Golden Sword

Chapter 1

Thursday, May 26, 133 AV was a sunny and bright day, which was exactly the opposite of her mood. Keika's journey to a new home, and a husband she had never met, began a little after 11:00 AM two days after the visit with her mother. After an emotional farewell by her family, personal friends and the staff, the party exited through the rear gate of the Royal Otania stables. As the gate opened and they started out, throngs of citizens wishing their Princess well on her trip and blessings for her future greeted them. The cheering crowd lined the road for entire departure out of Hamilton and some had even spilled outside of the city gates to see her off. It was nothing like the lackluster crowd that had seen Cynthia out that same gate following her wedding not long before.

Keika, on Zenobia, was dressed in a white battlesuit with matching garrison cap. She rode in front of the column of troopers, to the right of Devin. Anubis trotted just to the right of Zenobia. Keika waved and blew kisses to the crowd and caught several flowers thrown in her direction. She put on a show of being happy and excited, even though she felt none of that inside. The Captain and his ten horsemen were clearly impressed by how much her people loved her. She overheard one of the troopers behind her remark that they never seen anything quite like this in Mercedium.

Continuing south, the group followed Hinton Road and then Main Road South to the crumbling trails that used to be Rt. 460, now called Mercedia Road and headed west. Not much had been said after the departure from Hamilton. Keika realized that the men in Devin's unit were the same men she had met in the field in the valley three years before. She had embarrassed some proud men that day and they weren't particularly inclined to forget that right now. Devin seemed to be in a bad mood and she decided that there was plenty of time for questions later. Due to the late start, they only made about eighteen miles the first day and camped for the night without incident.

Everyone was up and ready for a good days ride early the next morning. The atmosphere seemed to have lightened a bit over breakfast, and everyone shared the rations they had brought along. The Princess knew soldiers and what they wanted in the field, so she had brought extra rations in the carriage her father had sent with the group. Good fresh vegetables, fruit and cheese, as well as dried and salted meats were very welcomed by the troopers. This all went a long way to easing tensions for the trip ahead. The camp was cleaned up, and they were on their way by 7:00 AM.

The column traveled at a comfortable, but steady walking pace for the horses. No particular formation was being maintained. Devin was alone at the head of the column with the rest straggling along behind him. Keika had been traveling beside Syr Shen and Alexander, as she had the previous day. She turned to them. "I think now may be a good time to get a little information out of the good Captain. Stay here, I'll return later." Shen nodded. "As you wish, my Princess." Urging Zenobia into a trot, she quickly caught up with Devin.

"Mind if I join you, Captain?" she asked. He looked over at her and smiled. "I doubt that any man would ever reject that request. Of course, Fairy Queen, it is my pleasure to ride at your side. How may I help you?" She smiled back, "Well, first of all, I don't even know your last name, you are Captain.....?" He laughed, "My apologies....Sheridan, my lady, Captain Devin Sheridan of the Royal Mercedian Army at your service." He bowed from his horse. "I assumed that you knew everything. It is a bit of a relief to find that you do not." She laughed, "No Captain Sheridan, I am neither clairvoyant nor omniscient. I only knew your first name because I overheard you and your brother speaking together on that day in the valley.....and, well, speaking of your brother, how is Eric?"

His smile faded a bit and his gaze returned to the dusty road ahead. He hesitated a moment before responding. "Ahh yes, my dear brother Eric. It was he who named you the Fairy Queen, and he remains bewitched by you to this day. Eric is a man of duty and self control, however, and he has done well.....is a hero of the realm. He has been promoted to Major and remains my superior officer. As far as his personal life, he has had numerous ladies, but nothing serious.....at least serious for him."