[Please read a wasted night - part Four before reading this]

A wasted knight – part Five – Rejection and creation


The young knight was gaining his strength back and while the Raevac talked, he began to plan how he might escape. However, it was obvious that the Raevac was not stupid, or inattentive. The knight would have to plan his escape far beyond the first move or getting away. He continued to think through his options.

"The sad story of a Raevac is that we were once Guardians of the Diplomat. We are the ones who where set free from service for one reason or anther. Set free to wonder the world alone…"

The young prince piped up, perhaps a little hastily "Why alone? You said there were always two Guardians for every diplomat. Aren't you meant to even be married to the other Guardian? Where is your wife?"

Quietly the Raevac moved along the pillar it was on, then spoke very softly, almost a whisper which was rather hard for the young prince to hear.

"Foolish child… use that head of yours and think about this for a moment. Why would a guardian who is so committed that they serve one diplomat their whole lives, suddenly turn away from the person they love the most? Why would you think that a Guardian who is taught the highest levels of integrity, honour, loyalty, dedication possibly consider ever going out alone? Young prince, ill assume that you are still coming to you senses after the battle and wound you have received, but hear me on this. A Raevac would never give up or leave. You remember that, as long as you live."

It dawned on the knight that something must have happened to the Raevacs wife, and what happened to her was obviously death or the Raevac would still be fighting to set her free, or she would be here. The knight felt very…

"And why do you assume I am a man, that my wife would not be here?" grinned the Raevac, who until this point had its hood pulled low over its face. The Raevac pulled the hood back to reveal the face of a weathered, but pretty female face.

The knight was indeed surprised but then realised that he should not have been. If both Guardians where as formidable as each other and the myths portrayed, then a female Guardian this could indeed be. He said nothing and tried to keep his thoughts off his face.

"I was once a Guardian and yes I once had a husband who was everything to me. Strong, compassionate, and dedicated to the cause and to me. I love him and miss him and will forever…"
The Raevac just trailed off as she thought about her Husband Guardian.

"You see the way a Guardian team worked with a diplomat was very formal. Women would travel in a carriage and men would ride on horse back. It's the royal, formal way of doing things and that is very important in these situations.

In this instance we were actually travelling with two diplomats and their guardians with particularly sensitive orders. When ever the king had something of incredible import that he could not be present for, he sent two diplomats and their associated guardians. Sort of double the wisdom and double the protection.

The location we were to travel to was a costal city and there were only two passages in and out. This made the city easy to defend but also risky to visit, hence the extra protection. The king we were to visit had been hostile and threatening all sorts of things. The diplomats where being sent to ease the situation and find out exactly what was wrong.

We Guardians spent a long time trying to ascertain the best route to enter the city. After a lot of scouting we found no presence of a threat along the coastal roads, and so proceeded into the city. It was then, however, that we realised the threat was inside the city. As the gates opened to the city on our arrival, a large party of horsemen wearing foreign armour rode out to meet us. The coat of arms was not that which we were expecting and it became apparent that something had gone very wrong in this city.

Diplomacy is always the first choice of a Guardian but soon talking turned out to be useless. The horsemen became hostile and insisted that we let the diplomats be taken without a fight, when we obviously refused a full fight ensued. Several of the horsemen split the guardians down the middle and drove the carriage which had the female diplomats, the other female guardian and myself in it. That was the last I saw of my husband… I watched carefully out the window as the carriage careered away from the fight. We were flanked by several of the horsemen. The fight looked terribly fierce and hopeless. It was clear the horsemen were warriors' and well prepared for the attack.

Our carriage was taken to an awaiting ship where we were sent away and held captive for a very long time. I can only assume that a ransom was asked because one day the prison we were held in was liberated by the army with King Gyidon himself at the forefront.

We were taken back to the kingdom and given rest for several months. During this time we learned that none of the men had survived from the fight outside the city. Evidently they had fought for a long time and struck down many of the horsemen. It appeared that it was an arrow which ended the lives of the Guardians, not the sword. It would be my guess that the horsemen could not kill them at close range with the honour the guardians and diplomats deserved, and would have pulled back to allow a shower or arrows to take the lives of such challenging foes.

King Gyidon released the women diplomats from serve as they could no longer serve as just the female halves. They were offered positions in the King's court for the rest of their days. The King also set us Guardians free and offered a very comfortable live as a King's guard. But I could never serve in the palace for the rest of my days. I will always need to be outside and fighting in the mud. The palace life was not something I could accept. So I was set free with the palace gates always open behind me for when I will return. The name they give to us that travel the country side now is that of Raevac. We are not in the kings service, but are forever searching for those who could be"

The prince had forgotten about his plan to escape and had become very interested. "What do you mean searching for those that could be?"