At the end of the rainbow

The journey had been a long one, finding leads and chasing dead ends. Catching just a hint of her passing, and having it lead him here. So far from home, where the very world seemed alien and different from the lands he had come from. Was there anything here like the Kingdom he had left behind?

His one and only edict was to bring home the heir, whatever the cost. He had not let himself dwell too heavily on his instructions. He had been raised to obey war-captain father, and to obey the crown. The Heir was the authority of the crown in this distant land, and his friend to boot. Could he truly drag her home against her will? He wasn’t keen to find out.

His worries didn’t lessen his search, concern for her safety drove him onwards. Hungry and footsore, the soldier found himself amongst the tall branches of the mangroves as the sun began to set. Weary, he found the driest patch of land nestled against the trunk of a tall tree, and settled down the night. His only company was the plague of his thoughts.

"Speech"