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All who stood and watched was silent as Ryugi spoke, hanging on his every word. As he spoke on each sword, the King's gaze would affix on it, and he seemed alternately perturbed, excited and disturbed all at the same time.

John watched Ryugi and listened to his story of family intently. It was an interesting tale, one which he would have to ask the Dragon-kin to tell in depth, later down the line...

As it was, Ryugi had finished with the physical inspection of the swords, and now cast his magic eye over them, looking to see if anything spiritual was wrong with them. Swords were reflections of their weilders - however, unlike reflections, they do not disappear when the wielder does not swing them. Every chip, every crack, every sharpened edge signified a piece of a personality that once weilded a sword. And, like any other thing, a person puts a piece of himself into the tools they use when they use them - a fingernail mark on a hammer, a worn grip on a lathe, a scrape on a broomhandle...and the effects could be as spiritual as well as physical.

And he would find much.

The rapier, for example - a soft white glow eminated from the sword in its entirity, as if a holy light shone down from the heavens themselves upon it. The light of love. But it was a dim light

The cleaver had...no aura at all. There was no spirit or force contained within the blade. It was simple a cleaver.

The broadsword, however....it held a dark light about it. Not quite the red of passion, but not quite the black of evil either... mixture of both, a soup slowly seeping from the blade, like it had been plunged in white hot lava then steamed in the icy snow.

True....the steel sword was a fine blade. But it was obviously the most evil out of the three. The one that Ryugi had said was the most evil, a weapon of carnage, held no aura at all. It was as it was - a tool. And the rapier was a gift of love, as he'd said...

John would've held his breath if he'd given a s**t about the outcome. It was this simple - Ryugi made the right choice, and they would get paid. If he stuffed up, well...they wouldn't get paid, and Ryugi's impressive reputation would take a hit. Not a very big one. It wasn't as if Tellasa was anyplace important anymore.

So it really didn't matter when the King's wizened face, grim and blank as Ryugi deliberated, broke into a smile. "You are correct, Sir Ryugi."

John sighed with irritation. "Thats the one I chose." He said sullenly.

"Yes, Mr. Tomorrow, but you guessed..."

"Guessed the right one! You're clearly a pacifist - out of all three swords in the case, the steel one is the closest to a warblade. Of course you were going to think of it as pure evil...."

The King nodded a little, looking crestfallen as he looked down to the case. "I suppose you are right, after a fashion...but I needed to be sure that the man or men i sent out would look deeper then skin deep...they needed to see the spirit of the Prospero Sword." He looked to Ryugi and nodded slowly, his dour expression remaining as he ran his fingers along the wooden edge of the case. "You are right, Sir Ryugi. This sword has a very dark, disturbing past, such as the other two have pasts of their own."

"The cleaver is of the best Butcher in all of Tellasa. He was a kind man who did not delight in his work, but was extremely good at it. He kept his cleaver so sharp it could chop wood, and could use it to kill a fat hog in a single blow. This lessened the suffering of the animals and kept their meat loose and succulant. This blade was given to my great great grandfather after the Prospero Sword was taken from these lands, and as the hogs began to dwindle in number, The Butcher began to ail. After he died, his son gave my family the blade, and I keep it beside my most prized possession..."

He drew his hand along the case to the rapier, his eyes beginning to gleam a little as he spoke of it fondly. "This sword was given to me as a gift from my wife when she fell pregnant with our daughter. She said she had tempered the steel with a kiss, and had her own hair woven into the handle. After she died, I promised never to draw it again, to preserve her kisses from tarnishing..."

He looked over to the broadsword. Sitting beside the other two, extreme as they were, the bland sword looked very out of place - but this one his eyes lingered on. "As for that sword....it was weilded by a very, very evil, disgusting blight of a man and I...I keep it here for...for..."

He blinked, causing a tear to roll down his face, which he brushed away with a shaking hand, fighting to regain his composure. "B-but you did not come all this way for ancient stories from old men....you came here for a purpose." He swallowed a little, taking a deep breath, before walking around the case, his fingers drawing over the glass of the case over the rapier, lingering for but a moment before he walked up to Ryugi, looking to Tomorrow at the same time as he withdrew a scroll from his sleeve, taking Ryugi's hand with his shaky grip to press the scroll into his palm.

"Here is what I wish...what i plead of you both, now...I wish for you to accompany my wagons and the dignitries with them to Kyudon and oversee the safe arrival of them, as well as the trade for the Prospero Sword. Sir Ryugi shall inspect the sword both physically and spiritually - if he feels there is something amiss, then the trade is cancelled and you shall oversee the return of the dignitries." He bowed his head to them both. "I implore you, both of you.....please help me with this, and I shall see to it that you are, somehow, rightly compensated..."

