Chapter 3 -Do not fail.

  Although the meeting with the king had ended abruptly

  The many conclusions made could benefit the kingdom greatly, providing protection even in the absence of an apostle of Sol.

  Ryn marched through the now near-deserted streets, turning the council’s decisions over in his mind. Lampposts dotting the path, while the twin silver towers glowed like lighthouses.

  He paused

  ‘A personal guard…’ he thought to himself, staring up at the moon with its web of veins and gold fractures.

  He reached the barracks and pushed open the gates. Brann’s loud cries greeting him.

  Brann came barreling toward Ryn and dropped to the floor with exaggerated despair, clutching at the leather straps of Ryn's armor. “How lucky can a man get?” he wailed. “You get to spend your days with the princess, while we’re-” his voice cracked as he buried his face in misery, “-while we’re stuck with Eldric!” He groaned loudly, shaking his head as if the weight of such injustice might crush him.

  Ryn's stoic expression cracked slightly as he stepped back, caught off guard by Brann's sudden outburst.

  Kael and Sara trailed after Brann, shaking their heads at his theatrics.

  Kael spoke, gazing at ryn “They’ve stationed us on the castle walls. Not the most glamorous post, but at least it’s quiet .”

  Sara tucked a strand of her reddish hair behind her ear, her tone even. “Quiet until Varghelm decides otherwise. Still…” She glanced meaningfully towards the castle, her tone cooling. “Good luck, Ryn. You’ll need it.”

  Kael let out a low chuckle, clapping Ryn once on the shoulder before following Sara, onward to the sleeping quarters, begrudgingly dragging Brann by his arm with them.

  “Oh, the captain wants to see you in his office,” Kael added before disappearing up the staircase.

  Overwhelmed by the sudden appearance and disappearance of his comrades, Ryn nodded slowly and made his way through the many corridors of the barracks.

  He offered brief salutes to passing knights, many on their way to the common room or sleeping quarters. What should have been a short walk dragged on, his growing drowsiness slowed his steps, and the attention of his fellow soldiers slowed him further.

  Knights lingered in doorways or stopped in their tracks, eager to greet him, some with quick nods, others with curious smiles, even some with jealous frowns. Ryn endured them all in silence; it made sense, each knight wanted to greet the princess’s appointed guard.

  But at last, he reached his destination. With a steadying breath, Ryn pushed open the door to the captain’s private chambers.

  A familiar sight reflected in his eyes.

  The captain’s office was a stark contrast to the gleaming halls of the rest of the barracks. Its walls were not carved of the same pale stone, but instead oak, their surface marked by years of scratches and faint soot stains. A heavy oak desk dominated the center, its surface buried beneath neatly stacked reports, sealed letters, and maps pinned with iron weights. Behind it, shelves bowed with ledgers and scrolls; the smells of ink and wax mingled faintly with those of leather and dust.

  Sitting on the table was none other than Sir Sylvas, the captain of knights of Solvara. His long silver hair lay unrestrained on his head, dripping like rags across his shoulders and face, his eyes blackened by fatigue.

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  It was obvious that the past few months had not been easy on the captain

  A face Ryn was not expecting lay slouched against a wall lazily, a flask in his hand. The faint tang of alcohol undercut the otherwise orderly air of the room. It was Eldric

  As Ryn walked in, he saluted his captain, bringing his fist to his chest and straightening his posture

  Sylvas lifted his gaze slowly toward the door. When he saw Ryn standing there, his expression hardened.

  “At ease, soldier.” His voice carried weight, though not unkind. “You’ve been given an important duty, one that the king personally requested .”

  Eldric gave a low chuckle from his side of the room, raising his flask as if in a toast. “Good for you, boy!”

  Ryn nodded. “I’ll do my job. ” His voice was measured, but his hand twitched slightly at his side. “But… she made it pretty clear she doesn’t want me around. That’ll make things harder.”

  Sylvas leaned forward over his desk, the candlelight catching the scars across his knuckles. “Wanted or not, you’ll serve. This isn’t about her comfort or pride; it’s about the safety of Solvara. If there are whispers of assassins, then the king’s command is absolute.”

  Eldric tipped back his flask with a theatrical sigh. Turning his gaze to Sylvas, “Ah, spoken like a man who’s never been screamed at by a princess. Glancing back at Ryn, he said, “You’ll see soon enough, lad, guarding her will test your patience more than any sword ever could.”

  Sylvas exhaled through his nose, unimpressed. “You mistake duty for inconvenience, Eldric. A knight’s worth isn’t just in his sword, it’s in his endurance too.”

  Eldric tipped his flask toward the captain with a sly grin. “Endure? Captain, if I wanted to spend my days being shouted at and ignored, I’d have married instead of taking up a sword.”

  He leaned harder against the wall, eyes glinting with mischief. “Better to send me to the walls. I’m no babysitter.”

  Sylvas did not waste words. He answered Eldric’s jest with a sharp hiss

  Ryn’s expression remained still through the exchange, but his silence spoke more than words. He finally inclined his head, voice low. “I’ve no thought of defying the king. I’ll do as commanded.”

  Sylvas gave a single nod. “Good. Then the matter is settled. You’ll begin your post at dawn.”

  He paused

  “Do not fail.”

  The next morning arrived swiftly. Ryn rose before dawn, slipping from the barracks while most of the world still slept. By the time his armor was fastened and he began the walk toward the castle, the first light of the sun began to show.

  The morning sun painted the sky a vibrant shade of yellow.

  The only people Ryn noticed on the streets this early were those tasked with refilling the lamppost with oil. Ryn pressed on through the hushed streets, his footsteps the only sound against the stone. At last, the looming gates of the castle rose before him, their iron-bound doors catching the pale glow of morning light.

  By now dawn had fully broken. A castle servant already stood waiting at the entrance, hands clasped neatly, prepared for his arrival.

  He escorted Ryn through the many winding corridors of the jade castle, traversing its many white, polished steps until they reached a room of significant importance.

  Ryn could tell this was the princess’s chamber; unlike the many doors they had passed while on their way, this one was grander, its surface inlaid with gold patterns, and flanked on either side by two armored guards standing rigid at attention.

  When the guards noticed their approach, they straightened at once and offered a solemn salute, their expressions betraying neither curiosity nor surprise.

  The servant turned to him, posture rigid.

  “Introduce yourself to the princess. By day’s end, you’ll be assigned a chamber within the palace.”

  With a small bow, he withdrew, motioning for the two guards to follow.

  Ryn watched them slowly walk away.

  Suppressing a sigh, he raised his fist and knocked gently.

  “C-Come in,” came a hurried, flustered voice-not the princess’s, but distinctly feminine, one unfamiliar to him.

  Not her… another attendant perhaps.

  He pushed the door open slowly, stepping into the chamber. The hinges groaned faintly, and in the same instant something glittered in the air.

  A flash of polished metal and jewels. He jerked his head aside just in time as an expensive ornament whistled past his cheek and clattered against the stone wall behind him.