Otello stepped out onto the city streets to find his captain, Casio, waiting for him. “Well met,” he said, holding out one arm to clap his captain around the shoulders, but Casio stepped back and said, “It would not be proper. We are no longer equal brothers in arms. You are my general.”
“Then we will walk together and recall the times when we were both equals,” Otello said.
“That would please me greatly,” said Casio with a smile, falling into step beside the taller man. “I remember well when you first came to us as an unknown mercenary.”
“I think there was much fear and suspicion of me when I first stood in your ranks,” said Otello.
Casio shrugged. “We are not used to seeing one of such dark skin and fierce countenance within our ranks. But we only had to see you in battle against the Othmen one time to see what mettle you were forged from.”
“Well spoken,” said Otello, and he did reach out and clap Casio on the shoulders. “We have stood shoulder to shoulder many times, my friend.”
“We have fought many battles and survived them.”
“I remember you boasting that one day you would be my commanding officer,” Otello teased him.
Casio nodded his head. “I did honestly believe that,” he said.
“Does it not cause you ire that I have risen to such an office above you? Or that I have wed one so lovely while you have no sweetheart in the city even?”
“Who said I have no sweetheart in the city?” Casio laughed. “Although it might be true to say that I do not have a single sweetheart.”
Otello laughed too. “Ah, Casio, there is such joy from having a woman that you know is yours alone. It is a feeling that anchors a man and gives him strength. No matter what trials I face, knowing Disdemona will provide me succour allows me to continue on. Her embrace is the mortar that strengthens my soul and allows me to believe I can hold up the world.” He smiled. “I cannot describe to you the pleasures of lying abed with my sweet Disdemona.”
“But I’m sure you’re going to try nevertheless,” Casio said.
The Moor stopped and his face grew serious. “No,” he said. “Do not make fun of me where my lady is concerned. You can make barrack-room jibes about my quick temper and my undue haste to seek vengeance, but never think to lessen or make light of my feelings for her.”
Casio put up both hands quickly. “Your temper is quick indeed, but I would no more make fun of your feelings for your lady than I would ask for details of how she looks beneath the bed covers at night.”
The Moor’s face grew darker still. “It is more improper of you to speak so of your general than it is to let him embrace you!”
“Now I was too quick to apologize and am tripping over my words,” said Casio. “I mean no offence in any way and have only the greatest respect and love for you both. You know well that I knew her as a child and have a sense of familiarity with her because of it.”
“I know that, but now she is my wife, and your lady, you should pledge your respect to her as you do to me.”
“Then that is what I pledge,” Casio said. Then when he saw Otello had calmed down and turned to continue on, he added, “In truth, being a friend with you can be much more dangerous than being an enemy of the Othmen, though I think her company takes the bite off your temper and softens you. Have I not seen you playing with a stray kitten in the streets that once you would have kicked away from you?”
Otello gave him a glance.
“Though I would never tell anyone!” Casio said quickly, “lest they think your bite any less fearful.”
This time Otello smiled. “My bite seems worse than it actually is. Unless you are an Othmen.”
“And I have seen the way you dispatch the Othmen with sword, dagger and bare hands,” said Casio, “and I think it altogether more preferable not to risk your anger.”
“Then we will speak no more of my lady and instead will speak of the dangers to our city. The Othmen will be sending spies here to learn what they can. They will be trying to buy the favours of unscrupulous merchants. We need to hunt them down and turn them to our advantage.”
“I shall put men onto it at once. We will treat every stranger in the city with suspicion and treat them as a foe until proven otherwise.”
“And we must be vigilant for their assassins above all,” Otello said. “Before they send their ships against us they will try and weaken us from within. They have already slain two Seers and one of the Council of Ten – for this is more than a war of property and territory, but a war over beliefs. And we must ensure we protect the others from their reach.”
“I will put our best men onto the task of being their bodyguards,” Casio said. “They will not be able to piss or place a hand upon their wives’ privates without being observed.”
“That might prove a little close guarding for the comfort of the council,” said Otello with a wide smile. “But I will convey the intent of that to them, if not your actual words.”
“Ah, and I had always thought you a brave man,” said Casio. “And now you prove not willing to discuss the council’s wives’ privates with them.”
“The only privates you need to concern yourself with are those in your rank and file who must obey my commands,” said Otello.
“The day that my privates obey any man’s commands but my own will be a rare day,” said Casio.
“They will obey mine if I order it,” said Otello. “So don’t make me put it to the test.”
“Then I will make sure I have two privates posted outside your bedchamber. Just in case you find you have need of them in the night.”
“I warned you, Casio,” said Otello in a low growl.
“I apologize again for the jest and for the next ones I may make while not thinking,” Casio said. “I know our city is at war, and that is a dreadfully heavy thought, only made lighter by light banter.”
“I think I should advise you to put away your light banter and rather concentrate on the heavy thoughts for the time being, and rather than practise your quick wit, concentrate on practising your quick sword strokes. For I’m sure the Othmen will be even less appreciative of your humour than I am.”
The two men walked in silence for some time, and then Casio asked, “How are the council reacting to the crisis?”
“Like old women,” said Otello. “They are scared and divided. And as such are driven to make poor decisions. Like having me report to them at every hour of the day, and then quiz me as to why I am not spending more time on the streets keeping the city safe.”
“Rather you than me,” said Casio.
“Yes. I fear your mouth would get you into trouble,” Otello said.
“Which is odd,” said Casio, “as my father once advised me that a mouth would get a man into much less trouble than any other caves of delight he might seek.”
Otello laughed heartily and clapped Casio on the back again. “I suppose I could no more ask you to hold your tongue than one of your many wenches could.”
“Well spoken, my general,” said Casio. “And so you will have to watch your own words in front of the council.”