The camp was a flurry of activity. Several men in simple tunic and hose were erecting a large silk tent. The horses were being rubbed down, while others were unloading wagons. Smaller tents that would be used by servants had already been hastily erected.

  Three young men were reclining back around a large fire, watching the activity in the large clearing. They were clean-shaven and wore fine clothes, covered by a short riding cloak. The shirts were expertly tailored from the finest silk. Their britches were tight around the legs and tucked into highly polished boots. The boots, like the clothes, were expensive and very well made, that reached their knees.

  “You there, do be careful.” One of the young men named Jarrell shouted, “If you rip that, I will have your hide.”

  The servant, who was working on the large tent, muttered something. Presumably, it was an apology, but since they couldn’t hear what he said, it was probably a curse.

  What sounded like rolling thunder could be heard in the distance, steadily getting louder. The three men stood and could feel the earth begin rumble through their boots as twenty-one men on horseback came thundering into view.

  The horses were reined in sharply, sending a large cloud of dust billowing into the camp, rolling over the three men. The horses were well lathered, some shaking their heads as if in protest while others were pawing the ground, anxious to run again. The creaking of leather and the clatter of chain filled the air as the men moved in their saddles trying to relieve sore muscles. The rattle of harness could also be heard as the occasional horse shook its armored head.

  These men were part of ‘The Guard’. Each member of the guard had been handpicked because of their loyalty, skill at arms, initiative and their ability not only to follow orders, but also to anticipate them. Their numbers barely exceeded a thousand men and were loosely formed as a legion, capable of operating independently in small companies.

  They were dressed alike with a combination of black polished leather armor and chain mail. Under the gleaming armor, each wore a black tunic and loose black leggings, tucked into their boots. Each had a small round shield strapped to their left arm. A short lance, almost a spear was carried in their right hand and rested in a special socket on the stirrup.

  The steel tipped lance had a thin neck, which was about the length of one’s forearm. It was intended to bend upon impact, with the intent of hindering the shield or armor. At each hip rested a slender, slightly curved sword. On the other hip was a shorter straight sword. The handles of additional daggers could be seen protruding from the tops of each boot.

  Four men at the rear of the column did not carry lances; instead, they carried bows, with arrows notched and at the ready. Each Guardsman was imposing by himself. To see two mounted squads in column formation, at battle ready would be daunting for anyone who posed a threat.

  The lead horseman quickly dismounted and walked briskly toward a small pavilion, which was next to the large tent being erected. As he neared the pavilion, another guardsman joined him.

  From under the pavilion, another guardsman was surveying the camp. He was dressed like the others except for a silver aiguillette, which hung loosely from his left shoulder. This was their new captain, who was promoted just three short months before. They stopped two paces from their officer, brought their right hand up with a clenched fist in salute and hit their left breast with an audible thud.

  They stood there not moving until the officer said, “Report.” The guardsman lowered their arms in one quick motion and talked softly. After a moment the officer responded again, “Very good, I want three watches, with two squads on recall at all times. See to the camp, dismissed.” The two quickly saluted again, spun on their heels and returned back to the mounted guardsman.

  The officer walked straight for the three men sitting around the fire. He stopped two paces from them and saluted smartly, “My Prince, the perimeter is secure.”

  “Captain, it is hot and dusty enough already without your men creating more, dismissed.” Jarrell said with a casual wave of his hand, his gaze fixed on some point across the clearing.

  “Thank you, Sir.” He lowered his hand and went back to the pavilion.

  The other two men was watching the young Captain leave when Darian said, “You should be more considerate to them.”

  Confusion crossed the Prince's face, “What are you talking about, considerate to who?”

  “Come now Jarrell, this is not the first time we’ve talked about this. You are too harsh with them.”

  The Princes eyes narrowed slightly and his lips tightened. Darian returned his gaze and casually said, “You’re acting the ass, stop it.”