Tomorrow stepped forward then, the mighty barbarian placing his hand upon Ryumi's head, tousling her hair a little as he smiled down to her before looking up to the king. "With all due respect, my lord...I think we shall discuss compensation after we have completed the mission." He looked over to Ryugi. "Right?" He asked, with a smile that clearly showed he had no intention of taking anything from the old man.

This made the King almost burst into tears, clasping his hands together. "By God almighty....it has been so, so long since, since good fortune has graced these halls....I have been delivered two heros to see my people to good health once more..."

Before he could blubber anymore, John sighed and grasped him under his arm, making sure he didn't fall. "Thats if we complete the mission, okay? Now, who are these dignitries that shall be travelling with us..."

The King managed to compose himself again, smoothing down his robes and trying to stand on his own two feet, waving John's arm away when he was steady enough to stand upright. "Well, there is the minister, he shall overlook the trade....and as a show of good faith...m-my daughter shall go along w-with him..."

John blinked in alarm, looking over to Ryugi, concern clear in his lightening-filled eyes. "Your daughter?"

Tomorrow wanted to leap onto Ryugi and rip his tounge out for saying such a thing, and his eyes, already full of skittering lightning, seeming to flare a little as he glared at the man...

But the King simply reached out and clasped Ryugi's hand, squeezing it tightly in his own, his grey eyes wide as he looked up to the dragon-kin. "You....are a true hero, my son...I have absolutely no doubt that she will be utterly safe in your presence." He said longingly, John having to quit his steely glare at Ryugi to smile down to the King as the old man turned to look up at him. "You have made an old man happy, Mr. Tomorrow..."

"Its nothing, sir." John said prefunctorily, clearing his throat as he looked out the window. "...When do we leave?"

At that point, a knight stepped forward, having come in through the entrance to the sword room as they'd spoken. He'd stood to attention till now, being a part of the background as was his role. He was clad in the Tellasa armour and crest, his helm tucked under his arm much like John's. He was a young man, with wavy brown hair and cool green eyes. John could tell by the way he spoke and stood that he had not seen much combat, yet took his job very seriously. John had a knack for these types of things. "Sire..." The boy said, gathering the King's attention. "The armamanets are being loaded into the wagons now."

"Then the preperations are almost complete. Is the princess ready?"

"Yes Sire. She awaits your blessing in her carriage in the courtyard."

The old man looked over to John and Ryugi, a heavy look in his eye. "Well then....I guess there is...nothing else to do but...see you on your way."

The boy saluted the King crisply before turning on his heel and marching to the doors, the King following him closely, his hands clasped behind his back, his head bowed slightly with his face a grim pallor. Before Ryugi could move to follow them, however, John grabbed his arm, arresting any movement.

"Dammit, why did you have to promise something like that?" The barbarian hissed to Ryugi. "It is bad enough that we are possibly walking into an ambush filled with dishonourable men. We might have a hard enough time keeping our own skins intact, let alone..." He jabbed a steel finger to the little girl beside Ryugi with the pink eyes.

He sighed then and released the dragon-kin's arm, his steely gaze softening slightly as his anger mellowed, as easily tempered as it had flared. "...Whats done is done. I'm sorry....I do not like to grant promises I don't know if I can keep. There are too many factors involved here....lets just pray to Odin that it all goes smoothly."

With another sigh, he patted Ryugi's shoulder and tousled Ryumi's hair again as he walked past them, beckoning for them to follow. He could not blame the dragonkin for what he had said - he was a good soul, a man of honour. John was....jaded from life. He tried to do as much good as he could, but....he knew that life was never that easy.

They would catch up with the King and his armed entourage easily, and they would be led through the winding castle once more to the courtyard. The smithy had finally been put out, a team of six blacksmiths sitting at the tables of the cafe, having opened it and raided the contents for food and drink. Big, burly, soot-covered men watched as young men with strong backs loaded crates into ox-drawn wagons, and sipped coffee, their work done. A team of Tellasa knights stood by, ten in all, all clad in full plate and weilding swords and sheilds, the big knight from before standing before them shouting orders.

Besides the wagons carrying the swords was a different looking carriage - this one was a royal carriage, pure white with golden trim and filligree covering all edges. It was drawn by two white horses, the horses looking thin, but still very regal. It was completely enclosed, and from within, the sound of soft weeping eminated from the doors.

