The Assassin

Trips and more trips

A line of carriages were waiting outside of the palace under the sparkling night sky as King Charles was saying his goodbyes to Beatrice. Luella stood by Oliver soaking up the last few minutes in her home for her next few days will be spent inside a carriage. 

"You have your sword and dagger, correct?" Oliver asked the princess. She nodded slowly, her eyes glued to the muscular and tall horses lined up in front of the palace. 

"Luella, are you okay?" The parental guardsman asked.

"I was so sure I wanted to go to Nostar but now I can barely walk without my legs feeling as if they're going to snap." Her voice was low and timid. It was the early hours of the morning and the quick breakfast mixed with the restless butterflies thrashing about in her stomach made Luella feel as if she were going to hurl. 

Oliver stood in front of the princess blocking her view from the carriage and he held her hands. 

"You've practiced your sword fighting as much as you could, you're with your father and an army. I promise you, you'll be safe." He spoke in a collected tone. The pressure of his hands squeezing hers made her feel better. 

Luella nodded her head hoping the rest of her trembling limbs would agree with his statement. 

"Ready to go my princess?" The booming voice of her father echoed throughout the main part of the palace as he descended the stairs wearing his heavy, iron armour. She gave a wide-eyed look to Oliver, she clearly wasn't ready to go.

"Remember, you'll be okay. If you ever feel unsafe just hold the dagger I gave you, okay?" 

"Okay." She responded. Oliver planted a kiss on Luella's forehead as King Charles lead her to the large carriage at the front of the configuration of caravans that they'd be riding in. Her father helped her up on the vehicle being careful not to snag her canary-yellow dress and long dark-blue hood. He clambered onto the cart as well and signaled for the driver to begin their quest to Nostar as the princess leaned to the window and stared at her guard who stood watching her from afar. 

She felt the carriage jostle to a start as the horses began to pull them away from The Hillington Palace, Oliver slowly vanished out of view.

"Your first trip! How exciting." Charles exclaimed. Luella tried her best to seem just as ecstatic as she was a few days ago. 

She plastered on a huge smile and spewed out whatever her father wanted to hear as he praised her bravery.

Meanwhile, Beatrice was silently celebrating the departure of her husband, even if it was only for few measly days. She picked up her gown and walked quickly to her room knowing her confidential lover would be there, just as they discussed. 

She practically threw open the door with a smirk as Fredrick stood near a wall inspecting the framed portraits that hung near the bed. 

He turned around to greet the queen with a kiss.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" The Earl asked.

"Too long." Was all she said before stealing another kiss. 

"What would you like to do today? Is there anywhere you want to go?" 

"It doesn't matter to me, I've been too busy dwelling on if I'd ever get to have a moment alone with you, I hadn't had time to think about where'd we go if we did have the probability." Beatrice stressed.

"That is entirely fine my dear." He said pecking at her hand and traveling up her arm. They acted like oblivious teens in love, but that's the feeling they loved about being with each other. No longer is Beatrice a lonely wife twiddling her thumbs, waiting around for a husband who brings her a diamond then locks himself in that blasted office of his. 

No longer is Fredrick wasting his time as he attends meetings day in and day out for battles he wouldn't even be apart of for the king has it "all taken care of."

"That rotten old man has taken my daughter to a fray." The queen said nestling her head into the man's chest as they sat down on the massive bed.

"Oh, I know, but you that man never changes his mind once he's made it up. I suggested the princess learns how to fight with a sword so she could at least protect herself to some extent." Fredrick said.

"How I wish she didn't go." The queen continues to yearn for the safety of Luella. 

"Soon. She'll be home soon." He comforted.

"Unfortunately, bringing him along with her." She complained. The Earl stood up and lifted Beatrice by the hand, holding her close.

"Well, we didn't come here to bavardage about Charles all day, hm?" He hummed as he brought his face down to the crook of her neck. 

"We only have a limited amount of time to spend together, let's enjoy it." He said.

Beatrice giggled as Fredrick went on with his flirty antics.

"Oh, alright, alright!" She laughed.

*   *   *

The wooden wheels of the carriage rode over the uneven dirt road they were following, causing Luella to momentarily fly off her seat and roughly be dropped back down by gravity. Her arms shot out to grab anything she could hold onto to stabilize herself, her father on the other hand barely budged and was wearing the same enraptured grin that has been on his face they've since stepped out of the palace. 

