Kingdom's Bloodline, page 576
…..
“Of course, Your Highness, if you would like to have a drink. But you have no one familiar to bring you around. Please do not go to My House in the south… Let me tell ya—Ahem, let me tell you, that bastard innkeeper has an evil mind. Any unlucky chap who does not know the way things operate there would often become dead drunk in the tavern. When he wakes up, he would find himself lying naked in the brothel. Not only would he have lost his money, but there would also be an old man on top of him… Or, it could be even worse: he could end up naked in the Prison of Bones with a group of old men on top of him… Ahh… We have rescued countless young and old men ever since we served in the army…”
Thales yawned while he walked downstairs and listened to Snake Shooter, who enthusiastically introduced the people and customs of Blade Fangs Camp.
The Legendary Wing was not joking.
Early the second morning, Snake Shooter, who was responsible for guarding Ghost Prince Tower, brought a dozen freaks who were his subordinates to knock on Thales’ door. They expressed cautiously that the troops had assembled, and told the drowsy-eyed prince that it was “time to return home with honor.”
He watched the sun, which was not far away from the horizon, and he then looked at the man who tried to appear very obsequious but seemed awkward and pitiful. Thales sighed and finally decided that he should dismiss the cruel idea of asking Snake Shooter to go back and “confirm” with Roman whether the case was true.
The truth was that the valiant Baron Roman Williams, whose fearful reputation traveled far and beyond, was extremely… petty.
And he could not wait to… chase Thales out of here.
Just because of… a sword that was a gift?
Therefore, Thales, dressed in humble clothes and yawned continuously even after he had packed up (“Are you sure you do not want to give this a try? This is the best find in our small troop. Look at it again. It is in a dazzlingly beautiful red shade, with bright gold dust spread around the chest area. Even the cuffs and collars are inlaid with gold; how could it be tawdry? Even the gray mixed breeds like it very much! And our baron cannot bear to wear it either…” Snake Shooter used his psionic ability to make his clothes strike all kinds of different poses as he sought to play it up for the prince). Thales followed Snake Shooter and walked down the eerie stairs of Ghost Prince Tower. He could not hold back from complaining, “You know, according to the letter, the Legendary Wing used to be Prince Herman’s messenger. Imagine that man running around delivering letters with a straight face… Oh my, even the Star Killer looks cuter…”
When he thought of that, Thales subconsciously held Sentinel a little tighter in his arms.
After a few seconds, a hoarse voice traveled through the air and faintly replied, “But… that is a good face.”
Thales was instantly speechless.
It looked like his uncle, Prince Herman was also probably someone who judged others based on their looks alone.
Thales subconsciously turned around and glanced at the dilapidated Ghost Prince Tower. He suddenly felt a cold chill run down his spine.
To his front, Snake Shooter, who insisted on carrying his luggage, appeared to cherish each moment spent with the prince. He chattered away to the interested prince (even though Thales had only mentioned it in passing) about Western Desert and Blade Fangs Camp. “Oh, since you asked about it, I have to say, stay away from the mercenaries! I mean, even though they are sellswords, but they—Haih, those sellswords are crazy, lord knows if they were murderers before they escaped to the camp. They would do anything for money, unlike us. We are good soldiers who serve the kingdom. We are righteous, loyal, and responsible, plus we abide by the law and have legitimate statuses!”
He may have come to understand that the prince had a good temperament, hence, when Snake Shooter spoke, he appeared especially righteous, bold, stern, and just. Weird Flame and Mystifying Eyes who followed him subconsciously touched their heads and looked away.
While they spoke, they finally got out of Ghost Prince Tower and met the Stardust Unit, who were dressed in the same way—it was clear that they were soldiers who were part of the freak squad.
Snake Shooter seemed to be completely ignorant of his two subordinates’ expressions, and he waved excitedly.
