《Sunder》 Chapter 1 - The Hope (1) The sound of cracking whips hung in the freezing air. Somewhere in the dark, a boy, not yet sixteen, hung on for dear life. The boy¡¯s hands were caked with blood but locked tightly in an iron grip. The thick ropes carrying him floundered wildly amongst the bumpy dunes and with each bump, the rope thumped thunderously against the sandy floor as they dragged him along, hammering his body and threatening his grip. Waves of pain shot through his bruised body, but with a grunt, he continued to hold on. The boy glanced upward at the illumination before him and puffed in exertion. He was running out of strength, and he began to fear that perhaps the decisions he¡¯d made were quite foolish after all. ---- It was night time in the Lyeon desert, temperatures were freezing and every rider in the convoy shuddered as chilly winds invaded their padded leather coats. In any normal circumstance they would have been foolish to challenge these dunes at night, but the situation was anything but normal. Siefred glanced towards the illuminated centre carriage as they sped along and shook his head in dismay. For a seasoned rider like him, the current situation was terrifying. In the insect infested Lyeon deserts, the approach of night was the hunting call of the tunnellers. Siefred, thankfully, had never faced a tunneller before, but he knew exactly what they were. Tunnellers were huge gaping mouths with carapace bodies, in the day they lay buried in wait, their six powerful legs ready to pounce on unfortunate stragglers, but at night they roamed their sandy seas, swimming through the flowing sands like sharks, hunting for prey. And to Siefred, the centre carriage was like a beacon of prey for the tunnellers. It¡¯s hefty wheels grinded in the sand, emitting wave after waves of sound into the dangerous oceans below as they travelled forward. Their only saving grace were the drum ropes attached to the rear. Recently developed by the empire, they were weighted and designed to thump into the sand, creating shockwaves which deterred the sensitive ears of the tunnelling fiends. Siefred gulped nervously. Even at the front of the convoy, he could hear the intense thudding of the ropes as they snapped into the desert floor, reminding him of the constant danger around them. In theory they should work. He remembered the words of his captain. But the captain had died yesterday on this same desert, and the rider in him pulsed with worry as cold sweat dripped down his back. Siefred closed his eyes and tightened the sash around his neck, calming himself. His horse sensed his anxiety and slowed its pace, but with a quick crack of his whip they continued into the darkness. This mission did not include time for caution. ---- Inside the centre carriage a pale, blonde girl sat, her hands chained, across from an older yet equally enchanting lady with lush black hair in an alluring, body-hugging dress. The carriage was ornate, lined with expensive fabrics and engravings, yet the imprisoned girl did not seem out of place. Rather, she sat elegantly poised, despite her shackles, and assumed discussion with the lady before her. ¡°Duchess Carmen, it is with a certain amount of disbelief that I am cooperating with this plan of yours. I personally find it foolish to think that the Sakrin lord will deliver on his promise once you hand me into his possession.¡± The girl stated matter-of-factly, ¡°If you fail, not only will I die, you will be stuck between two frontiers. And only death or exile await you on that path.¡± The lady called Carmen chuckled lightly and sighed, staring past the eyes of her prisoner and out the back window of their carriage. ¡°The situation demands it. Even if our plan was to fail, a sacrifice as holy as your royal highness¡¯ would still be proportionate to the reward.¡± She grimaced. ¡°We should never have traded that damned rock away.¡± Said the girl after a pause, ¡°Our nation rests on your shoulders Duchess.¡± ¡°And my heart lies in your service Princess Camella.