Charles laughed like a drain at Luella's hardship, the princess gave him an upset expression in return.

"Oh, lighten up! You'll get used to it soon." He said assuredly as another bump jolted the vehicle. Luella wanted to snap something back at her father but she was afraid if she opened her mouth she'd puke.

Charles looked at the rising sun through the moderate sized window.

"We've been riding for quite some time, I think it's time for a break." He said more to himself. Luella was relieved to hear she'd be able to stretch her legs and have time to swallow down any food climbing up her esophagus. She was wondering how her father was going to stop the carriage since the driver was outside but she wasn't ready for the bellowing voice of her father to fill the small space.

"STOP THE CARRIAGE!" He roared.

Immediately the cart slowed to a stop and the king exited, holding the door open for the shaken up princess. 

When she was imagining the trip to Nostar, none of this was in her daydream. Luella stepped out onto the plain with varying lengths of grass and watched as the troops behind her piled out of the cramped carriages. 

"Ten minute break then we continue on our quest!" Her father yelled out to his subordinates. The princess took deep breaths in and out hoping it was enough to calm her nerves. Luella began to dissociate as she focused on the sunrise painting the sky with pastel colors, noises around her became muffled, her mind beginning to meander. 

Is this really happening, if it was it felt incredibly surreal. Was she really on a trip to go and destroy a campsite of people whose homes have already been destroyed? Her father told her beforehand he was going to kill all of them and she was okay with that.

She was okay with that.

Vernon's words were recalled in her mind. Queen Ruth's husband, killed by her father. Her land, destroyed by her father. Now, she was helping him. 

Well...he did say they were planning to attack their kingdom. If they allowed them to rebuild then Charles' subjects would be killed in return. An image of Phillip popped up in her head, how devastated she would be if he or his mother got hurt.  

Was she being fair? Was being biased? Would it better to let them live?

...

What difficult questions.

Her hand gripped the dagger at her side, hidden by her hood. The cool touch of the metal against her warm, clammy hands brought the young woman back to reality. Luella closed her eyes and sighed letting go of her burdensome inquiries, for now.

A heavy hand on her back made her eyes shoot open. 

"Time to go!" Charles said. The princess nodded.

And back onto the carriage she went.

*   *   *

For once Vernon was allowed to sleep in, his muscles were aching and the entire right side of his abdomen was sore due to his injury from yesterday.

He carefully stretched, wanting to release the tension in his joints but not wanting an unpleasant rupture of pain in his side. The tiredness in his eyes were rubbed away as he looked around the tent finding Gavin's bed empty.

"Probably setting traps." Vernon mumbled to himself. He rolled over on his left side contemplating on staying under his flimsy but inviting blanket or to begin his laborious journey to Gritthian. He unwillingly used his tingling arms to push himself up to a sitting position, hissing and cursing at every little prick of pain. He could feel his blood rushing everywhere at once, the pounding feeling could be felt all over, especially in his head.

"Agh." Fingers rubbed at his temples. "Let's just get this over with." He pulled on his jacket and slung his satchel over his shoulder, leaving his vest behind. Today, he tried out the "messy hair" look as he was too torpid to even run his fingers through his hair. Maybe it was the blood loss that was making him feel like this, usually athletic work didn't make him so drowsy but now he was stumbling his way past people, Cassandra caught up to the man.

"Vernon, are you alright?" Her voiced laced with concern.

"I'm just really tired." He said, it wasn't lying if he was simply leaving out information.

"Then why are you up and about if you're so tired you can barely stand up-right!" She stressed looking the disheveled man up and down. 

"The princess went on a trip, I need to tell Queen Ruth before my week is up." He explained.

"Before your week is up?"

"She gave me a week to kill the princess but once the princess returns to Astor my week might be over. I can't sit around and wait for her to come back and hope I have enough time. I need to go to Gritthian." Vernon said breathless.

"I'm sure you can rest a bit more before you have to go." She said with her hands on her hips. 

"Just let me tell her now and when I come back I promise I'll rest." He said. She could see the urgency in his eyes.

