LENNIN

"May the Rogs protect you, my lord," the wall guards prayed and hoped for the best for Lennin. 

Riding proudly on his horse, Lennin spoke his last words to his closest men. "Keep the wall intact. If we don't return, be prepared to embrace thousands of Alorian knights." Alongside with him was another rider, Thorne Grey, a knight who served at the boundaries of Amor for years.

"Are we all set?" The experienced traveler, with a bow across his back asked his men. His horse was matte black, seemed to be an unusual breed to Lennin. As a lord of Amor, Lennin was unfamiliar with everything about the leader, Wynx. He looked as if he came from another dimension, beyond the hills of Alora.

"One, two, three..." Wynx began to head count as the rests of the group checked their belongings for the last time. "Eleven. We have everybody."

Lord Lennin leered towards the eleventh man, it was Ken. A gentle sigh. His rage seemed to have run out of fuel.

"Leo, Robin, Thorne and I will take the front. Followed by that knight over there and those two next to him." Pointing his gloved fingers towards Ken and his companions, he asked politely, "What are your names?" 

"My name is Kenneth." Ken responded with a gentle bow.

"Charles." His eyes fixated on his battle axe, Charles didn't care much to respond.

"Ramsay Dawson in the house, goodman!" Ramsay exploded with enthusiasm.

Wynx, a bright smile on his face, spoke in a relieved manner, "Very well! The three of you will be in the middle. Lord Lennin and the twins will stay at the back, protecting the tail of the group."

Lennin, slightly annoyed by Wynx's decision, felt he was underestimating his abilities. "With all the respect, Wynx, I think I would be more suitable up front. I've been leading men across the Middle Plains for years now, Sir Thorne may not have enough experience."

"I understand where you're getting at, but I do need a strong warrior at the back of the group. Azomian bandits typically attack from the back, so I assure you that you'll be more useful there." Wynx responded to the lord with a credence tone. It was as if Wynx's capability was on par with Lennin's or beyond his.

Understanding the leader's concern, Lennin spoke, "Very well."

As the sun began to light up the land beyond the wall, their journey began.

The scenery beyond the wall was astonishing. Lennin could feel the freedom of the wind, blowing against his face and the metal coated on him. It smelt fresher than ever.

Three years. It had been three years since I had left Amor. Brother...

The thoughts about his long gone brother knocked upon him. That was one thing for him in common with the Sword, Flurkin. Both of them had never moved on from Lord Laydon's death.

"We'll keep moving until we reach the Middle Plains. We'll take a shelter at the abandoned town at the Last Dragon," Wynx announced to the group. 

Looking at the leader, Lennin noticed from afar that several grey pigeons were flying. They seemed to be gliding across the wind according to their pace. Whose pigeons are those?

As they rode across the grassland, the lord began to notice that though he was in a group, he was alone. No one was near him. The Damask twins rode about a few stomps ahead and they interacted with each other without the lord just fine.

After tasting the air alone at the back of the group, Lennin decided that it would be best to get to know about the twins. Lennin urged his horse forward and gradually rode beside them.

"--- fifty silver coins. Isn't that insane?!" The elder brother, Tobias Damask expressed.

"That's enough to wed my love," Travis replied with chuckles.

"I've heard that the fallen kingdom, Azoma, has more gold than one could have ever imagined!"

"Don't be silly, brother. The bandits owned them. Besides, if it were true, the bandits wouldn't have to raid travelers," the younger twin, Travis, responded in a disbelief tone.

"Just stick to our plan, it won't go ---" Noticing that Lennin was riding alongside with them, hearing their conversation, Tobias awkwardly continued, "It won't go wrong as long as we follow Wynx. My lord, do you need anything?"

Stunned by the appearance of Lennin, Travis quickly adapted and pull a huge smile. He greeted, "My lord."

"Enough with the formalities. Just call me Lennin." The lord although had a stern attitude sewn onto his face, he always preferred men who refer to him by his name, not title.

"We wouldn't dare, my lord," Tobias replied.

Young and strong, the Damask twins reminded Lennin the memories he had with Flurkin and his brother. The presence of Lennin stopped the conversation between the twins. It had seemed that the lord was having trouble socializing with the group.

A shrill voice joined the knights abruptly. It was the cook, Harroson. "Ey, what's good, my lord? Ya'll feeling hungry?"

"A little." Tobias rubbed his belly through his chest piece. 

"Don't be greedy, brother," Travis snapped him out of it. "You had half an apple pie before sunrise."

Looking up at the lord, Harroson, was slightly shorter than all the men. He had a long brown beard, long enough to tie braids. "How bout ya, my lord?"

"I'm good," Lennin replied, trying not to be cold. "Thank you for offering."

"No worries, my lord. Men called me the 'Cooking Papa' in Twiggers Town, because anyone who ate my food instantly loved me. Just like a papa." Harroson's accent was definitely from the West. Those who lived in Twiggers Town developed their own culture and ways of speaking which was unique among the Amorians.

"I see," not knowing how to continue the conversation, Lennin responded.

"Ya know, I've been to all places and tried many food. So far, my personal favorite is the halva from Amor. Nothing can win it, ya know. Too bad it is only available for the King and the other royalties. One day, I'm gonna make my own halva, ya know," Harroson complained with his high-pitched voice.

"Amor certainly has the best food," Lennin replied. Food was never a problem for the Amorians. With plantations going on at every corner, Amor was filled with bakeries and markets. It is the geographical benefit from the Rogs that granted Amor a huge lake, thus a supply of water and food source to men.

"Oh, that is subjective, my lord. Ya know, Alora has tasty fruits too."

"You've been to Alora?" Lennin questioned with doubt. He never came across with anyone who visited Alora and came back. Even travelers were not allowed to enter Alora.

"Oh yes, certainly, my lord. I've met the King there myself too, even cooked for him a dish," Harroson spoke with a humble tone, as if it was nothing special.

"The Alorian King?" Lennin questioned in disbelief.

"Yes, Kane Carnelian. Ya know him?"

"Yes --- No. I've never met him, just heard of him." Lennin was ashamed a little. He had found out that he actually knew nothing else other than being a lord.

"That king was very nice, ya know, he let me try out the best tier of the Elven fruits. It was delicious, my lord," Harroson, thinking about the taste of Elven fruits gave him a mild seizure of passion.

"Is that why you're here? Because you're friends with the Alorian King?" Lennin putting the pieces of information he had received.

"Yes, my lord. You're smart, ya know?" Shaking on the saddle while moving through the terrain, Harroson complimented the lord as he stroke his beard.

"And you're a wise man, do you know that?" Lennin responded with his cool yet raspy voice.

"Traveling makes me wise, ya know." Harroson grinned for a while but returned to normal and said, "But be careful of the bandits and clans. They can rip to pieces with their cats, ya know."

Warned by the cook, Lennin gripped tightly onto his scabbard. He knew the journey was not going to be easy. "Don't worry, I'll deal with them."

"May the Rogs protect us," Harroson chanted.