The Greater Challenge Beyond (The Southern Continent Series Book 3) by Jeffrey Quyle

say you're free, Princess Hope," he told her with a mock formality, and a smile.
    "Oh Grange, those are the happiest words I've heard in days!
    "In the name of the Kingdom of Southgar, I award you the title of Royal Protector," she said in a serious tone, and Grange could see the serious expression on her face.  "I name you as my own knight, to be housed at the palace as my own guard," she said.
    "If you want to be," she added with an anxious note.
    "I'm sure it would be an honor," he answered.  "I don’t know exactly what else I'm supposed to do when we get to Southgar, but if I can, I'd be honored to protect you," he told her.
    "Can you fight?" Hope asked forthright.
    Grange sat down and opened his pack to pull out their evening ration.
    "I can fight pretty well," he assured her as he handed her the small amount of nourishment.
    They slept, they arose the next morning, and they traveled all day, going northeast. And by sunset they began to pass farm cottages, and even small, rough manor homes.
    "Should I turn you over to the local gentry?" Grange asked as they walked on a small country lane, no longer confronted by untamed bushes, and walking side by side.
    "Not in this duchy," Hope answered quickly.  "My father's true allies are further north.
    "I don’t think there would be any problem, but we'd be smarter to not take chances," she advised.
    They slept that night in a barn, under a roof for the first time Grange could remember since his awakening at Yellow Spring.
    The air was cool but not frigid, and they slept apart, though Grange secretly missed the contact with the girl, and he was pleased when he awoke in the morning and found that they were together again.
    "This is the last food we have," he told her when he distributed their crumbs of rations after sunrise.
    "By tonight we'll have a good meal - maybe a feast!" Grace said cheerfully.  "Just hold that thought.  We'll have beds to sleep in and even baths to soak in!"
    Rain started falling in the mid-morning and drenched them all along their course through the countryside of Southgar.  They ducked under trees and when they reached a village, they stood under the eaves of the buildings to let their clothing drip away the worst of the moisture, before they started slogging through the sloppy, muddy farm tracks.
    The rain stopped and the sun came out just when Hope pointed across the green fields surrounding them.
    "That's it!" Hope exclaimed.   "That's my uncle's castle.  We'll be home in just a few minutes!"  She grabbed Grange's hand to pull him across the fields on a direct line towards the structure, but slipped on the wet clay and splashed into the muddy water of the roadside ditch.
    "Grange, help me!" she laughed, and Grange lifted her upright.
    When they arrived at the castle gate, the servant tried to chase them away.  They looked like tramps, disreputable and filthy.  Grange stood by, grinning and uncomprehending as Hope argued with the man at the gate, but his demeanor instantly changed when the castle man placed his hand on Hope's chest and pushed her back.
    He pulled his sword and had the point pressed against man's throat a second later.
    "Apologize to the princess," he growled.
    "Grange, no," he heard Hope order and he felt her hand on his shoulder,  as he stared into the startled eye of the man he faced.
    "He has to apologize first," Grange said through gritted teeth.  A shadow appeared behind his captive.
    "Grange, let him go.  The archers are aiming at you," Hope said urgently.
    Grange dropped the point of his sword, stepped back, and looked up, where he saw a pair of men with bows, arrows pointed at him.
    "Pa ruffians ydym wedi darfu ar yr heddwch?” a voice asked.
    Hope spoke loudly in response, and within moments a man pressed the servant out of the doorway.  He stared at Hope, then exclaimed loudly and enfolded her in a hug, as the girl burst into tears.
    Grange stood off to the side, observing the reunion for a moment,  until