'Til Kingdom Comes - The Banished Prince Vol 3: The Prophecy

Preparations

Sunday 18th September 1442

The morning Mass proceeded as usual and the games they were organised by the community were underway. There were a few rounds of football to be played and there was also The Patrol races around the 16 miles radius of our town.

Plus there was a boat race that many participants were looking forward to since the rafts were shaped like tubs and had a low and shallow keel, which means that the boats would be quite difficult to steer and it might go round and round instead of going forward. The idea was not to gain prizes but merely to have lots of fun.

The participants don't mind getting wet on a chilly Autumn's afternoon as they could easily go ahead and have a warm shower after a change of clothes.

We were not there to supervise the games that the community had organised as Heather was preparing the twins to bid farewell and good luck to me.

Accompanying me would be Eagle and 6 Shadow units as well as 6 other militiamen they were handpicked to be excellent in melee and ranged attacks.

On the wagons, Gwen and Frank would be traversing one while Priest Hendry and his wife, Maria would be traversing the other.

As one could only see grey all around him, he volunteered since he wished to see if he could find other herbs out there in the wilds that could be brought back and grown indoors first before planting them outdoors when Spring comes.

Their daughter stayed close to them along the journey as well.

"Aww... Not fair. See Hendry and his wife and daughter could come along to this trip but I and the twins had to stay at home. Hmph... It is so boring not able to do anything when you're gone..."

Heather was pouting like a small girl as she watches me putting on a new Adventurers set of clothing that Innes had prepared for me which was red and black in colour and the cape was red on one side and white in the other.

It seemed that two pieces of coloured cloth were sewn in that manner. I laughed at her for pulling her face like that and acting all cute for nothing since someone had to be around to ensure that the basic operations of the town would be smooth without my presence.

The twins were also pouting and thru but in their lips as they looked at me with eyes wide open as they had never been without me for a long period of time.

I picked both the twins and said to them, "I'm sorry my dear children, Daddy won't be long, alright? I had to do something because someone had made fun of our family names and challenge us."

"Both of you be good children alright? I won't be long and would be back in about 5 days or so. It is a short trip... Mummy would be around so no worries. Eat well and I would be seeing you both soon, alright? Coochie coo...! "

I snuggled with them and the twins laughed despite their eyes glistening as if huge droplets of tears were already brimming on their eyelids and getting ready to gush out.

However, it's a good thing that our children don't bawl out for attention or for any other purposes as they sat idly on their beds or in their rooms or even in their trikes.

They puckered their lips and I kissed them both as I put them down on the bed where they frolicked around instead. Since their daddy had said to be good children then they should listen to their daddy instead and not give too much trouble for their mummy.

I changed into my pants and asked Heather how I looked like as she simply hugged me and said that I was the most perfect husband she ever had in her life. Hahaha.

I'm only 20 and there's a whole lot of life ahead of us...!

I had my old linen knapsack with me since I had first brought out with me since I left Darlington and shouldered it. In it were some coin pouches that contained lots of coppers, some silver and gold coins stored respectively. This would be used to 'compensate' the town once we had done dealing with them.

"Your Majesty, Your Dandy Horse is ready and we would be moving in one hours time. Preparation had been made to supply all Dandy Horses with a pair of saddlebag to carry some provisions and supplies."

"Also there's a place where you could hook your bow and quiver as well as strap your sword as well, Your Majesty. We would be heading out by 2 in the afternoon."

A Shadow unit came and saluted to us before delivering his message and then headed back to where he had come from. It took only a surprisingly single day to get the necessary troops to be ready to move out even though it is a small amount of militia force involved.

Besides, there's 14 of us and also led by 4 of the Adventurers, each on their Dandy Horses which they were trying to get accustomed to it by learning how to balance and very soon they were riding the Dandy Horses up and down the street, laughing gleefully as they raced and also to see how far they would be able to coast down after 'running' a few steps on it.

These Dandy Horses would not be able to traverse uphill or on rocky places and had to dismount and push them instead. But with it, we would be able to cover a huge distance compared to on foot.

Besides, the wheels would leave a trail behind for us to trace the Adventurers in case they would travel ahead of us as an advance party.

We had to rely on Dandy Horses because we had not purchased any war horses which we thought that it would not be ideal for us since we were not jostling or anything. Besides, Dandy Horses require zero maintenance and the only power it required was our legs to kick them forward.

There were no pedals but there were two short pegs where we can place our feet on them in case we were coasting downhill. Riding the Dandy Horses seemed much better at this moment since the first-ever recorded bicycle was 400 years later...!

