Chapter #2: The Path
1571 Words
Amadeus paid a visit to the Royal Guards he will be handling.
He can hear a clash of metals and guards murmuring with their distinctive Royal guards’ armour that comprises a steel cuirass, pauldron, bascinet, and their padded pourpoint on his way to the yard.
As soon as he arrived, the Royal guards who saw Amadeus walk-in stopped their training and greeted him.
“I have heard a lot of great things about you, Sir Amadeus Galiet Licand my name is Miran Palad,” Royal guard Miran chirped.
As he reached his hand for a shake, “It’s nice to finally meet you!” Miran said.
Amadeus receives his handshake.
“As am I,” Amadeus said.
“Sir Amadeus, My name is Kleon Redard. It’s nice to have you with us,” said the Royal guard Kleon, who got close to greet him.
“Redard, you are related to Sir Luke Redard,” Amadeus asked.
“He is my older brother. So I see you two have already met,” Kleon replied.
“Is it true, though, there’s no man that has won against you in a duel or war?” Miran asked.
Amadeus chuckled as soon as he heard that.
‘That is true, but only because I am not much of an honorable man,’ Amadeus thought.
“Some news is exaggerated. I have lost some battle and received some wounds with it,” he replied.
“Of course it’s true,” Luke said, barging into the conversation.
Pointing to Amadeus.
“This man here fights like a champion, some of his fellow brothers said. He fights like he doesn’t want to die,” Luke said.
“Of course no one wants to die, you stupid bastard,” Kleon retorted while he laughs at his brother, and the rest of the guards join in.
They continued to talk for some more time. Finally, closing in the afternoon, Amadeus said goodbye to the fellow guards to prepare his things and meet Princess Beatrice for their departure.
In his quarters, he took his steel-plated breastplate and gave it a good look.
“You saved me a lot of time. Once we reach Grearia, I will make sure to give you a proper rack for you to rest,” he said.
With a clunk and leather tightening, is how his armour replied as he wore it.
Amadeus equipped the rest of his armour. He raised his Steel Longsword amazingly with one hand.
He glanced at the blade of his long sword before he sheathed it at his side.
“I hope to never get a chance to use you on this trip,” he said.
On the pouch on his belt, he puts his werewolf wooden toy.
He grinned, thinking about his appearance.
“Safe, boring, and quick is good,” He said, like a warm-up before stepping out to leave.
Amadeus walked to Queen’s Chambers and saw the Royal Guard Luke Redard waiting for him.
“Sir Amadeus, did you forget your helm or the rumors are also true, you never wear one,” Luke said as he clasped his bascinet in his side.
“Sir Luke,” as he greets him.
“That one is true. If they can develop a helm where I won’t feel blinded, then I might,” Amadeus said jokingly.
“Well then, it might take long before that, but right now, my men and I are ready for your orders,” Luke said.
“Let’s go meet our Royal highness,” Amadeus said as he signalled to the Queen’s Guard for his appearance.
As the Queen’s Guard knocks, “Your Majesty, Sir Amadeus, and Sir Luke are in here and ready to meet you.”
“We are proper. Let them in,” Queen Catherine replied.
The two stepped to the Queen’s Chamber, bowing in front of the Queen and Princess Beatrice in her elegant, silky red dress on a velvet shawl and hooded cape.
“They are really taking this seriously. I should be more focused on any signs of troubles,” Amadeus thought, seeing the Princess’ appearance.
“Your Majesty, we are fully prepared and ready for departure. May I ask one thing?” Amadeus inquired.
“Yes, you may,” The Queen replied.
“Are we expecting direct trouble?” Amadeus asked.
“Not really, but moving with caution and secrecy is what I asked,” The Queen replied.
“Ask you wish, your majesty,” Amadeus replied as he bows once more and prepares to leave while Luke has taken the hand of Princess Beatrice guiding her.
“Your majesty,” Luke said, bowing once more before leaving the Queen’s Chamber with Princess Beatrice.
While they prepare the horses for departure at the yard, Amadeus is still unsettled; he asks the Princess, hoping for a better answer.
“Her Highness, I would like to ask you something,” Amadeus said.
“Please ask, Sir Amadeus,” Princess Beatrice replied smilingly.
“On, what is the real reason for this secrecy? To be able to efficiently protect you, we must need to know what we are up against,” Amadeus asked.
The Princess takes her time and gathers herself before she explains to Amadeus.
“I was to be betrothed, to an unpleasantly young Lord here at Grisaia as The King wishes for me — but upon meeting the man,” she said.
She stopped herself for a moment to gather her words before continuing.
“Your Highness and I quickly disapproved of this said man, but he is known for not taking no as an answer. My mother thinks it would be best if I was back in Grearia,” she said.
A troublesome lord, as he sighs with that thought.
“Thank you, her highness for clearing things up with me,” Amadeus said.
Twenty Royal guards mounted on their horses and ready to go. Luke comes close while mounted on his horse, extending his hand to help the Princess to saddle.
Amadeus felt good on this trip with the recent information he gathered. Next, he checked the map for a possible shorter path to take.
Looking at the map with his torch, he finally found one; an unknown path leads straightway between the forest.
Amadeus saddled his horse and ordered his men to move out. The Royal guards followed as well as the horse neighing to their command. He moved in front to lead the team out of the city of Grisaia.
On the road, Amadeus visualises what Grearia City would look like now as he hasn’t been home for years. However, he is eager to be home as soon as possible.
The horse rides vigorously, galloping on a paved road near Grisaia. Then, suddenly, one of the Royal guards from the back calls out to Amadeus to stop.
“What is it?” Amadeus asked as he saw it was Miran.
“There’s something you need to hear from a traveler, come Sir!” Miran said.
Amadeus rides his horse to the back, reaching to see a feeble older man with a distinctive small half-moon-shaped tattoo on his forehead with his torch and trinkets to sell.
Upon seeing Amadeus, the older man didn’t waste any time and explained.
Pointing to the shorter path Amadeus is planning to take.
“Sir, I was explaining to this young man, about the dangers of that road,” he said.
“Especially as night is closing in,” he said as he looked at the sky.
Amadeus halts his horse and dismounts with ease.
“What kind of dangers are we talking about?” Amadeus asked.
“Beast my good Sir! Bigger than you think. With white silver-haired moon-like color,” The old man looks to the forest with a worrying look.
“Oh, what he has become… and he will soon need a flesh body for dinner,” the older man said while he trembled as he explained.
Amadeus looks to the forest where his short path will lead.
“Wolves won’t be able to get near us,” Amadeus said.
He turned his look to the older man.
“We have torches and blades if needed and if you are talking about werewolves, those stories that you memorized to increase sales, then I just need to buy some trinkets from you and we will be safe, right?” Amadeus said mockingly.
The older man didn’t recognise his mocking and instead gave Amadeus an honest answer.
“Oh, this won’t help you much Sir, but I will be glad if you buy some,” older man replied.
“Alright, I’ll take this one,” Amadeus said as he took a wolf shaped ring and paid the older man.
He put the ring in his pouch.
“This would pair nicely with the toy. Wait for a bit, Grearia I will be there soon!” He thought.
Amadeus returns to his horse as he waves goodbye to the older man, mounting his horse and rides to the front to continue his way, leading the team to the shorter path.
The older man can only watch as the Royal Guards leave.
- Writer
