homebound. (earinor & akira)

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    • "I... I'd never say you're the worst person there is!", Edward stuttered a little bit clumsily and shook his head in disagreement. "I don't mean to overstep, but I wouldn't want to be with any of your siblings instead." He felt good in the princes presence and they were friends, weren't they? Edward wasn't able to freely speak his minds, but not because the prince didn't let him, but because he was shy, yet he talked to the youngest prince way more than to any other person. He felt less nervous when he was around him, even his father intimidated him more than the prince did and that was a good thing. Edward was aware that there was a deep friendship going on between the crown prince and his oldest brother too, but he doubted if they would have traded places as kids, that Edward would be as happy with the oldest royal son. He wanted to be with the young, white-haired and reckless noble, no one else. Even now when he worried so much he couldn't sleep, he rather was here and made him happy than be doing anything else.

      The young prince had to bear with Edward for way too long who stuttered about and couldn't quite say what he wanted. The prince was so excited and he was even more once Edward finally pulled himself together and asked for something. It felt like ages he asked for anything, did he even ever? He couldn't remember, but seeing the prince that happy about a stupid request like that made it half as bad. The prince was right, it had been a while. When they were younger the prince would read to Edward whenever he felt like his knight got bored by just standing around. Even if Edward told him it wasn't necessary, he still did and Edward had enjoyed it. It was less boring after all. The prince got the book and it felt odd to sit in bed while the royal prince was the one getting something from their bags. Edward nervously made a little bit of room on the bed once he noticed that the prince wanted to sit down next to him, he looked at him bewildered though when he started patting his lap. "I... I couldn't...", he stuttered. Having the noble sit next to him was already scandalous enough! "I'm fine with every part... I don't want you to get bored either. We could just... keep reading?"

    • "I'm joking, you don't need to take everything so literal, it's fine Eddie!", he urged his knight. Whenever they talked about anything, Cecil felt as if his poor friend misunderstood him, not on purpose but on accident and what came of it was, that he - of all people - was just trying his best and not actually being as productive as he should be. They both weren't, Cecil had slacked on his lessons often enough just to annoy Edward and yes, that had been mean, but he'd probably have lost it if somebody like Francis or William would have been his advisors instead. They both were no fun, who even knew what they had to endure with Garrett and Xander by their side all day! "That's good to hear, I got myself the most loyal friend I could ask for and I wouldn't want to trade you for anyone else!" That was his Eddie, his alone and while that might have sounded a bit too on the nose, he meant it in quite the well-meant way. There was no way he was utterly obsessed with this poor guy, as much as there was no way he would even convince himself that he couldn't eventually let go - have to let go - but that was something for another day, another time and definitely another Cecil.

      This Cecil, however, couldn't help but chuckle at Eddies unwillingness to rest his head on his lap. However else would he sleep? "Don't be like that, I can't hold your hand, I need both to hold the book and turn the pages, so come on, rest your head on my lap, will you?" This was nothing more than him urging Eddie to get on with it, since sitting wasn't exactly the best position to fall asleep in, let alone could he imagine it being a comfortable one. This book, now that he inspected it, was miraculously not falling apart at the seams and he still couldn't help it - it was so old, so well-loved by both of them, of course it had to go on a journey like this, with them, to places unknown, to see all of it with them, even if it was just a book full of old stories, some that Cecil knew best, others that he knew not so well. Was it even a hassle to read them? "Come here then, I'll keep going until you fall asleep and then some more, but you have to get here for that!" Eddies head belonged on his lap for this, nowhere else, and he was already tugging at the sleeve of the knights shirt to demonstrate that. If he refused to come here, Cecil would just refrain from reading any of it ... no, that was mean, but they were already on the same bed anyway!
      Looking back, it maybe is like the toy carts you rode when you were a kid. But those toy carts could never go beyond the walls of the lawn. We want to follow the rugged concrete road beyond the wall. As we've grown, we've decided to leave behind the toy cart.

    • "I... sorry.", Edward mumbled although he shouldn't apologize so often anymore, but what else would he have said in that situation? It was odd that after twelve years of being together almost every single day Edward still didn't understand the fine difference between a joke and the truth. He wasn't very good at understanding jokes or sarcasm and he also didn't have much practice unless with the prince himself. Often enough Edward had the feeling like the young noble knew that all too well and joked with him a little too much, but it was fine. It was funny somehow, he was able to laugh about himself in that regard. Though he rarely laughed, had he ever in front of the prince? That felt a little bit too much in his presence, although he probably would like it. Was Edward necessarily loyal though? He just wanted to be by the princes side, did that define loyalty? He wouldn't let himself be bribed by anyone to leave him though and not even the kings words had kept him from helping Cecil to run away from home for so many days already. Not even his life being at stake changed that, so yes, he probably was very loyal. He wondered if Francis would throw his life away fro the crown prince like that.

      "H-hold my hand? That's also not...", Edward was supposed to be strong, right? And not be read bedtime stories and have his hand held by someone, that was reserved for kids. Though they both grew to love that book. It was the first one the prince read from aloud to entertain Edward and they both had read it more than once. It wasn't just some stupid story or something to keep the prince occupied with while his knight couldn't entertain him. They brought that book because they knew at as long as they knew each other and that was a very pleasant sound. The only reason Edward asked the prince to read for him though was, because he wanted to hear that he was safe and still at his side, even when he closed his eyes for just a second. Right now however Edward stared on that lap and was tugged at. Was there even a point in arguing? No, because the prince already made Edward run away with him, so why wouldn't he be able to make Edward lie down. Hesitantly he did crawl under his blanket and crawled downwards until he could place his head carefully on the princes leg. "Am I not too heavy?", he asked trying to make it as comfortable for the prince as possible. This was odd and Edward felt incredibly embarrassed right now.

