In the sunlit city of Bulgar, the busy commercial center of Sacae, the morning market had just begun to go into business. Shopkeepers kept watchful eyes over their wares and their competition. They clamored for attention, shouting over the hubbub in the accented dialects of several Sacaen tribes. Commoners hurried back and forth through the vegetable stalls, their eyes lingering on the more expensive wares before hurrying away. Street urchins and stray dogs, thin with hunger and black with dirt, stared greedily at the untouchable feast in front of them. They skittered nervously between the citizens of Bulgar, snatching whatever dirty scraps they could afford to steal.
Young horse riders laughed together as they rode down the cobblestone paths, clad in colorful and skillfully made vestments. Many of of these Sacaens had the distinctive, proud looks of experienced nomads, strong and skilled in living off the land. The distinctive styles of various tribes were also commonplace, different patterns and colors for every group. However, there was always the occasional Lycian traveler passing through the city, usually clad in the simple traveling cloak common to that area.
Three Sacaens, young maidens, sat at the fountain in the city square. They giggled as they splashed the water at each other childishly. Their bare arms and ears were adorned with simple woven bracelets and the occasional silver earring, accentuating their lightly tanned skin. Their riding skirts of khaki cloth, embroidered with colorful, swirling designs of thread, waved in the wind. Behind them, water gushed out of white stone fishes' mouths and from a vase in the hands of a softly smiling statue of some water deity resembling a mermaid.
"Beautiful young maidens, would you care to have a small chat?" called a young man, as he pulled his horse to a halt beside the young ladies. The girls giggled at the young knight. The man grinned wickedly, scanning the girls with his bright hazel eyes. He shook his head arrogantly, his light brown hair flying in the breeze. His dusty, emerald green armor marked him as a knight of Caelin. A lance strapped onto his back and sitting atop a chestnut brown steed, he was the picturesque handsome scoundrel from the eastern lands. The girls tittered to each other like little birds. One of them flashed him a playful smile before lapsing into giggles.
Another knight rode up to Sain, his horse's hooves clip-clopping on the cobbestone path. He would have been as good-looking as Sain, if his stern face were not so serious and controlled. His short, orange-red hair was cute neatly, his crimson red armor polished and gleaming in the sun. Sain's green armor, covered with scratches and dust, and his tousled hair made him look like a mere commoner compared to the neatly groomed knight beside him.
The girls fell into silence. Their attention turned to the red knight, much to Sain's dismay. Sain called out at the girls again with his most poetic flattery, but the maidens' eyes remained on his companion.
Kent, however, took no notice of these girls. "Sain!" he yelled angrily. "Foolish soldier though you are, you must know your place," he scolded Sain.
Sain winced at Kent's harsh tone. He tugged at his black headband thoughtfully. "Oh Kent, were you to take advantage of your manly qualities..." he cajoled, a sly look in his eye.
If Kent was at all perturbed by Sain's comments, he did not show it. "Sain... I honestly don't know what to do with you anymore. I could throw a million insults at you and still you never heed my warnings. We have a mission to complete, that is the priority now."
Sain sighed. "I know it well enough already. Fine, we can go."
Kent's expression relaxed visibly. "Good, then we can keep going." Kent reigned in his mount and galloped off.
Sain followed dejectedly. On a secpnd thought, he turned around and spoke again to the girls. The red knight waited for a few minutes. Sain yelped in surprise as Kent nearly pulled him off his horse. The girls giggled even more loudly, now pointing at Sain and shooting Kent hopeful looks. Kent ignored them all and rode on, while Sain gritted his teeth and followed quietly behind.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the city, Lyn was chattering excitedly to Ketai. Ketai watched the endless stretch of plains behind them, her eyes traveling up and down the hilly slopes. The slopes gradually morphed into woodland in the distance, sparse trees populating the area near them. However, as they entered the city, the tactician's attention turned to the various wares at the city, lingering the longest on the weapon shops. The metal of swords and arrow tips glittered in the stalls, for, in Sacae, most warriors favored those weapons.
"Ketai, over here! This is Bulgar, the biggest city in all of Sacae. We should purchase supplies for our journey," said Lyn, motioning at another shop.
"Just wait a moment, I want to see these weapons..." called Ketai, but Lyn was already gone. Sighing in disappointment, she tore her eyes off the merchandise and quickly followed the swordswoman.
