King Raehart is Dead. (IC Still Accepting)

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intro

"King Raehart is dead." The announcement rang loudly in the courtyard. Hundreds of gasps were followed by absolute silence. A baby began to cry, its newborn hiccups seeming like a lion's roar in the quiet.
"It is believed he was poisoned by the Argulans." At the last word, the gasps were followed by angry shouts and sudden commenting from the entire congregation. Argulan was the long-time rival of Mindain, the green country King Raehart had reigned over for thirty years. Now a long-harbored rage began to seep back into the open. The two countries had been at peace for three years, but as the common gossipers of Mindain guessed, it didn't last long.
"War may very well be upon us," the steward of the castle continued. His clear voice carried easily from the balcony where the lord of Mindain usually gave his speeches. "Prince Robert, the late king's only son, will take his place upon the throne. The prince's coronation will take place in the courtyard, tomorrow at dawn. In the meantime, prepare your young men to come to the castle and train for war within ten days. Those who do not come will be gathered by force by the king's men. We do not know for certain what the days ahead may bring, but everyone should prepare themselves, emotionally and physically, for war."

Prince Robert, now King Robert, stroked his beard (though his jaw was mostly bare in his youthfulness), his eyes staring into space as he pondered the news. A messenger from the king of Argulan arrived that afternoon, bearing deepest sympathies and gifts for the new king. Robert had to re-focus his eyes as they burned at the thought of the loss of his father. An anger burned inside him, now mingled with confusion. The king of Argulan, had he ordered the assassination, would only do so if wanting to declare a war. But here he sends condolences? The poison in the king's drink was that of Argulan origin. (The king's food tasters had already been put in prison and questioned.) Surely it was just a jump-start diversion to throw the city of Mindain into confusion and then besiege the city when they hardly expected it.
He looked with disgust at the messenger who now stood uncertainly before him. The king's disposition was not one of pleasantness.
"Send him away," he said with a trivial wave of his hand.
"But-" the messenger started, before cowering from the glare that came from the throne. He continued more cautiously, "No word for the king of Argulan, sire?"
"No word," he replied slowly. He waved his hand again and two of the king's guards escorted the messenger out of the room, then out of the city.
"What do you think, my lord?" one of the king's advisers ventured to ask when the messenger had gone.
"I think it is a trap, to make us lower our guard so they can attack the city with better chances."
"What then do you propose to do, my lord?"
"I say we attack first."

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"Eric," King Robert summoned his steward. "Eric! Get over here!" A young man, little younger than the king himself, came scurrying to the large table near the throne, where maps, reports and numbers lay sprawled in a reasonably large mess. Eric's own mess of light brown hair, unkempt from hours of running on errands for the king, straggled in his eyes despite his many attempts to clear his face. His breaths coming somewhat ragged as he came to attention, the king remembered that his steward was just a young man, not a non-stop mill.
"I'm sorry, Eric, sit down," he said, motioning for his friend to sit in his own seat. Though now his steward, Robert and Eric had grown up together and were actually close friends. But when made king, Eric insisted he order him around just like his father used to. Within a few days of heavy work, Robert had grown quite accustomed to ordering him to do this and that. Only when he remembered that it was his dear friend he wore down did he begin to feel bad.
"Please, remind me next time you're not a shire horse," Robert said as he turned back to the table.
"Never, my lord. Have you forgotten? I am a shire horse." Robert looked back to see an exhausted grin on Eric's face.
"That was four years ago. And stop calling me 'my lord', Eric. It's Robert."
"Well, my lord, can I not serve my king with dignity?"
"Alright, fine. You shall never call me Robert again, only 'my lord', 'sire', or 'sir'."
"Okay, Robert."
"That's more like it," Robert smiled, satisfied. "Now, by these numbers I would estimate that half of Mindain's young men have arrived and been registered in the army. By the end of the week we should be all filled up. And then that combined with the barons' committed armed forces, we should have more than enough fighting men. That is, after they're trained to an average level. And, of course, we have our reserved forces. How is the siege machinery coming?"
"Well, should have it all done by early next week." Eric's face grew solemn and he said, "The people are angry, Robert. While that is good for motivation, I'm not sure that is good for our people themselves."
Robert looked at his friend, a frown creasing his brow. "Don't you know I'm angry? They killed my father. They killed our king. What's so wrong with a little extra vigor for war?"
Eric said nothing, but Robert could see doubt in his eyes. But why? What's to doubt?
"Here, take this to Palled," Robert handed him a scroll and turned back to his business. Eric looked at his embittered friend, wondering if he would remain the Robert he knew or if vengeance would take over, and then he walked silently away.

