After staying in the royal city of Aaron Landis for a few days, the Tarsdar mission set out on the return journey. The Tasda people left this majestic and prosperous city on horseback with the welcome of the citizens of the royal city along the avenue. However, the people watching the lively on both sides of the road did not know that they were the two of Aaron Landis. The prince also followed the mission and embarked on the road to Tasda.
Due to various considerations such as safety, as well as Gallan's request, the news of their going to Tasda was only known to a small group of people in the upper class of Aaron Landis. King Camos issued a strict order forbidding the news to go out.
Behind the Tasda mission were five hundred sturdy and majestic guard cavalrymen, who followed the rear in the name of escorting the mission.
Unbeknownst to the people of Wangcheng, their prince was sitting in a carriage in their farewell procession.
It was not until they got out of the royal city, away from the lively places and on the road, that Garland and the others got out of the carriage and rode their own horses.
Of course, although it is far away from the main road of the city, there are still people coming and going, but as long as you put on a cape and a hood, and you don't pay attention, no one will see it.
Heimos' mount was naturally captured in the north and brought back, a steed with reddish-brown hair. At this moment, it walked slowly, and the well-matched muscles also showed a streamlined texture, as if every part of it showed strength, both soft and strong.
And Garlan's mount was a white foal sent by King Camos six years ago. Six years later, the foal has grown into a tall and fit horse. The hair on its whole body is snow-white, without any variegation, and when the sun shines, it looks like it is covered in silver frost. This handsome white horse has a pair of azure blue eyes, like sapphire sapphires, which coldly reflect the shadow of the sky.
It doesn't look like a family member, and as soon as it stops there, it gives people a very cold feeling. Only when Garland touched its neck, it would rub Garland's hand with a reserved demeanor.
These two horses naturally won the admiration of the Tasda people.
Although they were itching to see it, they all knew that once this kind of divine horse recognized the master, he would not allow the second person to approach them, so they just watched from the side, and no one wanted to ride with a face.
The Tasdar mission was moving very fast, because almost all of them were on horses.
The Tasdars and the Aaronlandis were naturally separated into two groups, but during the journey Opada often left the Tasdars and joined Aaronlandis, riding and Garlan walked side by side while joking.
The oolong he was making trouble with had already explained to his comrades clearly. Seeing Opada approaching his beloved to show his hospitality, his comrades didn't stop him.
However, what made Opada unhappy was naturally Heimos, who had been following Garlan's side all the time.
Whenever he went to find Garlan, whether he was traveling during the day or camping at night, Heimos would be by his side.
Wait for the old man.
Opada thought hard.
Wait until Tasda, the uncle is on his territory, let's see how he treats that guy!
However, Opada is not in a hurry now. Anyway, Gallan intends to go to Tasda, so he simply waits until Tasda, he will send all the spoils of his collection to his beloved, and then woo him.
The journey went very smoothly. Although the wind meal was not as beautiful and comfortable as in the palace, Garlan was in a very good mood.
Because this is his first time to go out, since the experience when he was a child, in the past few years, he can go to the towns not far from the king city at most.
Now, on this journey north, he can pass several large cities that he has never seen before, and see a lot of customs.
As he walked, he pondered in his heart, after Heimos got married and had children, which road should he take to leave the royal city, which city to go first, and which place to go.
He is in a better mood with such a mind to make up for the free life in the future. These days, every day is a bright smile like sunshine. That happy feeling seems to be able to infect the people around him. Looking at him made me feel better.
The only exception is probably to follow him without leaving an inch, facing Heimos, who is strictly guarding against a certain Tasda.
Regarding the fact that Garland once said that he would be detained by Opada in Tasda as a sham, Heimos only felt a breath in his throat, and wanted to open Garland's mind and take a look inside. What are you thinking about.
Later, I turned my head and thought about it, with the thinking of those Tustarians who only have muscles in their brains... Maybe they can really do such a thing.
So, he began to seriously think about whether to secretly mobilize the army guarding there when he entered the territory of Tasda.
Just when Garland, Heimos, and Opada were all thinking about each other, on the evening of the second day after departure, just after a group of people camped under a mountain wall, they found that someone was leading a group of cavalry. Chased up from behind.
Having received the news, Garlan lifted the curtain and walked out of the tent quickly.
The blond knight who had just galloped over and was still in a dusty state turned over and dismounted, took a few quick steps forward, walked to Garlan, then bent over and knelt down in front of Garlan on one knee.
