Chapter 10: Sleeping Sweetly
Before the sun had a glimpse of its first ray, the Royal Knights began to ride their mounts and make their way to the Hemora City.
Somehow, as Leonard's mount can carry more weight without affecting their speed, Harrahina rides with Leonard. Riding this swiftly, Harrah is uncomfortable with it... and so, she's holding Leonard's waist tightly, fearing to fall, pressing her body into his and burying her head into his back.
Harrahina could sense that without her, these knights could ride a whole day without a stop...
After ten hours of rides, they made a stop for a break.
Behind the bushes, Leonard sits in a bedrock... he sighed helplessly. He needs to calm down before they begin to ride again. He can't believe this is going a tough ride for him. Is this a result of having only a few times allowing himself to feed his desires these passing years? He is a man, of course.
The Great Kingdom is in bad shape without a King sitting on the throne. He can't just be going around and fooling around. But his body seems now asking a price. This is not the appropriate time, damn it. Leonard scolds himself. After a few moments, he joins the others and takes a quick meal they wrapped from the other night's leftovers. He glances at Harrah, who is quietly talking with Iore. They are more like whispering, and he felt a little upset about what these two talking about that he doesn't need to hear from the others.
Anyways, among the rest, it is not surprising this girl earns more trust towards Iore. He is a shaman and posses a warm charm.
"Hemora City is a large City, and I could accompany you to do the shopping for a new set of clothing." Leonard heard Iore saying this. He glances at him, and he catches Iore's meaningful gaze before he grins at him.
Damn that shaman! Leonard thought. He notices the girl blushing and answering softly, "but I don't have any amount to pay Master Iore."
"Do not worry. I know someone in the city. She'll give you free clothes when we meet her," Iore replied. Iore stared at her a little confused, Harrah making a crazy expression. He smiled.
"I know what you were thinking," he told her.
"She sounds like one," she answered. "is she your girlfriend?" curiosity registered all over her face. Iore cannot ignore it.
Iore chuckles, "No. You'll know after we arrive there and meet here," he answered.
"If you say it so," Harrah whispered and smiled sweetly. They continue chatting for a little more.
On the sideline, Leonard began impatiently about them whispering at each other. "Ahem, seems everyone has done taking a quick meal and rest. It's time we go back on the road."
"We must arrive in the city tomorrow before evening, and we will have a long two nights ahead on us," Leonard added.
Iore explains to her that the planet has three moons and, there are days that the sun lasts for days before seen to set, and there are long nights that last for a couple of days.
Leonard ascended to his mount and ordered it to kneel on the ground. The amount she already befriended with is obediently lower herself for her to mount quickly.
After everyone surmounts upon their beasts and is ready to leave, Leonard yells, declaring their resume plight. Without delay, they continue riding for hours. Harrah realizes the days are significantly longer than on Earth. Of course, this planet is three times bigger than Earth, and days are longer and nights.
They've been running for eight hours straight... Two hours ago, Harrah fell asleep on his back, and so he held him one hand, supporting her arms that holding his waist for her not to loosen and fall. A little uncomfortable for him to keep a balance from this speed. Gladly, his beast is a smart mount, and she knows how to run smoothly without giving him a hard ride.
Zen and Iore gave him a communication stare, they suggested slowing down, but Leonard replied, it's fine. After one hour, Iore requested to slow down a bit to talk for a moment... he suggested that it may be better to transfer Harrah on his front. After a long moment of him debating inside his mind, he agreed.
Iore uses his ability to loosen Harrah, for her not feels she floats in the air... then he lay the young girl in Leonard's arms.
Leonard adjusts himself above his beast and carefully places Harrah's head on his chest. His right hand supporting this girl's body, holding her close and securing she won't fall even how fast they'll run.
"Let's go. We have to pass Enchanted mountain before the night falls," he commanded.
As they continued riding for hours and passing Enchanted mountain, they reached the Lore Village, a small town, before going to Hemora City... as the night fell already, they quietly entering the town using the east gate where only a few houses were built.
The watchmen already notified the town chief, and so, he'd already prepared a small banquet.
The chief welcome them warmly. They entered the house quietly and sat quietly at the table full of food. After riding for 30 hours, their stomach needs a fill.
Before Leonard and Iore join the banquet, the chief show them the room Leonard requested upon their arrival. He places the young girl in the soft bed, and she seems to use to him and won't let go of her arms around his waist.
Leonard glanced at Iore with a puzzled look. The Shaman just laughed that made him upset. He sighed. How can he loosen this girl's holds tightly on his body? This is strange, and it's not a good situation either, not mentioning from others' view.
In the end, Harrah used his right arm as her pillow while she was still holding him tightly. He can't move even just a light action, and he carefully controls his breathing.
Iore left to join the knights and tell the others that he had to watch Harrah and Iore would come back to replace him. He sighed silently. This is totally a bad situation. What the heck? Even he, a man who doesn't quickly lose control, has a limit as well.
"Daddy,"
Leonard was stunned. Is she dreaming about her father? So she found a father figure out of him? He's crying inside. Is that's the way indeed? Is she just resembling him as a father to her? How cruel. Is he not that old, right? Not to base his age, but he looks way younger than most of those who actually are younger than him.
He notices a few drops of tears trailing down on the girl's beautiful face, and he brushes it off with the back of his hand. Somehow, he felt warm beside her, and he didn't notice. He fell asleep as well.
Iore retrieve his steps out of the room. He brought two big plates of food with a wine from the banquet, and to his surprise, when he came back to the room, he found the two sleeping sweetly. He places the food on the table inside the room and makes sure no one just can open the door. He put a seal that Leonard only knows how to unseal.
"Hmm... If you see this, my king, would you give this guy a hard hit on his head or encourage him instead? I wonder," Iore amused by the sight.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone