*Sighhhh*
"Hmmm what is wrong my lord?" (Lock)
"It's just... this journey is taking far too long for my liking. I love my home, it's beautiful endless sea of green fields, the occasional stream of water, forest and small villages... but once you have stared at it your whole life and you have nothing to do but stare at it... becomes rather boring..." (Fen)
Fen stares out the window, his eyes partially shut with his lips in a slight pout to show is mild discontent. "Well your home is on the very outskirts of Sentarial, and the capital is in the middle of it. It makes sense that it may take a while my Lord." His Cat-Kin friend looks at him and smiles warmly
"Shush with your logic..." Only for Locks explanation to be met with more visible pouting.
The Sentarial Kingdom. A historic and powerful kingdom, also home to one of the most popular and advanced schools in the world of Avardal. The Kingdoms capital is seen as the jewel of the populated world. Boasting a huge population with a vast range of peoples living there.
The nation itself is split into five sections. Four area's controlled by Dukes and Duchesses, as well as an are directly under the Crown of Sentarials control. The four duchies are the Frost Duchy to the northeast, the Belk Duchy to the southwest, the Berg Duchy northwest and the Van Duchy to the southeast. With a portion of the centre of the nation being the area under direct crown rule.
"Did Lady Sandra not pack you some books to read on the way?" Lock asks inquisitively, rummaging around in a small satchel bag on the seat next to him as he talks.
"She did, but it is mostly books I have read before. You know how it is, any new books are immediately gobbled up by either Delilah or Thomas... you remember how they get right?" Fen eyes turning tired and traumatised as if remembering some king of great war.
"Indeed..." Though Lock understood, himself sweating remembering the various instances of new books entering the small village in which their family home is based.
The Family home itself is not in the Duchy capital of Van, the city of Blesid. The home is just on the outskirts of a small town called Boa on the border of the Sentarial.
"Aha, here we go." Lock, after a while of searching around in the satchel, pulls out a map of their route.
Tracing his finger along the trail they are taking, his finger eventually stops on an particular area.
"Well you are in luck my Lord, there just so happens to be a small village on the outskirts of the capital that we can stop by in. Means we can get some rest in a less bumpy room perhaps." (Lock)
To his announcement Fen visibly perks up, the slight edges of his pointy ears slightly wiggling with anticipation, even if the rest of him tries to remain reserved.
"A brilliant idea, I hope the people are friendly, I really don't want to have to spend the night sleeping on these seats once again." Fen says with a smile while leaning on the carriages window.
*
Six hours later...
"Ah! Lock there it is!" (Fen)
Eventually the small village comes into view, the settlements small fence, a sign bearing its name, Varder Village which marks out its borders. A couple of guards dotted at the entrance itself.
"I sincerely hope they have a inn for us to stay, and a place for us to wash... though maybe I am asking too much for a small settlement." Fen ponders to himself, acutely aware of the struggles of setting up new villages and facilities from scratch from talking to the elders of Boa village.
Just before they pass the sign, the guards stop the carriage and briefly chat with their carriage drivers, before one of the soldiers leaves after glancing inside and the other allows them to continue inside the village.
They slowly pass the entrance way, the village itself being slightly inside a large forest that completely surrounds the capital. A natural defence they call it between invaders and Sentarial City. though they noticed something as they passed into the village. The lack of atmosphere here, it was deafening.
"… It is very tense here huh." Fen muttered to Lock, while glancing at the rather high security for a village of this significance on a normal day.
"Very strange indeed, maybe this is how it is in the Kings territory?" Lock suggests, himself peaking suspiciously out of the window of the carriage.
Fen says nothing, continuing to scan the surroundings.
Eventually the carriage comes to halt outside what seems to be the largest building in the village.
"Hehe to step on solid earth after so long feels so goooood." Fen steps out of the carriage and stretches his legs and arms like he had just had a long nap. A small cloak with a hood concealing his hair and ears.
The carriage drivers turn and look at the young lord amused, being used to this relaxed aura about him from his time roaming Boa village.
"You know stops are a luxury my lord, if we do not arrive at the residence in a timely manner it will mean more rushing around." Lock says, turning and apologising to the carriage men for his friends less proper attitude, even though he knew they was used to it as well.
"H-Hello! Erm... Can I ask your business?" (Womans voice)
Between Fen wanting to hug the earth beneath them, Lock apologising and trying to keep up appearances of being a noble family, they had not noticed the small woman who had just quietly emerged out of the large building they stopped in front of.
