In the Kingdom of Grandina , the southern most kingdom of them all , in the lonesome mountain ranges above the capitol there was a village for the the outcasts or rebels that once offended the current King.
The dual mountain peaks that surrounded the village stood like sentinels against the southern skyline with their jagged peaks and pristine glaciers and turned them momentarily orange as the last rays of the dying light reached them.
But before the intensity off the sun vanished completely beyond the horizon , 2 ravens were visible from the village and descended at great speeds towards a certain lonesome sorry excuse for a house.
A boy dressed in rags as well as pelts , made from the various animals he hunted each day , lifted up his right arm to welcome the flying creatures and offer them a place to land safely.
His facial features as well as every last piece of skin was covered in this assortment of rags he deemed worthy enough to wear to protect him against the late summer cold.
Ravens were viewed as a beast of incredible influence on the ever lasting ice kingdom of Grandina over the centuries as they even reigned supreme in the current Kings royal crest.
Those beings with their black feather dress and bead like black eyes wandered at the border of Life and Death and were said to posses the power to look into the future.
But these 2 ravens had a ring of yellow withered metal at their feet and to those a piece of paper was tied.
These letters were sealed with the Ravens-crest , the boy saw as he untied it from their legs , and were addressed to him.
Flipping trough the extra vagrant letters and boot licking phrases he entered the house behind him with both ravens sitting on top of his shoulders that enjoyed the relaxation after a long flight.
Reappearing only seconds later the ravens took off involuntarily as the boy slung a tube like bag over his shoulders and secured the straps on his chest.
The moon appeared over the high peeks and began to devour the snow covered lands in its eerie silver shimmer as the boy set off to his final duty before he would be free.
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The corridors were longer then i remembered , it is like after hundreds of years of stability they could stretch themselves , over the short duration of a year , hundreds off miles longer into the old mountain, I thought for myself.
The guards escorting me could not be any older then i am myself and with their 17 or 18 lived winters they were visibly scarred along their hands , arms or even faces. Nonetheless not one un belonging line was visible on my skin , not even the faintest off white marks telling the tale of a fought battle.
As usual every time i visited the royal halls , i burned the images off the high reaching ceilings with their wooden constructions underneath into my mind. Even the long and broad tables for the huskarls of his majesty was a true sight to behold.
Nonetheless the walls lined with shields off each warlords-clan or the incredible sized bathtub like containers for the golden mead , reserved for the King and his huskarls alone , were a sight as breath taking as usual.
Arriving before the wooden throne , the armrests were carved as such that one would get the impression the pictured dragons were about to burst out and swallow one hole , I knelled down before the King.
He was a stout man with average height but an incredible amount of muscles mounted onto his shoulders inform of his arms.
But since the assassination of the old King this once inspiring figure has succumbed to a life-style of drink and feast accompanied with the many occasions of women and left his body spongy and massive instead of compact.
Nonetheless he was the King and i had to pledge my utter devotion to the throne , as i had numerous times before.
" Majesty. " I said while looking at the base of his feet.
The wood creaked and moaned as the King lifted his incredible body out of the chair and stood before me.
" Rise , Anduim Aran-ienn. " The King addressed me with my name.
Even though his body has changed to his disadvantage his voice was still able to inspire the young and old alike and was resolute in tone.
I swallowed back any hesitation letting the weight off my prior full filled assignments propel me into a standing position. Standing straight i saluted the King once more with my fist slamming into the left side of my chest and looked at him.
His brown eyes were sharp and cunning and seemed to stare a hole through the back of my head but I , unperturbed by the intensity of his gaze , had a relaxed look about me and locked his stare.
For quite some time the battle off wills continued only visible through the strength each one of the contestants fixed his opponent with. But shortly before the King was about to look away , noticeable through the twitch of his artery above his brow , I broke the gaze and acknowledged my defeat.
Now i had a short break and took a look at the crowd situated on the left and right side of his Kings throne. The 2 Brothers , children of the king , had a relaxed stance while staring straight ahead without taking notice of my existence as well as the queen herself.
In her years she would have been a true beauty but all the wrinkles and her rather round belly , after her 4 births , belittled the once breath taking Lady and left her with a plump appearance.
As the King seated himself once again i knelled but this time i looked at him directly.
" Anduim , you have read your mission. Tonight during the hour of the setting sun you will depart Grandina and travel to the Kingdom of Lithia by sea. My daughter will study there for 3 years at the Academy of Empires. You are to ensure her safety. " He started.
