Ashton ignored the open carriage door, Thomas had splurged and bought him his own mount, not impressive by any means but the 10-year-old grey work horse had the best endurance from a large ranch about 6 days away.
Lucian watched as Ashton elegantly flipped into the saddle with practiced ease. The horse only had two saddle bags and Ashton had his own backpack on, while he was dressed for the weather winter had only just begun. He could wait for Ashton to tire of the saddle before inviting him into the carriage.
Ashton wanted to roll his eyes when there was always at least one guard tailing him. Looks like him and Shawn were going to be joined at the hip. Ashton eyed Shawn Miles, 27 years old, 5'11, brown hair, boyish smile, bright brown eyes, his body looked too broad for his boyish face. Change his armor and he could pass for a farmer; he was also the most talkative of the group chattering away endlessly.
Patrick (Pat) Houghton was the oldest at 33, 6'1 stern grey eyes, dark brown hair with just a hint of grey sneaking in, sharp features, a chunk cut out of the top of his left ear, also broad shouldered. He was brusque and made it clear he and David didn't particularly care for Ashton.
David Karbonovich was the youngest of the four at 23, 5'10, blue eyes and brown hair made a striking contrast on his handsome face. He was also the 3rd son of a count which no doubt contributed to his insufferable, arrogant attitude toward all commoners. He was slimmer than the others but still looked twice Ashton's size in his armor.
Bert Dallen was the head of the guards, at only 32 he'd fought with Lucian on the battlefield just before Lucian became the emperor. His black hair and eyes were placid and observant, he was narrower than Patrick but moved like a viper.
Ashton stayed clear of Patrick and David since they showed such obvious distaste for him, Bert was neutral so far, but Shawn was actively trying to engage in any kind of conversation. Devlin had given up about four hours into their journey sitting with Lucian and Aaron while Damian was sitting with Bert to man the carriage. Fun times all around.
Ashton was glad to be rid of Shawn during the guard shift every two hours, but now David was glowering as he edged his horse closer and closer. Ashton kept his grey mount steady and ignored the childish antics, but he also noted that not once in the last hours had Bert said anything. Wonderful, a month of stalking in his own home wasn't enough, they wanted to keep testing his boundaries.
Eventually David was so close Ashton's horse flicked his tail and hit David's horses face, causing a chain reaction of David's horse biting in retaliation. Ashton's grey mount to kick back, startling David who fell off his horse as it reared back. Ashton tightened his grip then brought his horse to a stop eyeing David, "Perhaps you should keep a healthier distance, Lord David."
David cursed as he had to roll to the side to get up, his armor was now dirty from the damp ground, "You did that on purpose!" he roared charging forward to grab Ashton.
Ashton kicked his horse lightly then continued as if the interruption never happened. He'd have to check the bite when they stopped but a quick glance didn't show any broken skin.
Bert turned his horse as Ashton continued past to follow the carriage, he then signaled Pat to take tail. He led his horse beside David just staring at him, David lowered his head to hide his glare, he then trotted to check on his horse which was bleeding from a neck wound. He applied a basic salve then mounted to continue. Patrick had fallen back to tail that arrogant commoner.
Ashton didn't even bother to look at Pat, but he couldn't not see Damian and Shawn looking back at the commotion. Soon enough Patrick and Bert kicked their horses into a trot as David caught up.
Ashton dismounted as the carriage stopped by a stream, he led his horse to drink and brushed him down a few yards from the carriage horses. Shawn sidled up to Ashton with his own mount to do the same. Ashton noticed a familiar small, brown bird land on his gelding's saddle as Shawn's monologue continued.
As Ashton finished up Shawn was standing directly in front of him so he couldn't lead the horse away without stepping into the water, "Yes sir?" he asked respectfully.
Shawn hesitated, since they were both from humble backgrounds he'd hope during the trip Ashton would warm up to him, but Ash seemed to have tuned them all out. "If you're tired, or sore the carriage has room." He offered testing the waters a bit.
"I don't dare impose," Ashton answered just as respectfully as before, as if he wasn't annoyed with the chattering, glares, not to mention being brought from his home of over ten years.
Shawn stepped aside letting them pass. They had roughly 6 weeks of travel if they weren't delayed by the weather, surely they could at least be on friendly terms before they reached the capital. Shawn sat about ten feet away while Ashton leaned against a tree to eat his sandwich with a jar with preserved fruits to help wash it down. They had brought rations, so they ate listening to birdsong.
Lucian side eyed the boy, this should be his first-time riding but he looked quite accustomed to long travel. The carriage was large enough for 3 people to sleep on top and back was packed with supplies, otherwise they might make the trip in closer to a month. The expectation was they could continue traveling at night if everyone took shifts to sleep as well, hopefully the boy would accept the arrangement after a few days of travel in the cold. Lucian ate his own rations while thinking of ideal scenarios for their travel.