Nicholas walked through the streets. His bow on his back, his sword by his side, a dagger in his belt and another in his booth. He was a somewhat hansom looking man, the women often flirted with him, but he never took the bait, he was always by himself...although the eyes of every woman followed him as he would walk down the streets. The news of the king's sudden death had struck Nicholas with anger, How could they dare to do such a thing? After three years of peace...this is how they respond to our kindness, Nicholas thought.

Nicholas was a scout for the Mindain army, and he was a well experienced one as he had been a former hunter and woods man he a had good sense of how to track his prey down, and he knew well how to use the environment to hide ones presence. Nicholas wasn't just a scout, who ran ahead of the army and found the easiest way through the forests and fields, but he was also a spy, and before the three year long truce he served as a counter intelligence for the Mindain king, providing with good information about what the Argulanians were doing, and sometime he would do occasional assassinations on middle ranked soldiers, though he had never dared to come anywhere near the feared knight, Valdimir van Strath, or as they called him: "The Destroyer". No assassin had ever had the chance of getting anywhere near the massive knight.

Nicholas wanted to be one of the first men who entered the army, so he had forced himself out of his bed early in the morning, and had traveled from his house, which was in the middle of the forest, due to personal reasons, and came to the city so he could tell his new king that he would serve him just as well as he had served his farther.

Nicholas arrived at the castle where king Robert lived and reigned. "Well...I know what they say, first impression has to be good if you want to be on someone's good side," Nicholas said, talking to himself...again. Nicholas then lined up so he could be registered for the army.

"Alright lad, your name, and what do you think you'll serve best as?" the soldier asked when it was Nicholas' turn.
"Nicholas Anderson, former scout and spy of the Mindain army. Also, i request that I get an audience with the king...I need to swear my loyalty to him like I did with his farther," Nicholas replied and the soldier looked at him, but motioned him to go ahead. Nicholas was well known amongst the common soldiers, but he had his strongest doubts that the nobles knew that he existed, besides, the nobles rarely sat with their soldiers and played card and dice games before and after battles.

"Alright, I will inform the king that you want to swear your loyalty to him, but if he refuses...well, sorry mate, but I can't really do much else than that, aye?" the soldier asked and Nicholas nodded, understanding well that he was a lower part of the food chain, but that didn't bother him.

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"You call yourselves for warriors! You are nothing else but whelps, children...No! Even a child has more guts than you will ever get! You're all women! That's what you are!" Valdimir yelled loudly at the new recruits. It was the same speech he was giving to every single new group of recruits, and he had given these ones the same routine to see how pathetic they were. The routine consisted of meeting the recruits in a training area where he would fight them, him against all of them, and since he had a feared reputation, it was a piece of cake to take them all on...and many was now standing with bruisers, bloody noses and hanging onto each other so they wouldn't fall down.

Valdimir was a knight of the Argulan kingdom, and a damn well known one. Being a complete killing machine in the battle field, harsh trainer back in the barracks, but a lovable husband to his wife, who was the only one he allowed to hit him across his face when he misbehaved.

"Well...Does any of you women have anything to say for your defense?" he asked the crowd but none answered, "Thought so...well, let me tell you one thing, and that is, if you can't survive here, you might as well just serve your army as arrow fodder!" he yelled to the men, but they were far too battered to even show fear, but despite their pathetic appearance, not to mention their useless performance against Valdimir, he applauded them.
"You men has deserved a hot meal, and a good bed, for you did one thing that many other knights would have pissed themselves in their pants, and would rather have thrown themselves into bond fires, than having faced me in an open battle, and you did that, not because you were many, but because you can call yourself for men...but you're still fight like women," he quickly added and then dismissed them, telling them they had to report back tomorrow at noon.

