• "But why us?" asked Mari.
    "Probably because we're the toughest warriors he has."
    "But, c'mon! I have better things to do than go see the King."
    "Yeah, I'd prefer to be training right not, too, but we can't refuse when the King calls for us."
    "whatever"
    That's when we entered the Council Hall. they were debating over some law when King George noticed us. he put one finger int he air, telling us to wait for a minute, til the debate was over. the council decided to pass the law. the King motioned to us; we walked to the center of the hall and bowed. he told us to rise.
    "as the council knows, this is Dorcus and Mari," started the King. the council began to murmur. "the time has come," continued King George. "for Dorcus and Mari to go on their first quest, for they are of age. i bel-"
    "But, Sire," interrupted a balding man from the back row. "they're-um-girls."
    "So what if we are?" Mari shot back.
    "Mari," I said in a warning tone.
    "But he said 'girl' like it's a bad thing!"
    "I know," said the King and i.
    "Yes, but, why do we have girls on the guard?" asked a beared man tot he right.
    "these girls are the best warriors int he guard," answered the King.
    "how so?" the man all the way to the left.
    "Dorcus alwasy gets a bullseye in archery and dagger throwing training, and Mari is currently undefeated. Dorcus also is an expert in the silent attack."
    "Sire, if i may," i bowed. "what is this quest?"
    "oh, the nerve! inturrupting us." Baldy again.
    "that is a repeating error you do, yourself, Lord Cornelius," said the King calmly. to us:"Your quest in to cheak on the neighboring land, Risteme, for things are happening. evil things."
    "i thought we were sending John!" the man right in the middle.
    "yeah!" the few who agreed, including Cornelius.
    "that was before it became a pressing concern. Dreike is moving faster then we anticipated." more murmuring. i looked at Mari, who looked at me.
    "This is not a debate anymore!" silenced the King. "other than these two being the strongest, they're also female, which makes perfect spies."
    "Spies?" the whole room echoed.
    "i want to know who in Risteme is willing to fight with us, and who is against us. Dorcus, record everything you see."
    "yes, Sire," i answered.
    "Are you insinuating that this girl can write? what an outrage!" exclaimed Cornelius, yet again. King George glared at him.
    "you question my judgement? one more fouled word from you, and i'll remove you from the council!" everyone, especially Cornelius, shied away from the King's anger. he turned to us. "the two of you start early next morning." Mari moaned." again, record everything you see, and send messages back every other full moon. spend the rest of today preparing for your journey. you may take you leave."
    "thank you, Sire," i replied. while Mari and bowed, and took out leave. once we left the Council Hall, i wooped.
    "Yes! a quest! isn't that exciting?"
    "i guess..."
    "aw, c'mon, you've been talking about how much you wanted to go on a quest ever since Luther came back from his five moons ago!"
    "Yeah, but i don't like mornings, and we leave a soon as the sun rises!"
    "Hey, i'm as big of a morning person as you-"
    "No, you're even scarier than i." i started laughing.
    "that's cause I'm also hungry."
    "Oh, yeah..." we laughed together.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    "Uh, hello? um, it's time for you to get going on you quest... AHHHHHHHH!!!" i just threw a dagger at jack, as a warning. "im sorry! we drew straws, and i lost! dont' kill me!!"
    "Fine, leave us, and we'll spare you life."
    "yes, thank you, ma'am. i'm leaving now. and your breakfast is ready. bye." jack left.
    "c'mon, Dorcus, couldn't you have been nicer to the guy?" Mari started changing.
    "No," i answered sourly. "just be happy i missed him."
    "on purpose?"
    "of course, moron." i started changing.
    we headed down tot he kitchen. al the other soldiers tried to ignore us. as we sit to eat our meal, the others back away. once i was finished with my meal, the atmosphere settled. the talking that existed before our entrance resumed. Mari and i left to ready our horses. on our way out, we met up with Curtis, the captain of the guard. he smiled at us, which is very rare for him to smile at all.
    "so, your first quest... i'm very happy for you, just be careful. Dreike is... beyond evil... there's no explaining it. i hope you grow fom this journey. don't die."
    "we'll try," i responded.
    "no, we wont try, we'll do. we will not die." Mari corrected. Curtis smiled, again.
    "have a good quest." then he left.
    "ok, that was weird..." noted Mari. i just nodded in agreement. we walked to the stables. ther, the stable boy, conrad, was waiting for us.
    "it's still very weird to see girls as waariors..." he commented.
    "yeah, we get that alot..." grumbled Mari.
    "Hi, Yuki," i cooed to my horse. she was a beautiful white mare, strong and bave, and very loyal. "has Conrad taken good care of you?" Yuki neighed in reply, sounding happy.
    "Akito!" called Mari. "this is no time for hide and seek!" a neigh returned for call from the furthest stall. mari followed the noise. "why are you all the way back here?" Akito came out of the stall. he had beautiful brown fur, except his rear was while with brown spots. "geez, can't you behave, just once?" Mari asked. "i don't know," i replied. he is your horse, and most horses act like their owners." everyone laughed, even the horses, it seemed.
    we saddled and packed up, said good bye to all our friends, and left, just as the sun lifted off the horizen. we travled east, for that's where Risteme lied.
    we were almost there by midday, so we decided to get physically ready to enter the domain of the evil Dreike. we ate food, and chose to train a little afterwards. then we headed off, to finish our journey, though we didn't know what to expect.
    we knew we were in Risteme when we entered the forest. a little while after coming in, i felt a presence.
    "Mari, you go ahead. i think Yuki is thirsty."
    "Oh, ok, i'll try to find a town where we can stay."
    "ok i'll catch up as soon as i'm done." she left. i got off my loyal steed to give her a drink. when she was done, i climbed back on and went to catch up, thinking that the presence i felt wasn't harmful, otherwise, it would've hurt me already. that was the last thing i thought, before the stinging pain in my side from a dagger now lodged in my kidney. the force of the throw knocked me off Yuki. then i heard the crackling sound of laughter.