Deeper into the woods. Pt 2

Boys sat on the ground having a small snack, while also having a small talk about their training and successes that they are aiming for. While they were having a conversation, Eskel came up with an idea.

"Guys, let's do something different…" his eyes started to run between others, waiting.

Lambert looked at his friend, rising his eyebrows. "Like?"

"Well…" started Eskel, "You know, how we are always on the ground of the keep, right?"

Lambert gestured his hand towards Eskel, saying "Continue"

"What if we were to explore the nearby areas, for example, those woods?" said Eskel, bringing a smile on his face.

August immediately voiced his opinion. "No! This is not allowed. Remember? What the teacher told us?"

"Bla, bla, there are beasts and dangers all around. We need to train and grow first," replied Eskel, shaking his head from side to side.

"Tsk" said August "This is just a part of what he told us!"

"Boooring" said Eskel, clicking his tongue. "Rules are meant to be broken"

He looked around, towards the faces of the other boys. Lambert didn't remove his usual smirk from his face, while Gweltand Geralt had their eyes running from one side to another.

"Come on, guys" his head fell, "We are here 24/7, we need to take a break! What better way to do that, other than explore somewhere we haven't been to?"

Gwelt scratched his head, showing a small, unsure smile. "You might be right"

Chuckle escaped Lambert's mouth as he said, "Don't be a scared babies, we live only once!"

"That is my friend! Lambert, I see the passion in your eyes" said Eskel, rising his head to the sky, showing a gleeful grin.

*Sigh* Geralt's chest raised up, as he exhaled lungs full of air, saying "Alright, I'm in. Might as well see what is out there."

Everyone now directed their gazes towards August, waiting for his final decision.

Frowning, August looked into the eyes of his friends "Alright….. It won't hurt too much to see what is out there?" his head dropped, as his eyes looked towards the ground. "Is it?"

Eskel went ahead and walked near August, wrapping his hand around his neck. "This is a right decision, my friend"

He pointed his finger ahead in the sky. "Let's go ahead and see the wonders that lie beyond!"

August brushed Eskel on his ribs, saying, " In this direction, nothing lies, but an endless mountain range"

"Right," sharply said Eskel, turning around and quickly changing directions "This way! Adventure awaits!"

Boys walked into the woods, going deeper and deeper, finding nothing worth mentioning. This was only making their thrill for an adventure slowly die down, while in search of something that could make them excited they were going further and further into the forest.

Slowly, step by step, they were nearing something that they were not expecting. Something that would reveal them a terrible truth about their future.

Boys held the path towards the road, one of those that was rarely used by anyone from those that travel here, but rare travellers that were not familiar with the roads around here. They would still stumble upon it and travel through these woods.

Right now, on this road, a carriage with several guards was holding their way through the kingdom of Kaedwen keeping their way somewhere. A carriage was beautifully dressed, with expensive woods and graceful ornaments.

Right now they were on the brake, to let their horses replenish some stamina, while guards and people that stay within the carriage could eat some food before hitting the road once again.

Boys were slowly nearing the road on which carriage stopped.

Boys walked out of the forest, facing those that travel along the carriage.

One of the guards shouted, spotting someone walk out of the forest. "Intruders!"

His hand immediately reached for a sword. With the point of the sword directed at the boys, he shouted, "Hold there!"

Boys immediately stopped moving, rising their hands in the air, showing no presence of weapons, everyone, but August.

Guards were dressed in the armour of the knights, but they were missing the key part that could make August go wild.

Rose

Getting hit by an elbow of Geralt, August looked towards his friend. He didn't say a word, but just tilted his head to the side.

Geralt, without saying anything, moved his eyes between August and people that were pointing their swords at them.

August quickly understood his wrongdoing and lifted his hands up, showing no hostility.

Suddenly, everyone heard a soft feminine voice coming out of the carriage. "Bernard, you don't need to be so aggressive. They are kids, look at them"

"Hello" Eskel said, waving his head and wearing an awkward smile on his face.

Door of the carriage opened as a lady of insane beauty walked out of it. Her long dark hair was flowing down her shoulders. Eyes blue as a sky, perfect face and graceful long dress, colour of sea.

She had a relaxed smile on her face and with no anger in her voice, she said, "Hello kids! What are you doing here?"

She placed her finger on her lips, looking at the peaks of the trees.

"You know what? How about all of you join us on the dinner? There we will talk!" she tilted her head to the side, wearing the same friendly smile upon her face.

"Miss!" shouted a guard, with enlarged pupils and an open mouth.

She threaten Bernard with a finger and said, "Bernard, do you job and lower your weapon!"

Bernard's eyes raced from side to side. He opened his mouth "But….."

Woman furrowed her brows and looked towards Bernard with eyes that were not accepting anything but agreement. It was just a glance, but it was enough for the guard to understand.

He loudly swallowed and commanded, "Lower your weapons! This is order from your Ladyship!"

Woman already turned towards boys that were still frozen. August and Geralt's eyebrows were slightly lifted, while Eskeland Lambert's mouth were fully open.

She gestured towards the boys to move closer and said, "Come over here"

She invited them with a slight gesture of her head, seeing boys unmoved as she continued.

"We can talk, you don't need to fear me"

"Sorry Madam" stretched August

"Hahah" woman slightly chuckled, cutely covering her mouth with a hand

"You don't need to call me madam"

Placing a finger on her chin, she said with bright eyes, "For all of you, I'm just Freya"

Bernard was ready to argue with his Madam, but before he even had a chance to speak a word, before his mouth was able to create a moving sign, he saw how his Lady sharp eyes pierced right inside on his soul, making his mouth shut.

Boys walked close and welcomed Freya with awkward bows, that brought a bright smile on her face.

Neither of boys knew how to rightfully behave in front of such a figure, neither they were taught how to behave in front of such.

"Just be yourself boys" said Freya.

She rolled her eyes and slightly shock her head, saying "Leave all of those for future, right now just be the kids you are"

She looked at Gwelt and inquired, " You seem the oldest of all. Are you brothers?"

Gwelt fingered side of his cloth "Well…."

"Come on, don't be shy" said Freya.

"Kind of" finished Gwelt.

She observed all the boys and concluded, " I see no similarities between you. Might that be that you are part of one big family, while also having different parents?"

Boys nodded their head in agreement.

"Oh, that is wonderful!" said Freya, endowing boys with another beautiful smile.

"Thanks madam" said August.

She looked towards August with soft eyes and repeated, "F-r-e-y-a for you"

August eyes slide to the side as he says "Fr…Frey..a"

She walked near him and lifted his head to face her eyes. Softly lifting his head up, she said, endowing August with a small hug, "Good job"

August avoided any eyes contact with her, but stood still,not moving an inch, closing his eyes, giving it all to sensation.