Chapter one
I sat in the trees covering my face from the sun. It was always hot in the summer but this was sweltering. I think I was dehydrating I was too weak to walk so I’d have to wait for Eric or stay till night fall, but then Nathan would whip me. The trees around me were incredible; they were giant and a deep green or red. Of cause I was too consumed in my own grief to notice. There was a rustle in the trees I put the hand on the hilt of my sword lumbered up, I was exhausted and could never defend my self. I unsheathed my sword and held it out. There were outlaws in the forest and they would sometimes kill for food. I stumbled and fell onto the grass my body was weak and useless I couldn’t lift myself up, I lay on the grass begging for mercy from the lord. I felt the cold edge of a blade against my neck. This wasn’t an outlaw, this was a sick murderer or maybe…
“Hi William, you gullible fool.”
“ Eric thank god it’s you.”
I was really frightened; I was so frightened Eric almost felt guilty. We had some of Eric’s water then got up. I brushed off some of the dust on my tunic. It was deep velvet black, I was so proud of it. I was not of royal birth and it was a gift directly from the king on my 15th birthday when I came to the age of responsibility. I looked at Eric he was wearing his royal red top that he got. We had been friends ever since were kids, with no cares in the world. Now we were going to have to choose what we would do with the rest of our lives. I wanted to leave the confounds of the castle and go and map the world or at least the free lands, then the world. My mentor had put this idea in my head, Eric had once wanted to do this but now he wanted to learn his fathers trade and stay at home. At least that’s what he said.
Eric started to run away from me. I was still too weak to run with him. Suddenly he tripped and fell flat on his face. I walked over, he staged up, his nose was bleeding and he had a cut lip.
“I think I’ve twisted my ankle.”
“Come on lets see if you can walk.”
We struggled along for a while, it was slow progress and by the time we got to the old oak the mark that said it was 3miles to the castle it was getting dark. I heard a galloping behind me. I looked back it was a horse with a rider I did not recognise. I pulled Eric behind the old oak. Suddenly I heard more galloping behind the first rider. The next horse was bearing the royal mark. The royal rider shot an arrow at the first rider. It just missed his head. I unsheathed my sword and stepped out I plunged my sword into the rider’s horse, the hose fell then an arrow stuck it’s self into the rider’s skull and he died also. The royal rider stopped and jumped of his horse. I recognised him straight away, it was Richard the best rider in the free lands or so they said.
“ Sham you had to kill the horse, what are you going to get home on now.” He said.
“I’m sorry, I was trying to help.”
“ You did, now do what I say.”
I got on to the horse and started to ride towards the east. I was going to go to a stable, with a few horses there too help the cavalry in problems like this. He was going to help Eric with his foot while I got the horse. I was a pretty good rider, and since the horse was military trained it was easy to control when I got to stable I found a strong horse and jumped on it to give the other horse a break. After the horses had drunk some water I tapped one on the head twice and it new it had to follow the other one. We got back to Richard and Eric in about fifteen minutes. Richard and me got Eric up on the horse and we set of. For some reason Richard had put the body of the fallen solider on his horse, and it really smelt.
When we got back to the castle I went to the kitchens and explained what had happened to Nathan, the chef, and why I didn’t turn up to the work. He didn’t believe me but then Richard came in and backed me up. Nathan slapped me on the face and told me to get out of the kitchen. I went up to my room and fell on my bed. I woke up from my sleep. Eric was there he gave me a couple of slices of bread and some cheese.
“ It was all I could sneak from the kitchen.”
“ Did I miss dinner? ” I asked
“ We both did. I fell asleep to. How are you, you look really bad.”
I looked at my long time friend. Physically he was the same as before. Black hair, green eyes, tall and weedy but when I looked into his eyes they were thoughtful and questioning, somehow they didn’t suit him.
“ I’m fine. How’s your foot?”
“ Alright, it’ll be fine in a couple of weeks. I’ll leave you to sleep.”
He left the room and I got up and looked at my self in the mirror. I was tall and broad I had blond hair and light watery blue eyes. I heard a knock on the door.
“ Come in.” I looked at who had come into the room. It was Elizabeth, my girlfriend. She was a beautiful girl, with chestnut brown hair and deep hazelnut eyes. She was the only person I had ever thought of marriying.
“ I just came to see if you were alright.”
“ Yeh I’m fine. I just need to sleep.”
“Apparently you’re a hero,”
“I don’t think so.”
“You are to me.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“ Ok. Bye”
I climbed back in to my bed and closed my eyes. I woke the next day to the sound of the soldiers being drilled. I looked out the window and saw Richard leave the gate riding like the wind taking another horse back to the emergency stables. I heard another knock at the door and suddenly it came open.
“Why are you staring out the window? Get to breakfast.”
“Yes master, Marstorn.”
“You need to go and see the Duke afterwards. He has some questions to ask you.”
Brash, as always. My master Marston was a failed soul and every tine you look into his eyes you could see the sadness and the pain of lost dreams.
I ate some breakfast and walked towards the Dukes study, the Duke was the Kings second Cousin and though if his cousin died he was hair to the throne he would never get it. He had never told anyone why they all just knew. I knocked on the door.
“Come.”
“You asked for me sir.”
“Yes, I have some bad news for you. Your father passed away a few days ago.”
“Oh.” I said simply.
