“There’s nothing to worry about, your highness.” Gryff said as the pair saddled their horses the next day. Verrick had already finished his and gone to scout ahead, while Owen and Harvick were double checking the tack on their own horses. “We’ve already checked on the guards here, and they know we’ll be coming back this way. I’ve drafted a letter to Captain Jarvon detailing the misconduct, grievances and needs of the guard outpost here. We’ve dealt with a large portion of the bandits ourselves, and should be just in time to meet with King Alastar.”
“Barely. If we don’t get stopped by another group of bandits.” Wulfram stroked his horses nose. The night in the dry and warmth had done them all some good. Who knew what the next few days would hold for them.
“We won’t get stopped by another group of bandits.” Ben strode out of the inn, having dealt with the payment. “You’re worrying too much Wulfram.”
“I am worrying exactly the right amount. Three attacks in four days is far too many to be brushed aside. Are we set to go?”
“Yes Sir.” Ben patted Wulfram on the back. “Hopefully King Alastar and his group will want to stop by here on our way back into the kingdom. They’re going to have a festival next week and I think a bit of rest and relaxation would do everyone some good. Maybe even get you to forget about a certain little mouse for a while.”
“Don’t start.” Wulfram climbed onto his horse, pinning Ben with a glare. It was bad enough he dreamt of her last night, he didn’t want to hear teasing about her today. It had been an odd dream too, she was in the underground, he was sure about it. But there had been other people there, drinking and laughing.
“Did you not sleep well last night?” Ben chuckled and mounted his own horse, the rest of the group following suit.
“Not very, no.” Wulfram sighed and ran a hand across his face. There was no sense denying it, but he wasn’t going to tolerate being teased about it either. “Let’s get moving. We don’t have time to waste.”
“Yes Sir.” Ben said. The group fell into formation around Wulfram, and they started off at a trot out of the small trade town. They were less than a day away from their rendezvous point but would still have to ride hard to get there on time. But it left Wulfram with time to think.
By now Dani would be officially a Lady. He hoped that she would stay at the palace where there were people to help her, protect her, and guide her in her new duties. But somehow he doubted she would take that path.
She didn’t seem likely to take the easy way when there was one that was hard and dangerous. He doubted she even knew the danger she could be in as a Lady in the Tangle. It wasn’t a safe place for normal women, let alone nobles.
Ben rode up beside Wulf, their horses neck and neck. “Wulfram, will you tell me what’s bothering you? Is it just those guards?”
“Those guards are part of it. And,” Wulfram paused, glancing down at the bracelet around his wrist. He didn’t bother hiding it out here on the road, no one was likely to know what it was anyways. Not anyone who didn’t already know about it anyways. “And I’m worried about Dani. I keep hoping she’ll have decided to stay at the palace but I have a feeling that she didn’t. She’s going to get herself killed if she isn’t careful.”
“I thought it might be something to do with her.” Ben said and rolled his eyes. “You should have just bedded her before we left.”
“I wanted to.” Wulfram admitted. “But the timing wasn’t right.”
“The timing is always right for that type of activity.” Ben laughed “But I understand. Will you do it after we get back?”
“Perhaps.” Wulfram couldn’t help but smile, a bit of the bad mood melting away. “What do you think of her?”
“I’ve only seen her a couple of times. But she’s quite pretty.” Ben shrugged, gazing out across the farm fields, smiling as his eyes landed on a farm girl leading her ship through the tall grasses. “Maybe you need another woman to get your mind off her.”
“I don’t.” Wulfram said firmly. “I need to get us to our rendezvous point and get this mission underway. With any luck it won’t take long for them to decide that there’s no way their princess survived the attack. Or I suppose if we’re lucky, to find her.”
“If we find her the arranged marriage will likely be back on. Maybe that farm girl back there is their lost princess for all we know.”
“That farm girl had bright red hair Ben.” Wulfram shook his head. “She’s supposed to be King Alastar’s twin, he has brown hair.”
“Maybe she dyed it. I heard women do that sometimes.” Ben said.
“Ben?” Wulfram looked at his friend, his gaze serious. “Shut up.”
Stolen novel; please report.
“Yes Sir.” Ben chuckled as he let his horse fall back behind Wulfram again.
Wulfram sighed and looked back ahead of them at the long stretch of road. The link was so faint, but he could almost feel her laughing at him through it.
Maybe he really did need something to keep his mind off her for a while. Unfortunately, the road gave him little distraction on the way to the border, the day wearing on as the sun made its way across the sky. At least it was a clear day today, that was lucky.
It was nearing evening when they reached the border and the camps set nestled in the mountain pass. The two sides were barely a stones throw apart, King Alastar’s tent looming on the hard earth of the mountain, hung with the coat of arms that signified a united Hesiodos, the dragon of the clan Hesiodos looming over the four quadrants that symbolized the other major clans.
Captain Jarven stepped out of his own tent, located near the cave that the soldiers had turned into something of a recreational area and storeroom. It kept supplies dry and cool, and gave them a place to gather away from Hesiodos eyes. “Your Highness, welcome to the main border camp.”
