《Princess Dark Bodyguard》


 1 Bounty Hunter

    The wind was out of the south. Another solder ran at him. Alex dispatched the mans head from his shoulders.


    "148!"


    A line of dead solders lay in his wake. Another man charged him with a spear and tried to stab him. He threw his sword in the air and caught the spear an inch away from his stomach. Twisting it out of the mans hands he turned it around quickly impaling the solder where he stood.


    Another man slashed at his head. He ducked and caught his sword from the air and cut the mans legs off.


    "150!"


    It was the end of the battle and his battalion was sent out to take care of another running general. He was by him self at the right flank, the rest were battling the generals force to the west. He was bored and decided this was were the general would run. He had moved deeper into enemy lines. Outside of his vision he saw three horses approaching at full speed, they were going to run him down.


    He took out three knifes from his belt with his free hand and threw them at the horses. Each hit their marks and the horses ran into the ground. One of the riders flew from the saddle diving right into a spike. The other two got up and brandished their weapons.


    "Get behind me General. You, boy, stand down, you find no glory in death."


    He looked at the man and cocked his head. It was his plan to let the guards go after he beat them up a bit. Hearing the man call him a boy annoyed him though, he wasn''t getting away.


    Alex walked to the man sensing no hint of danger. If anyone needed pity, it was him.


    "Fine fool, come at me."


    The guard swung at him. Alex sidestepped and slashed the mans arm, nothing life threatening but the more the man moved the more the he would hurt. The solder growled and slashed at his feet. He blocked the sword and punched him were he was bleeding. The man cursed and moved back holding his now profusely bleeding wound.


    Alex continued his advance. The man than swung at him again. He blocked it and hit the sword out of his hand. Alex took out a hidden blade and cut the mans other arm. He fell back and tried crawling away. Alex threw a knife into the center of his head.


    "151!"


    Alex looked at the general who was smirking.


    "Well done boy, you just delayed your death."


    Behind him a couple men in the same uniform as the one he just killed ran up.


    "The generals in trouble kill him."


    He was even more annoyed than before. He took out several more blades from his belt and calmly began his advance. Alex was still bored.


    Alex pointed the tip of his blade into the generals back as they walked through the camp. Talking and hushing came from each of the solders.


    "Looks like the Bounty hunter got himself another."


    "At least it''s not a head this time."


    "Shut it, each of ya. You want him to hear you."


    Alex finally got to General Flint''s tent, and a man guarding it took the general in with a nod towards Alex. Another guard walked up to Alex and handed him a bag of silver coins.


    "You know I have kept a list of higher ups you''ve caught. That there makes 31. So what was the count today?"


    "164!"


    "You know if it weren''t for this noble system, you''d be one hell of a Knight. Oh that''s right I meant to tell you. The other day I heard some news about the king. Saying e is getting ready for one of those big parades at the capital. Makes you wonder- ."


    Although the Jason kid annoyed him, he was something of a drinking buddy, you''d have to be mildly drunk to survive Jason''s talks. Alex was not at the moment and just acted like he was listening, he was to brief Flint on how he captured the general and promptly head for his tent for a rest.


    "That means more pay, and more stays in the city. That''s all your doing friend, so how bout a drink on me next time."


    The other guard came out with the enemy general in tow. The man caught Alex''s eyes, hatred plastered in each.


    "General Flint will see you now, I''m taking this scum to the cages."


    He nodded and entered the tent. Jason watched as he walked in. The first time he tried to talk with Alex he just thought he was being rude, as time progressed he figured out that''s just the way Alex was. He was calm and calculating, to Jason he was an utter Bad-ass.

 2 Anticipation

    In the middle of the tent sat a large table. At the opposite side of the table stood a huge man with gray hair, this was general Flint. He looked up at Alex and adjusted his eye patch.


    "Ah, Alex good job on the capture of General Hiezer. If he had got away this war might have gone on a couple more weeks. With the last of the generals captured the war will end soon. Thank you for that, this paperwork is making me old."


