The cool spring air inhabited every tiny crevasse of the landscape, still brisk from the winter past a mere week ago, but still warm enough for the first flowers and blades of grass to produce their heads from the blanked of snow that covers the countryside of Tydaria – the continent of my birth that contains all 8 kingdoms. This posting is far too trivial for a prince to concern himself with personally; however my father, King Conrad Rozenov, believes that it would serve me well to be more knowledgeable about the populace I will one day rule over.
"My Lord?" A voice to my right sounds; E'lion Icarai, sergeant of the 5th Battalion recruits that rode with me, a 30 man strong party to scout out disappearances in the outer villages.
"Yes, E'lion?' I turn to face him, seeing the unease in his face and his seating on the horse he rode, catching glimpses of the recruits, all uneasy in their saddles, "Is something the matter?"
"The man are getting restless, My Lord." He spoke, nerves biting at his speech, "Many of them wish to make camp or find shelter before arriving at the outskirts." He bit his tongue, fearing the retribution of his superior, his prince.
"We can make it to Erelior before dusk, make camp just outside its walls and if need be, the town is defendable enough," I say directly to E'lion before addressing the entire party "We push on to Erelior, if there are any objections, speak your mind; if not we will make it before dusk." There was some murmuring, but none raised their voice to oppose my command; that's what I hate about some soldiers, when given freedom of Speech, they will not speak against a superior.
I wait a few minutes in wait of argument, meeting non I call the party to continue; the ride to Erelior was long and tiresome, many military tactics were forsaken with the lack of scouting parties or sentries. The slight of storm clouds hung on the horizon, strange clouds of near abyssal black encircled the western horizon, an eerie feeling not too different to fear fell upon my mind; my hand dropped down to the blade at my belt, the familiar touch of my sword, Evil's Downfall, calmed my mind to rational thought. "Tell the men to pick up the pace, send two men ahead to Erelior and another two up in scouting formation," As a raised whisper to E'lion, "Do it quietly thou; I don't want anyone else on edge, its simple military protocol."
"Is something the matter, My Lord?" He inquired in hushed tones.
"We aren't alone in this country side," I respond with a suitable tone, "There's something else out there."