Chapter 2: The Road Home

"We will be forced to travel through a good portion of the woods if we want to get home before nightfall. Unfortunately, there will not be any time for breaks or to rest the horses, and because we have men on foot our pace will be slower," Tezuka addressed the disheveled prince and his crew, directing the scattered party, "I have mapped out a path through the wood generally used by merchants this time of year, which I believe should be time efficient enough to allow us to reach the capital by night fall."

"Good," Ryoma called back, shaking his earlier mood and concentrated on focusing on the task at hand, instead the new addition to their patrol, "Let's make haste."

"I will be just a moment," Fuji called back to the others. Ryoma and Momo, who had finally seemed settle into an uneasy peace with the warlock for the moment, had made their way over to trunk of a small tree where the prince's horse was tied. Ryoma checked mounted his stead began to follow Tezuka at a slow gate after giving Fuji a stiff nod. The knight followed on foot, glancing suspiciously Fuji's way as they passed.

So the knight, Momo, had been forced to give up his steed to the man named Tezuka, the knight was of lower rank, he'd figured as much by their conversation earlier, Fuji registered quietly to himself.

Fuji bent forward and removed his stolen token from the limp jaws of the wolfsnake the young prince had slain. A delicate gold locket in the shape of a swallow dangled from a thin chain. The trinket glistened in the evening sun as he wrapped around his slender fingers. He allowed himself let out a sigh of relief, he had recovered his small treasure and aside from a bit of dirt and blood it was unharmed. The warlock was more thankful than he would admit to his new acquaintances that he had gotten it back. Fuji placed the locket back in its place around his slender neck, tucking it under his collar. He hissed as the cold metal met his skin.

Fuji returned to the party in swift graceful strides until he could pace himself alongside them. After several moments settling into pace with his new companions, he found himself walking side by side with the princeling's horse and Fuji looked upward so that he could examine the boy.

Unexpected. That was the word he could use to describe the young prince. Prince Ryoma was of a smaller build but by no means a delicate flower. The young man was lean but muscular and Fuji noticed, not too bad on the eyes. His raven hair contrasted strikingly against his pale skin and unusual golden eyes. Their color stirring some old sentiment from his earlier years, when he had been even younger than the prince. Despite the younger boy's initial awkwardness, he had not just looked like a prince, he had carried himself like one too – tall and proud, but not arrogant. He had guts as well, most people shrunk away from Fuji's piercing stare when confronted with it up close, but this boy was different. He had stared him down with unblinking determination, almost egging him on. The ladies at court must fawn over him constantly, although being a prince probably guaranteed that on its own, Fuji thought wryly.

Fuji had traveled to many kingdoms over the past several years and heard the many garish spouts of propaganda of their magnanimous rulers. Kings, Queens, and their offspring always claimed to be heroic and beautiful, half the time these claims were only partly true and the other half of the time neither claim was true. In fact, most of the people in power he had encountered had been fat, lazy, disillusioned, and overall unfortunate. This time however, the prince seemed to match the claims. The boy was handsome, if vertically challenged, and brave that much Fuji could attest to. The rumors seemed to match the man, at least they appeared to for the moment. There was something familiar about the young prince, something in the way his eyes had challenged Fuji earlier reminded him of his old teacher. They were certainly just as stubborn as one another.

Fuji chuckled softly to himself, catching Ryoma's attention.

"Is something the matter?" asked the prince looking down at the newest addition to his escort.

"Not quite. You just remind me of someone I know," replied the warlock.

"Really? Who?" Ryoma asked in earnest, his curiosity was peaked. The sincerity in his manor took Fuji off his guard for a moment. It had been a long time since Fuji met anyone who had shown a genuine interest in Fuji himself and not how the warlock's power could be made their own. However, something about the curious little tilt to the boy's head and Prince Ryoma's almost comically serious expression betrayed the overly eager curiosity in his eyes seemed to loosen Fuji's tongue.

"An old acquaintance and friend, my teacher. The one who taught me magic," replied Fuji, his hands idly making their way up to the tiny golden sparrow that now hung around his neck, "And the one who gave this locket."

"I thought you had to be born with magic?" inquired Ryoma glancing at the small glistening bird.

"Oh, you do and some are born with more than others, but you still need to learn to control it," Fuji explained, "It can take a lifetime to master. There is always more to learn, but usually it takes a decade give or take a couple years to be able to exert your complete will over it. Especially with complex spells, magic can be… fickle."

"How long did it take you?" Ryoma's interest was clearly peaked, and the prince tried and failed to subdue his excitement about the subject. Many people in his country feared and hated magic, but Ryoma was fascinated with it.

"Around five years," replied Fuji nonchalantly.

"Five years! What are you some kind of smart ass prodigy or something?" Momo interjected.

"Or something," replied Fuji grinning sarcastically.

Momo scowled, "Or a liar."

"Where did you study?" Ryoma quickly tried to redirect the conversation back to the subject at hand. He had so many more questions.