“Also, Your Highness, since you asked about the taverns in Blade Fangs Camp…”
Spirit Blade, who was behind him, suddenly took out a wine bottle, and pushed the bottleneck into the area below her chest awkwardly and laboriously. She strode forward in an imposing manner, pulled an exaggerated smile that made it clear that she had practiced pulling it in front of a mirror the day before, and looked at Thales as if he were her prey.
“Ahem, although we cannot take you there, I have tried my best to bring you good wine. This is one of the best in Western Desert. Please remember how we treated you over the past few days… Also, please forgive us for the accident yesterday. Please believe me that I am not afraid of those big shots… It was just that the stuck up duke appeared too suddenly. You must know that for you, I would…”
Being confronted by Snake Shooter’s expectant face, Thales felt awkward as he tried to refuse the wine bottle, which Spirit Blade delivered enthusiastically across the vacant land. It was not easy, because he would have to avoid her breasts when he pushed the wine bottle away.
“No way, oh, I mean… Umm, thank you, but I do not drink wine…”
The awkward atmosphere came to an end very soon.
“Snake… Umm, Cap-Captain?”
Weird Flame’s confused voice sounded and caused Thales as well as Snake Shooter to stop what they were doing at the same time.
The lively noises everywhere disappeared in no time, and were replaced with galloping sounds, which resembled those of horses.
The expression of the members of the freak squad changed.
Thales, who was equally confused, shook off Snake Shooter’s hand, and saw a flag slowly rising from a fortress in the distance with his fairly good eyesight.
“That is…”
Beneath the flag were soldiers with shiny armor and formidable cavaliers. They moved in four well-arranged groups, heading towards Ghost Prince Tower in an orderly fashion.
There were more than a hundred horses.
The person in the lead held a flag that was embroidered with…
“The Single-winged Crow.”
Mystifying Eyes spoke in puzzlement while he was in the group.
‘Single-winged Crow.’
Some thoughts appeared in Thales’ mind. He recalled what had happened to Dante’s Greatsword in the Great Desert.
“Is that the Shock Brigade called ‘Lightning Ravens’?”
Spirit Blade’s face grew tense.
“Oh my Sunset, I pray it is not them again!”
The freaks suddenly shrieked miserably, as though something had been ignited. Waves of grumbles rose and fell.
“Then what dirty money would we have left once we spend it on food, drinks, women, and accommodation…”
“F*ck them. They asked for sixty percent! They asked for sixty percent for the last batch of stock. Sixty percent!”
As the calvary drew closer, Snake Shooter frowned and comforted the freaks who were being blatant and noisy.
“All right, all right. So what if they are Lightning Ravens? We have the prince. They will not dare to…”
However, among them, Weird Flame who had been chewing on a piece of bread shook his head.
“No, look closely at their Crow Flag.”
There was a strange gaze in Weird Flame’s eyes as he munched on his bread and pointed at the big flag approaching them.
“It is embroidered with gold thread.”
The freaks fell silent, and their expressions froze.
A loud noise rose as the wine bottle in Spirit Blade’s hands fell to the ground and shattered to pieces.
Yet, it did not matter to anyone anymore.
“It cannot be…”
Snake Shooter, who carried the prince’s luggage on his back, took two steps forward comically while he opened his eyes wide to stare at the flag.
In the next second, Snake Shooter sucked in a cold breath.
“What in the absolute f*ck…”
Thales finally saw it clearly. Indeed, the flag had gold threads embroidered in it.
“Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t, sh*t, sh*t!” Snake Shooter cried out and turned his body around at the speed of lightning!
“Hurry up! Formation, formation! Put on your armor! Stop eating, Weird Flame! Spirit Blade, stuff your breasts into your armor! We cannot let them beat us in terms of presence!”
Spirit Blade, Weird Flame, Mystifying Eyes… All members of the freak squad stirred up a commotion as if they had seen a monster.
Thales looked puzzled.
“I do not understand.”
