Heed My Warnings and Survive (Second Draft)
Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

We traveled day, and night, barely stopping to sleep. The days were cold, and the nights were worse. My feet ached, and my stomach growled, but my dreams had been restless. Telling me we had to keep moving, not allowing me more than a few moments of sleep. It was a wretched journey, and the three of us were hungry, dirty, and covered in scrapes, and bruises. The stones in our boots were worse than ever, and our cloaks were not made for this cold, so not only were we sore, and tired, we were freezing as well.

“Draven I need to sit,” Kiara said, and I could hear the exhaustion in her voice. I nodded and sat on the rocky ground, Kiara joined me.

“I believe a fire is in order,” Finley said, gathering wood. I rubbed my eyes as they began to droop. Kiara placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Get some sleep Draven, you’ve had less than us lately,” She said. I nodded. Laying my head on my bag, I fell asleep quickly, and this night I was allowed two hours of sleep before my dreams woke me. I sat up quickly, rubbing my temples. Kiara, and Finley must have dozed off. I sighed, nudging the both of them away. They groaned.

“I know. I’m tired as well, but we must keep moving,”

“Why must we? I’m exhausted, Draven,” Finley complained. I rubbed my forehead.

“I’m sorry Fin, but unless you’re looking to die, I’d say you listened to what I say,” I said, a little harsher than intended. I sighed. “I’m sorry, I’m just tired.” Finley gritted his teeth, and nodded.

“Right,” He said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes.

“Come now boys don’t fight, let’s just keep moving,” Kiara said with a yawn. We continued on, Finley, wouldn’t listen to, or talk to me, and I in turn ignored him.

We walked for hours before coming across a small river. The three of us cried out with joy, running to the water, and drinking our fill, and gasping when we didn’t stop to breathe. After filling our water skins Finley turned to me.

“I apologize for ignoring you today Draven, it was petty of me,” He said. Holding his hand out.

“I apologize as well, we were both being petty, but I am the one who brought it on,” I said, shaking his hand.

“You know, you two really do act a lot like brothers. If you looked a little more alike, I would think you were,” Kiara commented.

“Really?” I asked. I had never had a brother, so I didn’t know how they acted toward one another, but it made me happy Kiara thought we acted that way. She nodded.

“Yeah, you fight, then you apologize, and make up. I only wish my brother did that.” I tilted my head.

“Can you tell us about your family?” I asked, as I sat with my legs crossed on the ground. Kiara took a deep breath.

“Well you did meet them, you saw how they didn’t particularly respect me, my mother only cares about image, and my brother only cares about what father thinks of him, and father, well father’s harsh, and tries to keep up the appearance of a happy royal family, that’s why he tried to get me to stay, but if all he wants is to stuff me into a corset, and have me stand there, and look pretty so that the first prince to see me wants to marry me to better our kingdoms, then I am never going back there,” She said all of this very fast, as though she thought she might get in trouble. I furrowed my eyebrows.

“I thought the Tarni King, and Queen had two sons,” I said. Kiara sighed.

“Yes, my eldest brother, he left us, renouncing his title, and never returning, that’s why image is so important to father, he doesn’t want the slander he got when Arron left us,”

“And what was Prince Arron like?” Finley asked. Kiara smiled.

“He was kind, he’s probably the only reason I don’t agree with my father, and the only reason I left.” She took a deep breath. “You see he didn’t agree with my father, especially when father tried to force him into an arranged marriage with the young, and recently widowed Queen of Telanda, but he refused to do it, saying he was deeply in love with the Princess of Closono, so he renounced his title, and married her as a peasant, and my father hasn’t thought of him as a son since then, and when they come for negotiations my father won’t even speak to him,” she said with a huff.

“Well you don’t get more stuck up than that,” Finley said. I nodded.

“That is horrible, but at least your mother never tried to kill you,” I stated. Finley looked at me.

“Well I’m beginning to feel ok with not knowing my family” I patted his shoulder.

“Feel lucky my friend, you at least are loved,” Kiara said.

