"Let's see what kind of stray dog, Eiran brought ."

Pinned against the wall I stare at Vidarr hiding a venomous smile that threatens to curl up my lips.

"A mad one," I respond.

Two days earlier...

Riding the horse gifted by Gray, I try to keep an emotionless face. But the aching pain traveling in my body makes it progressively more and more difficult.

Almost two weeks that we are traveling toward Noreen, almost two weeks that every night I have to use all my might to not fall once we jump off our horses.

There was not a single night that we spent in an inn. We camped outside in small tents. The prince and I got our one ones. I was relieved to not sleep with unknown men.

The blinding sun emits an intense heat that  rises off the burning sand. It is difficult to imagine that tonight the temperature will be so low that I'll have to curl myself into different layers off clothes to not shiver of cold.

"Are you okay Raven?"

The little high pitched voice of Kallias breaks me away from my thoughts. He is sitting in front of a knight—Djohrn if I remember correctly—and looks at me with his wide shining eyes.

"I am perfectly fine your Highness, I thank you for your concern," I respond bowing my head.

My knowledge in courtesy came back as naturally as if I learnt it yesterday. A talent that surprised the entire escort. Even if I stay on my own and participate quietly to the chores, they seem uneasy and sometimes scandalized by my presence.

To be honest, it is far from being surprising, Lord Eiran brought me with him and introduced my briefly adding that I am his new student, nothing more.

This last fact may be the reason why they only stopped at dirty looks and indiscreet whispers. Lord Eiran doesn't scold them for that and not does he tries to include me in conversations or in the cohesion of the team.

"I gave you your chance, to become a knight, you will have to prove to me and to others that you are worthy," he said to me the first day of the trip.

I guess that also includes the part where I will be able to integrate without help their community. But I don't want to do an effort with seniors I will barely cross paths with once I will reach Noreen.

"You are lying," points out innocently the Prince, "You miss your family."

I chuckle with an joy and reminiscence the last hours I spent with them. The reactions of Frederick and Oseye weren't as calm as Marianna's.

After an hour of bargaining, and persuasions, they finally gave their blessing with reluctance.

"You must send letters to us at least one every week."

We spent the rest of the day walking around the village at my demand. I wanted to conserve the most loyal image of my childhood village. I won't be able to come back for at least two years.

My heart aches at the thought of leaving them for this long. In eighteen years I accustomed myself with their free love without realizing it. I even going to miss Gray and Evereyn.

"Don't worry," continues the Prince, "I miss mine too."

I smile at him, "You are going to see them very soon."

He turns around and speaks to Djohrn, "Can I stay with Eiran for the rest of the trip? There are only a couple of hours left before we arrive at the capital. The risk of an attack are almost none."

The bond that links the third Prince to the Commander of the Royal Knights is far more than a mentor- student one. The little Prince is not the biological son of the previous King nor the actual Queen. He is her nephew, that she adopted when he lost both of his parents in a carriage accident at the age of two.

Djohrn looks at his little master with amusement, Kallias really has a gift to capture the heart of the most scary-like person.

"I am sorry your Highness, but Lord Eiran has to stay in the front line. Even if there is almost no risk that we will be attack, it is better to take precautions."

"So I have to stay in the middle of the escort in order to be safe," he asks looking around him.

Around us knights are riding in a perfect circle formation leaving no chance for an assailant to harm his Highness. In addition to that the open landscape of the dunes makes us able to see kilometers around.

I squint my eyes and look in front of me. I can see the shadows of a city too realistic to be a mirage caused by my thirst. Realizing that my throat is dry and parched I take out a leather bottle and start to drink.

"Then can I ride with Raven?"

I spit the water on the sand and on my boot, as I cough loudly I can see the horrified face of Djohrn.

"Without any want to offend, Lady Mhyrr, I cannot entrust your safety to her," he says embarrassed.

"Lord Zenon is right," I agree.

Djohrn turns around and looks at me, surprised that I defend his decision.

"It would be safer for you to stay with him."

"But you are the student that Eiran chose himself!" he protests, "That means that he trusts you! You heard him as well as I did, he wants to make you part of the new generation of Royal Knights."

"But this—this doesn't mean that—that," I stutter feeling blood rushing into my cheeks.

Kallias doesn't listen to me and before Lord Zenon, to stun to say a word, has the time to react the Prince jump from the horse. I quickly grabs his waist before his feet reaches the ground and place him in front of me.

"Your Highness!" yells angrily Djohrn, "Are you out of your mind! You could have injured yourself."

Kallias doesn't seem moved by his anger. He tilts his little head to meet my eyes and smiles, "Then it is fortunate that Lady Mhyrr caught me."

In the end he stayed with me.

"Raven what is your favorite thing about your brother?"

It must be the hundredth question that Kallias asks me.

"His positivity," I respond patiently, "It can rain or thunder he will always have a joyful smile."

He looks pleased with my response and doesn't wait a second to ask an other one, "When you will be a Royal Knight, can you replace Lord Eiran and become my knight?"

"Your Highness!" I scream.

Djohrn who is listening since the beginning of the conversation looks like he swallowed a scorpion and tries to murder me with his eyes.

"You can't say those things! Lord Eiran is the Commander of the Royal Knight!"

Kallias tilt his head on the side.

'Don't tell me that he doesn't understand what is wrong with his question!'

"He would be heartbroken to hear what you just said," I explain, "You know how much Lord Aldraril cherish you."

"But he is already old! He is fifty! He will have to give his spot to a worthy successor," he says balancing his legs in the air.

I try to contain the burst of laugh that threatens to escape from me.

"NOREEN IN SIGHT!"

I turn my head startled by the scream. In front of me the young prince puts his hand in the air, "We are home!"

I was so absorbed by my discussion with the third heir of the throne I didn't notice the enter of the capital.

Something dark flies in my direction I catch itI get out my sword and pierce it.

"Relax the new girl," grunts a knight in the front whose I forgot the name.

I realize that what I cut is in fact a simple black cloak.

"Cover the Prince with it. No one knows that the Prince went missing and no one will know," he explains coldly, "Cover him but try not to strangle him."

I stay quiet and covers myself and him until I look like a pregnant young woman.

"Are you comfortable your Highness?" I whisper.

He nods underneath the tissue.

"Squeeze my arm if something is wrong," I say.

He doesn't respond and I take that as a positive response.

Where enter the city and make our way into the busy crowd of a Monday afternoon. I pull the hood even harder to completely covers my red locks. But even with my limited vision I can observe the rich embroidered clothes, the tan skin of the inhabitants and the beautiful sand, gold and white colors of the constructions.

The life of the city of Noreen interlays with the capital of Svenja. This place cannot be no more different than Hesperia, but I still find countless insignificant similarities.

The smile of the people, the ruffling sound of the tissues on the ground, the noise of the horses and dogs.

Progressively it becomes more and more difficult to breath, I close my eyes and focus my energy in holding my tears.

"OPEN THE GATES! THE FIRST DIVISION OF THE ROYAL KNIGHTS CAME BACK!"

'The first division?!'

I have been traveling with the elite of the kingdom of Esmeray since the beginning?

I silently curse myself, I should have taken advantage to socialize in them in order to build a network.

We ride until the main palace where four dozens of servants are waiting on the stairs in addition to three people dressed in the richest clothes I seen in this lifetime.

We get down our horse and Djohrn push me brutally on the ground.

"What are you..."

Then I suddenly notice that around me everything is kneeling on the floor and that he is holding me by my clothes to avoid me crashing on the floor.

"Shut up little Mhyrr and kneel before her Majesty the Queen of Esmeray and her sons."