¡± ---- As the princess nodded to sleep, Carmen pulled out her pocket watch and counted down. Upon her last count, a series of taps came from the carriage door. Right on time, she smiled. After placing a blanket over her royal highness, she opened the carriage door. In an instant, a gush of wind engulfed the carriage and the temperature dropped sharply. A rider sat upon her galloping horse just outside the now opened door. She wore a dark uniform lined with red satin marking herself as the substitute captain. ¡°Your grace, we approach the Sakrin city Sakriel. I suggest we take a short break to restock and rest the horses.¡± The captain conveyed. Carmen nodded, her hair flailing in the wind, and quickly shut the door. The princess, who despite her best efforts to sleep, was also forced awake from her nap and was now rubbing her eyes in annoyance.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°We should have the researchers develop something to stop that horrendous gust.¡± She complained, ¡°Could you imagine being in conference with an official in this carriage and having that interruption? Unbelievable.¡± Carmen chuckled as she fixed her hair and nodded in agreement. The princess smiled at her own jaunt and pulled up the blanket that had been blown to one side. Slowly but surely, the atmosphere of the carriage returned to its former warmth. But unexpectedly, a series of taps once again rung out on the carriage door. The princess puffed in exasperation, but Carmen frowned, the taps were out of protocol. ¡°What is the matter captain?¡± She inquired through the unopened door. As silence acted as reply, Carmen reached back into the hidden compartment behind her seat. While scanning the windows for movement, she retrieved the force ring she had kept for emergency and slipped it onto her index finger. The princess, now catching onto the situation, hugged her blankets closely and braced for a situation. Tension was thick in the air. For the next while, all that could be heard were the thundering hammer of the drum ropes, when suddenly the carriage stopped, and even that was silenced. The princess trembled slightly, assuming as small a shape as possible in the corner of her seat. Suddenly, the shouting of orders surrounded the carriage and after a few moments, a series of knocks once again rung out on the carriage door. This time Carmen sighed in relief. The knocks were in order. She opened the door slowly and revealed the substitute captain. The rider bowed in presence of the princess, then with a nod of acknowledgement from Carmen, stepped into the still carriage. ¡°We apologize for the interruption,¡± The captain glanced at the ring on Carmen¡¯s finger, ¡°and for any possible worries caused.¡± ¡°We¡­ found a boy clinging to the side of your carriage.¡± Carmen frowned. ¡°You found what?¡± She asked, unsure of what she¡¯d just heard. The captain shrugged, as though understanding her confusion, then simply stood to one side revealing a bloodied body laying outside the carriage. Carmen cringed at the sight of the abused body and shielded herself by obscuring the scene with one hand. When suddenly, Princess Camella screamed. ¡°Gia!? What is Gia doing here?¡± She shouted in confusion and jumped to her feet. At the sound of his name, the bruised body twitched slightly, then as though through sheer power of will, the boy sat up and looked toward the carriage. ¡°Oh, princess Camella¡­ Thank goodness.¡± The boy smiled weakly, then slumped in exhaustion; a single drop of drool leaking from his mouth as he passed out. Carmen looked on as the princess dashed out of the carriage towards the boy named Gia and sighed. For now, it certainly seemed that ¡®Gia¡¯ had become yet another piece in the puzzle. Just the thought made her knit her brows in frustration. As she mulled over appropriate countermeasures and planned for unforeseen futures, she watched as her royal highness placed her hands over the source of her problems. A glowing red wreath appeared around her wrist and a sudden burst of heat signalled the activation of her royal power. Flames jet across the young boy¡¯s body, smothering all his wounds and bruises, and releasing a tinted vapour wherever it touched. The captain, who was on watch for approaching danger, glanced towards the scene with vigorous intrigue. ¡°Woah!¡± The boy exclaimed as he jumped up with renewed vigour, ¡°What¡¯s going on? I feel great!