Something almost perfect

How much he liked being back in his own chambers in the palace, he was not the biggest fan of the dull and monotone days guarding the royal family. It sounded so glamorous, keeping the royal family safe and sound. But most of the time it was standing in empty halls and the only thing to enjoy was the cool night breeze coming in though in between the sand colored pillars. At the oasis it was most of the time just hanging around with the other members of the Crimson Dawn, brawling to fill their days and taking bets on each other. Once you were back at the palace, the fun and games were over. Especially for Altaïr, who was general of the lot. Rules were strictly followed and not a step out of place was allowed.

Altaïr was patrolling on a leisurely pace through the empty hallways that were dimly lit with torch fire. His footsteps were soft, not to wake the queen and it seemed a routine job as always. The only things that accompanied him was the distant sound of the chirping of crickets and the stars in the pitchblack nightsky.

Until he heard the whisper of a creaking door. He narrowed his eyes and he assumed it was just some servant finishing up a job. But he could never assume, so with quick, silent stept he made his way to the sound. He was lucky the uniform of the Crimson Dawn was not some silly heavy armor as what they wore higher up North, so a broad man like him could still move relatively inaudible.

The culprit was quickly found and it was not who he expected, but he should have. Somehow you should expect that with age, wisdom and sense would somehow also just come naturally. But not for Princess Nepthys it seemed. Altaïr let down his guard, stood up straighter again as he had smallened his posture as he had snuck up to her. Altaïr felt a bit like a disappointed dad, but whatever. He lit up the torch closest to her a bit more, as he fed the flame with his magic. ‘‘Going somewhere, Princess?’’