Chapter 20: Loading up

After the scare of what had happened the night before, Shir found herself unable to fall back asleep. Having hours of free time, she had packed her supplies for the upcoming trip. Gaining a quick scolding from Toney about planning to do it on the morning, upset that she thought it would be ok. Expressing that she should be more organised than this, especially due to the delicate task of the volcano. Shir already knew the mage liked to have his time organised, to have his schedules run smoothly; even if his lab is the complete opposite. But she had learned the hard way of how seriously he takes it.

As the gentle rays of the morning sun began to rise, Shir looked over the three main boxes of her supplies. Toney helped with labelling them. The first she double checked through, her general clothes, snacks and waterskins for the road. Even holding the tin of ointment Toney had made her a few days ago. She scanned over her necessities before nodding in satisfaction that she had all she wanted. Next, the larger box held her mobile armoury. At the bottom held a couple of shields, a long sword rested at the back with a bow. On the sides held her arrows and chainmail. Even a pair of daggers rested on their stands.

Nodded in a satisfaction again, she locked the box and moved to the third. The third and smallest box held her first aid gear, a few medical instruments for quick healing. Toney had added a few potions for healing or general ills and prevention. With a stretch, Shir looked over to her maid. Eva was resting by the window. Having helped in packing but also clean up the mess she had made with the water. Shir was not mad at her maid, she would have done the exact same thing if she thought Eva was dying.

"Eva" Shir called over to her maid softly, her maid hummed once her attention was caught.

"Yes, Princess?" The maid spoke in a tired tone, having been up with the Prince since the smoke incident.

"Can you help me with my armour?" The Princess asked, her chainmail and plates were sat out neatly. Like Shir had always kept it when she had a mission or trip to go to. "Once you have done that I guess you would have a week or two off" the Princess giggled, wanting to lighten the mood.

Her maid chuckle slightly, she looked too tired to really care for jokes at the moment. "Of course Princess" she bowed as she prepared the armour. Grabbing an underlay, to go under the chainmail. Shir helped her maid in undressing, not wanting to leave everything up to her after all the work she had already done.

"To be honest, you are going to need this brake" Shir admitted. Even if she knew her maid would still be expected to tend to her chambers, it would be a weight lifted to have the Princess away. With a softer chuckle, Eva replied.

"You think so?" The maid had lifted the chainmail over the Princess shoulders. Resting the heavy links over her chest to protect her torso from any slashes if combat ever approaches. After fitting the chainmail, her maid worked on setting the plated armour on her. Each plate engraved with royal markings, cloths of the purple colours to represent her kingdom. With a quick stretch, each set of the armour felt more and more comfortable. Having trianed within her armour as long as she could remember, it felt natural to the Princess.

With a quick glance in her mirror, she saw as each set of her armour fitted. The plates covering her vitals, shoulder plates sat so neatly. Even if the chest felt a little tight, the blacksmith had added a little curve to make room for her beasts. "The armour does make me look flat" Shir sighed softly, it wasn't too uncomfortable but she did sometimes hated how flat the plates were. "I'll have some other servants to bring my boxes down" Shir promised her maid, "you don't have to worry about lifting them yourself".

With a bow, her maid left the chambers. Shir followed until they said their goodbyes when Eva left to her sleeping chambers. The Princess following the hall down to the main courtyard. Once she opened the great doors, she was greeted with a buissy scene. Two main carriages were parked by the entrance, large shires were currently being hooked up to pull them. Some expeditionists were loading up the seconed carriage. Boxes with what Shir assumed to be pickaxe's and any other equipment they used to dig up old ruins.

Most of the workers were currently getting their horses tacked up. A large and grand carriage was what anyone from the royal court would use. "Hey" the Princess called out to a servant who looked the least buissy.

"Yes, Princess?" He asked with a small bow.

"In my chambers can you and another gather my supplies? They are right by the door" Shir asked, handing him the key, "and lock up after". The servant bowed and rushed back in, on his way to follow his orders as the Princess looked over the courtyard. Toney was by the carriages, helping in loading in the more delicate supplies.

Shir turned her attention to the stables, even though she had a carriage to ride in with Toney, she would prefer that Autumn to join. Even if he would be ridden or not, she had trianed Autumn as a foal to be a war steed. The stallion may be used more as a hunting horse, he had seen his fair share of battle. And the Princess did not trust any other horse to ride into a battle with. "Even if we won't find trouble, it is better to be prepared. After all that monster had flown there, I should have my best at my side" she analysed. Seeing her horse bored in his stall.

"Hey boy" Shir cooed, using a baby voice as her horse wined in greeting. "You look bored out of your mind in here" she chuckled, unlocking the stall as her horse trotted out. He was a young stallion with a lot of energy, a stall was no place for a horse like him. At least in Shir's opinion. With a whistle, she lured her horse to the storage shed, taking out her saddle and rains. Quickly brushing her horses coat before tacking him up. Autumn looked ten times more excited than in his stall.

