A Tale of Strategies For the Throne

After staying in the royal city of Aaron Landis for several days, the Tastar mission set foot on the return journey.The Tasdar people rode away from this majestic and prosperous city along the avenue under the farewell of the citizens of Wangcheng, but the people watching the excitement on both sides of the road did not know that the two of them, Aaron Landis The prince also embarked on the road to Tasda with the mission.

Due to safety and other considerations, as well as Garlan's request, the news that they were going to Tasdar was only known to a small group of people in the upper floors of Aaron Landis.King Kamos issued a strict order to forbid the news to spread.

Behind the Tasda Mission were five hundred sturdy and majestic guard cavalry, and they followed behind without haste in the name of escorting the Mission.

The citizens of Wangcheng didn't know that their prince was sitting in a carriage in their farewell team.

It wasn't until they got out of the royal city, far away from the bustling places, and on the road, that Garlan and the others got out of the carriage and each rode on their beloved horses.

Of course, even though it is an avenue far away from the city, there are still people coming and going, but as long as you wear a cloak and a hood, if you don't pay attention to it, no one will notice it.

Heymos's mount was naturally a horse with reddish-brown hair that he captured and brought back from the Northland.At this moment, it was walking slowly, and the well-matched muscles also showed a streamlined texture, as if every part showed strength, both soft and strong.

And Garlan's mount was a white pony given by King Kamos six years ago. Six years later, the pony has grown into a tall and healthy horse.Its hair is all white, without any variegation, and when the sun shines, it looks like it is covered with silver frost.This handsome white horse has a pair of blue eyes, like sapphires, coldly reflecting the shadow of the sky.

It doesn't look like a family member, and once it stands there, it gives people a very cold feeling.Only when Garlan touched its neck, it would rub Garlan's hand in a reserved manner.

These two steeds naturally won the admiration of the Tasdar people.

Although it was itchy to see, they all knew that once this kind of steed recognized its owner, they would not allow another person to approach them, so they just watched from the side, and no one wanted to ride with a stern face.

The Tasdar mission moved very fast, because almost all of them were on horseback.

The Tasdars and the Aaron Landis were naturally separated into two groups, but during the journey, Oppada often left the Tasdar team and joined Aaron Landis, riding horses and Garlan walked forward side by side while talking and laughing.

He had already explained the oolong he had caused to his companions clearly. Seeing Oppada approaching his beloved to show courteousness, his companions didn't stop him, at most they just made fun of him in private.

However, what made Opada unhappy was Heymos, who had been following Garlan's side every step of the way.

No matter what time, no matter when he was traveling during the day or camping at night, whenever he went to look for Garlan, Heymos would definitely be by his side.

Wait for the old man.

Opada thought hard.

When we get to Tasda, the uncle is on his territory, let's see how he can mess with that guy!

However, Oppada is not in a hurry now, anyway, Garlan intends to go to Tasda, so he might as well wait until Tasda, he will send all the trophies he has collected to his beloved, and then woo him.

The whole journey went smoothly. Although it was not as beautiful and comfortable as the royal palace, Garlan was in a good mood.

Because this was his first time traveling far away, since that experience when he was a child, in the past few years, at most, he could go to those towns not far from the royal city.

Now, on the way north, he can pass several large cities that he has never seen before, and see many customs and customs.

As he walked, he was thinking about which road he should start traveling after Heymos got married and had children, which city he should go to first, and which place he should go next.

Thinking about the free life in the future like this, his mood improved. These days, every day is a bright smiling face like the sun, and that kind of happy feeling seems to be able to infect the people around him, making others feel happy. Looking at him made me feel better.

The only exception, probably, was Heymos who followed him every step of the way and was guarding against a certain Tasdar.

Regarding the fact that Garlan once said that he would be detained by Oppada in Tasda as a troublesome woman, Heymos only felt a breath stuck in his throat at that time, and he wanted to get Garlan's mind to look inside. What are you thinking.

Then I turned my head and thought about it, with the thinking of those Tasdar people who only have muscles in their brains... maybe they can really do this kind of thing.

So, he began to think seriously about whether to secretly mobilize the troops guarding Tasdar when he entered the territory.

Just when Garlan, Heymos, and Oppada were thinking about each other, on the evening of the second day after departure, just after the group set up camp at the bottom of a mountain wall, they found someone leading a troop of cavalry Chased up from behind.

After receiving the news, Garlan lifted the curtain and quickly walked out of the tent.