¡± He looked down at his body and watched as the flames that healed him slowly died down. ¡°The dragon¡¯s power.¡± Carmen murmured with restrained awe. She had witnessed it many times before, but each demonstration of its prowess demanded her respect and amazement. ¡°Gia!¡± The princess squeaked happily as the glowing wreath around her wrist disappeared, ¡°I healed you!¡± She pulled the young boy into a deep embrace. Then, without warning, punched him skilfully in his gut. ¡°What are you doing here, you stupid peasant!¡± She yelled, a hint of motherly anger in her voice. ¡°Ah!! I¡¯m sorry Camella!¡± The boy responded, writhing in pain on the floor, ¡°I thought you were being sold off to another country and I just-!¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± The princess puffed, then smiled. A dash of pink spread across her cheeks. ¡°Why is a servant like you worrying about royalty like me?¡± She asked, glancing sideways at Gia, ¡°I¡¯m obviously here by my own will.¡± Gia laughed shyly and bowed his head in embarrassment. ---- Carmen watched the pair with mild interest. She had a vague understanding that the boy Gia was a peasant aide of the princess and had a close, yet vertical, relationship with the royal family. However, she couldn¡¯t understand his appearance here and now, and was unconvinced of his meagre explanation. For now, she would be suspicious about the boy¡¯s nature. She glanced away from the couple and toward the substitute captain who had been standing vigilantly on guard. The captain, catching her eye, signalled silently, relaying her concerns over the dangers of loitering. Carmen nodded and signalled in reply, returning the captain to her riding post. Looking back at the pair, she noticed that the princess had begun a heated deconstruction of the idiocy that the boy, Gia, embodied. Despite her concerns, the scene reminded her of the youthful innocence that the princess had now mostly lost, and it made her chuckle lightly. But she quickly steeled herself and called out to the two children. ¡°Your royal highness, we must be cautious on the desert. We should leave immediately.¡± She announced. Princess Camella turned to face Carmen, then with a look of worry, nodded, and returned quickly to the carriage. She then signalled for Gia to follow, but Carmen quickly raised a hand to stop her. And before the princess could voice any complaints, quickly stepped out and closed the carriage door. ¡°Gia, was it?¡± She said, turning to the boy standing outside. ¡°Yes, your grace.¡± Gia replied, his aura somewhat different from his interactions a minute ago. ¡°Your presence is welcome, but this carriage only has space for two.¡± Carmen lied. ¡°I understand, your grace. May I trouble one of your riders to transport me instead?¡± Gia bowed. Carmen nodded, ¡°The rider corps captain will assist you in anything you need. We leave in three minutes.¡± ¡°Thank you for your consideration, your grace.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Gia.¡± Chapter 2 - The Hope (2) Siefred was anxiously tending to his horse¡¯s water when he noticed the captain waving at his direction. ¡°Siefred get over here!¡± He heard the captain shout over the wind, and as ordered, he quickly stepped over. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am?¡± He answered as he approached. Beside the captain, he noticed, was a boy covered in scars, but apparently still healthy enough to seem lively. ¡°This is Gia, the royal highness¡¯ aide.¡± The captain conveyed, ¡°I¡¯m trusting you with his transport past Sakriel and on to Sakrilege.¡± Siefred frowned. ¡°Surely a rider other than the vanguard would be more suited to this escort role.¡± He replied. The captain knit her brows. ¡°Duchess Carmen allowed him to decide his escort,¡± She shrugged, ¡°Just do it. If anyone in the corps could both vanguard and escort, it¡¯s you anyway.¡± Siefred raised an eyebrow, then, realising that further discussion would be useless, merely nodded tiredly and began walking back to his horse. Gia, realising he was being left behind, quickly hurried after the lone vanguard. ---- Back on track, the convoy sped towards Sakriel. As they journeyed into the morning, the tiring dunes that had surrounded them flattened into wide plains of glittering sand. And at the edge of that now flat horizon, the shadowy silhouette of a city could be seen. Siefred sighed in relief, knowing the threat of tunnellers had been abated, if only for now. He felt the boy on his back shift slightly and groan quietly. ¡°You awake?