The carriage wheels clattered across the dew-soaked lawn before the castle. "Arriving at the last hour, aren't we?" Jimor called out, striding toward the carriage. Two horses and an elderly rider stood waiting, their breath misting in the morning air. Jimor offered a wave, "Hey, Pratt."
From inside the carriage, Sereti's voice spilled out, bright and lively. "The birds assured me they would wake me before the first crow. I guess we all had to sleep a little longer after such a busy day." Her eyes looking out in the direction Jimor was walking, Sereti pulled her legs out, grinning with the joy of a new day. Jimor stretched his right hand forward to her. "Yes, they had a pretty wild feast up there last night," he commented, his left hand pointing to Ethera's balcony. Sereti let him assist her out of the carriage.
"There was so much to do at home after the rain. I was miserable when I found one of my silks, a bit exposed to the wet air. I had to get it dried before going to bed," Sereti explained.
Jimor replied with a very relaxed tone, "Hmm, we are going light for the most. Ethera is parking a castle."
A large vase hung on the wall in a guest room; Festov stood before it, admiring the artistic craft in molding it. Dan walked in and said, "Let's get going." Festov looked away from the wall and picked up a large load. Dan walked toward the arched doorway leading to a barricaded corridor that walled the room. "Sereti is here," Dan informed his cousin.
They both, with their luggage, walked out of the room.
Festov, with a gulping smile, began, "It's the summer solstice. I am profoundly excited about this journey, Dan. For so long, we haven't had any adventures. A few hunts and picnics have been our days of late,". He stopped, looked back at Dan, and added "and it's about to change!" in a voice sharp as glass.
Dan's face sparkles. He responded, "Yes, my brother. We are going out there beyond the hills and all the places we have ever been. There are no greater adventures. I am so..."
"You both, time is racing. Let's eat," interjected Klobb, Ethera's father, walking from behind them. "Good morning, uncle," the two young knights chuckled.
Walking to the dining hall, Ethera's face is teary with a flush on her chin. The thought of not seeing the familiar walls, rooms, and all the lovely people she had known makes her steps uneasy.
"The last breakfast," she whispers. Two maids walked into the hall before her, and another made an exit, bowing at her as she came into the hall.
Chelia, Sereti, and Jimor; their place around the table makes them the first to sight Ethera.
"How was your night, sweet girl?" asked Sereti.
"I will eat light, the night was full of indulgence in cakes and nuts from the bye-bye well-wishers," Ethera said with a pause just behind her chair before pulling it. Staring at her best friend blankly.
As the dining resumed, everyone was cheerful.
With her eyes flicking from Kobb to Chelia, Sereti speaks excitedly and with all seriousness, " We have the pleasure of going on this journey with Ethera. I will keep a note of each day's event until our return, especially to fill your minds with the adventures which I am certain would be worth reading sometimes even by us who are going on it."
"And we shall be greatly pleased, my dear," Chelia obliged.
"Sereti, I like the idea. I hope you have enough journals to contain the days," stated Festov in response to Sereti's idea.
Jimor laughed faintly as he dropped his fork into the plate, "What more is there to write about than the tales of trees and towns, a few wings and hills?" he asked unconvincingly. A statement that turns the attention of those around the table in his direction.
"Truly, you might have a point, but remember, we are getting on roads that only a few from our kingdom care to walk. Who knows what the days may hold? I am certain we will have a lot to write about," objected Sereti with her eyes directed towards Ethera across the table, who sits on the left of Jimor.
Chelia points the right side with her fingers at the young lady, "Absolutely, there is so much to this adventure. I will be filled with joy to read even the obscure tales of snakes travelling across jungle floors and the winding nights under compressed rocks", Ethera clapped to the words from her mother, which to her are full of the vivid possibilities that only time can reveal. The others joined in, and Kobb raised his glass in agreement.
The entire castle erupts. There are greetings and hugs, laughter and bumps of familiar folks. All who had come around for a final moment with the travelers, so that in no time, there was no one on the upper floors.
Everyone from all around has gathered outside where the five horses carrying the needs of those whose heels fated to mount them at the East end of the Glove's wide lawn.
Kobb stood close to Ethera, who was just a few inches short of his astute, tall stature, holding his wife Chelia by the hand, speaking almost faintly,
"Your mother told me last night she would have loved to follow you a bit on the road, but that would not be necessary. You have your closest people on the brave horses to ride with you. You will be fine," He encouraged her.
Ethera, with her hand on her sword, replied,
"Father, we are all trained from when we were little to swing and rule the order of swords. The very core of our family. Do not worry," she replied to Kobb, who nodded with every word that came out of his daughter's mouth.
Chelia would not say a word.
As the five mount their heavily loaded horses, there is a loud shout, clapping, like never before heard within the premises of the castle.
Jimor rode first, followed by Dan, then Sereti.
While Ethera and Festov lingered a little longer due to hands reaching them on both sides. The five magnificent steeds began their journey from the house of Kobb, ridden by mutual hands that they have connected with, in the steady sun amid dragonflies and bees. And the people who deeply love them.