The blond knight who had just come galloping on his horse and was still dressed in dusty clothes got off his horse, walked forward a few steps quickly, and walked up to Garlan, then bent down and knelt in front of Garlan.

He bowed his head and knelt, with one hand on his chest.

He says,

"Your Highness Garlan, Kaihos is here at your summons."

Originally, he had returned triumphantly with the marching army, but when he was approaching the royal city, he received a summons, so he immediately left the army and hurried over here.

"Thank you, Keyhors."

The little prince, who sent a summons to his knights when he left the royal city, said that he stretched out his hand to Kehos and helped him up.

"At any time, answering your call is what I should do as a guardian knight."

Kyhoes said so, then raised his head and smiled at his master.

The bright blond hair was scattered on that handsome face, and the almost iconic black eye patch covered one eye, but it did not damage his appearance, but made him more attractive.

As soon as he raised his head, the Tasdar people not far away whispered.

"Kayhors?"

"The 'Knight of the Scorching Sun'?"

"It should be right, blond hair, and only one eye."

They talked to each other, watching the blond knight with fire and reverence.

Tasdars worship the strong.

Rider of the sun.

The fame of this mighty newborn knight of Aaron Landis has spread throughout the continent.

Because of that blond hair like the sun, and the terrifying lethality on the battlefield like the flames of the sun, everyone gave him this title.

He followed the lion king Kamos, fought north and south, participated in nearly a hundred battles, made great achievements in battle, and gained a great reputation.

It is said that so far, he has not lost a single one-on-one battle with the superior general.

There are also some weak generals who refused to fight him when they encountered him, or even fled.

...And, as famous as his powerful fighting power on the battlefield, is his terrifying 'fighting power' among the daughters of nobles from various countries.

All the noble ladies are fascinated by it, but also heartbroken by it.

Because this handsome knight has been playing in the flowers for many years, wandering among countless noble ladies, but never staying by any woman's side.

'He has the handsome and sunny appearance of the sun god Shamash, but has the cunning of the night god, and also, ruthless. '

'The malachite-like emerald green pupils looked at every woman with gentle and affectionate eyes, but there was no trace of truth in those eyes. '

'It's like sunshine, you can't catch it with your hand, just like a phantom, it will disappear in an instant. '

The noble ladies who love and hate it sigh so much.

'Passionate and ruthless knight of the sun, where is the harbor for which you are willing to stay? '

…………

At this moment, this handsome knight in a suit of dust got up.

He grabbed Garlan's outstretched hand and stood up.

Although he didn't need external force to get up, he wanted to hold that hand.

The warmth he hadn't felt for a long time touched by his fingers made Kaihos' eyes soften a little.

Every time he holds this hand, he can have a sense of reality of falling on the ground and being down-to-earth.

He smiled and said, "I'm back, Your Highness."

After finishing speaking, he leaned over and kissed the prince's hand, the corners of his lips curled up with a strong warmth.

Those were the words he would say when he returned to Prince Garlan after every expedition.

Even if this place is not the royal city.

For him, the place where he can go back is not the royal city, but the place where the prince he guards is located.

"Well, welcome back, Keyhors."

Garland said with a smile.

Kaihos smiled, let go of his hand, and walked into Garlan's tent together with Garlan, talking while walking.

"Glad to see you are still healthy, Your Highness."

"I've always been in good health, so you don't have to worry." Garlan laughed twice, and he asked, "Where's Taal? He hasn't arrived yet?"

"He's slower than me and probably got here later."

Thinking of Tar's plump and chubby figure since he was a child, and the appearance of the horse sweating profusely every time he rode a horse, Garlan nodded.

"Well, that's true." He said, "He has been told to lose weight a long time ago, but he just doesn't lose weight."

Tal has lost weight countless times since he was a child, and he swears by it every time, but every time he takes a run, he collapses on the ground and cannot get up, and then immediately throws the idea of ​​losing weight out of the blue.

Probably thinking of the same thing as Garlan, the blond knight also smiled.

Then, he said directly: "So, what do you need me to do?"

"that……"

Just as Garlan was about to speak, the door curtain was lifted suddenly, and a tall, brown-haired Tasdar stepped in.

His loud voice also sounded in the tent at the same time.

"Garlan, I heard that the rumored 'Knight of the Scorching Sun' is here, let me come and see..."

Halfway through the speech, Opada stopped abruptly, and Opada's eyes fell on the burly Kaihos in armor, sweeping up and down, showing a look of admiration.

Even if he didn't make a move, he could still feel the strong aura of iron and blood on the knight, which belonged to the battlefield.

The man in front of him is a powerful and dangerous guy.