  “What!” he roared. The servants paused and glanced in their direction briefly before continuing their work. “Do not talk to me that way; I will be king some day. I will not have people talk down to me.”

  “Someday you may be King, but right now you’re an ass.” There was a brief pause as he took a breath then continued. “And I will talk to you anyway I want. Tell him Aldric.”

  “This isn’t my argument.” The other man said, laughing slightly. “I’m here as hidden guard and protector, not advisor.”

  “You’re a coward, Aldric.” Darian quickly responded.

  “You wish.” He responded to the playful banter.

  Darian took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “As your Birth Companion, I must point out faults when I see them.”

  “I am your prince, I have no faults.”

  Aldric and Darian both laughed at that.

  Jarrell’s face reddened slightly. “All right maybe I have one or two.”

  Serious now, Darian again spoke. “You must be nicer to those under you.”

  “And be weak, never!” Jarrell said with a hint of indignation.

  “There is a difference between weakness and kindness.”

  “Maybe but they are of common origin.” The prince said with disgust. “They are here to serve, nothing more.”

  “I was born of a servant, remember.” Darian said pointing towards the large tent. “That could be me over there.”

  “You are wrong Darian.” Jarrell said sharply. “You were destined for greatness like myself. We were born at the same time, it was fated.” He quickly continued. “Each life is predestined as the High Lord wishes. Why else would one be born in wealth and luxury, and another in squalor? You were fated to be my Birth Companion. To live and learn as a noble born.”

  “But never to be noble.” Darian said, almost in a whisper.

  Aldric broke into the conversation. “There is no pre-destiny. It’s skill, talent and the courage to follow your heart that determines your life.”

  “Really,” Jarrell responded, almost laughing. “And was it skill that got you here with us, and not hanging from the gibbet with your hand on a scale.” Laughing briefly he continued. “I tell you here and now, after you lifted that purse, it was not skill but destiny that guided your footsteps into the arms of the guard.”

  “Maybe, but it was my skill that saved me during the challenge.” Aldric said quickly.

  “Was it only just four years ago?” Darian asked deep in thought, “It seems longer for some reason.”

  “The Challenge of the Festival, I remember that very well.” The prince said laughing. “If you did not win, you would have fed more than the crows. And if you remember, it was I who said that you were justified in killing that man. Remember, only petty crimes can be pardoned at the challenge. Killing in your defense is one thing, but murder is something else.”

  “When are you going to tell us who trained you to fight like that?” Darian asked, but after a slight pause he continued, “I have never seen anyone handle a blade like that before.”

  There was several seconds of silence before Aldric spoke. “I’ve told you before, never, if it is known, I am dead. Some schools are very jealous of their training and will kill to keep their secrets. Even their names are unknown and students must be recommended by the fraternity.” After a brief moment, he continued. “Is it destiny that caused your father to march west with his armies? Was it destiny that caused the invasion of the River Province?”

  “It could have been.” The prince said after a brief thought. “We did take the River Province from The DuMar and the Sonnies some fifty years ago.”

  “True, but do you think that they would have started another war if it wasn’t for the silver mines. Before the discovery of those mines, there was nothing but forests and small farms.”

  “I will agree with you.” The prince concluded. “Those mines will fatten any treasury. Add to that the trade benefits, and we all know that the full power of The DuMar is based on trade.”

  “Can you see a merchant of The DuMar taking thirty chickens in trade for a rug? Then turning around and having to pay his taxes with a few pigs.” They all laughed at that, then in a more serious tone Jarrell added. “If we lose those mines, it will hurt everyone from noble to commoner.”

  They sat around the fire in silence for some time, each lost in their own thoughts.

  As the large tent was nearing completion, they watched as a pavilion was attached to the front, facing the west. For as long as Jarrell could remember, he had always loved watching the setting sun. As a boy he would sneak out of bed to watch the sun magically disappear into the far distant lands, now it was a habit.

  “How did your father get his hands on that much silk?” Aldric asked absently.