    • "It's fine, no need to be." Very much in fact, it was just fine and he wouldn't want it any other way. Edward was a worryward, he'd grown up around him and Cecil could tell that sometimes, things got to his head and other times, he thought too much about something so simple, it was almost embarrassing to metaphorically see al those gears turn in his head while he struggled to figure out the silliest of things that were thrown his way. Eddie was fun, for more reason than one and Cecil knew as much, he kind of was at fault that he had turned out like that in the first place and now it was his responsibility to take care of him and lighten the burden he'd placed on such a shy individual by merely existing and teasin him during all of their childhood. Once he thought back, was it any different from right now? Not onyl did they stick to one another like glue, they did the same right now, went the same places and Edward always wanted the same for his servant, all the same things he got, he wanted for Edward, and Edward didn't feel like he deserved to take them, which was so silly in the first place! He worked even harder than Cecil did, of course he deserved even more and of course he could not ask for anything better than this book - their memories, that probably subconciously surfaced once more.

      "It's not appropriate between a servant and his master, I get it, but I want you to just trust me and put your faith in the situation." There was nothing and no one to fear, there was nothing amiss, nothing that was going to go wrong and there was also no one to find out about what they did and scold them. From the first time he had asked and now, it seemed like it had taken forever for Eddie to get the hang of it and finally scoot over, to bed his head on Cecils lap - he smiled, accomplished, knowing fully well that nothing, not even a silly knock at the door would rob him of this situation and the apparent liking he took to it, but that was about it. There would be nobody disturbing them, and Cecil eventually opened up the book that he'd been urged to read - the pages were ever so slightly yellowed and yes, they sported some wear and tear, but who could blame two kids, pouring over their favorite book for what felt like the hundreth time? However, they were no children anymore and this was just because Eddie had wanted it - and Cecil wanted it, likewise, somehow. "No, that's perfectly fine. Either way, you don't have to be scared of something as silly as that, got it?", the prince reminded his friend once more, just before he finally turned to the task at hand and started reading to Edward - he wasn't in a rush, took his time and well, they'd see how many stories they'd get under their belt, before Eddie dozed off ... it could only be a matter of pages ... how many did he even read already?
      Looking back, it maybe is like the toy carts you rode when you were a kid. But those toy carts could never go beyond the walls of the lawn. We want to follow the rugged concrete road beyond the wall. As we've grown, we've decided to leave behind the toy cart.

    • Was Edward scared? It almost felt like it and yet there was no real reason to. It still went against his ways to lie down like that and rest his head on the princes lap, even though he only lay on one leg a little bit. Edward nodded hesitantly and closed his eyes, after all the whole point was for him to sleep. He heard the pages turn as the prince opened the book up and searched for where they had left off last time, then he started reading. The truth was it only took a minute for Edward to fall asleep. Hearing the princes voice and knowing that he was there, feeling him calmed him down and he also was very tired. He didn't hear much from the stories the prince read to him, maybe he stopped right after he noticed that his knight fell asleep too. He didn't dream anything he just rested finally and seemingly without moving an inch, but probably drooling on the princes leg. Hopefully he wouldn't know about that or else Edward probably tried to sink in to the ground and never come back.

      Logan had waited for the two of them to go upstairs. He sat a while longer before getting a room too, though he didn't use it for very long. That wasn't how he planned his evening but if this worked out, he'd have enough money for a while. He didn't think too much of the king but a job was a job, even if someone like him paid it. In the morning Logan dressed up and went downstairs to sit in the tavern that also sold some breakfast. He ate and waited. It almost got boring and for a second he thought he had missed the two, but no, they were just sleepyheads and eventually came down too, hoods deep in their faces. Logan didn't need a second look at them to know who they were and when they finally left the tavern, Logan left shortly after them too, trailing after them to the stables and afterwards out of town. He followed them with a lot of distance, but following someone discretely on a horse was kind of hard. He relied on fresh tracks they left on the road sometimes and once he followed up the road on a hill they... were gone? "Shoot...", Logan grumbled looking around, that knight must have noticed him. Logan rode down the road checking the sides and he eventually found some tilted gras and loose dirt. They went that way and into the woods, good no one would disturb them there.

      Dieser Beitrag wurde bereits 1 mal editiert, zuletzt von Earinor ()

    • It hadn't taken long for Edward to fall asleep, but Cecil had been determined to finish one story and then some more. After all of that, however, he'd made sure to trade the lap that Eddie was resting on for a pillow and had pulled the blanket over him, before scooting back over into his own bed and falling asleep somewhat swiftly. He had slept for who knew how long - it probably wasn't late in a princes eyes - but it most certainly was late in a peasants eyes, which was probably why they were quick to pack up and get going after that. Their journey had only just begun, yet they went back to old, almost cheap-feeling tactics that made them feel at home in an unfamiliar place and that seemed to make resting so much easier than they initially thought it would be - it was something they seemingly craved, even if neither of them was admitting they were homesick and especially Cecil doubted that he really was! Actually, why would he be and more importantly, Edward was right by his side - there was no immediate need to feel as if he had to something other than the usual, much like there was no understanding gained from hypothetical situations. The only thing that actually made the prince uneasy were the unfamiliar eyes that seemingly lay on him for no reason in particular.

