A Young Soldier
1058 Words
Sanlysia strolled through the courtyard of the palace, right beside the main ground where all the soldiers and knights trained. She had stepped a tad closer to scrutinize the delicacy of the situation. She leaned against a circular pillar of the palace near the veranda, her hands crossed against her chest. General Elisiah gathered the surrounding troops. All the men hustled in the circular parameter of the training ground at the command of the general.
Sanlysia thoughtfully stared at them. One of the guards met her eyes, he hesitated and then slightly bowed to his princess. She responded with a perfunctory nod.
‘Do not disappoint me…,’ Elisiah addressed the regiment, ‘… remember about the breach. Raid every alley of the village, search every hut, mansion and inn. They should not outrun us this time. It is an utter disgrace.’
The guard kept occasionally staring at Sanlysia, her presence made him anxious. Sanlysia looked at him and raised her eyebrows. The guard quickly returned his eyes at the Lord General.
‘You boy…!’ Elisiah yelled, ‘… what are you looking at?’
‘Pardon my lord…,’ the boy spoke.
The general followed his gaze and saw Sanlysia in the shadow of the veranda leaning against the pillar. Sanlysia put her hands behind her back and fell into a solemn walk. Without hasting, she walked towards the general.
As soon as the general saw her approaching, he shouted at the soldiers, ‘dismiss, lads.’
The soldiers scattered into small groups with their horses.
‘Wait.’ Sanlysia screamed. Everyone stood where they were.
‘Your highness…,’ Elisiah spoke rather hostilely, ‘… it’s a royal order.’
‘And might I remind you Lord General, I am royalty.’ Sanlysia snapped, ‘… what is the haste?’
‘Yes, you are my princess but –’ the general lapsed into silence when Sanlysia raised her hand.
‘Guards assemble.’ Sanlysia ordered calmly. Her low murmur suddenly reached for every ear standing around her. The troop fell back into a group, disciplined, they stood against her bowing.
‘What are you doing princess.’ Elisiah swallowed the urge to raise his voice.
‘General, do keep in notice you are in the presence of a princess.’ Sanlysia glared at him.
‘You are obstructing the king’s work,’ Elisiah prompted.
‘Let me worry about it. I know well how to handle my father, Lord General.’
Sanlysia looked around for a familiar face. She spotted the young boy, ‘You there…,’ she spoke, pointing at the young soldier staring at her. ‘Approach, please.’
‘Princess – ‘
‘ – please lord general let me do this. I assure you this is of significance.’ Sanlysia shot a glare at the general and shifted her eyes back to the soldier approaching.
The soldier knelt before Sanlysia with his hand around the hilt of his sword, ‘Your highness.’ He greeted.
‘Rise.’ The boy rose and kept his eyes down.
‘What’s your name?’ Sanlysia asked.
‘T – Teis, your highness.’ He stammered.
‘Why do you look so nervous?’
‘I beg your pardon, princess, he is a new anointed.’ The general intervened.
‘Do not speak unless asked to, Lord General.’ Sanlysia retorted.
‘I am terribly sorry princess, I became nervous at your sight,’ Teis confessed.
Sanlysia smiled crookedly, ‘Come with me…,’ she said, ‘… let’s go for a walk.’
Teis, astounded, glanced at the princess. ‘Come on, now. Haven’t got the whole day, dear.’ Sanlysia began to walk away. Suddenly she remembered something and turned towards the general, ‘Lord General, please don’t dismiss the troops before he returns.’
‘But princess, you should ask the king. It’s his majesty’s regiment.’ Elisiah’s request seemed more like a warning to Sanlysia.
‘As I said, let me worry about it. I need a new bodyguard.’ Sanlyisa strode away as soon as she said that.
‘Princess he is not ready.’
Sanlysia ignored the general’s words resonating behind her back. Teis tailed her along the ground onto the veranda where Sanlysia was standing.
Sanlysia shifted from her solemn walk to a more casual pace, with her hand on the hilts of her armed swords.
Teis carefully tailed behind her, making sure to maintain the right distance. His heart pounding loudly, he could feel sweat spurting around his forehead. It wasn’t very humid or sunny, it was rather cold between the clammy palace walls. He followed her around the veranda, he looked at Elisiah and his troops gathered. The frown on his general’s face really put a knot in his stomach.
While he kept looking at his General, Sanlysia stopped suddenly, and he didn’t realize until he came really close.
‘Y - your highness…’ he stuttered and looked straight towards his feet.
Sanlysia smiled in a goofy way and spoke, ‘Do you think I enjoy feasting on humans?’
Teis was confused. He opened his mouth to say something but gave up, nodding his head. Can’t think of anything wise? He scolds himself.
‘Are you actually thinking considering that?,’ Sanlysia bobs her head, falling into a laugh, ‘… you think that, don’t you?’
‘Absolutely not, princess…,’ Teis answers quickly, ‘… I mean your highness.’
Sanlysia turns around and skips through the veranda’s wall switfly and glides on the railing of the staircase leading downwards into the inventory, ‘Try to keep up with me, lad.’ She calls out to Teis as she glides.
Teis, confused, ran behind her, but couldn’t catch up with her, ‘Yes, your highness,’ he replied.
‘Faster, boy, if you don’t, I’ll execute you myself.’ she jested.
What, no? Teis gulps and jumps on the railing as well. He almost caught up with Sanlysia.
Sanlysia jumps and smoothly lands on the dusty floor of the inventory. As soon as the soldier in the inventory saw their princess they all stood straight and bowed.
They weren’t surprised, they were used to Sanlysia goofing around the palace and weaponry. She’s always been that way, not really a princess type, but a princess she is.
She stood up straight and looked at the soldiers around, ‘Alright lads, leave.’ She ordered.
Every head turned around to look at Teis as they left. Teis was uneasy, one can clearly see it on his face.
- Writer
