The following morning, a battalion of four hundred armed-men left Ordmond for the west border of Khario. I wished I could've sent more, but other men were needed in the south to meet the advancing armies of Meyadenval, and a third contingent was sent to oversee the mighty waters of Albamo Lake, while the rest remained here in defense of the capital. What strength Anneleon had was already being divided, and our resources were taxed to their limits. Though I stood tall and proud as I watched them leave, in my heart, I still doubted that we had any chance of survival.

Once they had gone, I joined Joven, Mandalin, and Bronn in the courtyard. My plan was to travel with them to the border of Havania, to ensure their safety at least that far. Then I would take my horse, abstruse, on to Magenna from there and hope the devils gave them clearance until the royal princess was safe in her home country.

The escape carriage was being loaded with clothing, and food. Joven cocked his head toward the crates and said, "At least we won't be cold or hungry on this long journey."

A mischievous grin tugged at my mouth. "We won't be cold, but I'd advise against eating the food. Today's recipes included an extra ingredient of Gloriville." His groans told me that Joven knew the ingredient as well as I did. Gloriville was a  plant that  grew plentifully near the orphanage where I'd lived, and was the source of many a lively joke when orphanage life grew dull. Even small amounts guaranteed a full day's vomiting. Suddenly, the mystery of why Mrs. kamala hated me so much was solved.

Despite her attempts to remain serious, Mandalin giggled. "Havania thinks they're battling a king. I doubt they're prepared to fight a boy who thinks childish are practical strategies for war."

"Aren't they?" I said, giving a wink and a smile to bronn, who was already laughing.

Once the carriage was loaded, Mandalin, Bronn, Joven, and I crowded inside. It wouldn't be the most comfortable trip, but if they were stopped at the border, this had to look like a transport wagon, unfit for passengers and certainly unfit for the future royal queen of the land. Mandalin and I sat beside each other on a small bench at the far end of the carriage, while Bronn and Joven took the floor across from us.

Bronn immediately started chatting with Joven, who told him to hush no less than twenty five times before the gates of Anneleon were behind us. I wasn't sure why he bothered. Keeping Bronn from asking questions was like holding back the sea. He talked whenever he was nervous, or bored, or for that matter, awake. Eventually, Joven gave up pretending to listen and just stared forward. His anxiety was evident in his every expression, every movement, and grew worse with each mile.

I noticed Mandalin smiling back at him, hoping to give him confidence in all that would have to happen over the next several hours. He warmed to that and smiled back. I watched the silent exchange, but noticed his eyes linger on her long after she turned away. Of course they would. Mandalin grew more beautiful by the day. Even a blind man would've noticed it too.

Eventually, Bronn ran out of questions and grew as silent as the rest of us. I almost wished he would've continued talking, for the silent carriage felt almost haunted afterward. My mind was no clearer than it had been a day ago, and I was struggling to focus on any one problem facing us without a hundred others begging my attention first. The strain of it made me want to walk or climb or do something other than sit in a crowded carriage as it bumped along a dusty road.

Just to give myself some movement, I stretched out my hands and leg. Sensing my discomfort, Mandalin grabbed my hand and entwine her fingers with mine. Then she said, "Once the three of us get past the border, it's only a few days to Aramoor. If you can hold Khario back until then, my people will come to help you."

"I wish you were coming with us, Richard." Bronn looked down, but his head wasn't lowered for long before he looked up again and said, "I heard Kevin's wanted you and the royal princess to get married. Why didn't you?"

I wasn't sure who had told him that, but clearly one of the servants attending to that room talked too much. I started to scold him for such a question, but Mandalin laughed and said, "Clearly, you know nothing about a girl's wedding day. If I'm at the altar with Richard as he rides off to war, what part of his horse do you suppose I'll end up kissing?"

She looked at me and smiled, and I began laughing at the image. Bronn joined us too, which only made it seem funnier. But from the corner of my eye, I saw Joven looking down at his clasped hands, watching his thumbs rotate.

"The escape carriage will work," I assured him. 

His smile back at me was hopeful, but vacant. Something else was bothering him, but obviously nothing that could be shared here.

