Chapter 9 Departure

For most Kingdoms, dawn is the time when people are just waking up. Others, after a long night of partying, drinking, and gambling, are just returning home.

In Nordmar dawn is already blooming with activities. Hunters departing to track game in the big forests, woodcutters sharpening axes, fishermen returning with the catch of the day, parents preparing children for the day.

The castle is as busy as the rest of Nordmar. From the cook preparing the breakfast, to the maids serving it. From the butcher bringing fresh meat, to the stable-boy preparing horses for riders.

It is during this time that Ayla, dressed in pants made from the hide of a mountain troll, a matching jacket, warm boots and gloves made from the hide of a buffalo and stuffed with polar bear fur, and a cape made from the fur of a shadowbeast, walks out of the castle. A servant is taking her to the stables.

The day Ayla arrived at the castle she was too sick to see it so she stopped in the middle of the courtyard to look at the castle.

Six thick, round towers had been built on various tactical spots for an ideal defense and were connected by giant, massive walls made of stone. Platforms had been added to the walls that mages could use in case of an attack.

Small windows were scattered generously across the walls in a seemingly random pattern, along with same-sized holes for archers and artillery.

A great gate with enormous oak doors and hot oil pots guarded the entrance to the castle, but it wasn't the only way in, because the castle had many secret passages beneath it.

Legends claimed that the castle was as old as Nordmar. Built from blocks of stone from each mountain of Nordmar, the castle was the heart of the Strongarm Clan and the oldest building in Nordmar.

A behemoth built in the heart of Nordmar, and if the ancient texts are true, the day the last descendant of the first Paladin dies, the castle will collapse to the ground and Nordmar will be conquered.

Snow started falling out of the sky and a strong wind coming from the East made the morning feel very cold.

Gathering the cloak around her, Ayla hurried after the servant, who, not realizing that the Princess stopped for a few moments, kept walking.

By the time she made it to the stables, Ayla already started to feel very cold. She had no idea how people could live in such a cold place. How she missed Myrthana and a warm sunny day.

Milton was waiting for her in front of the stable. A messenger bag was in his hands – a beautiful messenger bag if Ayla was sincere.

"Good morning, my Lady," he said.

"Milton," she greeted him.

The Fire Mage extended the messenger bag to her.

"I wanted to give you this before we left."

Ayla's eyes widened, "I don't think I can accept this. This is too much."

Milton shook his head, "I must insist."

Ayla's hands reached and grabbed the messenger bag. Her fingers traced the material of the bag. It was made from the hide of an animal. It was light and flexible.

"It is made from the hide of a swampshark, so even if falls in water or if it rains over it, it won't get wet. It has a lot of pockets for storing lots of things. Herbs, roots, whatever you want. Each pocket has a rune on it so you can remember what you stored in each pocket without the need to open them. I also filled some pockets with some plants and herbs."

She clutched the messenger bag to her chest, "Oh, Milton! This is the best gift I have ever received! I will treasure this forever!"

The Fire Mage looked behind him. When he was sure no one was listening he said, in a low tone, "The bag is not from me. I only added the plants and herbs."

Ayla frowned, "Who is this from then?"

"Swear you are not going to say a word about what I am going to tell you."

Ayla was curious about who could have gifted her such an expensive messenger bag.

"I swear it on my heart!"

"The bag is from Rhobart. But he doesn't want you to know the truth."

The King was the most confusing person Ayla had ever met. Sometimes he would act like he could not stand her, and other times he would do something nice. She looked at the messenger bag – like giving her a very, very nice gift.

"I can't accept it," Ayla said.

"If you don't take, Rhobart will know I told you the truth and he will be mad. Very mad at me," Milton said.

Ayla sighed, "Fine! But only because I don't want him to be mad. Why would he give me something this expensive?"

The Fire Mage shrugged, "I didn't ask. Remember, you promised not to tell him that you know the truth."

"I will keep my promise," Ayla said and put the bag on her left shoulder, under the cloak.

When Milton entered the stable, Ayla followed him.

"You are late!" the King said, the moment Ayla stepped into the stable.

"Good morning to you, too!" she said under her breath.

Behind the King, Gorn and Tizgar were making sure that provisions, blankets, weapons, and other things have been packed in the satchels attached to the saddles.

"Princess," the Paladins greeted her.

"Call me Ayla, please. Princess is just a title, a title that I don't have anymore. And good morning to you all," she said.

Kerra, in her battle form, who was waiting next to the King's horse, went to Ayla, rubbed her body on the Princess's legs, and started purring.

