After hours of walking within the garden in silent content being together once more, Dia suggested we could visit the city during the next day. I warned her that her guards would feel compelled to escort us but she said she had a way to prevent this.
“We are not sneaking out without telling anyone within the Castle, my Queen!” I stated firmly but received only a giggle in response. I glared at her showing my firm annoyance at her ideas of preventing guards from escorting us.
“That was not my my plan, silly kitty.” she finally remarked. “The city is very secure and we would only need a single guard which Artea should agree to keep an eye on us.” she returned with a soft giggle. “Worse would be getting Greyman once more having to watch over us, yes?” she added with a smirk.
“Yes, Artea would be a better selection for our escort if she agrees to be the lone guard.” I remarked with a shrug. “She may suggest another two or three just to keep you safe.” I told her pensively.
“I have you to protect me.” she returned firmly. “Artea would simply be your backup, my Knight.” she added harder. I sighed softly at her before nodding to her.
“Let us find the other one that should be knighted, my Queen.” I replied still worried.
“It will be done before we visit the city and Way Store.” she returned smiling. “You, grandfather Greyman, Artea and myself are the only ones required for me to place a title upon Artea’s shoulders for her devotion to my throne and people.” she continued as we slowly meandered back towards the throne room. “Two Royal Knight make for a very safe Queen within her capitol.” she added with a triumphant smirk. Her point was truly brilliant that even Sert would find problems debating, but Lord Kestrel would find the principle she was missing as I felt I had to discover. Nothing came to my mind that was not covered by this dual knight protection. I was ready to part ways as we reached the throne room but this would not happen. She held fast to my arm dragging me through the throne room to the rear pathway to her chambers.
“This should not happen now that you are the Queen, Dia.” I protested weakly.
“I miss sleeping cuddled to my furry kitten.” she retorted petulantly. “Or did your stay at Dame Rouge’s change your virtuous behavior?” she remarked with a smirk and giggle. “Rouge has a noble title within my lands.” she informs me. “Even a demonic brothel owner has nobility in the eyes of the throne when she has proven she stands for the citizens.” she continued quickly. “She sent me messages through her harpy friends about your stay and that you were returning to my side.” she added with a hint of a blush.
“Nothing happened!” I snapped back. My tail had frozen behind me as I looked into her eyes. “I have never.” I added in a high pitch yowl. She was giggling as she place a hand upon my cheek.
“My Knight virtue is and will always be unbesmirched, my most noble Knight.” she whispered to me. A soft kiss upon the tip of my nose had me relaxing once more. “Let me wrap myself around you like when we were only Kestrel and Dia, just this one last time?” she asked softly. “I need this one last time with you.” she added purring very convincingly. My purring was her answer as I scooped her up to lay beside her on her bed. Morning might get me chided but for now, I would be her furry pillow once more, this one last night.
I awoke feeling a scratching behind my ear but I did not feel Dia moving from her clutched position on my side. I open my eyes slowly blinking at the shafts of dawn light started filling the room. The scratching persisted as my eyes focused on Artea’s face looking at me silently. A small smile formed on her lips as she notices my eyes opening.
“It’s time to rise and shine, Queen Diadem and Knight Kestrel.” she said softly. Her hand finally moved away from behind my ear. “I am sure she has many things planned for you two today.” she added stepping back from the bed. Dia squirmed and yawned before releasing me enough to look from me to Artea. The blush flourishes over her cheeks realizing she had been caught.
“Good morning my Queen.” I purred at her. Artea actually giggled at the sight before her. “And good morning noble ear scratching Artea.” I remarked receive a quick half bow, half curtsy from her. “We have a few plans but they do include you Artea.” I added slowly. I hoped this time would give Dia a chance to recover from her embarrassment.
“Including me?” Artea asked as the mirth died in her eyes. “Why would I be included?” she asked taking a half step back from the bed.
“Your knighting ceremony and escorting your Queen within the city.” Dia announced still mildly blushing. She pulled herself off of me so I can stand and assist her to her feet. “Your actions for me and my kingdom deserves the same accolade placed upon Kestrel of the Redpath clan’s shoulders.” she told her directly. “And with two Knights, I am safer within my city.” she added softly.