    "Just doing my job, sir."


    "Ha, funny joke. No, Alex, your job is to fall in rank and follow your officers commands. But the only one you listen to is me. Your a solder, not a lone wolf. Although your disobedience has gained us a new tittle, so all is not lost."


    "You mean becoming a Hunter Battalion."


    "Exactly, that makes all our jobs easier. Not to mention higher wages for even the cooks of the battalion, all thanks to you. But along with the benefits comes the political side of the military."


    The one eyed man slid the note he was reading to the edge of the table.


    "Read that would you, my eye is tired."


    Flint sat down and uncorked a bottle of wine and poured two glasses. Alex picked up the note and began reading.


    "General Flint of the Northern 21st battalion, because of your accomplishments on the battlefield you are invited to the kings birthday party and tournament. You are asked to bring one of your most skilled knights with you to fight in said tournament. Pleas make the proper arrangements for your leave."


    "Thank you. So I have been invited to one of the kings famous dog fights. I have no love of such things, I cant stand most nobles, I loath the generals most of all. But, alas I have no say in the matter, because the fighting is over I have no excuses."


    "General, if I may ask a Question?"


    "Ask away solder."


    "Who is it you are taking."


    The gray haired man itched his beard.


    "I was planning on taking Walker, my second in command, but he was shot with an arrow today and the healers have run dry of power after the fighting of late. He was possibly my best bet."


    Then Flint stood up and handed a glass of wine to Alex. He took it and sipped the contents.


    "But with him gone there is only one other person skilled enough to take. You might have heard of him. People tend to call him The Bounty Hunter, said take on whole groups of solders by himself. You know someone like that?"


    "No sir, not personally."


    "Well I guess that means that I have to settle on third best."


    "Sir, may I ask you to reconsider. There are many who are-"


    "Noble born, if you had said that I would have threw my wine bottle at you. You already know that I care nothing for those things. I judge a man by his steal. Why do you think I haven''t sentenced you to death yet. You have multiple accounts from other lesser captains about your... traitor''s acts."


    "I''m sorry sir."


    "Alex, if a few of those captains joined together and call for your arrest there is nothing I can do. that''s why I have decided on the next best placement for you."


    "What do mean by that, sir."


    "Along with benefits to the generals the fighter who wins this tournament gets something good. What that is I do not know yet."


    "General, I personal do not care for gifts from any noble."


    "Oh come now surely you know who will be participating in the tournament, and you will be sabotaging any general who want the prizes. Surly if anyone want to steal from a noble it would be you."


    Alex swigged the last of his wine, a sinister smile appearing for only a second be fore he calmed down.


    "You have an hour to get your stuff around I will meet you at the west entrance of the camp. I will also send you a pair of clothes for you to wear, change and we will be off."

 3 The White City

    It was mid dawn, and the city was as grand and vast as he remembered. Fortviros was the biggest city in the continent. Many people see Fortviros as a safe haven for a new life away from the bandits of the frontier, but for Alex it reminded him of bad memories he would rather like to forget.


    The carriage stopped at the at the northern gate. As the pair got out of the carriage Alex noticed two men approaching them.


    "Hello, General Flint, the King is glad that you can join him, he only hears good things about you and your men. We will be taking you to the palace, follow me."


    The men had taken them through the noble district to get to the palace. Many people and merchants filled the street, fancy nobles were buying useless trinkets and other such things. Owners of stands were yelling out there products using large words most common folk misunderstood trying to get someone to buy their stock.


    The palace wall was the most fortified he had ever seen it. Multiple guards patrolled the walls endlessly and the guards wore siege armor. What surprised Alex was the amount of guards at the gate, it was tripled from the last time he had seen them. It seems the king has grown paranoid in his old age. Flint was as curious as he.


    "I have never seen the gates so protected, has something happened."


    When Flint asked the man the question the man looked perplexed and then calmed down.


