Chapter 52: The Best Tracker
The prince and Garrett walked down the path away from the palace, his small group of men following behind. If he wanted to, he could go through Direwood forest by himself; the prince knew the woods inside and out and could live in the wilderness if he wanted to. He did, once or twice back in his rebellious days of not wanting to take on his role as the Crown Prince.
But after many years and the death of his mother, he decided to grow up and take on his responsibilities. He still had fun on the side, but that was either by killing something or someone or having one or two women to keep his bed warm at night. For the past few days, though, he uncharacteristically declined his usual mistress.
The prince made sure to bring his blades out with him today, sheathed and crossed behind his back, mainly hidden from any opponent’s view. He carried his bow and quiver, too; they were his prized possession and were never found useless if an enemy thought they could escape. Because they never did escape, once he saw them, they were his for the taking.
99% of the time, he killed them on the spot, but there was that small 1% that sometimes scratched at the back of his mind, and he would take them prisoner. But this was neither mercy to them. They would be tortured or waiting for their impending death.
The prince walked in a comfortable silence next to Garrett while his men behind him joked about the Eldora, making him smirk. There was word spread from the Eldora tribe that lived in the western part of Direwood that there were some trespassers. He laughed when he received the message.
They were asking for the Flori to help in such a matter that could have easily been resolved if they fought off such pests. But there was a feud between the Flori and the Eldora. The Eldora did not fulfil their duties on the small part of the land they were allowed. Instead, they reached out to them, ’warning them’ of a new threat heading their way.
He scoffed; threat? No one was a threat to him. Not one single person or beast had taken him down, and even if he met someone that could kill him, he would still laugh in their face. Death did not scare him. It was just another adventure he would embark on.
He marched forwards and frowned slightly before stopping abruptly. He felt as though somebody was watching him, and so he turned on his heel and searched the surrounding trees. Just as he raised his head, another one of his warriors appeared by his side. It was Cedric, one of the younger elves of the group; he tended to let guard closer to the palace.
Cedric was a good fighter, but his wife was pregnant and due anytime soon, and so he let him be closer to her, ready for when the baby would come. A pregnant wife was the only tender spot he had in his ice-covered heart. Otherwise, he did not particularly care.