Three days after arriving in Mylria, Arlie joined her friends at the northeastern gate. It was located directly opposite the harbor, which was located on the southwestern side of the city. The northeastern gate was closest to the temple. It would be a journey of several days to reach it. The roads were patrolled regularly, monsters and bandit activities were both down in the area, and they were joined by four female knights who all appeared to be competent and well-equipped. Arlie didn’t even need to ask why the knights were all girls. She’d been told to expect female escorts when possible. One of the perks of her being a princess. Thron and Horon aside, she didn’t really like most males, so that really was a perk in her mind.
As for the Black Princess, Captain Zors had ultimately sold her to the Baroness for nine platinums. Much to the displeasure of the baroness. Seven was already high from what she was learning. Nine was practically extortion for a frigate. Not that Arlie fully understood ship pricing, it wasn’t exactly a subject she’d ever had cause to learn. Perhaps she should read more into it?
It might prove useful later. She already knew that she had other temples to visit, and that meant crossing the sea. The Yellow Temple was the last of the five temples she could reach primarily by land. The Green Temple was on a massive Isle, almost a small continent in its own right, Dragon’s Rock Isle was an ocean away, far to the east. Further beyond that lay the Continent of Nykova, where the White Temple was to be found. Now if you looked at a map, one might notice the Continent of Nykova was linked with their own via the Frozen Wastelands, but that was a treacherous wasteland of ice. Only fools tried to traverse the wastes, for if the cold didn’t get you, the monsters up there certainly would. No, the Sea really was the only way to go, her personal disadvantages aside. Something she’d have to fix, preferably before another crossing.
The incident with Sealord Ocari underscored an area in her magical skills that needed to be addressed, she was woefully unprepared for locations where she couldn’t use her most favored elements. One element stood out to her, water, she had knowledge of it, already knew spells that could use it, she just needed to master it. Affinities be damned. She wasn’t a beginner, she was a full fledged high mage, perhaps it was time she branched out? Arlie had been told more than once that a true mage mastered more than one or two elements in their lifetime, that while there wasn’t anything wrong with a speciality, there was such a thing as being overspecialized.
Footsteps drew her from her thoughts. It was the head of the four knights assigned to her. “Morning Princess,” she looked around. “I take it these are your friends?”
“Yes, and I believe we haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Arlie Contrey, and you are?”
“Knight Commander, Tanyi Versia, at your service. Now I’ve been told that you grew up in the Varixyies region? Does that mean I can expect you to be as physically capable as the typical Varixyian?”
“Naturally, I grew up in the rugged hills and overgrown forests near Voros, learning to navigate rough terrain came with the territory, my friends are also from Voros, and we spent plenty of time out in the woods.” she gestured at the twins, “Lily and Rose are hunters by trade both of them are quite good with a bow. Rose is the better cook, while Lily is much better with a knife.”
Arlie then indicated to Horon, “And Horon here is a blacksmith's apprentice, he came out here with me to get some experience before taking the test to become a proper journeyman. My last friend is Thron, a bit of an idiot, frankly, with a hero complex, but he is handy with a sword.”
“Idiots I can handle, and what’s this about a hero complex?”
Arlie told him about the incident before they left Voros. Thron at least had the decency to look a little sheepish about it.
“I see, well in that case, I can try straightening him out.”
“Please do,” she responded.
Tanyi then gestured to her three companions, “Right, now this is Clara, my second, don’t let her size and cute looks fool you, she’s a demon with a crossbow and no slouch with that rapier by her side either. Fastest little rabbitkin I’ve ever had the honor of working with.
Clara blushed slightly at the mention, her rabbit ears twitching. Arlie took her and had to admit that she was utterly adorable. Pure white hair cascaded against her back; she was slightly smaller than Arlie, about 130 cm tall, wearing light plate mail armor emblazoned with the crest of the Mylrian Knight Order. The armor featured full-body mail coverage, with light plates protecting the torso, articulated gauntlets, a half-thigh-length skirt of leather, sturdy-looking boots, and a matching set of greaves. Her rounded face had a dusting of freckles, red eyes, and a cute button nose. Arlie also noticed that her chest seemed to be straining against the armor, making her boobs seem smaller than they really were. At first glance, anyway.
