As the first rays of sunlight shone in the tranquil countryside, Kellan and Anabell set out south, leaving Eden. The world around them was slowly waking up to life, birds singing in the treetops, and villagers were going out into the fields. Kellan did not have his own mount, and carriage travel was also not possible. However, the village leader was kind enough to give him his black horse as a thank you for his help. Kellan named it Midnight. The man rode on the right side of the cart, the other riders lined up in a proven formation. The road led through dense forests, whose tall trees cast long, dancing shadows on the ground. After a few hours of traveling along bumpy roads, they saw a panorama of the city of Wolghart, looming in the distance among the mountain hills. The city was surrounded by thick walls of gray stone. Around the walls stretched vast fields and pastures, where sheep and cattle grazed, guarded by lonely shepherds.
Anabell, sitting comfortably inside the ornate carriage, could only watch the view through the window as it slowly unfolded before her. The carriage, decorated with gold ornaments and her family's coat of arms, rolled majestically on the bumpy road. Her gaze, full of awe, rested on Wolghart, a city that was of rugged beauty and toughness, as if it were a place itself that exuded respect for past power and history.
Kellan rode his horse next to the carriage, observing his surroundings. On his right he could see a strip of forest whose edges cast long, dark shadows on the road, and on his left were valleys from which the inhabitants of the surrounding villages were heading to the city with carts full of goods.
The five knights who accompanied them on their journey moved in a proven formation. Two men-at-arms led the group, looking warily ahead, while the other three rode at the end.
As they approached the gate of Wolghart, the tall watchtowers on the walls seemed to look down on them, as if to judge whether they were friends or foes. At the gate stood the guards, dressed in heavy steel armor with the emblem of Wolghart on their chests – the head of a wolf surrounded by oak leaves. This place was known for the extraordinary courage of its inhabitants and their tenacity in the face of danger. It was the first city potentially threatened in the event of war. However, it was prepared for this, a potential aggressor would waste a lot of time trying to break through its steel defense.
- Wolghart always impresses me. Anabell said from inside the carriage, looking at Kellan.
- It is indeed impressive. It would be difficult to get them. Even an army would take weeks to break through these fortifications.
As they entered through the gate, the main streets of the city slowly began to reveal cobbled roads, narrow alleys full of artisan workshops and markets where all kinds of goods were traded. The smell of freshly baked bread and spices wafted through the air, mingling with the sounds of conversations and shouts of the merchants.
–. Does that friend of yours live in this city? Kellan asked, adjusting his position on the horse.
- Yes, but at this time he is most likely in the surrounding forests, he often goes there to collect herbs.
– So, she is an herbalist? How could she help us with this magic?
- Not an herbalist, but a sorceress, and you better not underestimate her. Despite her appearance and way of being, people often underestimate her at first. As a result, in the best case, they end up badly battered.
The carriage and the rest of the passengers stopped at one of the larger inns in the area. This is where Anabell and her entourage spent the night before arriving in the village of Eden. The horses were given their own places in the roadside stable, and Kellan paid a few copper coins to the groom so that Midnight would get a little more hay. On his way back, the boy noticed how the group he was traveling with was in the middle of a discussion.
- Madam, allow at least one of us to accompany you as a protection,- one of the knights said firmly, his voice betraying a sense of duty and care.
- Okay,- Anabell replied with a slight smile, - but I'll choose my bodyguard myself.
The men sighed with obvious relief, and a slight relaxation appeared in their posture. For a brief moment, it seemed that the atmosphere between them had cleared up, but the next moment Anabell looked behind them and noticed Kellan returning. With satisfaction and a hint of amusement in her eyes, she pointed at him.
- Kellan will be my bodyguard!
–What? – They spoke unanimously both the knights and Kellan himself, who looked at her with equal amazement.
Kellan frowned, trying to understand if Anabell was serious. After all, he promised to help her, but there was no question of acting as a bodyguard. He didn't plan to play babysitter, as he put it in his mind. Anabell, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by their reaction, looking at Kellan with amusement.
