"This is an order Captain, not a debate. You will take her to Darvings Cross Castle. You will leave now and camp in Carpenter's Clearing. She will meet you there and you will personally escort her." He turned on his heel and left. My fingers traced the facets of the emerald in the hilt of my sword for a second before I turned and left.
I went to the stable to prepare my horse for departure, knowing that I always had a travel pack ready to go in my chambers. The ebony stallion is named Fury, and he has been the most faithful steed I have ever known. He knows my moods and has a talent for keeping me out of trouble. I have known him to sense danger from a mile away, sooner than my own sharp senses become aware of any dangers.
I threw a saddle blanket on Fury and began to strap his saddle around his stomach, my mind very much on the King. My old friend could never know that I had always considered his Queen to be of considerable beauty, more radiant than any other I had rested my eyes upon. I could not tell him my plan to, at any cost, make her mine.
I put Fury's bridle on and lashed him to a post outside of the building in which I had my chambers. I dashed up the stairs, grabbing my pack and other essentials including my bow and quiver of arrows. I hardly ever carried it anymore, but on long expeditions I always preferred to have it in hand in case it was necessary. I also grabbed another sword, nearly identical to my ceremonial sword, more combat and handling friendly because of the absence of gems. I carried everything down to the horse. I tied my pack behind the saddle and slid my ceremonial sword into a hidden sheath inside the saddle, hiding the hilt behind the saddle blanket. As I got into the saddle I urged Fury into a gallop, heading through the woods. I got to a clearing and I set about building a fire, knowing that if someone were expecting the Queen to be moved they would be drawn to the smoke and flames, giving us a headstart. Suddenly I heard a sharp cry from behind me. I immediately pulled out both of my swords and did a backflip out of the saddle, just in time to block Astara's strike. She used the momentum of her sword colliding with mine to spin around completely, swiping at my torso. The move was predictable and I blocked it easily. She bounced her sword off of mine again and swiped at my other side in a feint that she turned it into a thrust instead which I quickly dodged. I grabbed her wrist and twisted it slightly, dropping my sword and taking hers, pressing the edge to her throat. She seemed to quell her immediate anger but then swiftly kicked me in my right shin and snatched her sword, bringing the hilt up into immediate contact with my skull and knocking me to the ground. Luckily I landed next to my sword and picked it up, hastily preparing myself for another round. She looked as though she would entertain me for a moment, but her personal Primary Guard, approximately fifty trained soldiers, rode into the clearing and circled around us.
I stepped toward the lieutenant, putting my fist to my shoulder in greeting but not bothering to bow my head because I was ranked above him and propriety only called for me to extend minimal courtesy. "Evening lieutenant." I said casually, trying to understand the anger that was obvious in his face. I knew that the Queen frequently abandoned her Guards in favor of riding alone, understandably causing them frustration and anger. The Lieutenant ignored my greeting and was glaring angrily at the Queen who was now sitting by the fire, sharpening her sword. Her traveling clothes were completely black with the exception of a purple feather in her riding hat. She had on black knee high boots and black leggings, as well as a black chemise that would have revealed the top of her full breasts had it not been for the presence of a black lace shawl. She had on a black cape that extended to just above the ground. I watched her for a moment, admiring the way that the curls of her ebony hair fell around her delicate face, setting into contrast her pale skin and radiantly blue eyes. Suddenly the Lieutenant came to his senses and returned my greeting.
"Captain."
This greeting was echoed around the circle of the Guard, each man putting his fist to his shoulder in a manner that showed proper respect.
"What has you so distracted, Lieutenant?" I asked.
"Nothing, Captain" He replied with a hint of disgust, and my smile curled in a cruel sneer.
"Then why are you so angry?" Immediately, the Lieutenant attempted to correct his mistake, his expression falling into one of stern concentration, showing no emotion on his face, but his correction came too late."You do realize, Drakov, that showing emotion in front of a Royal is grounds for execution do you not?"
The lieutenant flinched when I said his name, knowing that it meant he was being demoted to the level of a civilian.
"Captain, I-" "
"As Captain of the Guard I hereby sentence you to execution upon my return to the castle of King Ismet. Until then you shall be imprisoned in your chambers."
A moment of silence passed as Drakov seemed to struggle with an idea, then he turned his horse, presenting his back to me as he shouted, "Men, obey the orders from our Sovereign King Ismet, kill them both!"
