Triplet Queens' mysterious Guard

Ferrannn!!!

Jon felt a surge of rage as he walked out the door and past the fountain quickly, he could use a horse but had no patience to saddle it at the moment. He had spent the entirety of last night thinking and imagining what exactly Elle had told Ferran, what was the big secret she was keeping from him at the moment but telling his best friend? He was definitely not going to wait for days to find out. What made Ferran worthy of knowing something that he didn't know he thought to himself as his pace quickened. He would confront his best friend now and ask him directly, if that failed then he would just have to forcefully convince him to speak as had always been the case with any issue concerning Ferran. His best friend was clearly just as stubborn and strong headed as he was. It was one of the many things they had in common. It was barely sunrise which meant Ferran could only be one place after spending the previous night drinking. That crazy friend of his had to be at the stables grooming the horses Jon thought to himself and knew he was probably right. He walked purposely towards the large stable in the outer circle of the city, luckily they were in the common folk district which means they had the flexibility the nobles and wealthy in the inner circles did not have, they were allowed to carry weapons in broad daylight even as civilians within the city. Those who could afford a sword were always seen with their swords girded on their waist, dueling would be strange in the inner circles but remained very common with the common folk because the army providing security and keeping the order within the capital saw it fit for the common folk to keep their own weapons and protect themselves while they focused on assuring the safety of the other districts and only stepping in when a person killed or harmed another civilian unjustly.

“Ferran!” Jon called out loudly as he walked into the widely opened stable doors; they were always left open during the day time. As he stepped in he looked around quickly and stopped when he saw his friend standing by the last stable at the far end of the stable looking at him with a shocked expression. Ferran was giving instructions to one of his subordinates before Jon came in, he was not one of the big men in the city but he had some authority in these stables because he had trained and groomed horses here for years.

“Could you go out please, give me and my angry looking friend there a moment to discuss.” Ferran instructed the young man he had been speaking to earlier and he quickly obliged. “What is the matter Jon, you seem angry about something and the way you shouted my name when you walked in really made it seem like I was somehow involved with whatever is eating you up.” Ferran said with a curt laugh. He could not keep a serious face because it was very rarely he ever saw his friend angry, Jon was the very epitome of self control so he knew this was going to be a very hilarious encounter. Jon was still just by the door of the stable and he took some steps forward before Ferran gestured for him to stop moving with his hands. “I have not seen your sword strapped to you in a long time” Ferran said noticing it quickly, “why are you with your sword?” he asked now calm and cautious.

“It seems you have forgotten that every man and even woman on the continent is allowed to have a sword or weapon on them at all times for their own protection and self defense.” Jon said taking another step towards his friend.

“Stop right there Jon, I have never met you with a sword except when we go to the woods to hunt. Why do you suddenly have your sword today?” Ferran asked taking a step back.

“What is all this apprehension about my sword, you have yours sheathed right there around your waist.” Jon replied pointing at Ferran’s own sword hanging from his waist

“I always have my sword with me unlike you who never have yours. You are the one being weird at the moment and doing something out of character, not me.” Ferran deduced and retorted quickly

“Well maybe I am actually on a hunt today and as fate would have it, my prey happens to be in the city and not in the woods.” Jon said with a sly smile crossing his lips, Ferran knew his friend had girded his sword and come to find him, he was absolutely sure now and was already thinking of what to do next. He had his own sword but he would never go one on one against this prodigy. He looked round at the horses kept in individual sections of the stable on either side of him. They had horses separated by wooden rails to the left and right of the stable while they stood facing each other in the middle of the stable, their eyes were locked now. Ferran thoughts were all totally centered on escape at the moment, he had thought about running to one of the horses and quickly riding past Jon and out of the stable doors widely open behind him but a part of him knew just how good Jon was and even suspected that the versatile man in front of him might have the rare and well honed skill required to knock a man of the horse he is mounted on while standing on the ground on his own two feet. He would not risk going close to him then, the only possible way now was to use the small back door behind him. Luckily for him all the stables in Alicia had large double doors that could be swung open for a large number to come in or go out, but the stables also had a smaller door on the other side directly facing the main entrance for a single stable attendant or horseman to walk in or out when the front entrance was packed by horses and people.

He looked at his best friend Jon with his hair being blown slightly by the light breeze passing through the stable, he took a deep breath and watched as Jon did the same then in a flash, he turned and bolted in the opposite direction of his friend towards the back door. He heard Jon shout his name from behind him and quickly begin to chase him. Jon was fast but knew the distance between them was too great to catch him before he got out the back door. Ferran reached the small door, heaved it open, went out the door and then slammed it shut behind him. Luckily there was a stool outside so he took it and placed it against the door to make sure Jon would not be getting out soon or chasing after him soon, he was going to create so much distance between them that his friend would give up on chasing him at the moment.

Jon got to the door and noticed it would not budge, he knew instantly that his ever crafty friend had placed something against the door on the other side to stop him from following after him immediately.

“Horse s**t!” Jon said screaming loudly and then he remembered. He was in a stable filled with horses and was trying to capture a man running on foot, he knew Ferran was fast but also knew no man who was faster than these beasts. He quickly brought one from behind the wooden doors keeping it locked in its individual area and got on it bare back. He had no time to saddle it and would have to ride it bare back. He knew the entire space behind the stable was just a long stretch of green grass and an evenly plain land; he was going to capture his treacherous best friend in no time.

Ferran had no idea Jon had changed the chase in his favor and was already slowing down his pace as he noticed he had run more than quarter the length of the grass field already, Jon could never catch up now he thought with a smile to himself as he stopped now to get some air. He stood there with his hands on his knees panting and taking in quick and sharp breaths. That was when he heard the sound that sent chills down his spine, he heard the sound of a single horses hooves thundering into the earth and knew it had to be Jon, the next thing he heard confirmed it. “Ferran!” he heard Jon scream as he sat astride on a black stallion galloping towards him with pure determination. He quickly started running across the grass field again. Maybe he could still get past the field and into the block of houses which would make it hard for Jon to follow him while on horseback. He put all the effort into his legs willing his powerful legs to keep taking him forward at breakneck speed, he had crossed half the field now and was beginning to have hope again when his ears heard the hooves stomping into the earth just behind him. While still running forward at full speed, Ferran turned his head at a degree to see just exactly where Jon astride the black stallion was behind him. Immediately he turned what he saw left his mouth wide open even while running, Jon was standing with bent knees on the horse as it galloped towards him at full speed with that look of determination still on his face. What exactly was Jon planning to do? He thought to himself when suddenly he could see it happen from the corner of his left eye over his left shoulder. Jon flung himself at his prey from his crouching position on top of the horse and came crashing into the back of his best friend with a forearm tackle that sent them both crashing hard into the grass. Luckily it was just grass so none of them would be seriously hurt.

Jon got to his feet first and drew his sword from its sheet instantly and instantly took his attacking stance, Ferran was on his feet as well and drew his sword as well. He had fought Jon before so knew his fighting style and knew the stance he would take. He smiled at his best friend and just on cue as though reading his thoughts, Jon switched to a totally different attacking stance with the sword now pointing at Ferran’s face directly. Ferran could not hide how impressed he was, it was written on his face, just how many things could this man do perfectly well?