The Oreans

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

A Sad Reunion

"Alen, I'm going to wait for you downstairs, okay?" Adrien called to him from outside his room.

"Yes, I'll be there in a minute," he said, looking at his reflection in the mirror by his side table. With his raven hair nearly as long as Divan, he looked paler and skinnier, but his blue eyes sparkled. He had never felt more excited in his life. He thought of the places he had long longed to see, places he had just read in books and now only a short distance away. More importantly, he was about to meet the most prominent company of knights in the kingdom, and if he was luckier he would be one of them by the end of the day.

Alen tied his cloak. But just as he was leaving his room, he caught sight of the neighboring house through his window. He went to peer and saw through the leafless branches of a mahogany tree that the boards had been removed from the windows. Through one of them, a faint aroma of cooking drifted into his nose and made his stomach grumble even if he had already eaten breakfast. In the backyard, an old man was raking the dried leaves that had accumulated in the entire period that it was unoccupied. Alen wondered who their new neighbors might be.

The neighing of horses reminded Alen of what he was supposed to be doing. He hurried out of the room and down the stairs. Adrien was outside the house, saddling their horses. The young man was wearing a black hooded coat, but underneath it Alen saw the garment much like the one he had seen on Dreiden the other day saved for three golden linings around the neck, which was apparently the mark of his rank and a rapier sheathed beside his leg. Soon the two of them were out on the street, which was heavily carpeted with dried leaves.

Finally, after an entire week of being confined to his bed, he was riding again. Initially, he had been afraid he would fall off-what with the lack of practice, but to his great relief, Rapido, Divan's gift to him at the start of their journey together, was unusually well behaved. It obeyed his slightest manipulation. That must be because it had had a week's rest and been given enough attention by Adrien, which was apparent in its shining black coat and metal shoes.

They rode in silence for some time through a vacant stretch of land, which ended in a small stream. Then, crossing the narrow bridge over it, they entered a maze of three-story houses and shops. The sun was still low in the horizon, but most of the establishments were already open, their keepers standing by the door, stretching and yawning. Some of them greeted Adrien and asked about him, but Alen's attention was hardly on them. His thoughts were drifting to what lay ahead, his initial feeling of excitement had given way to nervousness-what with the prospect of meeting the commander of the Oreans.

He never had been in the presence of someone from the Circle of Ministers. He hoped that the stories about the commander were true. He thought he'd better ask Adrien. "Uhm, Adrien, what's the commander like?"

Adrien turned to him with an understanding smile. "Don't worry about Lord Melvil," he said solicitously. He's a very kind and patient man. Rose D'Ore has not had a finer commander for decades. He loves his men and brings out the best in them. He's particularly fond of the trainees because he likes children. "

"Will he give me a test?"

"He may, but it shall be nothing beyond your ability."

"Nothing beyond his ability?"

Did Adrien mean a test concerning seeing the aurea? That would be very easy for him. But what if it's not like that? If I pass the test, will I be knighted at once?

"We'll see"

"I haven't seen you for ages, sir, huh?" a booming voice startled Alen. It was from a large bearded man standing in front of one of the shops. He was clearly addressing Adrien.