Wilson raced back to the inn. He found Ailith

“We must save the Princess,” he told her.

“From what?” asked Ailith. “An overeager suitor?”

“It’s not a joke. I think she is in danger.” Wilson told Ailith what the servant had said and what the ostler had told him.

“That does seem strange.”

“Strange, it is more than strange. We must head over and talk with the Grand Duke. Perhaps he will tell us the truth.”

Ailith smiled. “That is what I like best about you Wilson, around you there is never a dull moment.”

“Are you with me?” asked Wilson.

Ailith strapped her sword on her hip. “Do you even need to ask?”

They rode back to the Grand Duke’s castle. When they reached the main gates, they reined in their horses.

A guard stepped out of a small guard shack beside the gate. “What can I do for you?” he asked.

“We are here to see the Grand Duke,” said Wilson.

“He isn’t taking visitors.”

Wilson got off of his horse. He walked up to the gate. He gestured to the guard to come close.

The guard stepped up to the gate. “Yes?” he asked.

Wilson grabbed the guard around the neck and pulled him hard into the iron gate. The guard struck his head against the gate and fell to the ground without a sound.

Wilson looked back at Ailith. “Well?” he asked.

“Well, what?”

“How do we get in?”

Ailith shrugged her shoulders. “Not sure. Maybe you shouldn’t have started a war before we had some answers.”

“That isn’t helping.”

Ailith pointed to the stone wall. “Jump?”

Wilson looked at the wall and nodded. “Here, hold my reins.”

Ailith grabbed the reins while Wilson mounted his horse again. He then moved close to the stone wall and stood up in the saddle. He leaped from there onto the wall.

After a few moments, the gate swung open. Wilson stepped out from behind the guard house with a smile. Ailith shook her head. “I guess it is time.”

They rode up to the main castle. As they approached the stone bridge over the moat, a dozen soldiers streamed out of the front gates. Each of them wore armor and carried a halberd. The soldiers formed a semi-circle guarding the bridge.

“Why are you here?” asked one of the guards.

“I am a Roc Rider and a body guard to the Princess of the Realm. I am here to find her and return her to her father. Will you stand in my way?”

“She isn’t here,” shouted one of the guards.

“Nonsense,” answered Wilson. “I know she is here. Do you stand in my way?”

“We serve the Grand Duke. He asks that you leave. If you do not, we will stand in your way.”

Ailith walked her horse closer to Wilson. “There seems to be quite a few of them.”

Wilson nodded. “There are quite a few.”

The Black Oak Sword

Chapter 1: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Chapter 2: Part 1 , Part 2
Chapter 3: Part 1 , Part 2,Part 3
Chapter 4:Part 1,Part 2
Chapter 5: Part 1
Chapter 6: Part 1, Part 2
Chapter 7: Part 1, Part 2
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14:Part 1
Chapter 14:Part 2
Chapter 15:Part 1
Chapter 15:Part 2
Chapter 16:Part 1
Chapter 16:Part 2
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19:Part 1
Chapter 19:Part 2
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22:Part 1
Chapter 22:Part 2
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40

**AUTHOR'S NOTE: You may notice I just substituted Ailith for Aella--I finally made the leap because I think the name fits her background and cultural heritage better.

© 2017, Stone Golem Publishing, All rights reserved--no part of this may be used without express written consent.

**All pictures used are labeled for reuse. They come from Pixabay

Follow @bigpanda for more flash fiction.