" After those 3 years have passed and no harm has been done to her you will be freed off your > Name < and you can choose a family name of your liking to escape the hell of being a Itsuki. "
This incredible feeling being close to freedom almost made me shout up in happiness but i suppressed the urge and only my eyes gave my thoughts away.
" Yes your majesty. " I replied resolute after gathering myself.
I received more information about the port and ship i would be leaving on as well as gear for the protection of the princess .
All orders had already been made by the Queen , housing as well as a maid awaited us in the vicinity off the Academy.
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The sun was about to give off its last lazy rays and bathed the port into a spectacle of molten gold as I arrived at the ' Winged Predator ' the flagship that would carry the princess and me to our home for 3 years to come.
With a dragon at its helm and a length off 100 yards it was a genuine dragon boat off the south kingdom of Grandina. Its width spanned merely 6 yards and it had 1 main and 2 off-masts. The handrail was about 4 yards above water , as it was still unloaded , and the body underneath another 4 yards.
Even though rather excited I suppressed any emotion , preventing an outsider of knowing my thoughts. This was trained into me from a early age of 3 winters.
As well as how to use a sword and other instruments meant to incapacitate a possible threat , also the eyes and mind to discern the one that means harm from the one that just uses it as means to bolster his status.
I changed into real clothes along the way , a parting gift off the Queen herself , and now was covered in a black attire with a hood drawn deep into my face hiding my facial features. Climbing the short plank i arrived on the ship and asked my way along to the captain.
" Anduim , reporting for duty. " I called out to the black haired man that was the captain.
His tanned skin as well as his wrinkled hands told tales off his seafaring life but what disturbed me where the 3 golden rings in his right ear.
The person that trained me ever since i was able to walk and talk also shared his memory's and knowledge with me and a Captain off a ship with rings in his left ear was harmless but the right ear was reserved for the pirates , implying that he had looted a 5 ships for each ring there.
Turning his head around he stared at me but nothing told him off my direct suspicion for his past profession.
" Aye , m' boy yar task is to guard the princess , ey? Ya don't have to work aboard the ship." He said in the thick accent every seafarer seemed to have.
Another wisdom my mentor burned into my memory was : that you should not expect one to present you with kindness but exploit it and use these 'friends' to deem them worthy or acquire other real companions.
He told me such things knowing that i was unable to accept people into my comfort zone , i didn't know if this was a defect by birth or perhaps due to growing up with only a grandfather like mentor without a mother or father or even due to the harsh living environment i had to survive in on a daily basis back in the village of the banished.
With my mind made up i went under deck and stowed my belongings in the net like bags that were used as storage room. The sea could become very rough at times and every unsecured cargo was a potential threat , not only to me but what was of graver importance the princess.
She should have arrived already so i went toward the room that was especially reserved for her , which lay all the way back at the stern of the ship. Knocking on the door 3 hard times i waited for a reply from within.
" Yes? " A female voice came through the closed door.
Promptly i opened the door and entered her chambers.
My heart was caught in my throat for a moment. The sun pierced through the windows off the stern carving the outline off her sitting by the window , which involuntarily made me think off the first white blossoms of spring. Her hair was raven black and her skin off a pure white , there was a faint blush on her cheek as I stared too long and longingly at her silhouette.
Realizing that my emotions showed on my face i shook all self conscious thoughts off and returned to a business like gaze.
" Princess , my name is Anduim , i am to study besides you. " I said.
Taking a deep bow with my lower body still being straight and my upper body bent down. The King thought off it as best to deceive his own daughter and introduce me as a comrade rather then her bodyguard to make her secretly comply with his wishes.
This princess the 4th child of his majesty was well known for her temperament and her particular attitude towards her own father , simply to deny him any wish he has for her future.
Countless marriage proposals or even arranged marriages were smashed before her feet but as the youngest child the King was rather lax with her.
" Mhmm , i never had the joy to meet such an insolent boy as yourself. State your full name , peasant. " She commanded me with a sharp tongue which befitted her status as a princess.
Being used to this kind of treatment by her brothers or her other sister i complied with her wishes.
" Mylady , my name is Anduim but as i am a Itsuki i am Anduim Aran-ienn. " I told her and bowed even deeper then before.
I knew from the start that this would not be an easy task , after all i had to get close to the target to be present if anything happened to her or give assistance if needed or defend her with my own life ensuring her safety.
If she died so would i , being hunted by a whole kingdom with a bounty on my head was not a path i would like to take.