    "You were on the front lines in the north so it makes since you were not notified. There was an assassination attempt on the King. A number of assassins stormed the throne room not but a fort night ago. His Majesty has taken several precautions."


    An attack on the king, Alex scoffed at the idea. Such a thing was foolish, and long overdue. The pair was lead through the gardens. Despite the Stewart appearance on the outside the inside was beautiful. The Queen''s gardens, a meticulously planted haven dedicated to the late Queen Rachel. There were an uncountable number of flowers and other foliage from many distant lands. It was in someways a stark contrast to the happenings inside the castle.


    While walking through these gardens he caught a gimps of a young woman sitting under a finely crafted gazebo reading a book. She had jade black hair with pail skin and with a smaller figure, something he himself didn''t mind much. She looked up from her book with green eyes resembling emeralds. For a moment their eyes connected and Alex felt a tinge of sadness, he took a bow and smiled like a nobleman would.


    She smiled and gave a slight curtsy from her sitting position and dived back into her book. They were lead through large hallways bearing tapestries as large as the walls themselves. They told stories and great deeds of the kingdom and her rulers. He noticed a blatant disregard for the commons solders who died protecting there land. And unfortunately that has not changed.


    Farther down the hall was a newer tapestry devoid the dust and grime of time. It showed the king, and old man with a long grey bear sat atop a grand thrown pointing towards a battle field. He believed it was supposed to mimic the kings rule during this disgruntled war, but in all truth he has done little more than start it.


    The man led them up a a winding stair case and they came upon a smaller hallway he believed to be the guest quarters. There were doors on each wall that extended a small distance.


    "Your rooms are at the very back. We encourage a good scrubbing in your rooms and we will send for you for tonight''s party."


    The man wrinkled his nose as he walked past them indicating to them that what he suggested may not be a bad plan. The two made there way down the hall, each seemed to hide there disgruntlement for there new longing.


    "Alex, take the one on the right, it should have a window. I personally like as few entryways as possible."


    Alex nodded and opened his door, inside looked rather comfy. He had a fine bed, a small table with chairs, and a bathing area with running water through magical means. As Flint had said there was a window looking out over the city with a grand view of the sunset. It seemed there walk was longer than he thought. He started filling the tub, if he wanted to make an impression to the court it was best to do so with no lingering smells.


    He would spend the rest of his evening bathing and using cologne he had pinched off a nobleman on his way to the castle. After bathing he put on some fancier clothes that Flint had given him to wear. He slid his dusty blond hair back and looked at himself in the reflection of the water. He looked like a fine nobleman if he had ever seen one, his blue eyes reminded him of his mothers. It was a slight reminder of the good still left in the world, but scar on his cheek did the opposite.


    There was a knock on the door as he smoothed his outfit one more time. The only thought in his head now was how he was going to make it through the party without beheading any of the guest. He fastened his sword to his hip and exited through the room meeting with a even more disgruntled General.


    "I don''t know why I agreed to this. Iv''e always hated the parties of the Nobles. And you, I know it might seem appealing, but don''t behead anyone. If it gets too much, just sneakily leave and cool sown outside. OK?"


    "Yes sir. I''ll, TRY, to contain myself."


    "That''s all I can ask. Now, let''s...go..."

 4 Party of the King

    The party was held in the great hall, a great architectural accomplishment of the old kingdom. At the very end was a great staircase with an empty throne. There were tables upon tables of food, enough to feed a village for days and too much for the few partaking in it. The hall was filled with the voices of nobles and the laughs of there mistresses. There were a number of attending guest, generals from the battle field, ambassadors, rich men, and other unsavory guest.


    you could tell the gropes from each other. You have your generals in the corner of the room seemingly content with there drinks and there own company. You rich men gathered around the eating tables there wife''s and dates hanging off there hips like jewelry. Flint lead him to the corner with the other generals, clearly inpatient with his lack of drink.


    "I will be over hear with the rest of my kind. You may go and do what you do best."


