Harak

Eliza's party has been moving at a steady pace. They now had enough mounts for their wagons meaning that they no longer needed to expend their energy on walking. It has been four days since they left Lumostib.

The general atmosphere around the party has been mostly positive. The prince hasn't sent out an order to look for Eliza yet and it seemed like Blake was on their side.

'At least I know that he is incentivized to let me leave this kingdom.' Eliza thought to herself.

Eliza had a sleeping Natalie behind her, she was napping on a makeshift bed she made out of pillows and camping gear on the back of the second wagon. The light of the sun was blocked out by the tarp roof that they installed on the wagon. The person currently leading their wagon was Varmoot, he had a peaceful expression. He let out a yawn. "Only three more days now, tell me Eliza, what does freedom smell like?"

"Like horse shit and trees."

Varmoot shrugged. "Fair play, the regions around here are clear of monsters. I'd say it's because this is a more active path than the ones we've been going on for the first leg of our trip."

"I just hope that we don't encounter any more strays before we get there."

The wagon in front of them was having a conversation of their own. Retang was the one handling the horses, which gave Tarik the ample time he needed to finally ask a question. " Harak, What's with you and that mage?"

"Huh?" Harak scratched his head. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean… and I don't want your usual spiel about her being your superior. I want the real thing man." Tarik was nudging the mace-bearer with his elbow.

Harak looked back to the sleeping form of Natalie and their leader who appears to be conversing with their archer.

"I..I don't know what to tell you." Harak held the stare for a few more seconds.

"Ugh.. fine, I'll get straight to the point." Tarik placed his head on his hand. "Are you two a couple?"

At this Harak paused for a second, he pondered for a whole minute before finally responding. "Sadly, that's a no."

"Sadly, huh… well you can share it with us. It's just the lads right now, old man Retang over here would keep your story to just us too."

Retang gave him a small grunt and a nod of acknowledgement.

Harak stared back once more and upon confirming that she was finally asleep, he started to explain.

"We were childhood friends, our parents were both soldiers who fought in the frontlines."

Tarik was at the edge of his seat, Retang looked to the side making sure that his ears were ready for the story that Harak was about to share.

"I won't bore you with the details, but she eventually passed the entrance exam at a magic academy in the capital and I asked my father to send me to a barrack nearby. She wanted to have someone familiar there and well my parents were far too easy to convince." His expression darkened. "We stayed there up until she graduated. She chose me as one of her personal guards and well here we are. We're both 20 and I haven't done anything."

Retang took out a small flagon with a cork on top. "Here have some liquid courage."

"Yeah, that can't be it. She's far too friendly with you, the two of you are practically a couple already." Tarik nudged him with his elbow once more.

Harak took the flagon of ale and downed it in one swift motion. "I haven't done anything because of what I found out."

"There we go, now continue."

"I didn't mean to do it, I was supposed to just be on guard outside her tent." His cheeks flushed. "I heard noises coming out of her tent, Of course as her guard I..I had to check."

"My eyes lingered for a few seconds, I can admit that but I went out soon after." Harak's face was one that was filled with regret. "I found her in bed, with a royal."

"No fucking way." Tarik blurted out. 'I knew she was seeking someone of high birth, but a royal?'

Retang's eyes widened, he assumed that she was waiting for Harak to make a move.

"Indeed, I couldn't believe my eyes either. To think that she would lay with the second princess herself." Harak continued. "It seems that I never had a chance in the first place, whatever it was that she was seeking… I never had it in the first place."

"Rahh, I can drink to that." Tarik pulled out a large glass container from his satchel. "Rum, 50 coins for a single bottle."

Retang held his right hand up high. "To the rest of you, I say we rest at that clearing."

"Let us go and have a round of drinks, It seems that we pushed a little too far today. Wouldn't you say so Tarik?" It was Retang's turn to nudge the swordsman.

"Hahaha.. yes and I'd like to give my sincerest apologies through this rum, I have an extra bottle!" Tarik pulled out another bottle.

They set up camp an hour before sunset. Natalie would wake up to the sound of Retang and Tarik trying to cheer up their comrade. Varmoot heard everything and was forced to join in, Eliza was happy to bond over something which is why she welcomed the alcohol.

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'To Hektor, The journey has been going well so far. My party is amazing and we are half way to the ports. It's only a matter of time before we leave this kingdom and the continent as a whole. I'm almost sad to leave it all behind, but my happiness and freedom comes first. We are a whole group of elites you know? The kind that people would think of as a hero's party. When we land in the eastern isles I hope that your birds can still reach me. These letters were my lifeline before and I would hate to leave them behind. Respectfully Yours, Eliza the Party Leader'