¡± ¡°Yes sir.¡± The boy replied curtly, tightening his grip on Siefred¡¯s back. Reaching into the rucksack attached to his horse, he retrieved two small chunks of pemmican. Buffalo and chokeberry were his secret recipe. That tangy sweet bitterness mashed with the lean meat of Buffalo worked well to keep his energy high whenever he rode for days on end. ¡°Breakfast?¡± He asked, passing a piece back. A quiet ¡®yes please¡¯ was the answer, and Siefred smiled as his passenger accepted the offering. He continued riding as he put the fatty chunk into his mouth, listening with restrained pride as Gia complemented his cooking. Half an hour later, the captain rode up and signalled for Siefred to lead into Sakriel. Siefred nodded, then sped up, leaving the convoy behind. ---- Gia sat comfortably, bobbing as the horse raced towards the now looming shadow of the Sakriel city walls. The rider, Siefred, sitting before him seemed experienced. His sitting position was sturdy, yet natural, flowing with the rhythm of the horse, much like himself. Siefred had ordered him to stay on the horse when they approached the gates, saying he¡¯d lead on foot, muttering something about safety. And Gia had replied in the affirmative. He now saw why the rider was so prepared. While the looming walls which spanned miles across the desert had no sign of damage, not a single guard stood on the parapets, nor archers in the watchtowers. Instead, stone-carved gargoyles were scattered unevenly, perched, every few meters across the battlements. The gates stood tall and imposing, casting an ominous shadow as they approached. Instead of men, two humongous carvings of lion¡¯s heads appeared to guard the entrance. Uncomfortably, their eyes, though made of old rusted metal, seemed to track the pairs every movement. They took what looked like the main bridge across an empty moat to reach the gate, and Gia shifted uncomfortably as he took note of the gargantuan statues lining both sides. Their stances seemed too natural, too life-like. Siefred also seemed especially cautious, taking the middle path to avoid straying too close to the eerie figures. After what seemed like an eternity, they finally stood directly before the engraved door sitting beneath the towering gates. Gia scanned their surroundings from atop the horse as Siefred gingerly picked up the knocker and tapped the door.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. After a pause, a raspy voice echoed from beyond. ¡°State your business within Sakriel.¡± It demanded. ¡°Representatives from the Sierra are requesting entry for rest and recuperation in our journey to Sakrilege.¡± Siefred explained. ¡°Sierra. The princess package.¡± The voice replied, ¡°You are allowed entry. But the main convoy will be inspected.¡± ¡°Thank you. Though we will wait outside for the convoy¡¯s arrival.¡± Siefred answered, then returned to Gia¡¯s side. Gia was surprised at how smooth the exchange had been, despite Siefred¡¯s caution, and smiled subtly in relief. But he became curious yet again when Siefred began blindfolding his horse, calming the beast with light pats and a light feeding of dried apple. Then with a sudden shockwave, the bridge shook as though the earth itself was trembling. Gia spun around from his perch and stared, struck by awe, as the colossal stone monuments which had seemed bizarre before now came to life. The otherworldly sculptures shook off the sand that had caked their marble joints and extremities, then approached them with frightening pace. Siefred, apparently unalarmed, disarmed himself as they came close. Then when beckoned, he handed his weapons into their large stone hands and returned to tending to his horse. The sculptures looked ridiculous as they inspected the tiny weapons with their oversized eyes. But they were peaceful and even bowed as they returned the weapons to their rightful owner. Gia, shocked by what he had just witnessed, looked to Siefred for confirmation. Siefred, noticing his star-struck glance, chuckled, then took a deep, calming breath. ¡°Don¡¯t hold your breath yet, the show¡¯s not over.