Beyond this World - Dragon warrior (Book 1/?)

Chapter 4 (Part 1)

Tundra walked up towards Aaron just as Sir Cameron was walking away. The two glared at each other but said nothing; Sir Cameron out of spite and Tundra because even if she did he wouldn't hear it.

"Where were you out this early?" Aaron asked curiously, but also so he could live up to Sir Cameron's expectations.

"Out preparing some things. You are taking the prince out to play by the slopes, yes?" She waddled past and walked up to a patch of flowers that grew on their own; a prickly plant with a bright pinkish-purple flower caught her eye. Her tail wagged happily.

"Do you like thistles?" Aaron walked up to her and sat beside her. He scratched the back of her neck. Her tail wagged some more before she answered him.

"Yes, I do like them. I'm not much for flowers, but these are an exception." She replied. Aaron was happy to learn more about her; who would have assumed something that is considered a monster among the humans and other races could have so much depth to their personality.

More and more people began to arrive to the training ground, after spending so much time with Tundra he figured there was in fact enough time to change outfits. He couldn't care less though, for this was a gift she had given him and he would always wear it with pride.

He stood up and caught a glimpse of Elias and decided to greet him. The boy with hazelnut hair flinched at the sight of him. He laughed, wiping the tear from the corner of his eye. "That look, it suits you quite well!" He said as he continued to giggle.

"What are you laughing for, you breadstick?" Aaron locked his arm around Elias's neck and ruffled his hair. The two laughed together now.

"I thought mister high and mighty had forgotten about his peers." An outside voice spoke; Aaron knew immediately who it was and turned sour. "He spends one day with the prince and shows up in fancy clothes the next day to gloat." Chattering rumours aroused among the other squires that Aaron's goal is to exploit the prince.

"Lloyd; you always just pop out of nowhere, don't you?" Aaron gave him a scornful look. Elias was uneasy with the situation; he fixed up his hair. Aaron sighed, it was unsurprising that those kinds of assumptions would spring up but it was still agitating it happened.

"He must have given the prince his body for those rags."Lloyd came up with the most provocative line he could come up on the spot. It earned him a nice knuckle punch in the face. A red streak of blood appeared under Lloyd's nostril. The other squires shouted, someone must have slipped past Aaron's sight and went ahead to inform the guards. Aaron grabbed him by the collar and stared him down.

"Not only are you throwing mud on my name but you are sullying the name of a prince, one that will marry our princess. I'd watch my back if I were you; it is treason after all." Aaron abruptly let go of the blue eyed boy. Lloyd glared at him coldly before spitting in his face; his saliva partially mixed with his own blood.

Aaron's blood boiled and he pulled his hand back to hit him once more, his arm was grabbed and the young man was pulled away. He turned around to see an angered expression of Sir Benjamin, their instructor; and the disappointed and saddened expression of Sir Cameron.

Aaron averted his eyes from his mentor. He could not hear what the other knight was telling him; that image that he disappointed Sir Cameron made him uneasy and filled with guilt. He was dragged away; Tundra tried to intervene but the sorrowful look in her friend's eyes told her not to. She sat down calmly and did nothing as such were his wishes.

Sir Benjamin dragged him through the halls and tossed him into a cellar. "Sir Cameron loosened your leash too much. A day here should put you back in your place." A harsh sentence that made Aaron realize the situation he found himself in. He scoffed as he left and mumbled how he had to explain this to the prince and apologize for the change of plans.