      Where did the gaze come from? He couldn't tell, but they were already moving and on their horses when it picked back up - Cecil didn't care much, in fact, he was probably just tried from sleeping too much and too little at the same time, all of which was Eddies fault anyway. "Did you sleep well?", the hodded figure suddenly asked the friend that he trailed on his horse, as if said friend knew all the ways away from home and was proudly showing somebody like him all of them, when it very much was the other way around from the start. "Also, I'm glad it hasn't rained in a while, but I'm sure I'd benefit from not so sunny weather!" His skin would, and his ability to blend in. If it turned out to be incredibly foggy, he could at least take off his hood for once and admit that, despite not wanting to actually think too much about it, he was nothing more than one with the cold atmosphere and even harder to spot than anyone else would be. They went towards the woods, somewhere where they'd be remotely safe and Cecil already enjoyed the idea of not being on one of the normal paths for a while, even if that meant that they'd ... "Have you ever seen a chipmunk up close?", he questioned instead. He hadn't, but maybe Edward had and that sounded like it could be quite funny! "Or a rabbit. They both look kind of fluffy."
      Looking back, it maybe is like the toy carts you rode when you were a kid. But those toy carts could never go beyond the walls of the lawn. We want to follow the rugged concrete road beyond the wall. As we've grown, we've decided to leave behind the toy cart.

    • Edward had noticed that man at the stables and he noticed him afterwards even though he left quite the gap between them. However, he popped up from time to time and Edward was more and more sure that they were being followed. It didn't feel like he was simply paranoid and he slept well last night, so he knew he could trust his senses. "Huh? Y-Yes. I did. Thank you.", Edward replied, taking the opportunity talking to the prince to actually look past him and at the road they came from. Right now they were moving uphill a little, which would give them a chance to be out of sight at some point when they moved down again. "That's right. But you know it doesn't rain often in Ylisse and it would make the roads muddy and probably would stop our journey.", Edward replied. He couldn't let the prince ride in the pouring rain! Of course they would search for shelter then. Edward directed both of them towards the wood once they rode down the hill and he couldn't see that figure up there anymore. He didn't want to worry the prince just yet, maybe that person just had the same goal, if so he wouldn't follow them into the woods however. "I was hunting with my father, so yes.", Edward replied and he made his horse go a little faster while he also constantly looked backwards to check if the prince kept up. He didn't question anything, instead just blabbered and Edward listened. Not only to him though. There was some distinct crackling after some while and Edward deemed it necessary to inform the prince now. "I think we're being followed.", he whispered and tried to find a spot where he was able to let the prince past him. As far as he saw it was only one person, it probably was better the prince rode ahead. "Take the lead, we're trying to get rid of him.", he said with a kind of strict voice, it almost wasn't like Edward at all. "Just ride as fast as your confident with. I'll be right behind you." This was however. He didn't want the prince to fall off his horse. Maybe they were able to get rid of that guy, Edward wanted to avoid a fight.

      Logan was entering the forest. The horses had broken sticks and branches, they were easy to follow. Logan already was found out so why would he go very slow now. There was one guy and he didn't see a bow on him. Sure a Dryden knight ought to be capable of something, but Logan saw himself as some sort of prodigy. He fought since he was a child, not fair all the time either and he had beaten people that were much older than him. This one knight couldn't stop him and he wasn't scared. Instead he urged his horse to go faster, even with a little bit more speed it wasn't hard to follow the trail. Eventually however the prints on the forest floor got deeper, they were going faster weren't they? Of course they were running and Logan followed them as fast as he could make out where they went. They kept together too, which was good for him. He doubted they'd split up anyway. He knew which prince it was that went missing, nobody rarely saw him anywhere. He wasn't very tall nor was he very strong looking. If anything this would turn out to be a duel.

    • Did he, really? Eddie was pale, well, Cecil was no one to talk, but that was something entirely different in the first place anyway! That aside, did he really sleep well, or was he bothered by something? The prince could only guess what it was, yet he had a hunch and he wasn't even sure if talking was going to let them benefit from something - in the end, it was like a game of tag and to be honest, even during those it was easier to shut ones mouth and look for a safe hideout, at least from Cecils point of view, even if that wasn't how one played tag in the first place. The comparison to something silly helped, at least it helped him to lighten the mood and he understood, for now, that nothing was going to happen as long as he adhered to what he was told - that Edward was there to keep him safe, for more than one specific reason. "As if, we could still enjoy the rain!", he urged, but he knew that those roads would soak up water like a sponge and the lands would be flooded by loose dirt in no time - such was life, but as long as the fields stayed safe, there was no way the king had to butt in and lend his people more than the usual amount of help. "I ... so I wasn't wrong! Well, if you say so, I'm not one to decline." That he wasn't, but Cecil had no idea who it was.

      Edward had urged him into one direction, or the only one they could go, which was the one up ahead, deeper into the forest and then possibly out of it - and that meant they had to hurry up, which also was why Cecil didn't exactly go for the speed he felt comfortable with, but rather the fastest that his horse could potentially carry him in such an uneven terrain - and he held onto it, almost as tight as he could. "Why here, of all places?", he mumbled in Eddies direction, at his back and hoped, whoever it was that was most certainly out to ruin their day, would just give up on the prize money that had been placed on either of their heads. What if the stranger didn't? The prince was unsure and something welled up in his heart, uneasiness that made it quite hard to go and figure out what he would do - what he'd tell his father now, that they'd be dragged back all the way home. He had not brought many weapons of his own, maybe a knife, but if someone wore armor - or at least chainmail - that was useless too, and he'd be snapped in half like a twig faster than Eddie would ever falter. What was he scared of now, anyway? They could just outrun their assailant ... or not. Well, hell.
      Looking back, it maybe is like the toy carts you rode when you were a kid. But those toy carts could never go beyond the walls of the lawn. We want to follow the rugged concrete road beyond the wall. As we've grown, we've decided to leave behind the toy cart.

