Medicine | King Baldwin

50

"Where are you headed, good lord?" Isabel asked Simon, her voice curious, just as she was about to step into the carriage alongside the king.

"I'm headed to the eastern borders with a small troop." He replied as he effortlessly mounted his horse. "A routine inspection, if you will." Isabel looked up at him, her concern barely masked as he adjusted the reins in his hands.

"Godspeed on your journey." She said with a gentle smile as she reached up and adjusted the delicate veil draped over her head.

"Take care of yourself, my friend." Baldwin said as he stepped up to Simon's horse, giving the animal a gentle pat on the neck.

"Do you know me as someone who doesn't take care of himself?" He smirked as he posed the rhetorical question, his tone light but confident.

"I suppose not." Baldwin replied, his voice tinged with humor. He couldn't help but smile at Simon's characteristic bravado, a nod of acknowledgment serving as a farewell as he stepped back.

"May all of you take care of yourselves." Isabel called out to the soldiers lined up behind Simon, each mounted on their horses.

"Your Grace." The men straightened up a bit at her words, offering respectful nods. Her concern for the soldiers didn't go unnoticed. Her words had a calming effect on the men, a small but significant reminder that their queen cared for their well-being.

"Open the gates!" Simon shouted, his voice echoing through the courtyard.

As the heavy wooden gates creaked open, revealing the road ahead, the soldiers urged their horses forward, the rhythmic clatter of hooves filling the air. He glanced back briefly, catching a final glimpse of Baldwin and Isabel as they stood by the carriage. He offered a subtle nod before turning his attention back to the road, leading his men out of the castle grounds.

"They are brave men, do not worry for them." the king said, stepping beside her as he noticed the concern etched on her face.

"I know they are." Isabel turned to him, offering a small smile, though the worry in her eyes remained.

As they settled into the ornate carriage, they felt the gentle lurch as the horses began to pull them forward.

The grandeur of the royal palace slowly faded into the distance, replaced by the more worn structures that lined the city's modest quarters. The elegant facades of the noble district gave way to simpler homes, their walls showing the wear of time and the harsh desert climate.

The streets, once wide and paved, narrowed into tighter alleys filled with the vibrant pulse of everyday life. Here, the air was thick with the scent of spices, baked bread, and the mingling of countless conversations in different tongues.

Isabel gazed out of the carriage window, her eyes scanning the scene before her. The city's beating heart lay in these quarters, where the people lived their lives with a resilience born of necessity.

As they traveled deeper into the city, the presence of its people became more prominent. Children, their faces alight with curiosity, ran alongside the carriage, their laughter echoing through the narrow streets. Some of them, recognizing their king and Isabel beside him, waved enthusiastically, their innocent joy a sharp contrast to the struggles their families might face daily.

Isabel smiled warmly at them, her heart swelling at the sight of their unbridled happiness. She raised a hand in greeting, and the children's cheers grew louder, a ripple of excitement spreading through the crowd.

The carriage continued to jostle gently along the uneven road, passing through markets where vendors hawked their goods, from colorful fabrics to fresh produce. People stopped in their tracks to watch the royal carriage roll by, their expressions a mix of reverence and curiosity.