Private Tales The Broken Crown

[Alre Castielle]

Toll? There had never been a toll. The roads were maintained and paid for by the taxes taken from the estates. A duty that those of wealth paid in order to see to the fitfulness of their kingdom.

Alre opened his mouth to point that out, but his jaw almost immediately snapped shut as he realized the foolishness of doing so. These were his uncle's men, little better than brigands. He doubted that even a truthful argument would have seen them do any good.

Better to just pay. "A toll eh?"

Alre asked.

"Seems fair enough, the Anirians did much the same." It was a lie of course, but the two Kingdoms had long held a quiet animosity between one another. He could see the slight frown on some of the Guards as the comparison landed, though no one spoke up in objection. Likely reigned in by their leader. "How much then?"

He asked.

"Two silver crowns."

It was an exorbitant amount, but Alre simply nodded like it was a matter of course and reached into his pocket. With a quick flip he threw the coins over. "More than the Anirians, but ah well."

The young Prince said, once again poking the proverbial bear.

 

[Mariana]

“Don’t compare us to that swine, boy,” the captain spat, swiping those coins from him. A female with a jagged scar running down one eye came on Averey’s side. “Perhaps he owes us for that comment, Captain?” Her eyes dragged across Averey’s form.

“Haven’t had elf in some time. I think our bastard neighbors keep them away.” She licked her lips.

Averey glared at her, looking down her nose at the human. “I doubt it when it’s probably you.” She could already feel the magic firing up in her veins.

 

[Alre Castielle]

"So your King seeks to drive away all commerce then?" Alre jabbed with a smile.

These guards were little more than thugs, but the Captain at least had a flicker of recognition as he said the words. A frown pulled on his lips as he looked at Alre, his mouth opening up in a question before he found himself cut off.

"I represent the Salitran Silk Company." He said simply. "It would be a shame if I had to tell your King his guards prevented a deal from being struck."

Alre didn't know fuckall about silk, but his father had taught him about trade.

No nation could survive on its own, at least most could not. There were few Kingdoms that could sustain themselves from within, his own was not one of those. The Guard Captain stiffened for a moment.

His fingers tightened in his reigns.

"They paid the toll. One required by the King."

The words were clearly a warning, offered to Alre as a way to ensure he would mention no such thing to anyone.

An obvious tactic.

"Let them be, there's always other elves."

 

[Mariana]

She did not avert her gaze from the female guard. Eyes narrowed on the human. The woman scowled but followed the orders of her captain. “Perhaps another time,” she whispered in a quiet threat as she left Averey’s side. Quiet enough that the captain wouldn't hear.

Avery did not appear the least bit scared. Without lingering, they left, cantering the opposite direction.

“The Salitran Silk Company? Not bad improve, Alre. But next time can you try not to antagonize and be such an ass on purpose?”

 

[Alre Castielle]

The Young prince shrugged. "It's in my nature."

A depressing truth most would not have wanted to admit to. He glanced back over his shoulder to make sure that the soldiers actually moved along. When he was confident that they were gone his shoulders relaxed a bit, hands falling back to his reigns.

"Those are more bandits than Guards." He said with a scowl. "Even in our mercenary days we were better."

At least from what he knew of the stories.

A breath filled his lungs, eyes flickering shut as he tried to calm himself just a little.

"We should keep going." He said quietly. "We still have a few days travel left."

If not more.

 

[Mariana]

The elf priestess agreed with the human and continued on with him down the highway. Luckily, they didn't run into anymore of the false king's men. It was already getting dark. And they'd been riding for quite some time. A break or two to stretch their legs and give the horses a rest. Re-fill their water at a stream.

Averey had been traveling during the time she hated - the day. Her night. So even as it grew darker around them instead of feeling awake and a-buzz with energy she felt fatigued. Her head began to dip further and further forward. And for a moment, she felt herself dozing off, her chin falling to her chest as she began to tip sideways on the saddle.

 

[Alre Castielle]

Alre stuck out a hand to catch Averey as she fell, his hand landing on her shoulder as he pulled his horse slightly closer to her. "Steady."

He whispered quietly.

Traveling this far this fast was tiresome, he knew that, and for Averey it must have been doubly difficult in a way. He did not doubt her stamina, but there was a difference between the weariness of her magic and the exhaustion that came with daily riding.

She was a priestess, not a soldier. His eyes closed for a moment and he gently pulled both of their reigns towards the side of the road.

"Let's take a rest." He told her. "We can continue in the morning."

Though he was beginning to think that it would be better for her if they traveled at night.

 

[Mariana]

Her eyes snapped open at his touch, albeit groggily. She found herself leaning against him as they went off the road. Fingers came up to rub at her eyes.

