The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

The group finally managed to lose the Skalverns after navigating the rocky ridge. The ridge had been steep, covered in loose gravel and sharp stones, but their horses had carried them through with resilience, though not without effort. As they reached the top and came to a plateau, the Skalverns seemed to fall back, unable to keep up with the rough terrain. There was a collective sigh of relief, their breaths heavy as they stopped, each member of the group turning back to look down the way they'd come.

Mikhailis wiped the sweat from his brow, his hand shaking slightly from the adrenaline still running through his veins. He leaned on his horse for support, his eyes glancing to the horizon to confirm the distance they'd put between themselves and the beasts. "Well," he said between breaths, a chuckle escaping his lips, "I think we might have made it." He turned his head, catching Vyrelda's eye. She was already busy checking her horse, running her hands over its legs to make sure no injuries were sustained in the climb.

"Don't count your luck just yet, Your Highness," she replied with a small, weary smile.

"We still need to find our way out of here." Her voice was pragmatic, as always, but there was a hint of relief in her tone.

Mikhailis let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Well, I guess you're right..." He grinned.

"You know, maybe I should've let one of those Skalverns eat me—might've made for a good story."

Lira, who was dismounting nearby, shook her head, her expression calm but her eyes betraying amusement.

"And what would you have us tell Queen Elowen?" she asked.

"'Oh, Your Highness got eaten, but it made for a fantastic story'? I'm sure that would go over well."

Mikhailis raised an eyebrow, his grin widening.

"You think she'd find it romantic? A tragic end for her favorite prince consort?"

"I'm sure she'd be delighted," Lira replied, her sarcasm palpable. She took out a small cloth and water flask, gently dabbing at the cuts on his arm. Her touch was soft, practiced, and she worked with a calm efficiency.

"Now stop moving, or I'll make this sting more than it has to."

Mikhailis winced but stayed still, watching as she cleaned his wounds.

"Ah, I knew you cared for me." He added with a teasing tone, trying to ease the tension.

Vyrelda rolled her eyes, clearly having no time for Mikhailis' antics. She moved on to check the rest of the horses, making sure they weren't injured from the steep climb.

"Cerys, make sure the saddles are tight. We're going to need every advantage we can get from here."

Cerys nodded, moving to her horse, her fingers working quickly to adjust the straps and reins. There was a moment of silence as each of them worked, the forest around them growing calm. The sound of the wind rustling through the trees was a comforting contrast to the chaos of moments ago.

"Everyone alright?" Vyrelda asked, her voice carrying a note of command. Her eyes flicked between them, assessing their conditions.

She was the picture of a leader—focused, practical, making sure everyone else was in good shape.

Mikhailis gave her a thumbs-up.

"Still alive, for now," he replied, a lopsided smile on his face.

Lira nodded as well, her expression softening.

"We should be good for a little while. The Skalverns aren't the best at climbing." She glanced at the horizon, watching as the dust settled far below.

"But we can't rest here for long. They might circle around."

Vyrelda gave a curt nod.

"Agreed. Let's use this time to catch our breath and decide our next move." She turned her attention to Mikhailis.

"Your Highness, do you have any input on where we should head next?"

Mikhailis scratched his chin thoughtfully.

Now this is unexpected.

"Well, let's see what I could think." He tapped the side of his glasses.

Alright, Rodion. Tell me just how lost we are.

Mikhailis waited, watching as the visual overlay on his glasses flickered, showing a map of their intended path towards Serewyn. It showed a blinking dot representing their current location—far off from where they were supposed to be.

<You have deviated significantly from your planned route. Current suggested paths are as follows: Route A, which involves steep terrain but provides quicker access to water sources. Route B, which has lower risk but will take an additional day. And Route C, which traverses through potentially hostile territory but is the fastest option.>

Vyrelda stepped closer, glancing at Mikhailis's glasses as he relayed the information.

"Seems like we have a few options," he said, his tone turning more serious. He turned to look at Vyrelda and Cerys.

"I'll leave it to you two. After all, you're the ones who know how to get us out of this mess in one piece."

Vyrelda exchanged a look with Cerys, a moment of silent communication passing between them. Cerys nodded, her expression thoughtful.

"Route A would take us back on track, but it'll be rough on the horses," she said.

Vyrelda frowned, considering.

