The Lost Princess

"Fresh fruit here! Best in all the land! Try the new cappa berry!"

"We have the finest jewelry of all! Get your sweet lady a gift! Show how much you truly care!"

"Silks, lace, imported fabrics! We have what you need!"

"Mama, can we get some geeky bread today?"

"Only if you behave."

"How much for this sword?"

"That sword? Well it is nice, but how about this one? You look like the kind of guy who can handle such a sword."

"Jelek, wait for me!"

"Ah come on Kayan, you're so slow!"

Reaching the front gates to Ay Su, Vestin and Jensek maneuvered their horses through the crowded streets as they watched the merchants that lined either side call out sales pitches for their products.

"I thought Ay Su was made up of main students from the school," Jensek said.

Vestin looked back at him from his horse and smirked. Normally Jensek kept to himself as he wasn't one for friendship or anything close to it.  

"Yes, but that is the Central City you speak of, it contains the school for the royals and nobles, a school for the servants who wish to work inside a palace, and the military academy. The Inner City is made up of servants of the main castle and their families plus the troops who've graduated from the military academy. The Outer City consists of merchants, people of various talents and crafts, also Inns for visitors passing through among other things."

Jensek rolled his eyes and scoffed,

"So they separate people with walls. Makes sense to keep the poor away from the rich. what you don't see you can't envy."

Stopping his horse he looked back at him and shook his head,

"That's not what they are doing, Jensek. This kingdom's system was thought up by a merchant who married the queen and became king," Vestin pointed to the castle turned to school, "With the main focus being on the castle it gives the troops an advantage to see enemies coming. They are also close to both commoners and rich alike giving them chances to make sure either side is protected. The old king was thinking of all the lives that live in this beautiful kingdom when he came up with the system."

Looking up at the castle Jensek scoped out the advantages the soldiers would have in a battle. Being able to split your troops in two or more meant a wider area of protection. One thing was for sure the army of Ay Su held thousands of nothing but the best soldiers in all of Zanooma.

"Now that you point it out, this place is on a bit of an upward slope. I guess you could say it was a military tactic to build the city around a hill," Jensek said as he shrugged his shoulders.

Vestin looked back upon the crowd and then up ahead as he mentally carved them a pathway in his head.

"Well if we keep pressing through this crowd we might be able to reach the gates to the Central City soon. I wonder where the rest of the crew is. Maybe they have already made it to the gates and are waiting for us," He said.

"It could be possible that none of them made it out of the forest back there." Jensek shrugged as he motioned his horse to move again.

"Is your whole way of looking at life negative all the time?" Vestin sigh as he followed behind.

"I just choose not to get my hopes too high for nothing," Jensek smirked.

"The cup is always empty for you then my friend," Vestin said and rubbed his left temple.

Jensek peeked behind him an eyebrow raised as he scoffed,

"Captain, since when have we ever been friends?"

Vestin took in a deep breath then let it out slowly then said,

"Don't take it literally, Jensek, I was speaking figuratively. Anyway, let's just keep a lookout for Gibson and the rest."

"Your wish is my command, Captain," Jensek said then raised his hand to his hand and saluted Vestin half-heartedly.

They rode on in silence looking over the faces of the people within the crowd.

Vestin start to worry that he and Jensek were the only ones left of his small band of soldiers. He also wondered if Gotte would be able to make it through the woods with those creatures leaking about. While he only pretended to be on the side of the hidden king he did care about the men in his command. 

"Captain, we should proceed with our orders, for now, don't you think?" Jensek said breaking the silence.

"You're right we can look for our comrades later. Let's move to the school. They should be waiting for me." Vestin said.

"They are expecting us?" Jensek asked while he scratched his head.

Vestin shook his head and said,

"No, they are expecting me."

"Oh...." Jensek said.

"I was admitted into the school as a student to give me access to the school. With me being able to roam around freely on campus grounds it will let the search for the princess go a lot smoother." Vestin replied.

"This had to be your idea," Jensek said.

"Why do you say that?" Vestin asked.

Jensen stopped his horse and looked back at Vestin his eyes narrowed as he stared at him then said,

"Forgive me for speaking out against the queen, but she is far from being able to make such detailed plans. She is more the charge and kill first type."

"You may be right, but let's keep talk like that to ourselves. we never know what ears may be pointed in our direction." Vestin replied then motioned his horse to move ahead of him.

"Too true." Jensek nodded and followed behind.

They made it to the West gate of the Inner City. They showed proof of there business there and were allowed entry. Vestin then turned to face Jensek.

"This is where we part ways now. I am to head on to the central City you may take up some rest here in the inner city. They have a bed waiting for you in the barracks. Get some rest and scope out the city while I look for the princess if she is in fact here. once the intel is gathered I will send you back to Serenity with the information."

"Roger that Captain."

Vestin then when to head for the castle then stopped and turned around to face Jensek.

"Jensek keep a low profile. If you happen to find the others inform me as quickly as you can. Those creatures had poison on their darts so if any of them did make it out alive they will be in bad shape."

"I'll keep my eyes open. What type of poison do they use."

"The deadly kind. I think its called Death's Doorbell."

"Death's Doorbell. Then if any of them survives they will have gone mad. It would be better just to kill them out of mercy."

"No. There is a cure just look for a man named Gotte, tell him this phase 'The valley is beautiful at sunset' and he will help you." 

"Got it. 'The valley is a beautiful at sunset.' How do you know he will help?"

"Because he raised me from a boy."

Vestin then rode off and headed for the Central City gates.