Alfenheims Warlords (a SAO fanfic)

Chapter 34

Sinon slowly trotted her Ghostly Horse alongside of the Princes Darkness Horse while Lisbeth on her Bronze Horse, the Maidens on foot, and about three full units of Elite Reavers followed them towards the nearby village that may just outside the walls of the castle.

She remember her last trip there but now she was actually looking at it, it reminded her a lot of the villages from the Alfenheim world. The roofs were all brick or thatched, the walls wooden and seemed European in nature with the only differences the materials being used to make those structures as well as the occasional gardens sprinkled around.

The road they went along was made of bone and while the group soon stopped at the edge near a stable, the Prince paid for the horses to be housed there for the moment while the Reavers all spread out with only Theodosiuses unit staying with them.

Sinon looked around as her quiver and bow on her back jiggled slightly as she watched a few spirits, some ghoulish undead, and a few banished Alves were present as well.

The main road they stood on was lined with carts and stalls full of various items for sale and trade and while herself, Lisbeth, and the Prince took point for the group, the Handmaidens and Theo's Reaver unit staid roughly a few yards back to maintain a respective distance while also being on the lookout for trouble.

While they passed along, Sinon noticed many of those around them gave a bow to their direction which made her almost give a confused look before she remembered that the Prince and herself and maybe even Lisbeth were considered royalty.

She looked at some of the stalls nearby and looked over he ares available there. She saw pits and pans of the bloodiron types as it seemed that women and housewives with children were the primary ones around those stalls, likely seeking new kitchenware to replace old or broken ones.

There was a small cart selling various plants and vegetables she hadn't seen much, mainly cause she hadn't seen Hel farms, but the plants seemed edible enough albeit a bit horrific as one looked like a bleeding tooth.

At another stall sat several blades and knives as several people seemed to be anxious around it and as she watched, the blacksmith gave a deep bow to the Prince while thenPrince walked up and then picked up one of the blades and began to inspect it. The Reavers all stayed back a distance but as Sinon glanced to Earthshaker, she could tell how the General was moving his hands along his shield and Siege Hammer that he didn't like this one bit. Which made her nervous too while Lisbeth said, "Hmm.. I wonder what sort of quality of weapons they have."

"That quality in fact would be considered inferior to your and the Princes weapons however it's a good weapon for farmers to have an protect themselves with." Said Sanginium as she got close to speak.

"Hmm... interesting." Said Lisbeth when then the Prince gave the knife back and said to the blacksmith, "Good blades... try and not to sell them to people who'll try and kill me."

The man could only bow to the Prince as then the Prince nodded before continuing on while Sinon and the others did their best to keep up with him.

While they went along, Sinon then heard a loud sort of laughing and as she turned to look down another road, her stomach took a twist she hadn't expected when she saw the four men being surrounded by three scantily-clad alves.

"Ah... the Brothel... if it didn't have good way to keep some folks happy... I would've burned it down myself... but I can't if I want to keep the more rowdy of the populace docile..." muttered the Prince as he appeared next to her, following her gaze.

"I'm surprised your not as cold as your are to our friends." Said Lisbeth.

Kommando suddenly winced as that kinda did sting but then he sighed as he said, "Its easy to stop a problem if its your enemy... it's harder when they look like one of your own... I could try and slaughter all of them but the populace would become my enemy... and if I want a kingdom.. I need people in it."