The Dandy Horses were meant to be used within the town limits and between soldiers who used to patrol around and return to base et cetera. This would be the first time the Dandy horse would be put to outdoor use and we would see how well it performs.

As I gathered the necessities for the travel that includes several leather skins, a small hunting knife and the old tattered cloak that I had still with me that Heather teased of going to put the cloak up for display instead and hang in the conference hall for everyone to see. Hahaha.

Well, it's a cloak for disguise and definitely beats the cold and chilly autumn nights when I'm out there in the wilderness.

After checking out the supplies in the wagons, Priest Hendry and Maria on one wagon while Gwen and Frank on the other, we all raring to go as the latter couple had not been out town much and this time they would be travelling in a group.

With an hours advance time provided ahead, the adventurers rode their dandy horses off first and followed closely by the wagons. We bade them good luck to them since we would be following the trail left by the wheels.

"Hey little darlings, come and sit here with daddy, come... When you're older, I guess as this would be your latest toy or even a warhorse then, right? Dear, come and help get the twins to sit on the horizontal bar here." I beckoned for Heather who had brought the twins out and she lifted them both as I balanced them sitting across on the horizontal beam of the Dandy horse.

At least they could spend the last hour horsing around with their daddy and not being cooped up inside their rooms and not knowing when their daddy had left or would return.

"Haaa... You see, Uncle Frank and Aunty Gwen had already left with the supplies and provision that we need, so in one hours time, we would move out and then daddy going to be like you both on your trikes. Hahahaha. (by this time, I realised that I was not in a utility vehicle but rather a large adult toy.)

Both the twins were curious and Inspecting the saddlebags that were strapped across the horizontal frame of the Dandy horse. Besides, the twins were trying to grapple on the handlebars and see if they could budge the front wheels or not.

Furthermore, there was a weird-looking lever which they tried to pull which resulted in the front wheels to be locked and on a braked position. I guess these twins sure are a curious lot as they touched everything in the Dandy horse and baby talk to one another.

Andy Cole headed towards me while I was straddling the Dandy horse and holding on to the twins. He held a quiver in his hands and this could only mean something — the new bladed concussive arrowheads...!

I was right when he handed it to me and said, "These are for you, Your Majesty. The rest of the Shadow units had theirs already and never knew they you would be going for an expedition right after hearing the news."

"We would like to have good tidings upon your return and here are the bladed concussive arrowheads. 50 pieces of them and each one had a wad of cotton flax which you need to remove from the ball bearing within the blades."

" It's perfectly safe to be dropped to the ground after you had removed the cotton wad but as a safety measure, of course, we added them to ensure no accidents might happen. The rest of the Shadow units had them as well so yours would be a whole set."

"It's a whistling arrowhead, so when you nock and unleash one, you would know what I mean."

I thanked Andy Cole for arranging these 50 bladed arrowheads and were told of an added feature of these arrows. I guessed it's a way of his expressing his gratitude for us.

"Thanks, buddy. Alright, I'm going to keep this close to me and would use it to defeat our common enemies. Whistling arrowheads eh? I would really love to see them in action soon."

I thanked Andy Cole and kept the quiver behind my back along with the other quiver filled with more blunt arrowheads than with field ones.

At least we would be able to hunt for game when we are outdoors and we don't have to sleep on the ground as we could all sleep on the wagons if need be.

"Times up, Your Majesty. We are moving in 5 minutes time." one of the Shadow units called out and I handed the twins to Heather after I had kissed them in their puffy and smooth cheeks.

"Daddy is going to be back soon, alright. Don't be too sad... Be good to your mummy, alright?" I cooed to the twins as they hugged me tightly and kissed me back as well.

Then they climbed on to the arms of the helpers as they each bade me farewell with their dainty hands.

"Lead the way, men...!" I commanded out as we all slowly rolled along the Royal Street and out on the Easternmost gate as the residents on the first cluster gathered around and waved their farewell and bade us good luck on our expedition.

The guards all stood at attention along the walls and around their post as they saluted to us when we made our way out on our dandy horses. It was a slow Procession and there was no point for us to speed ahead.

Once we had cleared the easternmost gate, we kicked up out dandy horses a tad faster and the 14 of us were soon in our maiden voyage. The ride was rather rattling and bone-shaking experience but its at least 4 times faster than walking on foot.

We followed the trail left by the wagon and soon we saw our advanced party in about an hours time. By then we had managed to travel about 10 miles out from the comforts of our town.