I Became A Vesper | Part I | To the Palace

Chapter 1: Parting

“Are you sure you want to go with him?”

Astra hummed, closing the drawstrings on her pack before turning around. The tall brunette behind her was gazing at her in no little concern, so she gave her a reassuring smile. 

"It's been a while since we had to be apart for so long, hasn't it?" After ten years of friendship, she was also reluctant to say good-bye. “I’m sure, Lexi.” She stepped fowards and took the other girl’s hand in both of hers. “We need to look for ways to get home, and the palace isn’t suited for Ladron. Besides, we'll cover more ground by splitting up.”

At the sound of his name, a man with hair the colour of lavender pulled back into a long tail glanced their way, his arms laden down with bags that he was loading onto a packhorse. Astra grinned at him, raising her voice to add, “If we leave Ladron on his own, he’ll only get himself into trouble. Someone has to keep an eye on him.”

The man in question pouted at her words as he finished what he was doing and came to join them. “I’m capable of behaving if I have to,” he complained.

“No, you’re not.” A fourth voice interjected. The speaker stepped into the street and came to stand beside them - a chestnut-haired man in silver-plated armour and a teal cape. “You can't keep your hands off of anything that glitters, you light-fingered bandit.”

“Now you’re just being mean!”

“I assure you, I did not mean it that way.”

Ladron lightly hit the armoured man on the shoulder with a gloved hand and grumbled, “Can’t you just be nice since we won't see each other for a while?” The long golden earring on his right ear swung with the movement, like a pendulum.

The knight smiled at the protest. “I jest, Ladron. Be well, and be safe.” His gaze shifted to the lanky brunette beside him. “Lexi, I’m counting on you to keep an eye on him. Don't let him fall back into old habits.”

His concerns were valid. Ladron was a former - or at least, he claimed as much - thief, and an ex-convict. In the years since he'd met Aleron, he'd tried to learn to keep his hands to himself, but sometimes his instincts got the better of him. “Leave him to me, Aleron,” Lexi replied, linking her arm through Ladron’s with a refreshingly confident smile. The thief in question, though he was not necessarily being complimented, still put on a sappy expression at her touch, his gold-green eyes sparkling.

Astra could not help but laugh at the sight of the man’s self-contented grin. “Lovebirds,” she teased, reaching to shake Ladron’s free hand. “Look after each other. Write when you can.”

Aleron, a bit reluctantly, stepped in as he glanced at the sun. “Our appointment draws near. Astra, we should get moving.”

“Alright. I guess this is goodbye for now, then.” Astra exchanged hugs with Lexi, the former whispering something indistinct into the latter's ear before the group split into two pairs. Aleron led Astra down a narrow street while Ladron and Lexi vanished into the general bustle of the crowd and were lost from view. In the meantime, people seemed to be unconsciously parting for Aleron and Astra when they saw the former's flashy armour and the silver pin that held his cape in place - a symbol of office.

Most of the locals had light skin and hair ranging from light blond to deep brown, like Aleron. Astra, with her jet black hair and wheat-coloured skin, drew a few curious looks, but she had learned to ignore the scrutiny of the populace and focused on keeping pace with her knight companion. When the afternoon sun hit her face just so, the faint dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks was clearly revealed, and her brown eyes lit up with shades of amber and warm maple.

“… Aleron, I hate to trouble you, but could you slow down a bit?” she eventually had to ask after struggling to match the knight's much longer stride. Aleron seemed to be in a rush, striding forwards without pause or consideration for his shorter companion.

Realizing his discourtesy, Aleron immediately slowed his pace and apologized. “Forgive me, Astra. It seems I am more eager than I had thought.”

“You've been away for over two years. I understand.” Giving him her best smile, Astra patted his arm. “I look forward to seeing the palace you'd told me so much about.”

“I am certain that we will be able to find information there,” he told her as he guided her expertly through the crowded streets, using his cape or his arm to pave each step for her. “Once the audience with the king is over, I shall take you on a tour of the castle, and introduce you to my men.”

“That sounds lovely.” Astra pondered something for a moment or two, before deciding to ask: “Aleron, may I ask what the king is like?”

Aleron, as a knight of the kingdom, naturally had to report to the king once he returned from his unplanned, very long journey. But while he had a duty to give an account of his recent adventures, Astra did not. The chestnut knight had been very insistent that Astra not meet the current monarch of the country.

