The Ancient World Order

Chapter 5: Alden Mandos of The Empire

The tall towers of the Imperial palace and the Nero Chapter were blistering in the morning light. Nearly touching the sky, they dwarfed their neighbouring buildings in the mighty Capital, Avenheim. It was the largest Imperial city, founded by Magnus himself, as he set out on his campaign to unite the human kingdoms of the Western continent.

Travelling on the Imperial high road, with women and children along with an additional hundred riders and knights, the journey had been long and slow. Alden grew restless as they had been taking breaks at every inn they had passed, and there were plenty of them. His sisters Milena and Emma had been fighting and nagging at each other all along the way, and Eilas had been caught in the middle.

The difference between the Mandos and Telea family got clearer by the day. Emma looked just like her mother, with her green eyes and long ebony hair, acting all lady-like. She believed that any kind of manual labour was unworthy of a high born. Even though it had been her long-life dream to see Avenheim, she had been constantly whining about the ride.

Milena looked more like her father, with blue eyes and the typical Mandos golden brown hair. Slim and tall, wild and crazy, as her father always said about her. She was like a mare that couldn't be tamed. Often, she was absent from the so-called lady education. Instead, she was out in the courtyard, sparring with swords against.

Eilas was the diplomatic one, proper mixed blood of house Telea and Mandos. Although with his blue eyes and dark brown hair, the resemblance tilted more to the favour of his mother. He was a highly practical and educated person. Everything he did, he did it with great seriousness. Most of all, he enjoyed history. But lately, he got interested in engineering, something Wilfred had been told not to waste his time on.

"There he is!" A dark voice and a familiar voice shouted out behind Alden.

Alden turned around, spotting his father with the company of sir Heim and several knights approaching him. Alden had ridden ahead of the party, as he had gotten annoyed by his siblings.

"Alden! What have I told you hundreds of times now? You stick with the column. There is no telling what you will find on these roads." Wilfred said.

"It took Emma forever to mount on her horse at Green Clove's Inn." Alden protested. "We would have reached Avenheim by now if it wasn't for her."

Sir Heim and the other's in the escort nodded in agreement behind his father.

"Oh, is that so?" Wilfred said with a mocking tone. "Maybe if you have helped her more, perhaps teaching her how to ride better. Maybe she would feel more comfortable in her saddle. She is only eleven, after all."

"We have sir Kent for that!" Alden replied as his father got closer. "If he can't teach her, how could I?"

"Stay here!" Wilfred grunted to his escort.

Sir Heim and the knights turned around.

Alden regretted what he said. He knew that his father gets furious when he speaks ill about his family in front of others. However, he realised it was something else to it. Wilfred had a strange and worried look on his face.

"Forgive me, I will take her riding once we get settled in." Alden apologised as Wilfred had reached him.

At first, Wilfred looked uncertain, not knowing if he would school him or just drop it. Then he formed a large smile on his face. He was pleased with the apology. "Leave it for another time, we will have a busy schedule once we get there." Wilfred patted him on the shoulder. "It seems that the city I visited four years ago is not the same. Or so I have heard from the chatter in the Inns."