The Lady

The cold water shocked Avery as he landed in it, causing a large splash. Water flooded into his mouth as he was caught unaware by the sudden fall. He lifted himself to the surface and gasped for air. The river wasn't flowing too fast and he was able to keep his head above the water.

"Your Majesty!" Shouted Chen in a panic, he quickly ran towards the river bank "Hold that rider!" he ordered the guards angrily.

Two guards quickly ran go grab the rider. The rider was dressed in a long brown hooded cloak which covered their face. The other guards either blocked the bridge or ran down to the river bank with Chen to help Avery.

Avery felt the cold slowly running through his body, starting at his feet and finger tips. The numbness was uncomfortable and he started to panic.

"Hurry up Chen!" shouted Avery, his teeth chattering. Losing his usual calm demeanour.

Chen reached the river bank and snatched a spear from one of the other guards and pointed it butt end towards Avery.

"Grab hold Avery, I'll pull you in!" he shouted.

Avery grabbed hold and swam towards the shore with the help of the guards pulling him in. The water splashing him in the face as he was dragged in.

The guards on the bridge reached the rider's horse, grasping at the reigns. Suddenly the rider jumped off their horse and ran to the bridge edge, looking into the river towards Avery.

"Halt!" shouted the guards at the rider, one of the guards pointed his long spear at then whilst the other held on to the reigns. The rider turned and pulled back their cloak. Revealing their face to the guards. The guards were dumbfounded and didn't know how to react.

The rider turned and looked down towards the river bank. Avery looked back and recognised them immediately.

"Damn it Lola!" cried Avery in anguish. "Watch where you are going!"

"Sorry Prince Avery!" she replied apologetically. "I have urgent news for your brother Caspian!"

Lola looked panicked, her usual pale omplexion had turned red with embarrassment. She looked at the guards around her.

"Your reigns, Lady Lola." spoke one of the guards as he handed her the reigns to her horse. Fear in his eyes. Lola was the daughter to Lord Tamworth, one of the advisors on the Kings council. Lord Tamworth was a loyalist, and thought alongside King Harold in many conquests during their youth. The Guard couldn't believe his bad luck that he had just threatened to arrest the lords daughter.

A guard placed a cloak across Avery's shoulders to warm him up, whilst Chen frantically checked he was ok.

"Caspian has gone," replied Avery. He thanked Chen and headed back up to the bridge to collect his horse. "He's headed to Rhinetown at the Kings order."

Lola's deep blue eyes suddenly looked serious. "He can't have gone yet!" she exclaimed. She grasped the reigns of her horse and started to re-mount it.

"What's so urgent that you'd knock an innocent bystander into a freezing cold river!" replied Avery seriously.

"Father has passed me news about the tribes and I needed to warn Caspian before he departed!" she said saddened. "How far behind him am I?" She asked.

"At least half a day" he replied as he reached Darkline and mounted himself. "What is the message?" he asked.

Lola headed to Avery and whispered in his ear. "He's walking into a trap, father believes by sending Caspian, the tribes will see it as a target."

"So Melwin is using Caspian as bait?" he replied seriously, many thoughts going through his mind. Was this Melwin's way of making Caspian disappear? But Caspian was loyal to Melwin and would never try for the throne. If the tribes caught Caspian it would be an opportunity to ride north and destroy them, thought Avery. Which meant claiming more lands for the future King Arthur.

"Chen!" ordered Avery.

"Yes Sir?" asked Chen with a serious expression, his usual jovial attitude disappearing after the earlier incident.

"Get me your fastest rider and give him this message to pass on!" Avery then whispered into Chen's ear a message. He trusted Chen with his life and he was using that trust now. Chen nodded and headed in the direction of the guards post.

"And Chen!" shouted Avery. Chen turned back to Avery. "The drinks are on me tonight."

.....

Lola followed Avery into the the city. They walked their horses down the cobbled roads. Passing many shops selling different wares.

The first shops that they passed were the armour shops, with the sounds of a hammers banging against steel in the workshops reverberating . A tall female guard covered in battle scars stood at the door of the shop, holding a large two handed axe. She nodded her head in acknowledgement at the sign of Avery and Lady Lola.

Lola was a well respected in Oldtown, she was renowned for helping the people of the city, which in turn helped her father's reputation as The Kind Lord.

They soon passed the clothing stores, with taylors and dress makers selling their garments. A Taylor ran forwards to Avery's horse.

"You're highness, would you be interested in any of my fine wares this evening, I have many suitable clothes that would bring out those lovely eyes of yours?"

"Lady Lola, I have never seen someone of such beauty before, please come and see these dresses that would look beautiful on you for the next palace ball" shouted a dress maker.

They passed many stalls selling freshly baked goods, Darkline couldn't help but walk towards a stall that was selling fresh fruit.

"Good evening Prince Avery!" shouted the fruit seller. "The usual sir?" he asked.

"Yes please." He replied as Darkline quickly ate the black apple that was handed to him from the fruit seller.

.....

They soon reached the Royal district. The royal district was full of large houses and Villas which only the most prominent people in the Haven Kingdom could afford. The long road through the district was called St Steve street, and lead to the Royal Palace.

"Thank you for before Avery, and I'm sorry about the river." Lola apologised. "It would be great if you have time to see my father?"

Before Avery could reply he noticed up the St Steve Street a royal carriage was heading in his direction. The carriage was circular and golden, with a lilac decal trim. It was pulled by two large duel horned white horses from the Radiance Kingdom. Guards clad in royal armour walked at its side.

"Move in the name of the Queen." shouted the guards.