Fully Cloaked

Within the hour our crew was basically ready. The hours of sunlight were starting to grow short as winter was just around the corner. Most of our travel would be in the cover of nightfall. Thankfully I know the way pretty well.

Queen Valerie gave me a map, but once she described the nearby landmarks, I knew exactly where we were heading. It would take most of the night, but we would reach that particular stretch of the border with time to rest before the meeting.

My only hope was that this gnome could be trusted. I did not Ike the idea of walking into some type of trap. Although this particular gnome did live in Ensis at one point and was Princess Alina's private tutor. If he wanted to harm her, he would have had better opportunities. Maybe he could foresee this meeting going well.

I happened to turn down the correct hallway in the palace to stumble upon Jacobson saying goodbye to his mother and siblings. Lord Jacobson's younger sister shed nearly silent tears. It was strange for someone so young not to be more vocal about her emotions. But someone as little as this brave girl does not generally have to live through so much tragedy in such a short amount of time.

"I'll be back, Liliana! Promise," the newest Swordsman said, bending down to eye level with the sweet girl.

"Daddy used to say that too. He was supposed to protect us," the little girl chirped.

"My friends at the castle want you to be safe even while I'm gone. Mister Finley offered to guard you while I'm away. Does that help?" Lord Jacobson's gentle tone reminded me that he was still just a child himself, albeit a mature one. Still meant more babysitting for me.

The little girl nodded and looked up at the guard who stood near her. She reached up and took the man's hand. The man looked shocked for a moment, but then settled into the little hand in his.

Lord Jacob turned to his mother and hugged her one last time. The sight pained me. I missed these kinds of moments with my own mother. It had been quite a while since I darkened her doorstep. Lady Raley, Jacobson's mother, caught my eye over her son's shoulder.

"Looks like it's time to go. Be safe!" The woman said in parting.

I had not meant to gawk at such a private moment, but it was hard not to with where the family was positioned. Having been spotted, it was best to say something.

"Yes, let's go," I said in Lord Jacobson's direction. Somehow that felt rude. I turned to the rest of the company before adding, "Have a pleasant evening, all."

I was no good at pleasantries. No wonder I enjoyed nature. It does not require you to be polite.

My own departure from my half-brother's house had been much less sentimental than the display I just witnessed. I picked up my bag from the spare room, and told Benate I would probably see him in the next few days. He said something along the lines of "see you soon" and that was that.

Something in me longed for a more of a goodbye that Lord Jacobson received. That seemed so full of love. I shrugged off the emotion. I would not allow myself to be jealous of a kid.

"Ready, Lord Holden?" Lord Jacobson said, stirring me from my thoughts.

"Of course," I responded as a knee jerk reaction. I started off in the direction of the palace stables without acknowledging my moment lost in thought.

Outside we found the rest of our bunch. Somehow I do not think that Princess Alina had time to fully tell Cali all that transpired between herself and Carrion. All three of them were on their mounts, with Alina sandwiched in between the twins.

Carrion was leaning toward Alina trying to tell her something. Cali was distracted from protecting her friend from her brother's advances. As if finding what she was waiting for once Lord Jacobson and myself appeared, Cali broke into a large smile and caught Alina's attention. Surely she wasn't this excited to see me.

Alina seemed to be waiting for the welcomed distraction from a tedious conversation with the unwanted suitor. Her face lit up almost bigger than Cali's at the sight of her final companions. Sir John stood by with the reins of several mounts.

"There you are. Ready to go?" Sir John asked.

"Yes sir," Lord Jacobson replied. I guess old habits are hard to break. He technically outranked his uncle now and such formality, although probably polite, was not required. "You brought Acorn!" He added with enthusiasm.

"I thought you might want something familiar so far from home," Sir John replied, patting a mare on the nose.

Lord Jacobson took the reins and mounted his horse. Sir John handed me the reins of another mount.

"Thank you," I responded. I was given a large dappled steed. He looked strong and feisty.

The rest of us mounted our horses and were about to leave the gate when a steward appeared from the stables with his hands full of something I could not make out.

"Wait! Swordsmen! Sir John!" The poor man shouted. We all stopped and although the poor man caught us, he was having trouble catching his breath. Instead of telling us what he had to do, he just handed each of our party a matching cloak. When the man finally finished his task, he handed me two more of the traveling cloaks.

"The Queen wanted you all to have these. She said your country ride might be too cold to leave the palace gates without them?" The steward repeated the words as if confused by them. "I am sorry, Lord Holden. I do not know why she told me to give you extra."

"Thank you," I replied. Our Queen was a clever one. It made much more sense for us to start our journey with as much anonymity as possible. These cloaks would help.

The steward left much slower than he arrived and with his hand on his lower back. The poor man was not as young as he used to be. Now all we had to do was collect two more adolescences to our merry band