The woman was a member of the Dwarven race, a race often small in stature but incredibly strong and hardy. Her brown hair shaved at the sides and round the back, before the top being tied back in a bun. She wore modest but formal clothes that most of the peasantry of the world would wear when working in a professional setting.
"Oh! Hello, my apologies. We have been travelling a while and we was wondering if we could stop in your village before we continue on tomorrow?" Fen upon noticing her puts on his best smile and politest tone.
"O-oh e-ermmm... I-yes! I mean, it's kind of a weird time right now..." The flustered young woman seemed to be stunned by the brilliance of Fens smile, causing Lock to sigh, he had seen it all before...
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"I'm sorry for him, you say that it is a strange time? Is there something wrong? Something we could assist with?" Lock steps in asking knowing that Fen would most likely offer their services if there was something wrong... despite the time crunch on their hands. This causing Fen to go back to his pouting face and wonder what he did wrong however being interrupted.
"… W-well it may be something you can help with, I-I will ask the person they sent from the capital to deal with it. Please go and rest, we have a small inn just around the corner that you can stay in. It's not much but it's the only one we have..." She says putting her head down in embarrassment, realising they must be nobles or high standing individuals from the carriage and the way they dressed.
"Now don't put yourself down, we can see how much work you have put into this place. It is definitely bigger than what the map we have says and this is an almost newly created one." Fen comforts the young Dwarven woman, who immediately perks up upon hearing the praise from the beautiful young man.
"Th-thank you! Anyway! My name is Kitsa, I am the village head! I shall go and ask Sir Denbury and let him know you wish to help and to meet you at the inn! Goodbye!" The woman hastily shouts a bunch of information at them and rushes inside, red faced.
Fen giggles and waves at the young lady as she bolts for the inside.
"… You have to stop doing that you know... You are going to get in trouble eventually..." Lock says quietly behind Fen.
"I have no idea what you mean..." Fen gives Lock a side eyed look before they both begin to walk in the direction Kitsa had pointed.
*
"Haaaaah, this is it! An actual bed!" Fen bursts through the room door and dives face first into the bed. It was not the most comfortable bed ever, the happiness on Fens face would lead you to believe otherwise however.
"… Could you not act a little more like a noble my lord. Lady Sandra would weep seeing you do this out in the world." Lock bows to the innkeeper who showed them the way to the room and enters himself, while looking at Fen disapprovingly.
"Don't be so uptight Lock, we are alone now. I know you are nervous to be away from home but I did not think you would be this nervous." Fen answers with a mischievous look.
"I am not!... ahem. I am not." Lock briefly loses his temperament, turning red at the teasing before immediately trying to regain his composure. Though the red hue still tints his complexion.
While the two wait Fen takes it upon himself to get comfy while teasing Lock to pass the time, continually prodding to try and get a reaction from him. While at the same time using it as a chance to get Lock to relax. Fen could see that the prospect of being away from his usual home made him wary.
"Changing the subject... I spoke to our drivers about what the soldiers at the entrance to the village said. They apparently just wanted to know what was in the carriage, and heard one of them mention about there being "no bandits" being carried in it, and so let us through." Lock said part trying to move on from his embarrassment and giving some important information.
"Hmmm bandit disorder? With how deeply entrenched the soldiers seem to be here, it does not seem like it’s a recent problem. I wonder why it's taking them so long to root out some bandits...." Fen ponders out loud.
"Questions that we can ask when this Sentarial City representative arrives I'm sure." Lock responds to his out loud thinking.
They both agree to leave this until they find out more from the meeting that is to come.
After a couple hours of waiting, the noise that they are expecting comes...
*Knock, Knock, Knock*
The two men looked at each other and nodded, Fen jumped up from the bed and reapplied his hooded cape and allowed Lock to open the door.
On the other side stood two fully armed soldiers, looking shiftily at Lock and then to Fen, his eyes opening slightly wider looking at him.
*Ahem*
Lock clears his throat loudly bringing the two out of their day dreaming state.
"Errr... Sir Denbury is here to see you both, you will find him downstairs in the bar area. We have asked the locals to leave so you two can talk privately." The soldier gruffly says before leaving immediately after delivering the message, slightly ticking off Lock.
"Lock... they do not know who I am. You cannot expect them to show respect to every outsider who arrives in town." Fen says, smiling at Locks very visible annoyance.