"Sir Valdimir-" a messenger called and ran to Valdimir giving him a letter-"This is the latest news from our intelligence."
Valdimir opened the letter and began to read it...he laughed out loud, "This is about time! Three years of boring peace, and finally they declare war against us. I thought I would die old in my own bed if this peace continued!"
Valdimir certainly wasn't a peace lover...far from it. He believed he should die in the heat of a battle, fighting for his king, kingdom, and family. It felt like yesterday that Valdimir was but a young chap, getting his armor on and marching to battle for the first time...ah yes, all those good time he had back then, having to fight from a common soldier up to the rank of a knight...heck, there had been several options for him to have become a baron or a higher ranked noble, but he had turned them all down, why?...he hated politics more than he hated the low life assassins who had tried to take his life during the wars. Politicians lied, cheated, bribed, they were corruptible and back stabbed each other just to get a good image of themselves (or, that was how Valdimir saw the nobles, all save for the king).

"Have a wagon ready for me, I'm going to the capital of Argulan, and telling the king, 'I may be old, but I am ready as hell to fight again,' alright, boy?" Valdimir said to the man, but called him 'boy' due to his smaller size, compared to Valdimir, after all Valdimir was one of the biggest, and physically strongest men that had ever been given birth to in either Argulan or Mindain. Though his massive size did do that he couldn't ride any kind of horses without breaking their backs, so he served a foot-knight for the king, wielding a heavy warhammer, for the most, and was armored with a thick armor made of many different pieces struck together, and on the plate there were written text about how a 'true' warrior should live and die. Valdimir's personal code for how to fight in the battle fields.

Having the wagon ready, his gear assembled and the captain put in charge of continuing the training and drilling of the soldiers, Valdimir was off to tell his king he would serve once again. Little did he know of why the Mindain's had declared war...but he would soon find out when he arrived at the capital.

"My lord," Eric said with a smirk. "The messenger outside reported to me that a Nicholas Anderson wishes to have an audience with you. He says he must swear to you his allegiance in person, as he did for your father."
Robert's brow furrowed at Eric's words. "Nicholas Anderson... the name is familiar. Do you know who he is?"
"Indeed, I do." A curious grin broke out on Eric's face. "You trust me as your friend, don't you?"
"Of course," Robert said. "What is it?"
"You'd do best to allow him to see you. I've never met him, but my men have told me about him. He used to be a scout and spy for Mindain, and one of the best. Highly respected among the troops."
"Yes," Robert said slowly, deep in thought. "Nicholas Anderson, the spying scout... I've heard about him only a few times, I think from my father... Well, if that is his reputation, send him in, of course."
"Will do. Standard procedure will continue, yes?"
"Of course."
Eric walked outside to give the messenger his orders to have Nicholas Anderson brought before the king.

Nicholas bowed before his new king, showing his respect before the king.
"My king, I would like to swear my loyalty and allegiance to you, and only you.
I swear, upon my life and soul, that I will serve you in whatever path you may chose to take. I will be equally loyal to you as I was to your farther, may he rest in peace. I shall only be relieved from my duty once death claims me, or you, my noble king, releases me from my duty."

Nicholas finished his oath and stood up, he had the usual smile on his lips, and then saluted the king as any other soldier would have done, "What are your orders, my lord?" he asked, the first thing any man, in service, would ask his superior.

Robert smiled at the soldier in front of him. He seemed very honorable indeed, it was done well. But Robert himself was still having trouble getting used to everyone placing himself under him. He had expected it a long time... but as a new king, he was a bit modest.

He stood up from the throne and stepped down to level ground with him, much rather preferring to look straight at him then down at him. He offered his hand to shake, while saying, "Well, Nicholas, I would like you to be a captain in my army. As a scout spy I should expect you prefer a smaller number of men under you than the usual few hundred, yes? What exactly did you do when in my father's army? I know what spies do and I know what scouts do. But a scout spy... that is rather different, isn't it?"