" A boy without a legitimate father , eh? What you would expect of peasants. " She rather told herself this then me.
With a wave of her hand she dismissed me from her room seemingly tired off my presence. As i complied with her demand i wondered what other tasks i could fulfill on this ship trapped for 3 weeks without much to do other then to entertain and protect the princess.
Not arriving at any suitable conclusion i decided to ask the captain to give me work , rather then to offer him . He was quickly located atop the cargo hatch directing his deck-man to work harder.
" Captain , give me any work. " I told him up straight.
Turning around i could see a glimmer of mischievousness lighten up his dark eyes.
" Yar m' boy , move those barrels under the bilge. " He said to me with his thick accent.
The berrols he pointed too were loaded with various food supply from fish to apples and even water. Everything was not until a mean to sustain the crew or the princess but also prevent the many sea-faring diseases.
Especially fresh water was a thing that could not be supplied in the middle of the ocean and every ship needed a great enough supply with efficient containers to prevent the water from becoming stale.
These special containers were heavy and 100% sealed against outside influences and those i had to carry down underneath the bilge.
I slung my arms around the heavy container and pressed it tightly onto my chest to secure it from slipping out of my grasp. Normally picking it up and carrying it on top of my shoulders would be the easier task , but I considered the narrow corridors off the innards of the ship so i went with this method of transportation.
After my 7th trip the Captain was smiling at me in a fashion that showed his amusement. But picking up a container for my 10th time I started to head under deck as the Captain himself came over.
" M' boy ya can take a break if your tired , ya know? " He told me out of concern.
I eyed him up for a split second and got the impression that he meant no harm , no rather he meant it for my own good.
" No , Captain , i am still fine. This much weight is nothing. "
His eyes widened in disbelief as he continued to stare at me while i headed for my next trip.
The sun sunk and as the moon took its place the heavenly body bathed the port in its silvery light. Having transported half of the cargo underneath the bilge myself the captain handed me a bottle of liquid to clench my thirst and a towel to wipe of my sweat.
" Ya know m' boy , if ya keep up the good work i might hire ya. " He told me.
I smiled wryly at his offer but decided to solve this diplomatically as to not offend a person that used to be a pirate.
" Captain , i appreciate the offer but you should have awareness off my circumstances. "
Now he eyed my clothes and found what he was locking for. The broken baton was sewn with a silver thread into my cloak to tell people off my rather uncommon birth circumstances.
" Aye m' boy , but considerin ya lifted a 150 pound barrel all by yerself , i would hire ya. " His voice reached me filled with his foreign accent.
Fair enough a living off the sea was a attractive offer but i could not betray this task since i would gain freedom out of it. Not many bastards were alive that could tell the tale off them being freed out of their once slave like captivity.
" I am sorry , Captain , but i still have to decline. But maybe after i'm free i will take you up on the offer. " I told him my honest thoughts.
Even if i accepted this generous offer now , i had to disguise myself every time we headed toward a port in Grandina , i would be a > free-bird< meaning anyone could kill me without hesitation and they would receive a generous gift if they brought back my head.
With a heavy thump the Captains flat hand landed on my back , i thought a bear must have come by and punched me straight across my shoulders , as he stood up and laughed heartily before turning his attention to his deck-man.
" Yar , ye land luvin maggots , lets take this baby outta port! " He commanded.
Soon after , paddles breached the surface off the calm sea and steered us out of port.
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The boat soon met up with 4 others , each one protecting their mates from possible pirates along the way , and formed a caravan on ships across the western sea.
Deckhands ran around like ants on each ship either scrubbing the deck , setting or returning the sails or doing other tasks at hand while i had the most ' honorable ' jobs off all. Tend to the sea-sick princess in her cabin.
Well taking care off her was not the right description as i only had to bring her water or towels as I was never allowed to enter her chambers.
2 weeks later even after her sea-sickness subsided I never got to see her on deck to view the waves or the clouds that most women found romantic. But with her sickness past the captain gave me the opportunity to experience various jobs around the boat.
Reeling in the sail , setting it , climbing in the gallows he even let me control the steering wheel for a short duration. But this was a task that was learned with time. As soon as i touched the wheel the long boat steered out off the wind and the sails died down.
" Haha , m' boy nobody gets it perfect for the first time! " The captain said with laughter.
After watching him do the steering i understood the principle and he let me steer again. Quickly i grasped the techniques he showed me and now the boat was running smoothly along the calm sea due to my own hands.
