The World of Rhune

Trei stumbled through the streets of the bustling capital. Merchants calling out to pedestrians, trying to sell their wares. Trei took the back alleys and kept his head down so as to remain unnoticed. He reached the palace's outer wall, one of the three that protected the capital. (One around the palace, one around the city, and one around the surrounding farmland, so that, when under attack, the capital could remain largely sufficient.) At the palace gates he was stopped by the guards in their flaring red uniforms. "Halt, commoner. State your reasons for entering the grounds," They said in the usual commanding tone. Trei pulled back the hood of his cloak and lifted his face proudly towards the guards, "Prince Trei, returning to the palace." The guards dropped to their knees immediately in respect of a royal. "Rise, guards," Trei commanded. The guards rose and stepped aside, allowing him to enter through the raised portcullis. Trei nodded glad that the guards where not able to ask questions while on duty, though he was sure by the end of their shifts their might be some rumors circling the palace grounds.

Trei stumbled across the palace garden's until reaching the building that served as his quarters. Fully decked with a kitchen, with its own staff of chefs, dining hall, three living rooms, and seven bedrooms, and nine full baths, all staffed accordingly. It would sere as living quarters for him, any guests of his, and eventually his family until we received the title of king. Opening the double doors he stepped into the tiled entrance where one of the staff waited to greet the guests. "Oh, my dear sir!" The servant exclaimed, she rushed to his side. Trei recognized her as the youngest server, Lili, a girl only of his age who had her blonde hair pulled back into a tight ponytail "Just had a little fall is all," Trei said, finally allowing himself to embrace the pain and winced in its power. "I'd say a lot more than a little fall," she said as she led him towards the bathroom. "No, it was just the trees I hit on the way down," He bantered. "Were you climbing again, sir?" "Well yes of course, but that's not how I fell. I was kicked," He said as she sat him down on the couch in the bathroom. "Were you after the Cavali Volanti again, Prince?" She asked in an exasperated voice. "Yes," Trei took a closer look at the girl. She was knew to the palace, and only about sixteen he would guess. Not much younger than himself. He guessed just about everyone who worked at the palace would know about his quest with the Cavalli Volanti "Well let's get you cleaned up. Your parents have summoned you to their chamber as soon as you can," She said while filing through drawers and pulling items out.

Trei could guess at what that would be about. Lately his parents had been nagging at him to think about marriage. He actually avoided the thought, unable to marry any other besides a royal or blueblood. Lili turned around, apparently having gathered all her supplies, "If I may take care of the basics before I escort you to a nurse, Prince?" "Of course, and you can stop with the titles in my own house. It won't be necessary for me to see a nurse," He said, unlatching his cloak and pulling of his tunic which he set beside him on the couch. Trei got the first look at the real extent of the wounds. On his muscular abs was a large gash that penetrated deeply and was bleeding freely. It was probably the worst of his wounds, surrounded by various minor injuries.He was already turning black and blue with bruises and the gash on his head was only now starting to clot. His arm was definitely broken but it seemed like a clean break and would heal quickly. Lili started with the gash on his head, cleansing it with something that stung bitterly and then wrapping it in a clean bandage. She prodded his arm and took note of where the break was, fixing a splint and sling for it. Trei had winced during the prodding but it felt remarkably better after the splint. She cleaned the various other minor cuts, not bothering to bandage those up, as they were already starting to heal. She had left the major gash for last. The extent of the wound spread from Trei's upper chest down to his naval. As she began to clean it she started to talk to him so as to atempt to keep his mind off of it. 'So, have you been to any of the ports lately?" It was a retorichal question, she wasn't looking for answers just to make distraction. "Port Balena is absolutely remarkable. The docks are just bustling with traders and the fisherman, they have such a variety of fish there. It really is amazing, you could spend the whole day in the market and not be able to see all the stands because the people are so lovely and welcoming. You have such great conversations with them. Just the other day, I was talking to a fisherman who was selling the herring. He was telling me about what it's like to see the whales. How it is impossible to understand the size of them until you have seen one up close. I'll see one up close one day. My brother, Henry, he's a sailor. He works over seas on the trade with Septyni (7). You must know all about the trade and the army and just about the world I would like to go see the world one day. I want to see the cold northern ice formations of Iclandia, and there bears, what do they call them, turetis. They seem magnificent and the elinu who are supposed to be as fast as the horses except they can leap great bounds on unstable mountain cliffs and balance on the softest snow drift I want to see the deserts of (five, I don't remember the countries name) and the jungles of Cancri (10). There is just so much out there." Lili finished cleansing the wound and it looked five times better and not as deep. "It will leave a scar but it should heal up nicely after I stitch it up." Trei only nodded, but Lili was quick and precise and he barely felt it in the short span it took her to sow up the entire wound. "If you please stand, Prince," she said more humbly then before, no longer open to talking but again resuming her role.

Trei stood and allowed her to wind the bandages around his abdomen. She was turning around to begin to clean up when Trei lightly grasped her shoulder. "Yes, Prince Trei?" She asked timidly. "I liked it when you talked more freely. You were a real person then. You don't have to be 'Prince this' or 'Prince that' I like it better the other way. You should go see the world someday, I hope to if only my parents would agree. Just don't be so serious with me anymore." Trei turned and left the bathroom, crossing the winding halls till he reached his bedroom.It was spotless as always. Dark wood floors and light golden walls made the room warmer. Several couches and sofas surrounded the marvelous fireplace that took up one side of the room. His bed was centered up against another was and was comprised of black and gold sheets, and the emblem of Andato, the Cavalli Volanti in the sun, hung on banners all over the walls Trei went to his large closet and stripped himself of his breeches which were torn in many places. He treated these himself and then pulled on a white tunic, bordered with gold, and a pair of black breeches. He went to the bathroom and quickly pulled out the twigs that lay in his hair and fixed it so it remained it its usual spiked position. Going back into the bedroom he lifted his crown of the head of a manikin and placed it upon his own head, after rooming the bandage. It was intricate and design with swirls patterned to look as if they were continuing and if you looked close enough you could find scenes of the flying horse, the rising sun, the sea, and the forests. It was sparingly decorated though, only seven gems of obsidian ovals placed any color on it, yet it was still a magnificent thing. He pulled on a pair of black leather boots and hurried from his house towards the main palace.

He would meet his parents in their quarters instead of the throne room most likely so he strode in that direction. His jaw set in a commanding way as he walked along the pathways toward his parents quarters. he nodded towards the guards on patrol and stationed throughout the grounds. He thought of how we should visit the training grounds today, to get in a little practice and see how the army is running, but for now he must face the monarchs wrath as they insisted on his marriage for the county's gain. Or how he should give up his silly dreams of the Cavalli Volanti and just pick one from the tame herd, or even one of the horses that were trained for war. Truth was, Trei had thought about this. He had mastered even the toughest of the warhorses at the age of thirteen and the domesticated winged horses at the age of fifteen. The howlers followed his command and he was well respected throughout the army. It wasn't enough for him though. He knew we had done things most would be content with but his standard was always raising and he had learned how to gain the respect he wanted and he intended to get it.