Waiting in line with the commoners who were signing up to join the army Orion couldn’t help but smile as he heard them talk about war. "War! What do they know about war? I bet most of these yellow bellied pigs haven’t even heard the screams of a dying man.” Not realizing he was talking out loud and not thinking what was said he gave the few men that were giving him distasteful stares a harsh stair. “What!” He shouted at them, but instead of saying something back they all turned and faced forward. “That’s what I thought.”

“Daddy you shouldn’t be so mean. You will never make new friends if you aren’t nice.” Said a sweet and innocent voice from beside him.

“Yeah daddy, you need to be nice.” Said another sweet voice.

Staring down to his left he smiled at his two girls. "I’m sorry girls, I’ll try and being nicer.” Kneeing down so he could be at eye level with his girls he smiled as he looked them in their eyes. “You both look so much like her.” Bringing his girls closer to him he gave them a gentle hug.

“Hey move forward! Cant you see the line moved old man?!” Shouted peasants further back in line. “Guards make this old bloat move or leave. Yeah the army is no place for the elderly!” Laughter could be heard from them as they made there jokes.

Walking up to Orion and his girls a seasoned guard looked in awe. Dropping to his knee he bowed to him than stood back up to give a salute. “Sir Orion, what are you doing in line?” He asked half confused and half awed to see he would put up with such peasants without lashing back with some form of harsh word.

Standing from his daughters he gave the guard a salute so he could put his arm down. “I’m waiting for my turn to speak with the register; I want to meet the new king in person and congratulate him and offer my sorrows about his father’s death.”

“You are already a knight though, there is no need for you to have to wait in line with these riffraff. Come follow me inside and I will have a messenger tell the new king you have arrived.” Turning around he took a few steps than looked back. “Please come, and bring your girls!”

Smiling at this sign of respect a small chuckle escaped his lips as he heard peasants whispering about who he was. “As you wish guard.” Grabbing his daughter’s hands he followed the guard into the castle.

“Messenger go tell the King that Sir Orion has arrived and that he would like to see him in person, and make it fast! We don’t want to keep Sir Orion waiting.”

A beautiful figure looked outside the window from her bedroom. She was of nobility and elegance as it can be seen on her gentle features. Her pale cherry hair that would be swayed by the nature's breath gave her the vision of an angel while her deep red eyes showed sadness. The scenery that can be seen with her eyes was the Kingdom of Mindain. It is the kingdom that would be going to war as peace had been shattered with a deafening crime. The said figure left the window as she took a seat before her mirror and looked at the reflection it has shown. It was a young lady of royalty known across the lands as the daughter to the late King Raehart, younger sister to the new King Robert and the Princess of Mindain, Rosaline Gadanric.

Rosaline's sorrow was the result of the passing of her beloved father and the echoing of war that would plague the lands of both kingdoms. She had always loved the three years of peace that had reigned between Mindain and Argulan. There was no death and pain that occurred but one would be a fool to not notice the cold war between the said kingdoms. She had heard the declaration of war that her elder brother had issued to the Kingdom of Argulan. She had feared about this since the death of their father. She knew that Robert would not be lenient to the possible perpetrators to the murder of the King Raehart. In her heart, she knew that war cannot solve anything. It would only cause more strife and suffering for both parties but she knew as well that she would stay beside her brother always.

The princess stood from her seat and with his flowing white gown that was made only for her, she left her private chambers accompanied by her handmaidens as it was protocol. She had never liked being followed in every place that she would go and to be observed in everything she do. But that is what it meant to be royalty. She decided to talk to her brother about the trouble that had been plaguing both her mind and heart. She wanted to be at ease with all the turmoil and since it had been just a few moons that had passed since their father's death. She is still shocked about it and the grief still clanged to her.

“Peace is such an illusion…” Rosaline said ever so softly to herself.

Before Nicholas could answer, a messenger knocked and entered, quickly whispering to Eric who stood by the door something. As Robert and Nicholas watched, Eric hurriedly came down the corridor and said to Robert, "Sir Orion awaits you, my lord. He, too, seeks an audience with the new king." He gave a little bit of a smirk and Robert raised an eyebrow.

"Very well, I will see him when I am finished with Nicholas here. Have them bring him up and you keep him company, Eric, until we are done."

