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Post by knightc3 on Jun 26, 2008 7:48:43 GMT -5
He looked back and smiled, shaking his head and pulled the reins on Zypher. He of course wanted to race ahead, having not been ridden for more than a stroll in some time now. But he was loyal and obliged. He turned his horse and waited for Afine to get closer. Very soon he was trotting alongside her horse, looking at her.
"Princess Afine, there are somethings we need to talk about before we reach the starting point. I am afraid its not going to be good news. I know you want to enjoy your freedom but this is gravely serious. I... I think you... we are being set up...", he paused waiting for her to register what he was saying. He couldn't have her go along if she was unaware of the situation.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 26, 2008 19:54:05 GMT -5
"Being setup? Why do you think such a thing?" he looked at him curiously. 'Being setup?That's foolish,who would do that?' She thought . Although she was intelligent, she was a very oblivious girl, she thought no one hated her, or her family. She stopped and gave him a questioning look, as if to say, 'Well?'
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 27, 2008 1:04:39 GMT -5
He was obviously having difficulty trying to figure out exactly how to put it and not make her think he was trying to scare her. He had to present it to her in a way that even he thought was possible so she would believe it. He stopped his horse next to hers and looked around away once, then back at her. It wa probably not the best time but the truth about the situation would never have a good time to be presented.
"Princess Afine, there are certain things that no one has told you because they are harsh. Its not my place to either but for yo to understand the situation, you need to know them now." He paused and began speaking the way it was not leaving anything out, "No one, and I mean no one, except maybe outside your family believes you are good enough to take the throne. They even worry what would happen if you did. I cannot say how bad the situation is but from what I can read from the general's reactions and the king's recent bad moods, the situation is really bad in the council. A lot more rests on you completing this journey than just the thrown. You do realize if ever the situation comes where anyone else other than someone from the royal family takes the throne, you and your family will not be allowed to live. The least they would do is throw you in the dungeons on false charges. "
"Its simply politics, Princess Afine. They would not allow someone from the royal family to come and reclaim the throne. I think what has just happened that someone is planning a coup and your failure to complete this journey will ignite it." He paused and looked afraid for the first time, "I will be charged with treason, tortured and executed if anyone finds out I have even said such things about the council and the military." He hoped she would not tell anyone about this or he would suffer like no other "traitor" before him.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 27, 2008 12:40:04 GMT -5
Afine looked very surprised, her head turned the other way. One tear spilling down her cheek. "If I screw this up, I screw it up for mother and father as well?" She bit her lip. 'I will be the biggest disappointment on this side of the earth.' She sniffled. "If this is how my future may be then I shall try my best, for my family, and for their people." She gave a triumphant smile. "And don't worry Caleb, my lips are sealed." She smiled. 'Nothing is about me anymore, I shall do whatever is right for my family.' She began her horse up again. Looking back towards Caleb, she gave him a reassuring smile.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 27, 2008 14:22:59 GMT -5
Caleb smiled, and relaxed, just a bit. She had recovered faster he had expected. He nodded at her and spurred his horse forward to guide the way. He started speaking again as he kept pace with her, "Well, princess Afine you have an additional task now. You have to decide whether you would trust me to help you reach your destination. If you would, I ask you to do exactly as I say without hesitation or question." He paused knowing fully well, it would probably be uncomfortable for a princess to take orders like this when she was used to situations where there positions would be swapped.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 29, 2008 16:25:02 GMT -5
Afine looked towards him and gave a unsure glance towards the forest. "I will, for my family." She looked back towards Caleb and smiled. She face shone with a rosy finish, her cheeks seeming like it was winter. Midnight stopped at the forest and whinnied. (sorry its short)
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 29, 2008 21:23:40 GMT -5
((No probs )) He smiled back watching her for a while. It was so hard to read her, a lot harder than simple soldiers. She had surprised him till now and probably would throughout this trip. He nodded at her and said, "You have my word Princess Afine, I will not let you fail..." He slowed his horse down to a slow paced walk and entered the dusty pathway into the forest. There was no way for him to know what was waiting for them or anything at all for that matter. He looked back and added, "Anyone we meet on the road should be considered a threat unless proven otherwise, ok?" He looked ahead and frowned when he heard hoofs of horses falling heavy on the dusty path. There were more than one but Caleb didn't move. Noone was supposed to be on this road, so just their presence told him something was wrong. He turned his horse sideways to block the narrow path, with Afine behind him and waited for them to come in view.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 30, 2008 11:02:05 GMT -5
Afine pulled on the reins of Midnight, startled. "What's wrong Caleb?" She questioned surprised, her face paled as she heard the whinnying of other horses. She calmed Midnight down and looked to Caleb, her eyes sparkling with worry. Midnight was acting up, get excited over the near horses. Afine pulled the reins again, her face going even paler, she didn't know what to expect by these unrequested strangers.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 30, 2008 11:24:10 GMT -5
Caleb's eyes narrowed as he saw a small squad of soldiers approaching. It wasn't long before they came close enough to recognize him and also be able to look beyond Zypher to see the princess, a bit shaken by their sudden appearance. They stopped far away and their attention turned back to Caleb when he spoke, "You are not supposed to be here. Whats going on?" His frown stayed.
