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“You're slow Roden.” I said, as I sat on the ledge between the second and the third floors of the castle, looking down at Roden.
“And you are too fast.” Roden groaned, taking hold on one of the stones on the castle wall as he climbed higher. “You should know that not everyone has scaled the castle walls since they were born.”
That was true. He was right about that. Several beats later Roden finally reached the ledge and sat down beside me drawing a few breaths. I leaned against the wall, letting my legs dangle below.
After a while, he asked, “So, why did you ask me to come up here? I thought you love to spend time on ledges alone at nights.”
I stared up at the stars in the sky. A bright full moon had risen tonight. A corner of my mouth turned up. “Do you know what day it is?”
That drew his attention to me. He pressed his brows together for a moment as though he was thinking, then shook his head.
The smile widened across my face as I added, “Today is the day you swore your loyalty to me as the captain of my guard Roden. It's been two years since then.”
Roden blinked, then said, “Oh.” A beat passed before he smiled weakly, “I don't think that day is worth celebrating. I broke your leg that day too.”
I scowled and rolled my eyes. “Thanks for reminding me that. You really know how to ruin a good moment.”
I couldn't deny that he was right about this too. That day wasn't really my best day considering the pain I had to endure after he broke my leg. But it wasn't my worst day either. Despite the position I was in, I escaped from the secure room Roden had locked me in and climbed a cliff and challenged him to a sword fight, eventually defeating him and gaining the title of the pirate king. Of course I did all of that with a broken leg, thanks to Roden but that was the day Roden had come to my side and become my friend just as I had always wanted us to be.
Back at Farthenwood, we had formed what I thought was a decent friendship. Until Cregan had poisoned his mind and made him think he could be king.
I had told him to let go of his anger. That he wasn't meant to be king but he were meant to lead the king's armies. I needed him as my friend. And I didn't mean it lightly. I knew everything about making enemies but very little about friendship.
My memory transported me back to that day when I had fought Roden, as our blades held each other in the sort of a dance. I was convinced he was far better friend than an enemy.
Back then, I held out my sword, with no more strength in my hand than had I been a small child. I was barely even conscious. But my voice was strong as I said, “Swear loyalty to me, Roden, and renounce the pirates.”
Roden bowed his head. “Jaron, you have defeated me in battle. Therefore, I renounce my position and swear loyalty to you, as King of Carthya, King of the Avenian Pirates, and my King always, wherever in this world you go.”
Ever since that day he had remained one of my truest friends and had fought by my side in several battles. Though it was true that we had our share of disagreements and fights sometimes, including one last year where he had accidentally stabbed my leg, I wouldn't have survived many of the battles I had faced in all my time as king if he weren't there to lead my armies.
He was a dangerous enemy but also was fierce friend. Which was why he was my choice, my guardian and my protector.
That day after Roden had lost the fight, he had promised me that he would follow me wherever I went. Which was exactly what he had done. He had to face many difficulties because of me but in the end he had never left me. I knew now that he would be amongst the first people to follow me to the devil's lair and back. He had nearly got executed along with me for being my captain.
Finally I said, “I think it is worth celebrating. Consider this as a way of showing my gratitude to you for being the captain of my guard and my best friend.” With a faint smile I added, “I know I have given you a lot of troubles.”
He raised a corner of his mouth. “So does that mean you're sorry for some of the things you've done over the past two years just like me?”
“There must be.” With a mischievous grin, I added, “Though I have still not forgiven you for many of the things you have done in the past, all right.”
Roden went quiet for a moment, then asked, "Did you really mean all that you said to me that day?"
I blinked and frowned at him, "Do you doubt me?"
"No, of course not." He closed his eyes for a moment then drew in a slow breath. "I couldn't understand for a long time why you made me your captain Jaron, after everything I did. I still wonder it sometimes."
I had already told him that day why I needed him. The answer was a lot simpler than he might have realized. True, there were others I could have chosen, men of experience, warriors. But there were few people in this world I could trust. I trusted Roden. During our fight back then, there was a moment when Roden could've killed me but he didn't. He could’ve easily ended things by striking at my leg. He never did, not once. If he wanted me dead, I would have been so then. Instead he had now become one of the truest friends I have. He was also very strong as a fighter. He had always handled his weapon with an ease that I believed several lifelong warriors would envy.
"Do you remember what I told you that day?" I asked.
