The castle-like quarters were empty as all the servants were out busy in preparations. Nick was heading to the guards' training field that was separated by the servant's castle. He could have followed the path around the castle but he decided to pass through it. It was called a castle because it was a castle. The first was built for the royal family about a century ago but the main now bigger palace was built around forty years ago, and since the servants have considerably increased the castle was left to them.
Nick arrived at the guards'' field where soldiers were getting Dressed in armor and uniform of brown with an emblem of a golden eagle. He recognized some of the men as palace guards since he had trained with them but others were strangers and he guessed they were from the troop that was assigned to guard them on the trip. He waved in greeting to the soldiers and headed for the guard station a small building at the end of the field and the weapons shed.
Inside the station, he saw the commander of the Army of Emrord Commander Vico, the captain of the best troop in all of the kingdom Captain Bor and his elder brother, the crown prince Carvter. They were all bent over a table looking over a table studying something and discussing.
When his presence was noticed Cravter waved Nick over.
Cravter looked nothing regal in the very least, he looks more like a scholar than a prince. He was neither tall, not short with a height of five feet seven, neither slender nor bulk, with scanty blond hair and dark eyes. He looked like a scholar because he was. He is shy and spends his time reading and studying rather than socializing. He is only found his courage when it came to talking about the history of the kingdom and military because he was well-grounded in military strategy and knowledge about the kingdom. He was nothing of a fighter.
When Nick got to the table, he saw they were studying the map of the kingdom of Embrord and it was glorious. He saw that Cravter had marked the route the tour was to take. It was from Brown city the capital and lead them East to Catanic City through the town of Penscrol and round and they shall visit Oral City last and approach Brown city through the Milli Town in the West. It was a well-planned journey Nick thought to himself.
'Nick I need your opinion" said Cravter." I was suggesting for soldiers to be placed in front and back of the convoy, but I am concerned what if an attack was made in the middle, it will take soldiers more time to get there to repel the attack,
"But there would not be an attack," said Vico. He was huge and muscled. He was dressed in full armor, with a red cape and a long sword was sheathed in his belt. His hair was shaved to hid the blaming in the middle but his bushy black beard sprinkled with sliver hair showed evidence of his advancement in age.
"For years the kingdom of Emrord has been peaceful under the reign of King Quin your father. The people are satisfied and it would be foolishness for anyone to attack his children" Vico continued.
"Yes! But you never know. How about we share the troop into three, a group on at the front of the carriages another between the carriages and the supplies, and the last at the back of the convoy." Argued Cravter.
"But that will stretch my Men thin," said Bor. The captain of the troop. "I have 100men. Divided into two. We will have just fifty men to be positioned at the front and back. But if they are shared into three, we would have 35 placed at both ends and 30 in the middle but if the front or back is attacked you won't have enough men to defend it".
Nick who was deep in thought finally spoke up and said "I don't think it would matter if the troop is split into three because according to the commander the chances of an attack are light and splitting the troop into 3 would make the Prince more comfortable but in case of an attack, cant will take less time for the troops in the middle to get to either the front or back where the attack might come from".
This was accepted by everybody and it was settled. Cravter gave Nick a hearty tap on the shoulder and Nick excused himself to go check on preparations by the princesses.
It was like a volcano of fabric erupted in the princesses Wing, there were clothes scattered everywhere including the corridors. There was screaming and shirking by girls running from room to room tripping and falling. Nick was not surprised at this pandemonium. Instead, he found it rather amusing. It was always so rowdy and noisy and with the tour coming up it was expected. There was always, singing, screaming, gossip, catfights, and what have you. but what is to be expected in a place filled with 19 girls ranging from the age of 14 to 22 not to mention their maids more like 'helpers''. each princess has one and if there was a report of a princess being disrespectful her helper is taken from her for a while and she is forced to take care of her things herself.
A muscled young man came out of a room caring a big box.
"Mezolu! Do you need help with that?" Nick asked.
"I think I can handle it, it's just Olivia's seventh box now," he screamed the last sentence back at the room. Only for a female voice to reply.
"Stop whining and come get the rest".
Mezolu rolled his eyes and continued moving to the stables to place this on Olivia's carriage.
Nick caught sight of a girl with blond hair wearing a red dress, carry what seem to be towels leave a room and was heading to the last room in the corridor. He went after her and called. " Princess Samantha, Princess Samantha". "Oh excuse me," he said as his little step-sister Lune dashed past him running with something and twin luna seem to want.
Finally, Samantha heard him and stopped their turn to look at him with her dazzling green eyes. Nick always losses himself starting into them and yes she was a beaut.
With blond hair, the eyes the color of jade, soft cherry-colored lips that look so succulent, a slender prominent chin. A petite figure with the most slender waist and the most delicate limbs.
'She is so beautiful, too beautiful, and your brother's betrothed' Nock chided himself internally.
"Nick, what are you doing here?" She blushed and looked down trying to avoid eye contact with him as the sight of him always makes her heart skip a beat, something the sight of Cravter doesn't do. She always tries to control her feelings but her heart was stubborn.
"I just decided to check in over here, what's going on?" He asked waving at the chaos around them. "I thought everyone was packed and ready last night?"
"Yea we were, princess Nelly and I made sure of that but this morning everyone seems to be missing something or wanting to add something to their luggage or someone took their stuff. You know how girls how" she replied chuckling.
"Tell me about it" he replied rolling his eyes.
Just then Ninna poked put her head and spotted Nick. Then matched up to him and started dragging him towards her room.
"Brother Nock. Good thing you are here come help me carry down my shoe case over to my carriage. Please" she pleaded.
'Not like I have much of a choice, Bye Sam'.