Phoenix Fire

2 - Prince of Self Importance

Hey guys! I'll be real here, this isn't the best chapter. If you want to skip to a slightly better one, Chapter 6 is much better. I haven't had the time to rewrite this yet, so if you want to read some slightly better chapters skip ahead and then come back so you can get more of the basic plot set up. Thanks!

KAENA

I was tired but I couldn't sleep. Not out in the open like that, unless I really did have a death wish.

I put some more branches onto the fire and sat back against the log I was resting on. I had settled in for a long night, but for some reason I felt more tense than normal. Every sense I had was telling me not to let down my guard, not even for a second.

I'd been travelling on foot all day, having sold my horse for food and shelter at the last village I'd been to. The aching in my legs had been worth it for a few nights in an actual bed. I wasn't far from the outlying villages of Camelot, where I knew I'd be put up for a few nights in return for my services. Apparently they had a group of nasty bandits on their hands which they couldn't get rid of, so I knew I'd be payed pretty well for getting rid of them. Certainly enough to keep me going for a month or so if I was careful, and maybe there'd be some left over for a horse on top of it.

My eyes were getting droopy but I forced them open and held tighter to my sword, praying I had enough energy to last the night.

It was a few hours later that I awoke with a jolt. Shit, I must have fallen asleep. It was the sounds of twigs snapping that had awoken me. I'd trained myself to be a light sleeper, and it came in handy at times like these. With my left hand I slowly took out a knife from my belt, and with my right I adjusted my grip on my sword. The prickling sensation at the back of my neck told my that my first instincts had been right, I was definitely being watched.

My fire had almost gone out, just a smouldering heap at this point, but it was on the edge of dawn. The darkness that had surrounded me only a few hours before was beginning to lift.

I stayed very still, waiting for another movement, steadying my breathing.

Then the sound of voices and horses, moving at a slow pace.

"If I could actually feel my legs I might be able to go a bit faster." Someone said from behind me. It sounded like a boy, probably not much older than 18.

"Oh quit complaining Merlin, it's as though you've never ridden a horse in your life" Another voice, a boy also, probably about the same age. Judging from the confidence in it, this would be the person I'd have to look out for in a fight.

"If you'd actually let us rest I might actually be able to-" The first voice went silent. They were close now.

"What was that?" The second voice asked in a hushed tone.

Another twig snapped. So they weren't the ones who had been watching me. Oh god, was I going to have to save them as well as myself? Was I going to have to fight on two fronts? I didn't think I had the energy for one fight, let alone two.

Suddenly men ran into the clearing from all different directions, and I was up on my feet. Instinctively I whipped around and threw my knife right into the chest of a man carrying an curved sword. Smugglers. I should have known.

I didn't have time to look at the two boys as I was busy facing another threat. A man was running at me with a longsword. I quickly deflected his blow and the man lost his balance momentarily. A moment was all I needed to knee him in the groin and as he was bent double I hit him hard the head with the hilt of my sword.