Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 291: New encounters

Chapter 291: New encounters

The morning sun gleamed off the polished armor of the fifty Golden Steeds, the elite crown knights of Alpheo's personal retinue. Their formation was pristine, their banners snapping crisply in the breeze. The royal house's banner—a deep blue field adorned with a golden falcon—towered high above the group, marking the presence of the crown.

Ahead of the knights, on horseback, were Alpheo, Egil, and the other companions of theirs. Alpheo's cloak rippled behind him as he adjusted his reins, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. Egil, by contrast, shifted restlessly in his saddle, his expression sour.

"This is ridiculous," Egil grumbled, rubbing at his temple. "We could have just welcomed her in the palace. All this pomp out here—it's absurd."

Alpheo turned his head toward Egil, a grin tugging at his lips. Without warning, he leaned over and delivered a playful punch to Egil's shoulder. "Egil," Alpheo said, his voice teasing but firm, "this isn't just anyone we're welcoming. It's your wife. You have to make a good impression."

Egil snorted, straightening in his saddle as he rubbed his shoulder. "The wife someone forced onto me," he shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He shook his head, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the distant road. "Not exactly the joyous reunion of lovers, is it?"

Alpheo adjusted the reins of his horse, as he changed topic "So, have you given any thought to your dynasty name now that you're a lord? Or your banners?"

Egil didn't hesitate, his gaze fixed ahead, his voice steady. "My dynasty name will be Shakzai, after my home tribe. My banner," he added after a brief pause, "will be a horse on a white field."