    • Edward kept his promise while the prince rode faster and faster. He was right behind him, even though he had to duck underneath some more branches than the young prince had to. A forest wasn't a very good place to ride fast but initially Edward had hoped to get rid of that person just by vanishing from the road. Right now it was hard to see them too, though likewise Edward couldn't spot their pursuer either. Their horses made too much noise to make out any more hoofs too. "Bad luck probably. Maybe someone recognized us yesterday. Keep your eyes ahead." Edward urged. He didn't want the prince running into a tree with his horse. But he saw something glister from the corner of his eye. That guy caught up to them that fast?! "To the right!", Edward urged and caught a glimpse of some blonde hair between the trees as well. "Don't make this harder than this needs to be! Unharmed the posters said, right?", he heard some laughter and reached for his sword just in case. "I'll make you a deal! I know you didn't kidnap him! Let's have a duel, if you win you can kill me, if you don't wanna do that, I at least leave you alone. If I win I get the prince, what do you say?"

      Edward bit his lip. He wasn't sure if they'd be able to outrun that guy, but he also wasn't sure if he could win. It didn't seem like this guy had any friends with him, but it could also be a trap. "You're a respected knight. Shouldn't you take the invitation to a duel? Besides, someone like you should easily win, right? Or maybe your prince found himself the wrong idiot to protect him? Can you even do that?" More laughter, but Edward wasn't faced by that. "Don't listen to him your highness..." Why get rid of titles now that they were already found out? Either way, they probably were better off staying calm instead of letting themselves be provoked, but involving that guy into a fight could give the prince ample time to escape? No, he didn't want him to ride off alone, he might run into someone that didn't take that unharmed so seriously, or simply didn't know who he was. "I can fight him, if you want me to." Was it wrong to let the prince decide? maybe, but he was smarter than Edward was and Edward was confident he could win... well he was sure enough.

    • There he was! By the gods, why was anyone pursuing them all the way out here? Peasants were their own kind, as long as they were desperate for money or fame, or critical acclaim, but nobles were no better somehow and that just meant that his guy wanted something - and Cecil could go figure what it was. It surely wasn't a duel with Edward, something he seemed to be very confident in winning already, though, then it only could be one thing - or two things, Cecil just had to figure out what, because right about now, trying to outrun this guy would prove more difficult than it actually was going to work, as nice as Eddies plan had sounded, they had kind of fucked up and he was willing to admit that, not only to himself but to anyone around him, which currently were just him and two other people, as well as whatever creatures resided in this forest. "We are wearing our hoods, that's it, I'm never eating in a tavern again!" They had only sat in one, for maybe half an hour and somebody was already after them? This was absolutely insane, much like their assailant if they thought they could beat someone like Eddie in the first place. What a joke this was. Maybe it would stop being one if they just stopped and looked him, then Cecil would at least try to recognize something.

      The fact that the deeper the went, the darker it got - because of the lack of sunlight, quite obviously - didn't help him, it never had and it never would, not with declining eyesight and the fact that he had a hard time spotting people either way. This was frustrating, who was even coming for them? Some blonde hunk of metal? Sure, then so be it! "He already sounds annoying! And he called you an idiot, who does he even think he is!", Cecil grumbled. He seldom was fed up with somebody, but whoever this guy was, he'd make sure he got a kick in the ass instead of the money on their heads if he delivered them home. Then again, he could ask Eddie to fend him off, but that hardly amounted to anything. Cecil stopped in his tracks instead, he hadn't given up yet, but he was going to try and see something. "Hey, you! What's your name anyway?", he asked the stranger, almost as nonchalantly as he could, now that he sat there, on his horse, and just took a moment to collect his composure. What kind of idiot called his friend an idiot!? That was just uncalled for! "You don't really have to fight him, Eddie.", he sighed instead. Cecil had made up his mind. "Why do you even want to bring me back? It can hardly be honor, or is it?" Hopefully it was money, because if it were, he had just the trick up his sleeve, but for now, he could just see how that played out.
      Looking back, it maybe is like the toy carts you rode when you were a kid. But those toy carts could never go beyond the walls of the lawn. We want to follow the rugged concrete road beyond the wall. As we've grown, we've decided to leave behind the toy cart.

    • All it took to make the prince wear his hood was one guy chasing after them? Well maybe this should have happened earlier then. Edward didn't complain however, he simply road after the young prince that hopefully saw any branches that came his way. Even a cut would be a problem for him, at least for a bit. He seemed more occupied with the fact that Edward was called an idiot though and the knight felt somewhat honored by it, while the blonde rider that could here them too just started laughing out loud. "You wanna know my name?!", he answered as if the princes question had been a serious one. He was mocking him and even Edward didn't take that too lightly, but he still kept his mouth shut. Maybe there was a glance that could have killed though. Once the prince just stopped like that however, Edward was caught by surprise, but so was their assailant. Both of them needed a few more steps to get their horses to stop and Edwards almost ran into the princes. That was an unexpected maneuver, but he placed himself between that guy and the prince just in case.

