Poor Ike, seems he can never give up the sword. It's just in his blood.
"What have we gotten into, Soren?"
"What we didn't want to."
Ike and Soren stood aside as Oisin gathered his troops. A small force would be left behind to guard the keep, but many would leave with the princes. Ike shook his hair out of his face and sighed. A part of him wanted to help, but another part wanted to punch himself in the face.
"Does it at least make you feel at home?"
Ike shook his head. To feel completely at home, he would have his troops. He knew none of these people, except from the conversations he had shared with three of them.
Soren was also fuming on the inside. Instead of keeping Ike away from the rut he had fallen in, Soren had just pushed him into it. Though he had no way of knowing the young prince and his men, and his oldest brother, would be on the route they had decided upon. He was almost sure that if Ike picked up his sword against a band of pirates, he would never put it down.
Was that the best choice for him? It was his whole life, after all. It was all he knew. And Soren just could not see Ike settling down as a family man.
His sigh blew a strand of hair out of his face.
"Think Selyne will be surprised to see us so soon?"
"More than surprised," Soren replied. She would be very pleased. He watched two young mne struggle with a wily horse that refused to be saddled. "Want to bet that one belongs to the older prince?"
"I'll take that bet."
"You would be right," Erian said as he joined them. "That horse only responses to Oisin. It's kind of funny watching others try to saddle him up." His tone went from lighthearted to serious. "He says we'll be ready within the hour. Is there anything you two need to do before then?"
Ike shook his head. He would have liked a word with the elder prince, but he knew he would not get it. "Can we do anything to help?"
"Oisin has it all under control. Like he always does."
"What is your issue with your brother?"
Erian sighed. "That would take longer than the hour he plans to give us." To Ike, he added, "It looks like you and I will be sticking together. My brother has taken you at your word. I'm sorry I got you into this."
Ike's laugh was a little forced. "I feel like I got myself into this, try as I might to stay away from fighting. I guess I can't avoid it like I want."
Erian frowned. "I will do what I can to make it up to you after this skirmish is over." A voice called for him from across the yard. He sighed and excused himself.
Soren and Ike did not resume their conversation after he left. Enough had been said between them. They observed and waited for Erian's return. He was mounted and offered the two of them their own horses. Ike politely declined and Soren shook his head. Erian fell near the middle of the ranks, wanting to stay away from Oisin.
Instead of going back the way they had come, Oisin took them another way. They marched away from the south and to the coast.
"A smart move," Soren remarked. "Sure, going the way we came would be faster, but it would leave us entering wholly blind. If we go along the coast, it will be slower, but we could keep an eye on the waters."
Erian looked pleased. "Very clever! I want to get there as fast as I can, but it is the right way to approach. These are my people, too, and I won't let anything happen to them."
"Tell me something, Erian. You said it is your duty to protect your grandfather's legacy. How so?"
Erian weighed his words. "It has only been fifty-three years since the continent was reunited. There had been several attempts before my grandfather, but all had failed within a decade. My family has always had a lordship over Espira, the furthest northern city. He began by uniting the island territories. After that, it was a struggle. The islands were pleased to work with us, as they had longed to trade with the continent itself. They are small and often overlooked."
"Where are we now?"
"Ardena. I thought you had a map?"
"Most of the print is illegible on one. The other is newer, but they look different."
Erian nodded. "Let me see them when we make camp."
"What of the rest of your family?"
"I have four brothers, including Oisin. Normally Oisin, as my father's heir, stays in the palace, but he seems to have put it upon himself to come solve this conflict. I can't imagine why, unless he seeks glory. His wife is with child, you think he would be at her side."
Soren listened to the conversation as he observed their surroundings. Erian seemed too open, too eager to speak. But he was also trusting, so it made sense for him to be open. Except about his brothers. That was clearly a sore spot for him.
"Prince Erian, how are you fairing?" Caspian had turned his horse and trotted back to them.
"I would feel better leading our men myself."
Caspian smiled and shook his head. "No one doubts you, but Oisin outranks us all. Your father does not want any bloodshed, Oisin will see to it."
"Of course he will." Erian muttered. "Can he do no wrong?"
"I was wondering that myself," Soren said. "It seems all of you put your full trust him in."
Caspian chuckled. "I can assure you Prince Oisin has made his fair share of missteps. But he will be our king one day. We have to believe in him, do we not?"
Erian could not help himself. He had to smirk. "I thought I would like you," he said to Soren. "Caspian, how much further to the fishing village?"
"Not long," Caspian said and ended with a sigh. "About three more miles. Do you expect to find anything there?"
"I expect to stop there. Unless my brother chooses to march on."
"Perhaps we will stop for a time. If there is anyone to talk to, they may have seen something."
"What about the islands?" Ike asked suddenly. "You said they were often overlooked, but what if they've noticed something? Or are under attack?"
Caspian and Erian looked at each other. "Let me ask His Grace." Caspian led his horse towards the front of the line. Erian watched him leave and sighed.
He fell into a sullen silence as they marched. The army snaked along the coast, going at a moderate speed. The only things they saw in the waters were birds, fish, and one leaping dolphin. It was a little ominous to not see even a small fishing ship.
As the front of the line approached the fishing village, it appeared empty. Prince Oisin and his retainers trotted towards the village. All windows were shuttered and no animals roamed the streets. From where Ike, Soren, and Erian were, they could hear Oisin shout. At first there was nothing. Then a shutter on an upper story creaked open and a young woman stuck her head out.