Michael
Dusk was rapidly approaching when they entered the city, fourteen in all: Michael with his brothers-Shaun and Timothy, his maid Sophie, his steward old Barton, the rest guards. All in Cairia for the engagement.
Saark was waiting for them behind the towering brown gates with dozens of knights with him for the welcome. He was a slender dark skinned man with a shaved head and a complaining habit. Michael had not seen him since the last time they clashed at Sand'send. As if an evidence- a small scar still remained on the knight's cheek from when Michael succeeded on slashing him.
The knight was cold and distant through the ride to the castle, trying to get rid of them as fast as possible. But Michael was slow, taking his time to watch the sight, as it was his first time in Cairia. And although Wallers-Fortwall people- calls Cairians barbarians, Cairia is really beautiful in its own way. Were Fortwall's capital's street ground are stoned, its buildings planed and spaced,and its expensive buildings are 6 floors or more with rectangular roofs mostly, and its King's chamber rose around a great statue of a falling hero, flat roofs built with the finest of bricks. Cairia's capital is different, its grounds are tiled with stones, its buildings which are about the same height as Fortwall's are crowded together,with steps to climb flat roofs, its expensive buildings with dome roofs. All in all it gave an ancient feeling in the evening sun.
And so they followed Saark through the city only to spot a phoenix in the sky,diving around like a hawk out for the hunt, before diving down, disappearing beside a tower far at the distance, at the castle they headed . Saark shouted commands to his men immediately before riding away with them, leaving only one with the party, in a rush to save whoever was at the tower.
Though the brief phoenix appearance had been enough to stop the party's advance, but its disappearance caused them to continue. Then it was back. This time scaling over head them, flapping its beautiful burning wings in the reddish evening sky, disappearing in the distance. Michael watched it disappear in silence. It was the first time he ever saw one, only ever reading about it in books, yet when he saw it,he had no doubt what it was. And he did not have words to say the second time it passed. The words were out as they had talked about it all, when they saw it the first time.
Bleak was still looking up, the yellow eyes of the horse focused. Michael tapped her lightly on the neck. "Let's go Bleak." He whispered. The horse looked away,whipped her head and moved forward.
They rode in silence after that, hateful eyes watching from beside the street,from windows,whispering to each other as the Wallers rode on, claiming it most be some sign the phoenix came when it did-when the Wallers arrived. With a hate born from centuries of war.
Cairia city guards ever the gallant, pushing the mob back with spears, making a perimeter. "Old city." Michael said. Pretending he did not see the mob shouting devils at them. "Beautiful,but old nonetheless."
"Hot," Shaun added. Riding at his left while Sophie was at his right. "Though more bearable than Sand'send."
Old Barton snorted, riding at Shaun's other side. "That was a battle field." He pointed. "Let war be war lord Shaun." Shaun just scoffed and looked ahead, his green eyes on the road.
Shaun is Michael's half brother,cunning and sly- quiet,precise and fast: he could see the most haziest of things from a distance and there is nothing his ears does not hear. His eyes like his red hair and Fortwall's fair skin, that every Waller share, Michael was not an exception. Both Shaun and Timothy were Michael's half brothers, but they share few resemblances- Shaun was Michael's older brother, two years older than Michael's twenty one years old self, while Timothy was three years younger.
Were Shaun was fit and 6 feet tall, slender. Timothy was unfit, not fat but not a fighter either,standing six foot four towering over most men. Yet Michael rode taller than all of them, just with Bleak's sheer size, a horse bigger than any he had seen.
She was no ordinary horse. He found her in death valley, when he was fighting Sir Worlk of Cairia, the horse had saved him and since that day,they have had adventures together. "Thing is I we underestimated the Cairians" Mike told them,trying to make them see it from his perspective. "I don't think it's right to call them barbarians, not anymore."
Timothy threw his head back in laugher, behind Mike. "It seems your marriage with the princess has gone over your head Michael." He said. "It's true that that Khaln is beautiful,but you shouldn't defend Cairia because of her,remember you are a Waller and we are at war with them."
"Was at war... and engagement not marriage" Michael corrected. "And it is not about the princess.... I truly appreciate beauty when I see it."
"We can see that." Old Barton retorted, eyes glittering in amusement. "We have eyes."
"And ears." Shaun added. A smirk on him. Michael heaved sigh.