  “Last year every merchant that came to Caldoran was required to go through a customs house. Those that carried silk interested my father most. He then would have the first option of buying the silks that he wanted.”

  “That must have cost a small fortune.”

  “Not really, usually my father received it at or near the cost of the merchant.”

  “How did he do that? Merchants aren’t known for their charity.” They all laughed at that.

  “I must say that is true. Usually it was done by offering special concessions like lower customs tax or other benefits.”

  “Can he do that?” Darian suddenly asked.

  “He is the King. He can do what he wants.”

  Darian was in deep thought, when he asked. “But wouldn’t that upset other merchants that already have special considerations already?”

  “They probably would be if they knew about it. But, I don’t think they will find out. It is true that some within the Trade Council pay great amounts of money for solitary trade rights on certain products or less taxes. I have found that merchants are a secretive group, always trying to gain the advantage over the other.”

  They all shook their heads in agreement.

  The sun was nearing the horizon when Jarrell noticed that the last of the furnishings were being carried into the tent. “Shall we move into my new tent?”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “Go ahead, I will be along shortly.” Aldric said softly. “I must check the Guard along the perimeter.

  “You take your job to seriously.” The prince said light heartedly. “Let the Guard do their job, and then you can enjoy yours.”

  “I’ll tell you Aldric,” Darian quickly added. “One day you will anger one of them and that will be the end of you.”

  “When that happens,” he said laughing. “I will be old and gray and then it won’t matter.” They all laughed at that.

  Aldric left the fire and disappeared into the growing shadows of the forest. Since his ‘recruitment’ as the personal guard for the prince, he took up the challenge to ‘check’ the security of the Guard at least once a week. The Guard now expected a nightly intrusion. The officers quickly learned to encourage Aldric’s adventures, seeing the benefits of added alertness. If the Guard didn’t respond quick enough and with sufficient force there would be some sore heads and bruised egos in the morning.

  Four years ago was the first time Aldric suggested to test The Guard. The Captain on duty only laughed at the thought of a fifteen-year-old boy besting his men at their posts. To his dismay, halfway through the night, when the Captain went to change the watch, he discovered that his roster was missing, along with his coin purse and the purses of his three sergeants. The alarm was immediately raised and the men on duty soon learned that they had been beaten. A total of ten guardsmen, stationed at five different posts were found bound and gagged. From then on, The Guard looked forward to redeeming their honor, and they pursued their dream with a vengeance. However, more often than not, they failed to stop Aldric from slipping past them unnoticed.

  Only once in four years was Aldric actually caught. It was a new guardsman, previously from the ‘Forward Scouts’, an elite military unit with only one hundred men in its ranks. For his efforts, the guardsman was immediately promoted. The news spread through The Guard like wildfire, that the quickest way to be promoted was to capture Aldric on one of his nightly visits.

  Aldric had decided that tonight he would just see if the Guard was awake.

  ‘Well, maybe lift a few purses.’ He thought to himself as he watched the young Captain and his Sergeants move around the camp talking to the different posts. Aldric knew that those on the perimeter were, even now, being told to expect him to try something. Aldric had always excelled in woodcraft, and the six squads that came out on the hunt, was use to palace life. Aldric was smiling as he disappeared into the shadows of the trees. They didn’t stand a chance tonight.

  A short time later he was approaching the first outpost on his belly, as if he was a snake, slithering through grass. He made no sound as he approached to within a few paces of his first target. Silently he drew one of his daggers and carefully started to cut under the grass. But instead of removing the sod, he pushed the dirt aside to create a small tunnel underneath it. In a few minutes it was completed and big enough to crawl into. He slowly entered his new hiding place on his back, and soon he was totally hidden. He then made a few more openings near his head and chest. Then like a spider, he waited patiently for his prey to come to him.

