Valadel

Chapter V

Danticus saddled himself upon Ivory. Her golden mane shined like the rising sun, and her snowy pelt glowed in the light of the morning. A truly magnificent steed. Tytus Baronstone rode up beside him on his chocolate brown horse, Forthwind. His black hair was cut short and his goatee wrapped around his chin. His skin was of chocolate, like his horse, and his eyes were like pools of ink. He examined Danticus, studious and observant of the new recruit.

"You're packed then?" He asked Danticus

"Yes sir. Enough food for the trip there and enough gold for the trip back."

"What about for your horse?"

"Plenty of apples and water."

"Excellent....but where?" Tytus asked, nodding off to the uneven number of saddlebags strapped to the rear of the horse.

"Here," said Adelyn, in her soft voice, handing the Danticus the lofty bag of treats for his horse. She had come to see him off for Valdor, a little disappointed he had to leave so soon. After a brief meeting the night before at the marketplace, to which Adelyn tended a flower cart, he told her of his journey. She promised she would send him on his way.

"Thank you." Danticus smiled, taking the bag from her hands in a firm grip and strapped it to the rear of the horse. He looked at her warmly, to which she shyly returned the favor.

"I'll return soon. I'll visit you when I do," he said reassuringly.

She smiled playfully. "Do hurry back. I'm not fond of having my toys taken away from me, especially when I've seldom played with them."

Danticus smiled deviously after her flirtatious suggestion, which in turn caused Tytus to uncomfortably clear his throat.

"Yes, lovely. Are you ready?"

Danticus somewhat reluctantly pulled his eyes away from Adelyn. "Yes, I am, sorry to have kept you waiting, Sir Baronstone."

Tytus scoffed, but decided to not play rough with the new recruit. "Gallador must really like you if he's letting you ride Ivory. Now, let us start our journey. We don't want to waste any time."

Danticus and Tytus trotted away on their horses, Danticus taking one last long look at Adelyn. The way the silk of her dress accented her curves, how her hair turned to chocolate curls atop her shoulders, the gleam in her warm amber eyes. She smiled and waved her hand as he strode off, but Danticus only wished her hand was in his.

"Eyes on the road, lad," said Tytus with a smirk.

Danticus shook his head. "Right. Apologies." It was foolish of him to make himself hot and bothered as they left. He had only the horses and Sir Baronstone, and neither were as pretty as Adelyn.

Tytus half smiled and shook his head. It was to be a long journey.

*****

They rode along the great road into the lush, green hills of Jorden. Soon, the capital city would be quite a distance and the dusty, desert roads of Valdor soon be their path. Danticus noted that the grass had already become more sparse, and the soil more rough. Jorden was warm country, but not near as hot as the sun soaked kingdom of Valdor. They trotted on their horses for some time in silence, both men tired from rising so early.

"So, Sir Baronstone, if I may ask," Danticus started, "are the stories true?"

Tytus sighed, and rolled his eyes, but there was hint of a smile on his lips. Every newly made ranger asked him this question. "Some, yes."

Danticus pressed on. "Which ones?"

Tytus looked at him with enigmatic eyes. "The best ones. "