"Yes, sire," he answered as he went back to command the messenger. Robert looked after him with a frown. He was still calling him sire and my lord. Robert knew it was more for his image in front of others, but he much more preferred to be called Robert.

“Sir Orion the King has permitted you to speak with him, if you would follow me.”

Following the messenger with daughters in hand they reached the large doors they lead into the thrown room. “Thank you messenger.” Letting the man open the door for him he walked in with his girls.

“The King is speaking with a man name Nicholas at this time Sir Orion. If you would be so kind to wait he will gladly speak with you when he is done.” Said the messenger. “Is there anything I can get you or your girls?”

“I’m fine thank you. How about you girls, do you need anything?”

“I’m fine thank you.” Said Caitlin

“Um… could I get a cup of water?” Joy asked in a low tone.

“Certainly! I will go get it while you wait. Please feel free to take a seat in a chair.” Walking back out the door the messenger went to fetch a glass of water for the young girl.

“You forgot to say Please Joy, remember your manors. We are in the Kings presence and need to make sure we behave extra well for him.” Giving his girls a smile patted them on the head.

“Yes daddy, I’ll make sure I thank him and apologies for not saying please when he returns” Taking a seat with her sister on a bench after their father had patted them on the head they say silent, waiting while he just stood.

The young woman stood in front of the window overlooking the entire capital.The wind blew from outside the window,making her long,black hair flow with the wind blowing at it.Her skin was slightly tanned and her blue eyes looked out of the window over the horizon.

"Princess Victoria,"the cloaked figure standing behind her said."King Raehart is dead."he continued."So,the old king is dead.Is that why they are declaring war against us?What else do you know?"She demanded.She had just received news of Mindain declaring war against Argulan and now,her personal messenger has told her that the old king is dead.How much more bad news would there be?"I'm sorry,highness,that's all I know."He said.He was then dismissed with one wave of her hand.

So now the young princess stood by the window,thinking.What happened to the three years of peace?There must be a reason why they would declare war like that just after King Raehart died. She sighed and sat down.War...This meant they would have to sacrifice the many soldiers and even commoners.Both side would suffer casualties and what good would it do? Why was this happening?What happened to the so called peace?As she looked out of the window,she could now imagine what the capitol would turn into if there was war.The happy and beautiful capitol of Arugulan would turn into a dark and frightening place with raging fires and everyone running about,dead bodies everywhere...Okay,now she had to stop with all that imagination.It wouldn't be that frightening...would it?

Nicholas shook the king's hand, he felt a bit of pride rise inside of himself, it wasn't everyday that you shook the king's hand, right?. "yes, sire, I would prefer if I was given command of a smaller group, I rely a lot on speed, so I need them to be few and fast," Nicholas explained.
"Well, milord, being a scout spy is just a mixture of the two professions. You see, I am send deep into the enemy territory, where I am responsible for for getting all the information I can about the enemy, and then I also create a route for the army to follow, so it can quickly come into the enemy's lands, and attack cities that holds strategical position.
Also, when the army attacks, I serve as an inside man when the army besieges cities, I open the gates and such, and during open battles, I find routes for small warbands to take, so they can strike the opponent army from the side or back, catching them by surprise," Nicholas explained, rather enthusiastically.
"That should pretty much also cover how I worked for your farther, a great man indeed, I provided him with information about Argulan's actions, and where their army was and what their plans were," Nicholas answered.

"It really depends on what kind of work I am doing that defines my profession," Nicholas then summarized.

OOC: Next time, no need to wait for me, just assume that Nicholas is done, and go on, no need to hold the entire RP up because of me.

The princess of Mindain had a solemn look etched in her beautiful face. Her thoughts were in a heap of confusion. She needed it to be at ease or to do an activity that would divert her mind from thinking. She might escaped to the town to look at Rosaline upon reaching the audience chamber where she had surmised her brother would be had stopped as she gazed at the familiar face before her. She had seen the man in the earlier times when her father was still with the living. She cannot help but spoke to the man that was accompanied by two little girls whom liked mirrors of each other.

"Good day to you, Sir... and to your lovely girls..."

