ON THE
SHORES OF THE LAKE OF STARS
The House Guard Captain shrugged and smirked at the young man
as he returned his sword into his leather scabbard and walked over to the young
man before him. “I suppose your mother
will be having a word with me later, no doubt?” he said jokingly to the young
man. The young man before him shook his head and smiled, “Perhaps. Maybe you
should have let me win and I could convince her otherwise…” the young man
responded. The Guard Captain walked over to a small tree trunk and bent over
and picked up a small leather pouch and walked it over to the young man, whom
was now returning his sword into his own leather scabbard that he had laid onto
the ground behind him. “Here, apply this to that cut. It will help keep it from
becoming infected and speed the healing process. “As he tossed the leather pouch
at the man. He caught the pouch and looked down to his shirt, revealing he had
been cut worse than he thought. His white tunic had a 3” slash and had been
stained with small traces of blood from where the Guard Captain’s sword clearly
had cut at him. “You cut me good, Werrin. Mother will most certainly be
displeased that my shirt is ruined.” He joked once more as he removed the shirt
revealing his muscular torso. “Aye, master Rylan. As I said, make sure you
apply that ointment onto that cut.” Rylan nodded and opened the small leather
pouch revealing a small vial containing a green substance inside. He quickly opened the vial and allowed the
substance to ooze out of the vial and onto his hand in which he applied over
his wound. “What exactly am I applying anyway?” Rylan asked pausing for a
moment. Werrin picked up Rylan’s sword and extended his hand for his pouch, “To
be honest my lord, its true name has been lost over time. It is an old mixture
of alchemy using star flowers and serpents grass and it has been used in
Olinoth since its creation.” Rylan simply nodded and returned Werrin’s leather
pouch to him. The two began to walk back to Rylan’s family estate which was
along the shore of the Lake of Stars but before Rylan could continue a familiar
voice called for him off into the distance behind him.
Rylan turned around to see a girl waving off into the
distance along the shores and immediately recognized his friend Tristana, whom
already had begun to walk in his direction. Rylan turned to Werrin “I will meet
you back at the house, inform my father and mother I will be late for dinner.”
Werrin acknowledged him with a nod and slight bow and continued on toward the
estate. Rylan turned back to see Tristana slowly walking towards him, her
attire was that of a long white and pink dress and her golden blond hair was
pulled up into a bun held together by a diamond barrette that sparkled in the
sunlight. Rylan smiled, knowing all too well that Tristana loathed
acting the part as a noble woman and would much rather be riding her horse or
practicing with her sword. As she approached closer, Rylan noticed Tristana holding
her sword in her right hand and all he could do is laugh. “You’re a little
late for practice Trist!” he shouted out in her direction. Tristana stopped in
her tracks and her facial expression changed showing signs of agitation. “Bloody
hell Ry! I told you to wait!” Rylan laughed knowing she was annoyed but immediately
felt a sense of regret knowing that Tristana enjoyed practicing with Werrin and
himself. Her father made it difficult for her to take time to do so on her own
estate, in hopes he would ‘mold’ her into becoming a proper noble woman in
which she would represent her family properly. Rylan knew Tristana was not the
type of woman that would sit at a table and make pleasant conversation if there
was fun or adventure to be had and it was this reason why they were such good
friends. “You owe me an evening of practice Ry. I even hurried here in this
ridiculous outfit!” she decried as she raised both of her hands, her sword
still being held in her right. Rylan just smiled. “You honestly believe there
would be any practice in ‘that’ Trist?” as he pointed at her. “You either would
go home angry for losing or your dress would be torn to shreds and your father
would lock you in your room for a week!” Tristana crossed her arms and smirked “OR
maybe you simply did not want to be bested by a girl in a dress!” she said as
she raised her sword up and pointed its fine edge at him. Rylan shook his head
and the two laughed. “I am afraid I cannot…it is almost dinner time and I have
to return home soon and as you can see, I need to also find myself a new tunic.”
Tristana immediately blushed and dropped her sword down to her side. “You…you,
are injured.” She stuttered out. Rylan looked down to the cut on his lower
torso and shrugged, “A minor cut and I will be fine. Besides, Werrin already
had me apply some of his ‘no name’ ointment on it.” Tristana nodded “Well I
suppose I will return back to the house and get out of this ridiculous assemble
and you can return home for dinner.” But before the two departed Rylan cocked his head and asked “Have you heard
from Cassandra today?” Tristana simply shook her head. “I am concerned for her,
she seems to have taken the King’s death harder than most and when I attempted
to approach her at the funeral she avoided me.” Rylan said with a concerned
look upon his face. “You wouldn’t know if there is anything else going on that
I should know about would you Trist?” he asked. Tristana once again just simply
shook her head and turned her gaze away from him and back towards her family’s
estate. “I honestly cannot say why she is acting in such a manner Ry, however I
must go. If I do happen to hear from her I will make it known to her you are
concerned for her and will have her speak with you.” Rylan simply nodded. “Well
then, I suppose we all will see each other tomorrow? That is…if we are all still
meeting at the edge of the wall?” Tristana smiled and held up her sword and
once again pointed it at him “I would not miss it for the world.” She said as
she turned and started her walk back to her family’s estate. “By the way Ry,
bring some armor next time…I won’t go easy on you and we don’t want your pretty
face getting scratched by the likes of a girl.” She teased. “Only if you wear
that dress tomorrow Trist!” he teased back. The two both departed in the
directions of their respectful estates for the evening and the sun began to set
over the Kingdom of Olinoth.
ADALWYN
ESTATE
Rylan opened the large rear wooden doors of his family’s
estate and was immediately greeted by a woman dressed in red dress with golden
trim running down its seams. As he
closed the doors behind him the woman held out her hands in anticipation to receive
something, Rylan simply handed her his torn and blood stained tunic and
remained silent. “Rylan, you missed dinner with your father and one of the
council members of the king’s court from Clearcourt. This is not a good first
impression and your father is extremely upset with you.” Her words echoed
through the empty stone halls of the estate as if they were making sure he was
aware of her disappointment. “Mother, I am sorry.” He said held his head low. “My
son, it is not I whom you must apologize to. I know you have little love for
these sorts of things but you have a responsibility as the sole heir to House
Adalwyn. You must be guided in the roles of these responsibilities in order to ensure
future success my son.” Rylan took a few steps in the direction of main
entryway but before he could his mother placed one of her hands on his right
shoulder. “I had the cook prepare another warm meal for you. Once you have
finished cleaning up , please go and eat.” She removed her hand and vanished
around the corner carrying his torn tunic. Rylan hurried up the stairs and
turned the corner towards his bedchambers in hoping he would be able to avoid
his father for the rest of the evening.
*Original work. All rights Reserved. Copyright 2014.
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