This chapter's a little weird, I went back and fixed it, because I wrote some of it on my phone. I was also short on time. I hope you like today's update and I'll see you at the end.

Patton's POV

I don't know how the knights can ride all day and all night. I even got a break but I'm still really tired. Those poor knights, maybe next time I can bring them some treats for the road.

"We'll stop at the upcoming lake"

Roman hadn't been talking a whole lot this time around. I think he's also scared of the bug and possibly biting your tongue off. It's a very reasonable fear.
I unmounted Rebel, he was brown with spots of white, and began digging through my saddle bag. I pulled out an apple I had brought just for Rebel. I held out the apple and he sniffed it then bit into it. I giggle. I always loved feeding the horses. I looked up, eyes were staring right at me.
Rebel had finished the apple and was now licking my hand. I backed away a few steps before remembering that Roman was here. He'll know what to do. I didn't want to talk too loud just in case it was a wild animal.

"R-roman..."

I looked to Roman to find he was petting his mare. He continued to pet his mare as he looked up to me.

"Yes Patton?"

I raised a shaky hand and pointed it at the cluster of eyes. Most of the eyes were brown but there was one bright yellow one. That one creeped me out the most. I don't know what it is about that unnatural eye color that just sends my heart a pumpin'. I would have been even more terrifying if it had eight eyes, the same number as the creepy crawly death dealers.

Roman unsheathed his sword. He took long strides but as he passed me I grabbed his arm. We had no idea what that thing was and he was going in, unprepared one may say. But I had full faith in Roman, I knew he would make it out.

"Be careful."

Roman smiled at me with all his white teeth and nodded his head. He began walking once more. Hopefully it's nothing dangerous and we can leave without any bloodshed.

3rd person

Roman crouched down low as he saw his brother headed in their direction. Neither Logan or Janus noticed how Remus had crouched down, but it didn't really matter, right? As Roman grew closer Logan prepared himself to step out and reveal them, at least Virgil wasn't there. Just as Logan was about to step out Remus jumped out screaming.
Remus tackled Roman to the ground, hitting his chest like an ape and screaming. Janus facepalmed. He should have known Remus was going to do that. Logan wasn't surprised. He knew he should have been watching Remus closer. But what Logan hadn't expected was for Virgil to jump out of the trees and grab Patton.

"Virgil!?"

Remus looked down and laughed. Virgil had gone along and jumped the two with him. Logan bolted across the clearing over to Patton and Virgil. Logan pried Virgil and Patton apart, a disbelieving look on his face. Logan turned to Virgil.

"What do you think you're doing!?"

Virgil tilted his head to the side. He leaned into Logan and whispered, "I thought we were jumping them"

"NO!!"

Logan turned to Remus then pointed at him. Logan turned back to Virgil, still pointing at Remus.

"We don't listen to him,"

Janus grabbed Remus's collar and pulled off of Roman, dropping him on the floor afterwards.

"Yeah, we don't listen to him"

Virgil nodded his head in understanding. He walked around Logan to Patton. Virgil bowed deeply.

"I apologize, I did not realize that I was supposed to ignore Remus"

Patton put his hand on Virgil's shoulder. Virgil looked up to find Patton smiling his angelic smile.

"It's alright kiddo!"

Roman pulled the two away from each other.

"No it's not! Who are you?"

Roman pointed his sword at Virgil, keeping Patton behind his back. Virgil ignored Roman and tried to get a better look at Patton. Roman noticed this and kept blocking Virgil's view. Virgil was getting pretty aggravated, so he decided he would grab the hilt of Roman's sword, pull it away from Roman then knee him in the stomach. Virgil pushed Roman away and dropped his, Roman's, sword. Virgil grabbed Patton by the shoulders and looked him up and down.

Virgil turned to look at Logan, "Can we keep him?"

"Eh?" Patton's face went as red as a tomato.

"A-absolutely not! Patton is mine!!" Roman stood up and grabbed his sword pointing it at Virgil once more.

Virgil ignored Roman, keeping his gaze trained on Logan. Roman turned to Logan who just looked absolutely done.

"Tell him no!"

Virgil glared at Roman before punching him in the gut. Roman toppled over with a groan. Remus clapped from where he sat next to Janus. Virgil looked away from where Roman lay and back to Logan.

"We can not keep him" Logan sighed as he pushed up his glasses.

