Amelia's Serpent

Chapter 3. Dad

I woke up in the middle of the night drenched, Venice snuck into my bed. But wasn't worried about that, I was distracted by my mom talking to someone, so I threw on a white skirt over my dads pants, if they saw me wearing them I could be arrested.

I hadn't worried about guards before,
But they didn't look happy.
Well they never are but they looked... sad?

I walked down the stairs, "Mom, something wrong?" She looked at me with a worried face and started crying slightly, "Sit down."
the guards left and I sat at the table.
"its dad isn't it?"

All she did was nod, and I knew.

"Your father was found dead."

I have to admit I wasn't surprised.
But for the first time in a while I cried.
I can't see, everything is blurry,
"What, W-w..."
And I can't spit out a single word.

The solders left his helmet and a pre-written letter of consent from the king.

He wasn't even worth an ACTUAL letter from the general.
It still makes me sick.

I ran upstairs, threw my clothes into a bag and Venice followed me out the door, I was in a small top and an underskirt but I ran out anyway.
It was raining.
I ran to my dads spare armor and helmet and threw it on. before dad entered the war, he taught me how to fight, wear armor, ride a horse, use a weapon... And now there's nothing holding me back from going.
"If they see you cross dressing they'll kill you." He'd say. I wasn't about to let that stop me.
I mounted my horse when I heard a scream
"WAIT!"
"Cherry, you can't stop me from going."

The red panda mutt looked around frantically.
"Fine."
She tried to act cool but...
It wasn't working.

"Fine?
You hate soldiers and you hate war."

"So do you-
Wait that's not the point.
I'm coming with you.-" "But-"
I tried to interrupt but she did it back.
"But, you need help getting where your going. Your horse isn't a pack mule. that poor thing can barley hold you and that armor let alone your mace, your supplies... your dog..."
She pointed to Venice on the rump of my horse.
"You need help."

Before I could reject she was riding bare back on her horse with my emergency bag and Venice had made herself comfortable on her lap.
I guess I have a travel buddy.

"Fine, try to keep up."

We rode,
I wasn't sure where she thought we were going but she followed me all the same.
We stopped at a lake to sleep and when the sun finally rose,
we met someone...