      "You're giving up?", the blonde man laughed. He had quite an armor, a better one than the light version Edward got for their journey. That probably had been expensive, as well as that sword he didn't even draw for now. Instead he just leaned forward and looked like he had a hell of a time while he grinned at them. "Name's Logan.", the man answered the prince disregarding Edwards existence for a moment as if he was no threat at all. Instead he had his blue eyes on the prince, or the prize in this case maybe. "I don't?", Edward asked and the stranger chimed in. "He doesn't?" Edward was confused, while this Logan guy seemed a little bit disappointed. "Your father pays quite the prize for your pretty head.", the blonde answered with a grin, Edward took another good look at him. "I think I know you." "You do? Well, well, I have a very common face." The man calling himself Logan chuckled, but Edward wasn't convinced, he turned to the prince. "His armor looks expensive, I don't think he is some peasant, bandit or mercenary. What are you planning?"

    • He took his mouth too full, dind't he? Not only that, Cecil was sure that all of this was going to backfire now, but maybe he could stall the situation a bit, hope for something to happen and once it finally did, he could still try and chalk it up as his own choice, as something he'd done deliberately without exactly mentioning what it was in the first place. But what would he do after he had pulled something like that off? Cecil was theorycrafting in the worst way possible and that laughter was already annoying him - who did this guy think he was anyway? "I do, yes!", he retaliated, trying to make himself sound like he actually had confidence and wasn't just entirely obsessed with as many things as he could muster to figure out - there was no way of knowing, but he knew blonde hair and blue eyes, even if the name Logan didn't ring a bell in his head. He had to be someone, anyone, and if Cecil inched closer, he probably could see this idiots facial features, figure out who they belonged to, but alas, he was not seeing much, thanks to the lightning and the fact that his eyesight was really not the greatest, especially not when the natural light couldn't help him either way. One of these days, he'd curse someone with the same eyes, just to have someone that saw the world in the same light as him! This was outrageous either way.

      "Who said anything about giving up?", he questioned, bluffed almost, because Logan had hit the nail on the head - in a sense, they were, because he didn't want Eddie to get injured and also because they wouldn't be able to beat this guy in the first place. Factually, that just meant they had to figure out something else for themselves, but it also meant that running was not a good option either. "What? No, you don't have to fight each other.", Cecil sighed and now that it was of no use anyway, finally tore that stupid hood off of his head. They really needed better disguises, or rather, someone that was better at helping them hide someone like him - someone that he wouldn't look noticeable next to, and Logan seemed to be just the guy. "First, I think he wants my body intact, not just my head. And second, you think I look pretty?", he voiced kind of dumbfounded, before he couldn't help but muster another sight. Normally, he was all fun and games, but he wasn't sure what he should do with a world like pretty. Cecil knew himself that he was just like that, the only thing that probably would make him more attractive was skin that wasn't burning to crisp once he stood in the sun. "Planning? Nothing. I have no clue.", he mumbled, he wasn't even sure if Eddie understood him anyway - he had kept extremely silent. "So that means you're just after the money? Actually, I have a better deal for you, Logan. I'm sure you're not stupid, so you'd want to keep your head on your shoulders, hm? My father is terribly quick to point fingers at someone to keep both his and the Dryden family name clean, you know?"
      Looking back, it maybe is like the toy carts you rode when you were a kid. But those toy carts could never go beyond the walls of the lawn. We want to follow the rugged concrete road beyond the wall. As we've grown, we've decided to leave behind the toy cart.

    • "No chase, no fight, that looks like giving up to me.", Logan answered again almost disappointed, almost like a child, or rather a cat that caught a mouse but the mouse wasn't moving anymore, even if he pawed at it. Edward didn't know what to make of this guy who sat on his horse with no care in the world. But the prince was the one talking and his knight was in no position to interrupt him, besides, the prince was better at talking anyway. Edward was a little bit disappointed too though. Did the prince think he'd lose against this guy? Maybe he would, but he had hoped for a little bit more confidence and it also seemed like the fact that the prince didn't send his knight forward boosted the blondes confidence even more. "Yeah yeah whatever, I won't hurt you.", the blonde answered dismissive. "A prince out to be pretty, right? And that knight of yours looks like he hasn't seen a real fight in his life either. Nice sword though." Now Logan looked at Edward again who shot him a glance but couldn't deny either of those statements. He never fought a fight in which he could have died, or even one he could have been majorly injured in. He was all bark, no bite, but not even that truly.

      Edward barely understood what the prince answered him but it seemed like he simply winged it. Even more reason to tightened the grip around Edwards sword, just in case he needed it after all. He might have never fought a real fight, but he was trained nonetheless. All those tournaments he didn't want to be in suddenly seemed like they would have been good practice after all. When the prince started talking again, Logan suddenly started laughing out loud. "Ahahahaha! So what you're saying is whoever brings you back will be a scapegoat so your dear knight is safe? They'd execute me instead of giving me the money? Ahahaha! That sounds like a very kingly thing to do!", he laughed and seemingly found it very funny, Edward however wasn't sure if the prince was bluffing, or if he believed his father would do something like that, just to save Edward, or at least his family from humiliation. "Why would he point the finger on your dear friend on all those posters then? Are you truly sure about that?", Logan asked with a grin. "Maybe you're just hoping that you didn't ruin that poor guys life by dragging him out here." Edward didn't want to listen to this guy anymore, he made him angry when he talked to the prince like that and the grip around his sword and the reins tightened even more. "Hold your horses, knight.", Logan directed at him after noticing the change in his posture.

