Flame Forged: First of the Nature's Sword Series

The Quest

"Lady Naer." I turned, tearing my gaze from the window to look at the woman bowing before me. "King Aranand requests your presence in the throne room. I believe he mentioned a ... quest?" she murmured in thought while giving me a smirk. 

I rolled my eyes in exasperation. "I would have went without you trying to bribe me Kathrine. But did he truly mention a quest?" She smiled and rose from the bow.

"I do believe so m'lady." I smiled and nodded, dismissing her with a wave as I looked back out my window to the small town it overlooked. It was the town of Meistre, just below Aranand's castle, who happened to be the king of Estern. A beautiful kingdom, and one of the most peaceful I've been to.

With a small sigh, I turned away and began putting on my usual clothes. Unusual for other's but the one true thing I felt comfortable in, my handcrafted armor was worn nearly everyday. I supposed that's how I was given the titles of The Knight Princess and Princess of Assassination. Two very different connotations, and I earned both.

A quest was no small thing. It meant a dangerous and long journey that ended with rewards beyond imagining, if you can complete it of course. Many warriors have died while on their questing journey. I honestly don't think anyone has been given a quest in quite a while. The last was perhaps seven years ago, and the knight who was sent lost an arm completing it.

I have been traveling kingdoms and provinces for nearly eight years now. That brought me up to the age of nineteen, which was exceptionally young for a knight. Not to mention I was a woman. There was at most around three percent of knights that were female. Most woman had fantasies of being a some lord's lady, or if they already are a lady, to have extravagant and pretty things. 

I slowly wandered the halls to the throne room, watching the bustling life of the castle around me. Maids here, butlers there, a guard or two joking with a friend... it was peaceful. Relaxing. This kingdom hadn't seen war in many years and it showed. Not that the level of skill or the warriors had diminished, oh no. They were fun to fight against, they gave as good as they got with swords, and with words. 

"Naer!" Booming laughter and the heavy smells of cooked food and wine greeted my senses as I entered the throne room. I ignored the guests and walked up to Aranand, giving a short bow. "You requested me?" Aranand laughed and clapped my shoulder rather heavy handed.

"Yes my dear girl! A quest! A quest has been made for you!" The guests cheered and clapped, some laughing while other threw each other concerned looks. He raised a goblet into the air, "To Lady Naer! Finest of the woman knights!" The guests roared in agreement as they raised their goblets, my eyes flicking over them boredly before settling on one. I blinked from the shock. Alextair? He was here?

He tilted his head at me before looking back at Aranand, forcing me to do the same. It wasn't hard to see that he wanted to talk, but at the same time reminding me now was not the time. I grew up reading his body language, and even now it comes back to me so easily. He was agitated, and hadn't been sleeping well. Was the kingdom alright?

I slipped away at the first chance I saw, Aranand being distracted by some noble from somewhere in Estern. I saw Alextair excuse himself to come follow me to one of the more unused corners of the throne room. I spun to face him. "Where are you here? What's wrong with the kingdom?"

Alextair sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Why do you assume something is wrong with the kingdom? The kingdom is fine."

I sighed then raised an eyebrow, tilting my head. "Then why are you here Alextair?"

He took a deep breath. "You. The quest. I didn't expect you to get it and I don't want you to take it. It's dangerous." I rolled my eyes.

"All quests are dangerous Alextair. The quest was your's then?" 

He frown and looked away. "Yes, I issued it. But Naer, don't take it. There are things even now you've been protected from, and for good reason. Please, promise me?"

I shook my head. "What things? What are you talking..." I took a deep breath. "I'm taking the quest Alextair. I've always wanted one, you know that." He rubbed his face tiredly.

"Fine... fine. But I'm sending Laoch with you then." I wrinkled my nose. 

"Laoch? Why?"

"He's not the boy he once was Naer, he's matured. Just... try not to aggravate him," he murmured with a exasperated smile. I huffed and nodded as we slowly made our way back to the crowd, going our separate ways once we reached the nobles.

Laoch had been the son of Theomas's captain of the guard, so we often played together. More often then not our playing ended in us pretending to sword fight with branches we would either break off or find laying about. He would always be in a huff when I won, his father even once saying that I had a lot of raw natural talent. 

The point being though, was that he was always jealous of me. So he began to bully me. Alextair didn't stop it, but I'm grateful he didn't encourage it either. 

Laoch, here? With me? I snorted at the thought.  He wouldn't last a day. He'd upset some noble or disturb some creature. So I have to babysit my babysitter. Wonderful.

I bowed before the king once more. "I would like to start packing immediately sire. If I am to Quest, I would like to make haste." His booming laughter pounded at my eardrums.

"Of course! I expect no less from the KnightPrincess! Go then and pack. We shall see you off!" I nodded respectfully, teeth gritted before I stood fluidly and walked out the doors, shoulders relaxing once I was alone in the hallway.

"A Quest... finally."