He knelt with his head down, one hand on his chest.
He says,
"His Royal Highness Garland, Kaihos is here at your call."
He had originally triumphed with the army on the expedition, but when he received a summons when he was approaching the royal city, he immediately left the army and rushed over here.
"Thank you for your hard work, Kaihos."
The little prince, who had sent a summons to his knight when he was leaving the royal city, said that he stretched out his hand to Caijos and helped him up.
"Any time, answering your call is what I should do as a guardian knight."
Cayhoes said so, then raised his head and smiled at his Master.
Bright blond hair was scattered on that handsome face, and the almost iconic black eye patch covered one eye, but it did not damage his appearance, but made him more attractive.
As soon as he raised his head, the Tasda people not far away began to whisper.
"Cajus?"
"The 'Knight of the Sun'?"
"That's right, blond, and only one eye."
They talked to each other, watching the blond knight with fire and reverence.
The Tasda people admire the strong.
The knight of the sun.
The reputation of this mighty new knight of Aaron Landis has spread across the continent.
Because of the blond hair like the sun, and the terrifying lethality of the flames of the sun on the battlefield, everyone gave him this title.
He followed Camos, the Lion King, in the north and south, participated in nearly 100 battles, made illustrious feats, and achieved a great reputation.
It is said that so far, he has not lost a single one against his superior generals.
There were also some weak generals who refused to fight him when they encountered him, and even fled.
...and, as famous as his powerful fighting power on the battlefield, is his terrifying 'fighting power' among the daughters of nobles of various countries.
You ladies are both enchanted and heartbroken.
Because this handsome knight has been playing with flowers for many years, traveling among countless noble ladies, but never stopped by any woman.
'He has the handsome and sunny appearance of the sun god Shamash, but he has the cunning and ruthless appearance of the night god. '
'The eyes that were as green as malachite looked at each woman with tenderness and affection, but there was no trace of truth in those eyes. '
'Like the sun, you can't catch it when you stretch out your hand, just like a phantom, it disappears in an instant. '
The noble ladies who love and hate him sigh so.
'Amorous and ruthless knight of the sun, where is the harbor where you are willing to stop? '
…
At this moment, the handsome knight in the dusty suit got up.
He grabbed Garlan's outstretched hand and stood up.
Although he didn't need external force to get up, he wanted to hold that hand.
The warmth that he had not felt for a long time when his fingers touched it made Kaihos's eyes soften a little.
Every time he held this hand, he could have a real sense of being on the ground and down to earth.
He smiled and said, "I'm back, Your Highness."
After he finished speaking, he leaned over and kissed the prince's hand, the corners of his lips curved upward with a deep warmth.
That was the sentence he would say every time he returned to Prince Garlan after he went out on an expedition.
Even if this place is not a royal city.
For him, the place where he can go back is not a royal city, but the place where the prince he guards is.
"Well, welcome back, Cayhorth."
Garland said with a smile.
Kaihos smiled, let go of his hand, and walked into Garlan's tent with Garlan, talking while walking.
"Nice to see that you are still in good health, Your Highness."
"I've always been in good health, you don't have to worry." Garlan laughed twice, he asked, "Where's Tar? He hasn't arrived yet?"
"He's slower than me and may be here later."
Thinking of Tar's chubby body from a young age, the appearance of the horses sweating profusely every time they ride, Garlan nodded.
"Well, that's true," he said. "I've already made him lose weight, but he just doesn't."
Since he was a child, Tal didn't know how many times he lost weight. He vowed every time, but every time he ran for a step, he fell to the ground and couldn't get up, and then immediately put the idea of losing weight to the sky.
Probably thinking of the same thing as Gallan, the blond knight also smiled.
Then, he said directly: "So, what do you need me to do?"
"that… "
Just as Garlan was about to speak, the door curtain was lifted, and a tall, brown-haired Tasdar man strode in.
His loud voice also resounded in the tent at the same time.
"Gallan, I heard that the rumored 'Knight of the Hot Sun' is here, let me see..."
The words stopped abruptly in the middle, and Opada's eyes fell on Kaijos, who was burly in armor, and swept up and down, revealing a look of admiration.
Even if he didn't do it, he could still feel the strong aura of iron and blood on the knight's body, which belonged to the aura of the battlefield.
The man in front of him was a powerful and dangerous guy.
Opada's intuition was telling him so.