    • “I’d actually calk it a smart decision!”, Cecil proposed. He was sure that Eddie wasn’t weak, but who knew, they were at a disadvantage, despite it kind if looking like a two on one, not in Logans favor but theirs. Too bad he was nearly useless against a hunk of metal and Edward would hurt himself trying to fight him - and Cecil wanted neither of that, which was why he had to resort to his own tactic, which were nothing more than empty words, but they could still work - after all, they seemingly got to Edward was well. “You don’t sound like you care if my head is still on my shoulders when you fetch some prize money … and I’m not even trying.” That he didn’t, yet sometimes he found someone that just thought he was unbelievably pretty and it confused him, more than it should and more than anything else ever could. But why was that? Because he was so terribly used to not being liked for his looks that he didn’t want to be held in high regards by anyone? “I’ll have you know that Edward is capable of defending me just fine, Logan.” Did he even have to introduce himself? Probably not, he was just money to the blonde either way, that didn’t mean he’d have to be formal with him or any kind of friendly - but that would be uncharacteristic of him, wouldn’t it?

      “I’m not just saying that, I know they will.” From what? Probably because his father wasn’t the type of person to do that, because bluffing was easier while looking clueless and spouting empty threats, but he still couldn’t help but smile at Logan. “You want the money and your head still on your shoulders, right? What would you even gain from riding into your certain death? Disproving these words?” Cecil wasn’t sure if his father would behead Logan, or whoever delivered him to the castle instead, but he’d very much blame them, just to keep the Dryden-name safe and guarantee that Edward wasn’t the orchestrator behind all of this. Cecil was thinking too much about all of this, but he couldn’t help himself and it soon dawned upon him that there weren’t many days out of this. “Oh, no, I’m certain. My father does like finger-pointing, so why wouldn’t he blame the closest person he can find? Besides, I think my old man is more concerned with washing clean Edwards family name and presenting them in an angelic light - he does need a scapegoat for that, and that would be you.” Logan looked the part, yet, maybe he was the one cast in an angelic light, but whatever - without his armor he’d probably look no different than the other sinners that had never been any. “Ruin it? Now you’re making me laugh.” No one would behead Eddie, that much was certain, at least to Cecil, but others? Probably not so much. “Eddie, you really don’t have to get mad at him - he’s just doing jt on purpose.” All bark, probably equally as much bite, at least Cecil guessed it was. “Either way, I’ll say it how it is. We can’t beat you, not fair and square, and we also definitely won’t go home with you - and you, you want money and a head on your shoulders. Theoretically, being in the cahoots with the so-called enemy wouldn’t be a good strategy, but it just so happens that I have money, no grudge against you and no grudge against you or any need to use you as a scapegoat. And we might need someone that might be willing to lend us a hand if someone else would like to play the figurative scapegoat. Edward can’t do that alone and he won’t let me help him, so what about I pay you for your services - better than my father would anyway - and you get to keep your head?”
      Looking back, it maybe is like the toy carts you rode when you were a kid. But those toy carts could never go beyond the walls of the lawn. We want to follow the rugged concrete road beyond the wall. As we've grown, we've decided to leave behind the toy cart.

    • "A smart decision? Well humor me then!", Logan laughed and then shrugged his shoulders. "You're right, ultimately I don't care about well being." Edward flinched again but he didn't move. How could he talk about the prince like that? He was his prince too, at least that Logan character looked like he was from these parts of the continent anyway. "Is he? Well why aren't you sending him against me then? Are you in the end concerned for my safety? I hardly believe that's it!" Logan laughed again and Edward was pretty sure he meant all that. If he wanted to he probably could have attacked Edward by now, but he didn't. Instead he laughed and listened to the prince, just because it brought him some fun. Edward was well rested today, so why didn't the prince just let him fight? Even if it was only to protect his honor in front of such a clown who didn't even care that the prince stood before him. Edward wasn't fighting for fun, neither did he like it very much, but he also didn't want anyone to laugh at the prince. The prince however kept Edward on a short leash, which he never had to do before.

      "You could be lying to me.", Logan mused with a slim grin on his face, but he still listened to them. Edward wondered for how long he'd do that before he had enough. "You only told me why I wouldn't want to bring you back, but why wouldn't I just sell you to someone else, who then tries to get the money from your dear daddy?", Logan asked and Edward growled. "The king for you.", he voiced and earned an amused look from the blonde. "I'm sure there are a lot of people who'd pay to have a prince in their possession. Your family has enemies too, I wonder what they'd do with a fragile prince?" Edward had enough of this guy, but without the prince ordering him to do something, he wouldn't, even though he wanted to. He told him to stand back though and so he swallowed down any anger. Edward rarely was angry in the first place. The prince was right though, Edward probably just needed to calm down himself and he simply nodded shortly to signal the prince that he wouldn't do anything reckless. "Good doggy!", was Logans answer to that though. "Didn't you say your knight can defend you just fine?", Logan pointed out laughing and Edward too was a little bit surprised by that statement. He could at least try? Logan seemingly couldn't even stop laughing anymore and he wiped some tears from the corner of his eye. "You want to pay me for protection, because that knight of yours isn't good enough? That's funny!" He still laughed but slowly he got himself together again, a smile remained though. "How much money are we talking? And where does that money come from, huh?", he wanted to know.

