Alfred stood alone in the port. The sounds of birds screeching, children laughing and waves crashing were a stark difference from the battlefield he was standing on previously. He looked at the large warships that lined the port, the ones that would take him south.
Abu walked up next to him, sweating as if he had finished hard labour. He took a bow as Alfred secretly flicked his finger for him to rise. "I would love to say it’s good to see you my friend, but my visit isn’t out of goodwill." Alfred laughed, but the worry was evident in his voice as he spoke.
Abu led with his hand leading Alfred as the army was given ti to rest. "If I can give you so good news. Far Mile and the Capital haven’t been touched yet. Everything in between, however...." His voice trailed but it told of the gravity of the situation was apparent in his grave tone. "Anyway, I’ll take you to Catherine."
Alfred squeezed his eyes. He was happy the two major landmarks he wanted to survive did but his heart did ache for the human labour and land lost. He took the small victories as sothing good though, his nerves slightly calming.
"The Queen has taken the preparations to defend the capital if it becos necessary. I pray it doesn’t but we can never know." At the ntion of his wife Alfred gave a soft smile. He missed her and Edward, but knew now wasn’t the ti to linger on good mories.
"Tell . I only have had notes and small bits but what are we dealing with truly." Alfred tapped the man’s chest, wishing for him to speak freely.
Abu gave a deep sigh. "A few thousand strong, but they all seem battle-hardened. Anywhere they go they leave few survivors. Scouts have observed from a distance with harrowing news. Tales of human sacrifice exist and mass pillaging, especially food."
Alfred wanted to cut in but Abu raised his hand, "It’s not all bad news. It’s not a united front. Mayor Desmond of Far Mile witnessed a fight break out between what he assud were two leaders. With the small one winning the army retreated. Our scouts have recognised a couple of key figures within their camp, but it’s hard to get a clear picture when we can’t understand their language."
The grim feeling that plagued Alfred soon cleared up. He took the good news as sothing that he could try and exploit. If they were fractured it could be his chance to split them. Despite this, the inability to understand them was concerning. Abu remained quiet, letting the young man think.
They walked for another five minutes, making small talk, quickly arriving at the destination. Catherine and Sasha stood there waiting for him. Walking over, Catherine bowed, Alfred taking her hand and kissing it. "I’m glad to see you in health Duchess."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Catherine pushed her daughter forward. "This is my daughter and heir Admiral Sasha Godwin. She will be the one taking you South." Sasha walked forward respectfully bowing.
Hearing Alfred’s order to rise she looked at his face. She couldn’t deny that he was an incredibly handso man. That being said, she couldn’t really find herself attracted to him. She knew nothing about him. She only cared for the sea and boats. Her mother’s crazy plan to try and have a child with him was insane to her.
"It’s strange Catherine. You hid your daughter away for so long." Alfred said lightly laughing, getting an exhausted sigh from the woman.
"Please don’t start Your Highness. This girl has no desire to go near the capital. The fact you are eting her right now is a miracle." With a tired voice, she gave a hard glare at Sasha, getting a roll of the eyes from her. Catherine looked back at the young King. "Let’s get to business, I’m sure you wish to head south as soon as possible." Catherine turned to the towering warships in the bay. "We have enough to get three thousand and a bit n south. Two trade vessels to transport the supplies you need."
Alfred nodded. He looked at the warships. "They ca from the ocean right?" His question got a nod of the head. "After we are dropped off, would it be possible to create a blockade of the coast?"
Catherine flicked her fingers, calling for the butler standing in the distance behind her. She had a feeling Alfred would ask sothing that would require her to have a ledger on hand. He ca over with a book in hand. Looking inside at the numbers available to her she began the calculations. "It might be possible for a partial blockade, but it will be expensive, very expensive," Catherine said with a slightly greedy tone as she looked up at Alfred.
The young man chuckled, expecting sothing like this. "The crown will reimburse you. The blockade will have to begin in a couple of months. It will take ti to push them out to the coast. Anyway, get the ships ready, we move soon."
"At once." Catherine bowed leaving, with Sasha following behind.
"Abu, keep everything running. The Safrid campaign will not end over a minor setback." Abu smiled, looking at the confident posture of the young man which had been missing since his arrival.
Ti passed and by the ti the sun began to set, Alfred stood on the large capital ship, looking at the large fleet on the water, the endless sea in the distance. Sasha walked up next to him. "She is a great fleet isn’t she." Her voice was full of pride. The fleet they were on was her personal one. She had led it on nurous voyages and at so point began to see it as her own child, taking extre care of every minute detail.
"I know my Kingdom’s sea is in good hands looking at it." Looking at her with a kind smile he replied. Despite the smile, she saw his worried eyes. Looking out to the water she felt nostalgic.
"My mother, always asked about what I believed existed across the waters. I used to think the edge of the world existed. If I kept riding I would fall off like it was the edge of my bed." Her words got a little laugh from Alfred. Seeing her plan to ease his worries was working caused a smile. "Now I wonder. We have barbarians who sacrifice humans to co across from the ocean, and I no longer know. What about you?"
With an interested voice, she turned to him. Alfred rested his head on his hand, leaning over the edge of the boat. "I don’t know anymore." A strange glow flooded his eyes, "I used to believe it would just be more land with other humans, but now, I have no clue. After everything that has happened to , I’m not too sure anymore. Do dragons truly exist, is it a mystical land of magic, or are we on the only bit of safe land in the world."
Alfred looked back at her. He smiled and giggled. "I really wish to find out now. You think you can find it for ." Alfred said with a teasing voice looking back into the distance.
Sasha smiled. The young king’s dream was similar to her own. Taking a place next to him, she looked out in the distance. "Of course." With glee, she agreed. If the king was willing to fund her dream, who was she to deny? Looking at him, she thought about her mother’s request. Shaking her head, she knew it would have to be a long con.
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