“She wishes to visit the Way Store and I felt it impossible with proper guardianship watching over her than only myself.” I told Artea. “Accept this honour due to you, Priestess and Warrior Artea.” I added bowing my head to her.
“I will accept only since it places me where Lord Death has willed me to be.” she replied with the same bowing curtsy combination to both of us. “I will send word to Greyman and Captain Leston to gather in the throne room as to witness this event.” she added before stepping out of the Queen’s chamber. We slowly walked with Dia’s hand upon my arm to the throne room where I knelt by her knee to wait for the event to take place. Leston would be the only one that may find this action as questionable and more so letting the Queen tour her city with only a pair of guards, but it was his duty to keep Dia secure.
The knighting ceremony was simpler than the one Hawke and myself endured but no less special. With the hilt of the broken royal sword in hand, the broken edge of the blade touched each of Artea’s shoulders before being place upon her head. Diadem stepped back hold the broken blade before her. “For your offered sacrifice and belief, I name thee my Knight that must be at my side from this moment on.” the queen stated loudly with a hint of mirth in her voice. “Rise and salute the Queen you fully serve, Sir Artea.” she concluded for the room. Artea rose in a slow graceful stance before saluting Queen Diadem with military crispness, and it was done. Artea was a Knight but she had also been specifically ordered to remain by Dia’s side unlike Hawke and my myself.
“We have a Knight to the North and now another within the Royal Capital.” Leston stated to Greyman. “Is she planning to find another three Knights to cover the West, East, and South borderlines?” he asked pensively. It did not sound arrogant but a tactical thought based on his position as the captain of the guards and indirectly one of her generals after her Knights.
“A possibility that only the Queen can decide upon.” Greyman replied with a slow nod. He also ran his fingers through the bottom portion of his beard showing he was thinking along the same lines as the captain. “But I believe presently she has a bratty Princess request neither of us will like.” he remarked bringing Leston to attention. They both stood waiting for the request the old man suspected was coming with this rushed but properly deserved knighting.
“Very true, Grandfather.” I stated after moving to stand with them. Artea had already replaced my position by the throne showing her new place and role as Dia’s protector.
“I wish to visit the capital city.” Dia proclaimed at them. “I need only my two Knights during this tour within my own secured city.” she continued with blunt petulance. Yes, this was being presented in the same way a bratty princess would speak. It reminded me of Princess Sara’s claiming that strange woman as her governess which made me smile and nearly chuckle at this scene. Greyman sighed lowering his head knowing her mind could not be changed. Leston tapped at his bare chin with a pair of fingers actually appearing to consider this request. “I will accept no complaints, Captain Leston.” she added with a hint of anger.
“No complaints since your thought here is sound, my Queen.” Leston replied which stunned me. “But I must suggest adding an extra guard if only to be polite to our noble guests.” he continued nearly casually. He turned to face me with a forced smile. “Would the Warrior Sertian be available to assist Sir Artea which also gives him a chance to visit the city properly?” he asked me. I could see the worry in his eyes and the need to have another trusted guard with us.
“I will ask if he is free.” I answered politely. “And I did overhear your comment about extra protection for the country which could be possible in an unconventional manner.” I continued having another thought to help Dia’s kingdom even if I could not personally be here. The irritated look leveled at me by Dia was replaced, after a quick whisper from her newest Knight, by a wave of her hand sending me on my way. I will not repeat the harsh words Artea whispered in the Queen’s ear but it changed her disposition immediately. With a nod I was off to find Sert to request his presence during this visit to the city.
With a quick glance between Lord Kestrel and Sert unnoticed by Meli and the few servants assisting in caring for my Master, he agreed to accompany us. He had taken a more casual dress but still in Atlantian style to appear as a noble guest instead of a season warrior. Artea smiled as she moved to stand by him while Dia claimed my arm as her own property in a tight grip. Glancing over her head and gave Sert and Artea a suffering smirk which gained me a blush from the warrior and a stifled giggle from Artea.