Rosaline said in a gentle manner as she gave a pleasant smile to them. She was polite and kind to everyone that she would be given chance to meet. She wondered what the man familiar to her would want to her brother. She studied the man subtly as she can sense he had been defined by his years of life very well. He had this aura of nobility and honor around him that would be similar to a Knight. She had not been always allowed to be at the military gatherings when she was still young. She had no idea of who the knights would be although she had seen them for a few times.

"May I ask a question; are you a knight by chance? I apologize for such inquiry if it offends you in anyway..."

She said with such consideration and gentleness that was part of her personality. Rosaline stood there with a warm smile on her appearance as she emits the aura of elegance and fine-breeding for a royalty. She waited for the man to answer her inquiry and occasionally she would look at the young girls. It reminded her of her childhood in a way. Those were the happy times that she could really remember.

Orion had heard the princess speak to him but was busy in his own head trying to figure out who this Nicholas man was. “Nicholas? Why does that name seem familiar?”

“Daddy you are being spoken to.” Said Caitlin in a low tone of voice with a slight chuckle.

Snapping out of it his thoughts Orion turned around with shock to who was talking to him. Dropping to a knee and bowing to the princess he held his head low. “My lady, I’m so sorry.” Standing up so the princess would not have to look down at him he stared at her with a faint smile, she had faint traits of her father. “Aye I’m a knight as well as a commoner farmer. These are my two daughters Caitlin and Joy. Girls say hello to the princess of the late King.”

“Hello there, it’s nice to meet you princess.” They both said at the same time.

Smiling at his girls he turned his gaze at the door and watched the messenger walk back into the thrown room with a cup of water in hand.

“Here you are ma’am”

“Thank you so much for the water and I’m sorry that I did not say please when I asked for my water as well.” Bowing to him she took her cup and began to sip on the water inside.

((Ooc, I myself don't mind, but I guess it would be courteous to the other rpers. lol. Yeah, I know, dumb.))

"So, in other words, you are an irreplaceable weapon," Robert grinned. "I don't know why I've never met you before when you would give such a worthy contribution to our past wars." His grin widened as he said, "Your enthusiasm is admirable, and, in fact, inspiring. I'll be proud to have you by my side in this war (even if you're not literally by my side)." He gave him a man to man slap on the shoulder and said, "Well, I have another guest to tend to... and my sister it appears. Anyway, have Eric show you our finest scouts and spies (they're currently about the castle, what with all this ruckus going on with registering), and they're at your disposal. Take who you wish and you can begin training and rehearsing tomorrow with your men."

Eric, who stood just a few yards away, hurriedly came to assist the king when he saw that they were through. He bowed respectfully to both of the men.
"Eric, take Nicholas here to see Rygon's men so he can find troops of his choosing. But before you do, bring Sir Orion and my sister." As Robert turned around, he sighed and looked back at Eric. "I got to get back on that blasted throne again, eh?" As he went to sit in his glorified chair, he muttered, "We should level the dais."


((Ooc, Rygon is overall commander of the spies and scouts, though it's just administrative. He's an ex-spy, though not scout. He's a pawn, so you can write for him, if needed.))

He leaned over the neck of his mare as the city gates came into view, murmuring encouragement for a final burst of speed. She responded as hoped, surging forward into a flat gallop, eating up the distance. Tyrell raised his shield arm as he approached, a salute to the gate guards, who cleared the way to let him pass undisturbed. He had business at the castle.

It was a climb to run the causeway to the castle gates- the ancient structure had been built for siege defence and positioned accordingly- but the hunter mare proved herself again, lengthening her stride and taking the slope at admirable speed; They made the courtyard in good time. Tyrell slipped from her back and handed the reins to a waiting squire, pausing only a moment before striding away. Normally he would see to his own animals, but he feared indulging this personal whim after receiving a summons marked with the king's heraldry.

However, it looked as if the court was more willing to dawdle than he was. The King was sequestered away somewhere beyond him, according to his advisors- whether or not this was the case, Tyrell could not divulge, but he wouldn't put it past them to send him on a wild goose chase. It didn't matter. There was more than one member of the Kane family to report to.