    "And that would be?"


    "Gather information. When you get enough come back to me and give me a report. I know how uneasy you can get with out doing something with your hands."


    Alex nodded and walked off, the old man was right. Alex acted like he was getting some food from one of the tables with an entire roasted pig on top. The food consisted of fish, deserts, bread, cake, and multiple cuts and types of meat. He grabbed a plate and got some bread and cheese and pretended to fiddle with some meat as he listened on into a nobles conversation with the guard captain.


    "So, Henrik, what do you think about the attempt of the kings live. You were there correct, what happened. "


    He grunted and looked around and slid closer, but Alex''s ears were too keen and he could hear every word.


    "Apparently the underground had something to do with it. There were four assassins, and it took nearly twenty men to hold them off for the king to escape. When we searched the bodies they carried insignia with the likely hood of dragons. I know nearly every criminal background in the city, but I have never seen the likes of these."


    Elias new the insignia they talked about but his concentration was broke when someone bumped into him causing him to spill his plate.


    "Oh, sorry bout that, it seems iv''e had just one too many."


    A younger man, nearly his age turned around. The amounts of jewelry hanging off his necks suggested this was a wealthy individual, and that he''ll probably develop back problems in the future. Alex could tell he wasn''t very sorry as the smirk on his face seemed to grow. Alex could barely contain his threatening aura before he could draw it back in. He simply smiled as cheerfully as he could muster.


    "No my lord, the fault is mine. Please excuse me."


    He walked quickly away stepping through the crowd of growing people as he made his way back to the General. It was then he noticed everyone looking at the stair case. He turned to see the king being escorted up the steps and too his throne. Besides his six guards there was also another smaller figure besides him. It was the girl from before now wearing a grand blue dress and a gold and gem encrusted tiara. Alex was stopped dead in his tracks as he saw her, but he didn''t know why.


    An announcer than began his introduction.


    "All hail King Rupert, and his Daughter, Princess Vanessa!"


    Everyone put there hands on there chest and lowered there heads in silent respect. The king held up his hand and his Raspy voice rang out over the crowed.


    "No doubt the rumors have already spread, and I will address them promptly. There was an attempt on my live just days ago. The assailants as of now, our unknown. But let it be known, that I am still hear, unhurt and unimpeded in my rule. They failed and if they try again they will fail again. The tournament is still in order and will be hosted in the next upcoming days."


    Every one got exited and created a hubbub of sound. It seems these games were important to their entertainment, the king raised his hand and the room grew silent. Alex could sense the tension in the room as they waited for the true announcement.


    "Hand picked warriors from my most trusted generals will fight in these games. These warriors have protected and secured our borders. They have tested their metal on the battlefield and proven themselves, and because of this your reward will be handsome."


    All the nobles got deathly quiet, it seems this reward was a grand one indeed. The king grew a bright smile.


    "The winner will be dubbed a royal night and given the fine opportunity to safe guard that witch is most important to me, my daughter."


    The room was filled with gasps and whispers. Alex however was dumbfounded and he immediately started to push through the cowed until arrived at the General. He was sitting in silent concentration, he was as surprised as he.


    "General, if that is true than I cannot participate!"


    He continued to sit in silence as Alex shacked his shoulder.


    "Your name is already in the roster to take you out now will take more sweet talk and favors than I can get my hands on."


    He gave a small laugh and cursed under his breath as he leaned back into the chair.


    "I could not have guessed such a thing would happen but you will compete in the tournament, that is set in stone. Hah Hah, your fighting for the princesses hand."


    "This is no joke!"


    As Flint continued to laugh drunkenly the king started again.


    "Good luck my champions, may fortune smile on the skilled tomorrow. But for now, party and act merry. Tonight you are friends, tomorrow, bitter rivals. I drink to you."


    The man took a long swig out of a golden chalice handed to him. The party went back to normal and Alex found that the general had already drank his fill. He could no longer stand any of the nobles and walked out side through a back hall.