Head in the Clouds

Chapter 1: The Warrior, The Prince, and The Royal Guard

Part 1: The Fear of Unknown

"D, look out!"

Deidre stepped aside in just enough time to dodge the sword inches from her face. Undeterred, she dragged the blade of her brand new sword across the stomach of the man before her. He screamed in agony as the iron pierced his skin.

"You little-" he screamed as he held his side, but he was cut off as soon as Deidre raised her leg forcing him to the ground with her foot.

With the man on his knees she placed the tip of her sharp blade onto his fat, scruffy neck, and looked at him a bit sideways as though he was the most pathetic thing she had ever seen.

"You little what?" She asked pressing the blade a bit deeper. Deidre, always one for mercy, relieved some of the pressure on the blade when he began spouting blood.

The man winced much to Deidre's delight. There was nothing she loved more than seeing her enemy terrified, but strangely enough, the man stopped seeming so afraid. Even more disturbingly, a smirk spread across his chubby face, and in the depths of his blue eyes, she could see the reflection of a figure approaching her.

"No!" The second man cried.

In one swift move, Deidre kicked the first man to the ground, now having him lay on his side, and swung around with her sword, now placing it on the neck of the man beside her as though she was ready to chop it off. The second man, a much skinnier, much sadder looking man was a lot less of a foe than the man wheezing on the ground.

"Hand it over," she instructed. She was in no way angry at either of these men. She was more so angry that they would stoop so low as to attack her from behind.

The man dropped the sword to the warrior's feet and in another display of quickness, she kicked the handle up grabbing hold of it and pointing the end to the man on the ground. The second man seemed terrified while the other wailed like an idiot.

"Koeneke!" Shrieked the bandit. Clyde rode up on his steed, laughing all the way there, "You couldn't even fight a girl when she wasn't looking?"

Clyde laughed heartily, "This 'girl' just so happens to be the best warrior Jericho has to offer. Well, second best."

Three of the royal guards, Henry, Paul, and Andrew, rushed over on their horses leaving the other goons tied up along the trail. As they got off their horses to tie up the two other men, Deidre finally lowered her weapons.

"Prince Clyde!" The first man gasped as his hands were bound.

Usually, Clyde would have gotten off his horse to greet townsfolk, but seeing as they had just made off with loads of gold from the mines he didn't feel too cordial. Still, he was thoroughly impressed by Deidre's performance.

"Second best, huh?" Deidre rolled her eyes.

"Don't feel too bad, D, I'm a hard man to beat," he joked.

The girl placed her sword into her holster and looked at the pathetic display in front of her. Ten men all bound by rope after a mine heist. They left three workers wounded and the others traumatized after all of that. The worst part, they might have gotten away with it if The Royal Guard hadn't shown up so soon.

Though it may have been seen as ridiculous to have such well-trained fighters run after a couple of goons, the group didn't mind. For quite a few years, there hadn't been much trouble between the kingdoms or any individuals in particular causing the world to remain in a state of rest and peace. Even though this was great for the people and governments who protect them, this state of calm left the new generation of warriors and fighters a little too bored.