Mad Hatter || Sleepy Bois Inc. Fantasy Royal AU

Chapter Six - The New Adversary

[A/n: angst angst angst angst. Haha enjoy.]

Techno pushed Carl faster as the sound of galloping surrounded him. This was not ideal...

An arrow whizzed past his head, hitting a tree that he quickly passed. This was not how he expected his day to turn out.

❦ ❦ ❦

Techno waited at the gates of Azgeda, main city around the palace. He sat atop Carl, listening intently for the pair of monarchs and the Queen trailing them on horse. Guards passed him as they patrolled the walls of the city, and Techno tapped his fingers against the hilt of his sword in nervousness. Soon, a carriage approached the gates, Wilbur's mop of brunette hair poking out the window, "Good to see you Tech! Ready to go?"

Techno nodded, releasing a sigh, pulling the boar skull over his face. He turned Carl's reigns, signalling for the guard to open the gates, then he galloped past them, ahead of the carriage. A group of soldiers on horses also surrounded the carriage, Queen Lysanna's elite guard. The Queen herself took up the rear, and they made their way towards Demetria, the next major city of the Antarctic Empire. The journey would be about two days long, if they rode day and night, four if they rested during the nights. The group passed through forests and fields for the first two days of the journey before they encountered the adversary.

Techno sat atop Carl as everyone rode at a trot, moving slowly forward. He was scanning the area, his boar skull protecting his face from the chilled air. Queen Lysanna rode beside him, looking over a map, "If we take this pass, where would it lead us?"

Techno leaned over and glanced at the map, "That takes us towards Kari, which we aren't supposed to visit until next month."

The queen nodded, holding the map up towards rhe sun, "Your territory is so confusing..."

Techno chuckled, "Not exactly... it's just vast."

Qyeen Lysanna laughed alongside him, "True... you grew up here didn't you, I'd bet you know it like the back of your hand."

Techno turned towards the Queen, "How did you know that?"

The Queen turned towards him confused, "I'm... sorry? Know what?"

"That I grew up here?"

"Uh, I... I was referring to the Empire..." Queen Lysanna softly spoke.

Shit, Techno thought. "What were you referring to?"

Techno silently sat on Carl in thought, trying to decide whether or not to tell the Queen the secret. He glanced at the wagon and the elite guard that surrounded it. They were far out of earshot, so he began the story.

"All of us were born in different parts of the empire. Demetria is my homeland. When I was 7, Phil found me and took me back to the palace with him," Techno deliberately left out how Phil found him, and why he took Techno back with him, "Back then, I was named Dave, but a new life requires a new name and when I started to be called Techboblade by the public... well, Techboblade seemed pretty fitting."

The Queen watched the eldest prince as he shared, "As all of us grew, we were all endowed lands, and Phil gave all of us the lands we were born in... symbolism i suppose. So Demetria is not only the place a grew up, but it's my lands now," Techno grinned wickedly, "They hate me, so... expect a bad time. It can't be helped though, it's a main territory."

The Queen nodded, noticing he was deliberately holding back information, "Alright, I'll tell the soldiers to be on their guard."

She slowed her horse to join the elite guard and Techno released a deep sigh. Only Phil knew what happened that day he found him. Not even his siblings knew of the horrors that day. Techno shut his eyes, trying to shut the memories out of his mind. The thoughts and memories of that day were so loud, and persistent. It had been over a decade since that day, and not a day has passed that he doesn't think about it, even if it's in his sleep or waking hours, for a few minutes, or agonizing hours... not a day has passed since that it doesn't invade his mind.