“Well as are you, Draven loves you, Phonwhin, and Coan love you. By the sounds of it, your brother loves you, and I as well, but don’t feel threatened Draven, I won’t steal her, don’t worry.” I chuckled.

“Threatened? By you? I wouldn’t even dream of it,” Finley rolled his eyes, and Kiara chuckled.

“Alright Draven, your turn,” She said. “I know Finley knew them, but I know nothing about them.” I let out a long sigh.

“Well my Father wasn’t around much, he was a knight, I only caught glimpses of him before he was lost to an enemy sword. My mother was kind, and soft hearted, unless you made her mad, then she had a fiery temper, and she wouldn’t let go of that anger until she felt repaid for the offense given to her, but she was a good mother. Then there was Aster,” My voice hitched, and sorrow welled in my chest. I took another deep breath. “She was the sweetest little girl you’d ever meet, she used to pick flowers in the meadow, and give them to travelers, and decorate the inns with them.” The memory made me smile.

“She sounds lovely,” Kiara said. I nodded.

“She was. I had just been teaching how to embroider. She used to watch me whilst I sewed, she told me she wanted to do what I did someday.” I sat back. “I only wish I had been able to teach her,” I said sadly. Finley turned away, busying himself with scrubbing his sword clean in the water.

“Perhaps someday you could teach a daughter of your own, Kiara offered. I chuckled.

“Maybe, it wouldn’t be the same though.” She nodded,

“I know. My brother had just begun to teach me archery before he left. That’s the only reason I was allowed to continue it as a hobby. I guess my parents did have some compassion.” I let out a light laugh. As did Kiara.

“What about you Fin? What was your family like?” Finley gave a shrug.

“I never met them. I was raised in an orphanage,” He said sadly. Kiara put a hand over her mouth.

“Oh. I’m so sorry.” he shook his head.

“It’s alright, I’ve had nineteen years to get over it,” he said with another shrug. “And growing up in the orphanage wasn’t that bad. I wouldn’t have met Zander otherwise. He came to live there when I was seven. And through him I met Draven, so the orphanage was a good thing I guess.” Kiara nodded.

“Well I guess we owe all of this to the orphanage then,” she said. Finley nodded.

“And your parents,” He responded. Kiara chuckled, then sighed.

“As much as I hate to admit it, I think you’re right.” Finley chuckled this time.

“I definitely wouldn’t want to owe them,” I said. Kiara laughed.

“They’d just kill you, and say, ‘your debt has been repaid’ and then the crowds watching the public execution would want to question their King, but wouldn’t dare to out of fear their head would be next,” Kiara said matter of factly. I raised my eyebrows, and laughed. Kiara raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“Nothing. You’ve just had more fire since we met your family,”

“Oh.” She closed her mouth, and looked at the ground.

“No no. It’s not a bad thing. I like fiery Kiara.” She gave me a soft smile.

“Thanks Draven,”

“Ugh, why don’t you just get married already,” Finley said sarcastically. I gave him a look.

“Alright, as soon as I’m not being hunted by my former friend,” I said, in all seriousness. Kiara blushed.

“Really?” She asked tentatively. I looked at her.

“Yeah. I had intended on properly courting you first, but I do think this adventure will take long enough,” I said. Kiara chuckled.

“Well for the moment I have every intention of saying yes.” I gave her a look.

“For the moment?” she smiled.

“Yes. Perhaps I discover something I dislike about you that makes me say no.” I scoffed.

“I am offended Princess,” I said indignantly. Kiara chuckled. “Perhaps I won’t ask you then if you have already decided to refuse me.” she laughed some more.

“Draven if you never ask me, then you’ll never know my answer,” She said reasonably. I chuckled, and shrugged.

“Fair point my lady,” I said with a grin.

“You two are positively atrocious,” Finley said. Kiara gave him an offended look.

“Ohho can you use that sword of yours?” I said, whipping mine out of its sheath. Finley chuckled, readying his already drawn sword.

We spared for at most an hour, but decided we should move on, and there’s not much we could do with the lack of sleep, and all the energy we were exerting didn’t leave much for swordplay. We went for a few more days before we decided it was safe to break for the entire night.