THE THREE.
The Homecoming.
As he walked down the road he contemplated all the long gone things he and the other two had done in their time away. Still now was not the time to think of such things as he had a strange feeling of foreboding creep upon him. He was back in his home land of Cowsley, he had not been back too long when he was told of the new Lord of the Land that had been chosen, still it should only be good manners to show his face as the one of the Protectors of the land.
The castle drew in site and he wondered how many times he had ever been summoned to the place before, or even gone to it, probably no more than a dozen, thirteen now, what a number to go by. Still it was no use thinking about it just get on with it and be out and go and find the others.
As he approached the castle something struck him as unusual there was very little activity nearby or even for the last mile or so. He checked to see if his sword was free in case he had need to draw it, he hoped not, he was still young yet hated killing. He thought about that then smiled at it, Protector of the Land and hated drawing his sword the others would rib him mercilessly about such a thing.
He got to the gate and found that there where no guards upon the gate, what a strange thing he thought, still he entered and without a thought put his hand upon the hilt of his sword, the magic coursed through him and made him feel safer. He wandered through the castle till he came to the throne room, the doors to which were shut. This made him shiver, never had the throne room been shut but in the most dire of emergencies, he crept forward slowly till he put his hand upon the door to try to feel for any magic, there was a bit inside he began wishing his friends where here now to help him, at least one of them could deal with the magic.
Carefully he pushed open the doors and crept through the doors, there was someone on the throne, and someone standing next to him, he felt that he knew the figures from somewhere but could not put his finger upon it. Perhaps it was one of the numerous lords that he had met and had become Lord of the Land. But no, he recognised the faces as the one standing strode forward.
How much had they changed over so long, how much time had passed that he could be here.
They both laughed so loud and greeted each other with hearty slaps of the back and shoulders, then the one sitting on the throne stood up and called him forward. He walked forward with more confidence knowing that his friend was by his side and kneeled baring his sword to the new lord.
'With this sword I promise that I will serve you well and protect all those who dwell in these lands' he said with all the confidence he summon.
'Go on and what about the rest' said the lord.
'What rest?'
'You know about fearing no beast in your quest for a hearty wench and a goblet of foaming ale!'
He looked up and then he realised who the man standing over him was, he no longer had to pay respects and go shooting off to look for the other two, they where here, and one was the new Lord of the Land.
'Well then' C said as he looked at A and took a sip of ale 'what brings you be the new Lord of the Lands'
'Well me and M had just met up a few days ago and when we arrived there was a lot of confusion going on as to who the new Lord should have been. Well we came along and then pretty soon word had got about to the Protectors had arrived and then everyone said he will do.'
'That seems more than fair to me, what's your part in all of this then M'
'I have no part in anything if you remember, and you have yet always more to learn, as do we all. When you came into the door you should have sensed the magic that was there but you walked straight through it you berk'
'Ah well I did sense that was magic here in the room but not that bit'
'Yes well, you had better get better at it because one day I won't be here to save your ass and you will get killed'
'Look you two, stop arguing and let us go and get some sleep and we can talk in the morning when we have had some sleep.'
C eventually went to sleep thinking of when they where all growing up in Child's Ver Wood. He slept thinking of the times they all slept and had such good times in the woods. When they where young they used to and camp in the woods, lighting fires, discovering new things, and among other things where they were taught their skills of fighting, magic and diplomacy among kings and lords. And the then unsuspected chance of being a protector.