For the King (private RP)

[mainehorse]

Leading the gelding over to a tree stump, Casey lines him up beside it with thankfully only a minor protest on the horse's part. Though that was probably because he was still waking up. He had been in a deep sleep when she had woken him up. Once he had his faculties about him she knew he'd probably put up more of a fight. But hopefully by then he would realize that being ridden wasn't the end of the world. She steps up onto the small stump to give herself a leg up since she didn't had stirrups to use in this instance. Placing a hand on his neck, she then hoists up and over onto the gelding's back. He rears upwards slightly in protest, the sudden weight on his back causing his mind to start to wake. Though his attempt to throw her in the process was unsuccessful as she quickly got the horse under control with all four hooves on the ground. "Easy fellow, easy. I'm not going to hurt you" she says lowly, patting his neck with her free hand as she gave him a gentle but firm squeeze to encourage him to get moving to follow the group. He snorts unhappily but takes the hint and starts walking forward after the group. "Atta boy" she says, turning her attention to the trail ahead. She could feel the breeze in her hair as the gelding began to pick up pace a bit off his own accord. Though there wasn't any issue with that, so she let him.

[Chloriosus]

His hood blew off as Vokras ran alongside his comrades, taking as wide steps as his long legs would let him to preserve energy as he put it. The sun had already began it's ascent into the sky, and Vokras for once forgot his desire to swim as he felt his adrenaline coursing through him, the fast paced treck through the forest terrain almost seeming like a race against everything that crossed his path. This, this was what life was for, feeling the wind of fast pace rushing in your ears like the winds of a brewing tempest, and everything fueled by a burning desire to keep on going, to push the limits. He glanced at his comrades running along side him. Some were more in front, some more behind, but they were all coming along, rushing through the woods like the rag-tag band they were.

[wingfeather]

Dair saw that several of the horses were acting up as the morning air fueled their spirited bodies. There were a couple he could spot easily, a grey and a dark bay, he didn't know either of the riders but thought he had probably seen both before, the girl on the grey definitely looked familiar, then he remembered yesterday, she was the one training the day before. He also noticed that both didn't have saddles on, less to bring or coudn't afford one Dair assumed as he didn't know much about horses. Suddenly he spotted someone he did know, but it had been a long time, and their friendship had after all been rather rocky, or so many thought. ''Vokras,'' Dair said as he neared the bark haired man, ''been quite a while hasn't it?''

[mainehorse]

Casey turns her head slightly to glare at a man who had rode past her, whistling loudly in the process. It was an annoying behavior, one she had never understood the point of. Shaking her head slightly, she turns her gaze over to two of the other riders upon hearing a name. She didn't know either of them personally, though now she had a name to match with one of the faces - Vokras. She supposed that she would probably learn more about them as the journey wore on. It was supposed to take a couple of days from what she knew. Though hopefully they would cover good ground each day before they had to make camp for the night. Though on the road trouble was always possible. She wasn't niave enough to believe everything would go completely smoothly. If not during the journey, they surely would run into trouble at some point after they reached their destination.

[Chloriosus]

Vokras slowed his pace ever so slightly to look at the man running along side him, recognizing him as a comrade he had quite nearly gotten into quite a few skirmishes with. Nonetheless he joyed in seeing a familiar face. "Never been best at tracking time, but I agree.", he stated, trying desperately to remember the red head's name and finally giving up. "Last time was wild," a slight grin appeared on his face as he remembered the last missions occurrences "but this man never gets tired, does he?", he asked in a joking manner, tilting his head to indicate their leader.

[wingfeather]

Dair’s eyes lit up with the memory of the last mission, “‘twas,” he agreed. Dair put on an expression of mock annoyance, “no he doesn’t, I tell you he’s probably twice my age but can probably run circles around five of us,” he said shaking his head. Suddenly another man came up to them, he seemed important and definitely acted it. Dair recognized him to be one of Morien’s right hand men. “Orders from Morien,” he announced, “two scouting parties are to be sent ahead, one north-east the other north-west. You both are to take, north-east along with one horseman,” he looked about briefly before pointing to Casey, “you’ll do,” he said, “one horse if a quick report back is needed and two footmen for easier access into places,” he turned quickly to find three other scouts for the opposite direction. “Well let’s get to it,” Dair said after the abrupt departure. He veered off the main path so the could go around the rest of the soldiers.

[mainehorse]

Casey nods slightly, directing the gelding to veer off the path as well. If they ran into trouble, her sword was within easy reach, concealed just out of sight by the dark grey cloak she wore. Though she wasn't sure how her gelding would react to the weapon. He had to get used to the presence of weaponry though if he was to be a warhorse one day. Today was a good a day as any to start working with him on that, assuming they ran into a situation where their weapons were needed. But if they didn't run into any trouble, then that was all well and good as well. She supposed it would be an opportunity to get to know her fellow warriors better. She didn't know many of these folk, but since they were travelling together for the next few days, chances were she would know them better soon enough.

[Chloriosus]

Vokras nodded at his comrade and turned from the path onto the side to let the others behind him pass as he eyed the other bandmate they had been assigned with. He knew he had seen her before, he just hadn't actually gotten into any form of conversation with her. He had however worked with the other one before, and he felt sure their mission would be successful, though he was equally sure that at some point they would get into some kind of skirmish with each other. "Let's rack this place for arsonists!" he told the other two as he scanned the surrounding area.