At the question, Aleron's expression fell slightly. Astra chose not to press, waiting quietly for his reply. He adjusted his expression before opening, “His majesty is a renowned fighter who conquered a portion of the Tanabrin Empire’s territories in the last war twenty years ago, and is also responsible for the current treaty which exists between our country and theirs. Since assuming the throne, he has ruled with a firm and disciplined grip. He is a great man.”

But not a good one.

He didn’t need to say it for Astra to understand. Aleron had only described the current monarch's virtues, but none of them had anything to do with the man being just or kind. “I think I get the picture.” No wonder he didn't want her there. "I'll quietly wait for you to finish, don't worry." 

The street that they walked on began to slope upwards. Around them, the hustle and bustle of the general population began to thin as they drew closer to the palace that Astra could see in the distance.

“We will meet with the Crown Prince first,” Aleron explained to her, “as my departure from the capital was by his direct order. But afterwards, I will still need to report to his majesty. My long absence was unplanned and potentially unexcused, so it may take some time to explain everything. But I'll handle it, so don’t fret.”

The noirette raised her brows at him before gesturing down at herself. “Do I look like I’m fretting?”

Aleron felt a smile tug at his lips as he said, “No, you do not.” Looking ahead, he changed the subject. “Look, you can see it now.”

Following his action, Astra turned her gaze upwards.

Before them stood the majestic palace of Ateole. A sturdy wall ran around all sides of the imposing structure, with pennants of violet and gold fluttering from the tops of each tower. The palace itself was so large that she could not see the whole thing when she was this close. In the distance, she could see several other buildings – perhaps other, smaller palaces – surrounded by gardens.

The wall walk ran until both sides met at the large, heavy wooden gate that they were approaching. An ornate emblem embossed in gold was emblazoned on the arch hanging overhead – a large bird in the midst of flight, holding a lightning bolt in its claws and a jewel of some kind in its beak.

“Is that the royal emblem?” Astra asked, jerking her chin at it.

“Yes, the Thunderbird,” Aleron replied, indicating the pin on his shoulder which held the same symbol. “A raven from legend, who descended from the heavens and granted a bolt of lightning and a holy crystal to the ancient Hero. That lightning was used to forge the sword that the hero would later wield, and the crystal was said to contain a power that could purify evil." Patting the pouch at his waist, he added, "Both the sword and the crystal had been lost to time, but both are referred to as the Hero's relics. Together, they form a set. The royal family is said to be descendants of that hero, and so they took the legend as their symbol.”  

“How very dramatic,” Astra commented, hearing Aleron chuckle as she studied the emblem with more interest. The two soldiers who were guarding the main gate stopped them when they approached, but not to hinder them. Instead, both of them, who were relatively young men dressed in plain jerkins and armour, had expressions of delight as they rushed towards Aleron with shouts of joy.

“Captain! Captain, you’ve returned!”

“We heard the news that you’d finally contacted his highness, but to think that the rumours were true!”

Astra stood back slightly as she watched the two soldiers enthusiastically bombarding Aleron with questions and greetings, a smile on her face. Seeing her patiently waiting, Aleron lowered his head and said something quietly to the two men, whose excitement subsided, and they nodded and saluted him as they went back to their posts.

“Please go ahead, Captain,” one of them said as Aleron smiled at them and beckoned to Astra. As the noirette stepped up to pass through the gate with him, she caught the curious looks from the two guards and dipped her head in a nod.

“You didn’t tell me you were so popular, Captain,” she teased Aleron as they stepped from the dirt road onto the cobblestoned courtyard and headed for the central palace, which was the largest building and built almost entirely from imposing marble.

Aleron rubbed at the back of his neck, embarassed. “I would not go so far as to say I am 'popular',” he replied. “It is just my long absence that has caused such a big reaction.”

“Uh-huh,” Astra raised a brow, clearly not believing him. Aleron let out a sigh. 

The guards at the entrance to the palace were dressed differently than those at the gate. These men were older, with sharper eyes, and were wearing ornate armour with purple capes. They questioned Aleron and Astra both for some time, with Aleron presenting the notice he’d received from the palace as well as the pin which was his symbol of office, before the men nodded and let them inside. A manservant was waiting for them at a nearby staircase, and he hurried to greet them as they entered.

“Welcome back, Captain Aleron. His majesty has requested that you make your way to the audience hall.”

“His majesty has?” Aleron’s brow creased. “I was under the impression that I was to meet with the crown prince.”

“The crown prince in currently in his majesty’s company,” the manservant explained, “And his majesty has ordered for the guests to be brought before him immediately. Please, allow me to escort you.”