They looked amongst themselves, didn't reply and didn't move either. Caleb's moved his horse forward a few steps and spoke again, "Move aside..." but he paused as he heard more horses coming, an even larger group this time. This was no patrol, this was a full strength assault force of the cavalry! The captain of the force reached the front of the group, the rest making a way through for him. He frowned when he saw the pair on the road. They were not supposed to be here. The group he had sent ahead to flank and box them in when they came was now stuck with the rest of the force.
"We are to hold you and... protect you, Princess Afine till further orders are received. Caleb please cooperate...", he said calmly confident even he, an elite could see the numbers were against him.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 30, 2008 11:38:19 GMT -5
Afine seemed puzzled, her father would've told her if anything in the plans were changed. "If you will excuse my interuption, I don't think you were given the orders, if so, you'd have a signed document saying so." Afine gave the man a strange look, she'd never seen him with her father, infact he seemed almost sly and secretive. She looked over to caleb, to see what he thought, she wasn't sure about these men, and she didn't like the vibe they were giving off.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 30, 2008 22:25:05 GMT -5
Caleb looked back and nodded. He then turned to the captain and spoke again, "Do you have such a document?" He could guess what this was about so was sure they didn't have such a document. And besides, she was supposed to make this journey regardless of the conditions.
The captain spoke, adopting a different strategy, "I don't have any such document Princess but that is because no orders could be issued by the king. There was a coup by the military and we were sent here to ensure by the king to make sure nothing happens to you." He knew Caleb was smart enough not to buy this but if he could convince the naive princess, then he could avoid the slaughter that would ensue if he had to force them into obeying.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jun 30, 2008 22:33:08 GMT -5
Afine looked at him suspiciously. She took in the view of his image, secretive and untrustworthy. She pat Midnight reassuringly and gave a hard stare towards the man, 'Another decision I must make that could lead to disaster.' She looked towards Caleb, an unsure sigh escaped her lips. "Caleb is my protector, I do not trust the likes of you," She looked towards the rough looking men, her face turned into a hard glare. "I do not trust those I do not know, be off with you." She gave a hand motion, towards a direction not met by Caleb's eyes, nor hers.
Afine felt unbsafe and disappointed in herself already. Another sigh escaped her lips. 'I'm worrying already, what si to become of me?' Her head looked towards Caleb.
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Post by knightc3 on Jun 30, 2008 23:26:16 GMT -5
Caleb turned around for just as long as was necessary, then turned back. He had spoken to Afine, "This is probably going to turn into a mess. If it does, leave the horse, take only your weapon and move quickly into the trees and keep heading away from here. Whatever happens, I will find you. Be ready."
He turned around and Zypher took a few more steps forward. "Move aside captain... I wont ask you again." The captain smiled and shook his head before signalling the cavalry behind him to charge at the single elite. He had heard of Caleb but even he would succumb under such odds. As soon as he saw the smile, he turned his head slightly and whispered to Afine, "Go..go!" and charged with Zypher bursting into speed before the troops could come between him and the captain. Their only of escape was if he could take down the captain and then leave the rest in enough confusion to give them some time.
As soon as he saw the lances lowered, he heard a whine from Zypher, who kept speeding towards them without hesitation. Just before the lances entered the front of his horse, Caleb stroked the main of his friend and whispered, "Thank you..." He had loosened his grip on the reins and the saddle and was launched over the troops on impact. He drew his sword in flight in a flash and saw the horrified captain frozen in front of him.
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Post by xDuckyBoo on Jul 1, 2008 10:06:03 GMT -5
Afine jumped off Midnight, but kept still. She wasn't a coward, she wouldn't just leave Caleb against all these men. Afine guided Midnight, hiding him behind a large maple, as protection, she supposed. Afterwards she stood beside the tree, just in case Caleb needed help, she didn't care if she put her life in danger, she wasn't just going to sit there.
She surveyed the area, trying to find anything that might come in handy if Caleb couldn't handle them all. She didn't want to accidently hit him with an arrow, she hadn't used them in a while, and was rusty. Her eyes landed on a wooden spear, that lay carelessly by the opening of the woods. Her eyes darted to Caleb as he flung himself off of Zypher, "Caleb!?" he called, surprised, "Are you insane?"
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Post by knightc3 on Jul 1, 2008 10:42:44 GMT -5
It was over in a flash because thats all it took for Caleb's body to slam into that of the captain, one of his sword entering the man's arm. The two fell off to the ground off the captain's horse while the other soldiers still tried to figure out what had happened. Caleb found himself lying on the ground next to the captain who was screaming with his sword impaling his arm. Caleb got to his feat, stumbled forward, went down on his knee when he lost his balance momentarily as his head had bounced of the surface of the path earlier, when he had landed. He used the sword in his other hand to quickly slice the neck of the man lying on the ground, took out his other sword from the now lifeless body and dived into the bushes and took off on a run, hoping to find Afine somewhere ahead of him. He shook his head once to clear it and realized he was bleed from his right arm. It didn't seem anything more than a flesh wound but first he had to find Afine.
The rest of the soldiers were stunned for a moment at seeing the captain dead and turned to the only person visible to them, the princess.
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