5

Corc loved his younger sister, Princess Siofra, even if they were so different. But he thought of her as a burden of the royal family. He was not surprised to hear that she had been kidnapped, he thought it was only a matter of time.

“How could this happen” Tidwield said in a soft resonating voice. “You know how she is, my lord. She’s always escaping her guards. She makes them chase her all over the city” the messenger explained. Tidwield stepped backed, slouched down on a chair behind him and gazed downward. “Father, it was only a matter of time, it couldn’t be helped, she is too rebellious” Corc quickly intervened.

“My lord, the bandits want two coffers full of gold and silver in return for Princes siofra. And they want it within the next two days. She is being held two days away from here, my lord” the messenger said, slightly stuttering.

“Two coffers? Two days?!” Tidiwield asked, yelling. “Not even giving us time to think, those wretched snakes!”

“Father, they’re asking for to much, you can’t give them the two coffers, it would ruin us!” Corc quickly said. “I’m afraid the young master is right, my lord, if we give them the two coffers, our finances would be crippled” Sablas said, nervously.

“Hold your tongues, you dare not talk like this of your princess and your sister.” Tidwield said in a commanding voice. Both Corc and Sablas bodies stiffened for a moment. “Quickly, there’s not much time to lose. Corc, ready ten of your best men, fit them to horses. You are to take those men and ten of my fastest riders to rescue Siofra.” Tidwield ordered as he moved to a drawer and got out a quill and parchment, setting it on the table, he started to write.

“But, father, what about the battle tomorrow. You’ll need me here at your side. You’ll need every soldier” Corc sternly tried to reason.

“Enough! Tomasan’s army will be here by nightfall, worry not about me. Sablas, ready the men who will accompany prince Corc.” Tidwield said, Sablas walked out to gather the man. Tidwield then rolled the parchment he had written. He heated wax on a candle, let it become runny, then quickly smeared it on the fold of the parchment and pressed his royal seal.

Tidwield went up to Corc, while holding the sealed letter in his left hand, he put his right on Corc’s shoulder. “Know that I would go myself, but I deem it not necessary, you’re grown enough for this task, I know you will not fail me, my son” Tidwield said, looking into Corc’s eyes. After a dragging silence “As you will, father” Corc said, fury seeping out of his eyes. At that moment he wished he never had a sister. He was the prince and heir of Genogem, the son of Tidwield Ivandaruth. He should be by his father’s side chasing glory in the battle to come, not going after bandits. Corc remembers how his sister Siofra used to hide his sword when she was young. She didn’t want him to go to battle. He remembers the hate he felt towards her when Tidwield would discipline him for losing his sword to a little girl. He hated how ironic it was that he wasn’t going into battle this time either. Like she had gotten her wish.

“You must go, quickly now. Take this letter to Glomirum borough, gather the coffers of gold and silver along with what ever men they can spare. Lead them to where the bandits and rescue Siofra” Tidwield said as he guides Corc outside the tent.

Outside, the bottom of the sun had touched to top of a near mountain. The long slender shadows of horsemen bent on the clay brown dirt as they approached. Their manes whipped in the wind that had picked up.

All twenty horsemen stood behind Sablas “The horsemen are ready and have had their resources replenished, My lord” said Sablas as he took a horse by the reigns and pulled it in front of Corc.

Corc adjusted his helmet belt, securely tightening it fit, then the strap of his trousers before he stretched by swinging his arms in the air in an arch motion. He took the reigns from Sablas, walked up to the horse, put his foot into the stirrup and with a lunge up to the air and on his horse.

The horse rocked back and forth, eager run. Atop of the horse, Corc could see Tidwield standing to his side. He stared at him, fearless. “I will see you here when I come back. Glory to you father!” Corc said before turning to his men that he will lead “Ready your selfs men, we ride through the night!” with a hard pull of the reigns his horse burst with speed, heading towards the gate.

“Take care young master!” yelled Sablas, his old voice almost drowned out by the galloping horses.

The sun had gone down, the moon no where to be seen. Corc stared blankly ahead of him, to the sound of hooves pounding the ground, to the small, flame wildly flickering of a torch, to the partly lit figure of a horseman, his guide in absolute darkness. Every gallop, hefty huff from the horses in this darkness, was the same as from when the night started. If the day came, he would be able to see the fort behind him, it would only be a short distance, he thought.