The Princess Who Went to War

Chapter 4 - Clearing Mission

[Calysta]

It is the next day, and Gwen and I wake up right before the sun rises. I let Gwen head over to the training grounds to start training while I go straight to the towers to check if everything is well. 

This time, I do not wear my cloak and head out in my combat-wear, with my sword safely tucked in its scabbard. 

"When I get there, the soldiers and squires keeping watch turn back to bow to me before quickly turning up front again to continue watching. 

Their view is for about 5 meters from the wall anyway, as the fog I had come down is still there. I had the heavy rain stop at midnight so all there was left was the fog. 

I know I have to lift the fog now, as we do still have travelling merchants and innocent guests arriving at the kingdom. I analyze how I can lift the fog while still protecting us, and decide that I'll keep the fog isolated in the forests and keep the road to the gates clear. 

I lift both hands up, shoulder level and I let them face downwards, towards the fog. I will for the wind to sweep the fog on the road away. 

I feel a gust of wind travel from behind me and into the road. In just a few seconds, the road is clear. 

I let my hands fall back down to my side once I'm done. I watch the road leading to the Kingdom's gates as the sun starts to rise from the horizon. 

Right after, I head back down and walk towards the training grounds. I'd like to spar with Gwen for a while before breakfast is served in the dining halls. 

Some of the sparring knights and soldiers stop as I pass them, probably recognizing my distinctive red hair, and the sigil of the Royal family embroidered right on the chest of my upper combat garment. 

I find Gwen in the middle of a spar with a soldier. I cross my arms as I watch them. It looks like the spar had just started.

The soldier seems to be going easy on Gwen. A big mistake, if you ask me. Gwen may be a woman, but she has trained to be a Royal Guard since she was just 9 years old. 

She was placed on my service on my 13th birthday. She's 5 years older than me. 

The soldier attacks in light blows, which Gwen easily deflects. She challenges him to try harder as she hits back on his sword in full force. 

In a matter of seconds, the soldier's sword flies into the air, as Gwen's sword is right by his neck. She didn't even break a sweat. I smile, proud of her. While the other soldiers jeer at Gwen's sparring partner for losing. 

"May I go next?" I ask, and all eyes are on me. The other soldiers who had been focused on the sparring and hadn't noticed me gasps as they quickly bow. 

Gwen smiles at me as she lifts her sword and goes on a defensive stance, ready to spar with me. I take my sword, Talassia, off its scabbard and lift her as I immediately go into the offensive. 

Gwen steps backwards, but quickly takes a step forward as she too, attacks me. We are quick to attack and block each other, perhaps after all these years of sparring together. 

When sparring with ordinary people, I do not use magic. I rely purely on my skills in combat. 

Gwen quickly squats down and uses her right foot to try and trip me, but I quickly jump up, ready to take the offensive once I land. I swing my sword, but she rolls to the side before it reaches her. 

She is back on her feet as I turn around. We go forward and backward, switching to offense and defense, in split seconds. 

I feel sweat dropping down my face as our spar heats up and takes longer, neither one of us refusing to give up. 

The crowd watching around us is pushed out the way as we move closer to the walls of the armory. I corner Gwen into the wall, but she runs towards it, quickly running sidewards and lands back on the ground, effectively escaping me, 

I face her, about to take the offense, when she attacks me very quickly and stronger, causing Talassia to fly off my hand. 

In this split second, I take a quick step forward as I pull a dagger from my belt, hold her by the back of her neck and point the dagger right by the side of her chest, where her heart would be. 

I smile as I realize that she too, has her sword right by the back of my neck. We both let go and bow at each other. 

I smile at Gwen for another great sparring. The soldiers watching us applauds and cheers. 

The bells of the dining halls start ringing, a signal that breakfast is ready for everyone. 

I place the dagger back in its sheath. I then will for the winds to pick Talassia up from the ground and my sword flies right into my open hand. I place it back on its scabbard as well. 

"Let's head for breakfast." I tell Gwen. She nods as she follows me. As we walk towards the dining halls, I yet again feel a set of eyes on me. When I look, I see the same man that I saw outside the tavern from yesterday, staring. 

