“Oh look,” she spoke to her horse, one hand used to remove the water he so rudely flicked at her. “Someone is jealous that no one wants to get close enough to whisper anything to him because he reeks of Booze and shit,” her tone mocking but loving, if such a thing were possible it would be between these two. However, she was done so she mounted up and took point just to spite him.<br/><br/>“Try to keep up with that hag you insist on riding,” she chided him before she galloped off. The road to the capital was a swift one with no one bothering to so much as glance in their direction let alone impede them in any way. Whether it was being recognized or the glare with which Ausan often fixed in their direction when the mood suited her. What mattered was they were once again in the familiar lands of their youth, heading back to a place that neither truly wanted to be but compelled in hopes of the promise of adventure. Over her shoulder, she glanced at the man who was her best friend and she could not help but smile. These moments were some that she always enjoyed above all others. Moments where they rode their hearts out and relished the sensation of freedom that came from atop horseback. A part of them perhaps thought that if they ran hard enough and fast enough they could escape the future that their parents sought to choke them with.<br/><br/>The hopes of broken children caught beneath the shadows of their fathers. Hope that still burned, even if only a flicker now that one day it would all be different. A day when they could rise above the darkness and show their light to the world.<br/><br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: orange;background:orange;"/></div><br/><br/>“OUR LANDS ARE BEING TAKEN FROM US BY THE SAVAGES OF THE PLAINS!”<br/>“YOU’RE OUR KING DO SOMETHING!”<br/>“PROTECT US!”<br/><br/>The unhappy people of Linden shouted to their King from an angry crowd that had gathered to have their complaints heard. Off to the side of the room, Ausan stood with Barth, her eyes on the crowd for signs of danger to the prince as well as any hint her father’s whereabouts. The man would surely be there, always a weasel as he sought a way into the chicken coop to get some eggs. The title, power, and money were his eggs that he hungered for like a starving man. If there were a way to make any of that, he would be there to jump in. No matter who or what could be damaged in the process.<br/><br/>Her father, the opportunist.<br/><br/>“What are you going to do to help us?” Came the final question from a burly farmer who looked like he might have served in the military at some point. A stocky man, thickly built with the bearing of a man who could handle himself even without the accompaniment of a sword. Fists the size of hams, Ausan did not doubt he could punch out most of the guards in the room before they overwhelmed him and even then, she doubted that would be the end of the fight. A man like him would likely fight until the last of his breath left his lungs.<br/><br/>“Why not send someone to investigate?”<br/><br/>That voice, familiar to her ears made her back stiffen and a slight tremble quake her hands that rested on the sword belt about her hip. A look back at the king and there was her father, the man who still to this day made her feel like nothing but the unwanted child he beat mercilessly for years to make her tougher and stronger.<br/><br/>“A small party that was reliable and willing to ensure the protection of Linden and her people…” his voice dripped with such scheming venom that Ausan wondered who among them did not feel ill just from hearing it. As if he felt her eyes on him he turned his head and stared dead at her with a smile as cold as ever. She knew what was on his mind and knew it had to do with her and Barth. Now, she just had to see if the King would get the same idea that he just boldly hinted at.