I turned my mount to face the onrushing host and to learn what our fate as sojourners through their land would be. I heard Jarken exclaim something under his breath, only to then be followed by Philuke saying something unintelligible as well. I turned in the saddle to look at them, wanting to know what they did, but they had fallen silent.
Thanuel's face was watchfully cautious and I looked to him to explain what was going on.
"It's the King of Philanthia himself. I'd advise treading softly, Benaiah. Kings have a fickleness to their hearts which isn't wise to upset."
I nodded and turned forward in the saddle again. I suddenly felt very nervous and uncertain as I watched the fast approaching King and his entourage of knights.
As was becoming increasingly habitual of me, I asked in a prayer to El Elyon, "What should I say?"
I hadn't been expecting an answer but when one came I felt rocked to the core.
"Go with the King and do all that he requires, until peace is achieved in his lands."
Sitting straight as a board in the saddle, I felt my heart all aflutter as I dealt with the reality that I had just received a Divine dictate. Somehow, knowing what my role in life was to be for the next little while caused stress to increase within me as never before.
Before, when I hadn't known what to do next, I hadn't felt overly responsible for what resulted, but now I had to make what was asked of me come to reality.
If this new mission was of El Elyon then He would bring it to fruition and open the doors that needed opened and shut those not needed. My experience in the Wasteland as to the Divine placement and order of all creation came back to serve me well now.
I sat still as the King drew to a halt not a horse length away from me. Energetically the King spoke, "I saw the whole thing! Tell me brave strangers, where are you bound?"
Something within me seemed to bind any disclosing about the High Priestess of Vella, whom Kuri had tasked me with bringing to him sometime in the future.
Trying to make positive that I didn't stumble in my words I said, "We've come from Lancandia most recently. The future, as far as I know, is open before us. We are honest men and we beg permission to make our way through Philanthia."
"You have it, but I pray that you will instead stay on in my employ. I have need of more fearless men such as you."