“Thank you Captain Jarven.” Wulfram climbed off his horse, letting one of the soldiers take it to be watered and fed. “What news do you have?”
“King Alastar has claimed two of his wives, we believe one from the Nyadvi clan, and another from the Nemersh clan. Those would be the magic users and trade clan. He has yet to take one from the Guarivan clan, and there is some debate whether he will take one from the Arletur clan, both of which would be the main warrior clans. He may even take some from the lesser clans if rumors are true. He’s trying to unite them all under Hesiodos permanently.” Captain Jarven fell into step beside Wulfram, and offered him a canteen of water. “Will you be going there immediately?”
“We will be meeting with them immediately, yes. I anticipate us leaving in the morning assuming that the Hesiodos contingent is ready.”
“You don’t even want to rest for a few days?” Captain Jarven’s eyebrows rose.
“No. Also, Gryff has a report for you on the guards of Astash, they will need four additional men sent to them. We’ll replenish your troops with men from the capital. I want you to send men that have done good work here to help whip those guards back into shape.” Wulfram paused at the edge of the camp, staring out over the small scattering of Hesiodos tents. He toyed with the horn at his belt for a moment. What would King Alastar be like?
“Yes your highness, of course.” Captain Jarven stopped beside him, then took a careful step back.
Wulfram nodded in approval, he was not who King Alastar needed to see. Owen, Gryff, Ben, Harvick and Verrick spread out behind him, standing at attention as Wulfram raised his horn to his lips, blowing out a long, mournful sound that rolled off the mountains around them, echoing in the valley where the two camps sat.
The flaps to King Alastar’s tent opened, and a behemoth of a man stepped out, his long brown hair let loose to fall around his face like the mane of a lion. A simple crown sat on his head, made of sturdy iron that lay dark against his fair skin. Five more people stepped out behind him, taking up positions in mirror to Wulfram’s own people: three women and two men.
He knew that in Hesiodos women could be warriors just as easily as men, but it was still shocking to see them with their painted faces and leather armor. The white haired male must be their shaman, which left the whip-thin man to one side, and a broad shouldered woman to the other to be Alastar’s advisor and tracker.
Wulfram lowered his horn, watching the group, waiting for their signal. Alastar simply raised a hand and snapped his fingers.
Overhead, thunder growled through the clear sky, and lightening flashed. Ben let out a sigh, muttering under his breath. “Show off.”
Wulfram nodded but didn’t comment back. He knew full well that Alastar had a horn as well, he didn’t have to show off his magic. Especially when they were meeting peacefully.
For a moment he toyed with the idea of having Harvick do something with his magic, but dismissed it. He wasn’t about to have a pissing contest with the King of Hesiodos. It was just a play to impress or intimidate them, when it was Hesiodos that needed them to help find their lost princess. Meeting eyes with Alastsar across the field, Wulfram gave a slight nod, and both parties started moving.
Alastar had the longer stride, but they still managed to meet in the middle at exactly the same time. Equal distances from each camp, equal members in their parties, and not quite equal rank.
That last couldn’t be helped, King Cynewulf was well past his days of travel. Wulfram looked up at the giant of a man, nearly twice as wide as he was, with muscles the size of his thigh. He had to admit, the man cut an imposing figure.
Alastar smirked slightly beneath his beard, meeting Wulfram’s eyes with his own pale blue ones. “Fair greetings Prince Wulfram of Cresenvasht.”
“Fair greetings King Alastar of Hesiodos. Or do you prefer High Chief?”
“I am equally fond of neither. But if necessary you may call me King. It is near enough to High Chief as to make no difference.” Alastar looked over Wulfram’s party, all male, somehow lined up to what had to be their counterparts. The two women stood across from Gryff and Owen. The young man with white hair stood across from Harvick, the whip thin man stood across from Verrick, and the last woman stood across from Ben. Perhaps some Hesiodos magic? But then, how did Wulfram get the feeling that they were lined up like that?
Bah, it could just be luck!
“Then King it will be. I doubt we will be easily missed as we travel.” Wulfram smiled faintly, looking over their group once more. No, there would be no hiding the Hesiodos group with their leather and furs, and their women with swords strapped to their waists like any other warrior.
“No, no I doubt we will.” Alastar laughed, a deep rumbling sound like the thunder he had summoned in greeting. “Let us have a feast this night to get to know one another, since we may be traveling together for some time. My people shall provide the meat, if yours provides the drinks?”
“I believe we can manage that. Let’s set up a firepit between our two camps. It is time and past that we had pleasant conversation. Unless of course you’re afraid to get your hands dirty?” The barb was a gamble, softened with a smile. Wulfram only prayed that it wouldn’t backfire on him.
The woman standing directly behind the king stiffened, her sharp grey eyes narrowing at Wulfram. But Alastar simply laughed again, and reached a large hand out to Wulfram. “Not unless you are, young prince.”
Wulfram’s smile grew into a grin, taking the Kings wrist in a warriors greeting. “Not at all, your highness. Not at all.”