Chapter 258
Vorbuk rode on the same horse as Prince Leo on the way back just as they had done on the way out of the capital. It felt less awkward now that the alcohol was starting to make him feel strange. Knowing he had to keep himself alert enough to maintain his human form however he struggled to maintain a focused mindset as best he could. It was impossible for him to hide the feint flush on his own face as he watched the festive atmosphere as they entered the capital on horseback.
Daryl was frustrated when he had found the four of them with a group of captured and beaten bandits as well as a few dozen slaves. It was like a mound of work had just been piled on top of him. He also needed to ensure that the four of them were safely returned to the palace. While taking care of them in their drunken states.
Having sent some knights to take the slaves back to the palace in carts they were transported back through a less populated route. If they were brought back to the palace from the crowded and festive streets it would cause a ruckus among the people. They could not leave them behind but they had to be cautious.
"I will deal with Bredret later but, your majesty, do you not think it was a bit much to go after him like that? What if rumors spread?" Daryl asked Vorbuk as they rode along the festive streets. The four of them were left alone with Daryl leading them back on his own. Since they had to return more quickly he had intended to carefully return them straight through. The slaves did not need to return quickly and the bandits were being sent to the prison. With everyone needing to work that left him alone to take care of the others.
He originally wanted to make them ride in a cart as well but the drunken King Micah was determined that his horses were to be ridden back and returned to their rightful place. That king seemed to have no trust in others when Bredret was the one that caused the situation to begin with.
"It just sort of happened." Vorbuk had no excuse for what had happened tonight.
"How does this situation-" Daryl found himself cut off by a sudden shout from prince Leo who was riding with Vorbuk.
Prince Leo suddenly shot up as he pointed at a food stall, "I want skewers!"
"What?" Vorbuk pondered if the prince was hungry from drinking or if he was trying to divert Daryl's frustrated scolding away from them.
The prince climbed down from the horse and glanced up at Vorbuk as the prince made sure Vorbuk was still sturdy on the horse, "We're already out here so we should enjoy it a bit on the way back."
"Your highness-!" Daryl wanted to refute and return to the palace immediately with them.
"Skewers sound good." Duke Heket agreed.
"I could eat." King Micah agreed in unison with him.
"Hmph." Bredret didn't respond but let out a huff that showed he did not object to the idea of stopping for food as well.
Daryl felt defeated by the four of them as his brow twitched. Jumping down from his horse and grabbing hold of the horse that Vorbuk was sitting on so that it did not move around on its own. He grumbled to himself as he watched the three of them climb down and stand beside their horses while they waited for the prince to return with food. It was obvious to him that the prince was stalling their return to the palace.
"You should relax a bit more, Daryl." Prince Leo said to him as he handed a meat skewer to the others as they tied their horses to a nearby fence post. "How often do we have time to relax?"
Daryl followed in their actions by doing the same with the two horses he was holding onto. Helping Vorbuk climb down once the horse was securely tied, "Be careful, your majesty."
Daryl is someone who takes tasks given to him seriously. Since he was assigned as a general under King Vorbuk that meant he was loyal to his role. He would protect Vorbuk and his position as a king. That did not mean he was any less loyal to Prince Leo. It was important to him that they were both equally safe.
"Thank you." Vorbuk sighed as he thanked Daryl for helping him down. His help was not needed.
"If we don't get back soon the others will worry." Daryl tried to persuade him.
"We'll head back soon, Daryl." Vorbuk said trying to ease his mind a bit.
"Yes... Alright." Daryl gave in with a heavy expression as he could only imagine how much worse things could get. Especially with Bredret here and a Grand Duke from the Drethia Kingdom.
Vorbuk looked around as he chewed on a meat skewer that the prince handed him as soon as he was on the ground. The prince was beside him as they walked around the area a bit. In the distance they could see a crowd gathered around that was making a lot of noise. They were cheering and clapping along with music that others were playing.
Th-Thump! Th-Thump!
His heart began to beat wildly in his chest as it felt as if his breath had been taken away the moment his eyes set sight on it. There was no way he could mistake it for anything else.
One of the instruments being played was familiar to him more then any other. It was a beautiful piano carved from an elder tree in the lands of Yiven. Elves loved music and sometimes their creations would find way out into the other kingdoms. Not many could come and go from Yiven easily as that kingdom liked their privacy. It was impossible to stop everything from being brought out into the vast continent. Since Theapan was a closely related kingdom to Yiven Kingdom it was natural that some of their creations would be found within Theapan Kingdom.
"What are they doing?" Vorbuk asked with curiosity as he watched the mortals around the center dance around joyously. Some of them were in pairs while others merely danced alone.
Daryl could see the confusion on Vorbuk as he spoke before anyone else could reply, "The commoners do not have something like banquets or balls like the royal families and nobles. To celebrate the festivals they usually gather and dance to their own music. Some of the equipment they find to use are bought and gathered from various kingdoms."
"It is similar for most kingdoms commoners to find their own methods like this." Prince Leo added.
The prince paused for a long time before asking him, "Would you like to give it a try? It could be fun."
"What?" Vorbuk was startled by the sudden invitation to join the commoners dance. The only thing he wanted to know about was the instrument they were using.
"Come on." Prince Leo coerced him to follow him out into the crowd before pushing him towards a random female to become his dance partner and getting lost in the crowd of commoner's dance himself with another stranger.
The crowd did not care about nobles rules to dance. They did not care who you danced with and they did not care how you danced. No rules were set as long as the people enjoyed themselves and had fun. It was like getting lost in a adrenaline rush as a person became free to express themselves as they wished.