Year 1000 October 30th
~Somewhere in Ponia~
They were a scouting company, he had learned, and his goal stood out in the group with her black hair. All the others had either red or light brown locks. The horses followed the group in a meandering way, stooping to eat grass whenever they could. The lady who he followed hadn't noticed Wisp yet, atop the cliff.
The group below him plodded along the riverbank. Their feet shuffled in the grass. They weren't paying attention as to what was going on about them. Their voices carried across the water as clear as if he stood right beside them.
"When can we camp? We've been marching for ages,"
one man said. His feet drug the slowest. The brown haired woman, Tink, if he remembered aright, turned on the man.
"Stop whining! The great movement has begun. We're losing ground daily. We have to meet with Los and see what his plans are."
The man shrugged, head drooping and lips turning down. He looked like a puppy that had just been told no.
"Someone is following us!"
she yelled. Her chin pointed at him.
"Mila, good eyes, who is it?"
the other man, shaggy brown hair, said. He got closer to Mila, ready to protect her.
"Mila, do you know him? You look funny,"
a long red hair woman asked. She had her arms crossed.
"Yes, I saw him that time that.... when I got attacked. He saved me then said I had to hide,"
she said. Wisp grinned. She remembered him! His heart ker-thumped in his chest. The men below pulled out a bow then got into their stance. They was going to shoot!
"Stop! Didn't you hear her? He can't be a full blooded enemy. Don't kill him,"
Tink said as she raised her hand in the air.
Red hair woman stepped forward, hands on her hips.
she yelled. Mila did her best to look away and not watch. The horses couldn't possibly be more interesting than him.
Wisp sighed. He leaned over the cliff and stared down into the water. How too get down right away... if he went down the way he had come up it would be hours before he arrived by the river on the same elevation as the scouts. Wisp grasped a thick vine, pulling it with a jerk. It held its place. Holding tight with both hands he leaped.
Snap!
The vine cracked into two pieces flinging Wisp onto the bank and at the red head's feet.
"What are you doing?"
she asked.
Wisp stood, wiping sand and dirt from his clothing.
"Who gave you the right to stalk us?"
the red head asked. She grimaced, eyes almost closed in a cold glare.
"I have to protect Mila from harm,"
he said.
She stared.
"Did Los send you?"
she asked. Wisp shook his head. He hadn't even met this Los person.
"Nope."
Mila pushed herself in front of him.
she yelled. Wisp shook his head, grinning. She sure was a strong girl.
"Of course you do. You're the queen of Ponia no matter where you are or how you're dressed."
Her face turned away. He could see her chest moving fast. Wisp held back a chuckle. It was so cute when a girl got into a fit.
"I am not the queen yet, I may never be if the rumor proves false."
Wisp racked his mind for all the tid-bits he had collected from the labi he helped. Which rumor did she speak of? There were so many.
"Which one?"
he asked. Mila turned her back to him, saying nothing.
She watched Tink and the second red-head talking.
"I know, I think it's because we're so tired,"
Tink said. The red head nodded, her head moving as if she was controlled by a puppeteer.
"We should rest here before pressing on to the meeting place."
"Agreed."
Mila stepped closer to the group. Wisp followed her.
I'll never let you out of my sight again, I can't have your carelessness costing us the entire country.
"Is he part of our group now?"
first red head asked.
"What's your name?"
Wisp asked. She shrugged and stared at Tink.
"The long red hair in the red dress is Kare. The red head with twin braids is Zeea."
Tink pointed to the two men.
"Those two are lazy and useless. Call them anything but late to dinner."
Wisp laughed loud and long.
"I have a lot of those back home,"
he said. Mila retreated behind Tink. The others crowded around staring at him up and down.
"Deciding whether to buy me and butcher me up for dinner?"
Wisp asked. He let escape a nervous giggle. The tips of his ears were flushing pink.
Zeea asked. She held a hand to her nose. Wisp lifted his arm and sniffed. Smelled fine to him.
"I have but... I don't need to yet."
Zeea snorted.
"I say we dump him in the river and run while we can."
Kare nodded.
"I agree. We don't need some random.... what are you?"
Wisp bowed low in the finest of styles.
"I am Wisp of Honeysmith Castle. I would have you know I graduated into knighthood top of my generation."
Kare shrugged.
"Sure, but how are we to know that you won't go around tattling to the enemy?"
she asked.
Tink said. All jumped at her voice, speaking so sudden.
"Furthermore, I've heard of the Honeysmith knight. He is known all over as honest, loyal, and kind to all. An upholder of the laws. He received an award, did he not, Mila?"
Wisp stared at his goal. Mila... her hair was a bit longer than the last time he had seen her.
"He did, a year or so ago, when we were still at peace,"
she said slow and reluctant. Tink grinned.
"It's settled then. You're trustworthy if nothin' else. I can always use more help in our team. So many 'ave died that it's good to have some fresh blood."
Wisp pumped his arm in the air.
"Perfect! What do you think Mila? We're going to be stuck together like meat and fat. This'll be the best lark I've had since entering knighthood."
Tink chuckled.
Mila smacked her forehead. Wisp kept grinning. It was going to be so fun to annoy this little princess. He rubbed his hands together. This was going to be a very enjoyable quest.
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