"Opada, this is my guardian knight, Kaihos."
Garland said, "This is Opada, the son of General Tasdar, my friend."
He turned to Kejos and said, "I'll tell you the details tomorrow."
Then, he turned to Opada: "Sorry, Opada, Kaijos has been on the road for a long time to get here, I want him to rest first."
"Where, I was too abrupt, because I heard that the 'Knight of the Hot Sun' was coming, and I was a little curious, so I ran over."
Opada quickly smiled and waved his hand, expressing that he didn't mind.
"Then I'll go back first, don't bother."
He turned around and took a step before turning back.
"By the way, Garlan, we hunted an antelope in the afternoon. I plan to roast it myself. Can you come over later? The lamb I roasted was praised by many people."
Opada said, looking at Garlan expectantly, his eyes are bright.
"Tonight? Sorry, I still have subordinates coming over tonight, I'm afraid I won't have time to pass."
"Is that so..."
Cayjos stood by and said nothing, watching the shining eyes of the Tasdar named Opada, watching his prince, and the look he knew all too well.
People often look at him like this.
I see.
This Tastian man to the prince...
The blond knight in Game Flowers glanced at his master again, pondered for a while, turned around and left the tent without asking any further questions.
After leaving the camp, he looked up and swept around the places where the Tastars were camping not far away.
The scale of the mission was not large. There were only a dozen or so upper-class Tasda people, and there were no more than a hundred Tasda soldiers who guarded the mission.
After all, as a mission, if you go to his King City with too many troops, it will not bring friendship but provocation. Moreover, Tasda and Aaron Landis have been close and friendly countries for nearly a hundred years, and Tasda is not worried about what will happen to his mission in Aaron Landis.
After making a rough estimate in his heart, Kaihos quickly left.
Naturally, his personal soldiers had already set up a tent for him, and there was a stream nearby. After such a long journey, he was covered in dust, and he really needed to be cleaned.
When the blond knight washed all the dust off his body in the river, and returned to his tent with wet blond hair in the night wind, he saw an unexpected guest waiting for him there.
He raised his eyebrows, raised his hand and lifted the wet blond hair that was still dripping back, then took a few steps forward and bowed in salute.
He asked, "Prince Heimos, have you come to see me?"
Heimos, who was pondering in his tent, turned to look at him and hummed.
Kaihos vaguely felt that the prince was not in a good mood at the moment, and seemed to be a little anxious.
strangeness.
Prince Heimos has always been the kind of person who is so calm that one cannot see his emotions.
Cayhors thought.
Unlike Garland, who hasn’t seen Heimos for four years, he goes to the North with King Camos almost every year, and it has only been half a year since he last met Prince Heimos. Familiar with Heimos.
"You pay attention, guard Garland."
Huymerston paused and added.
"Don't let the Opada of the Tastars approach him."
He frowned, pursed his lips, and continued to say unpleasantly, "I'm always so stupid, I don't even know if I've been sold, and I let others approach easily without even knowing what the other party is thinking..."
I see.
He remembered the look in the eyes of the Tasda man named Opada not long ago when he looked at the little prince, as well as what Prince Heimos said at the moment, and what Tarr revealed to him before he came.
Cayhors probably guessed what the situation was now.
"Caring is messing up."
The one-eyed knight said suddenly.
"Prince Heimos, either you or Your Majesty, because you care too much about His Royal Highness Garlan, it is inevitable that it will be difficult to make a correct judgment."
He said, "So, I can't agree with what you just said."
The knight's words made Heimos turn his head, and his golden red eyes were fixed on him.
"… What's the meaning?"
Kaihos chuckled lightly, his expression calm.
"Prince Heimos, the name you were dubbed as the 'Black Knight' in the North Land was praised by everyone and even the enemy based on your strength and achievements, and it was not a vain name."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"Then, do you think that His Royal Highness Gallan was praised as a 'wise prince' in the royal city... Was it touted by others?"
"… "
Heimos didn't speak, he still frowned, staring closely at Kaijos.
"His Royal Highness is so praised because he has always delivered 'a wise and just judgment like the sun god Shamash' on everything that came into his hands."
"Yes, His Highness upholds justice and justice, there is no doubt about that."
"But there are no black and white things in this world. In fact, the vast majority of things can't be solved by just relying on so-called justice and justice."
"If it's just one thing, maybe it's just a coincidence, but over the years, for so many things, no matter which one, His Highness can make a fair and wise judgment on it, making everyone willingly obey his judgment. "
"It's always been that way."
