#2 (11)

Crownsguard

Gale stood for a short while next to the caravan, keeping his posture straighter than usual. The king looked at him with a side glance, eyes absorbing whatever they could as he judged everything from his expression to how he took care of his sword.

Puffrel floated down, the king looking up with a loving expression at her daughter as she landed. He walked to her. “Good morning, my daughter.”

“Father.” She said, nodding at him. “You wanted to—” Her eyes flicked over at Gale, his damaged legs and bruised body obvious to everyone.

“I wanted you to be here for the new appointing. It’s not every day that a slave’s role is changed to something this important.” He chuckled warmly, and patted her on the head as she nearly rolled her eyes at her father.

“What happened to him?” She asked, sounding a bit too concerned to the king.

“I told you that as he is your subject, he is to care for you and make you safe.” He said, surprised that she had forgotten that she stood above slaves, his eyebrow raised in confusion.

Puffrel folded her arms and closed her eyes. “A princess’s bodyguard must be healthy in order to protect his master. He cannot help if his body is damaged.”

The king held the look for a moment more. “True.” He said. “It’s only some routine maintenance after their failure last night. The injuries have healed enough so that it shouldn’t hinder his performance anymore.”

Puffrel flushed then, her posture growing stiff. The king went on regardless. “Slave,” He said, turning around to make sure he heard his orders. He grabbed a pocket book, read it briefly, the clamped it shut with one hand and stowed it.

“You will now protect the princess at all times. You are relieved of your duties at the western garden and are a higher-ranking slave. You shall accept the mantle of ‘Crownsguard.’”

“Yes, your majesty.” Gale replied, surprised to find his voice.

“You will take direct orders from my daughter and heir to the throne, Puffrel.” He said her name a bit louder, as she blinked and stepped forward. She waved softly, looking up at Gale’s eyes.

He smiled back, happy to see a familiar face.

“You will protect and value my daughter’slife, comfort, and wishes above everything else. Your tasks involve keeping her from danger, scouting out rooms, following behind her, and directing orders to soldiers escorting her.”

“I understand, your majesty.” Gale said, surprised that he would be the one to command others for once.

He smiled in satisfaction and looked at Puffrel. “Is there any order you’d like to give your bodyguard before you set off, Puffrel?”

She stepped forward, masking her face with haughtiness. Gale noticed that it was a bit too clear to be real, and forced back a laugh.

“Apply some ointment onto your wounds, bodyguard. And wash your face. Your image reflects on my own and you are tasked with maintaining it for you will be with my in public.”

Gale smiled as the king chuckled a little bit. One of the nearby soldiers seemed glad to see them in a good mood. “Everything is ready on the caravan, your majesty. Is everyone ready?” He asked as he walked up.

Puffrel and Gale nodded. The king began to walk away but turned around to wave at his daughter. “Take care, kiddo.” He smiled warmly. Puffrel shot him a look that he ignored. She didn’t like it when her title wasn’t addressed, something which the king seemed to find endearing.

They were an odd sight as they sat in the Caravan next to each other, seated out the window. Gale had put on some patchwork leather armor and loomed, nearly too big for the cramped area. Puffrel looked too small, on the other hand, her young slender and graceful body contrasted against Gale’s rough and muscular poise.

The most noticeable part was that she was a child, barely 14, and Gale was an adult at 19. And yet he took orders from her, not the other way around.

An awkward silenced stood between them as the caravan rattled on the dirt road.

Puffrel looked down. “I’m sorry about it.”

Gale blinked. “About what?”

Puffrel sighed. “About… that.” She let her hand drop, gesturing at his wounds on his face.

“Oh.” He said, not really knowing how to respond.

“It must’ve ruined your day.” She said, clutching her knees against her face.

Gale looked out. “Well… not exactly.”

She cocked her head quizzically.

Gale reached a hand up and grabbed the lavender flower that still rested in his ear. “I think someone gave me this gift. It was thoughtful.”

She smiled sincerely for a bit, then lowered her legs and brought her poise to her typical haughtiness. “Well, of course. Any subject is blessed to have received a gift from royalty. Use that blessing to do your job well, my bodyguard.”

“Yeah, sure, whatever you say Puff.” He said, nearly snickering.

Puffrel didn’t take well to not being addressed properly, starting to argue with Gale and nearly shouting. Through it all, Gale kept smiling though.

Yeah, things really sucked. Gale thought as Puffrel screamed in the back of his mind. But now I’m getting to see a little bit of the world.

He looked out to the road and the forest, the cityscape in the background, the unlit torches beside the road.

I’m not going to waste this chance.

DISCLAIMER:

​This series is a continuation of Airlock Bound by Studio High Sea as the series is in hiatus. If you wish to read the original novel, a link is given to it in the description with the first 9 chapters. You may read it at your discretion. Regardless, I—the writer—am trying to write this as its own thing while presenting the previous chapters as backstory, so it isn’t required to read the original.

The original comic was posted under Public Domain, and this is also public domain as well.

​The creator had specified that the series itself was made to prove the possibility of a world without copyright. In honor of that, this series is posted under public domain as well. In both this and the original webcomic/novel, you are not only permitted but encouraged to repost or alter this series. In fact, you can copy all the text and remove the credits—I dare you.

​Thank you for reading.

-AnonymousWriterAB