Virgil pouted but didn't argue with Logan. Virgil turned to Patton to see him as read at a beet. Virgil looked deeply concerned.

"Are you alright?"
Patton made a few in cohearent noises before nodding his head. Virgil turned to Logan.

"What's wrong with him!? Fix it!"

Logan rubbed his eyes. This is going to be a long day.

~~{❈}~~

Virgil was sulking by the river as Patton tried to cheer him up. Remus was annoying Janus. Roman was sitting down clutching his sore gut. Roman looked up to Logan.

"Why are you here, with Remus, the cursed man, and that gut puncher"

Logan looked over to Roman. Logan knew this question was coming and had formulated the perfect excuse, or what he thought was the perfect excuse.

"We are here under the King's orders."

Roman blinked a few times. Was he serious? Why in the world would the Kings send these four out here? More importantly why send them out here and hide it from them.

"Why would father have you all out here?" Logan hadn't expected that excuse to clear up everything but he did think it would ease some of Roman's suspicious. But Roman still seemed just as suspicious as before.

"He wants us to get information about the enemy"

Roman knew his father was likely to send spies but these four didn't seem like the spies he would send. Was Logan still lying to him?

"Why you lot?"

Logan didn't have anything to explain that, after all they still didn't know themselves.

"That is something you'd have to ask your father."

Roman was starting to get really frustrated. Why wouldn't Logan just tell him everything? Did he not trust him? Or maybe he was doing something he wasn't supposed to. No that was very unlikely, I mean it is Logan we're talking about. Roman decided this was the perfect time to showcase what he knew, maybe that would get Logan to tell him everything.

"And why are you going through 'The Dark Forest?"

Logan opened his mouth to speak but closed it. How had he known about that. None of them had told him so how did he know?

"It's the fastest route"

Logan looked begin him to find Virgil. Logan looked back to Roman to find him seething. Virgil really hadn't made a good impression on Roman.

"And how do you plan to get in?" Roman said through gritted teeth.

Logan tried to speak before Virgil but Virgil was faster. Logan was sure he was going to tell Roman about the whole guardian thing. If he did that he was sure Roman would tell his father.

"Janus"

Logan looked up at Virgil. What?

"We're hoping that Janus's curse will help us get in"

That made sense to Roman after all he had thought the same thing. But Roman was still skeptical about the whole thing. Logan though couldn't believe what he was hearing. He couldn't help but think Virgil had actually thought this through.

"Again, why you?"

Logan was for sure Virgil was going to sell them out, I mean Virgil really wasn't the most reliable person. After there month together it had become apparent to Logan that Virgil hadn't had much contact with human society. Because of this he was behind on proper edicate. He also took things too seriously, much like Logan though a bit worse.

"Logan is smart and can plan accordingly. Remus knows the castle, and isn't the more noticeable of you two. Janus can get us into 'The Dark Forest'."

Logan was honestly surprised by how much that actually added up. How had he not thought any of that? Virgil was a lot smarter than Logan had originally thought.

"And you?"

While all of that was all good Roman still didn't believe it. They had all they needed with just the three of them so why him?

"Back up."

Roman opened his mouth to sat speak, but came short as of what to say. It all added up. His father didn't want to lose any of his knights, because of the war. All the reasons for his father choosing them made sense. Even though he hadn't seen Virgil fight properly he knew he packed a wicked punch.

"What about all the other trips?"

Logan knew what he was going to say on this one. He would just tell him what he always told him, it had been working before or so Logan thought it had been. He was about to speak but Virgil was once again faster.

"Bonding, for better cooperation"

That was a good excuse but Logan had been lying to Roman using a different excuse. This was sure to get Roman's attention. And Logan was right it had gotten Roman's attention. Roman turned to Logan questioningly.

"It was for secrecy, we couldn't risk the wrong person finding out."

Another good excuse. Just how much thought had Virgil put into this?

Roman nodded. It all added up. Roman was a little hurt that he couldn't be trusted but he was involved know so he was fine. Well mostly fine. He still didn't like this new person. I mean he had jumped Patton, not to mention had broken Patton. It would take a while before Roman could fully trust this man. Though the perfect starting place would be his name.

1475 words not including these

I don't have a lot of time so I'll save all my chatter for the next update. I hope you have a wonderful day, afternoon, or night!

Bye!