Snake Shooter quickly gave orders to his subordinates. He did not even have time for Thales’ enquiry.
“Go, notify the baron. Oh no—”
Thales cleared his throat to attract their attention.
“So, umm, there is a feud between you and the Lightning Ravens?”
After he kicked Mystifying Eyes, Snake Shooter finally registered what had happened. He turned around and immediately wore an obsequious expression.
“No, Your Highness. ‘Lightning Ravens’ is the nickname of the second troop of Crow Guards. The Lightning Ravens are all recruits, and they are all unreasonable as well as uncouth. They do not have many Raven Whistle Light Cavaliers either. We are not scared of them at all.”
Snake Shooter turned around and watched the knights draw in.
He raised his index finger and gritted his teeth, revealing envy, jealousy, and hatred on his face.
“But have you noticed how much they’ve spent from their equipment and attire to the cost of their horses? Almost all of them are Raven Whistlers… They are as good as Sir Williams’ personal guards who are part of the regular troops.”
Thales narrowed his eyes. It was just as Snake Shooter had mentioned. The knights’ gazes were sharp, and their movements swift. Their steeds were alert and had shiny fur. They were also fully equipped with all kinds of weapons including swords, longspears, bows, and arrows.
However, he saw more. There were at least ten flags behind the Single-Winged Crow Flag, which was held high.
Lightning bolts, spiders, greataxes… The flags bore different patterns and lines, and were only held at a shorter level than the crow flag that they followed. They moved forward slowly.
The prince furrowed his eyebrows.
“As for the troop bearing the flag with the golden lines…. Your Highness, those are not Lightning Ravens. They are the first troop of Crow Guards.”
There was fear and reverence in Snake Shooter’s eyes.
“On the Western Frontlines, we call them… Raven Leaders.”
‘Raven Leaders?’
Thales watched how the freak squad acted once they lost their composure, and he soon understood what they meant.
The troops who held the Single-Winged Crow Flag with the golden lines drew closer.
The cavaliers were split into three groups.
The first group surrounded them from both sides, spreading out and taking their positions as they occupied the borders and main roads of the vacant land. It looked like they were going to their sentry posts as per their wont.
The second group consisted of soldiers who held flags. They spread horizontally while they were centered around the crow flag with the golden lines. They took their positions with great familiarity, and they tried their best to show every single flag.
The third group looked like the group that was not to be provoked the most. They spread into two lines and approached the freaks. They stopped when they were about to close in on the freaks. They then turned around, spread out on both sides, returned to their horses, and faced each other. A road was formed from how they were standing.
As he watched their orderly movements, Thales could not help but recall the sentries and guards who were also probably like that in Renaissance Palace six years ago.
“F*ck. Is this necessary? They, they…” Mystifying Eyes grumbled, but his arrogant tone weakened subconsciously as he glanced around at the imposing cavaliers.
“… really look like hot sh*t.”
Snake Shooter watched the very imposing Raven Leaders before he looked at the freaks, who were standing in a disorderly manner. His face paled.
Behind the troops, the cavaliers, who stopped where they were, reined in their horses skillfully and gracefully and retreated to make way for a noble knight who appeared to be dressed in extraordinary attire.
The knight did not look old and was probably in his thirties. He had a determined and calm face, and he was wearing gold and black armor. His posture while he rode on the horse was straight and tenacious, while the presence he gave off was a big contrast to the camp’s chaos.
Thales sighed, pushed his way through the dazed freaks, and stepped forward. Snake Shooter was startled for a moment before he caught up to him.
When the noble knight saw Thales in the distance, he got off his horse in one clean movement. The cavaliers behind him also got off their horses, as though they had arranged for it.
The knight in his prime gave the reins and the saber around his waist to his subordinate. He gestured at them with his hand pressing downward, and walked alone on the pathway made by his subordinates into the freaks’ formation.
Snake Shooter straightened his body nervously and cleared his throat as he prepared to say something.
