Aetherian(Part 1): A War Begins

Darien

 It was midnight when Darien and Damien crossed the border between the Snowlands and the Swamplands and to a village north of the city of Angelgrass. They immediately set themselves for dinner, since they hadn't eaten since their brawl on their way from Snowfall. Even at midnight, there were still people throwing darts at targets and playing billiards across the floor.

"I can't believe there are still people down here," said Darien. "It's past midnight. I'm exhausted."

"I know," agreed Damien. "Want to throw darts while we wait for our food?"

"You go ahead," said Darien. Damien went to the targets on the wall, while Darien felt like he could fall asleep at their table. When his eyes grew heavy, he felt someone grab his hair, and pull his head back, and his eyes shot open. It was a girl with silver eyes, and dark hair only an inch long, wearing a red sweater with long sleeves under a dark vest.

"Getting tired there, Knight?" the Epsilon asked, letting go of his head. "Your dinner isn't even here, yet."

"My brother and I have been on the road since midday," said Darien, as the girl sat on the side of the table next to him. "At least he still has the energy to throw darts. What's your name?"

"Tessa," said the Epsilon.

"Darien."

"Darien Busch?" asked Tessa. "Ser Darien Busch?"

"Right," Darien answered.

"I thought you would be in Mistral," said Tessa.

"Well, Queen Alicent travels all around Aetherian once a year, and my brother and I decided to go with her."

"I thought you hated her."

"I did for a while. She did try to kill me in my sleep."

"Woah."

Suddenly, Damien called to him, saying "Darien, I may have screwed up." He had his hands in the air, and a few Knights were pointing assault rifles at him. They all wore green armor and had helmets crested with a red sea turtle, the sigil of House Marivaldi, the Lords of Angelgrass.

"What did you do?" Darien asked. Suddenly, he heard clicks behind him and turned around to a squad of gray-armored Knights with the green frog of House Ingram cresting their helmets, pointing rifles at him. Standing between the Knights was Edward Ingram, the new Lord of Riverford, and Dedric Ingram's son. Darien didn't try his luck in combat, this time. These were Knights and soldiers, not drunken brawlers.

"Ser Darien, Lord Damien Busch," Lord Edward announced. "You are both under arrest for the murder of Lord Dedric Ingram."