¡± He muttered under his breath. Gia let out a puff of disbelief, then turned to face the giant gates which had begun to slide open. Huge cogwheels could be seen spinning at each side, pulling the colossal frames apart. And as the deafening tick tock of the door mechanism faded, a wonderous city revealed itself. Compared to the flat desert behind Gia, the city hidden within was a world of verticality. Towers upon towers and buildings upon buildings, sometimes organised, sometimes not, piled on each other. Rusty metal signages hung at every window, each stylized to advertise their particular trade. And the streets, which were cast in shadow, even in the broad day light, were illuminated by glow lamps and coloured with hanging rugs and tarps. Shops lined every stretch, and where there were clearings, children could be seen giggling as they tussled on sandy soils. Compared to the stylistic, stone-obsessed capitals of home, this was as close to an entirely different world as Gia could¡¯ve imagined. ¡°Impressive, is it not?¡± Siefred said, following Gia¡¯s gaze, ¡°Welcome to Sakriel.¡± After taking pause to admire the view as well, Siefred reached into the chest pocket of his jacket and pulled out a little wad of paper. He pricked his finger and pressed the small stream of fresh blood into the paper¡¯s centre. The wad fizzled then popped, transforming into a fairy. It squeaked in delight at seeing her master then quickly flew into the desert. ¡°The convoy will be here soon. I¡¯ve just informed them of Sakriel¡¯s safety.¡± He explained to Gia. Gia nodded in understanding. ¡°So¡­ Shall we take a look inside?¡± ---- Substitute Captain Varina Rhodes was the first to spot the flittering fairy approach the convoy. She smiled, knowing there was only one rider in the entire convoy who¡¯d use such a messenger. ¡°Alright boys pack it up, we have all clear.¡± She shouted orders at the rest of the corps. As the riders scrambled to ready up, Varina rode towards the guarded carriage and knocked serially on the door. ¡°Yes captain?¡± Carmen replied as she opened the door. ¡°We are ready to enter Sakriel.¡± ---- ¡°I guess we could grab something to eat while we wait.¡± Siefred offered. Gia nodded eagerly, then slid up the saddle and began riding slowly into the city. Siefred frowned, surprised that his horse obeyed the servant boy, but eventually decided to follow. The glowing neon streets of Sakriel existed in fantastical hustle. Amongst the drifting scent of fried foods and perfume stores, people in huge numbers rushed past one another, occasionally stopping to view goods or taste delicacies, but always seemingly heading somewhere or another. ¡°Hey look sir! Over here!¡± Gia shouted from amongst the shifting crowd. Siefred flowed through the masses with experienced steps, then arrived at the store Gia was signalling from. ¡°Right.¡± He murmured, ¡°What are we looking at here.¡± A hoppingly excited Gia entered his view. Before him, a shabby storefront with multiple shelves had on sale a multitude of simmering pots. Each pot heated and bouncing with boiling soup, leaking with the distinct tantalising aromas of desert cuisine. ¡°Simmer town.¡± Siefred smiled as he identified the shop. The shop owner turned to Siefred as she heard the name of her store. ¡°You an oldie, young¡¯un?¡± The well-endowed, plumpish lady grinned as she waddled over, ¡°This ¡®ere store has changed lil since the sign wen¡¯ down after all.¡± ¡°Ah no¡­¡± Siefred waved his hands, a little embarrassed, ¡°I¡¯ve just visited once or twice before.¡± ¡°Oh? That¡¯s oldie enough for me.¡± The store lady winked. ¡°Ere¡¯.¡± She said, ¡°I¡¯ve a copy of the ol¡¯ menu for oldies like ya. Choose whatchya want and I¡¯ll spin ya up.¡± The lady chuckled, handing Siefred an old crusty menu from god knows when, then waddled back to work, yelling orders at the top of her lungs. Gia hopped over, interested in the conversation that had just gone down. ¡°Well that seemed interesting sir.¡± He commented, ¡°What did you discuss with the lady?¡± ¡°Whether I wanted steamed cactus with orb weaver, or golden legs and desert carrot.