"In Sumire to the South," replied Fuji ignoring Momo, who was now making faces at the warlock.

"AH HA! I knew you were suspicious! You said you came from the north, from the ice plains," Momo said triumphantly.

"I trained as a boy many years ago, since my teacher passed… I've done a lot of traveling," replied Fuji turning away.

Ryoma gave Momo a reproachful glare. His friend always spoke what was on his mind, which made him someone Ryoma could always rely on to keep himself from getting to self-absorbed, but Momo could be insensitive at times and was generally terrible at reading the mood. Though in this instance, Momo at least had the conscious to look slightly sympathetic.

"There's no reason to look so forlorn, he was an old man when he passed. He was good man though, he took me and siblings in when we were just children," Fuji supplied with reserve before reverting back to his usual air of indifference.

Ryoma gave up on learning anything more from the warlock at the moment and would not push the man into remembering painful memories, despite his casual demeanor about the whole exchange. He gave Momo another aggravated stare, just when he and Fuji had begun to strike up a banter his knight had to open his big, very loud mouth. Momo pouted and ignored him and the company fell into an awkward lull in conversation.

The odd party carried on in silence for another hour till they finally came to the edge of the woods. The sun was hanging low in the sky and cast a golden red glow over the fields of wheat that spread forward for miles.

Tall and strong stalks. Not at all like Ryoma had seen only a few hours ride away. Close, too close, thought Roma with a grimace.

Fuji noticed the young prince tense up, "Do you not find your home capital an appealing sight?"

"What? Oh no… I had other things on my mind," replied Ryoma with a start, "I have nothing but fondness for my home. Especially at this time of day, I truly believe our capital to be one of the most beautiful places on all of the continent."

Ryoma looked past the golden fields that had first captured his attention to the glistening city beyond. The Capital of the Sun, Ryoma's home and birthplace. It sat upon a tall mountain of white rock, spiraling upward, naturally curving and bending around the mountain, shining in the evening sun. The white stone absorbed the light from the sunset and made it its own, giving the city a soft warm glow. This is how the capital had found its name, after the way it mimicked the very sun itself. The mountain had once been a volcano, but it had been dormant for hundreds of years. Yet, whose history had made the land around it fertile, creating one of the richest and most bountiful agricultural centers of the entire middle realm. It had also left a plethora of raw ore, which had fed Seigaku's industry and army. Ryoma was proud of his country, and couldn't think of another place more suitable to oversee it than from the Taiyou Palace itself. The castle sat at the mountains peak, carved out of they vary same stone as the mountain itself. The glistening crowning jewel, which hovered proudly above the rest of the capital.

Ryoma breathed in a deep, his chest swelling with pride for his home, and made a new vow to himself, he would not let the outer rim crop's disease and famine reach the heart of the capital. This was a special place not only to him but thousands of Seigaku's people as well and that could not be tainted or taken from them. Ryoma would keep it that healthy and safe. He lightly nudged his horse's sides and rode forward, taking the lead toward the glistening city. At last, he was finally home.

The horses slowly waded through the tall golden fields of wheat and grasses, gently brushing aside the thick strands along the path. Light rippled across the field in waves, as if the sun was running alongside them. Soon, they arrived at the large intricate jade gate that lay in the towering walls surrounding the lower level of the citadel.

"It is a very impressive entrance," observed Fuji glancing upward at the great gateway, "The stone comes from down south does it not?"

"It was a gift from my mother's father for my parents wedding," replied Ryoma as he signaled a guard to open the gate.

"The King of Sumire was always known for his extravagant gifts," chuckled Fuji.

"The King of Sumire was 'aaallwaaays' known for his extravagant gifts," Momo mimicked Fuji's words, poorly reenacting a snotty version of the man's voice.

Ryoma sighed under his breath. Momo was really being difficult today. He was not usually so cold to strangers, that was Ryoma's job. The prince would have to find out what was going on with his friend, but that would have to wait. Although it troubled him, Ryoma could not understand where Momoshiro's hostility was coming from. Perhaps it was the magic? But no Momo had several friends who practiced the art, and he had never shown any aggression to the court sorcerers before. The young man's brow furrowed at his friend.

"Do not worry about it. It has been a long day, I am sure we are all exhausted," Fuji replied, gesturing with his hand as if to wave away any ill feeling, "It wasn't a very good impression anyway, too much emphasis on the a's."

Momo scowled. Fuji smirked. Ryoma sighed. And Tezuka ignored. It was becoming almost tradition.

As they passed through the gate and into the main square and entrance to the city, the sound of horse hooves on pavement coming toward them quickly shifted to party's attention.

"Hello, my young prince!" a pompous voice called out, "How convenient! I've just arrived as ambassador from the western mountains of Hyotei! We used to play as children, of course you remember me."

Ryoma grimaced, his expression briefly turning sour, but was quickly to assume a more diplomatic expression as their hailers approached.