  The two guardsmen, Hyatt and Farrin, had been on duty since they arrived at the clearing. They had seen the two squad formation coming into camp an hour before and were anxious to be relieved. Their sergeant had just left with word that Aldric had left the camp and was expected to try something at any time. They both mentioned that they would love to be the one to spot him. But that was just bravado talking; it was a wineskin that they were really looking forward to.

  Hyatt spun quickly when he heard the grass rustling just a few paces from their post. Farrin was soon laughing at Hyatt’s paranoia. Hyatt moved carefully to where he thought that the sound was coming from. He found that the ground rose slightly there and nothing else. Not wanting to be the next victim of Aldric, he carefully started to scan the grass around him. He felt something brush past him. He spun around quickly, but nothing was there. To his dismay, Farrin was slowly walking towards him, once again laughing.

  “You’re going to be the death of me if you keep doing that.” Hyatt said as Farrin joined him.

  “Relax, you’re too jumpy. We would be able to see that little weasel before he gets to close. Now when it gets full dark, that’s when we’ll have to worry.” Farrin turned to leave and suddenly tripped. He fell hard but quickly regained his feet, his hand reaching for his sword, ready for anything. Then Farrin laughed when he noticed that grass had gotten tangled around his boots.

  The two guardsmen slowly scanned the area around them one more time. Both were now on edge and a bit jumpy. They moved back to their post, all thought of their relief now gone. With renewed determination they again returned to watch the area around them.

  It was full dark when their sergeant and corporal came into view with the relief. As two men came forward they said, “You are relieved.” Hyatt and Farrin both saluted their relief and walked toward their corporal. Hyatt and Farrin saluted and said in unison, “We have been relieved.”

  “Very good,” he responded. “Report to the Captain immediately.”

  “The Captain . . .” Hyatt stammered. While Farrin immediately objected by saying “We didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Silence” He said sharply. “I don’t know why he has called you, but I can guess what it’s about.”

  “Is it Aldric?” They asked.

  “Probably,” The corporal agreed. “Now, look sharp and move along at the double. The Captain’s waiting for you.”

  As Hyatt and Farrin approached the command pavilion, they could see the Captain sitting at his desk. A large wooden plank was laid across two small chests with drawers; it was both simple and functional. Two oil lamps sat upon the desk giving off a soft glow to the surrounding area. Several stacks of papers were piled neatly to the side with a long knife being used as a paperweight. Sitting next to the Captain was Aldric. They watched as the Captain handed Aldric some papers who silently read them. The two guardsmen slowed their pace when Aldric glanced up from the parchment in his hand and smiled in their direction, a sudden dread to face their new Captain filled both of their hearts.

  They stopped before the makeshift desk and saluted saying in unison, “Reporting as ordered, Sir.”

  “At your ease,” the captain said looking up from the papers he was reading. Silently he looked over the two men before him. Sweat was starting to bead on the brow of the two guardsmen, glistening in the lamplight. Finally he spoke, “Did anything happen at your post tonight?”

  There was nothing but silence from the two men, as sweat started to slowly trickle down their faces. The Captain asked again, this time more sternly, “Did anything unusual happen at your post?”

  Hyatt started to blink as the sweat rolled into his eyes, his heart thudding loudly in his ears.

  The Captain just stared up at them. “Well.” he suddenly said sharply.

  “No Sir.” Farrin quickly said.

  After a brief moment, Hyatt cleared his throat. “Well sir,” he started, and then stopped as the Captain sat back in his chair. His throat was suddenly dry. Hyatt tried to swallow but couldn’t.

  “Yes.” The Captain was growing visibly impatient.

  “I ah . . .” He cleared his throat again. “I heard something moving in the grass and ah . . . And I went to see what it was. Then Farrin came over and startled me.”

  “And what was it?”

  “What was, what sir?” Hyatt asked not knowing what the Captain was looking for.

  “The noise you fool, what was it.” The Captain said sharply trying to control his anger, causing both men to jump.

  “I don’t know sir. Nothing was there.”

