Sanlysia Anoints Teis?
1053 Words
Sanlysia remained still against the wall, dabbing against the hilt of her sword absent-minded. She had this feeling already that Rhineas was not some bandit just coming to take their treasure. Nobody would be that stupid to raid the royal palace except the sea lords. Even sea lords have an entirely different motive to raid. She thought.
From the hilt of her sword her finger slowly moved to the dagger that was tucked behind her. Teis didn’t move either. He stood just where he was before. Although he wondered if he should take his leave now or wait for the princess to dismiss him.
The inventory had grown awfully quiet. Teis kept looking at the thoughtful face of the princess from time to time, wondering why the princess was so invested in this matter. The only sound that burst occasionally was the sound of the crackling torches perched on the walls of the weaponry.
Sanlysia turned around. ‘The old man killed Sir Lambert with surprising ease,’ she almost spoke to herself.
Teis nodded. ‘Your highness…,’ he spoke, ‘… I remember Sir Lambert was one of the best. He trained fearless soldiers, but…,’ he suddenly fell quiet, wondering if he should really praise his enemies.
Sanlysia’s grip tightened against her dagger. ‘But? Say it, don’t stop like that,’ she said.
Teis thought for a moment and said, ‘… but, your highness, the old man was something I'd never seen. He was just…,’ he paused looking for the right words, ‘… he was like a demon.’ He concluded.
Now Sanlysia turned around and looked Teis straight into his eyes, ‘… and the boy…,’ she inquired further, ‘… tel me how was the boy?’
Teis nodded. He remembered Rhineas. He remembered seeing him at a distant, far from Alistair when he came at him. Before Alistair could attack, Rhineas made it to him and blocked his sword. ‘He was fast…,’ Teis answered, ‘…very fast, but he seemed different from the others.’
Sanlysia folded her arms across her chest. ‘Different?’ She asked.
Teis again drifted into his head, remembering last night. ‘Yes, your highness, the old man looked like all he had ever known was war and fighting. In truth, he looked as if he enjoyed it. But the boy... he looked confused. As if he didn’t really want to do it. But he had to do it. It was not even as if he was made to do it by someone else. It seemed that he made his own choice, but he did that for some greater purpose. He was very confident, but he did not seem cold at all,’ Teis concluded.
Sanlysia’s eyes narrowed and her brows creased. I knew it, the boy might be confused, maybe. She thought.
She knew Rhineas wasn’t cruel or bloodthirsty. She didn’t even feel that for Alistair, although he showed no mercy to Sir Lambert. Something didn’t fit right. Somehow, Sanlysia thought that they were after the wrong people. Even if they had raided in, there could be more than that.
First of all, she thought again, how did they raid in? It can’t be done unless there is inside help.
She remembered the conversations with her mother. Pysenia told her that she knew Alistair, she was her father’s friend, but it’s more than that. She also noticed the odd resemblance between Edgard and Rhineas. She sighed and held her head.
She caught Teis looking at her distressed. She looked away toward the staircase. For a moment she remembered the dungeons. The boy standing there. Alistair protects him by killing other people. Rhineas unwilling, all of these thoughts she tried to shake away for now.
She turned around again to face Teis, back with her solemn princess face. Teis didn’t lok away this time she rolled her eyes. ‘What? Is my distress amusing you, young soldier?’ she asked.
Teis nodded quickly. ‘No, your highness, forgive me. It’s just that I haven’t seen anybody putting so much dedication into this matter. Not even General Elisiah,’ he said.
‘Elisiah is just useless. He can only do what he’s been told. He’s good at following orders, that’s it. Father likes people who follow orders,’ she said.
Great respect and admiration had gathered into Teis for the princess. He never expected the royal family to work with the soldiers closely, and definitely not a princess. He decided that when he would be anointed as a knight he would ask the princess to anoint him.
Maybe I should ask her now. What if I didn’t get to see her again? He thought.
He looked at the princess, his lips slightly apart.
Sanlysia understood. ‘Yes Teis, you may ask whatever it is.’ She said absently.
‘Your highness, forgive me, but I don’t know if I will get to see you again or not. So I need to ask this now. I know right now I am not worthy of it, after what I did last night. But I promise I’ll be strong, I’ll train and I’ll be a worthy knight. When I am ready to take up the cape as a knight, may I have the honor of being anointed by your sword as a knight, your highness?’ He asked.
Sanlysia’s eyes widened. She did well to conceal her surprise behind her solemn face. Getting anointed is the greatest honor of a soldier’s life, even greater than being appointed as noble by the king. Most people would want the king or the queen to do this honour. But a princess, that flattered Sanlysia. She smiled slightly.
She walked slowly toward Teis with her warm smile. ‘Go young soldier, train well, become the most capable and skilled swordsman in your regiment. I wish you best. I shall remember this and anoint you myself. I'll give you my word.’ she said.
Teis smiled and got on his knees. ‘Your highness, I will not let you down. I pledge my loyalty to you from this moment itself.’ He said.
Sanlysia sighed again. ‘Oh holy flame of Emone, I swear by it, don’t do this.’ She jumped away slightly.
She laughed and said, ‘Teis, you are a very sweet boy.’
Teis bowed and laughed along with the Princess.
- Writer