Opada's intuition told him so.

"Opada, this is my guardian knight, Kaihos."

Garlan said, "This is Oppada, the son of General Tasta, my good friend."

He turned to Keyhors and said, "I'll tell you the details tomorrow."

Then, he turned to Opada: "Sorry, Opada, Kejos has traveled for a long time to get here, I want him to rest first."

"Where, I was too abrupt, because I heard that the 'Knight of the Scorching Sun' was coming, and I was a little curious, so I ran over."

Opada quickly smiled and waved his hands, expressing that he didn't mind.

"Then I'll go back first, don't bother me."

He turned around and took a step, then turned back.

"By the way, Garlan, we hunted an antelope this afternoon. I plan to roast it myself. Can you come over later? The mutton I roasted has been praised by many people."

Opada said, looking at Garlan expectantly, his eyes were bright.

"Tonight? Sorry, I still have subordinates coming over tonight, I'm afraid I don't have time to go."

"Is that so..."

Kehos stood beside him without speaking, looking at the shining eyes of the Tasdar man named Oppada staring at his prince, and the kind of eyes he was all too familiar with.

People often look at him like this.

It turned out to be the case.

This Tasdar man to the prince...

The blond knight playing in the flowers glanced at his master again, pondered for a moment, turned and left the camp without asking any further questions.

After leaving the tent, he raised his head and scanned around the places where the Tasdars camped not far away.

The size of the mission is not large, there are only a dozen upper-class Tasdars, and the escorts for the mission are no more than 100 Tasdar soldiers.

After all, as a mission, if you go to his king's city with too many troops, what you bring will not be friendship but provocation.Moreover, Tasda and Aaron Landis have been close friendly diplomatic countries for nearly a hundred years, and Tasda is not worried about what will happen to his mission in Aaron Landis.

After making a rough estimate in his heart, Keyhors left quickly.

Naturally, his soldiers had pitched a tent for him, and there was a stream nearby. After traveling for such a long time, he was covered in dust, and he really needed to be washed.

When the blond knight washed all the dust off his body in the river, and returned to his camp with his wet blond hair in the night wind, he saw an unexpected guest waiting for him there.

He raised his eyebrows, raised his hand to lift back the dripping wet blond hair, then took a few steps forward and bowed in salute.

He asked, "Prince Heymos, do you have anything to do with me?"

Heymos, who was contemplating in his tent, turned to look at him and hummed.

Kaihos vaguely felt that the prince was not in a very good mood at the moment, and seemed a little anxious.

strangeness.

Prince Heymos has always been the kind of person who is so calm that no one can see his emotions.

Keyhos thought.

Unlike Garlan who hadn't seen Heymos for four years, he followed King Kamos to the Northland almost once a year, and it was only half a year since he last met Prince Heymos, so I am fairly familiar with Heymos.

"Pay attention, keep an eye on Garlan."

Heimers paused for a moment and added something.

"Don't let Oppada, one of the Tasdars, get close to him."

He frowned, pursed his lips, and then continued to say unhappily, "You're always so stupid, you don't know when you're being betrayed, and you let others get close without knowing what the other party is up to..."

It turned out to be the case.

He remembered the way that Tasdar man named Oppada looked at the little prince not long ago, what Prince Heymos said at the moment, and what Tal had revealed to him before he came.

Keyhos probably guessed what was going on now.

"Caring is messing up."

The one-eyed knight said suddenly.

"Prince Heymos, whether it's you or Your Majesty, because I care too much about His Highness Garlan, it's inevitable that it's difficult to make a correct judgment."

He said, "So, I cannot agree with what you just said."

The knight's words made Heymos turn his head, and his golden red eyes fixedly stared at him.

"……What's the meaning?"

Keyhos smiled slightly, his expression calm.

"Prince Heymos, the name 'Black Knight' that you were dubbed in the Northland is the praise of everyone and even the enemy for your strength and achievements, and it is not for nothing."

He paused before continuing.

"Then, do you think His Highness Garlan was praised as a 'wise prince' by everyone in the royal city...is it because of people's flattery?"

"..."

Heymos didn't speak, he was still frowning, staring at Kehos closely.

"The reason why His Highness is so praised is because he has always made a 'wise and just judgment like the sun god Shamash' on everything that came into his hands."

"Yes, His Highness upholds the heart of justice and justice, there is no doubt about it."

"But there is no such thing as black and white in this world. In fact, the vast majority of things cannot be resolved simply by relying on so-called fairness and justice."