“A rest sounds good,” she agreed. “This looks safe enough and….,” eyes squinted in the moonlight. “Is that a cave?” It looked like the entrance to one in the hillside. If it rained, it would provide them with comfortable coverage. And something more protective from predators and soldiers.

As long as there weren’t predators already inside.

A soft groan left her lips as she straightened and slowly swung one leg over the saddle. Everything was stiff and tight. She didn’t know if when she later see she’d land in her feet or her ass.

 

[Alre Castielle]

Alre slipped down from the horse first.

He was used to this sort of thing. Though they were not mercenary kings, had not been for some time, his father had always made sure that his son would still be a warrior. Alre had spent weeks and months on campaign, fighting, doing what he could.

Even then he had been privileged in a way of course. The best horses, the best meals, all of that, but he had been on the front lines just like other soldiers. "Here."

Alre said as he caught Averey.

"I'll grab out things." The King said quietly. "Then see to getting a fire going."

He was not so worried about getting caught, not after they'd dodged one patrol already.

 

[Mariana]

She swayed against him. In his arms. He was the only thing that kept her from hitting the ground. The muscles in her legs were trembling.

A hand went to his arm as she steadied herself enough to step away. To lean against a tree and know she wouldn't fall over the moment his arms left her. "Okay," she spoke groggily. "Thank you," a thankful brush of her arm along his back as she lowered herself to the earth. She didn't even go for the small cave. She was too tired to get there and to check it out. She did lean her back against a large rock though, letting her legs spread out in front of her. And before she could think another thought, her chin dipped to her chest and her eyes closed as she fell asleep sitting up.

Even the sounds of Alre starting a fire and tending to the horses didn't wake her.

 

[Alre Castielle]

When Alre went to sleep he ensured there was at least a full camp.

A fire would flicker in the middle of their little clearing, the horses would be squared away, and even a few traps would be set around where they slept.

He doubted that anyone would find them, wake them, but the paranoia of where they were was more than real now. Alre knew of the danger that surrounded them. Knew of how careful they had to be and the precautions that they required.

By the time he himself fell asleep things were set.

Everything was in it's proper place. Those who would approach would set off a quiet alarm, the horses would find their resting place, and the Prince himself leaned himself against Averey.

They were not in a cave, but it was close enough to rest.

 

[Mariana]

There was a shoulder beneath her head. A warm side pressing against her own. That sharp, hard rock at her back. She stirred, dark-blue eyes opening. A wince rippled along her face at her stiff muscles.

The fire was nothing but hot coals now even as the first light of morning streamed through their little canopy.

Lifting her head, she took a moment to look at Alre with his eyes closed. He seemed so much lighter sleeping. Less of that weight on his shoulders. Younger.

Her lips pressed gently against his cheek before she began to stand.

 

[Alre Castielle]

Alre had never been a heavy sleeper.

Even before his troubles there had always been something that woke him in the middle of the night. The Alcohol had helped with that, it had pretty much been the only way for him to find rest while sleeping in the streets.

When Averey moved he stirred, but only slightly.

His eyes did not pop open, mostly because he simply assumed that she was going to the bathroom or something of the sort.

No need to wake yet.

 

[Mariana]

She freshened up by the river. Stretching further, Averey pulled out some breakfast foods from their supplies and got some hot-water going over the fire. Fresh eggs were cracked over the pan as she added more wood to the fire. She'd have to wash off in the river before they left.

"Morning," she called to Alre as she saw him stir and open those eyes of his.

"I was thinking. If we're still a few days away from your cousins if we could stop mid-afternoon and then start to travel at night, instead?"

This day stuff was killing her.

 

[Alre Castielle]

Alre's eyes were still closed, but as Averey began to move about and speak to him he simply nodded his head.

"Can do." His own exhaustion wasn't tied to the passing of the sun of course, so if he had to adjust a bit then he would. It seemed strange to him, but then again he was not the one that controlled any sort of magic.

Unconsciously his hand slowly dragged over the charm in his coat, but he drew back his hand and finally opened his eyes.

"Whatever works." He said with a yawn. "Though we'll have to make sure not to get caught."

Only bandits traveled at night.

 

[Mariana]

“I think I can handle it if someone tries.” She said mostly, stirring the eggs. Flipping the bacon. She offered Alre a plate while serving up her own.

She would be stronger at night as well. Anyone going after them didn’t have a chance in her mind. Unless they found a way to nullify her magic.

 

[Alre Castielle]

He shrugged his shoulders.

Alre had seen what Averey's magic could do, but even she wasn't impervious to an arrow through the heart. In truth though he was more worried about what happened after her magic was expended. She was a lump weight after that, and if she didn't manage to take them all in one swoop...

