The Kingdom of Vanora

Kingdom of Séverin

30 Cressia of the year 12970(204 Years since Korbin's Brith)

"EL! EL! EL! EL!" Avalon yells my name as he runs down the hall after me, Aveyard, Colt and Arthur.

I turn to face my elder brother. His normally tamed hair is wild as if he's been searching for awhile. What news could he have that is this important? "Yes."

"Brielle, coming to visit." He grins wider than ever as he tells me.

I snatch the letter from him and read the entirety. "...and so is Brisley." Avalon's face falls.

Ouch, I am glad I have to visit Uncle Vaughn. Very thankful I don't have to witness Brisley's legendary snootiness. "Boy am I glad to be leaving today."

"That reminds me we have to go." I turn away from Avalon and motion for Aveyard to begin walking. Colt and Arthur follow suit. "I'll write you from Severin, Lony."

Avalon growls at the nickname. He was never one for that one. I only use it to be a pain. Or to tease him. It's too easy.
_____

"Yes, yes. We have everything." I squeeze out of Father's gripping hug. He grabs the strap of my bag and pulls me back in for another. Here we go. The last time this happened I was leaving for Nuriel. It took over 20 minutes for me, Colt and Carys to leave the citadel.

Please say this is not going to be one of those times. I swear to the Spirit King I won't hesitate to launch Father off me.

"Father we have to go." Aveyard urges Father from on his horse. Easy for him to say. He has a good 4 inches on Father. I, on the other hand, am 9 inches shorter than Father. A good few inches do wonders. Or so I've been told.

I am the shortest of Father's children. Korbin and Avalon are close seconds. They have 5 inches on me. Mother says I am lucky to be this tall. Lucky my arse. She only says that because she's tiny. Mother is the reason I'm not overly tall. Unlike Aveyard who towers over everyone he meets.

Colt's horse shifts its gait. Colt must be anxious to leave. "King Atlas, we must leave or we won't make it to our first checkpoint by dusk."

Father mutters into my head to be safe. He lets go and I mount my horse.

We wave to Mother and Father as we leave. Father calls out one last time. He knows we have everything. He's nervous about having one magic-user going. He'd rather I take Carys or Hadriel or both. He also knows I can take care of anything that comes our way.

"How long do you think it will be until we pass Brielle and Brisley on the road?" Aveyard asks. He urges his horse to keep pace with mine. I slow my horse's pace.

"I never thought of that."

"Who knows how far along they are? It could be tomorrow or the next day or a week." Colt mentions. He is right. We don't know how far along they are. "Or they could be on a different road altogether."

Arthur drops back to my side. He looks puzzled. "Why wouldn't they take the main road? It's the fastest and safest route to Vanora."

"Who knows, perhaps Brisley decided not to take that route on purpose," I shrug. "I wouldn't put it past her."

"Neither would I," Colt mutters. Arthur snorts at Colt's tone.
_____

"This is a good place as any to stop." Colt scans the area for any signs of creatures that could be lurking. You never know. Especially now that night grows closer. The light left from the sun is fading fast.

Seraphina may be safe but it has its dangers. Whether that's the rare dragon, firedrake, syrpant or the occasional witch. Although the latter rarely leaves their archipelago. In the olden days, they were called the seers of Ethos. Now there are so few left. King Roven nearly wiped them out after he failed to heed their warning of the dragons. Bloody waste.