knights

Chapter Two: Untouched Memories

Chapter Two: Untouched Memories

Radiira Forest; the border line between the Empire and the Asthyfra Kingdom, among the great trees with leaves forever painted in reds and gold stands the Tower of Faer, a meeting place that was once used for nations near and far long ago, but now falling to ruin. I remember it from my first trip here when I left the Empire all those years ago, I was sadden to see such a landmark fall victim to the hands of time. My eyes fell upon it back then with such relief that I couldn’t help but get teary eyed, it had become a symbol of peace to me, a sign that I was no longer on the Empire’s lands, but somewhere safe and out of their reach. Yet here I am again, traveling through the very same forest that brought me to a safe haven I could actually call my home, only this time bringing me back in the other direction, back, to them.

“Gah! My feet ache, my back hurts! Who signed me on for this trip anyway?” Kyle whimpered, his hands behind him, rubbing the lower portion of his back.

“Stop your complaining! No one wants to hear it you oversized twig!”

“Excuse me?” Kyle shot back, turning around to face the annoyance behind him.

“You heard me, I mean, you should have with those big monstrous ears of yours.”

“Can you believe that thing behind us Daren? She thinks she’s insulting-OW! What the heck man!”

“That’s what you get you loud mouth wussy!”

Kyle whined loudly while limping quickly away from his attacker. The trip to the Empire was going to be a long one, especially since most of us were on foot. Being completely covered with heavy hot armor surely didn’t help much either, but it was the formal way when visiting another country. Fortunately for me however, shortly after we departed I was told I no longer had to wear the full armor.

“You do realize you only gave him one more reason to complain, right Merlie?” I commented while looking back at the red head.

“He always has something to complain about,” Merlie began with a wave of her hand, her dark green eyes narrowing at Kyle’s backside. “Besides, it felt good stumping his foot, should’ve stumped it harder…” She said the last part quieter, a devious smirk forming across her thin narrow lips.

Sometimes I wondered if she just didn’t like violence, or if she were secretly a blood thirsty maniac. Ever since her promotion to the Royal Guard, her actions have been a bit… on the wild side to say the least, her furious eyes always searching for the next eruption of chaos. If I were to want someone by my side in battle, it would be her.

“Sir Daren?” An elderly voice spoke from a small distance away. Glancing over my shoulder my eyes locked with Welferd’s, the old man who has been a close friend to the Royal Family for generations. He’s a gentle man, very polite and heart felt, he’s the kind of guy people would go to with their problems. From what I’ve learned just by speaking to him, he is a very keen listener and one of the best in the kingdom on war strategy.

“Is something the matter?” I calmly asked, slowly my pace so that Welferd could catch up.

“Oh no, nothing is wrong my good Sir. It’s just that Princess Leanah would like your company.”

“My company? What for?”

“She would like to meet her mother’s personal guard, that is all that she has told me. Would you come to her coach?”

Giving Welferd a slight nod, the thought occurred to me that maybe this was the reason why I was told I no longer had to be in full gear?

Turning toward the coach, I was stopped abruptly by Kyle, his eyes wide while his lopsided grin couldn’t help but make its presence known once again. I already knew what he was going to say, and even when I raised a hand to silence him the guy couldn’t keep his mouth shut.