Marius's Point of View
Princess Zaraline was quiet the rest of the way back. All the better, I say. My body went on autopilot as I retreated into my thoughts. The fastest way north of the Bloody Isthmus was back across the Bay of Storms. The problem was acquiring passage.
Another question was whether or not if I should bring others along with us on our quest. We were heading into uncharted lands to dangerous territory. Who knows what opposition they might run into. Perhaps I could gather a small number of the best soldiers I knew. Not enough to raise suspicion, but enough to fight back against any attackers. 1002Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo0Etvu12H
Names of potential candidates for the expedition flitted through my mind. Before I knew it, we'd returned to the path leading up to the service entrance of the palace.
"I will walk you back, then I must take care of the details of our expedition." As I said such, I held the rickety door open for her.
"I see," she replied, her tone guarded. I eyed her as she stepped past. A small part of me, very small, felt bad for her. I reminded myself that she was the key to the greater good of the empire. Only a tool to bring in prosperity. All I needed from her was her cooperation.
I took the lead again, occasionally glancing back at her. My imagination found it hard to picture her as the key to a golden age. She was taller than most women, frail, and had a sweet face. The farthest thing from a fighter there could possibly be.
Once we returned to my room, I gave a curt nod to Flavius, the Eagleguard who usually stood watch early in the day over my room. He returned the nod, before his gaze darted forward. I held the door open for Zaraline who stepped inside.
"Flavius. See to it she gets anything she needs. Pass the order to along to Agrippa."
"I shall, your grace."
I gave one last look at Zaraline. Her eyes were narrowed in what seemed to be suspicion. I couldn't blame her. I would also be suspicious of m, if I was her.
I gently shut the door, before making my way back into the city, and down towards the docks. After several conversations with various captains, I finally found a merchant ship heading to a small city just north of the Blood Isthmas. However, he only had room for five more passengers. I grimaced as I paid for passage, knowing that three soldiers was a lot fewer than what I'd be comfortable with bringing. The captain told me that they set sail tomorrow morning.
After my business with the captain was concluded, I made my way towards the barracks. By the time I'd gotten there, I had decided upon three soldiers in particular who were both trustworthy and skilled.
First, there was Calavius. A first sergeant. He was one of the bravest men I knew, with a chiseled marble-like face. The ladies loved him.
There was Veran, an archer who could put an arrow in a boar's eye at a hundred yards with ease. He was a shrewd one, but I knew I could count on him to have my back.
Finally, there was Kaeso. He was a brute of foreign decent. Long ago, his family had migrated here from a small coastal town just north of the Bloody Isthmus. Occasionally we'd joke with him about him being half-orc, due to how much bulk he had. He could easily pick up the average man and throw him as if he were a chicken bone.
They stood before me now, shoulder to shoulder, just outside the barracks. I cleared my throat. "I have brought you here today, because I require three men that I trust with my life and more for a mission back to the Northerlands. It will be terribly dangerous, and you are not required to participate. But before I provide the details, you must swear to secrecy. While this mission is important for the greater good of the empire, there are many in the palace who would not agree."
Calavius was the first to step forth. Without a beat of hesitation, he drew forth a small dagger from behind his back, and sliced it over the palm of his hand. A traditional method of swearing an oath, if a bit dramatic. He clenched his fist, letting a few drops of his blood spill into the earth.
"Let the goddess Propina herself be my witness, none shall know of this mission or its details unless you wish it to be so."
Although hesitantly, the other two drew daggers of their own, and followed suite. As per tradition, I drew my own dagger, the engraved word "Iprus" glinting in the sunlight. I drew the blade across my palm, wincing at the pain that blossomed in its wake. Then I too, squeezed my fingers together to let a few drops of blood fall to the grass.
"Let Propina be our witness."
Thereafter, I shared with them the details of the second prophecy the oracle delivered to me. They were already aware of my stance regarding our current emperor, and I knew they agreed with me. When my explanation was finished, Veran took a step forward and spoke.
"Are we sure that this princess of the north is really the answer? She's just a prisoner at best who lost everything. Who is to say she won't just slit our throats in our sleep?"
"I do not think she is capable of such, truly. Besides, I think I may have convinced her to our side. At least for the moment. I trust her enough."
Veran seemed unsure, but he only replied with a nod, before stepping back. No one else stepped forward to ask questions, so I continued.
"Our ship, the Siren's Call, leaves at dawn. Gather your belongings your supplies, and finish your business. We will meet at the docks." I saluted, my right hand curled into a fist over my arm, a gesture which they returned, before we parted ways.
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