The little traveling troupe completed Sir Sky's goal easily that first day, getting fifteen miles shaved off of the total distance. In a clearing in the dense that was one of Marin's many forests, the little group made their camp.
The horses were tethered to various branches of trees that outlined the camping spot, munching on the forest floor. Jack and Bridge gathered dry twigs and leaves for a fire. While the men wearing red and green, respectively, were away, Sir Sky, Z and Princess Sydney set up the rest of camp. Sky found a babbling brook just beyond the horses' trees and made it a point to refill everyone's drinking canteens. The lady-in-waiting and the princess took care of the beds, rolling out pieces of sheep fur and then woolen blankets, three blankets for each member of the party in their preferred colors.
When the fire was started and the stew that was to be supper had been served in the crude wooden bowls, the five gathered in a circle around the source of warmth. Jack told a few ghost stories as the sun set, looking over the lands of Marin with a soothing orange glow. Sir Sky scoffed at the legends his squire fed to the three others.
"You're full of rubbish, absolute rubbish."
Bridge, meanwhile, cut off a slice of bread, speared it on a stick, and carefully used the fire to toast it. Lady Z laughed beside him.
"You are unorthodox, but amusingly so," she told him with a tiny grin. Bridge smiled at his yellow companion. Then he stretched his arms over his head and yawned loudly.
"I am in need of sleep," he announced. "Good night, everyone."
The red squire and the yellow lady-in-waiting followed suit not long after the green-favoring court jester headed off to his pile of blankets. This left Princess Sydney and her blue bodyguard alone.
"Earlier today you said not everyone would be able to go home at the end of this journey," Sir Sky began, sounding uneasy.
"Yes, I did," the princess of Marin curtly replied. "What about it?"
"I am apologizing for being so insensitive towards your feelings. It cannot be easy to be forced to leave your home, country and entire way of life behind and marry a perfect stranger. Would you please accept my apology, Princess Sydney?"
"My name is Syd, if you do not mind," the princess corrected gently. "Yes, I suppose I can forgive you, Sir."
"Just Sky, as you are just 'Syd,'" he said. "And I think it is admirable how you so willingly give up your freedom. The country is right; you are with courage most definitely."
Princess Syd laughed. Outright. "I am not brave. It is just what is required, merely a part of being royal. It is not like I am madly in love with the emperor. If I did not agree to wed Gruumm, I would be forced to watch the people of my country suffer as the Troobian armies conquered our lands. You and your young squire Jack would most likely die, and then my parents would be brought before Gruumm and executed. This way, the way of marrying him, I am the only one who will suffer, not thousands."
He stared at her for a moment, locking his blue gaze with hers. "That is selfless of you Princess. If that is not true bravery, I do not know what is."
"Allow me three guesses, and the first two do not count. Did you think I was a selfish spoiled brat, with all my fancy clothing and my parents granting my every wish? It is acceptable if you did; most of Marin does. I do as my parents ask of me, as I was taught to. Now everyone has told me I am brave for marrying that brute in Troobia, but I am not. It is what my father asked of me, what else could I do? I have been given every opportunity in our world, why would I spit on that and refuse to marry?"
Sir Sky blinked; he'd had no idea the princess viewed the world the way she obviously did, given the intensity and profoundness of her previous statement. She loved her people, that had always been clear the way she smiled upon them when King Carter had an announcement to make and she and her mother stood beside him. Sydney always took the time to really listen to the commoners' problems the few times he had sat in on court. She had truly picked up on how to be diplomatic from the king and queen, as long as an excellent set of values.
"Sir?"
Sky shook his head slightly to clear his mind. "Well, perhaps you think it is not bravery that you employ, but I think it is. Good night, Princess Sydney."
"How many times must I ask you to call me Syd?"
"At least one more, Sydney."
Sir Sky rose from the forest floor, brushed the dirt off of his linen pants, and made his way to the blue blankets that served as his bedding.
The princess watched after her bodyguard for a moment as he made himself comfortable. Sky was so carefully methodical with the way he did everything, it was rather endearing. She did not think as herself as being particularly courageous, but he did. That had to count for something, she considered. She retired to her pile of pale pink coverlets and soon fell into a dream of handsome knights with blue eyes.
When the party of five travelers woke the next morning, the sun was rising in the eastern sky, casting a bright orange spot over the kingdom. On Syd's left, Lady Elizabeth was being awoken by the court jester. "Come on, Z," he pleaded. "It's time to get up."
Lady Elizabeth rolled over underneath the yellow covers. Sydney giggled, much to Bridge's unhappiness. "It is not funny, your Highness," he told her. "Sir Sky's gone to the book again and said if she was not awake when he returned there would be trouble for the lady."
The princess squatted down next to the lady-in-waiting. "There is to be no sausage left if you do not hurry, Z," Syd whispered near her friend's ear. Lady Elizabeth sat bolt upright. "I'll be ready for breakfast in two minutes," she promised. On the other side of the campfire Jack burst into laughter.
"We're to have porridge on this morning, the knight says. No sausage, though I beg your forgiveness, Lady," Jack cackled.
Sir Sky became visible about fifty yards or so away. He was carrying in his arms five canteens, one for each, all color coded. "What is so funny, Jack?" he wanted to know.
"Never mind, Sky," came Princess Syd's reply. "Let us eat our breakfast."
The horses were led back to the worn dirt traveling path and mounted once more, with Jack in the lead and Bridge following, Sir Sky and the princess bringing up the rear.
"It is a lovely place, this forest, is it not?" the princess softly inquired. "I have always enjoyed forests, they're cozy. And if you look closely, you can almost always spot a family of woodland creatures. For instance," she continued, pointing to her right, "See that family of deer?"
Sir Sky followed the direction with his eyes. Standing partially hidden among the shadows and pines of the forest was a mother doe and her twin yearlings. He noticed the Princess looked upon them with a beautiful smile on her face.
It struck him that had he been on an expedition for the Knights of the House of Grayson, he probably would not have noticed the little deer peering shyly at the party. But as he was riding along with the princess as her bodyguard, he had, thanks to her. Sky smiled as an idea came to him. Reaching behind him to the saddle bags, he took out one of the loaves of bread, tore off three chunks, and tossed them gently in the direction of the deer.
"That was kind," Sydney observed. She smiled at him.