Chapter III

SPLASH!

Flo jumped from a high cliff into the Blessed River, the splashing of the water breaking the serene silence that surround the river and the Uland Woods. It was a long time before he resurfaced as he started to swim aimlessly around the river. It was a humid sunny afternoon, the perfect weather for a swim. He had managed to sell all the fishes that he had caught the night before, and he was in a good mood. He swam in elegant and smooth strokes, swiftly and fast yet looking effortlessly to him.

After some time he floated himself, his face facing the sky as he let the waves of the river take control of his direction of movement. He enjoyed the swimming, the fishing, rivers, seas and oceans. How he wished he was a dolphin, he thought. He had never seen one, but he had heard tales of dolphins swimming happily in the great seas, showing friendliness to humans and even saving drowning humans that were victims of shipwrecks. As he absorbing the warm sunlight he closed his eyes and relaxed.

***

It was just an ordinary afternoon two years ago. Flo was taking a stroll along the woods when he heard screams coming from the direction of the Blessed River. He rushed down to the bank of the river to see a young girl struggling in the river. The girl did not seem to know how to swim, as she flapped her arm around wildly in her attempt to stay afloat. Without hesitation Flo jumped into the water immediately in a bid to save the girl, knowing it would not be long before she got exhausted and drown.

Flo was able to reach the girl from her back and placed one of his arms around the girl’s neck to keep her head above the water while using the other arm to steer them towards the bank. The girl was struggling wildly, making it difficult for him to hold on to her. He pulled her close to his chest and worked his way to the bank, at the same time constantly whispering to the girl to stay calm.

It was a long time before both of them managed to reach the bank of the river, their bodies laid sprawled all over. Flo was panting heavily, physically drained, having used up all of his strength in saving the girl’s life. Taking a few deep breathes he mustered whatever strength that he had in his body and carried the girl, who was now in shock, over to rest at the trunk of a tree.

“Are you alright?” Flo asked the girl, waving his hand in front of the girl’s face. The girl did not response, her big blue eyes staring forward, her mind seemingly was lost deep in space.

It was at this moment where the sound of trampling hooves signaled the appearance of a calvary of soldiers, dressed in hunting attire and bearing the insignia of the Home Guard of Durante. One of them, a young man roughly the same age as Flo and was distinguished from the others by a silver crown resting on his head, got down his horse immediately and rushed towards the drenched duo.

“Do you know he-” Flo never finished the sentence as he was struck to the ground with a punch from the young man, the wind knocked out of him.

“What are you trying to do to my sister!” the man shouted as he unsheathed his sword from his scabbard and pointed the blade’s tip at Flo’s neck. Flo, already exhausted from the previous incident, did not bother to put up a struggle.

Another man got off from his horse and walked over to put himself between Flo and the enraged young man. “I think we should sort things out first before making any assumptions, am I right, Prince Marius?” he whispered to the enraged prince, resting his hand on the blunt side of the prince’s sword and lowering it to the floor. The prince sheathed his sword and went over to his sister, his eyes continued to fixate on Flo.

“I must apologize on behalf of the prince,” the man helped Flo to his feet. “My name is Sosimo and I am Master of the Home Guard of Durante. What has happened?” Flo gave Sosimo an account of what happened earlier, of his rescue of the drowning girl.

“The girl that you have just saved is none other than the daughter of King Hammond, Princess Adelaide. I, together with both the royal siblings were on a hunting trip to the surrounding woods. We were crossing a part of the upper river when the horse that they were both on slipped and fell. I managed to grab hold of the prince but unable to save the princess who was swept downwards by the waves.” Sosimo removed his cloak and put it around Flo who was starting to shiver. “You have done a great deed to the king and the people of Durante. I will report this to the king when I get back to the castle.”

At this time both Marius and Adelaide walked over to Sosimo’s side. The princess had recovered her senses and looked alright, the prince’s cloak now wrapped over her body.

“I apologize to you,” the prince bowed, his voice now in a more polite tone but the look in his eyes still seemed to show dislike for Flo. “I will see to it that you will be rewarded for saving my sister, the Princess of Durante.”

“I thank you, Prince Marius,” Flo spoke, his voice dry and weak. “But I have no desire to benefit from this. I would have save anyone that was in that situation just now.” Flo then turned to the princess who had been looking at him all this while.

“Thank you for saving my life,” the princess said, her voice sweet and gentle. “May I know your name?”

“My name is Flo.”

“Thank you… Flo.” she spoke as the prince led her to the group of soldiers.

“Come, I will send you back home.” Sosimo spoke to Flo, patting his back. “You will get the chance to ride on Falk, my trusty stead. He moves as fast as the wind, yet is as graceful as a swan.” Sosimo then commanded the most senior soldier to take command of the group and to escort the royal siblings back to the castle. He then brought Flo to sit upon Falk.

Before the two groups left the clearing, Flo could notice that the princess’ eyes were still fixated on him.

***

Flo opened his eyes and wondered how long he had dozed off. The warm sunlight that was shining on him just now was gone, the sun preparing to take its absence in the west. Flo quickly swam to the bank of the river to where his clothes were.

I better reach home before sunset or else grandma will be worried, he thought to himself as he put on his clothes and walked hastily back to his village.

***

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