They rode up the hill to the castle with high walls and guards on rampart. Their weapons were taking before they were let through. The castle was clean and stony, better, Saark was waiting behind the gates. "You are back again Saark." Michael greeted.
Saark motioned to him with his head. "Come with me the king wants words." He said. Then turned his horse under him and reined forward.
Bleak moved after him on her own,following Saark through sandy toned stone walled alleys, castle streets, courtyards, portcullises. Finally halting before the throne house. A tall dome roof building, with darker walls, and a big arch as door way.
Mike dismounted after Saark and followed the knight inside, through rows of arches into a hall with black flooring, candles burning from chandeliers above, and fires from lamps on walls to shield the room from the looming night. A big man who could only be Dormis the king of Cairia was on his throne atop a dias, in a black robe watching them enter. A man in purple robe holding a long stick stood before the dias. "You are facing King Dormis of Cairia." He said. Saark bowed and withdrew to the side.
Michael bowed. "A honor to meet you king Dormis." He said. "I heard you want words."
The king studied him, hard eyes on him. "What do you feel of Cairia?" He asked.
"Old and beautiful." Michael replied.
The king nodded. "There is a banquet to honor your arrival tonight." He told him. He stood and walked down the dais. "Walk with me." He said,walking pass Michael through the rows of arches. Michael followed right behind.
Outside the king turned, towering over Mike, tapped him on the shoulder. "Make yourself comfortable." He said. Then Pointed a guard. "Lead him to the guest courters..... Your men must be there."
Afterwards the king went back, leaving Michael dumb struck,wondering if that was a hint of approval.
The guard led him to the guest courters- a six floor building with black walls. Bleak was at the courtyard, resisting the servant attempting to lead her to the stables, while Shaun sat on a big stone watching quietly, his feelings hidden from his face.
Michael approached the big horse, stroked her lightly on the face and spoke softly. "Bleak bear with me, we are not home," he told her. "Follow him to the stables." The aggressive horse drew away from him and whipped her head in her madness, then cried.
Michael gave her the most stern look he could muster. "I am not changing my mind now go with him." He insisted.
The horse calmed down, and appeared to agree, but as she went passed Michael, she knocked him down on his butt with her head. Then followed the servant that was visibly shaken. Michael found himself grinning like a fool from the depiction of strength by the horse. He stood dusting himself. "Are you alright?" Shaun asked.
"Yes," he replied. "I am still the lord between me and her, that horse is really strong though."
Mike went inside up the stairs, to the fifth floor,tracing the room Shaun described was his.
Sophie was on the bed when he entered, the blonde had her back to him, her pure blue eyes towards the window. Lost in her thought she did not seem to notice him even when he came beside her. Her face was blank, eyes void of emotions like a doll. "Sophie?" He called.
She slowly lifted her eyes to him, before the realisation slowly came. It was an odd feeling he felt,as her eyes seems to remember him. "It's you my lord." She said.
"What is wrong?" Michael asked.
"Many things," she replied looking away. "But I am sorry I cannot tell you." She lifted the ring- she was clutching in her fingers previously- to him. "Take this."
Michael received the ring,studied it curiously. It was a golden old ring, with strange symbols on it. Sophie went on, with a hint of warning in her voice. "Whatever happens Mike keep this ring with you, never lose it or gift it."
Michael pocketed it in his tunic breast pocket. "I will." He promised. It was not enough, Sophie stood, clutched his hands tightly, staring into his eyes with grave earnest.
"Swear on your life Michael." She said. Michael would have never swore on his life for the world, but as he looked into the serious beautiful eyes of the woman he loved more than anything, his resolve melted.
"I swear on my life Sophie," he said. "I will never lose this ring,never gift it and would keep it with me as long as you like."
That seemed to do it. She cupped his cheek in her palm, tears in her eyes. "Thank you Michael." She said. Michael pulled her into a hug, her face in his chest.
"What is wrong with you?" He asked,dying with concern. What secrete does she hold that she never tells him, he wondered.
"Not when you are with me." She said.
"You can tell me," he tried to convince her. "You know I can do most anything for you."
"You don't have the ability to do this one Mike." She replied. "We are similar,very similar. We cannot control our lives. The Queenwitch controls your fate, I have my controller."
"No one controls my fate." Michael said. "And you are just a maid."
She chuckled at that,and inhale deeply in his chest. "I am just a maid." She echoed.