes the door and walks back to Khenal, "They are just down the hall, should only take a minute."

[Khenal]

I sheath my spear and stand, looking slightly confused.

"No experience?  Well, maybe training green recruits could be nice.  I haven't had a chance to since... wow, since I became Captain of the Fortress Guard?  Has it really been that long?"

[Impending Doom]

"Ma'am? The recruits yo urequested."

Madush returns, and two ponies enter after him.

Two very familiar ponies.

Starkey and Otik sit upright, saluting in unison.

"Captain!"

[Khenal]

I chuckle a moment at the obvious joke, before I realize they are both already in uniform.  My pupils shrink as my jaw drops to hang loose, only a tiny squeak escaping my vocal chords as I stare at my two 'green recruits'.