- Lady, we... - one of the knights tried to intervene, but Anabell raised her hand, silencing him.
- I'm sure of my choice.- she said calmly, but with a noticeable hint of firmness in her voice.
Kellan looked at her, feeling a mixture of surprise and slight irritation at the moment. Although he was not going to refuse.
- So be it.- he replied briefly, so he had to endure the unpleasant looks of the men. On his shoulders at that moment was the responsibility for Anabell and if anything happened to her. They would be the first to answer for it.
- Great, now that I've decided, I'll go change into something more suitable." Give me a moment, Kellan.
Kellan stood outside the inn, arms crossed on his chest, waiting for Anabell. Time passed, and he tried to patiently shift from foot to foot. Minutes passed, and people around him came and went out of the inn, giving him surprised looks, seeing his impatience. He tried to maintain his composure, but the waiting was starting to irritate him more and more.
Finally, just as he thought an eternity had passed, the inn door opened and Anabell came out, dressed in more modest but still elegant clothes. Anabell came out wearing a simple, girly dress in a pastel shade, reaching slightly below the knees. Instead of heavy armor, she wore a light, light blouse with delicate embroidery at the neckline, and she threw a thin cream-colored coat over her shoulders. Her hair was tied in a loose braid, adding to her youthful grace. She now looked more like an ordinary girl than a noblewoman, which gave her appearance a friendly and casual feel.
Kellan looked at Anabell, raising an eyebrow slightly. Before, he had somehow not seen her innate charm. Most likely it was the fault of her armor, in which she was dressed, as well as the whole atmosphere of seriousness she created. But now, in this simple, girly outfit, she looked completely different. For a moment, he didn't know what to say, as if the words were stuck in his throat. Finally, however, he managed to smile briefly.
- You made me wait a long time. - he said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Anabell blushed slightly at the words, but shrugged her shoulders to feign indifference.
- I'm sorry, but I wanted to make sure I looked right. It's not every day that I have the opportunity to go out without my protection.
Kellan merely nodded, trying to hide his impatience. Though he understood that every little thing mattered to her, he hoped it would be the last time he would have to wait so long.
– Do you have a specific goal in this outing?
- I sent one of my people with a letter to my friend's house, but I know that it will not be until the evening. So I thought it would be nice to walk around the city more incognito. No more talking, let's go!
So, they set off through the streets of the city, which were teeming with life. Wanderers, traders, kids whizzing between stalls. Wolghart seemed to be very colorful and lively. Kellan, though skeptical at first, relaxed and looked at things with a slightly different approach, seeing the charms of an ordinary day in the city. Anabell stopped at the fruit stand, smiling at the vendor who handed her a juicy apricot. She took a bite and laughed. Later, she looked at the precious stones placed in various extravagant jewelry. Together, they even tasted the local delicacies offered by street chefs.
- You know, Kellan – she said, glancing at him. – Maybe sometimes it is worth breaking away from duties and just... to be here. It reminds me of what it means to just live, without all this pressure and responsibility.
Kellan nodded, smiling under his breath.
- I know exactly what you're talking about, that's the feeling I escaped from to Eden. However, the world is not willing to let me enjoy it any longer.
–Seriously? Do you also have an overly strict father who demands things from his daughter beyond her abilities? The same one who regrets that he did not have a son to give him his possessions later?
Anabell blushed slightly, realizing that her emotions had carried her away more than she would have liked. She lowered her gaze, embarrassed by her own confession, and her hands began to nervously adjust the folds of her dress. The boy looked at her with a slight smile, thinking for a moment about her words. She was a noblewoman, burdened with responsibilities that often took away her simple joy of life. Although he himself had escaped from the past and the burden of legend, he understood well how difficult it could be to carry other people's expectations on his shoulders.
At that moment, without saying a word, he gently grabbed her wrist. Anabell flinched, surprised by his gesture, but did not protest. Kellan nodded at a group of colorfully dressed jugglers who were just starting their show at the end of the street. They juggled torches, spun to the rhythm of the music, and the crowd around them resounded with laughter and applause.