A smile warmed his face, "I remember every word you said. That day is still clear to me as a reflection in still water Jaron."
I grinned. "Then you already know why I made you my captain then."
We sat in silence for a few moments until I asked again, “Do you remember how you once doubted yourself because your men didn't trust you to lead in the war? Because you were too young and lacked experience.” I looked at him and smiled, “You gave a terrible speech to your men that day when we met at Half-Moon pass during the battle with Gelyn.”
Roden glared at me, clearly irritated though he didn't argue with me about that. Instead he snorted, “I can't disagree with you on that. Now that I think about it, it really was a terrible speech.”
I chuckled at that, then added, “Yes but you know I must admit the speech you gave to your soldiers during the battle at Drylliad was rather quite impressive. It really stunned me. Back then it was hard to believe that such a speech had come from you.”
He turned to meet my eyes, “Really?”
I nodded. “In the end it appears you did become the captain I always knew you could be.”
Roden laughed. “Thanks.” Then he added, “And you have been a good king Jaron. Once upon a time I might have been arrogant enough to believe that I could rule better than you but not anymore. I am glad you let me become the captain of your guard.”
He faced me so that I could see his sincerity. “Without you I wouldn't have known what I was capable of. I remember you told me during our fight that I could be so much more than what I was doing back then. You were right Jaron.”
I wasn't sure how to answer that. So I smiled back at him and nodded at him, then turned my head to stare at the night sky again. The night was cool and a breeze had picked up that was now blowing a few strands of my hair from my face.
I drew in a breath and closed my eyes to savor this moment.
“You come up here often Jaron. Why is that?”
That surprised me. How could he have known that? When I glanced over him, he said, “I have seen you on this ledge a lot actually.”
Before I could ask, he added again, “I noticed you being here sometimes while I checked the vigils keeping night watch.”
That explained it. Though it was amazing that Roden saw me as I always very carefully watched for anyone below on the castle grounds. Also this ledge was on the wall in the King's Gardens. So not many vigils could have seen me here. Unless they were my friends, I suppose.
I sighed, “You didn't tell Mott or anyone else about this right?”
“No. Though knowing Mott, he probably knows it already.”
That was possible. In fact Darius knew about this place too considering the number of times he had caught me scaling the walls at night when we were young.
After a beat, Roden snorted, “I think Mott will scold you tomorrow for accidentally exploding that wagon today.”
Obviously, he would. Earlier today in the afternoon I'd decided to test a crossbow and accidentally shot the side of a wagon using a flaming arrow loaded with gunpowder. It was meant to be one of my usual experiments. Also since I already understood how to handle gunpowder I didn't think an accident would happen. But my aim had never been the best. Which was why the arrow hit the wagon. Luckily there were no people or animals around so no one was harmed. But the wagon belonged to the priest Kerwyn and Darius had invited to come and bless the castle once we all had rebuilt it. Unfortunately it was the same childhood priest who never liked me since I had set fire to his pulpit while he was preaching. Which was also an accident. He just said today that no castle could ever be hoped to be blessed by the saints with me in it. Perhaps he was right. The devils were far too interested in me.
Finally I said, “You know when I was young, I often come up here. It's a good place to think. In some ways it feels a lot peaceful.”
Roden said nothing but he was listening. So I continued, “Back then I used to come up here mostly after I had done something awful and my father had yelled at me for it. Though if what I did was more awful then I climbed to the higher ledge or to the roof.”
At that Roden finally said, “Let me guess, you actually came here today because you exploded the wagon.”
“No. I just felt like showing this place to you. After all as I said, today is the anniversary of –”
“The day I became the captain of your guard.” He cut me off to finish it. “I know. I wonder if I should start regretting it.” I already knew he wouldn't. Although once he had tried to resign and failed, this time I knew he was joking. Mostly because I caught a playful twinkle in his eyes.
We sat in silence again. From the ledge we could see everything up to the castle gates, and even had a good view of Drylliad beyond our walls.
After a long moment, Roden smiled, “I get why you come to this ledge Jaron. The view is beautiful from up here. Thanks for letting me join you today.”
I turned to look at him. I could see his face clearly by the light of the moon and the stars in the night sky. The breeze tugged at his hair just as it did to mine. After a while I grinned and turned to look up at the night sky again where the stars were shinning brighter tonight.
After a few seconds as I placed my hand over his, with a grin I said, “Thank you Roden. For being at my side here tonight.”