“Where to first, my Queen?” I asked as we walked solemnly towards the doors of her palace. Our guarding escorts remain a few paces behind us allowing us the illusion of being alone. “The Way Store, the market place, or did you have a different starting point for our tour of your Royal city?” I stated after she had not answered me. I glanced at her and noticed her simply looking ahead with a soft smile upon her face.
“You are still thinking about how to serve me even if you are not here.” she remarked softly. I sighed and nodded wordlessly to her. I was only in her peripheral vision but she smiled brighter at my nod. “We can discuss your plans while meandering along the wide road to the Way Store, my thoughtful and beloved Knight.” she supplied as we exited her castle gates into the city’s main street. I would glance back from time to time as we walked along the street to assure Sert and Artea followed but kept that discrete distance.
I explained how many of the Royal Guards would take time to train away from Atlantis since they were in part wild animals as human like beings. She nodded for me to continue leading to requesting the possibility of a territory within her Kingdom for the Atlantian Royal Guards to vacation upon. She giggled at the thought after a moment of pensive silence.
“The groups can rotate their time there and have the citizen living nearby forewarned about their presence.” she mused out loud. “The villages on the outskirts of the South-Eastern forest area or the plains of South-West would be open to give them a safe place to purchase provisions if needed.” she continued slowly. Her pace had slowed and finally stopped turning fully to face me. A quick glance showed that our shadowing duo had also paused their steps looking around cautiously. “If they would assist if something were to happen during their time here, the villagers would be happy to accept them.” she stated gleefully. “Especially since they are part of your kin, my Kitty Knight.” she added with a little giggle. She motioned our escort to approach and quickly inform Artea of my idea.
“That would be something the Royal Guard Captains, the Council, and Throne would need to agree to.” Sert commented calmly. “I see the Captains and Her Holy Highness agreeable to this plans, young Kestrel.” he told me with a quick nod and smile. “Lord Kestrel could intercede with the Council but would need the specifics in a formal written contract.” he added with a shrug. I sighed knowing my written skills lacked beyond simple chains of words that could barely convey my fully ideas.
“Could you translate our words into Atlantian?” Artea asked him. His eyes brightened as he nodded smiling. “We can help you write out the details properly and Sertian can translate it to present it to Atlantis.” she explained quickly. “This ideal proposal can be completed quickly with all of us working together, Sir Kestrel.” she added assuring all of us.
“Once completed, I will present it to Lord Kestrel and hope for the best.” I replied with a smile that I did not truly feel. I feared what my Master would think of this idea coming from a child aged member of his retinue.
“Yes, your concept should be yours to present to Lord Kestrel.” Sert confirmed my thought pattern. With a round of nods, we started moving forward once more. Sert and Artea waited a moment to give us the respectful space before following. My steps felt lighter and a mischievous glow had returned to Dia’s cheeks and eyes. At the first food stall of Way Store, our noble rank became a problem. The merchant refused to accept our coins as payment because it was their Queen and her most heroic Knight. No words nor royal command from Dia would have them accept our payment for anything we wished to purchase.
Sert must have noticed our distress and decided without consulting with Artea gaining a shocked looked on her face. As Dia and I stood fuming with a half dozen meat sticks each, Sertian ordered the same for himself tossing double the required payment before turning wordlessly to walk back to Artea. He handed her half of the meat sticks before leaning in to whispered why he was acting so oddly towards her. A quick look between Sert and I was all that was needed for the coin pouch at my waist to be tossed to his waiting hand. If this refusal persisted, which it did, at least Sert could pay feigned that, as a foreigner, he did not understand the currency value. It also meant that he and Artea would be feed as heavily as we were eating.
Dia’s behaviour easily slid from sweet, to petulant, to regal during our passing discussions and depending on the situation present to us by the citizenry we meet along our long walk. Words of praise and happiness meet us at each turn even from the poorest members of the city. We did stop by an orphanage where Sert felt compelled to donate a large sum of food and money to them. Dia stood tall with me at her side as she explained that a noble from Atlantis wished to help as much as she would. Artea matched everything Sert provided in the name of Queen Diadem. Tears of joy filled the eyes of the small group of the members running this orphanage as they thanked all of us for our kindness towards them.
