The Reformation Wars: Countdown to Catastrophe

Chapter 4

Manfred arose mere minutes after the very top of the sun's circumference peeked over the Monteraynian Ring to the east, the same direction he and Nathan would be traveling all day. As the luminary's heat was even slower coming than its light, a chilly bite hung in the air. And appropriately so, as this day was the dawn of the first day of Automoi, Monterayne's autumn month.

After making a brief stop by Nathan's quarters to awaken him, Manfred headed to the stables to tend to their horses. His own speckled white mare Fidelity greeted him with a soft whinny and a poke with her nose. Manfred gave her a slight smile and patted her gently while entering her stall to groom and saddle her up. Once he'd finished that, he led her out to the pasture to graze while he returned to the stable to repeat the process on Nathan's mount.

The older gelding named Endurance offered Manfred only minimal interaction as he cautiously groomed his silky coat of fur, a unique gray that shimmered in sunlight and appeared handsomely muted in lower light. The only time Endurance showed any zest was when Manfred opened the gate to allow him to join Fidelity in the pasture.

Just when Manfred settled himself in a leaning position against the fence, footsteps shuffled through the moist grass heading his way. He glanced up to see a groggy Nathan approaching.

"You weren't kidding about getting an early start." Nathan grumbled, tired eyes glancing over at the rising sun.

Manfred nodded. "I wasn't. The sooner we can get to the bottom of all this, the better."

"I guess you're right. So, just how far into Alconte are we going?"

"I asked Sir Holt about that this morning. There's actually—"

"Wait a minute, he's awake this early too?" Nathan asked with incredulity entrenched in his tone, "What's wrong with you people?"

Manfred smirked slightly. "You can't start the day too early if you're a man of our responsibilities."

"To each his own, I guess. Anyway, so you were saying what about our trip?"

"Yeah, Sir Holt said there's a weapons market pretty close to the border. Normally two and a half days' ride, but he told me about a shortcut through the mountains that will save us half a day."

"That's good." Nathan said, "And no incidents last night?"

"No incidents."

"The crook must know we're onto him!" Nathan jested, immediately letting out a loud chortle. Manfred only smirked and laughed through his nose for a second. Then Nathan's eyes settled on their two horses, and he grinned. "I still can't believe it, Manfred."

Manfred looked up with a furrowed brow. "Believe what?"

"Your horse was quite literally gifted to you by Princess Kate herself, from her own possession, no less, and yet you still deny that there's even a chance she fancies you."

"She's engaged!" Manfred huffed, "I guess...she just likes my friendship."

Nathan rolled his eyes and snorted. "Oh blind man, when will you wake up and see? Clearly she likes you for more than your smokin' friendship, fiancé or not."

"Well...she's already engaged to Captain Troy now. And there's nothing I can do to change that."

"Maybe so. But you could have prevented it in the first place. You've told me yourself; you knew her first. She's had those emerald eyes on you for a long time, but since you refused to do anything about it back then, her father had to come along and make her commit to something. Well, in reality, she already had, but was waiting oh so patiently for reciprocation."