I stare back at him, raising my eyebrows. He looks away as he heads into the forest. His business there? I have no idea, and I could not care less. 

We have breakfast at the dining halls, Gwen and I take our seats right by a few other soldiers and squires. 

There are no special tables here, not even for the commander or Ser Remnand. In these dining halls, you seat wherever, with whoever. 

The soldiers we take a seat next to are visibly uncomfortable in our presence. They almost look like they are having a hard time swallowing. 

"Please, eat." I tell them as I gesture at their food, "Gwendolyn and I are here to be of help. You do not need to feel uncomfortable around me, no matter my status." I tell them as I offer a kind smile. 

Still, they look uncomfortable as they ate. Just as it was last year, dining and living closely to a member of the Royal family will be uncomfortable for a lot of people here. It may take time before they get used to me being here. 

A lot of these people became soldier to escape the life of a servant. Mostly, they hate having to be on their toes around people. That much, I understand.

Once Gwen and I finish eating, we head to the command room, where Ser Remnand asked us to head. We will be clearing the western part of the forest. 

Once we enter the room, the people inside become silent and bow. 

Gwen and I approach the table where the map of the forests lay. Ser Remnand is at the very head, using a wooden sword to point to areas. 

"We take this route," Ser Remnand says as he glides the sword from the gates and into the forest. 

"Reports claim more two dozens of Goblins, with two giants leading them." Ser Remnand says as he draws a circle with the sword in a part of a forest. 

"Giants and Goblins?" I repeat in confusion. I've never heard of them working together before. 

"Yes, Princess Calysta. The giants' wits and the strength and number of the goblins have made it very hard for us to clear them. They have been terrorizing passing travelers and merchants making their way into the kingdom. They have also been destroying hunting traps." Ser Remnand tells me. 

"This clearing team will include us?" I ask, referring to Gwen and I. 

"I was hoping, Your Highness. That number of Goblins, and the reinforcement they may have, we can never be too sure." Ser Remnand mentions. 

"We used to only clear at most a group of ten or twelve Goblins. Their numbers have really gone up." Gwen comments. 

"This is only but one of the groups we're having problems with. The forest is crawling with different groups, composed of different monsters in varying numbers." Ser Remnand mentions. 

"We'll be sure to clear this one." I assure him. He nods at me. 

"With you will be Ser Elwood and his soldiers." Ser Remnand says as he gestures behind me. I look back to see the man from the tavern, looking as smug as ever. 

"A knight?" I say out loud. He says nothing and only looks at me. 

"Yes, Your Highness. It was Prince Atticus that knighted him. The youngest to ever be knighted in Raziem." Ser Remnand mentions, mentioning the last part rather bitterly.

Atticus knighted him? What could he have seen in him? 

"Ser Elwood's team is composed of five soldiers." Ser Remnand says. All but five? 

"We can send more to accompany you should you wish, Princess Calysta." Ser Remnand says, as he spots the confusion in my face. 

"No, it's fine." I tell him. 

The lowest number of soldiers a knight has that I remember was thirty, and he was a knight of a small village. I've never heard of a knight with only five soldiers in his command. 

The people in the room who are not directly involved in this specific clearing mission head out to carry out other tasks. Meanwhile, Ser Elwood and his men come closer to the table, Ser Elwood standing right next to me.

"Do you have any questions?" Ser Elwood asks. 

"How do you know my brother?" I ask.

"He is the Crown Prince." He simply answers. I roll my eyes at his sarcastic answer. 

"When were you knighted?" I ask again, truly curious. I know all the three people my brother has knighted so far. I had no idea there was a fourth. 

"Let us keep the questions about the mission, Your Highness." He replies as he leans on the table and point at the map. 

"I have none." I tell him as I cross my arms. 

He stands straight as he looks down at me, making our height difference rather noticeable. 

"You are looking down at a Princess." I hear Gwen say from behind me. He looks back at Gwen. 

"Let him be, Gwen. Young knights do like to gloat." I tell her as I walk past him and out the door.

The seven of us arrive at the gates, and they were immediately opened for us. From there, we start our walk into the forest with Ser Elwood in the lead, two soldiers right behind him, Gwen and I in the middle, and three soldiers trailing behind.