Midnight Rider

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Tanwen made a brisk pace back to the camp and arrived a few days after her discovery. The egg weighed heavy in her mind but when she saw the gates approaching, she knew she had made the wise decision. She trotted through saluting the guards as normal. And made her way to the stable. She jumped down and untied her packs from the saddle and slung them over her shoulder. Patting Artax's neck, she passed his reins to the stable boy.
“Get that buck to the kitchens for me like normal.” She ordered the stable boy, flicking him a coin from her pouch. “Aye ma'am, I’ll see to your horse and get someone to pick it up straight away.” He said with a grin. Tanwen nodded no with a final scratch of Artax's ears, made her way to the barracks. She knew if anywhere, that’s where Melzar would be.
She strode through like she owned the place, though looking slightly out of place with her dirty travellers’ clothes. But the soldiers were used to this occurrence and afforded her the proper respect. She had earned that much from them. Young soldiers who arrived where quickly put to rights when they tried to mock her for her age and word had spread quickly. She was a fair captain, but was ruthless when she disciplined her troops.
When she arrived at Melzar's door she heard him arguing with somebody. She knew it was wrong, but she couldn’t help but listen momentarily.
“I’m telling you; she must be taken from here. The king will call for her any day now. I know how he will treat her, and I just can’t bring myself to see it happen. That’s why I contacted you.” She heard Melzar say. She had to strain against the door to hear, this conversation was obviously not meant for others ears.
“I took a great risk coming here. I don’t mind helping but you know what I need. Formora....” She heard the gruff voice of the stranger say before he stopped abruptly. “We seem to have company.”
Tanwen too, that as her cue and rapped her knuckles on the door. “Enter!” As she heard that she opened the door to see Melzar stood behind his desk, looking grim. On the other side of the desk turned slightly to face her seemed to be a man wearing the uniform of an officer.
He had grayish brown hair and a rough beard that somehow matched his weathered face. But the most striking were his blue eyes. They seemed to be calculating but it almost seemed as if there was something behind them. Like a great wisdom shrouded by sadness. Though he seemed older than Melzar he carried himself with strength and almost regalness, though it seemed to try to conceal this. And his hands were coated in mud.
“Tanwen, you were instructed not to return until the season had changed. Why are you here?” Melzar questioned, he seemed annoyed by the interruption. However, he knew Tanwen rarely disregarded orders.
Tanwen bowed respectfully and nodded her head to the other officer before looking to Melzar and moving to the desk. “My apologies sir. But I had to speak to you about a matter most private and it could not wait. I will happily receive any reprimand required for my decision.” Melzar frowned at her words but nodded slowly. He turned to the guest, “My apologies soldier, but it seems we must cut this discussion short. I will contact you again soon.”
The other man bowed his head, “Of course, my apologies I could not be of more use. I will be back in a couple days as have a short.... patrol to make. We can continue when I return.” With that he bowed to them both, then turned on his heel and left the office. Shutting the door with a soft bang behind him.
Tanwen turned to Melzar, “My apologies sir, but who was that? He was no empire officer, no matter how he tried to look the part.” Melzar raised a brow at this comment, before sitting heavily in his chair. He seemed to have aged since she last saw him. The creases in his forehead seemed deeper and his eyes held a tiredness in them.
“You may drop the formality Tanwen, we are alone. And you need not worry about him. He is merely a contact that I have business with.” He sighed rubbing his face, the he looked to her, “Now why are you here? You are going against orders.”
“I know I’m sorry, but I came across something on my travels and it couldn’t wait. I will take whatever Formora throws at me like normal.”
“Well, that is one thing you don’t have to worry about.” He said looking at her, frowning slightly.
“What do you mean?” Tanwen said as she sat in the chair on the opposite side of the desk; slipping her pack to the floor. Maybe this is why he looked so tired? Formora was known for her cruelty, but thankfully she was often called on by the king for tasks that sent her away. This had meant that Tanwen had dealings with her twin Kialandí and his purple dragon a few times. She had also once spent a week in the estate of the infamous Morzan with his red dragon. But it was a week that still sent shivers down her spine whenever she thought back.
“The twin riders Formora and Kialandí have been slain along with their dragons. The Varden struck them down in a raid.” Tanwen was speechless. She couldn’t believe it.
“Wha.... How? They were so strong.....” Then she looked to her guardian. “The king won’t be pleased. He’ll be out for blood.”
“You’re right. He isn’t pleased. And my sources report from the city say that he was in a rage. He will ask you to be brought to the city sooner rather than later...”
“So that man... You want him to take me away from here?” At that Melzar looked sharply to Tanwen before slumping in defeat putting his head in his hands.
“I have served the Empire all my life. And when I was given the assignment  to protect and train the King’s daughter, I couldn’t have been more proud” He then looked to me, with a slight twinkle in his eye. “What I didn’t expect was to love that little girl like she was my own, and because of this, see the flaws of the king in stark relief. That strong little girl, who has grown into a powerful young woman... But I know the king will not see it that way.” He stood sharply and turned to looked at the map of Alagaësia on the wall, his voice turning grave. “You were born to be a weapon Tanwen. Not to be loved and cherished, but to serve the king to further his ambitions. I cannot stand to the side while this happens.”
Tanwen didn’t know what to say. She knew Melzar sometimes disagreed with the orders he was given, but he always carried them through. Loyally serving the King. She’d never heard him speak like this, it was treasonous. If anyone heard this, the consequences would be dire.
Then she thought back to the egg in her pack. Her first thought was to run with it, away from the king she was born to serve. Completely against what she had always been taught. But then the man in front of her had instilled the honour that he himself carried in her. She carried out orders given to her, but she always tried to be fair.
“Well, I think I have something that will help your decision.” Tanwen said. Melzar turned and looked at her with a questions in his eyes.
“The reason you disobeyed orders I take it?
Tanwen nodded and grabbed her pack, opening the top and finally pulling out the egg. Placing it gently on the table. She then looked up into Melzar's shocked eyes, “I found this on my travels, and it could change everything.