So Ike and Soren will finally get on the move in this chapter. Again, just worried about my pacing, I seem to go either too fast or too slow in my eyes.

Chapter 7

"Are you sure I can't convince you to stay longer?" Selyne was leaning against her counter, her chin propped up in her hands. Ike and Soren were ready to leave, Soren's new books tucked away along with Selyne's map and another one they had found in the library desk in a new bag.

The rain had ceased, and it was time to go. "I can't see myself staying in one place," Ike admitted. He was feeling a new energy, almost a restless one, to get moving and training.

"That's too bad." Selyne sighed. "But wait, hold on." She slipped from behind the counter and into the kitchen. She returned a moment later with a bundle. Ike started to refuse, but she shook her head. "I know you can get foodstuffs at the port, but go on, take it."

Ike thanked her again. She brushed off his thanks and playfully shooed them to the door.

Soren did not speak until they were well away from the three story inn. "She's quite the businesswoman."

"What do you mean?'

"She knows how to keep someone coming back. It's a tactic women employ. You have not noticed?" Ike shook his head. Soren frowned a little as he looked for the right way to word it.

"She's always touching people, making eye contact, trying to make them feel special so they'll stay longer, or perhaps so she can get a better trade or deal"

"You thought about this a lot, haven't you?"

It was Soren's turn to shake his head. "It was easy to see. Maybe because I'm used to watching people... Men do it as well, but differently. Complimenting women, giving them samples, letting them try on jewels."

"It looks like you need a job in a market."

Soren frowned. He knew Ike was joking, but he was not happy with the mere thought of a marketplace job. "I did also notice Lena," he said with hopes of changing the subject. "She's rather protective of Selyne."

"That I noticed. She likes to get between Selyne and other people."

The roads underfoot were soggy, but the two companions did not pay it any mind as they walked and talked. There was a lack of travelers on the road, perhaps due to the effects of the weather. The fauna did not mind. A young doe drank from a puddle until they drew close enough to her to frighten her.

They came across few homes. The burnt remains of a cabin, still smoking, was the first sign they saw of more people. "Must have gotten struck during the storms," Soren commented.

Ike nodded in agreement and hoped if anyone lived there, they managed to get out.

The walk had been so quiet that the sudden sound of horses almost startled them. Ike looked to Soren who shrugged. Six riders rounded the corner. Ike instinctively reached for Ragnell.

"You there! What business do you have here?"

The rider in front scowled at them. His messy blue hair fell over one eye. His hand had also gone to his sword's hilt.

"Just passing through," Ike told him.

The one visible blue eye narrowed. "Where are you from? I do not recognize your accent."

Ike chose his words carefully. "We traveled from another continent. One that has been fighting constantly for years. We grew tired of it and looked for somewhere peaceful." It was not fully a lie, but it was not the entire truth, either.

The other man sighed and said, "You're not likely to find it here. Thieves have always been bad in these woods, and the pirates are growing worse." He released his grip on his blade, then slid from his horse.

"Sire!" one of the other mounted knights called.

He ignored the knight and walked over to Ike and Soren. He studied them for a moment, then held out his hand. Ike clasped it. "Erian."

"Ike. And this is Soren. Nice to meet you, Erian."

"Prince Erian," the knight corrected. He, too, slid from his horse and strode over to Erian, Ike, and Soren. "Your Grace, you had no right to - "

Erian laughed. "Relax, Felix. They are clearly not brigands. No brigand would choose to hide in such plain sight." To Ike and Soren, he added, "My guards and I have been increasing patrol lately. My brothers and I take our duties seriously. It is our place to protect our grandfather's legacy."

He inclined his head and asked, "Though since you are clearly no thief, where did you come across such a weapon?"

"It was given to me by our empress," Ike replied. He had felt badly about not returning it to Sanaki, but there were other things that had taken over her attention. He would return it to her. Someday.

Erian nodded. "I see. You certainly look like you could assist us."

Ike held up his hands and took a step back. "I'm trying to stay away from conflict."

Again, the prince laughed. "You will not be able to do that here, I'm afraid. At least accompany us a little way? Did you have any idea where you were going?"

"Yes and no. We have two maps, but we just vaguely planned on going west."

"Don't."

"Why not?"

The young prince gestured towards the west. "We returned from there not even a week ago. If you want to avoid conflict, that is not the way to go. Trust me."

"And why should we trust you?"

Erian looked surprised that Soren spoke up. Felix bristled and stepped towards Soren, but he was stopped by his prince. "You have no reason to, I know less of you than you do of me. But trust me, you will find nothing but strife that way."

Ike was used to trusting people, but having the level of trust granted to him that Erian, a prince no less, was giving confused him. "Why do you want to help us?"

Erian shrugged. "I suppose I find it easy to trust you. If you meant to rob us, or worse, you would have run me through as soon as I drew close to you."

"That's a hard way to find out if you can trust someone," Felix muttered. Soren silently agreed.

"Besides, you do not know the land. I would feel badly that you got lost or worse on my watch."

Great, Soren thought. He wants to take us under his wing. Or he's trying to coerce Ike into helping him in thanks for him helping us.

Erian started back to his horse and other knights. He turned back and started to speak, but one of the other mounted knights spoke up. "Your Grace, there's something in the woods." He took up his bow, drew an arrow, and notched it.

The knights and prince drew their weapons. Ike followed suit. Even Soren held fast to his tome.

"Why if it isn't the littlest princeling!" The man who stepped from the trees was tall and stringy, with lank dark hair and dark brown attire. He almost appeared to blend into the forest. "I owe you a favor, you know that? You took out some of my men back there."

"You're outmatched, Arlis. Outmatched and outnumbered."

"Am I?"

There was rustling on each side of the road. No less than a dozen men slipped out of various hiding places. "I don't have the fancy palace learning you do, but I think we have more." He cried out in anger as one of his men, too eager by the looks of it, tossed a hand axe near Erian. Erian avoided it and went after Arlis. Arlis thrust a dagger near the prince's face.

A blast of Elwind knocked him, and a few of his nearby men, off their feet. Ike turned and blocked a clumsy strike from a young man. He was down with one hit. Are they all untrained? Ike wondered. Another charged at him with an axe, but he was taken out by an arrow through the throat.

One knight had dismounted and joined Felix on foot. The others stayed on their horses and took to the group of thieves behind them.

Though several thieves were killed in the clash, many dropped their weapons and ran. Arlis himself fled, clutching a wound to his side and cursing under his breath.

"Shall we catch them?"

"No, Caspian," Erian said as he shook his hair from his face. "Let them flee. We need to report to our superiors." To Ike and Soren, he gave his thanks, and added, "It looks like you're coming with us after all, you were witnesses to the attack."

As Ike and Soren followed, Soren muttered what Ike was thinking. "Why do the royals always seem to find us?"