Somehow posted the wrong last line of the previous chapter -
We were finally in North Sumbria, and we’d made it three days before the Spring Ball. If nothing went wrong, we'd reach Holly Hill tomorrow and the Coral palace the day after that.
now back to our usual programming.
...
“If Their Highness disappears again, am I allowed to start drinking on the job?” Carsen whispered to Bastian from behind one hand. They were on horseback leading the royal carriage through North Sumbria.
“No.” Bastian replied, but secretly thought a nice shot of whiskey in his morning tea wouldn’t have gone too far amiss after the last few days on the road.
After cleaning up the unigoat debacle in Baldorin, they’d reunited with their missing ruler at dinner– and only because Rowen had summoned them to make the fox look more prestigious at some duke’s dance. The next day, Their Highness had slipped out for a morning stroll about the town, but they weren't alone. Bastian had managed to follow Rowen and protect them from the shadows.
Even Bastian struggled to see through Their Highness Rowen’s masterful disguises. Honestly, the only reason Bastian survived in this position was by assuming everyone was either his ruler or an assassin.
So far it'd worked well for him, and when a young dwarf had slipped out the back of the inn at the city’s shifting light, Bastian had ordered Carsen to check on Rowen while he followed the dwarf. Rowen quickly realized they’d been caught, and let Bastian accompany them until it was time to return.
The teleportation platform had sent them to the other side of the Baldorin Mountains, directly to the trading post in North Sumbria. Of course, Bastian had only realized an hour's journey down the road that his liege wasn’t actually in their carriage… and everyone had had to turn back and go hunting for Rowen around the trading post.
They'd found the fox playing chess with an old dwarf at the tavern.
Now they were on their way across the North Sumbria countryside, Carter and Bastian were riding on one side of the carriage, Rebecca and Jasper on the other, and Nelson was driving.
“It’s no fun running off here,” Rowen leaned out of the carriage window and shot Carsen a wide grin. “But I make no promises.”
Carter bowed in his saddle. “As is your right, Your Highness.”
Their Royal Highness waved a hand playfully at the foxkin knight, and then withdrew back into their carriage.
“You know our ruler is going to make you eat those words.” Nelson said from the driver's seat.
“I know.” Carter sighed.
They were only an hour away from their next stop, The Waddling Wombat Inn, but still on a back country road surrounded by rolling hills.
Off to the south, the border to the Dark Enchanted Forest of Nilheim stretched as far as the eye could see. They had previously gone through the forest to attend events in North Sumbria, but one never knew how long the journey might take when the forest shifted around. Not to mention the other hazards.
Troll bridges, griffin attacks, lost princes, fae tricks, and all manner of adventure awaited those who ventured into the Dark Enchanted Forest. Not to mention meeting the Dark Lord who ruled it, and his horde of monsters patrolling the main roads.
Peldeep and Nilheim were on friendly terms, so Rowen had happily dragged their entourage through the woods whenever they’d a mind - but that wasn’t today.
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Contrary to his worries, Rowen remained inside the carriage until they reached the outskirts of Holly Hill. At that point, the royal had everyone stop while they dismounted and stored their carriage in a storage ring.
“We’ll continue on without the fanfaire, I think.” Rowen mused, “And it’ll be faster to get through the city on horseback.”
“But we’ve no extra horses.” Carter said, with a look like he’d already regretted opening his mouth before he even finished his sentence.
“That’s fine.” Rowen shot the foxkin a wide toothy smile before magical swirls of red and gold enveloped their ruler and he turned into a young human boy. Just old enough to be a squire, and wearing a tabard in Carter’s heraldic colours. “I’ll ride with you.”
The look of horror that passed over Carter’s face when his liege hopped up behind the saddle rim to sit on the saddle blanket pad gave fuel to the fire of Rowen’s teasing. Then the fox knight stiffened as Rowen wrapped his arms around the knight’s waist to hold on.
“There,” Rowen said, “Now let’s go get dinner.”
Nelson was a celestial, and simply took to the air to fly after them.
The Waddling Wombat Inn was one of the best places to stay in North Sumbria. The family who owned it made it their pride to hire level 20 and higher staff, and they'd built the place large enough to house royalty on their way to the Coral Palace.
Which was why Bastian wasn’t surprised to find other nobles at the entrance to the inn.
“...Then I haven’t missed much.” Princess Henrietta Doryn of Nilheim, previously of Drendil, was speaking down to an elf trying to block her path. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we shall retire for the evening.”
“Good night, Your Highness.” The Dark Lord himself stood behind the princess, smiling viciously at what appeared to be the Sumbrian prince. He swept past the prince and followed Henrietta into the inn.
Crown Prince Deryl was so angry that a vein was protruding on his neck and Bastian worried that he might try to attack the pair. Worried for the prince, that was. Bastian knew Henrietta. He’d fought beside the princess in Peldeep's dungeons… she had one of the highest strength stat’s on the continent.
She could probably deadlift the whole inn if she’d a mind too, and neither the prince nor his three finely dressed attendants would survive one punch.
“You may have shamed Drendil and made your bed with monsters,” he snarled. “But soon–”
“Bastian.” A child’s voice spoke at the same time. Their Highness was still in the guise of a young squire. Rowen’s eyes glinted as they nodded towards the door, granting permission to interfere. Deryl’s voice was cut off when Bastian rested a palm on the prince’s shoulder.
“You’d be wise to stop now, Prince Deryl. The Dark Enchanted Forest has many friends.” Bastian noted that the prince’s guards stiffened, but only one drew his blade. Even then, he hesitated, and Bastian wanted to shake his head in disgust.
“That’s Crown Prince to you, Knight Commander!” Deryl blustered, but physically withdrew back towards his men. Bastian let him do so, lifting his hand from the young elf’s shoulder.
He gave the prince a polite nod. “Have a good evening, Crown Prince.”
Then Bastian strode past him as well and into the main service lobby of the inn. The prince must have realized he was truly outnumbered, because he let out an angry chuffing noise and then stormed off down the street. Bastian figured Nelson would watch them from his look out vantage point on the roof, but decided not to unequip his helmet just yet.
King Keith and Princess Henrietta were at the front desk.
“Greetings, Knight Commander.” The demi, half-demon king clasped arms with Bastian. He had long black hair and a single horn showing his heritage. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Likewise.” Bastian answered the Dark Lord with sincerity. Behind Keith, Henrietta was beaming. Despite their kingdom’s being allies, Bastian had had some worries for the girl after hearing about her from Madame Pott’s Casts. His worries seemed unfounded; her happiness was clear on her face. He released his grip and added, “Let’s check in, and perhaps I’ll see you at dinner?”
At the mention of food, Henrietta’s face shone even brighter with excitement. “That would be lovely! I’m famished. We haven’t eaten anything since lunch!”
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Bastian couldn’t help a small laugh and waved them the go ahead. Any moment with Henrietta was like this, and he was glad to see that she’d found someone who appreciated her vivacity.
And by the soft look on King Keith’s face as he followed her around, Bastian could be happy for his old comrade in arms.
