An Ocean of Fire- Supercorp AU

4- Knights and Memories

The first few minutes of their ride was a gallop, but they eventually slowed to a steady trot. 45 minutes  later, they were approaching the gates of Thon. Fira and the archer urged their mares into a gentler walk, and Lena tugged up on the reigns. The stallion huffed and shook his head once, holding it high beside the other horses.

Lena and Kara tilted their heads back to look up at the enormous walls of Thon. White and grey rock formed towering structures, topped with alcoves for archers and patrolled constantly by foot soldiers. Decorated cavalry soldiers on equally decorated horses stood at the ready beside the giant doors that lead into the city. They crossed their fists over their chests in a simultaneous salute. "Captain!" they shouted together.

Fira nodded at them once and urged her white horse past them.

Soft lips and warm breath caressed Lena's ear. "Keep your eyes open. Bolenthians have always been friendly to Kryptonians, but your brother has given cause to start many wars. Be on your guard."

A shiver trailed down Lena's spine, and she nodded. The streets of Bolenth were clean, arranged in a large circle, with one giant thoroughfare down the middle of the city and smaller arteries that branched from it. Vendors, stalls, and small shops were set up along the main road, selling everything from clothing to live animals and musical instruments. A steady buzz filtered through the air around them: gentle tinkling and the occasional laugh, mixed with ambient market noises.

Soldiers along their path would occasionally stand at attention and salute Fira, and she would casually dismiss them with a nod of her head or a wave of her hand.

Kara and Lena received hard and worried looks from those same soldiers just as often, and Lena found herself unconsciously tightening her grip on the reigns. The stallion puffed out a breath and tugged back on them, and she blinked several times before loosening them once more.

Lips found her ear again, and the hands on her hips gave a gentle squeeze. "Easy... we'll get through this, Princess."

Lena patted the stallion on the neck in apology and blew out a breath, nodding and scanning their surroundings for the hundredth time. "I just want to get as far away from Luthoria as possible."

Kara nodded and tilted her head up once more to survey the castle gates as they approached.

"I agree. Leave the talking to me, we'll be out of here in no time."

"Princess Kara Zor-El, I told you that if I caught you sullying the graces of my doorstep again that I would personally send you trussed up and bloodied back to the gates of your father."

Lena froze and her eyes widened with shock, turning to slowly look at Kara.

She frowned to find her eyes crinkled and amusement toying at the corners of her lips.

"Captain Lazari. Are you still upset that the treasurer of Krypton bested you in a match for the hand of Knight Captain Danvers?"

He slammed his fist into the wood of the desk in front of him and Lena nearly leaped from her skin, reaching out to grab at Kara's wrist.

"It was a rigged game and you know it! You Kryptonians were never going to let anyone else win!"

Lena swallowed past a lump building in her throat and she nearly hissed at Kara. "Are you trying to get us killed?" she whispered.

Kara gently tugged Lena closer and sighed, looking down at her and shaking her head. Her eyes were still twinkling as she addressed the shorter brunette.

"The egos of men are fragile, and must be delicately soothed. Like babies."

Emerald green eyes widened in fear, and her heart began to pound. Kara simply grinned down at her. "In fact, if given enough to drink, they may even wet themselves in the battle arena."