The only remaining green eyes of the blond knight drooped slightly and smiled slightly.
"Prince Heimos, I think you should also understand that in order to do this, in addition to the 'just heart', there is more need for the 'wisdom eye' to distinguish the truth from the false, and the 'wisdom to see through everything' '… ”
Before Kaihos's words were finished, Heimos had already turned around, raised the curtain, and quickly left the tent.
Looking at the curtains that were falling and swaying constantly, Kaihos chuckled.
No matter how talented he is, he is still young after all.
The blond knight squinted and thought with a chuckle.
However, soon, he pondered again.
King Camos is just fine. After all, His Majesty has always loved His Highness very much, and His Majesty's character is not very sensitive to such things, so it is normal not to see it.
But Prince Heimos...
As far as he knows, this character has always been calm and composed, especially on the battlefield, he is almost rational to the point of cruelty, and he is also very sensitive to things... Such a person, how could he not see it
It's really not right.
Moreover, the look of Prince Heimos just now did not show any calmness on the battlefield at all, it was like...
... as if panicked...
…
… care is messed up…
Kaihos pondered.
Although it made sense to say so, but for some reason, he always felt that things did not seem to be so simple.
…
In the middle of the night, another cavalry squad came to the camp.
A round body rolled off the horse like a ball, and then quickly rolled into Garlan's tent.
"Your Highness, this is the information you asked me to collect—"
The little fat man of the year has grown into a chubby big fat man, but his round face is still very pleasing when he smiles.
He handed the forearm-long copper cylinder in his arms to Garlan, his eyes glittering like a fat puppy puppy, and he barely wagged his tail at Garlan.
"Thanks for your hard work."
He opened the copper tube and took out the parchment inside, and Garlan quickly scanned several of them.
He pondered for a moment, then took out one of the parchments. Because the camp was set against a mountain wall, the side of his tent was a solid stone wall, and he hung the parchment on the curtain that was close to the stone wall.
It was a map, a topographical map of the area where Tarsta and Aaron Landis bordered.
Tal leaned over and pointed to two places on the hanging map.
He said: "His Royal Highness, I have checked carefully, only these two places are entrenched in thieves, and I have not heard of thieves in other places."
"Is that so... What is the scale of the thieves in these two places?"
"It's bigger here, but their site is quite far from where you said. Now, I've found all their information, and they're all written here."
Tarr dug out one from the stack of parchments and handed it to Garlan.
Garlan took it, looked down for a while, then looked up at the map hanging on the wall, and pondered again.
Tarr watched Garlan pondering from the side, and finally couldn't help it and asked in a low voice.
"Your Highness, are you really okay with this?"
"Um?"
"You know it clearly, but... King Camos is very angry. When I left the royal city, everyone in the palace was trembling, and Prince Heimos, he was also... Aren't you afraid that he would be angry?"
The boy blinked, tilted his head slightly, and showed a cute and sly smile to his fat subordinate.
"Isn't it interesting to see Heimos's embarrassed appearance?"
"Although it is indeed rare, but he... hehehehehehe-"
Tarr's sudden cassette made Garlan happy.
"Tal, although I know you've always been afraid of Heimos, you don't have to be so frightened by mentioning a name, right?"
Looking at Tarr who looked at him in horror, Garlan laughed.
He wanted to say something else, but before he could say it, a hand suddenly stretched out from behind and grabbed his shoulder.
At the same moment, the very familiar low voice from behind made the young man's smile instantly freeze on his face.
"It's funny to see me in a mess... isn't it?"
Even if he didn't turn his head, he could still feel the dangerous aura in that deep voice.
Garlan's smile was still frozen on his face, and the hand that grabbed his shoulder pulled and pushed him, turning him around and pressing it against the stone wall with the map hanging on it.
A hand stretched out heavily, over the side of his head, and pressed against the stone wall.
The man's tall body pressed over, almost shrouding the young man under his figure.
Those golden red eyes looked down at Garlan, and there was a shimmer of light in the bottom of his eyes, which made his heart tremble and his back shivered at a glance.
"Well, that... Heimos, I can explain, actually..."
Garlan, who was imprisoned between Heimos' body and the stone wall, panicked.
"Do not listen."
Huymos vetoed.
He looked down at the young man under him, and squeezed Garlan's chin with his right hand, his eyes burning to the extreme.