Tyrell knocked on the door to the princess's chambers and entered, kneeling before her with his closed fist held over his heart. "Your Highness, I received summons from His Majesty, and there are rumours on the road of treachery from Mindain. What is happening?"

Hearing his name be called he turned his attention towards the King, his steward, and the man named Nicholas and could see that whatever it was they were talking about was at a end. “My Lady I’m sorry but this conversation will have to wait until my business is hear, please forgive me it’s just important that I speak to your brother, the new King.” Bowing to the princess he stared at her for a second and gave her a smile. “Come girls lets go meet the king!” Taking his girls by the hands they began to walk towards King Robert. Turning his head while still walking he looked back at Princess Rosaline. “Feel free to come up with us, I have nothing to say to the prince that can’t be heard by a child so you are more than welcomed to come see him as well.”

Making it up towards the king Orion let goes of his girl’s hands. “Now do as we practiced girls.” He said in a low voice. Right away the girls joined their father in kneeling to honor the king than stood up with him; however they stopped there as their father went on to salute the King. “My King it’s good to see you.” Putting his salute down he relaxed some, even without being told he could. “I doubt your father ever mentioned me much but I served as a brave and loyal Knight under his military. I’m not a well ranked man by any means, mainly because I chose not to but your father always knew he could count on me when he called. I now would like to extend that allegiance to you.”

Rosaline was right about her theory that the man was a knight that served under her Father's rule. She was not well-acquainted to anyone and it is well-known that a princess is simply a decoration around the castle. The rule will always be passed on to the son and the daughter would serve as a tool of trade. She understood that very well but cannot help but feel saddened by such thinking. Her father and brother had been kind to her and she would not say anything ill about them at all.

“Feel free to come up with us, I have nothing to say to the prince that can’t be heard by a child so you are more than welcomed to come see him as well.”

Orion politely asked to take his leave and invited her as he went to the audience chamber where her brother awaits. She did want to speak to Robert about her qualms in this war. She took the suggestion from the humble knight as her handmaidens followed her as well. She was getting rather tiresome of such servitude. She knew they were only doing their duties but ever since she was a young child. Her actions and words had always been watched and counted. That is why she had always envied other children in their Kingdom. They were able to play without worries while her future had been planned for her as she grew up.

Rosaline stopped her line of thinking and entered the chamber as well. She gave respectful bow towards the new king along with her personal servants. She stood there with nobility that she had grown and trained for. She cannot help but feel like a doll as of the moment. After that, she had patiently waited in the background for the conversation between Sir Orion and Robert to end.

"Next?"
The young soilder sat behind the desk out in the castle courtyard where the new recruits where being sighned up, asked without looking up from his paper-work.

He did a slight double take before raising his head as a large shadow fell across the desk like a small eclipse;
The Recruitment Officer looked up at the figure standing before him, all wild golden hair, leather and chainmail, the Barbarian Warrior grinned as he leaned both hands on the desk.

"A..are you here to enlist, sir?"
The Officer stuttered, taken back for a moment by the mans wild apperance, the Barbarian chuckled.

"Nay lad,"
He replied, his voice deep and gruff,
"I'm 'ere to help, fer a price o' course!"

Realisation dawned on the officer, he supposed he should have realised right away,
"Your a Mercanary?"

"Aye,"
The Warrior nodded,
"I hear yer lil kingdom is 'aving a spot o' trouble with those Argulan buggers across the boarder, and I recker yer military could use a lil experianced help, I noticed the Scout and the Knight entering the palace earlier, but yer gonna need more than them, yer gonna need me."

"Right sir, and whats your price?"

"What do ye pay yer footsoilders?"

"Oh, just a basic salary of four coppers a week, gruts pay you know,"
The Officer shrugged apologeticaly, but the Barbarian waved a hand.

"Aye that will do me just fine, I ain't in this purely fer the money, I'll take the same pay as yer Footsoilders, I want tae be there on the front line when the battle starts, ye just put me down on the Roster as a Mercanary, I ain't 'aving no Drill Seargent trying tae tell me how tae fight a battle!"

The Warrior paused, and looked the Recruitment Officer up and down,
"I knew Raehart ye see lad, Twenty years ago when he was just a young prince, hell of a shot with a bow, I would drink him under the table though..."

