— So, knight... Arthur will really find us soon, you didn't lie to me, right?
The poor young prince didn't even know that his half-brother had been left behind. The knight, who had the same name as the boy who had just died on a nearby battlefield, refused to tell the harsh truth.
— Speak lower, we must not attract unwanted attention — said Knight Arthur, while continuing to walk through the swamp.
— And why do you care so much about that bastard? Technically, the only important people for the kingdom are you and me, brother. — said Elara, in a mocking and carefree tone.
— What do you mean...? He was our brother! He was always by our side, always protected us! — replied Lucian angrily, almost shouting.
— Sure... We lived in a majestic castle, while he slept in a small stable. — mocked Elara, continuing with the mocking tone.
Knight Arthur did not participate in the discussion but kept a sad and downcast expression. The young prodigy Arthur who died was like a son to him. It was the knight who named him after himself, as a kind of joke in a tavern. The child was already five years old and his biological family hadn't even given him a name.
It was the knight who took in the young boy and trained him, really becoming attached to him and seeing him as a son. Even against the young man's decision to stay behind and fight, he respected the boy's determination. Now, he assumed the most important responsibility: ensuring the survival of Prince Lucian and Princess Elara.
The path was terrible. They were traversing an extensive swamp, with foul-smelling water that resembled rotten eggs, extremely muddy and difficult to move through. It was a secret escape route that would hardly be discovered. However, if they were found, they would not be able to defend themselves adequately due to the extremely reduced mobility.
Why did the knight, extremely intelligent and experienced, choose this route? Simple: no one would dare use or search this route, full of hidden dangers, especially animals that are not easily visible.
Lucian and Elara continued walking behind the knight, feeling the foul water rising to their waists. The environment was suffocating, with the putrid smell penetrating their nostrils and the sound of their steps being absorbed by the thick mud.
Suddenly, the knight stopped. The young siblings exchanged confused looks.
— Did something happen? — asked Lucian, surprised and curious, trying to see what was ahead.
— Can we continue soon? I don't want to spend another minute in this sewer — grumbled Elara, stressed and irritated, trying in vain to clean the mud from her clothes.
The knight did not respond. Instead, he drew his sword and, with a quick and indescribable movement, at least to the children's eyes, made two cuts in the water.
Lucian was left open-mouthed, eyes wide with surprise and fascination, while Elara fell to the ground in fright, letting out a frustrated scream. The muddy water now covered even more of her body, intensifying her irritation.
— What does this mean?! — shouted Elara, furious, trying to get up.
The knight remained silent. Within seconds, two bodies began to float in the water: a crocodile and a snake. Arthur had skillfully killed two animals in the darkness, where one could barely see the next step.
— We have reached the shore. We will continue our way through the forest. Soon, we will arrive at a small village, where we will spend the night in a stable. During the day, we will get some horses and head south to the kingdom of Lestira — said the knight, while walking calmly through the dark forest, as if such a situation were trivial. — Do not stray from me.
— Get horses, seriously?! I'm already filthy with this mixture of mud and crocodile crap. You need to get a cart! I don't want...
The sound of Elara's voice echoed through the forest and was apparently heard by another knight who had just arrived on the opposite shore of the swamp. Holding a torch, he seemed to be just a young squire recently promoted, as he did not alert his companions about the strange sound heard on the shore.
Arthur and the young ones were already inside the forest, with soft and almost inaudible steps. Fortunately, the swamp mud provided very efficient camouflage in the darkness. The tall, dense trees formed a natural canopy, filtering the moonlight and making the forest an even darker and more mysterious place.
— Quiet now, we're almost there — whispered Arthur, his eyes scanning the forest attentively.
Lucian, feeling the adrenaline, looked around with curiosity and apprehension. Elara, still muttering softly, tried to clean herself as best as she could while walking.
The smell of the swamp still lingered, mixing with the damp and earthy odor of the forest. The sound of nocturnal insects and the rustling of leaves added an extra layer of tension to the environment. Each step was taken with caution, as any noise could reveal their position to potential pursuers.
Finally, they saw the light of a small village in the distance. The flickering torch flames at the entrances of the houses provided a comforting sight after the swamp crossing.
— There, let's go. Stay together and silent — instructed Arthur, leading them towards the village.
The comforting sight of the village began to fade as they approached. Most of the establishments and houses were closed, even taverns and inns that usually operated all day. The streets were deserted, a surprising contrast for a village so close to the capital.
— Great, huh? What's your next idea, "genius" knight? — mocked Elara, with a sarcastic tone.
Arthur did not respond immediately, continuing to walk without showing any sign of stress or irritation. He took a cloth that was hanging on a nearby house's clothesline. He returned to Elara and placed the cloth over her head, tying it to hide her hair.
— Why are you putting this dirty thing on me?
— It's not dirty, it's clean, it was on the clothesline — replied the knight, in a mocking tone.