    • "That I will." Cecil didn't think of himself as a particularly dull person, much like he didn't think of someone like Logan as one - in the eye of the beholder, different situations could amount to different things and even if someone was obviously one way, who knew if they weren't completely different in the next moment? No one, unless they did possess great knowledge of those around him. Cecil wasn't one of them he was sure of that, and he had never thought too much about that in the first place - why would he anyway? "You care about money, that I understood." And that meant that Logan needed some, somehow, for himself - something he could call his own, something to nourish himself on and to live by, nothing more, but that also meant that simple deals would appeal to someone like him, unless he had high expectations regardless. Why wouldn't he? Cecil couldn't blame him, really. "I'm avoiding a fight that doesn't have to happen.", he clarified, gifting the stranger a sincere smile. That he was, but he also felt as if that was his way of protecting Eddie, somehow, even if it was anticlimatic and somewhat dangerous to do in the first place. They could have ran, fought their way out of this, but he wasn't prone to doing that, much like he wasn't really thinking about doing it in the first place - not anymore, they already had met their match and his name was Logan.

      "Why do you think that is? I'm not exactly known for lying." That was true - he wasn't like a well-hidden secret, but everyone that knew him thought of him as sincere, as weak but sincere, and as lost in a world that didn't need him as much as he seemingly needed it. Though, the next proposal turned out to preposterous. "Would you feel confident in dooming them?", he questioned instead. Maybe Logan was without morals and honor, but that meant that he'd have no problem defying the crown either - why would he want his money, the one that he got from his people, then? Eddie was still trying to defend him, he was trying to chastise Logan for what it was worth, but that was also not the problem. Cecil didn't mind, he hated his father from time to time as well and Logan didn't get to downright insulting anyone, not yet. "Tear me to shreds. And you couldn't care less, as long as you get paid, I understood that." What would they really do to him? Probably ask for ransom, or other, more unspeakable things - but that wasn't happening, even when he couldn't help but bite back a chuckle - Logan was right, wasn't Eddie kind of like a dog and a good one in the first place? "He can, that's not the problem, but since you have more experience and the better armor, that would hardly be a fair fight, would it now? Besides, I'm sure he wouldn't mind a helping hand ... and someone he could learn from, right?", he proposed, hoping that Edward would just agree and not let it all fall through. "As much as you want. And it doesn't matter where it comes from. Payment is payment and I'm sure that, if you consider selling me to the enemy or killing some poor stranger to not get beheaded by my own father, you really care about what kind it is. So, what do you say?"
      Looking back, it maybe is like the toy carts you rode when you were a kid. But those toy carts could never go beyond the walls of the lawn. We want to follow the rugged concrete road beyond the wall. As we've grown, we've decided to leave behind the toy cart.

    • "Money. Yes. For now.", Logan grinned, but he seemed to get a little bit restless on his horse, maybe he was getting bored by all the talking. Edward wasn't sure how much longer the prince would be able to entertain that person. "Maybe I want that fight to happen though?", Logan answered and he seemingly did. Edward knew people like him, Francis was like him. He didn't run head first into every fight, but he enjoyed fighting as a whole, this guy seemed even worse. Edward wasn't even sure if the money was that interesting to him. "You're not known for lying?", Logan laughed again. "That's what a liar would say too. I don't know you, but I know that royal and noble families aren't strangers to deceiving. You want me to leave you alone, you'd tell me all kinds of stuff to achieve that, right?", Logan summed up with another grin and then started to stretch himself just like that, as if he was on vacation here or something. Edward couldn't believe this guy! What was he even thinking and why was the prince holding him back that much?

      "I don't care what they'd do with you. If they are beheaded for it, so be it. That's not my problem." Of course this Logan guy would be like that. He seemed to not care about anyone but himself, but he still hadn't attacked them, nor did he try to hurt either of those two fugitives. The following words almost made Edward joke and he shot the prince an almost defeated glance. He knew he had to agree for the princes plan to work and he wouldn't dare to talk back either. "Of... course...", Edward mumbled looking down. Didn't the prince trust him with this? Did he want that guy to just leave them alone or did he truly want someone more suitable as a bodyguard? Someone that apparently looked stronger than Edward. "I can fight without my armor, that is no problem.", was all the blonde said, but then simply shrugged his shoulder. "I care where the payment comes from, because I rather have it now. I won't be scammed by the likes of you and I have one more question for you before I decide on anything. What is this supposed to be anyway? What are you doing out here?"

    • "Until you don't need any, I presume?" That was it. But he still didn't fully understand this Logan guy - did he just bluff, did he really not care about anyone else or was it just him being the gigantic idiot that he looked like? Cecil should better not say that aloud, but the armor looked almost tacky, as well as the fact that his behavior seemingly wasn't much better. What a shame - he had thought he actually was somewhat agreeable, but in all honesty, he barely was. "You like provoking people. That might work on him, if you try hard enough. Though, unless you both have a valid reason to fight, I don't think you should." That would be a hassle, especially for him, when he didn't even know how to patch either of them up. What would he do if they bashed their heads in? It threw him out of loop, confused him to say the least and he was almost convinced that - if he thought too much about it - there was no way of ever getting it out of his head, either. "Under normal circumstances someone might, but I'm not good at lying, or even bluffing. Aside from that, what would I gain from lying to someone that I want to make an alley out of?" That, in itself, was a lie from head to toe - someone that didn't have physical strength usually resorted to the things that they had mentally, and Cecil wasn't stupid, just childish.