The thought of mastering the elements to combine the forces of water and air sent a thrill through my body as i felt the boat being pushed along by the wind crashing through tiny waves.
With all the new impressions assailing me i knew nothing of the impending doom that was approaching us. The skys darkened suddenly , covering us in a thick web of darkness , and the waves began to grow fiercer by the minute. The heavy sound of spray , forced apart by the walls of the ship , assaulted my ears.
Thunderbolts struck the water close to us and the deck erupted into chaos. Deck-man running around like a scared horde of sheep tumbled on each other and it would not surprise me if a few of them were trampled to death by their comrades.
A extremely loud noise came from the star-boards side and as i turned around i saw the main mast of the next ship to us go up in flames. Screaming pierced across the dark waters and i saw humans lit up by flames jumping into the oceans , using their last means to escape.
More screams assaulted my ears from the opposite direction as a another ship crashed head long into wave , leaving a broken helm behind and water rushing inside of the ship.
The craft that was being abandoned , due to the raging flames that started from its mast , rammed into another ship and the flames licked their way across both of them.
Taking the initiative i crossed the boat and picked up a rope with an attached grappling hook. Twirling the tangling mass of rope i threw it to the closest ship that was being dragged under by the tremendous force the entering sea water made upon it.
I released the hook at the perfect angle and it attached itself to the handrail off the one next to us. Another deck-man saw my intention and tied it around our main mast. I placed my feet on the handrail and pulled with all my strength. Inch by inch the 2 ships came closer.
Waking up to in excuse able sounds , i was headed , with unsteady feet due to the high waves , towards the ships deck for the first time since the journey began. As soon as i saw the dark clouds hanging above the ship i realized the disaster we had steered into.
The waves tossed our long boat high upon the swell and it suddenly jarred as the bow collided with the remaining floatsam of its discarded cargo.
The boys hands were clouded with the crimson color of his own blood that originated from the burns and wounds caused by the rope the male was pulling in.
This rope was tied to the main mast of the ship and the other end to another ship that cap sized in this blasted storm.
Deck-men were abandoning cargo , throwing it outside into the raging sea , to make room for the refugees that were pulled onto this boat.
The journey started with a fleet of 5 ships and only 2 were still holding their own against the raw power of the natural occurrence.
Or maybe it wasn't a natural phenomenon?
As his body lurched forward he turned back to view my ashen face as i stood atop of the flight of steps connecting the deck to the cabins underneath. In a perfectly still manner i stood there placing all of my trust and faith into this god-like appearance that locked his gaze with mine.
His black attire , that covered his whole body , was drenched by the spraying water off the waves and the wind had torn his hood off revealing what laid beneath.
White hair , not of a aged man but more the white color of the first snowflake falling down from the heavens fulfilling its promise to return every year , that reached all the way down to his lower back and violet eyes were his remarkable features.
His even shaped face was adorned with fine lines and his clear and almost polished like skin combined with his full lower lip and thin upper one perfected the image every women had of the perfect male.
" So that is my last guardian ... " I said for myself as the noise was drowned out by the whip like sounds the raging winds produced.
Even though my father tried to keep the guardian a secret i caught wind of it. I knew that he would knowingly throw himself in front of a sword or even a arrow , without any implications off a second thought and this gave me the mental stability I needed to undertake this journey.
The journey across the utmost dangerous of seas to a place that made this perilous journey pale in comparison and made it appear like a sunday afternoon walk in the park.
Both of us were headed to the > School for the empires < which was located in the neutral Kingdom that provided a legendary Academy for becoming soldiers , noblemen up to even princesses.
Even though this Academy tended to their students every needs , the dark side of the other kingdoms or even my Grandina itself stretched their hands into claws and tried sink those sharpened nails into my flesh to extort every mean they could to gain the upper hand against my father , the King of Grandina.
I kept watching the boy pulling in the other ship , which should be impossible due to the strong current of the darkened sea beneath us , and with a loud thump the 2 hulls of both ships touched.
An endless stream of refugees jumped over and not only a few were pushed away and landed inside the raging sea instead of this boat that represented their safe-haven. The boy jumped onto the other boat and dragged along wounded after wounded deck-man onto this ship saving their lives.
The last remaining man was just lifted up by the boy and received by the crew of this ship as another heavy wave hit both boats. Lifting up the half sunk ship for a last time my guardian took his chance and lunged towards this ship and was received by a cheering crowd of deck-man already celebrating the small victory of their saved comrades.