"The horses have already been through a lot. We can't afford injuries." She glanced at the map again, her brow furrowing.

"Route B might be safer, but we're already behind schedule."

Mikhailis leaned back slightly, crossing his arms.

"Or we take Route C and make things interesting." His grin returned, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

Vyrelda shot him a stern look.

"We can't take unnecessary risks, Your Highness."

He held up his hands in surrender, the grin still in place.

"Alright, alright. No fun, I get it. I'll follow your lead."

Cerys cleared her throat, her voice steady as she spoke.

"If we head north first, then curve back east, we can avoid the worst of the terrain. It'll take us a bit longer, but we can make use of water sources along the way. It'll be easier on the horses, and we'll have more options if we need to divert again."
Experience new tales on empire

Vyrelda nodded, her expression softening slightly.

"Agreed. It's a good compromise. We need to prioritize the well-being of our mounts." She looked to Lira, who quietly nodded in agreement.

Mikhailis clapped his hands together, his smile genuine.

"There we have it, then! North it is. Let's get moving before the Skalverns get any funny ideas."

The group mounted up again, the horses moving with tired but steady steps as they followed Vyrelda's lead. The altered route took them deeper into the forest, the dense trees closing in around them, the sunlight filtering through the branches above, creating shifting patterns of light and shadow along the path. Despite the tension, the forest held a certain beauty, the quiet sounds of nature providing a stark contrast to the adrenaline-fueled chaos of before.

They had been riding for a couple of hours when they spotted movement ahead on the road. Mikhailis squinted, his eyes narrowing as they approached. It wasn't Skalverns this time, but rather a merchant caravan. The caravan seemed to consist of several wagons, each loaded with various goods. Merchants and guards stood around, some setting up camp while others kept watch.

Mikhailis's gaze drifted to one of the wagons, his eyes catching sight of a unique insignia painted on its side—an unfamiliar emblem, definitely not from Silvarion Thalor. His curiosity piqued, he nudged his horse closer.

A woman stepped forward from the group, seemingly the leader of the caravan. She wore elaborate traveling attire—a long cloak with intricate embroidery, adorned with trinkets and amulets hanging from her belt. Her hair was styled in intricate braids, and her eyes were sharp as she assessed Mikhailis and his companions. She had an air of confidence, her gaze lingering on their weapons and armor.

"Greetings, travelers," she said, her voice smooth, with a hint of intrigue.

"You seem well-equipped. Might I ask if you're mercenaries?"

Vyrelda and Cerys exchanged glances, clearly caught off guard. The woman's eyes were fixed on them, her expression one of mild curiosity. Mikhailis, on the other hand, couldn't help but grin. He leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on the pommel of his saddle.

"Mercenaries, you say? Well, that's certainly one way to put it," he replied, his tone playful. He cast a glance at Vyrelda, who was giving him a warning look.

The woman seemed to misinterpret his response, her eyes lighting up.

"Wonderful! Then perhaps you could help us," she said, stepping closer.

"My name is Estella. I am a merchant, traveling to trade in the nearby villages and eventually make my way to the market town in the south. With the Skalvern attacks and other dangers on these roads, we could use some extra protection."

Vyrelda and Cerys looked at Mikhailis, waiting for his response. He could see the hesitation in their eyes, the uncertainty. He gave them a small nod before turning back to Estella.

Rodion, give me a read on her, Mikhailis thought.

<Analyzing subject. Skin tone and attire suggest non-native origin, likely from regions outside Silvarion Thalor. Insignia on her wagon is unregistered in known databases. Confidence in her demeanor suggests familiarity with potentially dangerous situations. Assessment: Low to moderate threat level. Recommend caution.>

Mikhailis considered Rodion's assessment, his gaze drifting back to Estella.

She's got confidence, I'll give her that.

He looked at Vyrelda, her expression wary, then at Cerys, who seemed impassive.

He turned back to Estella, giving her a small smile.

"We would be glad to offer our assistance, Estella."

Her eyes seemed to light up, and she gave him a wide smile, stepping forward to extend her hand.

"Thank you, truly," she said, her voice warm.

"I didn't expect such kindness."

Mikhailis took her hand, giving it a firm shake, his eyes locking onto hers. There was something about the way she looked at him—a hint of mischief, or maybe curiosity. He couldn't quite tell.

Or maybe she just thinks I got charmed by her beauty.