The prince frowned for a moment, but didn't bring it up. "Thanks."

He said as he took the place.

"We'll take the road through the Archwood." He continued as he began to eat. "It's not often traveled by the Guard."

At least historically.

 

[Mariana]

She gave a nod. He knew this area more than she. And she was relying on his knowledge to get them to where he thought was best. She knew the Dark Priests would probably decimate his Uncle. They just had to hope when the conflict came, they would not be decimated as well.

Alre thought there might be another way to destroy the magic she held without destroying herself. At least, before the Dark Priest possessed it but she still wasn't so sure. It was a long shot. And if he wanted to live in his fantasy land, she wouldn't stop him. But when the time came, she wouldn't hesitate to do what was necessary.

Even if these last few weeks with him had been...pleasurable.

"Ready?" She stood as she finished her breakfast and began packing up camp.

 

[Alre Castielle]

"Aye." Alre said as he scooped up the rest of the things they had stashed away, quickly bundling their things before he pulled on his pack.

Unconsciously his fingers stroked over the medallion that rested against his chest, caressing the ancient coin for a moment before he pulled his hand back. He frowned for a moment, then shook his head and headed towards his horse.

As he pulled himself into the saddle he began to speak. "The Archwood is said to be home to trolls."

He mused.

"I never found any there." The Prince and his friends had tried. "But maybe we'll see some this time."

 

[Mariana]

She urged her horse forward, letting her fingers stroke down the mane. “Trolls?” She smiled. “Don’t think I’ve ever met any. Dwarves yes. Others.”

She frowned.

“I suppose we should be extra cautious crossing bridges if the stories are true.”

“Come on king, try to keep up.” With a sudden burst of energy and mischievousness, she and her horse spring forward and Kai cues down the path. Hair flying wildly behind her.

 

[Alre Castielle]

"Trolls don't live under bridges!" Sometimes he wondered what kind of stories they actually told in Alliria.

It seemed it was mostly children's fairytales and wonders. His head shook for a moment, and then he quickly kicked his horse to follow after Averey. Within seconds he was on her tail, the two of them quickly rushing down the road.

That was how they went for the day.

It was a quick journey, though of course they slowed their gallop after some time. Eventually though the plains around them began to grow larger and larger, giving them a superb views of tall mountains in the distance and a great forest just to their north.

"That's it." Alre said as he pointed to the north. "This road will turn soon, and then we'll head into the Archwood."

The Prince sounded almost nostalgic.

 

[Mariana]

They didn’t run into any trolls.

After a few more days sleeping and nights riding, they ended up approaching a rolling estate in the bright moonlight. There were fields freshly plowed. Some moderate stables and a decent gravel road that lead to a large manor with lots of great windows.

Averey pulled the reins on her black mare and looked back to Alre.

“you sure they still live here?”

 

[Alre Castielle]

He glanced around for a moment.

Things were quiet, extremely quiet. "Maybe not here."

Alre admitted quietly as he watched the building in the distance. An unease settled into his stomach, though why or what for he could not have said that moment. His gaze flickered for a few seconds, before slowly he returned his eyes to Averey.

"They likely moved to the Keep." He considered going there first, but it would be best to check the Manor. "If My Uncle has grown...confrontational, they would be safer there."

No one had breeched the walls of the Keep, not in the two centuries his family had controlled this land. "Come on, lets check here first."

Alre said as he kicked his horse and lead them up the gravel path.

 

[Mariana]

“How far is the keep from here?” She asked quietly as the gravel crunched beneath their horses’ hooves. With a tug on the reigns, her horse stopped. Swinging a leg over, she dismounted. The house before them was dark. Maybe too dark if living souls were inside.

She peered inside one of the massive windows. “There are coverings over the furniture.”

 

[Alre Castielle]

"At least it hasn't been torched." Alre said with a slight grumble, frowning for a moment as he reached up and scratched at his chin.

He hadn't bothered to dismount, already recognizing the signs of an abandoned building before Averey swept forward. He supposed it had been the smart thing to do when his Uncle took power. Abandon the manor, head to the Keep.

"Not far." The King said as he motioned for the Elf to get on her horse again. "Just over the Hill."

As Averey remounted Alre waited for her, and before long they headed down a hidden road on the otherside of the estate.

Before long they crested a hill, and the Keep he had been speaking of came into view. It was not a pretty thing, a massive wall that stretched out before a mountain which seemed to be wrought of nothing but cliffs. Into that mountain was carved a fortress, two great banners flying from it's top. "One represents my cousins."

He said with a smile. "The other my father."

The one Alre seemed to be speaking of very much represented the symbol on the jewel that he carried next to his chest.