¡± Siefred replied with a sarcastic smile. ¡°Ohhh¡­ Orb weaver sounds delicious!¡± Gia said, scratching his head, ¡°It wasn¡¯t on the menu though.¡± Siefred laughed happily in reply, then waved at the shop lady. ¡°An orb weaver, steamed cactus simmer pot please!¡± Chapter 3 - The Hope (3) Gia slurped down the last sip of the hearty cactus stew and sighed in contentment. ¡°That was amazing Mister Siefred!¡± He exclaimed, putting the bowl down. Siefred nodded in reply, sipping at his order of melted iced tea. ¡°The convoy should be arriving soon, let¡¯s return to the gate.¡± He replied, standing to leave. In the half-hour that had passed, only a wisp of the massing crowds that they had squeezed their way through remained, and the duo walked freely inspecting the stores on each side. Shop owners had started to relax, bringing out their own luncheons and refreshers, and the buzzing atmosphere retreated into a calming oasis. Siefred pulled out a cigarette and lit the end with a tap of his finger. Rings of sunset orange glowed faintly, then faded around his finger tip. With a puff, he smiled. This was a much-needed break from the panicked riding of the nights before. And in a way, Gia was to thank for this leisurely down time. Perhaps, it was a blessing in disguise. Siefred chuckled. He turned to face to his young companion, and found Gia occupied, wrist gasped tightly by an old shrunken lady. ¡°Young boy! You have a dark aura around you!¡± Siefred heard the grandma exclaim as he retraced his steps, back towards the straggling Gia. ¡°U-uh, I¡¯m not sure what you mean madam¡­¡± Gia replied shakily, a bit surprised. ¡°The desert spirits avoid you! There is a void of their light in your aura¡­¡± The lady continued. Siefred approached Gia from behind and supported his shoulders. ¡°What¡¯s the problem ma¡¯am.¡± He spoke on behalf of Gia, tapping his cigarette ashes onto one hand. Upon closer inspection, the lady¡¯s irises were milky white. She stared blankly past both Siefred and Gia, seemingly blind to the world. ¡°Oh! A bright flame! Where did you come from darling?¡± The lady snapped unnaturally onto Siefred, as though she could see into his body. ¡°We are part of an envoy from a nation far away.¡± Siefred answered truthfully. ¡°I see¡­ The magic of another nation... Or not?¡± The lady smiled warmly, then turned back to Gia. ¡°You... The younger one.¡± She continued coldly, ¡°Beware of your path in these drought lands, death is but around the corner.¡± Gia nodded suspiciously, then after a silent moment the lady let go of Gia and strolled away leisurely, leaving behind only her words of warning. Siefred, cigarette dangling from his lips, glanced strangely at Gia and turned the boy around to face him. ¡°You¡¯re a strange one.¡± He commented, inspecting his face. Gia smiled awkwardly under the inspection and shrugged. ¡°Aren¡¯t we all a bit strange?¡± He replied and waved away the smoke drifting toward him. Siefred considered it, then chuckled. ¡°Perhaps.¡± He smiled, then gently pushed the boy down the street, ¡°Well let¡¯s hurry, the convoy is waiting.¡± ---- The duchess and the princess were deep in discussion as the carriage approached the gates. In their conversation, none of them had taken note the giant statues lining the road, nor the gargoyles watching their every move from above, but Carmen was nonetheless aware. Sat with her legs crossed, she raised 3 beautifully manicured fingers and presented them to the princess.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Sakrilege will only be a few hours away once we reach Sakriel.¡± The Duchess said calmly, ¡°Let us revise our plan in meeting the Sakrin Lord. Of which there are three major points.¡± The atmosphere in the carriage was pulpable with nervous tension. ¡°Firstly, we shall ensure that your royal highness is in a safe and easily escapable position at all times during the encounter.¡± Carmen explained, ¡°Captain Varina will be your guardian. Her call sigil is the wolf.¡± Princess Camella nodded. ¡°When we pass the magic check at the palace, your royal highness will ask for a moment of privacy, Captain Varina will accompany and begin the retreat.