Fire! The lodge is on fire!
The lodge was made of woods so the fire quickly spread. It was past midnight when some men started the fire. They intended to do it at the time when the villagers are sleeping soundly. Besides, they had an informant before it all happened.
After a few more minutes, screams were heard everywhere. Fire! The lodge is on fire!
It rocked the whole village.
Cole and the others are not aware of it, not until someone came to knock hardly in their rooms. The old man sent some villagers to forcefully wake them up since he was too worried about the other lady.
"What happened here?!" Cole and the others rushes to where the commotion was and found Grace shivering in fear. The old man standing beside her as he sorrowfully watches his hard-earned lodge consumed by fire.
"Grace, where is the young miss?" Leon got on his knees to ask the woman shuddering in fear. "Grace talk to us!" now everyone is in panic.
"Grace, please don't tell us that she's….'' Gideon look at the house on fire. And as soon as tears dropped from Grace's eyes, Leon stood up and was about to enter the blazing house. Good thing Cole and Gideon got a hold of him, or else, he'll be consumed by the fire in no time.
"Leon! Leon! Stop! Do you want to commit suicide!" Gideon shouted at the aggressive man.
"B-but… Diana… Diana is inside! Do you think I can just watch her die doing nothing?!" he was trying to push them away. He definitely wanted to rescue the woman. he can't bear watching the woman he loves consumed by fire… No! she can't die!
While Cole and Gideon was trying to stop Leon, the rest tried to stop the fire by pouring water in it. Some of the villagers helped too.
"She's not inside…" they heard the woman weakly uttered. "Diana… she's not inside." she repeated.
"Then where is she now?" Leon run towards her.
"Where is she?" Gideon repeated. "Tell us what happened."
"It was already midnight when I woke up. I suddenly felt my stomach ached so I went to the comfort room. I didn't notice that I doze off for a little while. When I woke up, the lodge is on fire. I tried to get in but some men came out of the house. They took her! I wanted to help her but I was afraid!" once again she cried. "I'm sorry… I got afraid!"
They can't possibly blame her for what happened. They understand her situation. If she showed up, what if they took her too? Then they wouldn't be able to know what exactly happen. So they comforted the woman. what's important for now is her safety, and also, Diana is not inside. It's better to be abducted than die in the fire. Somehow they know that they can still save her.
"I'm sorry gentlemen. I didn't know something like this will happen." the old man apologized but he was staring at the crying woman. something is off with her statement but he can't figure it out.
"Sir, it's not your fault. It's no one's fault. We didn't know something awful as this will also happen." Cole responded. "I'm sorry about your lodge." He kowtowed.
They were able to stop the fire, however, the lodge is beyond repair. It was a dreadful night not just for Grace but for the team as well. How will they find the woman without sufficient information? What will they tell Liam? they were all trying to think of a way to find her. But for the meantime, they took Grace to where they were staying. There should be no issue about it since the old man agreed as well.
"You should rest for the meantime. Don't worry, we're here." He assured the shaking woman.
"Ehm… Thank you." the woman nodded and entered the room.
Unknown to Gideon, as soon as she enters the room, the woman sits up and wiped her cheeks. Then a vicious eyes overshadowed the gentle eyes she's been wearing all these time… that kind of eyes that no one had ever seen.
Cole had been pacing back and forth while Leon sat on the sofa. They were both in deep thought. It was after a few minutes when Gideon came down to the living room.
"Everyone's resting, aren't you going to your rooms?" he voiced.
"How can we rest at a time like this?" Leon responded. Well, he's right. who can sleep properly knowing that their companion was abducted. Worst, she's a woman who doesn't have a full knowledge about the kingdom. she must be shaking in fear right now.
Thinking about the woman, Leon unknowingly curled his fist in anger.
"We might be able to get some information tomorrow. As long as we have a hint of who might took her then there is a big possibility that we will be able to find her." Cole voiced his thought.
They have the same people in mind. It could be the men from the restaurant. They still don't have concrete evidence yet but they might be able to find clues tomorrow.
********
"Have you heard the news last night?" Asher ask the guy who just woke up.
"What news?" Liam sat opposite him. A hot coffee was already on the table.
"There was a fire in Sul-an Village last night… the team stayed there for the night, right?"
Liam suddenly felt uncomfortable upon hearing Asher since the first person that came to his mind was the foreigner woman.
"Did you receive any information from the team?"
"None yet. Though I sent them a message earlier. I'm just waiting for their response. It should be here in a few minutes."
"Good."
Liam finished his coffee but his restlessness did not diminish. Why is he in discomfort? Feels like something bad happened. Anyway, they'll know about it once the messenger arrives. But for now, they need to finalize their negotiation with the chief's daughter, Rohelia.
"The chief's daughter is waiting for you at the garden." A maidservant in her fifties came to inform Liam.
Then Liam stood up and followed her while Asher stayed at the balcony waiting for the messenger to arrive. As much as they wanted to go back, however, they need to finalize the peace treaty with the Sulanites. Their clans were the rulers of the 12 villages in Rouen including Sul-an, where Cole and the others stayed for the night.
Rohelia, was the daughter of the Chief. She was her father's second-in-command officer… the right hand to be exact. When the Chief dies, she will definitely take her father's place.
"I've been thinking about your proposition overnight. It's not a bad idea but I need to hear a more objective reason. Give me something I never heard before." The chief's daughter leaned on her chair after placing the tea cup on the table.
"There are a total of 12 influential clans in the whole kingdom of Allen. Some maintains a low profile while others want to achieve the maximum power to control not just the government officials but the commoners as well. Not long after, they will surely take over the throne. One clan will become the head while others become servants. I bet you don't want your people to bow down to any other clan." Liam challenged.
"Where are you getting at?" He got the woman's full attention.
"We need to unite all the 12 clans together and not against each other. Only then shall we truly bring a genuine change in our country. The equality that everyone is hoping for, we can attain that goal."
"Ha-ha!" the woman deridedly laughs. "Do you think it's easy to unite the 12 clans? I think you are looking into a theoretical, fictional future! instead of unity, I think it will bring a greater war instead!" she was laughing so hard at Liam's ideals.
Liam should have expected such mockery to happen since it has been the same with the others. But he needs to show his determination more than ever.
"I think it's possible. I worked so hard to make a treaty among the 4 clans."
"What did you just say? 4 clans signed up?" the woman stood up unbelievingly….
"You heard it right." Liam confirmed confidently. Then he slowly explained the objectives, the vision, the mission and the possibilities of his proposal --- the Government of 12.
**Asher had been pacing back and forth at the balcony while waiting for Liam. the messenger arrived and was shocked at the details the team sent. Liam and Rohelia's discussion has been over two hours already. He wanted to break in but Asher knew how important the deal was so he patiently waited for the man to come out.
After a few more minutes, Liam came back to the house where he left Asher. He was about to inform him about the good news but the man frantically dashes towards him.
"Liam, bad news… Miss Yana… she was abducted!"