"My Prince!" the chief guard jumped off his horse and bowed to the Prince
"I am alright, i am fine..."
"your highness! please kill us!!" The royal guards all knelt with their heads down
"for what reason should i kill you? you have just saved me from death"
"we failed to protect your highness and also failed to find you in time, any later and your highness would have been killed - and the heir to the throne would be lost..." the chief guard spoke with great remorse
"it is alright, i have not been killed. Come, let us return to the palace"
"And who could this young man be?" the chief guard asked with interest
"he saved me from the beginning, at the inn in Town and has been with me till now"
"then he must be the fighter that your bodyguard mentioned to us in the palace. We have heard about the incredible feats achieved by this young man in saving you. The king would like to see and reward him generously"
The eyes of the other people from Lu Academy lit up brightly at the metion of visiting the King at the palace for a reward. After all, they had also taken a part in rescuing the Prince earlier at the Inn, No?
And so they broadened their smiles and each one danced in his own head.
"arrange another horse for this young man, he will go to the palace with us..." the chief guard commanded his subordinates
Su said to the chief guard "thank you but there is no need for that, i will be returning with my people to Mt. Chi where my master is"
he then turned to face the Prince and bowed in respect "Your highness, please pardon me for not recognizing you, this subject deserves to die..."
"you saved my life, could this be compared to something as measly as not recognizing me?, i should thank you properly instead"
"This subject would not dare accept gratitude from your highness"
"you must accept it"
"your highness..."
"say no more, it is a command from your Prince" the Prince was really going all out and wanted to ensure he showed appreciation to his befitting saviour
"your highness, i accept your gratitude"
"very well, now raise your head. I am deeply indebted to you and this will be repaid in full time.
I would have been happy if you would follow us to the palace so i could learn a thing or two from you, you will be paid handsomely, well, what do you say?