<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 200%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #FF8000"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Gabriel and Rafiq</span></span></span></span></div><br/><br/>Rafiq merely ignored the insult to his honor and sat with a stoic expression mentally listing off their military assets in his head. Gabriel on the other hand smiled with an internal laugh before moving to speak, "the Iron Wolves currently have approximately 10,000 men, 100 or so are trained in magic, all of which are fully armed and equipped and either stationed here in the city as castle or town guard. About 150 of them are currently back in the desert looking for new recruits and taking small jobs to bolster our budget."<br/><br/>Shortly after Gabriel finished Rafiq spoke up to continue the brief, "The army currently stands at nearly 750,000, however with patrols and other basic needs of law and order only around 100,000 to 50,000 could leave their current stations even with minimal manning. Along with this only half of those men could march at this moment due to equipment that would need to be replaced, the supplies that would need to be mustered, and most of the armies siege equipment needs completely rebuilt due to weathering. I also need to know when would be the best time for Saladin to make the trip to the kingdom to meet with you about the trade agreements." As their reports ended Gabriel made to stand and pace the room, boredom getting to him, well Rafiq merely stayed in his seat with his usual stoic expression.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 200%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #FF8000"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Rashid</span></span></span></span></div><br/><br/>The desert sands slowly dwindled and turned to soil and grass as Rashid walked the small road leading into Alderion on his pilgrimage west. The hood of his robes hid his features as he made his way toward one of the small border villages to rest for the night before continuing west. As he entered the town people seemed to ignore him and move about their days, from returning from the fields to beginning to close shop for the night, most ignored the robed man. One of the shop keepers making her way home, oblivious to her surroundings, bumped into him causing her to lose her footing and fall, loosing her grip on the basket of clothes in her hands. "Sorry, sorry I..." she was cut off as Rashid moved to begin gathering up the clothes she dropped merely smiling at her as he spoke, "It is fine, I should have been more aware of my surroundings."<br/><br/>As he handed her the clothes the woman beamed as she spoke, "Thank you, again sorry for running into I was just in a hurry and..." again she was stopped as he spoke up, "It is fine, though you should probably slow down life is two short to ignore its beauty as you rush about." The two stood and began walking together as they spoke.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 200%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #FF8000"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Micheal</span></span></span></span></div><br/><br/>Micheal lay with small smile as he slept entangled in various sheets, thoughts of the night prior filling his thoughts as he slept. As the sun rose through the window and curtains the pile of sheets stirred as Micheal's rested form rose with a slight shiver from the cold air hitting his bare back. A yawn echoed through the small room while he moved to get out of the bed, suddenly stopping when he noticed the person missing from the room. Micheal quickly rose from the bed and moved to the door sticking his head out to see the guards standing their. "He left to run errands on the town and won't return till late tonight. Your effects should be in the room so please get dressed and leave," the guards words came out stiff as if they were rehearsed or had been said a hundred times before. Micheal simply sighed as he reentered the room and began getting dress, he understood the message loud and clear. 'Get your shit and get out' could almost be heard in place of the guards words. Micheal shook away the thoughts and put on his clothes before moving to leave.<br/><br/>Thoughts of the previous night continued to plague Micheal as he walked through the castle, unable to forget the night even after realizing how little it must have meant to Gabriel. '<span style="font-style: italic">Get over it, to him it was just another one night stand you heard the guards,</span>' he stopped in front of the castle gates as he realized where he had walked, '<span style="font-style: italic">so why can't I just forget it.</span>' Oblivious of his surroundings, being engrossed in his thoughts, Micheal walked right into a young Seamstress who seamed to be being harassed by another merchant.