"If it's just one thing, maybe it's just a coincidence, but over the years, so many things, no matter which one, His Highness can make a fair and wise judgment on it, making everyone willingly obey his judgment. "

"It's always been like this."

The only remaining green eyes of the blond knight were slightly lowered, and he smiled slightly.

"Prince Heymos, I think you should also understand that in order to achieve this, in addition to the 'heart of justice', it is more necessary to have the 'wisdom eye' to distinguish the true from the false, and the 'wisdom' to see through everything '..."

Before Kaihos finished speaking, Heymos turned around, lifted the curtain, and quickly left the tent.

Looking at the curtains that were hanging down and swaying constantly, Kaihos chuckled.

No matter how talented you are, you are still young after all.

The blond knight squinted his eyes and chuckled in thought.

However, soon, he pondered again.

That's all for King Kamos. After all, His Majesty has always loved His Highness very much, and His Majesty's character is not very sensitive to such things, so it's normal not to notice it.

But Prince Heymos...

As far as he knows, this person has always been calm and calm, especially on the battlefield, he is almost cruelly rational, and he is also very sensitive to things... Such a person, how could he not see it?

Something is really wrong.

Moreover, the expression of Prince Heymos just now does not show any calmness on the battlefield at all, it is almost like...

... as if in a panic...

…………

...If you care about it, you will be chaotic...?

Keyhos mused.

Although it made sense to say so, for some reason, he always felt that things seemed not so simple.

…………

In the middle of the night, another cavalry squad came to the camp.

A chubby body rolled off the horse like a ball, and quickly rolled into Garlan's tent.

"Your Highness, this is the information you asked me to collect—"

The little fat man back then has grown into a chubby big fat man, but his chubby face is still very pleasing when he smiles.

He handed the forearm-long copper cylinder in his arms to Garlan, his eyes were shining, like a fat puppy seeking rewards, and he almost wagged his tail at Garlan.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Opening the copper tube and taking out the parchment inside, Garlan quickly scanned a few of them.

He pondered for a while, then took out one of the parchments.Because the camp was camped against the mountain wall, one side of his camp was a solid stone wall, and he hung the parchment on the curtain that was tightly attached to the stone wall.

It was a map, a topographic map of the border between Tasda and Aaron Landis.

Tal leaned over and pointed to two places on the hanging map.

He said: "Your Highness, I have checked carefully, only these two places are occupied by thieves, and I have not heard of thieves in other places."

"Is that so... how about the scale of thieves in these two places?"

"The ones here are bigger, but their territory is quite far from the place you mentioned. Here, I have found all their information and wrote them here."

Tal took out a piece of parchment from the stack and handed it to Garlan.

Garlan took it, looked down for a while, then looked up at the map hanging on the wall, and meditated again.

Taal watched Garlan pondering from the side, and finally couldn't help it, and asked in a low voice.

"Your Highness, are you really okay with this?"

"Ok?"

"You know it clearly, but...King Kamos is very angry. When I left the palace, everyone in the palace was trembling, and Prince Heymos, he is also...Aren't you afraid that he will be angry?"

The boy blinked, tilted his head slightly, and gave his fat subordinate a cute and sly smile.

"It's rare to see Heymos in such a mess, isn't it interesting?"

"Although it is indeed rare, but heh... heh heh heh—"

Tal's sudden tape made Garlan amused.

"Tal, although I know you've always been afraid of Heymos, but you won't be so frightened just by mentioning his name, right?"

Looking at Tal who was looking at him in horror, Garlan laughed.

He still wanted to say something, but before he could say it, suddenly, a hand stretched out from behind and grabbed his shoulder.

The very familiar deep voice from behind at the same moment made the boy's smile froze on his face for an instant.

"It's fun to see me in a mess... isn't it?"

Even if he didn't turn his head, he could still feel the dangerous aura in that deep voice.

Garlan's smile still froze on his face, the hand holding his shoulder pulled and pushed him, turned him around, and pressed hard against the stone wall where the map was hung.

A hand stretched out heavily, over the side of his head, and pressed against the stone wall.

The man's tall body pressed over, almost covering the young man under his shadow.

Those golden red eyes looked down at Garlan, there was a little light in the eyes, just looking at it made one's heart tremble and his back shiver.

"Uh, that...Heymos, I can explain it, actually..."

Garlan, who was imprisoned between Heymos' body and the stone wall, suddenly panicked.

"Do not listen."

Heymos vetoed it.

He looked down at the young man below him, with his right hand tightly pinching Garlan's chin, his eyes were scorching to the extreme.