Lock gives a grunt of acceptance, even though unbeknownst to Fen it was more the lingering looks then the rudeness of ordering them downstairs, even if that did annoy him as well.
*
"Ah! Greetings my lord, I am Sir Lukas Denbury. Captain of the Twenty Second Guard Regiment of Sentarial City." Once they got downstairs in the bar area, they are immediately greeted by a moustachioed man in full iron plated armour, a small coat of arms, that of the Sentarial Kingdom, painted over the breastplate.
Although not huge, you could tell the man was relatively well built.
His long strawberry blonde moustache stretching almost half way across his face, being almost as wide as the smile he put on to greet them.
Fen and Lock both greet him, waiting for him to continue on.
"Now before I go on, may I ask who you both are?" The captain still with that delighted smile across his face asks while offering a chair opposite him on the small table.
"Lord Fenbrook Listan is my name. Just a minor noble that is heading to the capital on business. We were passing through and heard about some kind of problem here from the Village Head. So we just offered to help in any way we can." Fen says while taking the seat offered.
Lock, unfazed by hearing Fen introduce himself with an unfamiliar name, continues to stand behind him.
"Hmmm... I see... I see..." Denbury strokes his moustache in thought for a few moments, temporarily dropping the smile before it returning again just as quickly as it departed.
"Well you see Lord Fenbrook, we have a little bit of a bandit problem in the area, nothing major. The villagers here reported that bandits had been raiding and kidnapping people from the village. So we have come here from the city to offer protection. There have been a few more raids, but nowhere near as frequent and we have successfully repelled and captured a few." A large tankered of alcohol is placed in front of the knight while he talks, which he chugs down after boasting about his achievements here.
"... But the bandits still continue to be active and their base of operations yet to be found?" Fen asks, not touching the alcohol that was placed in front of him at the same time as the Captains.
"No, not yet. But I suspect it won't be long now! They are a slippery bunch. But everything is in order as I have told you my Lord." He heartily puts down his tankered and says boisterously, the foam of the beer sitting on his facial hair as he shows a huge toothy smile.
"I see... Well if there is any help we can offer let us know, my companion and I are quite handy in a fight. After tonight we shall most likely continue on to the capital, as it is taking you a bit longer then you thought I shall make a visit to the Guard Captain, let them know you could use some help here perhaps." Fen eventually takes the tankered. Sipping it slightly after he says as such.
"Oh that would be of great help my Lord! All the more men to return this place to tranquillity would be marvellous!" Denburys drink is refilled, which he instantly drains it again.
"Excellent! Then for tonight I shall take my leave." Fen smiles, downing the rest of his beer in one go to the surprise of Denbury.
"AHA! Amazing young Lord. I did not take you for such an adept drinker!" Denbury slams his fist against the table seemingly rejoicing at the sight.
"You would do best not to underestimate people, Sir Denbury." Fen places the tankered down and gets up from his seat, nodding to the man across the table before leaving for his room.
"AHAHA! Well said my lord!" Denbury once again lets out a booming laugh as he leaves, another drink being placed before him as he does.
The room went quiet after.
"… Well said indeed." (Denbury)
*
"Hmm... what a loud man." Back in the upstairs area of the inn, Lock opens the door to their room, Fen walking past silently as he does, into it.
"I'm not sure about his story, is he really having that much trouble with some mere bandits? Perhaps he is too proud to ask for help, Knights and Nobles do often value such pride." The Cat-kin continues to speak his thoughts.
"But anyhow, tomorrow we shall head onto the capital and ask if they can send more help as you said my lord..."
*Thud*
"My lord...?!" Lock turns to see the cause of the sudden thud.
The cause was Fen. First down on the bed.
… THE DRINK!
Lock quickly thought back and remembered the drink that Fen had quickly downed almost all at once. Glancing over at the still motionless.
No... I can't believe I let this happen... I... I....
I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!
"OOooooOOhhHH Lock... I need some he-hick-guhh heeelp..." (Slurring voice)
Lock slowly turned to see one of the things he feared most in this world....
"Ahehehe... the night *hick* is still young! I need help *hick* ordering some more beer up here *hick* guh" Fen now laying on his side, his clothes dishevelled with one suspender on his shoulder having unclipped, his buttons of his shirt coming undone, one boot half way off and his long hair now flowing freely.
Tonight is going to be a long night... I hope I make it...