Leaving the castle's perimeter wasn't anything new for the boy and the knight, as they both grew up in the region, playing in the red forest or in amethyst lake some kilometres to the north. Kehrner, the closest town to the Orhim duchy, was also a common place of visit for the kids in Orhim, at least those who were willing to walk for about an hour in the woods.
From those past memories Orm had an idea:
"Young master, what do you think of stopping by Kehrner to stay for the day? We'll need some way of going to Metarom and I believe that's the closest urban centre."
"Yes Orm, but isn't it far? I thought it was after the amethysts in the north , maybe even after the mountains. We'll need to set camp about halfway there." Said the boy, clearly uninterested in the long walk.
The knight thought for a second and while lost in his thoughts he saw a figure killing a wolf in the close distance.
"Hey, you there!"
The man was startled, not by fear though. His face brightened up after seeing Orm and went directly towards him and kneeled.
"Chief instructor, young master. Irvan Verder, 5th rank knight at your disposal"
M
He was a young man, 30 years or so, but a quite prominent instructor for the beginner class in the castle's training grounds. His sword was worn out from the constant use, but his armour was still pristine, as he was not very experienced in real combat.
"Sir Verder, me and the young master are having some trouble figuring out a faster way to Kehrner, we would like your assistance" Said Orm.
Meanwhile, Ano got distracted with the wolf laid dead in the red dirt, he sat down beside the corpse and extended his left hand towards it, a frightening scene for him, but he felt something alive in the wolf's corpse, something changing.
At that moment the body began twitching and turning, floating low in the air. It seemed like the wolf was alive again, and when Ano moved his hands, the creature responded. He toyed with the animal for a second, making him give his paw and sit.
But then he closed his hand, multiple stab-like wounds were created in the wolf's body and his blood soon started to come out. The blood that dripped from the body floating in the air started flowing up into Ano's arm and entered into his clothes, eyes, and ears, and soon, there was just pelt left in the ground.
He felt reinvigorated.
A sense of something feral was flowing in his veins, an uncontrollable happiness in death, maybe something more changed?
Orm was distracted with Irvan so he didn't see the boy's talent in action, taking advantage of that, Ano took the remaining of the corpse - just the bloodless valuable pelt - and quickly put it into his bag. Soon he approached the knight and said:
"Orm, let's go, I've never felt so alive!"
"Yes master, Sir Verder, if you excuse us, we must continue to Kehrner."
The knight said this but took a glimpse at Ano, something in him was different. Maybe his eye colour was a little more vibrant than usual.
"Yes, chief instructor. I'll do what you requested from me in no time." Then Irvan saluted both of them, took a turn and went back into the castle's perimeter.
"What did you ask from him?"
"Some information on a threat. Nothing to worry about young master"
"Threat? What kind of threat? A big one?"
"You shouldn't be concerned with those types of things young master, that is my job. And also, you should not use your talent so carelessly."
Ano put his hands on his hips and frowned at Orm, who in response, just ignored the noisy boy.
After around 25 minutes of walking, they found themselves on an intersection that led to the Yerehm state. They were on good terms with that noble house, so there was no problem in building a connected road to their castle. Ano even saw the Yerehm patriarch with his father very often some years ago, they seemed like close friends.
Lost in his thoughts, the boy was distracted from the roads, but Orm saw something coming from the other road, a carriage. It seemed very fancy, and his suspicions were confirmed when it approached as the crest of the Yerehm was marked on the carriage's side. After returning to the present, Ano shouted to the conductor:
"My fine sir! Would you be going in the Kehrner direction? Me and my friend here need a ride"
"Ano, don't be rude, you can't just go and ask those types of things for them!" Said the knight irritated with the boy.
"It's fine" said a feminine voice from the inside of the carriage when it was already close "Chauffeur, please stop for them."
As the carriage stopped and the old sighed, a girl around Ano's age opened the door, and gracefully stepped out:
"I am Eimmany Yerehm, the first daughter of the Yerehm patriarch, pleased to meet you."
"I am Ano Irkheim Kertaz, the pleasure is mine."
"Ano, you say…" said the girl with a sharp gaze "come on, we are headed to Kehrner."
Both of them smiled at each other, as she extended her hand for him to get in the carriage.
Orm didn't believe that worked.