"Of course lord Atobe," Ryoma replied, forcing a smile as he turned toward the silver haired noble but, "How could I forget, you?"

They had not, in fact, played together as children. Rather they had met once at a ball once, and indeed Ryoma doubted he would ever forget the sole source of his exasperation for that evening.

"Indeed, we should ride up toward the castle together, it shall show the good people of this place the close relations between our people and set the building blocks for my reputation here," Atobe stated more as command than a suggestion, "Kabaji!"

Ryoma barely had time to grimace at the mention of his capital as "this place" before Atobe had turned away once again.

Atobe snapped his fingers and as if by magic, large gorilla like man appeared suddenly. A large gorilla, dressed in a ridiculously tight, brightly colored uniform. The bizarre sight was completed with shining point tipped helmet that covered the massive man's thick head and spiky black hair. With a grunt he shuffled forward carrying a large flag with the picture of a rose, fluttering flamboyantly in the breeze.

"This is my flag boy, Kabaji, and my body guard, not that someone as fabulous as I, needs protection. I can handle myself I assure you and plus, who would ever want to hurt a face like this," Atobe continued in a flippant manner, laughing at his own words as he tossed his hair out of his face, "Well anyway, forward march." Atobe struck a heroic pose and winked at several giggling girls as they passed by, "They just can't help themselves."

Ryoma let out an exasperated sigh as the ever growing party continued to climb the streets of the mountain city. Inevitably, Atobe's banter carried on and on, something about his wealth and prestige back home. Suddenly the prince felt a little jolt of warmth against his leg, he had not realized how steeply the temperature had dropped before the contact.

"Why are the people of your country so festive when there is a famine at your doorstep?" Fuji inquired confidently leaning close to Ryoma's side.

"The Harvest Festival is coming soon, Seigaku's most important holiday. It brings hope to the people that we will prevail through our times of hardship, as we have done in the past," the prince replied. He paused and watched his warm breath drifting up in a little white cloud toward the darkening sky. The last light from the setting sun finally disappeared behind the horizon and the dark roads became pitch black as they wound up the curved paths of the city. The clapping hooves clattered through the now quiet streets of the upper districts. It would all make Ryoma feel very alone, except for the warmth pressing against his thigh.

Eventually, they reached the entrance to the palace courtyard, after what seemed to be eons to Ryoma. He was anxious to report his findings to his father.

"Welcome home Prince Ryoma," the guards the entrance said in practiced unison, bowing their heads, then turned to nod at to two muscular servants who began to open the heavy wooden doors. As they entered the great marble courtyard, several servants ran up and began swiftly unsaddling the horses as Ryoma and the others dismounted. A young girl with the castle staff approached them curtsying deeply she addressed the prince.

"Your highness," she inquired glancing briefly in Fuji and Atobe's direction, "Shall I have rooms in the castle prepared for your guests or perhaps arranged down at the Flying Dragon?"

"Ah yes, the castle is fine. I assume arrangements have already been made for the Hyoid dignitary. Please also prepare one of the rooms on the fifth floor for my other companion," Ryoma motioning fluidly to Fuji.

"Yes m'lord," she replied glancing curiously in the willowy boy's direction, evaluating him from head to toe.

"Is there something special about my accommodations that I should know about?" Fuji inquired after the girl had left, "The girl was giving me an odd look."

"It is nothing important. The fifth floor is generally reserved for visiting nobility and dignitaries, since it is in the same wing as my family's quarters. They are our nicest rooms, with gaudy names, no one is currently staying in any of them at the moment so it is no trouble. She was probably just wondering what royal family you are from so she can gossip with the rest of the staff," Ryoma smirked.

"But it is still not a place for random commoners," Momo interjected.

"Momo, you have stayed in those rooms before might I remind you," Ryoma moved to his friends side and continued in confidence, "Would it hurt you so to be a little more civil? The warlock has helped us greatly and is a guest here in Seigaku. I only thought it would be polite to offer him the best we have to offer, he saved our lives earlier today or do I have to remind you again."

"He's a snake, I'm sure of it," Momoshiro replied sparing a glare toward the indifferent sorcerer.

"And what makes you so sure," Ryoma snapped, exhaustion and irritation with the knight's behavior finally getting the better of him.

"He gives me the creeps," Momo replied gruffly.

"Well, creeps or no we are about to address the king and queen now and I will have no more of your dishonorable conduct!" Ryoma replied shortly.

"But Ryo- your Highness, if he means you harm," Momo continued, "I just don't think it wise to put him on the same floor as your chambers."

"Momo, thank you for being concerned about my safety," Ryoma's tone softened slightly, "But I can't explain it but I don't feel any ill will from him. I trust him, I wish you would as well… and if not at least trust me."

Momo stared at his prince with a helplessly conflicted expression, finally bowing his head.

"Very well… Your Highness."

"Now that's settled," Ryoma continued, turning away from Momo, "We have to report our findings to my father."