The stone walls of kindrea, steamed with morning dew melting away from sunlight. The hot breeze wisped through the pathways within the walls, carrying the scent of iron and smoke from the floors below. The clanking and grinding of metal had a deathly rhythm to it.
Atop the walls remained still, a contrast to the bone shaking noise below. Aron stood gallantly, keeping a watchful eye.
"Phineas!" Sir Aldric said to beside him. "Really? His name was Phineas?"
"What's wrong with Phineas?" Aron replied.
"It's so, normal. Real Talorans have cooler names, the kind that ring, battle! Like…Bloodfang."
"That's how you know I'm not lying." Aron replied, smirking "I'd have come up with a better name if I was."
A smile lit on Aldric's face. "Thinking about it now…" he said stroking the hair on his chin. "I doubt King Edward called for you, personally."
"Well, I certainly didn't peek through an open window, if that's what you're implying" Aron contested.
The two starred at each other in silence, then burst out in laughter.
"But one day…," Aron placed his left hand on his sword, and starred at the Taloran camp. His eyes blazing with fire. "…I will be one of Kindreas greatest knights!"
"Why bother?" Aldric said. "That sounds like a lot of work, I rather just stay at the wall."
"Why, you ask?" Aron said smiling at his friend. "We all have a purpose, never let anything stop you from pursuing it. Even yourself!"
"I see," Aldric's said as his demeanor had changed.
"Plus, I want to be rich!"
The two shared a laugh, their voices echoed across the stones.
Suddenly the loud stamping of leather boots on old wooden steps cut their moment short.
A castle knight frantically approached them from down the stairs. His white cloak covered his armor, and he had bangs covering most of his face. "Sir Aron of Bran!" He said.
"That's me!"
"You've been called to the castle!" The knight said. "We must hurry!"
Aron grinning turned to Aldric, "looks like destiny arrived early."
He rode his steed, following the knight through the towns and market place with haste. "Make way," the knight yelled. He did not slow down his horse for any on the road side.
"What purpose am I being called for?" Aron said as he caught up with him.
"You'll see when you get there."
"I see, what shall I call you?" Aron asked as he struggled to catch up to the knight.
"Ben!" He sped up giving Aron a good gap.
"Is this some sort of race?" Aron thought to himself.
"He did say the matter required haste," Aron said to himself. "Hiyaa!" he exclaimed, making his horse run faster.
The two reached the castle gates, and Ben steered pass the main gate.
"Where are you..."
"Bring your voice down!" ben said snapped. "This is confidential. We shall follow the back!"
Aron nodded, his eyes alert and watch full. "Only the higher ups?" Aron said to himself. "Even I am not blinded by ambition to be lead astray." He said grabbing his sword closely.
Upon entering the inner chambers of the castle, they were met with more Knights than at the front. The air smelt of iron and ash, their armor danced with elegance as they moved and the room thumped with echoes of Iron coursing iron.
"This seems be a gathering of sorts. Truly, only castle knights know what goes on in the kindrea," Aron thought to himself as his guard slowly went down, and his grip on his sword lessened.
"Wait for me amongst the knights, I need to confirm your entrance." Ben said.
"Entrance to where?" Aron muttered, but Ben was already lost in the crowd.
Aron scanned the room. Familiar face dotted the crowd. "I think I see a few knights I trained with." His hand relaxed on his hilt, but his thoughts raced.
"Wait do my eyes deceive me?" Sir victor approached, drawing's Aron's attention. "What are you doing here? Farmers boy!"
"Sir Victor of daddy's money, what an unpleasant surprise." Aron said smiling.
"Sir Aron of barns, have you fed the horses?" Victor replied.
"Yes sir, I even left some hay out for you," Aron fired back.
Sir victor twitching with anger, calmed himself by smiling. "Watch how you talk to your superior!" he said waving his finger in Aron's face.
"I thought it was light banter between old pals, sir. I meant you no quarrel." Aron said bowing lightly, his hair fell in front of his face to hide his smile.
"Walk with me, Aron," Victor said turning his cape flamboyantly, walking majestically out of the chamber.
Aron rolled his eyes at victor's display.
They arrived at a corridor with windows facing the city, the light cast daunting shadows across the rose painted walls.
"So what is it you've called me for…sir?" Aron said.
"I know, you've been seeing the Princess," He said giving him a side eye.
"Well I do have eyes," Aron replied scratching the top of his head.
Victor closed the distance between the two instantly, wagging his finger in his face. "Don't play with me, Aron. I've seen you in that Barn with, Seraphina."
Aron starring into his eyes, smirked. "Do you want to lose your finger? Sir!"
Victor gasped. "Did you just threaten me? You're superior!"
"You're not my superior," Aron stepped closer pushing a startled victor back. "Last I checked you never beat me in a duel."
"Are you forgetting the last fight?" Victor smirked.
Aron appalled. "You used magic!" tapping Victor's chest with each word.
"You mean, better equipment?" Victor waved this hand up in the air. "It's the man that makes the tool."
Aron grinning, tilted his head menacingly to the side. "Why don't we forget the tools and have a good old dog fight."
"How crude! This is why royal blood shouldn't mix with peasants." He frowned.
"Ha!" Aron laughed folding his hands. "Maybe that's why Seraphina rather be with me than you. You're just not man enough!"
Victor drew his dagger in a second. The sparks from it leaving the sheath danced across the two. The sound almost as sharp as the blade itself.
Aron, smile could not be understated. "I've been waiting for you to draw." He said as his fingers wrapped round his swords handle.
"Sir Aron of Bran!" Ben called out before the two could pounce on each other. "It's time!"
Aron smirking as he sheath his blade, keeping eye contact with Victor. "We'll continue this when I return."
Under his breath Victor uttered, "If…"