Chapter 6, Book 2: A Night as a Knight - Part 2

The two traveled down the road in silence for several minutes before Cerise stopped, looked around for a moment, then fell down onto her knees. Wrapping her arms around herself, the woman sat on the ground, shaking silently. Ferene knelt down beside her.

“Earlier, you said you had a sister.” Cerise nodded in response. “I learned I have an older sister. A half-sister. I met her, once, I think. She didn’t talk to me then. Can you tell me what having a sister is like?”

Nodding again, Cerise slowly stood up. “There-there is a lot to it.” She reached out, grabbing onto Ferene’s arm, holding onto the Hatharen to keep herself upright. “Sometimes I’m following in her footsteps. Sometimes I can, but other times it’s impossible to do what she did. Sometimes I’m trying not to follow her example. Sometimes she wants to help, sometimes lets me figure things out on my own. She has her own expectations of me. She understands me in ways nobody else does, but she doesn’t see how different we are.”

Ferene nodded, wrapping an arm around Cerise’s shoulder, holding her as they started walking again. The explanation made no sense to Ferene. “You talked about her advice before.”

Cerise let out a short laugh. “She had a lot of small bits of advice. She wanted the best for me. She didn’t know what I wanted, but she tried her hardest to help, when she could.”

“It sounds like you got along with her.” Ferene had only ever gotten along with one of the other children. She immediately pushed that thought away.

“She is the older of us, and had a lot of things I would never have. She didn’t flaunt those over me. She never wanted me to be jealous of her. I never was. I live with more freedom that she ever could. It would be impossible for her to be in this situation.” Letting go of Ferene’s arm, Cerise reached around, squeezing her waist. “I wouldn’t let her have this. Thank you, Ferene.”

“For what?”

“You distracted me, with your questions.”

“Oh.”

Night fell, and Ferene chose a spot for them to sleep. Laying her weapons on the ground, she lay down next to them and closed her eyes. For a time, she listened to Cerise’s footsteps as the woman paced back and forth, then the ruffling of her clothes, then more footsteps.

“Ferene.”

She opened her eyes, looking up at her companion.

“I…I’ve never slept on the ground before.” Ferene didn’t respond, and Cerise pushed her lips together, the expression barely visible in the light from the moon and stars. “Can I sleep next to you? To…to lean on you.”

“Sure.” A smile broke across the woman’s face as Ferene answered, and she dropped down, laying down next to Ferene, their sides touching.

“Thank you.” Cerise said, and Ferene closed her eyes again.

When she woke up in the morning, she had her arms wrapped around Cerise, holding the smaller woman against herself. Slowly, Ferene pulled away, standing up as best she could without disturbing her companion. It brought back memories of the same thing happening with Velan, and Ferene found herself blushing.

“You seem fairly used to that.” Cerise said, grinning as she looked up at Ferene. Apparently she had woken up first. Ferene reached down, extending a hand to help Cerise to her feet. “Tell me about them?” The woman asked.

“Man hired me to take him to Ettsgras. I left him there.” Cerise’s smile vanished, and she looked away. Ferene picked up her gauntlets and started putting them on. “That was only two times. Before that, one of the Hatharen…she took a liking to me. I really liked her. We lived together for a month before I left.”

Ferene suddenly found herself frozen in place, frozen in thought. She missed Rilya. She missed Velan, too.

“So you like women?” Cerise asked, snapping Ferene out of her trance. She nodded, not trusting herself to say anything.

Once more, Ferene heard the sound of horses on the road, this time from in front of them. Ten riders thundered down the road, the man at the front of the pack yelling and signaling his companions. Like the last group, they advanced, spreading out to surround the pair. Ferene once again pushed Cerise behind her, drawing her sword before she held a hand against her back.

“No, not this time.”

Cerise’s voice was firm, confident. Devoid of the emotion she had shown up until this point, even when threatened or held captive.

One rider moved forward, looking down at Ferene from his horse before his gaze moved to Cerise. “Princess. Are you well?”

“Yes, Sir Ilrich.”

“May I ask about your companion?”

“This is Ferene, she saved me from my captors.”

“My deepest apologies for not being the one to do so myself.”

“The fault is mine. I wandered off, as I am like to do, losing my escort, as you have repeatedly warned me the dangers of. I paid the price for my recklessness.”

The man’s lips twitched in response. “Well, Ferene, we can take care of her Highness from here. Thank you for your service.”

