Bandits and the Book
Throughout this dream I normally observed the action as the main character, but at times I observed this person from without. This character is referred to as "I" despite this occasional transportation.
I stood on the terrace of a palace high on a hill with a spectacular view of the land around, mostly rolling farmland divided into small fields with scattered patches of trees. The terrace was paved with cut stone, and there was a stone wall around, and stone challis type planters with decorative shrubs in them. I was discussing with another person my need for support from (my uncle?). I seemed to need financial support for a project. This person agreed that I had a very good reputation with (my uncle?) from previous transactions. He felt I would probably get a good reception for this project, but that I would really need to have my act together before I made a pitch.
Lapse: I had returned to my own place and was working on a book written in fancy manuscript with ornate capitals.
Lapse: I had set out to make my proposal to (my uncle?). I was riding a horse through a lush forest on a narrow, lightly traveled road. The horse was towing a light cart carrying a very small boat, black with gold ornamental strips along the edges. The book was packed in the boat. I was dressed in ornate armor, engraved and inlaid all over, but light, more for show than fighting. I wore a helmet, a short beard and moustache, and carried a long thin sword and a substantial amount of cash in gold.
A tall, impressive looking person stepped out into the road and bid me to halt. He was a robber and his crew rode out of the forest from all sides. I made some resistance, was shot in the right eye with an arrow, and fell to the ground. I was still partially conscious and heard the robbers comment about the quality of my armor and the amount of loot. Everything was taken, and I was left lying in the weeds by the road as the robbers departed. One, dressed in the hooded robe of a monk looked down at me, and seeing I was still alive, tossed a few small coins on me and left with the rest.
Lapse: I was trying to figure out how to re-do my lost book, for I was now blind. I tried to write blind, but this I quickly gave up. I got an assistant to write for me, but could not verify the quality or correctness I required from his work. It was quite a dilemma, but the realization dawned that I was shot in one eye only, and the other might be out due just to shock. This realization prompted the recovery of my nerves and I started to recover the sight of my left eye.
Lapse: I was in good health again, but wore a black eye patch. I planned of organizing a force to attack the robbers and regain my property, especially the book, but rejected a standard military force as easy to detect and evade. I raised instead a band of ruffians, ex soldiers, and petty crooks by promising them all loot except my own recovered property. With these I found the robbers and engaged them in combat. The fight was short, vicious, and successful.
Most of the robbers had been captured alive, and were brought to me. I asked which was the one who tossed me the few coins, and he was identified. I then ordered all the robbers to be impaled on long stakes and set up at the side of the road to die. For the one I had singled out, I intended simple hanging as a favor. Considering it, though, I decided there was little ultimate difference between hanging and impaling. I told him he could go free if he left the country, and that if he was ever seen here again, or if he was seen anywhere engaging in dishonest pursuits, he would be killed immediately by me or any of my people. Meanwhile the impaling had begun with much crying out and moaning.
End.