The Inheritor of Light

Matters of State (Part One)

The two guards were taken aback by her aggressive tone. Neither of them knew quite what to say for a moment. Then the first one spoke. "I don't think the princess would ever talk like that."

"Right you are, the princess is a proper lady. She'd never speak in such a way," the second agreed.

Sãra was close to punching both of the guards, but Johnathan caught her hand before she could raise it.

"What's going on here?" a voice asked from behind the men.

They turned to see a man in a gray jacket, green shirt, black trousers, and a red cape standing before them. He was taller than your average man, with short red hair and green eyes. His face, while youthful, did nothing to remove his air of authority, in fact, in a way his softer features kept one from the anxiety authority often brings. His left hand rested on a long thin sword which sat in its sheath at his side. Sãra thought about calling out to him, but, due to the circumstances, she decided it was better that she kept her mouth shut for the time being.

"Sir!" both guards said in unison as they straightened their backs and saluted the man.

"Well?"

"Sir, this man here was trying to strut right on in with all manner of weapons. So, I tells him to stop and start questioning him. Well, he gives me this story about that girl, the one right behind him there, that she's the princess. So I call—"

The first guard stopped as the man raised his hand. He motioned for the guards to stand aside and then walked up to Sãra, a smile creeping across his face. Sãra looked up at him, willing him to do something. He gave her a small nod, and straightened his expression. After a moment, the man turned back to the guards. "Do you think this woman is really the princess?"

"Course not, sir. Just like I was telling Gilbert here, I said to him—" The guard stopped once again at the man's raised hand.

The man scratched the back of his head. "Look, I understand it can be a bit dull out here, starring at people coming in and out all day. However, your inattentiveness has led you to mistake our very own princess for some mere commoner." Both of the guard's eyes widened at the revelation. "What's worse, is that you two fools not only did not recognize her ladyship, but you then go and insult her by declaring her a fake. Now, get out of my sight—both of you!"

The guards scrambled over each other in their attempt to escape the man's ire. After both of them had made it beyond earshot, the man turned back to Sãra and kneeled before her. "My lady, Sãra, I must apologize for those two."

"It's quite alright, General. If you hadn't come, I'm not sure we'd have ever made it in the city," Sãra replied, gingerly offering her hand to the general.

The general took her hand softly and rose. "Thank you for your kind words. If I had not heard word of your impending arrival, I must admit, I'd have been suspicious as well. And who is your companion?"

"Name's Johnathan Black," Johnathan said stepping around Sãra.

"Well Black, you must be a good man to have taken all of this trouble on only yourself. I wish I had more men like you."

"No, you don't," Sãra interjected, "He's only in it for the money."

The general let out a lighthearted chuckle. "Well, we can't all do things on principle, I suppose. Oh, and where are my manners. I ought to introduce myself. I am Riald, commander of the city's garrison and a general of Milzoc."

Johnathan nodded slowly. "Right, well, with introductions out of the way, I hope we can move to someplace less crowded so that I can finish my contract and be off."