“No.” Cerise spoke up, her hand moving to grip Ferene’s lower arm. “She is coming with us.”

Ilrich’s face did not move for a moment. “Why is that, Princess?”

“She agreed to protect me, as my knight. She agreed to escort me back to Wellant, in exchange for information.”

“We can escort you home from here, your Highness.”

“I did not give her the information I promised.”

“And she has not escorted you to Wellant. There is no need for her.” He responded fast, his face tense. “Princess, please. Let us return before your father starts to worry. You have been missing for far longer than your usual absences.”

“Ferene killed people to protect me and agreed to be my knight. You cannot separate me from her.”

The man’s eyes went wide, his mouth thin. “You…Your Highness.” He coughed, once. “Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

He looked to Ferene. “Is this true?” She simply nodded. She had made that agreement, earlier. The man’s face grew tense as he clenched his jaw. The other riders had come together, watching and listening silently. “Very well.” He dismounted, making a signal to the others. Three of them also dismounted, and the remaining six collected the vacated horses. “We will accompany you on foot.”

“Of course, Sir Ilrich.” Cerise’s grip tightened, then she let go of Ferene’s arm.

“I would like to talk to you, alone.” He said to Ferene as he approached. “If the princess will allow it.”

“Do not harass her needlessly.” Cerise replied. Ilrich walked off to the side of the road, gesturing for Ferene to follow. She did, leaving Cerise with the three soldiers.

“I figure there’s an equal chance that you are taking advantage of the Princess, or you are a random bystander that got caught up in one of her flights of fancy. Want to tell me which it is?” While he was still tense, his attitude and speech changed, becoming less tight, more personal.

“I helped someone who was in trouble.” Ferene said, not sure what he was asking.

“That’s not what I’m asking. What do you want from her?”

“I’m just looking for my friend. She said she knows her.”

“Has she tried to seduce you?”

Ferene frowned at the question. “No.”

Ilrich let out a breath, turning away from her. “If she does, I request that you do not indulge her.”

Part of Ferene wanted to tell him that she’d do whatever she wanted, but she kept silent. His questions annoyed her, far more than Cerise’s ever did. She followed him back to the others, where one of the other men was questioning the princess.

Ferene had never known a princess before. The woman didn’t seem that different from anyone else she had met, but the distinction felt like Cerise should be different. Was Ferene supposed to treat her in some kind of special way? Linara or Taradira would probably have known.

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Noticing Ferene, Cerise stopped her conversation and grabbed her newest knight’s arm. “He wasn’t mean to you, was he? Ilrich can be overprotective, but only because he worries about me. It seems at least some of his fears are justified, after what happened.”

“I’m fine.” Ferene replied.

Ferene, Cerise, Ilrich, and the other three guards walked the road, keeping up a decent pace. Ferene noticed that at least two of the riders had stayed around, keeping watch from a distance. Cerise’s demeanor stayed more rigid, the smiles she had shown Ferene that day before completely missing.

“I agreed to tell you about Linara.”

“You did.” Ferene nodded.

“She used to live in Olentor, north of Wellant. At the time, she was a teacher. Specifically, the prince’s arms trainer. Apparently she was also very formidable in combat on her own.”

“Do you know why she left? Or where she might be now?”

“The prince became the king, and he married my older sister, uniting our two kingdoms. My sister…did not like the relationship she had with the prince. She’s supposed to be his wife, but he’s spending all this time with another woman? I kind of understand it.”

Ferene didn’t, but kept the response to herself. Rilya and Ilraeghen were, by Hatharen customs, supposed to be a pair, but Rilya had spent weeks with Ferene while Ilraeghen spent his time with both Sathar and Filraehen, who were also supposed to only be with each other. They all made it work out.

“Rather than start trouble, the two came to some sort of agreement and Linara left. I met her once, when I visited my sister some time before the wedding. She didn’t show up for the wedding, so I didn’t meet her a second time. She’s very nice. Very tall.”

“Ettsgras has a Hatharen general that is even taller.” Ferene spoke up. “About this tall.” She held her hand above her head, indicating Taradira’s height. Cerise’s eyes went wide. “She’s taller than any other Hatharen I’ve met.”

“I…I hope you can introduce me to her sometime, then. She sounds very impressive. Your height, however, is perfectly fine for me.” A hint of a smile graced Cerise’s lips, before fading as she glanced sideways, catching a look from Ilrich. “Regardless, someone in Olentor probably has a way to track her down and contact her. You were right to head there. I can even take you-“

“Princess.” Ilrich spoke up.

