The Red King [Book II]

XXI

With a letter signed and stamped officially by King Julian himself, James left the palace gates with no more suspicion than a cursory glance.

ㅤHalf a day's walk away, James' horse ducked its head in exhaustion. Well-trodden roads were sore on its hooves, the stone bricks unforgiving.

ㅤVillages and towns clung along this route as the gold coins clinked in merchants' pockets. Common people sifted through the gaps, unwary of the pairs of soldiers peacefully patrolling in lighter armour, leather squeaking with each step.

ㅤBetween hamlets, other travellers set down aside on baked grass, groups chatting amongst others, chuckling at their discomfort in camaraderie. Horses ravenously gulped down buckets of water with wild bulging eyes as if manic.

ㅤNo one particularly noticed James more than they heeded his horse's personal space, oblivious that it was army-trained.

ㅤEventually, they found respite by a great bridge, the animal drinking straight from the river bank on the luxury of dirt, its body panting under James' soothing hand. Its swishing tail offered a stir in the air.

ㅤThe bustle of the road was behind them. Travellers chatted and laughed like excited packs of dogs. The world passed by without his input.

ㅤ"Let's go."

ㅤHe clicked and the horse grudgingly did so, its snout dripping as it snorted witheringly.

ㅤ"You're lucky I'm not hungry," he muttered, his encouraging pat contradicting his words. "I've had your cousins on a plate before."

ㅤPiercing into the claggy forest on their quiet dirt path, they followed the shape of the brown river, birds shouting over the racket of the rumbling water. Waxy leaves stretched out for the sun overhead, sometimes sighing with a breeze in bliss.

ㅤWith tired, aching eyes, James let them rest for a moment in a slow blink.

ㅤThey opened in a jolt, his heart racing. It was darker, clouds stewing overhead as his horse obediently continued on its path. He let go of the breath he was holding.

ㅤThe river had cut through a gorge, steep slopes of dark stone holding them in its god-like hand. Houses stood in this divine refuge, cut into the flesh of the landscape. A rope stretched across both sides of the valley.

ㅤJames dismounted and approached the two boys playing in the river.

ㅤ"I'm telling you!" one exclaimed. "Put this in your hair and stay in the sun."

ㅤ"Not a fucking chance," the other, shorter, teenager outright refused. "I'm not rubbing more of your nonsense shit into my head—not after the last time. You're having a fucking laugh."

ㅤ"I'll do it then."

ㅤ"Uh-huh. Go on then."

ㅤThe two were knee-deep in the water, lingering by log steps. The taller of the two had a lemon and he thoughtlessly chomped into it. A beat passed and his face screwed up in horror, holding his mouth open in disgust. The other cackled, doubling over.