      "So you are without remorse, huh?" That he was, as long as the money was right, Logan was probably easily amused and just fine with what he had - Cecil could gather that, even if it wasn't much just yet. This was all he had to go off anyway, but somehow it had worked so far and nothing bad had happened - he was still in one piece - which was great. "Not without honor. Noted.", he answered, almost mesmerized by the fact that somehow, Logan managed to still act like he wasn't just a douchebag, on his high horse, laughing at two obviously confused, lost nobles that were just trying to have a good time and were currently stopped from doing so, because of him and his big ego, that had invited itself onto their trip. "Oh, I thought you were talking about the moneys origin. Unfortunately, I don't have guarantee that you won't scam us if I hand all of it over right now ... so what about I pay you half upfront instead?", he proposed, a sly grin on his own face. He had learned from the best, even if the best were two princes and some merchants that he had bothered on the rare chance that he found his way into town and made his way out of Eddies sight. "What? I want to see Thria, and I very much wouldn't like to be cooped up in a stuffy castle all day. And because I wouldn't be allowed to go under normal circumstances, I just went on my own." And he certainly hadn't thought this would blow out of proportion like it had, unfortunately. "So, what do you say? You get money, an adventure and a fight against Edward, if you insist. If you take off your armor."
      Looking back, it maybe is like the toy carts you rode when you were a kid. But those toy carts could never go beyond the walls of the lawn. We want to follow the rugged concrete road beyond the wall. As we've grown, we've decided to leave behind the toy cart.

    • "Sometimes other things are more important.", Logan replied with a sly grin, an answer probably neither of those two fugitives expected. "I think he won't bite me unless his owner lets him, which is kind of boring and sad.", Logan concluded and looked at Edward shortly. He obviously wanted to do something to him, but he didn't, because he was told not to fight. It was sad seeing a living and thinking human being submit himself like that, like he was a dog, nothing more. "This discussion leads no where. I cannot know if you lie or not and you cannot know if you can trust me or not. I might just kidnap you while your knight sleeps." It was true, none of this mattered because neither of them could know what the other thought. Edward however almost growled and Logan grinned. "It was just an example, don't worry. Besides, your prince is the one that wants me to tag along! I guess that's understandable." He laughed again and was seemingly making up his mind about something. Either attacking them, or actually tagging along, which wasn't Edwards favorite option.

      "I guess in some regards.", Logan explained and he also couldn't deny that he had some honor. At least he wanted certain fights to be fair and if he was just winning because he had the better equipment, he didn't even want to fight. He could simply cast his armor away or even give it to that knight. At least the size fit, maybe not so much the rest of his body, but Logan didn't mind giving him an advantage. "Pay me half? You're on a trip without your daddy-" "The king.", Edward chimed in. "... the king backing you up.", Logan ended his sentence and rolled his eyes. "Either way, that means you have to have that money with you and from the way you hogged those bags in the tavern I'm assuming your money is in there. I could simply rob you." Logan pointed on the bags on Edwards and Cecils horses. He wasn't stupid not at all, he probably saw more of this world than the two of them combined. "Your answer was pretty boring, but I'm inclined to see what you're about to do. Thria sounds interesting as well. Also I might like the idea to defy the king. Either way, keep your money, it is enough if you pay any rooms, food and drinks for now. We can renegotiate terms later on.", he decided and then looked at that poor knight. "We fight later, let's get going!"

    • Cecil wanted to call out something, tell Logan just to zip it, or figure out what he was just saying, but for some reason, something told him that Logan neither cared as much as Edward did, nor did he care about anyone thinking he did. Defying the king was something he lived by, or rather defying his country and the prince somehow like that about the stranger he'd just met - something that at least sounded fun in theory. Then again, who was Logan even taking himself for? "To be fair, I wish he would act out of line from time to time ... sorry, Eddie.", he voiced, almost apologetically in his knights direction. Cecil did think that this brave, yet somewhat poor dog of his only deserved the best - and it just so happened that the young prince was neither the best for him, nor was his upbringing good for him. Edwards siblings seemed different, yet the same and it all boiled down to realizing that the world wasn't just a playground for a noble like him, someone with name and status, to get on the nerves of those who never had any chance to be themselves. "At least you're kind of cautious, that's also good. Are you even afraid of anything? What if you try to kidnap me and I stab you?", he suddenly voiced. He had a knife on him, but that definitely wouldn't penetrate an armor, he had convinced himself of as much earlier.

      "Mhm." Not all of them then. Why was Logan just giving out information about himself like that? It seemed odd, or maybe he just wasn't who he let on - regardless, Cecil didn't care, as much as he didn't think too much of the situation in the first place. This was happening because it had to at some point and right now, he was scrambling to pull his hood back up. "Just because I don't have my fathers fortune, that surely doesn't mean I can't pay you!" They had enough to probably buy more men than just Logan, but then again, more men meant more rats and a higher chance of being turned in for an actually profitable reward - therefore, he had just played his cards right and somehow won. Why, though? "But you wouldn't, because you aren't stupid and you have some honor." Right? Or Logan would rob them the next chance they got, only for Edward to wake up alone, in the wilderness, without a prince, money, clothes or a horse - what a horrible fate indeed. Maybe they should just get rid of Logan when they came across the next cliff? Who knew. "Excuse me, what?", Cecil asked, almost laughing. Defying his father was fun, yes, but the blonde in definitely was no businessman. "Uh, he's right! Off to the sea, right, Eddie?"
      Looking back, it maybe is like the toy carts you rode when you were a kid. But those toy carts could never go beyond the walls of the lawn. We want to follow the rugged concrete road beyond the wall. As we've grown, we've decided to leave behind the toy cart.