  “And did you think to call for assistance? Did you let your corporal know that something was in the grass?” The Captain asked dryly.

  “No sir.” Hyatt finally said, his voice growing soft. “There was nothing there. We looked sir.”

  “I see.” Looking directly at Farrin now, the Captain asked, “Did anything else happen?”

  “Yes sir.” Farrin said quietly. “My foot got tangled in the grass.” He looked down at his feet, like a child being scolded by his father. “I tripped and fell sir. I am sorry.” It was barely audible.

  The Captain was slowly shaking his head. “I was hoping for more from The Guard. I am disappointed in the both of you.”

  “But sir, there was nothing there!” They both exclaimed in unison.

  He reached into one of the drawers of his desk. As he pulled out two coin purses he said, “You must watch out for little weasels, I hear they like to tie knots in the grass.”

  The guardsmen’s eyes went wide with horror and the blood visibly drained from their faces, turning them ashen white. Farrin immediately reached for his belt saying, “That’s impossible.”

  Hyatt was trying to speak but all that came out was a harsh whisper, “Nothing was there.”

  Farrin having more courage started into their defense first. “We looked sir, there was no one there. We even searched the grass. It is impossible to get our purses without the use of dark magic.”

  The captain only shook his head fighting back a laugh. Aldric had told him how he had taken the purses, along with what was said. Hearing his men trying to explain things they did not understand was an interesting experience. After a moment he had heard enough and held up his hand for silence. When the two guardsmen stopped speaking, the Captain spoke, “He was at your feet.”

  Their faces were blank, as if not understanding what he was saying. “He was under the grass and you were standing on him.” The Captain said again.

  Finally it dawned on them what the captain was saying, “Is that possible?” Hyatt asked.

  “I am afraid that it is.” The Captain drew out two more coin purses and placed them next to the others. “Very possible, and you were not alone.”

  No one spoke for several moments. The Captain finally determined that nothing more could be done and said, “Dismissed. Don’t forget your purses.” The Captain said, as they started to move.

  “Thank you, sir.” They said in unison as they quickly reached for the purses. Relief was clearly evident on their faces as they turned and disappeared into the darkness.

  After the Captain watched his men move away he turned to Aldric. “Why do you do this to me?”

  Aldric softly laughed and said, “I don’t do it to you Rowan, I do it to your men.”

  “It’s the same thing. If my men are embarrassed, I am embarrassed.”

  “It’s also fun.” Aldric said absently.

  “What? Are you even listening?” Rowan asked in stunned amazement.

  “Sure I am. You wanted to know why.”

  “So its fun you say.” Rowan said in disbelief. “Well, now I have four of The Guard that failed to perform their duty at their posts. It makes the Guard look bad. Now, I have to write a report, and that makes me look bad.” His voice rising slightly he asked, “And this is fun?”

  “You should thank me Rowan.”

  “You. . . Thank you, for this? I should have you flogged. No one in their right mind would want this.”

  There was a slight pause when the Captain took a breath.

  “You’re welcome.” Aldric quickly added.

  The captain continued, not even aware that Aldric has spoken. “Then you embarrass me like this.” He stopped for a second looking at his companion shaking his head. “I thought we were friends of sorts?” He lowered his head and continued. “Then you go and do this.”

  “We are friends Rowan.” Aldric replied with sincerity. “As close a friend as I ever had.”

  The Captain just sat there; he was too stunned to say anything. Finally, he again spoke. “You have a strange way of showing it.”

  “I did let you catch me on one of my adventures.” Aldric chided.

  “You let me, catch you?” He asked.

  “Yes, I let you.” Aldric said. Seeing that Rowan clearly didn’t believe him, he continued. “Did I kill you? No I didn’t, and now here you are a Captain.”

  “Come now Aldric, you’re not serious; am I to believe you have killed before?” Rowan asked, not wanting to believe it.