“I can visit my sister in Olentor.” Cerise said, turning to look at him. “Am I not allowed to do that? Taking a trip to visit the neighboring kingdom, who we are now sharing resources with, in order to visit my very own sister, the queen of said kingdom? And I can’t choose at least one of my guards for such a trip?”

“Of course, Your Highness.” The man bowed his head.

“The speed might be slower than you traveling alone, but if you are with me, you will get past the border and into the capitol much easier. With the tensions in the south rising again, both Wellent and Olentor are becoming more careful about who is allowed in. The same can’t be said for who is allowed out, hence my kidnapping. But being with a Princess means you can just walk past all of that.” Ilrich made a sound, something between a growl and a groan, but Cerise ignored him.

“Sounds useful.” Ferene said, paying the guard no mind.

A wagon appeared on the horizon, slowly moving towards them, flanked by riders, until it stopped. Cerise immediately turned to Ilrich. “Really?”

He nodded. “Princess.”

“Fine. Ferene, if you will join me inside my carriage?” Ilrich coughed. “As a reward for her work of fending off people who sought to capture me, I believe that my knight has earned a chance to rest her feet while we continue towards our destination.”

“Of course, Princess.” Ilrich nodded.

While the horse-drawn carriage was, fundamentally, just a wagon, as Ferene approached it she saw it could not be compared to any other wagons she had seen before. In essence, a wooden box on four wheels, but rather than a simple bed with a cloth canopy strung up on posts, this one was a full enclosure, functioning doors built into the sides. Ilrich opened one up, and even folded out a step to allow Cerise to gracefully walk inside rather than having to half jump, half pull herself upwards. Ferene followed, getting a glimpse of the inside. Carved seats with cushions, rather than simple boards, were situated at the front and back, the entire inside dedicated to the comfort of the passengers, rather than cargo with seating arrangements being a secondary concern. Cerise planted herself facing the front, and gestured for Ferene to sit beside her, rather than across from her. After setting her weapons against the wall and following the Princess’s instruction, she watched as Ilrich closed the door, leaving the two of them alone, sitting side by side in the light let in by the glass windows set high in the walls.

“This is…nice.” She said,

“I wish they hadn’t brought it out. I was enjoying walking with you.”

“This is how you usually travel?” Ferene asked.

“Yes. Protected from the outside, not allowed to see or be seen by anyone.” Letting out a deep sigh, the Princess suddenly leaned into Ferene. “It is better when I can share it with someone, though.”

“Ilrich asked me if you had tried to seduce me.”

She felt Cerise shift against her. “What did you tell him?”

“You hadn’t.”

It started as a slight vibration, but Cerise quickly started giggling. “No? Really? Were you lying, or did you really not notice?”

“Um.” Ferene felt her face turn red. They had slept together, almost fully clothed, but not much beyond that. Did that count as seduction?

“I was trying to get you to look at my breasts at one point, and then we slept together.”

Ferene suddenly looked down. “Were you?”

More giggling followed. “I had my shirt almost entirely unbuttoned and you didn’t spare me a glance. If anyone had seen us I’d be lectured by acting in ways unbecoming of my station. My sister might have found it amusing, though.”

“Oh.” Ferene said. Cerise shifted again, pulling herself into Ferene’s lap.

“Can I kiss you, Ferene?”

She was small and light in her lap. More like Velan than Rilya, though he had at least been nearly Ferene’s equal in height. Cerise was weak and defenseless. An innocent that Ferene had to protect. “Ilrich told me to turn you down.”

“Are you going to?” Her voice was a whisper, her face - as flushed as Ferene’s - so close.

Who was she to tell someone else what to do, or allow someone to tell someone else what to do, when it came to things like this? Rilya loved her regardless of what the others had initially thought, even when one of her closest friends disapproved of Ferene. Was Cerise any different?

Did she like Cerise? The way she liked Rilya, or Velan? Did she even like those two? Of course she loved Rilya, even if they couldn’t talk. Cerise could talk to her. Had talked to her. Velan…was there for her when she was lonely, when she was hurt. She had used him and left him behind.

“Do you really want this?” Ferene finally asked.

Cerise paused, pulling away from Ferene, her eyes wide. “What do you mean?”