She definitely stood out among her companions, but then again they all did in their own way. Tanyi was tall, and carried herself with elegant poise, which made her come off like the quintessential Princess Knight so common in many a tale. Her slim frame concealed powerful muscles, visible with her every move which just rippled with hidden strength. Arlie even noticed that Tanyi seemed to have a natural magical talent, one she seemed to be unconsciously using to enhance her muscles. Her long silver hair was done up in a pair of drill braids and secured with orange ribbons, which complemented her eyes. A long rapier sat on her hip, and a shield was strapped across her back. Arlie kinda wanted to get her out of the armor.
Tanyi gestured to her second knight, “Mirelle, best tracker in the company, if she had dog ears I’d call her a proper bloodhound, hell sometimes I swear she was born with wolf blood.”
Mirelle wasn’t human; her light green skin and slightly pointed ears gave away her heritage, but her height merely confirmed it. The girl was undoubtedly part Goblin. Standing just shy of a hundred and fifty meters tall, wearing armor similar to Clara’s and with a drop-dead gorgeous figure. If Clara was blessed, Mirelle was downright stacked; her armor couldn’t even hide her massive rack. Silky black hair cascaded loosely down her back, framing a classically pretty face with bright blue eyes. She stood there with confidence though.
“And finally, my last companion for this venture, Terrabeth, our resident spellsword and the one responsible for keeping our equipment in good order.”
Terrabeth was a dwarf woman; her name alone gave it away, although she did seem to be taller than the average dwarf. She had a hammer strapped to her back, a small shield strapped to her arm, and a broadsword strapped to her waist. Like most dwarven females, she could be mistaken for a human girl if you didn’t know what to look for. Then she noticed a tail, long slender, and ending with a spade tip. Not a pureblood it seemed. Something that also explained her armor, which seemed to reveal more skin than it covered. A slim breast plate barely covered her medium breasts, and she paired it with a short armored skirt. The outfit, her lovely face and bright green eyes gave her sexual allure the others didn’t have.
“Don’t let her state of dress fool you, she’s just as deadly in the field as she is in bed.”
“I can picture that,” she said, then changed the subject, “Now what’s the plan for getting me to the Blue Temple?”
“Well now that I know you aren’t a delicate wallflower? For the first day we will do a hard march, north and east along the road. We will stop just past midday for lunch, then continue with another hard march straight east before stopping in the village of Wilamark. It’s a tough pace, but one Knights are expected to maintain, and I have every reason to expect a handful of Varixyians can maintain. With any luck, we will be able to requisition lodging for the night in Wilamark and avoid having to set up camp, that will buy us some more time in the day for marching and let us leave Wilamark earlier Our second day will use the same pace, north then east along the roads, no convenient village to stop at, so we will have to camp on the second day, but there is a nice outpost maintained for just that purpose. We can use that.”
“Sounds good to me,” replied Arlie, “I know the trip takes a few days though.”
“I plan to get us there in four”
Terrabeth commented, “Sounds like a fun march,” then she grinned, “Wilamark’s a lot of fun though, if all else fails my mother almost certainly has a room.”
“And that’s the very last place I’d even consider staying.”
“Oh come on, it will be fun!”
Clara interjected, “We are escorting a princess, I don’t think your Mom’s is appropriate.”
“Really? She’s a royal not a stick in the mud. I’m sure she appreciates a good romp as much as the next girl.”
Arlie frowned, “So, um, what kind of place is it?” she inquired despite already getting a good idea. What they said only confirmed it.”
“Terrabeth’s family runs a Brothel Inn, you stay the night and they provide a girl to keep you company the entire night.”
“I see,” replied Arlie, her gaze falling on Lily and Rose. She wasn’t exactly that desperate for some female company, she had plenty right at hand.
Terrabeth interjected, “We do offer guys if you prefer them.”
Arlie sighed, “Sorry I’m not that desperate for company. I think I’ll pass.”
Terrabeth grinned, “Oh? A lover?” she glanced at Lily and Rose, then her grin widened, “Two of them!? Well aren’t we... Gah!”
She bit her tongue and looked up with tears after Tanyi hit her, “Enough of that, no teasing our guests.”
“But Mommy! I love teasing the guests.”
Tanyi raised her hand, and glared. Terrabeth shut up.
Arlie decided then and now that this was going to be an interesting four days. But said nothing on the subject, “Shall we get going?”
Tanyi nodded, “Okay girls, move out!”
Together the party set out, leaving via the gate for the blue temple.