Quickly patting his shoulder she held his rains to lead him back out to the courtyard. Two of her boxed now in the main carriage, most horses hitched and ready to leave. "No, Shir, you are not riding all the way to the volcano" her father informed from the stairs. The stone stairs towering over her as she lead her horse at her side.

"Excuse me?" Shir pouted, looking up at her father who stood with his arms crossed.

"You heard me" King Arvin spoke sternly, "the roads had become dangerous with the new announcement. You would be safer in the carriage than on your horse, final word".

With a huffy sigh, Shir scanned the courtyard until she saw Eoviet. He was helping Toney with loading up the carriages, "Eoviet!" She called. The boy lifted his head to find who had called him, Shir gesturing for him to join her. She could feel her father's questioning gaze as the boy bounded over.

"Need help?" Eoviet asked softly, his posture more tense and uncomfortable as the King stared down at him.

"Yes" Shir nodded, handing him the rains, "I can't ride Autumn over so can you?". The Princess asked as her horse sniffed at the boy, even playing at the hood he had. A more curious gaze came from the Princess, this robe was not any of the enchanted ones but it was still Tonies. The Princess began to wonder why he had one of Tonies robes, a mage's robe.

"Oh- sure thing, no problem, Princess" Eoviet smiled softly at her and began to lead the stallion to the hitching post. But his nervousness and uneasiness did not go unnoticed.

"What was that?" Shir looked up at her father again. King Arvin raised a confused brow, his arms still crossed over his chest but he gave his daughter an innocent look.

"What was what?" Arvin asked, his tone his usual soft and gentle pitch. Shir rolled her eyes at that.

"That glare? Eoviet couldn't hurt a fly why are you acting like that to him?" Shir confronted, pointing out her father's behaviour. He wasn't the type to suspect people like that, he would leave that worrying to the court. Shir also felt a defensiveness, unsure as to why but she felt a need to defend him.

"Nothing, it was nothing" King Arvin spoke, his tone more of a warning than as ensuring her. Shir wanted to ask more but the King was already by the guards, most likely to tell them to protect his daughter.

With a more annoyed sigh, Shir made her way down to the cart, the last boxes of supplies being loaded in at the back. "Toney" she greeted, the mage looking up and giving her a smile.

"Shir, nice to see you are on time" the mage chuckled slightly. "No more abnormalities?" He asked with a little more concern. Shir nodded.

"Well my fire hadn't randomly smoked out again so I can assume that I will be fine" she gave a more playful grin. Stretching and hearing her armour clank into a more comfortable possession.

"Perfect, I see that Eoviet will be taking little Autumn?" Toney gave a more questioning eyebrow. Looking over to where the boy gave the stallion a quick treat as he was hitched up.

"Father wouldn't let me ride and I'll feel better with my own horse. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Autumn seems to like Eoviet" Shir shrugged, opening the carriage door. Stepping in she was greeted with a familiar sight. Soft seat, fine and low tables and certains made of silk on the windows.

"Think you can sit back and relax?" Toney playfully pouted by the door, leaning on the entrance.

"Yeah, you all look to have it sorted" Shir playfully shrugged back, chuckling a little.

"Well, you have time to change" Toney offered, "we will be on the road for a whole day. Do you really want to be in bulky armour in here?". Shir quickly shut the curtains.

"If you leave I can just take the plates off, I have clothes on underneath" she explained, already unstrapping her shoulder plates. Toney nodded before leaving and shutting the door.

Leaving the Princess to take the plates off. Setting them neatly on the spare table, she now sat back in the chainmail. Underneath was a basic outfit, ment for a comfort under all the steel. Deep blues under the chain links, looking more like a commoners outfit but it was enough for her armour. Once comfortable, Shir opened the curtains again, even opening the windows. Allowing cool air to sink in, the gentle sunlight painted the rich interior. It didn't take long until she heard Toney call out.

"Alright! Let's get a move on!" He announced, entering the carriage with the Princess, closing the door behind him. "Ah, the most comfortable outfit of them all, pure chainmail" the mage joked.

"Better that nothing" she shrugged jokingly. Feeling the carriage begin to roll as the shires pulled and stirred it. From the windows she saw the workers and guards mount the riding horses. Following the carriage as it moved out of the courtyard.

A huffing head sniffed in, Autumn walked right by the window where Toney leaned in. "Got my apprentice robe, riding a royal horse, I wonder what the citizens would wonder who you are" Toney joked again. Eoviet could just be seen from the open windows.

"Stable hand? I mean, the Princess is obviously in the carriage" Eoviet joked back, more relaxed as he rode the stallion.

"You'll be fine, Autumn actually likes you" Shir spoke this time, her tone holding a giggle.

"Well, volcano here we come!" Shir cheered, more so out of excitement. The realisation that she would actually be able to see this volcano in person. Feel the heat of the aftermath and discover these ruins. She began to wonder what kind of history she would be able to help find. New secrets to dig up and follow with Toney of untold stories. As the carriage began to ride down the city, that voice began to whisper again. "Don't forget what you saw" his voice muffled, "find that entrance- the arch and from there you can see the history on the walls", it instructed. Shir could see Toney tense when it spoke. "Just what are you?" She thought.