"H-how long has she been crying?" The King asked the boy knight, his voice full of concern.

"...Since she entered the carriage, my lord." The boy replied, looking away from the old man to the carriage, as if unable to bear watching his lord look hurt. "...She has refused to see anybody since."

"I shall speak to her." The King said quietly, looking back to Ryugi and Tomorrow. "This will only take a moment..."

"Take your time." John replied, looking over the knights geared for the march. It was clear the princess' tears were affecting them - a lot of them stood to attention, but as the King approached the carriage, they all tried to look to the carriage, concern etched in their faces...

The King entered the carriage and shut the door behind him, the weeping growing louder as the door open before growing silent when the door was shut. Whispered voices were heard from within, soft coos of reassurance, followed by halting sounds of a sobbed voice.

John watched Ryugi closely, as if inspecting him would reveal some sort of inner being that he had missed. This was the longest they'd ever spent together, it was true...but he had considered Ryugi as more of a humble man. Perhaps the Dragonkin was right...maybe John needed to take heed of his own skills more often. That said, to boldly promise such things were folly to the Tribal barbarian - the world was a fickle place, and many things that seemed sure was not always so. Ryugi seemed like a man who enjoyed being in control of his life...creating his own destiny. So what would happen when he lost that control?

In any case, John shook his head and cleared his mind. He could not blame the man...if John's heart was a little less cold, he might have considered making such a claim himself...but lately he felt the need to be less judgemental and boastful. Especially after...

Well. He looked down to the little girl and wondered exactly just how powerful she was. He knew nothing of Dragon-kin and their spawn - he knew his own children were tough, but at her age that had just been....children. Content to play and rough-house....at least, thats what Adamus had told him.

Suddenly the door to the carriage opened, and the King stepped out, shutting it softly behind him. The sound of weeping had ceased, and silence hung heavy in the air as the old man approached the mercenaries. "She...is not looking forward to this."

"Then why make her do it?"

John found himself asking the question before it had even formed in his mind, his voice gruff and accusing, and for a second, the King looked lost, even frightened - before the young knight stepped forward, speaking in the King's stead. "She is the sign of good faith, as well as a princess. How else will she learn to negotiate treaties and proper court ettiqute if she does not receive real world experience?"

John shot a look to Ryumi before shrugging non-commitedly.

The Captain of the guard approached the group, saluting crisply to the King. "Sire, the armaments are loaded and ready."

"V-very well. You may depart." The King said to the Captain, who saluted and span on his foot, marching back to his cohort.

"Alright you maggots, I want five strong on either side of the carriage and wagons - backs straight, best foot forward, march!"

A carriage rider stepped into the seat of the carriage, taking up the reins of the thin horses, and with a click of his tounge it began to roll forward, the horses riding at a gentle pace. The ten knights took form on either side of the carriage and wagons, their halberds held high as they began to march with the carriage's speed. The horse-drawn carriage and two ox-drawn wagons peeled out of the castle slowly to make it's trip down the road into the village.

The King clasped his hands before him and bowed deeply before Ryugi, Ryumi and Tomorrow. "Godspeed, brave warriors."

John nodded to the King curtly, before following after the caravan, taking a moment to adjust his sword on his hip before catching up with the caravan.

John watched Ryugi make his way to the front of the caravan and decided to stay near the back to cover the rear.

As Ryugi got near the front, he would see the Captain marching pompously at the very front of the horses, a full three meters from them, in his full plate. As Ryugi drew near, the man would turn his head and glare to the dragon-kin. "If I need the relief, I'll ask for it! Take up position by the princess' carriage, mercenary!"

As John walked, he noticed the boy knight who had been talking to the King sitting on the back of the last sword wagon, his legs dangling over the edge of the struts. "Is your Captain always so highly strung?"

"He comes from a long line of soldiers, but he's the first of his line to reach the rank of Captain, not to mention there's not really much action to be had in Tellasa...I think he's trying to overcompensate." The boy said with a wry grin.

"You can say that again..." John muttered, looking back to where Rygui was to see if he'd follow orders or not. "How far do we have to march?"

"Kyudon is two days march. There's a small village on the cusp of both nations where we will rest for the night."

"Get many bandits in Tellasa?"

The boy grinned a little. "This is Tellasa, sir. There is nothing to steal here but dirt and sick cows. Kyudon, however, may be a different story."

John set his jaw. This will be a long trip. Looking down the caravan, he lifted his free hand and placed his forefinger and thumb into his mouth, whistling loudly, trying to attract Ryugi's attention...