[wingfeather]

Dair laughed, ''well I doubt that we would find any so near the castle,'' he said with a grin, ''but then again anything is possible in this day and age.'' He looked up at the woman on the horse, ''greeting's, what's your name, I dont believe we have ever been sent out on the same mission before,'' he said in an easy going manner as his keen grey eyes appraised the other soldier.

[mainehorse]

Casey's gaze scans the area ahead of them, keeping a watchful out for any trouble as she listened to the other two talk. They seemed to be old friends she mused, if their banter was anything to go off of anyway she mused. It did seem unlikely they'd find any arsonists this close to the castle, but it was best to be prepared for whatever they might find out here. There always was the possibility of trouble no matter where one was. She turns her head slightly upon realizing that she was being addressed. "Casey... and you are?" She enquires. She couldn't recall being sent on any missions with either of them before. But she had an inkling that she might have seen him around somewhere. Granted, it was entirely possible she had seen him in passing in the castle before and just didn't remember. The castle was always a busy place between the king's meetings and the soldiers in the royal guard rushing about. She knew all the soldiers serving under her father, but that was pretty much the extent of her social life at this point.

[Chloriosus]

"Casey." Vokras repeated in an attempt to link the name to the face. "I go by Vokras.", he said, tightening his eyepatch slightly whilst glancing about. "I've seen you before, but we haven't been directly assigned on anything together yet either." He tightened his grip on his back-pack and then looked at the other in hopes that he would also state his name.

[wingfeather]

''Pleased to meet you Casey,'' Dair said giving a slight dip of his head, ''they call me Dair,'' he answered. Dair loped beside Vokras and the horse, matching either of their paces easily. His eyes had an odd lazy look to them, but one was not to be deceived by this expression for he was scouring the surroundings with a keen and sharp gaze, and very little escaped his perception. In the distance wolves could be heard howling eerily into the morning air. Dair shuddered at the sound, though not from fear, but from the mournful yet free feeling it gave one. The canine music eventually died away leaving behind only memory. They had, by now, passed the others and were gaining distance, Dair checked his pace suddenly for they did not need to go too far ahead, just a ways past out of sight.

[mainehorse]

"Pleasure to meet you both as well." Casey says brushing a lock of her hair out of her face with her free hand. Now she had a name to match with both faces. She hadn't really had a chance to meet many of the others in the band before now. The breeze was starting to pick up a bit now, as they left the castle and the surrounding buildings, growing nearer to the forests as they continued with the brisk pace. The gelding seemed to be handling it well so far. Though his ears were pinned back slightly, but she supposed that could have been because he heard the wolves in the distance. Now that their howling had died down, perhaps he would also calm down again. Unless it was that he was still not fond having new people around, in which case she had to watch out to ensure nobody lost any fingers, or worse she mused. But she had him under control at the moment.

[wingfeather]

Myles watched as scouts were chosen and sent out. He arranged his blue silk half-cloak about his shoulders. He was rather upset that he wasn't chosen. Did they not think he was good enough or something? But then again he was also rather relieved that he didn't have to go as it would involve more work and the possibility of having to get his hands dirty. He prodded his splendid golden stallion into a quickly trot. It snorted and tossed its head before obeying. Of all Myle's shortcomings he was actually a good horseman. This was probably the only thing he could probably do well. Except perhaps to complain. He was VERY good at that. And what do you think he was doing at the moment? There happened to be a worthy soldier walking beside him and Myle's deemed him worthy enough to explain all his woes to. ''I cant believe they haven't called a halt yet and allowed us a midmorning bite. Why is this blasted company going so fast! Agh the sun is in my eyes, it might discolor them. This ground in too bumpy and there are way too many pits, why could they not have picked a smoother trail? The main road perhaps! For goodness could this blinkin' group pick their pace up?! And so on and so forth. The soldier walking beside him endured this without a word. Probably only because he was deaf!

[Chloriosus]

"So it was Dair. Noted. I thought it ended with an f", Vokras thought to himself as he surveyed the woods, trying to place from which exact location the wolves' howling was coming from. He noticed Casey's horse was becoming rather unsettled by it, so he judged it hadn't really been in training for very long yet, for generally the horses would stay more calm in their rider's presence. Shouldering his backpack into a more adept position, he glanced over at Dair, who was seemingly also gazing into the forest whilst matching the horse's speed when the howling died down. It only did that for about a minute or so, but then, just as they were passing through a more densely forested area, a large grey wolf sprang into their path, teeth barred and growling furiously, ready to pounce at any moment, fellow members of his pack appearing from behind surrounding trees and rocks. Vokras stood silently, his eyes fixed on the ground, his left hand subtly going for the knife in his boot. As the wolf pounced, he quickly drew it out, burying it deeply in its shoulder before taking it back out and running at the next approaching wolf, who attempted at grabbing his wrist and failed. Another began coming from under some brush when Vokras heard a low screech that he knew all to well, the sound of an angry parent owl. The next instant, it had partially slashed his face, narrowly missing his left eye, the wind of it's wings rushing through his hair. He kicked at the wolf and aimed his knife at the owl, swiftly throwing it after it. Wether he had hit it or not he couldn't tell, but he took up a strong birch branch to fend off the other attacking wolf, which crumpled to the ground after a hit on the head.