¡± Carmen stated, pulling back a finger. ¡°With the introduction of Gia¡­¡± She said, taking a deep breath, ¡°Well. I will handle his presentation.¡± ¡°But as planned, after the exchange, your royal highness will be on standby, in a secure location, and an unnamed rider will pass on the stone and continue as royal guard. From there you will return to the kingdom, without me.¡± Carmen pulled back another finger. ¡°And the last point¡­¡± The duchess murmured, staring past her final raised finger and at the princess, ¡°is for you to always trust me, and only me.¡± Princess Camella smiled weakly, then nodded once more. ---- When the carriage finally entered Sakriel, most of the riders were still in shock over the living spectacles that they had just witnessed. Such was the show of power. Even substitute Captain Varina was slightly unnerved as she scanned around the city entrance for her vanguard scout. ¡°Looking for us?¡± She heard someone whisper from behind. In a snap, she spun and drew her sword, only to be met with a smirking Siefred and a startled Gia. ¡°Calm down captain, we¡¯re only in Sakriel.¡± He chuckled, pinching her sword and guiding it back to its sheath. Varina exhaled with discontent. ¡°I will never understand how you can be so leisurely in enemy territory.¡± She said, pinching the bridge of her nose, ¡°You and the captain, always had this weird energy.¡± Siefred smiled sadly. ¡°Well, it is how it is.¡± He said. The group stayed silent for a while, contemplating their late captain, while Gia stood, rather confused. ¡°Anyway,¡± Varina cut the uncomfortable atmosphere, ¡°Our job is almost done. We¡¯re only a few hours away from the capital, and we¡¯re only taking a break, not staying the day.¡± Siefred frowned. ¡°Really? Surely the riders are exhausted,¡± He commented, ¡°If anything goes poorly in Sakrilege we will be unable to retreat proper-¡° ¡°We will be fine.¡± Varina said forcefully, a cold expression on her face, ¡°The King¡­ no our kingdom, needs this as soon as possible.¡± The conversation came to a close, and Gia shuffled uncomfortably around the tense aura of the two adults around him. He considered providing a word of support but was eventually distracted. A hustle of soldiers had begun to approach them, swords sheathed, but nonetheless looking rather threatening. They were Sakrin soldiers, wearing grey capes of purple Insignias and dark tanned armour which wrapped tightly around their abdominals and arms. They appeared rather ominous, with red markings of a ring of bloodied swords engraved on their shields, marking their allegiance. Gia gulped as they continued to approach until they stood only a few meters from the group of three, then slammed their shields in a salute. ¡°Princess Camella¡¯s entourage. Welcome.¡± A senior looking officer spoke as he approached, ¡°I trust that you are Captain Varina.¡± ¡°You would be correct¡­¡± Varina paused and studied the officer¡¯s uniform, ¡°esteemed general.¡± The two extended their greetings. ¡°And the princess? How is her condition?¡± The general asked, ¡°Our Lord is very eager to meet her.¡± Siefred glanced cautiously around and back at the carriage, which had now been surrounded by the rider corps. ¡°She is well, and also eager to meet.¡± Varina replied calmly. ¡°That is good to hear.¡± The general smiled, cocking his head, ¡°Could we have the pleasure of greeting her royal highness in person?¡± Captain Varina paused. Scanning the Sakrin forces, she could tell that they were vastly out-numbered, about three to one. Only a few hours ago, Duchess Carmen had instructed her to prevent any unnecessary encounters for the princess, but looking at the situation now, she couldn¡¯t see a reasonable solution. A small bead of cold sweat formed on her forehead. Suddenly, a calming hand placed itself on Varina¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Yes, you may.¡± Said Duchess Carmen, apparently having let herself out of the carriage. ¡°The princess is ready, however I must ask that you conduct yourself.¡± She continued, smiling gracefully. The general bowed. ¡°Duchess.¡± He greeted, ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure.¡± Carmen nodded curtly in response. ¡°Yes, it certainly is.¡± She said, ¡°But let us continue talking in the carriage.¡±