"..Alright, but Gavin needs to go with you, I want to make sure you come back." Cassandra says in her motherly tone. 

"Okay, sure, I'll take Gavin with me. Where is he?" Vernon sped through his words, he wasn't too fond of the attitude he was giving, but thankfully she seemed to not mind at the moment.

"I'm not sure, let me go find him." She scurried off to find the vivacious man. Vernon rested his hands upon his knees as he waited for the middle-aged woman to return with his tent-mate. Besides the pumping of blood the resonated in his dome he could hear the scuffling sound of feet around him but there was this one particular set of steps that sounded heavier than the others and its thud of shoes were walking towards him. 

Sighing he straightened up and looked towards the noise of the thudding shoes to be met with the smug face of the one and only, Jasper. 

"You look like garbage, Vermin." The man derided him.

"I could say the same for you but at least garbage has good hygiene." Vernon retaliated. He definitely didn't have the energy to deal with the all high-and-mighty veteran. 

"Watch your tongue, pickney!" Jasper growled.

"Aw, do I look that young?" Vernon's words were heavy with sarcasm.  

"You little-"

The old man hobbled over to the sluggish man, towering over him, he looked like he wanted to fight but Vernon was much too tired to defend himself, if he got knocked square in the jaw then let it be. At least he'd finally be resting like Cassandra wanted. 

His drifting dark eyes looked up at the cherry-red man.

"Yes?" Vernon asked with a small grin. 

"You are aware you're speaking to an ex-military sargent." Jasper threatened.

"Emphasis on ex." 

With one swift movement Vernon was lying flat on his back. The air from his lungs was knocked out of him as he coughed and gasped, writhing from the pain.

"Want to repeat that, you rug?" Jasper belly-laughed, the man on the ground was frightened for a moment because it looked like the spherical man was actually going to use him as a rug but luckily Cassandra returned with Gavin in the nick of time.

"Jasper! Stop that!" She berated the old man. Gavin ran over to a groaning Vernon.

"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly. Vernon wheezed out a "yes" with the little to no breath he had in his chest. His close friend helped him sit up as he dusted him off. 

The winded assassin was slowly beginning to gain the ability to breath again, he was swaying from side to side, the slight headache he was experiencing just a few seconds ago had turned into a migraine. What great conditions to be in for a multi-hour walk. Once he was on his feet again, Gavin hurriedly said goodbye to Cassandra and quickly lead Vernon away from the violent geezer.

When he was sure they'd gotten enough distance from The Dens he slowed his pace.

"Do you want to sit for a bit so you can-"

"No, no! Let's just get to Gritthian first, then I can rest." He said, his face wrinkling while he gnashed his teeth.

"Okay." He felt his counterpart's mood lower.

Damn him. He didn't like snapping at his friends and he didn't mean to but sometimes he couldn't help it. After a minute or so of Gavin very noticeably trying to stop himself from being talkative, Vernon sighed and decided to ease the man.

"Sorry, I didn't mean yell at you." He said quietly. 

"It's fine, I understand." Gavin spoke quicker than usual. Vernon placed a hand on his back. 

"It wasn't fine, that's why I'm apologizing." He said. "I appreciate your concern but I just want to go and come back, okay? I'm not mad at you or anything." 

Gavin's grin returned on his face. 

"...Thank you." He said placing his hands behind his back and shrugging his shoulders. 

"Thank you? For what?"

"Not everyone apologizes." Gavin said looking at the ground longingly as his calf-high boots kicked up dirt. 

"Ah." 

If only everyone cared about the little details.

"Are your stitches okay?" The blithe man asked.

"I'm..actually not sure, I haven't checked." Vernon responded. Gavin hummed in understanding, a hesitant second later he replied with a question.

"Would you like me to check them for you?" 

"Sure." Vernon said. It'll only be a moment. He slid off his jacket and lifted the shirt he was gifted, revealing the woven up wound. 

"Does it look okay?" He asked.

Gavin studied the cut and ran over it with his fingers.

"It seems fine, it's already begun closing but don't move too much, it looks as if it'll tear open easily."

"Sure." He said letting the shirt drop and putting his jacket back on. "Thanks."

Gavin nodded with a smile and they continued their lengthy walk to Queen Ruth's castle.