I only discovered later that Sertian and Mekiliean were orphans and could not pass by an orphanage without helping. As for Dia, she needed to help her people as much as possible, especially those trapped near the lowest ranks within her lands. They were victims of the false king’s actions and she could not allow them to suffer now that she had returned. Two dozen children did greet us within the hall of this orphanage in a very rehearsed fashion. Many stared between myself and Sert as we spoke softly to the woman at our side. A young girl had rushed from the room upon seeing us but returned carrying flowers in her hand. She held half of them out to Dia wordless before holding the other half to Artea.
“He’s a beastman Knight.” I heard one boy whisper to another. Neither had notice how close Sert stood to them.
“He is actually of the Royal Guard bloodline of Atlantis, and your Queen Diadem’s Knight.” he corrected them. The two boys turned to face him. From his soft chuckle, I knew they must looked shocked by his statement to them. “He is the hero that helped Queen Diadem return to her proper place upon the throne.” he added softly to them.
“Are you from Atlantis?” the first boy asked. Sertian nodded slowly to him. “We have two Atlantian in our home!” the boy shrieked falling into a gleeful peel of laughter. The warrior chuckled while giving me a quick shrug. We remain there for their noontime meal but avoided eating stating we had been snacking all morning already. Dia teased me with the comment on how most of them were close to my Atlantian age and she did not mind if I wanted to go play with them. I only sighed back without grumbling back at her. She was right but also wrong considering my time skulking around in the shadows following Lord Kestrel since his return to Atlantis.
Upon our return to the castle before evening meal, we started upon the plan to have the Royal Guards of Atlantis free space to practice and vacation within Dia’s Kingdom. It took until the last day with everyone’s help to complete by the morning of the third day when I presented it to Lord Kestrel. I trusted Dia would not add anything to what we had discussed but I was still nervous and shy as I handed the written proposal to my Master.
“Dia told me what was written from my discussion with her but I cannot read it myself.” I told him nervously. My tail was wrapped around my leg to prevent giving away my emotional duress standing before my Master with a proposal he might simply call childish before refusing it. “If something written there is unacceptable, I am not knowledgeable about it.” I said looking sheepishly at the floor between my feet. He cleared his throat and read it slowly making sure I understood everything it said. I smiled and looked up at him expectantly but still fearing denial from him.
“I will present this proudly to the Throne, Guard Captains, and Council of Atlantis.” he told me smirking. My tail unwrapped from my leg to slowly sway behind me as I relaxed. “And they will all know that the youngest Atlantian’s first trip to the other world has made this possible to them.” he continued. His smirk became a smile as he spoke. I stepped back trembling with excitement and nervousness as I felt my eyes widen in shock. “Meli will start teaching you to read and write so you may converse with Queen Diadem through your harpy network.” he concluded. I could not stop the smile flourishing upon my face nor the meow of happiness that escaped my throat.
I saluted and bowed to him before rushing away to inform Dia of this successful first step toward a deal that could protect her people. Two sections had been set aside in the south-west and south-east, a forest area and a grassland plain area. She rubbed cheeks with me before a soft kiss was exchanged on our lips. My limited amount of gear was upon my back as Dia and Artea walked me to courtyard by the Castle gate where a trio of heavy horses waited for the next part of our trip. Sert was waiting with most of their gear already separated between the three horses without over burdening them.
“Young Kestrel.” he called to me as we arrived. “Are you sure you will be able to keep up on foot?” he asked softly in Atlantian to me. “These horses do not seem afraid of your presence which means you could ride one if needed.” he remarked in common slowly. I shook me head at the thought of being on the back of a horse.
“What is our travel path?” I asked not wanting to continue debating me needing a horse.
“South-eastern roads until we reach the mountain pass within a day and a half followed by a day and half to reach the harbor town to meet the Herald in port.” he replied quickly and briefly. Three days before we boarded a ship to return home I hoped nothing odd happened again. Lord Kestrel was escorted by Meli and Greyman to claim his place in the middle horse’s saddle with Meli taking the rear mount. With one last deep fluid Atlantian bow towards Dia, Artea, and Greyman, I was ready to depart with my companions and my Lord. The trip was calm until our Master called us together to close up our ranks as we neared the mountain pass and another minor complication.
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