Erros was watching the road ahead,
the road behind, the shoreline on his left and the low hills on his right. The countryside was a mix of woods, meadows,
and fields belonging to the villages along the coast. Ahead the road curved inland as the coastline
became more rugged, lined with cliffs rather than beaches.
He kept pace with the Princess as
she rode down the beach. It was neither
easy or pleasant. Erros had never
particularly liked horses or riding them.
It was a means of transport, and a painful one at that. The other Swordsmen were spread out along the
road, watching over the Queen and her party.
He followed the Princess as she sped ahead of the Swordsmen at the front. He kept to what he thought was a discreet
distance. The Princess surprised him by racing
back and coming up alongside him.
“Hello! You were talking with my mother when we
left. My name’s Anaya, what’s yours?”
she said.
“I am Swordsman Erros Mardaak, your
Grace.” He said.
“Well, Swordsman Erros, why don’t you ride with me?” she said, pronouncing
his rank and name with the insouciance only the young are capable of.
“I do not think it would be proper,
your Grace. I am on duty.” He said.
“Well I think the best way to do
your duty would be to catch me!” she yelled as she raced away from him. There wasn’t much beach left but she was
going to use the very last of it. Or
launch herself into the sea. He was
about to call her back but she reined in at the last moment and turned around,
smiling at him and laughing. It was at
that moment Erros realized that while he was a Queen’s Swordsman his heart rate
unlikely to go down.
“Anaya! Come back!
You can bring your new friend too!” Erros heard the Queen’s voice as if
she were right next to him. It was an
odd sensation as she used her Talent to project her voice.
“Come your Grace, the Queen is
calling us.” He said. Anaya stuck her
tongue out at him as she fell in line behind him.
“Do you laugh at all?” she
asked.
“Yes, but right now I am on duty,
and that duty is to protect you.” He said.
He didn’t know what else to say that wouldn’t sound improperly familiar.
“Most of the other Swordsmen will
race with me.” She pouted.
“I do not know what to say, your
Grace. I am here to protect you, the
Queen and anyone else in our party.”
“You sound like you need to have
more fun.” The Princess said. She made
it sound like she had found a new mission.
“Are you mistreating the good
Swordsman?” the Queen asked her daughter.
“No.
I’m just trying to get him to have more fun.” She said.
“Is she bothering you?” The Queen
asked him.
“No, your Highness. She has been perfectly well behaved.” Erros
said.
“Hmm, that would be a first. Ask Captain Mann if there’s a single one of
my personal Swordsmen who haven’t had their share of fun increased.” The Queen
made a shooing motion to the Princess.
“Go and ride some more. We adults need time away from noisy, short
people.” Anaya stuck her tongue out at the Queen and turned back towards the
beach. “Swordsman
Mardaak, tell me where you’re from.”
Asked the Queen.
“Your Highness, I’m from a small
town in the Southlands Barony. Denell by
name.” Erros said. He didn’t add anything. It wasn’t as if one just carried on a conversation
with the Queen.
“You don’t talk much, do you?” she
asked him.
“Your Highness, I am here to protect
you, and I cannot think that you wish to converse with a mere Swordsman in your
guard.” She chuckled.
“Go on then. Keep us safe.” She smiled at him. As Erros moved away he heard the Queen say
something to her maid “…sure you don’t want to go help…” but that was all he
could catch. He took a deep breath as he
moved away, free to make sure there were no threats to the Queen and her
entourage bearing down on them. And not
getting trapped in conversations he wasn’t certain he should be having.
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