1 Dirt Farmers and Pigs

"For the life of me I cant figure out father's fascination with this place."

Draven looked about the war torn village as they continued on the muddy path.

Truvon shook his head " And that is your problem little brother, you think too much. Perhaps the old man is bored. Who knows,who cares. He points we go. I mean did this war cut into your personal time ? Did you have a date with your horse there?"

Draven looked over his shoulder at the mounted troops following behind them.

"This was not a war. Hell it took us longer to get here than it do to overcome them. A waste of time and resource is what this was". He turned back with a sharp look to his brother " And your a true bastard you know that."

Draven urged his horse onward putting distance between them.

" That has never been proven " Truvon bellowed.

Prince Draven was correct it was not much of a war. After almost three weeks of riding Arriane had surrendered two mornings after the battle begun.

It was hot and humid as the season of rain was upon them. The inhabitants of Arriane were not soldiers but people who took pride in their rich farmlands and simple way of living. Their Lord was a peaceful man, a widower, who was not above working the fields along side his subjects to bring in the harvest. He had suffered too many lives lost including his only son. So in order to spare his people further loss and destruction he chose surrender as thebest defense.

Draven arrived at the stables where a young lad hurried about his duties

"M'lord", the boy muttered as he took hold of the leads." I'll take fine care of em I will"

Through the soot he could see the fear and uncertainty on the boy's face. This was nothing new, just another village with different faces.

Draven nodded. He stood there for a moment to get his bearings straight. It had been many years since he had been here, many years ago when he was a boy not much older than the fidgety stable hand now washing down his horse.

"m'lord if your hungry the kitchens are just down the path there cant miss em..Mags makes the best pigeon pies you can often smell em from here on a good.."

" Well"..Draven interrupted " you are a chatty one. What do they call you boy?"

"Tomi, M'lord. didnt mean to talk your ears off just dont know when to stop my dad says..and im doing it again your forgiveness M'lord. "

Draven stared at the wide eyed boy who despite all the talking never stopped grooming. He laughed and shook his head. " So tell me Tomi why is it you keep calling me M'lord"

The boys eyes lit up suprised that a Prince would welcome his conversation " by your Armor..my dad is the blacksmith and i know the house sigils and yours is not that of a common soldier. "

Draven waked over to the lad " Your a smart boy..so the blacksmith's son is working in the stables instead of learning his Father's trade?" he raised a brow.

" Oh I know the trade." he boasted while dragging a bail " I just like tending the horses is all...plus they dont seem to mind me talking so much..I can fit your horse with the finest set of shoes you'll see "

Draven looked over hearing the clamor of men and the sound of hooves.."Its about time Truvon I was starting to think you had led the men astray "

" It's too damn sticky here..a man could boil in his own sweat " Truvon growled. " you there " he ordered another stable hand " take my horse but help me with my armor first."

A few of the hands led the men to an area where the could clean up before entering the kitchen for a meal. It was a shady area just ouside the bathhouse and there were a handful of maids who eagerly rushed to help them remove unnecessary garments and scrub away the traces of battle from their bodies. Draven declined the girls attempt to unlace his trousers" oh no those stay on. " the girl giggled and continued washing his back and chest with a cloth and pails of of soapy water..he looked over to his brother who was standing bare assed to the wind while being bathed by two beauties.

" Im not complaining but seems odd they are taking this so well" Truvon stated " everything is so out in the open here I dont believe I've been bathed quite like this before. I could grow to like it" Truvon smiled at the raven haired girl rubbing his body with oils.. " love you keep doing that and im going to take you home with me .Would you like that?"

" She may brother but your lady may not" Draven said. " by the time we return you will be a father...again"

Draven dismissed the girl and rung the excess water from his dark brown hair then shook his head wildly. " Just like a curr " his brother snarled lacing his trousers " yes that is what the physician says and this time i know Elise will give me a boy. And what of you little brother I was your age when I took a wife and now have a third child on the way. Its time you contribute to the family line " he laughed.

" I ontribute each time I save your ass brother in one of father's grand wars" Draven replied

The two headed towards the kitchen. The courtyard was an open maze of stone archways each leading to different areas of the main house the windows had no payne so the warm breezes flooded the corridors with the fragrances of gardens, fertile land and of course Mag's pigeon pies.

Passing a small garden along the way Truvon elbowed Draven " see brother that is what I am talking about" Draven looked towards the garden where a bevy of young girls were sitting in an area of cloverleaf an older woman sat on a bench nearby keeping an eye on them. The brothers had forgotten about their stomachs for the moment as they stood watching. The girls twisted the clover into circlets and adorned one another's hair with the white flowers an odd behavior Draven thought especially since their Lord just surrendered their home to their enemy they just seemed to continue on as if nothing happened..all but one.She sat apart from the others beneath the oak .She was fair of skin and he could faintly hear her cries. Her hair was like fire where the sunlight crept through the branches to lay its warm kiss

At that moment he had been struck hard as if he had taken a direct blow to the chest.

" Ahhh so what do you think so far M'lords " roared the large fellow headed towards them. The sound of his friends thundering voice broke the spell momentarily.

" Son of a whore" Truvon exclaimed and embraced the man. " what are you doing here" Draven asked greeting his friend " has father send more troops behind us? if so it wasnt necessary . Didn't take much to defeat a bunch of dirt farmers and pigs." Their laughter echoed through the corridor. " Nah, the King sent me and a few others ahead he should have left Carrigway on his way here yesterday so thats gives us about two weeks to enjoy ourselves until he arrives to determine the fate of these fine citizens. " he turned to see what had the attention of his comrades earlier.

" I agree with Jolin. We have won his war so until he arrives lets enjoy the spoils." Truvon exclaimed

the large man looked over the garden's delights..." Dirt farmers and Pigs you say...well tonite im gonna make one of you little piggies squeal " he yelled across

The old woman scoffed and quickly gathered the girls urging them inside. The red haired girl lagged behind ignoring the womans pleadings she walked slowly to where the men stood and stopped three feet from them.

Draven felt the pressure in his chest again. Not a word was spoken by either side..her pale blue dress wrapped around her body as she looked directly at him with eyes the same hue as her dress..she pursued her lips then slowly turned back and joined the others behind the closed door.