"You thought wrong, sir! Now do as ordered or take your place at the back of the caravan with your ruffian friend!"

The Captain shot Ryugi a look that made it absolutely clear that the point was his, and that he would not take dissidence at all, and that if it was up to him, John and Ryugi would not be here at all.

As Ryugi looked down the caravan to John, he would see the Asgardian waving him down to come join him.

If Ryugi decided to join John, he would have to walk past the princess' carriage - and as he walked past, he would notice that the quiet weeping had begun again, gentle sobs that made the men around the carriage falter their step and feel like their armour was ten times heavier...

The weeping paused for a moment, the occupant of the carriage clearly forcing some level of composure....but was unable to speak up. The weeping resumed, somewhat harder this time, soft racking sobs which made the men around the carriage shiver.

"Sir Kazamaru..." One of the soldiers whispered softly, his green eyes looking from the dragon-kin to the carriage nervously. "...I must ask you to step back from the carriage...she is our Royal princess...if she wished, we would do anything for her, but...she wishes to cry, so...hopefully, she will stop soon...until then...we shall be brave for her."

"Aye."

"Aye."

"Aye."

The men around the carriage all voiced their approval of the man's words, their voices hard, betrayed by the hurt in their eyes. The sobbing only grew louder at this confirmation, however, and the soldier winced as if struck physically. "Please Sir....join your friend."

John watched the exchange quietly, waiting for Ryugi to come to him. As he did, he looked up to the knight sitting in the wagon. "Tell me boy, does your army sing cadence?"

"Of course, sir."

Biting his bottom lip, he mulled this over as he waited for Ryugi to come...

The Dragon-kin's words rang around the men, the carriage, the wagons. As he spoke, the men stiffened, their hands tightening on their halberds, their jaws becoming set, their sight sharpening. The men who were before Ryugi walked forth with their heads held high - the ones who walked beside and behind Ryugi stared at him with a burning hatred that seemed to enimate from their hearts and flare right from their souls.

And yet they said not a word.

Not one word.

All there was were the sobs from the carriage, redoubled now

As Ryugi approached John, the Asgardian stared at him with that same fire, his lightning-filled iris' skittering and flashing slightly as the sun was blocked by his brow and his loose fringe. When he spoke, his voice was course like sandpaper, sarcasm dripping from his lips as surely as wine would flow from an overturned flagon.

"Hope you feel better." He spat. "Feel better for spitting on a man's honour and duty by proclaiming you know best. Better for thinking you have any right to tell others how to live their life. These men are royal knight soldiers - they are duty and honour bound to follow the king's orders to every single letter. Clearly, if they had not been ordered to let her be, they would do everything in their power to cheer her - as it is, if she suffers, then they suffer. Such is the role of a soldier."

He lifted his metallic arm, pointing to the boy on the wagon, who looked at Ryugi silently with sullen, hate filled eyes. "This man is young and strong - the right, logical choice to him is to leave this sick land whilst his strength remains - but he stayed. Why did you stay, boy?"

"Because I love my King, my Queen and my land." The boy remarked coldly, still staring at Ryugi.

"And what is the best way to help you King, Queen and land?"

"Work the fields with the people." He replied, sneering at Ryugi. "I decided to leave my pick and spade at home for this venture, however."

John lowered his arm and moved to walk past Ryugi, pausing to whisper into his ear as he did. "You accuse them of sloth and inaction, when they do all they can for the land and people...but all you've done is display arrogance and contempt for them...because they follow orders." He looked back to Ryumi, sighing a little, before whispering again. "...I hope she learnt that lesson well. I think you should speak to the boy, try to gain his trust at least - if we do have to fight, I want to know I have these men by my side."

Then he strode forward, keeping his head high as he walked past the weeping carriage, and approached the Captain...but did not address him, turning back to look back to the men. "Knights of Tellasa, tell me you know the one about the peasant girl and her dog!?"

The men looked at him blankly, their faces still sullen.

John continued unperturbed, walking backwards as he began to sing, his deep voice carrying over the carriage and wagons.



As they approached the town, the people came out of their huts and watched the soldiers, marching in unison as one, singing the boisterous song with solidarity and pride, with straight backs and heads held high. The people waved to them with the little strength they seemed to bother to muster, and this seemed to spur them on, singing louder, drowning out the princess' crying with John's lusty songs.

These people needed motivation, this much was true. But yelling at them would gain nothing, nor would losing ones temper, nor would slapping them in the face with the ugly truth. In such a time, all you could do was focus on getting the job done - a hard job, a thankless job, but if you did it with pride in your heart, then a job well done was thanks enough.