— I think you misunderstood me. This cloth is too simple for me — complained Elara.
— The reason is simple. It's rare to find someone with silver hair like yours, princess — explained the knight, finally showing irritation at having to explain the obvious. — Any more questions?
— Yes, why didn't you hide my eyes too? I'm sure golden eyes aren't common outside of royalty — asked Elara, still sarcastic but genuinely curious.
— You're already not being good company seeing the way. Imagine without seeing it — retorted Arthur.
— Hey guys... Where are we going? — Lucian interrupted, perhaps out of curiosity or to end the discussion.
— The part about sleeping in a stable isn't true, it was just a comparison, since the place we're staying isn't visibly pleasant — explained the Knight — Of course, externally, it's a complete dump.
Arthur stopped in front of a large ruined building, which might once have been an inn. Today, it was a dwelling for rats, diseases, and dirt.
— This is the place! — Arthur exclaimed with a slight tone of excitement as he opened the door. — It's safe, at least for tonight.
Lucian entered without hesitation, trusting the knight's words. Elara was about to complain, but upon entering the establishment, she was surprised. Inside, the place was in perfect condition, bustling and with no signs of damage.
The knight went to the receptionist, ignoring the warm welcomes from those present. The receptionist was a thin and weak man, visibly young. He was sleeping sitting in a chair, disconnected from the surroundings.
— Wake up, filthy pigeon, human leftover — said Arthur, giving a strong slap on the receptionist's back.
— Huh...? Arthur?! You're here? What can I do for you? — responded the small receptionist, surprised. He looked at Lucian and Elara. — Who are they?
— Prepare two rooms and two baths, on the third floor.
— No problem.
Alaric, the receptionist, made some quick gestures to a maid, who gave a slight bow and went off to prepare the rooms. Lucian was amazed by the form of communication.
— You developed your own form of communication. You must use it for various things. It's very versatile — said Lucian, his eyes shining with excitement.
— Actually, we only do this because she's deaf — replied Alaric, disdainfully while focusing on some papers on the desk.
— Hey kids, choose something from the menu and go eat. I need to sort some things out — instructed Arthur.
Lucian and Elara went to an empty table, sat down, and ordered simple meat dishes and appetizers. Taking advantage of being alone, Arthur approached Alaric and asked in a low tone:
— Do you have information on the outcome of the fight that just happened in the capital? Were there any survivors? — he whispered. — Did little Arthur survive?
— I'm sorry.
***
The rest of the night passed without complications or any kind of stress. After filling themselves with the meal, Lucian and Elara took a long and comforting bath on the second floor. Only Elara complained about the clothes she had to wear afterward, claiming they were "too simple." Indeed, it was a simple and functional dress, almost completely faded green, made of wool and reaching down to her ankles. However, the simplicity had its function: the dress allowed her to hide a dagger strapped to the upper part of her thigh, tied in a sheath. If they were attacked or cornered, appearing vulnerable or defenseless could turn into an advantage.
As for Lucian, there wasn't much to comment on. He wore a fine linen tunic that reached his knees, accompanied by pants and leather shoes. The choice of a linen tunic was peculiar, given that the weather was usually cold at this time of year. The tunic was awkwardly fastened at the waist, perhaps because he was more accustomed to clothes tailored to his figure, without the need for belts.
After dressing, they both went up to the room on the third floor, surprisingly spacious and cozy. There were two beds positioned on opposite sides of the room, both with a view of the window. Elara, who expected to find a dirty place infested with unwanted insects, was pleasantly surprised to find the bed very comfortable and well-kept. Within minutes, she fell asleep.
Lucian, on the other hand, just sat on the bed, keeping his head down as silent tears streamed down his face. The royal family of the kingdom of Lestira was taught from an early age not to show emotions and to focus only on the functional to achieve their goals. However, he was just a twelve-year-old child, and the pain was hard to bear. In three years, he had lost his father, mother, and now the kingdom.
Elara and Lucian shared the same losses, but it seemed that the only loss that affected Elara was that of the kingdom. Lucian, still nurturing the hope that his older brother was alive, was interrupted by Arthur, who opened the door to the room.
Without his helmet, the knight revealed a tanned face, short and straight hair, marked by several scars, but also with a surprisingly gentle and friendly expression. With slow and inaudible steps, Arthur approached Lucian, placing his hand gently on his shoulder.
— Your brother... will not find us.
— What do you mean? Did he find another escape route? — asked the young boy, confused.
— No — Arthur took a deep breath and continued. — He died.
Lucian tried to respond, but the words wouldn't come out. Tears streamed down his face, and a terrible feeling of helplessness hit him, making him feel like a small boat adrift in a stormy sea.
Arthur also felt the loss deeply, but he couldn't allow himself to show his true feelings. He handed Lucian a small necklace with a strange dark sun engraved on it. It was a gift that Lucian's older brother had planned to give him when he turned fifteen.