Ashton savored every warm bite of his sandwich, he'd kept the sandwich in his shirt to keep it from freezing, the pear juice was chilled but not frozen. He also used resonance to help keep his sandwich warm, but Devlin was too used to large manas since the smaller ones continued to elude him... Devlin's first attempt had turned the food to little more than ash. Though even if Devlin wasn't like a bull in a China store only someone of equal power would feel him, not to mention even if he was only fourth tier, he had the control of a seventh tier. Unless someone was in direct physical contact and searching his exact resonance they wouldn't notice, but he also knew he would have to be more careful... after today's sandwiches.
Aaron entered the carriage after his Majesty and let out a suffocated sigh. "Well, I wish I could say it was a surprise," He grumbled as Bert and Devlin followed him in.
Devlin rolled his eyes, "It's only the first morning, he's been stubborn for 2 years, relax."
Bert looked at the carriage as they started to move, "He's the stubborn kind, if we don't break him in early it will only be harder later." After 10 years of training the best of the best he knew the longer this dragged out the harder it would be on everyone for the same result. Unfortunately, Aaron insisted they not try anything while they were still in Palmer, it would have been better to set the standard prior to their departure but Lucian deferred to Aaron after Devlin had basically attacked the father and Lucian had forced their hand so early.
Lucian glanced out the window, but Ashton stayed stubbornly out of sight, "I'd prefer to not break him until we know more."
Aaron took a deep breath, "If we break him there is no going back your Majesty, he's cut anyone who ever betrayed or lied to him out of his life, even small slights like when another child stole his bread he never rekindled the friendship. You all heard more than two dozen similar incidents, forcing his hand so bluntly may have already caused irreparable damage. We need to coax; he does not bend he breaks." Aaron reiterated very firmly.
Bert eyed Aaron, "He's now working for the emperor, if an emperor has to coax he's not strong enough."
Aaron glared, "Not yet he's not, at this moment in time Ashton is a little better than a cooperative prisoner, whose only crime is his political awareness. He is not a soldier, he is not an appointed official, he is not officially a noble, he is not officially a political hostage. All we know is he has been living as a farmer for over 15 years, who's parentage we have tested thrice over, and he passed a blood resonance." Aaron then turned directly to face Lucian.
"What if he is just a farmer boy with keen insight? What if he has nothing to do with Alphonse or the Seibel kingdom, your Majesty? Without any of those factors, what exactly is his status when we bring him to the capital?" Aaron had been so focused on keeping the situation from getting worse he'd deliberately neglected to ask until he had Lucian, Bert, and Devlin all in the same place without the chance of being overheard.
Lucian clenched his fist, "An honored guest." While there was the possibility Ashton was just a combination of freak coincidences, Lucian didn't want to believe it. If Ashton was related to Seibel royalty he fully intended to push him up the throne. Without Alphonse they would have already been added to the territory and the offenders' heads on spikes for all to see. If he wasn't... he'd figure something out then.
Aaron turned to Devlin, "Devlin, check the sound ward." When Devlin nodded he turned back to Lucian, "Your Majesty, please be honest. What was your relationship with Crown Prince Alphonse? Until now I never pried because he is deceased, but if Ashton is really his son, or has any relationship we need to be prepared." Aaron refused to let Lucian wiggle out, if they had been... intimate in any manner that could be devastating not only to Lucian, but also Ashton should he make a formal debut.
Lucian stared Aaron down, "We only met twice, he as the Crown Prince of Seibel, and I as the Crown Prince of Smyrna Empire during our truce negotiations when he was murdered." Lucian growled, still Aaron didn't look away.
"I need the details your Majesty. If you were intimate, I need to know so I can ensure Ashton's introduction goes smoothly. If people find out after his reputation would be the least of our worries. He could be executed as a spy. I can't protect him from arrows I'm not expecting." Aaron half explained, half threatened. Lucian had always separated private and public matters, but they'd always suspected an affair with Alphonse, he'd always been so ... persistent.
"None, we never shared a private word. I respected him, as a person and as a Crown Prince." Lucian iterated meeting Aaron's unwavering gaze.
Aaron took a deep breath, "Do you intend to have intimate relations with Ashton?" he asked bluntly. Dancing around at this point was futile and before they started to build any meaningful relationships with Ashton it was better for all be aware now.
Lucian hesitated, while the idea had of course crossed his mind... it also seemed to blaspheme his admiration for Alphonse. "As of now, no."
Bert was visibly shocked, Lucian had never taken relations with a man, while there were a few young men who resembled Alphonse wandering around the palace to his knowledge none had ever been summoned for such purposes. "If you sleep with him, will he be a concubine?" It wasn't unheard of for the emperor to have male pets or concubines, but never had there been a male empress.