"Where have you been all this time? I've missed you!" Ayla said while she started petting Kerra.

"We don't have time for you to play with Kerra," King Rhobart said as he walked towards his horse. "Time to go. With the Cold Season approaching, the day is getting shorter and I want to reach the first camp before nightfall."

'Grumpy as always," Ayla thought.

When her fingers brushed against her new bag, Ayla thought that she never knew what to expect from him.

She hoped that she wouldn't have to ride a horse. Her first experience wasn't the best one. Ayla looked around for a carriage but she saw none.

"If you are looking for the carriage, don't lose time. You are riding on a horse, like the rest of us," King Rhobart said, crushing her hopes.

Ayla looked at the King, "I don't know how to ride. I haven't been on a horse before, except the day we arrived here. And I am not sure I want to do it again."

The King looked at her, "Time to learn then."

"I can't even get on a horse! How am I supposed to ride one?"

The King approached her, "I am already starting to regret taking you with me. Gorn, bring me her horse."

The Paladin brought a chestnut mare.

"This is Star. I chose her personally for you," the King said.

The mare was smaller than the other horses, making her perfect for Ayla.

"Time to mount your mare," the King said.

Ayla took a step back, "I don't think I can."

"Grab the reins," King Rhobart instructed her.

Ayla wanted to tell the King that she didn't want to ride Star, but when she looked at his face she knew she had no other choice.

She straightened her back and took the reins from the King.

"Put your left foot in, push yourself up and then swing your right foot. Now that you are wearing pants it should be much easier," the King explained to Ayla.

She did as he told her, but failed to get into the right position.

On her second attempt and failure, the King lost his patience.

"Beliar take me!"

King Rhobart put his hands around Ayla's waist, lifted her, and helped her get on the mare.

"You will practice every day until you get it right," the King said before getting on his horse.

He gave Ayla more instructions before they finally left.

It was early morning when the five riders and Kerra put distance between them and the Strongarm Clan. Soon the castle was just a point in the distance, while the small party kept going. The road they took led them through a forest.

By noon Ayla felt half-frozen. Her thighs were on fire and she was sure that when she would get down from her mare, she wouldn't be able to walk.

When Ayla's mare would fall behind, King Rhobart would scold her.

"I am trying my best!" Ayla finally snapped when the King told her, for the thousand time she was too slow.

"Try harder!" King Rhobart growled.

"Stop growling at me like you are a rabid dog!"

"What did you just call me?" the King growled even harder.

"A rabid –"

Gorn laughed, "Rabid dog! Never heard someone calling you that before."

"Do you remember that one time when someone called Rhobart a crazy bastard?"Tizgar asked Gorn. "Next thing crows were feasting on him."

Gorn laughed even harder, "How about that time when –?"

"You two are so not helping," Milton said.

Tizgar and Gorn, still laughing, moved past Ayla and King Rhobart.

The King looked at Ayla like he wanted to get her off the horse and leave her in the middle of the forest.

"Maybe we should rest for a few minutes. The Princess... Ayla is not used to traveling for so long," Milton said.

The King looked at the sky. He frowned. Then he looked at the trees.

A minute later he replied, "We are still too far from the camp. If we stop now, we won't make it on time."

"Can I know where we are going or are you going to pretend you didn't hear me?" Ayla asked.

She saw that the King ignored her each time he didn't want to answer a question.

The King sighed, "You are not going to stop asking until I tell, are you?"

Ayla looked at him, "No."

"We are going to visit the mines. And this way you can see the war prisoners. I want to show you that they are safe."

Ayla inhaled sharply.

"Define safe. And are you going to make them work in the mines?"

The King look at the horizon for a few minutes, before answering.

"We need magic ore, Ayla. Lots of it."

"Why?"

"You ask too many questions," the King said in an irritated voice.

"If you would actually answer then, maybe then I would stop asking."

"Inoss have mercy on me!" the King muttered and moved his horse forward.

It was almost dark when the King said that they finally reached the camp.

Ayla was so relieved to hear she could finally could get off the mare. Even if all she did all day was to be on top of Star, doing nothing, Ayla felt very tired. All she wanted to do was to dismount and curl up under a warm blanket and sleep.

The moment her feet touched the ground, muscles she had no idea she had hurt. Not even when Galian hit her, Ayla didn't feel so much pain.

Her legs shook and when she tried to take a step, Ayla fell on her knees. She closed her eyes while she thought of lying on the snow and never move again.