“Well, umm, this…”
However, the knight acted as if he did not see Snake Shooter. His gaze was focused on his destination as he walked past him.
A personal guard who stood near the left side watched Snake Shooter expressionlessly. Snake Shooter instantly turned as red as a tomato, and his words were stuck in his throat.
He raised his arm a few times, seemingly hesitant about whether he should stop the man. But he never plucked up the courage to step forth, and could only watch the knight go forward.
The noble knight did not care about anything else. He only walked straight forward until he stopped before Thales, who looked rather underdressed.
He watched Thales quietly. His eyes were clear, and no one could tell how he felt.
Thales frowned slightly as he looked closely at the picture of the Single-Winged Crow on the knight’s chest.
“My Honorable Prince Thales,” the noble knight said softly. His voice was calm and pleasant.
He clenched his right hand, which was clad in an iron glove. He then pressed it against his left chest and nodded his head slightly. His etiquette was executed nicely and perfectly.
“I am the heir of one of the thirteen counts who founded this country, and this title was passed down to me after it was conferred to my ancestor by the King of Renaissance. I am the custodian of the kingdom, monitor of Western Desert, the defender of Wing Fort.”
The knight in his prime looked up with a calm expression.
“I am Derek Kroma.”
It stirred up a small commotion among the freaks.
The knight named Derek took off the iron glove on his right hand, and extended his hand to Thales.
“At your service.”
Chapter 496: Never |
As he listened to the man’s self-introduction, Thales could not help but clench his fists discreetly.
‘Kroma. Of course…
‘I know this name,’ Thales thought to himself.
In the Battle of Eradication seven hundred years ago, Prince Tormond, who had yet to become the King of Renaissance, was ambushed and put under siege during the “Gust Battle”.
Even messenger crows that sent outbound distress signals were hunted down by the enemies’ falcons. Their hopes were crushed.
In their darkest hour, it was a military courier who was responsible for rearing messenger crows who found a wounded and weary messenger crow in the battlefield.
The military courier came from a humble background, but he was young and fearless. Under the hopeless gazes of the people, he carried the last wounded crow, risked his life by sneaking into the siege, broke through the blockade formed by falcons as well as bows and crossbows, and released it at the border of the battlefield just before he slipped and got caught.
A miracle happened.
The wounded crow that could not even soar up into the sky brought back military aid from Northlanders, reversed the situation, saved the prince, and brought about the “Reversal Gust Battle”, cementing its name for centuries to come.
After a few years, the lucky military courier who survived was given the title of a count the day Tormond was crowned king and Constellation was founded. He made his way into the Thirteen Distinguished Families, and his family name became one of the three most celebrated great family names in Western Desert.
This legendary story was summarized into a phrase that became the Kroma Family motto: Save a wing, save a king.
The image of the messenger crow, which was left with a single wing and risked its life along the military courier, was painted in books and sewn into flags as well as robes. It resulted in the name of their fortress, and the family crest of the Kroma Family for the past seven hundred years: the Single-Winged Crow.
Thales inhaled deeply as he looked at the knight before him.
Therefore, the hundred Raven Whistle Light Cavaliers he met in the desert, who were the so-called Lightning Ravens, including the heavy cavaliers who devastated the orcs face-to-face, and the baron who took sixty percent of the goods from the freaks…
All of them listened to his commands.
Thales revealed a smile and did not hesitate to shake the man’s hand.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency.”
The Count of Wing Fort replied with a smile and let go of the prince’s hand gently.
“I understand that you have traveled far and experienced some twists and turns along your journey home, Your Highness. But, please rest assured.” Derek turned around and revealed the thirteen flags behind him. “According to the plan, from now on, my two hundred Raven Whistle Light Cavaliers, the one hundred men from the twelve families under the Wing Fort flag, and I will join your escort group to ensure your safe return to Renaissance Palace.”
