king of a small world

The soldiers had discovered their location, and it was better for the duo to leave than get into conflict, so they marched ahead near the river as fast as they could, they had blood on them and it was getting spilled all over the bushes and ground near them which made it easy for the soldiers to track them.

"Look, that's the river! We have arrived." Alexios pointed to the river with his finger and took a deep whiff of breath and looked at Leon with a little smile on his face.

The river was vast, the blue and green water was so pleasing to the eyes, there was a small bridge on it to cross but was not big enough for tens of people, there were boats too but just local people fishing for their daily needs. On the bank of it was a small path leading into the woods.

"Alexios, I am changing course. We are going somewhere else now." Said Leon, with a frown on his forehead panicking in stress.

"What, but we are so close to it? Why?" Alexios had an expression of disapproval of his decision, but it was normal for him to question since they were at their destination.

"Just follow me, trust me, and we must hurry!" He turned his head left to right with his eyes enlarged in caution. He was looking for any kind of threat that could cause them any problem and, after making sure, he signaled Alexios with his hand to move.

"Tell me what's happening!" Alexios asked while following him.

But Leon didn't answer him and kept running into the woods on the path beside the river. Alexios didn't like it and followed him without asking again.

In a few minutes, the trees covering the road cleared and a small village appeared into the thin fog.

"We have arrived. This is the place." Leon rested his arms on his knees and gasped for air.

Unlike Leon, Alexios stood tall. He was not panting or gasping for air. His stance explained a lot about his personality and how much of a strong-minded and physically strong of a person he was.

Alexios took a full view of the village and noted every vantage point in his mind. And looked at Leon and spoke.

"So what's the plan?"

"I have a lot of respect in this village. They will surely aid us. Last time I was here, I saw a boat that could help us cross the river easily and faster than our pursuers." as Leon explained, some men from the village approached him.

"Your highness, prince Leon Ragnar of Yorkan, it's a great pleasure to have you here in our petty land. What can we do to serve you, your Highness?" The men of the village bowed down to him in respect.

When the village was in danger, they were the ones who protected it. They were tall and muscular men with big beards that gave them a rusty, powerful man appearance. They wore helmets made of iron and held rusty axes and swords.

Watching the protectors bow to someone, a crowd started to gather at the center of the village. People were peeking out of their windows to get a look at the person and this attracted the attention of the village's elders who lived at the end of the village.

"Your highness… your highness… what are you doing here? Are you alright my prince" one of the elder came running to Leon. He was panting and sweating heavily because of running. He rested his arms on his knees and after catching a breath, he spoke with his eyebrows frowned in worry.

'Your highness, has something happened?'

Before answering to his question, Leon looked around his surrounding into the green bushes and the pathway they came through. He leaned forward to the Old man and whispered in his ears.

'We can't speak here. Let's talk inside.'

The old man was a wise person in the village whom Leon knew for many years. He was smarter than many of the court men in the palace. By Leon's tone, he quickly realized something was wrong and, without wasting a second, he took them to his house.

His house was small but cozy for a single person. It was well-lighted and clean. There was a big fireplace in the middle of the house, over which dried salmon was harvested along with elves' ears.

The old man asked them to sit on the chairs near the fireplace and went into his kitchen to bring them something refreshing. Meanwhile, Alexios explored the hallway.

"Elf's ears huh, everyone has it in their homes?" asked Alexios as he looked at them.

"Yeah, it's a good symbol, a symbol of victory of the human race over the Elven beasts," Leon replied. As they talked, the old man rushed to them with a tray in his hands.

"here your highness, have some mead. It will help you relax,"

Leon quickly grabbed the glass of mead and gulped it as if he was thirsty for thousands of years and thumped it on the table and looked up into the old man's eyes and spoke.

"We don't have much time left. I will ask you directly. We need a boat to cross the river. There are people after us trying to kill us."

"Your highness, what are you saying?" The old man's eyes enlarged in shock and his voice started to stutter.

"Yes, I know this is serious, but I can't explain you. We will be thankful if you arrange a boat for us quickly"

The old man nodded in agreement with his lips sealed and hurried out of his home, leaving them behind.

Alexios and Leon were powerful themselves, but Alexios was hurt and his wounds were still not healed, and facing a horde of soldiers with their white knight, who is known as the strongest of the nation, was a foolish idea.

"Do you think it will help?" Alexios was just saying something, but suddenly the door of the house was slammed open by someone.

"YOUR HIGHNESS… YOUR HIGHNESS… THEY ARE COMING" a villager was on the door. He was panting and breathing heavily as if he had seen a ghost.

"What happened?" Leon questioned.

"The soldiers… they are heading our way… and there's a big brute with them,"

Leon knew who it was and what he wanted. The news was bad for them and the expression of shock on his faces explained the terror of his name. It was the white knight.

-to be continued