A Prince Has Got to Slay

Chapter Three: Allies Of Shadows

🦋Edited🦋

They had found a used wagon and a horse willing to carry them as far as they could. Roman made sure to ration food and water supplies accordingly, making sure nobody stole too much or had too little. If he can't protect his country, at the very bare minimum he can make sure those he cares about are nourished. They had been on wagon for an entire day, the sky going dark whilst in the middle of the woods. Valerie lead the horse through the terrain while Joan leaned on Roman for a nap, breathing heavily. The slash through their chest was deep, it was a miracle they were still alive. They were lucky Valerie was there to stitch up their wound. Roman saw the sky and decided to stop. The party needs rest.

"Halt, Valerie. We must stay for a spell. You and Joan seem like you need it."

Valerie didn't bother fighting Roman in this one, he was right. Valerie tugged on the reins of her steed, halting the horse and brushing them, making sure they realize they are greatly appreciated for the laborious task of carrying them all the way to Serendipity. Roman turned his attention to Joan. How was he going to get off without waking his friend? Valerie walked over and lifted Joan off him, carrying them underneath their arms. Roman slid out of then wagon quick and took Joan himself. He carried them bridal style and waited for Valerie to get the two blankets she packed with her from a kindly old lady in Capitol Muse before they left. Once she set them up in a way where she believed all three of them could rest as comfortably as she could, she stepped back. Roman set Joan in the bundle of blankets and tucked him in as a mother would her child. Well, if that mother wasn't the Queen Of Rome and a Shell of who a person should be. Roman pressed a sweet, platonic kiss to their forehead and stood back up again. Valerie was confused.

"Milord, aren't you going to rest?"

Roman shook his head. He doesn't have time to rest. He isn't tired at all. He needed to make sure the two of them were safe. He failed them before in Broadway, he isn't failing them again. Valerie sighed and went under the blankets, cuddling up with Joan for warmth. Not before long, the two had steady breathing patterns. Roman smiled. He had the horses on the ground sleeping, water out and ready for them when they needed it. Roman had his sword out of its scabbard, ready to face any threats of the night. Roman never liked the night nor did he like the darkness. When he was but a child he woke up in the middle of the night to see his father "punishing" one of the female servants. Needless to say that made him not into women, seeing one as pained yet pleasured as she was. It was disgusting. His father was disgusting, yet he had never said a word. Why? He was a good boy. Was.

A crunch. Roman jerked his head around and moved his body to face the direction where the sound was heard. Eleven o'clock northwest. Roman scanned his eyes through the darkness. The trees and vegetation made it hard to assess the threat. However there was something that gave the bandit away. The gleam of starlight in the lens of their specs. Roman smirked and lunged forward with his sword, maneuvering carefully. He seized the small frame of the intruder and held them up by the collar, keeping his sword in hand in case he needs to slit a throat. Fear ranged through their eyes, their bottom lip quivering. That's when Roman felt something sharp against his back. Without faltering, Roman glanced back at whoever pointed a weapon at him. A very tall, dark man flared at him. He glanced down to the floor. Valerie and Joan were still fast asleep. The horse was undistrubed. Good. That's all that mattered to Roman.

"Let the Royal Go, Romanian."

Ah, so the tall person behind him must have noticed the symbol embroidered on his clothing. The citizens of Rome always had then Kingdom's Emblem on their attire somehwere. Roman turned around, gripping the shirt of the small figure tight. The small person tried to bite his hand, but Roman didn't let them go. A feisty one, weren't they? Roman Tried to identify features on the tall person. Their pale, probably blue, clothing in contrast to their skin meant they were from Serendipity. That's when it registered in Roman's mind. Royal? Roman looked again at the small person who weighed about as much as a doll. Glasses and deep purple hair resting on their shoulders, like Valerie's now is. Roman had met the younger royal who uses they/them pronouns just like Joan once upon a childhood. Roman set them down carefully and watched them stick out their tongue at him and run around to the tall person's side. Even though Roman was salty and very tired, he knew he had to make an apology.

"My apologies, Talyn Of Serendipity. I'm afraid I couldn't recongnize you In the dark. Though I had been cruel, I must ask a favor. There is a threat of the continent to the east, we must warn your kingdom and gather the Alliances together to fight off this threat. They have weapons of wotchcresft and... and..."

The gunshots rang in his ears, it stung. Roman watched the childish and agitated expression fall from the tiny royal's face. Talyn looked way up at the tall person who Roman assumed to be their escort. Roman looked back over at his dear ones. Joan woke up. Their brown eyes reflected the stars. Joan tried to sit up without waking Valerie. She needed the rest more than any of the three, especially after what had happened back at the castle. She hasn't slept at all, just like Roman. Neither of them could sleep after watching the King be slapped by an angry foreign maid. Joan rubbed their eyes and tried to walk over and put their two pence in, but Talyn's concern beat them to the bush.

"Leo, we need to get them back home. Patton and Mommy need to help them! Besides, Jamahl can wait! He can meet us back at the castle."

Leo, that was the tall person's name. Joan yawned very loudly, interrupting the entire dire conversation. Joan put themself into Roman's Arms And rubbed his eyes. Joan was about to say something yet again but they froze, staring at Talyn. Roman was confused, as was Leo. However Talyn was put in the same trance. They were just staring at eachother in silence. Soulmates question mark? Leo rose an eyebrow and took his sword and looked as though he was going to slash Joan, but Roman warned him with a look that would kill, hand on the handle of his own blade. Leo backed off. It was after a few moments did Joan clear their throat and finally say what they wanted to say. That took forever.

"So, uh, Roman. Who are these cuties? I call dibs on the short cute one."

Joan sent a wink to Talyn. Leo looked offended while Roman held in a laugh. Of course. Joan was always a flirt. One day that personality of theirs was gonna get them killed. Meanwhile Talyn's blush practically illuminated the night. It was adorable. Roman noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Valerie got up and dusted off her worn dress. She walked over to Roman me stood behind him, trying to size up these new people with a gaze.  Leo glared at her, not knowing what threat she possessed. Roman had a feeling that those two won't get along as well as Joan and Talyn just had. Roman decided this giant mess of a spiderweb staring contest was enough. He decided that they should head to Serendipity now. Joan can fall asleep riding the wagon, as could Valerie. Leo and Talyn must have a mode of transportation of their own. Valerie hung onto Roman's shoulder to stay on her feet, her fatigue catching up with her. They deserve better...

"Joan, Valerie, this is Talyn. Talyn is a royal of Serendipity. If we are Im luck, perhaps them and their escort Leo will take us there so we can talk about the threat from Dolus."

Roman almost spat out those last words. He was cranky when he didn't have his beauty sleep. Leo nodded and turned around. He was approaching the blankets Valerie set up to help collect them. Valerie was having none of that and ran over to do it herself, nearly tripping on her own bare feet. Roman watched the two of them. Roman disregarded the fact those two didn't get along right away and turned his attention towards the two Non-Binary people of the group. Joan and Talyn tarted a conversation talking about whatever, as if there was literally no threat trying to take down the entire continent. Roman sighed and went to fetch the wagon anencephaly their lovely horse who was graciously carrying them along the way.

He prayed for the best

1448 Words

~Eva