The Barbarian grinned at the memory,
"He was a good man, I want to pay back the barstards who killed him, and You need experianced Warriors, sighn me up!"

The Officer nodded,
"Right away sir, could I have your name?"

"Br'nard Even'star."

The Recruitment Officer chucked, despite himself,
"Ah yes, very amusing sir, I havn't heard that joke all morning..."

Br'nard tilted his head slightly,
"Joke..?"
He asked, slightly bemused.

"Yes sir,"
The Officer smiled,
"You know, the young recruits, there's always one who gives a joke name, you know, Sir Lancelott, Frodo Baggins, Br'nard Even'star..."

"Whats so funny about being Br'nard Even'star..?"
Asked Br'nard, a slight smile playing across his face, in spite of the urgency of the situation he felt this was something he could not quite let alone just yet...

"Well..."
The Soilder replied,
"He's a myth isn't he...? He dosn't exist."

The Warrior threw back his head and laughed,
"Ah I see, a myth is he?"

"Yes sir,"
The Soilder countinued,
"Surely you've heard the stories, Br'nard Even'star in ten foot tall, bursting with muscle and can kill a hundred men with one stroke of his mighty axe,
I mean, no offense sir, but your a little too short and a little too old to be him, my farther used to tell me stories of him when I was a lad..."

The Soilder paused, Br'nard smiled,
"Some twenty years ago no doubt?"

"Um...yes..."

"Thats the trouble with stories,"
Br'nard sighed,
"They tend to exagarate, also they never take into account that their characters may have aged by twenty or so years by the time you meet them..."

The Barbarian Warrior grinned and leaned forward,
"Humour an old Warrior lad, stick 'Br'nard Even'star' down on yer lil sheet and point me in the direction of yer new King, I ain't seen young Robert since he was a babe in arms, plus I want tae offer my sympathies fer old Raehart."

The Recruitment Officer opend his mouth to speak once more, caught Br'nards eye, and changed his mind, the Warrior nodded his thanks as the Officer scribbled his name down on the parchment and waved a Squire forward to escort the Barbarian into the Castle.

"Ah I know the way,"
Br'nard said as he and the Squire strode across the coutyard,
"But if ye really want a job ye could run ahead and tell him I'm comming, may take me a while though, 'aving a little trouble with stairs these days..."

The Warrior chuckled to himself as the young Squire sprinted away...

"On the contrary, Sir Orion," Robert said with a smile,"My father told me very much about you, and I say, it is an honor to make acquaintance with one who served with my father." He rose and went to shake his hand as well, then, as he glanced back and saw the two little girls, still bowing, he said, "And pray tell, are these lovely children your daughters?

Robert looked at the two girls with a soft spot. Not only did he very much enjoy children, but little girls especially reminded him of his little sister, who wasn't so little anymore.
At the thought, he glanced over to the young woman (with her fine air of honor and nobility) with a smile, and with the quickest of winks, he turned back to his guests.

Eric came hurrying up to him once more, running out of breath by now and whispered something in his ear.
He said quietly to him on the side, "A mercenary you say? And one who knew my father? Eric, is this really customary for so many to wish to see the 'new king'?"
Eric grinned with a short laugh, saying, "Search me. I'm younger even than you, but I would expect this may be how it works with the son of a great king." He grew somewhat solemn and continued, "Your father's set the bar. These men expect as much if not more from you. If you want to keep their very fine allegiance, you've got to be on your toes." Robert nodded solemnly and turned back to Sir Orion.

"Excuse me, Sir Orion," he smiled. "Now have your girls come over, I'd like to meet them as well as relieve their knees from the hard marble floor."

Maska was leaning against a building her arms crossed and her eyes closes. "So King Raehart is finally dead." She opened her eyes and looked around suspiciously. "I wonder...who ever killed King Raehart is probably after King Robert's head also." She walked casually through the small village thinking out loud to herself. "I wonder if King Robert would hire me to assassinate the king of Argulan...hmmm...it would be good money." She looked over at a soldier who was patrolling the route to the castle. "I bet the soldiers have it good, they get paid just to stand around and drink beer."