- Come on, let's see something that doesn't require any duties or responsibilities,- he said with a slight smile.
Anabell grinned broadly and walked with him, still feeling the warmth of his hand on her wrist.
They both watched the jugglers' show, but Anabell, drawn into the performance, did not notice at first that Kellan had taken his eyes off the show for a moment. Seeing the torches glittering in the air and hearing the laughter of the crowd, she slowly relaxed, and a sincere, joyful smile appeared on her face , a rare sight in her daily life full of duties. She was like a child, delighted in the magic of a simple performance, completely forgetting about formalities and responsibilities.
Kellan glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, noticing this subtle change. Instead of a focused and serious warrior, he saw in her a girl who most of the time lacked the simple pleasures of life. The sight of her amused, almost defenseless happy expression made Kellan hesitate for a moment before turning his attention away from the jugglers and concentrating on the little thief roaming the crowd.
Anabell suddenly noticed that Kellan was looking somewhere further away, and her happy mood had faded a bit, replaced by curiosity. She frowned and followed his gaze, but she couldn't see anything but the crowd of people.
- What did you see?
– Someone who asks for trouble.
The man walked calmly, making his way through the crowd. He could still see the young boy robbing his pockets with a smooth movement. He gracefully jumped from victim to victim, and his small stature only made it easier for him. But Kellan's keen eye could not be deceived. After a dozen or so steps, Kellan left the gathered crowd, seeing the boy turn into one of the side alleys out of the corner of his eye.
Anabell tried to keep up, but the crowd and her own surprise left her a bit behind. Seeing Kellan suddenly disappear into one of the side alleys, she speeds up, trying to catch up with him before things get completely out of control. She wondered what it was about him that made him suddenly change his mood from amused to alert.
Kellan, turning around the corner, noticed a young thief stopping for a moment to look at his collection of pouches. The boy, busy counting the loot, did not notice Kellan, who approached quietly and confidently.
When Kellan was close enough, the boy suddenly looked up, surprised and seeing the tall figure of the man, he immediately tensed up. Anabell finally caught up with Kellan, out of breath and unsure of what to expect.
- I have to admit to you, you are young, agile. Even though you know that you are asking for trouble? Kellan said coldly, not taking his eyes off him.
The boy looked at him from under his head, trying to maintain his confidence, although it was obvious that he was tense.
- Trouble is my middle name, - he said, a cheeky smile on his face. - Speaking of which - he pointed behind Kellan's back.
Five men appeared at the entrance to the alley, blocking the way. They looked like typical cutthroats – ragged people with dirty clothes and scruffy faces, barely hidden under hoods. One of them had a thick, matted beard, another looked young, probably not even twenty years old, and the third, with a wild look, had his hand on the handle of his knife as if he were waiting for a sign. At the center of the group stood the leader—a man in a slightly worn but better-kept coat, with a distinct scar crossing his cheek and a cold gaze. He looked at the boy with amusement.
- Well, Finn, I think you're out of practice since the first guy you found out,- the leader said, his voice hard and a bit sarcastic. - I'll knock you off your pit for that.
- Not my fault! - The boy replied nervously, pointing at Kellan. - I did as always, and this one here... He has an eye, as if he saw me right away!
- We'll talk about it later,- the leader waved his hand, as if dismissing the topic. - Now to business. And you,- he said to Kellan and Anabell, - give back your valuables, and I promise we won't beat you too hard.
One of the thugs, with a low, guttural voice, glanced at Anabell, and a foul smile curled his lips.
- Boss, this girl is pretty. Maybe we should have some fun?
The leader let out a short, mocking laugh.
- If you hurry up before the guards arrive, you can have a moment of fun, - he replied coldly, giving them a satisfied look.
At the same time, their hands began to reach for their belts, drawing short, sharp swords from behind their cloaks. The bandits' faces twisted into a predatory grimace, as if they had already seen their victory, and Anabell, standing behind Kellan, instinctively reached for her belt – and felt nothing but emptiness. Her gun was left in the inn. She cursed in her mind, feeling the tension growing.