It wasn't much farther on before our driver called down to us that the road into Havania was shortly ahead. I ordered him to stop where we wouldn't be noticed, and once there, we exited the carriage. We emptied enough of the crates to pry up the false floor. The space inside was smaller than I'd imagined it would be, but if it was any larger, it would've been noticeable from the outside.

"This won't fit the three of you," I told Joven.

Joven quietly gestured toward Bronn, reminding me that at the last minute I'd insisted he must come along too. Even if the space could've been made larger, there had been no time to change the design.

"It will have to fit us," Mandalin said.

"I'll stay out, if necessary," Joven offered. "Our priority is the royal princess's safety, and Bronn can guide her through Havania toward Aramoor."

"Not once," Mandalin said. "A way must be found for us all to get through that border."

"I'll stay out," Bronn said. We put up a protest, but above our voices, he added, "I'm Havanian, and also I'm young. They won't see me as a threat but they see like an innocent guy." He turned to me. "Richard, you know I'm right."

A lump formed in my throat. "You're the closest thing I have to family, Bronn."

Something glimmered in his eyes. "Then that makes me a prince... almost. If the king risks everything for Anneleon, then I should too."

Difficult as it was, I nodded my permission at him, and then said, "Havania will search this carriage. Tell them the driver allowed you to ride in here on your way home. Make sure they notice the crate of wine, but tell them it's strong and they shouldn't take it."

"That'll only make them more determined to take it." Then Mandalin's face lit up when she understood. "More Gloriville?"

"They'll be sick for a week."

Joven climbed inside the carriage first, and maneuvered his body to make room for the royal princess.

"I may have come to Anneleon because of a promise and a treaty," she whispered, "but I will return again because my heart remains here."

"Then I will see you soon." I kissed Mandalin's cheek and embraced her warmly. When we parted, I attempted to calm the worry in her eyes with a smile and assurance that all was well, though I admit, I wasn't entirely certain of that myself.

I helped her into the carriage, although it was necessary for her to cradle closely into Joven for them to fit, with his arm outstretched for a more comfortable place to rest her head. There was no way Bronn would have fit in there too.

Once they were in, I reminded Joven of his sacred obligation to protect Mandalin, with his life if necessary. He promised to do his best, but never looked at me as he spoke. Perhaps he was uncomfortable in such a tight and awkward position. Or, I wondered, maybe his discomfort came from the other body so intimately fit against his. In an emergency, Joven could release another door beneath them, but until then, the false floor was placed over the top of them and the crates were replaced.

Bronn stopped before climbing in and turned back to me. "Richard, I'm scared."

Considering the danger involved in this next phase of his journey, I understood how he felt. But I also had an idea how to help with that, something I'd considered doing for a while anyway. I withdrew my sword and stood tall. "kowtow," I commanded him.

He stared up at me, confused, until I motioned for him to fall to his knees. When he did, with my sword I touched on his right shoulder and then his left. "As king of Anneleon I King Richard, and the head of the house of Flammia, I dub you, Bronn, into my house, and as a knight of the kingdom."

"Really?" His smile grew wider than I'd ever seen it. "I'll be a good knight."

As he rose to his feet, I sheathed my sword. "The actual ceremony is longer, but I doubt you could sit through the whole thing anyway. This will have to do for now. You are charged with protecting a royal princess. She needs you to be strong, and I know you will be. Get her home safe, and don't be afraid."

"I'm glad you made me a armed knight, but that's not what I meant before," he said. "When I said I was scared, Richard, I'm scared for you."

I had not expected that. The fear in my heart was for Anneleon, and for those around me who were in so much danger. But perhaps I was afraid for myself as well. I told him to be brave enough for us both. Then I shut the door and ordered the driver to move on. Once they drove away, I climbed on Mystic's back and rode to where I could view the carriage for as long as possible. Eventually it vanished and the dust settled. 

Their next stop would be at the border of Havania, directly under the watchful eye of soldiers who could reap untold rewards for capturing the royal princess. Mandalin's fate now lay with a regent who couldn't wield a sword against his own shadow, and a young knight who could barely lift a sword with both hands. Mandalin the royal princess has now fate for the people and to Anneleon.