Castle on the Hill

Chapter 3

On the way back through their own village, the group stopped to collect some supplies for their longer trip to the west. Belansoa was much more isolated than the other kingdoms, which was part of the reason most didn't know much about them. Nobody ever came or left from their village, and Skeppy had never dared to get close to the mysterious kingdom's eastern border.

They traveled through a forest out past their own city limits, stopping only once the last splash of color had faded from the sky. Something felt oddly comforting but equally eerie about the forest they were camping in. Not wanting to draw attention to themselves, they built only the smallest necessary campfire as the group settled their tents.

There were three tents, one for Skeppy, one for his father, and one for the knights and Ranboo. There was enough room in the third tent because one knight would be awake at all times keeping watch.

The five sat around the small fire, keeping warm as they ate the traveling foods they had brought with them. Skeppy glanced over at Ranboo, who was sitting next to him beside the fire. The light of the flames danced in his eyes, his attention not leaving the fire in front of him. Skeppy couldn't read his emotions from under the mask he wore, but he wondered if Ranboo had unvoiced opinions about him coming along on the trip. Skeppy hoped the boy didn't regret joining them on the journey.

...

Skeppy rose from his tent feeling stiff and cold the next morning. He quickly stowed the cloth away and placed his packs back into the bags of Diamond's saddle. He wasn't sure what to expect from today's destination, but he figured it was best not to worry about it until he got there. Ranboo looked tired when Skeppy spotted him helping the knights pack up their tent.

"Sleep alright?" Skeppy asked him.

"As best as I could out here," Ranboo said, folding up the cloth.

"I hope you don't mind coming with us on this trip. I know you're new to your position and this probably wasn't what you were expecting. If you don't want to-"

Ranboo cut him off. "Nah, this is much better than being at the castle doing chores and standing around. Don't feel bad, even if I look tired or worried, I'm okay and I'm happy to be along."

Skeppy smiled at him and the two quickly finished clearing their campsite to leave. In the new light, Skeppy felt a strong sensation of deja vu from the circle of trees around them. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a voice was nagging, trying to get him to remember why he was feeling so strange. He pushed the thought away, despite having an idea of why his subconscious didn't like the woods.

Skeppy took a deep breath before hopping on his horse and following behind his father who was leading the way through the western forest. The ride was long, much longer than the trip from his castle to the castle of Albaya, which could be completed in a short hour or two. The group had traveled through the entire previous afternoon and for the better half of another day before they reached a sign post in the woods. Entering Belansoa Territory - Outsiders Not Welcome.

Feeling a shudder down his spine, Skeppy longed to turn around and be anywhere but here, but he knew this was necessary if it meant preventing the start of a war. His father charged on, not hesitating at the sign like Skeppy did. Leaving the castle yesterday, Skeppy had not been expecting to be strolling into enemy territory with a brand new servant and only two knights. He brought Ranboo along because he wanted another friend to spend time with at the beach and to show the other kingdoms to a kid who had grown up only knowing life in Katini, but this was not it.

I'm walking us into a death trap, Skeppy thought, hoping none of the others could sense his fear. There was nothing but rumors of Belansoa outside of their own walls, so Skeppy had only ever heard the worst of them. But maybe, just maybe, they weren't like the rumors at all, maybe they were a normal kingdom with a normal royal family. Maybe everything would be fine. Yes, everything would be fine. Skeppy straightened up on his horse, prepared to not let anyone see how scared he was.