The Dragon Stone

Chapter 10

                        After Elmar was buried the party began riding on the road toward the Red Keep again. This time Kaston rode ahead of them with a couple knights to scout the path. They were all more alert now, looking for danger behind every rock or ridden in the trees. It was hard to ride when you are constantly looking for danger so the going was much slower.

"So, who would want us dead?" Kalin asked Pyria while they rode thru a valley, with a stream to the south of them.

"I have been thinking of that ever since it happened." Pyria answered. "I can only come up with one answer. But I cannot believe it." She rode in silence for several moments.

Kalin thought to herself. "King Ned?" she asked to Pyria.

Pyria looked at her and continued to ride in silence.

"He would never endanger his own son. His own heir." Kalin stated but with little conviction.

"Was his son ever really in danger?" Pyria asked not waiting for an answer. She bucked her horse faster until she was up with Prince Dorian.

Kalin rode along the road with remembering over the entire situation and Pyria was right, Prince Darion was never really in any danger. He was riding a good twenty yards ahead of the three of them. But why would King Ned want Elmar dead?

She also remembered the arrow coming so close to her that she really could have been killed. At first she thought it was intended for Elmar. But maybe it was intended for her, after all it was on her left side and Elmar was on the right side. She now knew that arrow was for her. But why?

Orist rode up next to her. "Elmar, liked you. He liked you a lot."

She looked over at Orist, "I liked him as well. He was always nice to me. I am sorry for your loss, I know you and he were good friends for years."

"Yes, we were close and had traveled on many occasions. I really liked his mind, he challenged me often." Orist said sadly.

Kalin thought for a moment before asking, "Who do you think would want Elmar dead?"

"Hard to say, he had his share of enemies from his time in the Wars. He was after all a double agent for Yukonia." Orist said.

"Yes, but why would King Ned want Elmar and I dead?" Kalin asked.

"Maybe, it has to do with the Red Keep, you both wanted to go." He inform me.

Kalin sighed "Yes, maybe." They continued to ride until a group of bandits stopped them.

"Oh look boys we got royalty." The leader said sneeringly. "So princey what do you got on you to give to a handsome guy like me?" He said winking at Kalin when he said handsome.

Kaston shifted in his saddle. "Oh so you know who I am, that saves some time." The Prince said while laughing. Which shocked his whole company.

"My prince, why are you laughing?" Pyria asked.

"Well they think they can hide it from me but I know they are not bandits but my father's guards." He said looking at them. "Why did my father send you?"

They all looked fearful of him. The Prince continued "And you are from his personal guard. "I have no idea what you are talking about princey." He told Dorian. "Yes, you do, I recognize you." What was your name?" Dorian asked himself but then snap his fingers and said Brandon hale!" Dorian exclaimed." Yes, I am and we were sent to kill Kalin to send a message to all of you." The guard stated.

They looked to the Prince to what he would say next. He looked like he was in deep thought. Then he spoke again but in a superior tone. "Move out of our way now!" The prince commanded the guard.

"I will not my Prince, for your father told me to only listen to him no one else." The guard told him. "I will fight you Prince if I have too." The guard warned the Prince. "Then you will have to but I want you to deliver a message to my father tell him that we will go to the Red Keep and find answers to our questions with his permission or not." the Prince stated.

"So be it." The guard said then lunged towards Kalin but was stopped by the Prince's spear.

"Why don't you fight me instead?" The Prince told him.

"You do not scare me, Prince." The guard said.

"I wouldn't want it any other way." The Prince says getting off his horse.

"Dorian what are you doing?" Pyria ask him with an agitated and worried tone. Dorian didn't answer because he made the first move. The whole party stared in shock that the Prince was fighting. He was lighting fast with his spear. The guard was shocked at such speed. Kalin thought for a moment this was the first time she saw him fight but she could tell this went deeper than any one of them knew.

The way he fought it was like he was part of the wind, moved with such fluid movements and quickness that is surprised the entire group of bandits. He first hit the leader in the back of the head knocking him unconscious then he moved to the larger group of bandit's making sweeping motions to knock their feet out from under them. He then slashed several with the blade across their chests. Just seconds after the Prince jumped off his horse all the guards were laying on the ground unconscious. The Prince then walked up to the leader and said "Go deliver my message now." The leader got up still dazed from the princes attacked and ran away to deliver the Princes message. The Prince got back on his horse.