  “Yes I have, and I am very serious. You’re the only one to catch me.” Aldric said, leaving no doubt of the truth to what he was saying.

  “I didn’t know that. But it makes sense as to why I was promoted so quickly.”

  He wanted to know more about this man sitting next to him, but never had the opportunity until now. Suddenly he changed the subject, “Aldric, I don’t mean to pry but since you brought it up. Just how many have you killed?” The boldness of the question even surprised Rowan.

  There was no response to the question. There wasn’t even a flicker of an eye. It was as if he didn’t even hear the question, or that he knew it was going to be asked.

  “I trust you Rowan. Our spirit of duty and adventure are the same. That is why I will answer you with honesty. I don’t know. I haven’t counted. It’s something that I’m not proud of. So I don’t dwell on it.” He thought a moment then continued. “I have probably taken more life than most veteran soldiers of The Guard.”

  His simple response had stunned him. He expected to hear some wild boast that was meant to be a joke, or to have the question brushed aside. Rowan remembered a conversation with a veteran when he first joined the Kings Army. The older man had taken him aside and told him of the worst days of his life. It was always during a battle. With quiet determination, the old veteran had told him how he had killed countless men. The horror of seeing life taken by force, from one whom could have been a friend, if not for a senseless war. He had warned against boasting of the kill, and not to count the dead. When pressed by the younger man, he had simply stated “I stopped counting at twenty-five. It makes a good man ill to think of those things. All I can tell you is this, don’t count.”

  The young man next to him had just told him that he killed over twenty-five people. What scared Rowan even more was that he believed Aldric. An involuntary shiver went down his back, and he tried to shake it off.

  “Would you do something for me Aldric?” He quickly asked, more to change the topic than anything else.

  “It will depend on what it is.”

  “I want you to train some of my men. I have tried, but it’s not working.” He paused briefly, not wanting to admit failure. “And I don’t know why.”

  “That problem is easy to solve. You are very capable of training your own men.” Aldric responded in a very serious tone that left no doubt as to what he saw. “If they all had your skills, I would be hard pressed to enter the palace at will. What is happening is simple. Your men don’t think that they need your training, so they don’t learn. You must look for the men that are still willing to learn.”

  The Captain was shaking his head in agreement. “I understand that, but it has been five years since I joined with the scouts. It has taken a long time to get the battle skills that I now have. Must I wait another five years while I train the Guard?”

  “It’s taken about fifteen to get my skills to where they are, and I am still learning.” Aldric said quietly.

  Rowan started to laugh but suddenly realized that Aldric wasn’t joking. “You’re but twenty years.” He said in disbelief. “You started your training at five years?”

  Aldric slowly stood up and gave the report he had been reading back to the Captain. “I must say good evening, the Prince is waiting for me.”

  “Very well, I’ll see you later.” Rowan said as he took the report and placed it back on his desk.

  “Only if you’re lucky, Rowan.” They both laughed knowing how true that statement was.

  Captain Rowan of the House of Moran watched in wonder as Aldric moved silently from his pavilion, and slipped into the tent of his prince. He was bothered by some of the simple statements that Aldric had just made. As he thought about them, several questions came to mind. ‘Who would train a five year old boy in combat?’ ‘Who would encourage a young boy to kill?’ ‘Who would train boys in stealth?’ ‘Who would . . .? ‘

  He stopped, fear gripping him, remembering earlier in the day. He had overheard part of a conversation the Prince had with his companions. “When are you going to tell us who trained you to fight?” Darian had asked. Then the answer from Aldric, burned forever in his mind. “Never, if it is known, I am dead. Some schools are very jealous of their training and will kill to keep their secrets.”

  The answer to his questions now lay before him, but he was unwilling to acknowledge it. ‘If this is true,’ he thought to himself. ‘Aldric my friend, you are marked for death.’ He had to be mistaken. “I will ask him about it on the morrow.” He said softly to himself. He forced his mind back to his work as two young guardsmen approached his desk.