Kellan gave the bandits a cold, defiant look.
–Well... You better think carefully, we can still resolve this peacefully. Kellan replied calmly, taking the first step towards the men.
One of the bandits burst into a loud, mocking laugh, shaking his head in disbelief.
- I don't think you understand who you're talking to, man,- he said, and the others laughed maliciously, exchanging meaningful glances with each other. - Boys, let's show him how we solve such matters peacefully.
The bandits rushed at Kellan, each with their weapons raised, their movements swift and aggressive. Anabell held her breath as she saw a group of five armed men lunge at her companion. But Kellan remained unmoved, his face betraying no hint of uneasiness.
The first attacker swung his short sword into Kellan's side. He slid slightly to the side, allowing the blade to slip past him, then quickly grabbed the bandit by the wrist and twisted it in one decisive motion, forcing the man to release his weapon. The attacker hissed in pain, and a moment later he elbowed him in the ribs, sending him to the ground.
Two more moved at him at the same time, trying to attack from two sides. Kellan took a step back, dodging one slash and grabbed the other with his bare hand, stopping the blade in mid-air. The bandit stared at him dumbfounded, seeing his sword come to rest on Kelan's hand without any harm.
–This... impossible,- he stammered, taking a step back, as if he saw a ghost.
Kellan smiled slightly, then let go of the blade and sent his fist straight into his stomach in one fluid motion. The attacker fell to his knees, gasping for air, and Kellan bounced forward with ease, kicking another man down.
One of the bandits, seeing his comrades drop like flies, hesitated for a moment, but finally risked another attack, swinging his sword in a wide arc. Kellan dodged the slash with ease, then grabbed his opponent's arm, moved him closer, and with cold precision struck him in the stomach with his knee, knocking him off his feet. He slowly picked up the sword of one of the bandits and looked at the leader of the group.
Backing away uncertainly, the bandit felt his heart beat faster and faster, panicking for a way to escape. But before he could take a step, Kellan appeared right behind him in the blink of an eye, as if he had penetrated a shadow. The man felt Kellan's hand fall on his shoulder—it wasn't heavy, but its touch carried a threat that couldn't be ignored.
- Did you think you were going to run away just like that? - Kellan whispered calmly, almost indifferently.
The bandit froze, breathing rapidly and staring into the space ahead, unable to make a movement. He felt that the slightest attempt at resistance could end badly.
- P-please... I'm just... - he stammered, trying to wriggle out of it with some excuse.
Kellan leaned forward, lowering his voice so that only the man could hear him.- You'd better remember what happened to your comrades.- He said quietly. - Tell them that next time I won't be so understanding.
With that, he let him go, allowing him to escape. The bandit, without looking back, disappeared around the corner, gasping for air and shaking. Immediately after him, the fallen ones rose and followed the commander. Anabell, who had been standing in the back, approached Kellan, watching in disbelief. Kellan shrugged his shoulders as he looked at the bandits lying on the ground.
Anabell stood dumbfounded, staring at Kellan, so engrossed in what she had just seen. Her gaze shifted between the men Kellan had disarmed with merciless precision and his calm, impassive face. She couldn't believe how easily and composure he dealt with a group of armed attackers, without even reaching for a weapon. In particular, she remembered the moment when he grabbed the blade of one of the bandits with his bare hand, as if it were a toy, not a sharp sword.
- Kellan. -she whispered at last, still amazed. –Whence... How do you mean...?
Kellan turned to her with a faint, imperturbable smile, as if what had just happened was something quite ordinary.
- Sometimes it's enough not to be intimidated, Anabell. - he replied calmly. - And remember who is really in control of the situation.
Anabell blinked, trying to gather her thoughts. There was not an ounce of pride or boast in his voice, only cold confidence. Only now was she beginning to understand that Kellan might be hiding much more than she had realized.
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