Aaron kicked Bert, "If he's related to Alphonse that would be a bad political move." Besides, Lucian looked appalled by the idea.
Lucian relaxed, "If he's related to Alphonse I intend for him to take the Seibel throne, if we have relations it will be as equals. I don't intend to force the issue."
Aaron eyed Lucian doubtfully... Lucian was a brute force kind of guy. If there was going to be any easing of tensions, he doubted Lucian could coax even his own concubines. He gave orders, others did his bidding or he forced the issue.
Bert didn't say anything but he eyed Devlin, maybe the mage would be useful. If Ashton was related to Alphonse Ashton should be an excellent mage, and who better to learn from. Quid pro quo and equivalent exchange and all that.
Devlin felt goosebumps as Aaron and Bert started to eye him, he scooted further away, "What? I'm staying out of all that. Don't expect anything from me." He growled, they only raised their eyes at him, "He's petty! He's polite with you all but he barely tolerates me after that quartz mistake, he didn't even bother with the sapphires. I have no chance." He informed boldly.
Aaron kicked Devlin, "Surely you can coax a child, at least we'll be familiar faces. But that means we need to reign Pat and David in," He added looking to Bert and raising an eyebrow.
"Not everyone is going to like him, better he know up front." Bert deflected, the boy, Ashton, spent a lot of time working out for dancing. It might be nice to see if that's all he could do.
Lucian eyed Bert, "He's not a soldier, nothing that can't heal." His comrade judged everyone by their sword skills, so he wasn't impressed with Ashton.
Bert met Lucian's eyes, then nodded once. That was basically the go ahead to test him.
"We need him to like us, he's already here cooperating, don't push him." Aaron felt like he was talking to a brick wall. "At least wait until we're in the capital with a healing mage, nursing an injured, unhappy, unwilling, captive during our travels will not endear him to us." Aaron reminded.
"Or if his majesty personally tends to him, it might spark better feelings." Bert argued with a smirk.
Lucian perked up at the idea internally, until Aaron scolded Bert.
"Do you really think he won't notice such a simple plan? He's not stupid or naïve. Pull a stunt like that and he might decide to force our hand one way or the other." Aaron shot down. "If he's injured it can't be related to anyone his Majesty has a good relationship with, otherwise ultimately the fault will lay with his majesty."
Bert narrowed his eyes, "I'm not his babysitter."
Aaron sighed, "You're right, you're just the head prison guard. Who cares how the other prison guards treat him."
Ashton was almost tempted to find something to cover his ears with Shawn's consistent chatter. Now even his small bird companion would take flight as soon as Shawn approached. This was going to be a long... long ride to the capital.
When they were coming close to the next village Bert knocked on the carriage door, night was going to fall soon so either they pitched tents, stayed in the village, or kept riding through the night. Personally, he would rather keep riding, if nothing else exhaustion would make the boy yield.
Lucian opened the window, then glanced back, still unable to see Ashton so he couldn't judge how tired he'd be after a full day's ride. He looked at the village up ahead, "If they have an inn we'll stay, if not keep going through the night." Let the gamble play.
There wasn't an Inn, so they changed horses then kept moving forward. Shawn and Bert would take the first sleep in the carriage while Aaron and Devlin moved to the horses. Ashton wanted to sigh, looks like a battle of attrition.
Devlin took point beside Ashton since they had to ride closer together to share light from the carriage. "So... you really planning to stay awake all night?" He asked awkwardly.
"No sir, I'll be getting few hours of sleep." Ashton denied readily, Devlin suddenly looked much happier, Ashton almost, almost couldn't stop his smile.
"Good good! The carriage is big enough for three of us to lay down! Very comfortable and sturdy. I also helped make the enchantments to keep it from bouncing like most carriages." Devlin happily chattered... then he saw Ashton's very polite smile... "You... were going to sleep in the carriage... right?" He asked dreading the answer.
Ashton smiled, "I wouldn't dare intrude. A farmer's boy in his Majesty's carriage would be enough to get such a commoner's eyes gouged out and hands cut off." He reminded humbly. He saw the instant defeat in Devlin's eyes.
"Ah, that's right." Devlin muttered... even touching a royal's carriage could have their hands cut off on the spot. Peeking inside was usually enough to get beheaded...
Ashton gave a nod, turned around on his new horse, pulled up his hood, pulled out a small blanket from home, hooked himself into straps he then hooked to the saddle, and settled in to sleep the night away. He'd slept in far less comfortable situations as Alphonse, he'd learned to strap himself in with mana after a particularly nasty fall that had broken 2 bones, hopefully the straps would be enough.
Devlin stared; it was like... Ashton had planned for the exact scenario. He glanced back at Aaron who looked like he wanted to scream... or cry. This was going to be a long, long ride back to the capital.