The pair looked through the food markets, examining the wares. They paused the longest at the dried foods an old Sacaen lady was peddling. Her wrinkled hands moved deftly among the wares, as she picked up slices of dried meat and fruit to hand over to Lyn. The blue-haired girl nodded in thanks, handing over gold pieces in return. Ketai's fingers itched to examine the weapons on sale, to feel their quality. Lyn, however, talked her out of this by asking her why they would need such weapons if they were only two people. Ketai nodded in agreement, and they continued through the city.
"Oh my heart! What a dazzling vision of loveliness!"
"Hm?" uttered Lyn in surprise, as she wheeled around to see who was speaking. A tall Caelin knight, mounted on a horse, saluted her arrogantly. His green armor caught the sunlight as he posed dramatically in the square.
"Wait, O fair and beauteous one! Would you not favor me with your name? Or better yet, your company?" asked Sain, his eyes bright with mischief. Ketai fell back a few steps, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"Where are you from, sir knight, that speak so freely to a stranger?" inquired Lyn, also suspicious of the strange knight.
"Ha! I thought you'd never ask! I am from Lycia. I hail from the Caelin canton, home of men of passion and fire!" declared Sain, raising his lance dramatically. Lyn ducked to avoid the low swing, as did Ketai. Passersby grumbled angrily at the knight, shooting him vicious looks. Whoops... total accident he thought to himself, but he put on a goofy grin as if nothing had happened.
"Shouldn't that be "home to callow oafs with loose tongues?" accused Ketai as bravely as she could.
"Ooooh... You're even lovelier when you're cruel," wheedled Sain, leaning closer to Ketai. Now that I take a closer look... that black-haired one is also quite cute, although not as well-endowed as the Sacaen girl he thought to himself.
"Let's go, Ketai. I've nothing more to say," said Lyn angrily. She glared dangerously at the knight, then stormed away with Ketai. Sain shrunk back a little, startled at the girl's fire. Ketai hung back behind Lyn, breathing a small sigh of relief.
"What a pity, she was still beautiful even in her fiery wrath," Sain sighed. His horse whinnied in reply. Sain smiled to himself as he watched the backs of the two girls as they left. "That other girl- Ketai, was it? Not as polite as Lyn, nor as stunningly beautiful... but a pretty face, nonetheless. Ah, what a pite-" he broke off, catching sight of a glint of red from the corner of his eye.
Despite his better judgement, Sain rode ahead faster and more purposefully. Coming closer to the Sacaen girl and her comrade, he tried again. "Wait! Please!" he yelled at them. Behind Sain, Kent groaned again. He shook his head disapprovingly and ran a hand through his orange hair in a gesture of frustration. He pulled his horse's reins and kicked its sides, riding up the Sain.
"Sain! Hold your tongue!" he barked fiercely.
"Ah Kent, my boon companion! Why so severe an expression?" laughed Sain.
"If your manner were more serious, I wouldn't have to be so severe! We still have a mission to complete, Sain!" he said angrily, driving his horse in front of Sain's. Lyn pulled Ketai aside quickly, in order not to be trampled.
"I know that. But how could I remain silent in the prescence of such beauty? It would have been discourteous!" declared Sain, putting on a shocked expression.
"What do you know of courtesy!?" yelled Sain, now furious with anger.
"Excuse me! You're blocking the road. If you would be so kind as to move your horses..." interjected Lyn sharply.
"Of course. My apologies..." replied Kent in a quieter voice. He gave a polite nod to Lyn, as he pulled his horse backwards. He signalled for Sain to do so as well.
"Thank you. You, at least, seem honorable," Lyn said with a hint of respect.
Kent was about to say something, but he paused suddenly. That blue-haired girl... somehow, her face looks familiar. No, it can't be... "Pardon me, but... I feel we've met before," he said to her, just as she was about to turn away.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Hey! No fair, Kent! I saw her first!" whined Sain. His eyes were wide with surprise, thinking that Kent was actually trying to flirt with the Sacaen.
"Tsk! It seems there are no decent men among Lycia's knights! Let's go Ketai, I'm out of patience." Lyn marched off determinedly, the tactician following behind.
"Wait please! It's not like that," Kent protested, waving his hand in the air. The girls continued to ignore him as they disappeared into the crowd. He groaned again. "... ... Sain, you lout!"
"Huh? Not like that? I thought you were..." Sain again appeared to be surprised. /What could Kent want with a girl like that?/
"I am not you! Come, we must follow her. I suspect she might be-" he looked into the distance. Suddenly, he urgently pulled his horse forward and ran at a gallop towards the city exit.
"Be what? Wait, she's our mission?" asked Sain, his expression looking more and more confused. "You're joking!" he exclaimed. "Kent! Wait for me!" he called, finally noticing how far Kent had gone off.