“I…what if we get to Olentor, and I leave to find Linara. Do you want to do this if I’ll just leave?”

“I…I don’t want you to leave.”

“I didn’t free you so you could capture me.”

Twisting, Cerise slid back onto the seat beside Ferene, but still wrapped both her arms around one of Ferene’s, clinging to her. “I chose to make you my knight. I never got to pick one before. Still, I didn’t think that you’d turn me down like that.” She laughed, more than just a giggle, but tinged with some amount of sadness. “Do you know how much kissing a princess is worth? Men would fight each other to touch my lips.”

“I’d beat them.”

“What?” Cerise suddenly looked up at Ferene.

“If it’s someone you don’t want.”

Smiling, Cerise suddenly pulled herself up, laying a quick kiss on Ferene’s cheek.

The wagon, pulled by four horses, was far faster than Cerise’s walking pace, and they quickly passed the border into Wellant. As Cerise promised, there was very little delay on the road, a collection of men on horses exchanging a brief conversation with Ilrich before moving off. They passed a city after that, Cerise talking about how she had been visiting it when she was captured.

“And since those two men were leaving, they were not searched, and nobody considered you truly missing until after they had crossed the border.”

Cerise sighed and nodded, again leaning against Ferene, more lazily than intimately. “I am always causing problems for them, and I do feel guilty for it, but I hate being followed, being forced to follow a schedule all the time. I take every freedom they give me, and then push to get more.”

“You have to fight to get what you want.”

“Is that what you did?”

“There was someone who was in control of my life. I killed him.”

Cerise went silent, squeezing Ferene’s arm. Hours passed, and eventually they reached the capitol, just as the sun was setting. Looking out a window at the front of the carriage, Ferene saw a castle, surrounded by the buildings of the city. In format, it was similar to Ettsgras, but on a far smaller scale. There was also no second city of tents in sight.

The carriage followed the path directly up to a gate and rolled into the castle without any hassle, finally coming to a stop in a courtyard. Cerise let out a sigh as she let go of Ferene to disembark.

A tall, dark-haired young man ran up as Cerise stepped out, a dark green cape flowing behind him. “Cerise! I was so worried about you!” Ferene twitched, reaching for her sword as the man scooped Cerise into his arms, hugging her tightly before putting her down. None of the guards reacted to this, so Ferene let it happen, simply stepping down from the wagon behind the princess.

“Who are you?” The young man asked, looking at Ferene. He was slightly taller than her, his gaze intense, scrutinizing. “Did she-“

“Lady Ferene rescued her highness from captivity, and fought off a second kidnapping attempt before returning her to us. We owe her a debt and are repaying that, Your Highness.” Ilrich spoke up.

The young man clapped his hands, nodding and smiling at Ferene. “Then I must thank you, Lady Ferene, for saving my sister.”

“I’m not a Lady.” Ferene said.

“You are,” Cerise disagreed, “in taking you as my knight, you have earned that title, at least in an honorary status. Unless you wish for something more.”

Shutting her mouth, Ferene kept quiet, feeling wrong. Cerise and her brother wore nice clothes, the wagon - the carriage - was extravagant, and even the other guards had ornate designs to their armor. Ferene felt self conscious of her battered armor and weapons.

“Cerise, tell me all about what happened, will you?” The young man said, rubbing his sister’s head.

“Don’t do that, I’m older than you.” He followed her request, but not without laughing. Cerise gestured for Ferene to follow the two of them as they walked towards a door.

Inside the castle, the three entered a sitting room, brother and sister falling into posh chairs. Ferene found a much simpler wooden chair and sat down in it.

“This is Prince Varrot, my younger brother. An overgrown child.” Cerise added the last part with a smile.

Varrot made an overly dramatic gasp with a matching look of horror on his face. “Dear sister, how could you? By all laws I am an adult.”

“He’s seventeen.” She said, looking to Ferene. “But don’t worry about that. We need to plan a trip to Olentor, as soon as possible, to visit our queenly sister and get some information on Linara.”

“Linara? What about her?”

“Ferene here is trying to find her. I promised her to help. The two of us will go to Olentor and ask around there. Someone should know something about where she is.” Varrot let out a laugh at this. Cerise frowned at him. “What’s so funny?”

“We got the news yesterday, so you don’t know yet.”

“What news, Varrot?” Cerise demanded.

He smiled wide. “Everyone in Olentor knows where Linara is. Because she’s in Olentor right now.”