The large barrel thunked onto the ground, the steaming water within jostling with the movement and splashing his arm. The heat only stung a little, and Marius was relieved that it was still plenty warm.
“This one better be hot.†Justus pushed off leisurely from his post at the Garlean Consulate gate. His voice remained slightly muffled behind the helm that marked all Garlean soldiers in Kugane, but his air of superiority came through loud and clear. Justus had only been in Kugane for a year before Marius arrived, but he took delight in receiving the newly-assigned soldier to delegate all the work he deigned not bother himself with.
Justus leaned over for an inspection and the bath water quickly steamed his mask. He immediately straightened with annoyance and waved toward the gate. Two servants came trotting out. “This one is good enough. You can take it in,†he ordered.
“Respectfully sir, we can have our usual contact get the water…†one of the servants murmured with a low bow.
There was a pause, but the tilt of the Garlean’s helmet spoke volumes in terms of the disdainful look that must have been behind it. “Know your place and do as you are told,†he snapped, his voice cold in an instant. The servants scurried back into the building with the water in tow. He then turned to Marius, who was still leaning on his knees, trying to catch his breath. “Now then. Retrieve two more barrels,†he said with a sneer.
Marius lifted his gaze tiredly, his long forelock dripping with sweat. His tunic clung to his chest and his arms still trembled with the exertion of running through the city three times now. During the first attempt he had gotten lost, and upon delivery, Justus deemed the water too lukewarm. The second attempt, he had tried to take an unfamiliar shortcut and nearly collided with a lalafell who had been bent over to study a vase. In a clumsy attempt to avoid both the Dunefolk and the ceramic work she was studying, Marius had stumbled and tripped, letting the water spill all over the stones of Kogane Dori. It took a lot of apologizing on his part to both the merchant and the lalafell, and the further delay only bought more displeasure from his commanding officer.
He supposed he should have been grateful that Justus saw it fit for him to be out of his Garlean uniform as he made his runs. The armor would have only hampered him further. Ironically, it was deemed not dignified for a Garlean soldier to be seen performing such menial tasks.
When Marius was slow to rise, Justus lifted his chin scornfully. “Be grateful that this is the way I orient you to the streets of Kugane. You will never forget the quickest way from the Hot Springs to the Consulate now,†he stated with an accompanying snicker.
Ignoring his aching back and the burning in his arms, Marius straightened and saluted. “Gratitude, ser.†He was answered with a satisfied snort from Garlean officer who waved him off.  With a determined yet resigned furrow to the brow, he turned around and began trotting towards the Rakuza District.
Marius was well familiar with the likes of his superior officer. Sympathy and leniency were never a virtue within the military, and Marius had long grown used to such treatment -- especially since he was not pure-blooded. Nor did he come from a family of any real influence. But he had climbed up and off of the bottom rung before, and knew he could do it again.
And at least he could not deny that Justus was right about one thing. He would not soon forget the route to the Bokaisen Hot Springs.
“This one better be hot.†Justus pushed off leisurely from his post at the Garlean Consulate gate. His voice remained slightly muffled behind the helm that marked all Garlean soldiers in Kugane, but his air of superiority came through loud and clear. Justus had only been in Kugane for a year before Marius arrived, but he took delight in receiving the newly-assigned soldier to delegate all the work he deigned not bother himself with.
Justus leaned over for an inspection and the bath water quickly steamed his mask. He immediately straightened with annoyance and waved toward the gate. Two servants came trotting out. “This one is good enough. You can take it in,†he ordered.
“Respectfully sir, we can have our usual contact get the water…†one of the servants murmured with a low bow.
There was a pause, but the tilt of the Garlean’s helmet spoke volumes in terms of the disdainful look that must have been behind it. “Know your place and do as you are told,†he snapped, his voice cold in an instant. The servants scurried back into the building with the water in tow. He then turned to Marius, who was still leaning on his knees, trying to catch his breath. “Now then. Retrieve two more barrels,†he said with a sneer.
Marius lifted his gaze tiredly, his long forelock dripping with sweat. His tunic clung to his chest and his arms still trembled with the exertion of running through the city three times now. During the first attempt he had gotten lost, and upon delivery, Justus deemed the water too lukewarm. The second attempt, he had tried to take an unfamiliar shortcut and nearly collided with a lalafell who had been bent over to study a vase. In a clumsy attempt to avoid both the Dunefolk and the ceramic work she was studying, Marius had stumbled and tripped, letting the water spill all over the stones of Kogane Dori. It took a lot of apologizing on his part to both the merchant and the lalafell, and the further delay only bought more displeasure from his commanding officer.
He supposed he should have been grateful that Justus saw it fit for him to be out of his Garlean uniform as he made his runs. The armor would have only hampered him further. Ironically, it was deemed not dignified for a Garlean soldier to be seen performing such menial tasks.
When Marius was slow to rise, Justus lifted his chin scornfully. “Be grateful that this is the way I orient you to the streets of Kugane. You will never forget the quickest way from the Hot Springs to the Consulate now,†he stated with an accompanying snicker.
Ignoring his aching back and the burning in his arms, Marius straightened and saluted. “Gratitude, ser.†He was answered with a satisfied snort from Garlean officer who waved him off.  With a determined yet resigned furrow to the brow, he turned around and began trotting towards the Rakuza District.
Marius was well familiar with the likes of his superior officer. Sympathy and leniency were never a virtue within the military, and Marius had long grown used to such treatment -- especially since he was not pure-blooded. Nor did he come from a family of any real influence. But he had climbed up and off of the bottom rung before, and knew he could do it again.
And at least he could not deny that Justus was right about one thing. He would not soon forget the route to the Bokaisen Hot Springs.
-=Sentry's Wiki=-
(please note that this is still a major work in progress!)
