"What are you doing, miss?" A little cute messy girl approaches the woman who was writing something in a piece of paper.
"Uhm, writing?" she smiled.
"Whoa… This is how you write?" the little girl yelp in excitement since she was never taught how to write. Servants never had the chance to learn anyway.
"Do you want me to teach you?" she smiled.
"Ehm!"
Since she is not doing anything, she started to teach the little girl how to read and write. It was hard for her since the child doesn't know anything at all so she'll have to start at the beginning.
She taught her how to write her name and when the little girl was able to write some of it, she run to where her mom is and told her about the kind lady who was teaching her. The next hours, the little girl went back to where Diana was. but this time, she brought a few kids along with her.
Diana creased her brow. how can she teach these children with just a very limited pen and paper? She thought.
"Having a problem?" Daniel came to the problematic woman.
"You can say that." she looked at him dejectedly.
"Ha-ha! That's something you created, unfortunately I can't help you with that." the man chuckled.
"Young miss, please take this." Amon came to the young woman and handed her some old books and notebooks as well. "The people brought what they have and told me to give it to you. hope this can help you bring a little joy to these little kids." He smiled.
Education. It was everybody's dream. unfortunately, not everyone was privilege to have it.
Therefore, Diana took it and started to teach the children how to write their own names. If she can only change how this country operates and gives people the access to education then it might change a lot of citizen's lives.
Change. This country needs to see some changes! She thought.
She's been teaching the kids for quite some hours now and the people outside could hear happy chanting's as well. Aside from the kids, the mothers as well as the old people also joined their singing. They were so happy that it caught the villager's attention as well as the raiders.
Some people who were intrigued by the happy noises surrounded the gates and had been watching the poor people dance and sing. They were so happy that the villagers wanted to join too, however, the men guarding the gates stopped them from entering.
"What's the commotion outside all about?" The leader of the band asked one of his men posted outside as a guard. They were inside their tent and was having a meeting with the others regarding their next target.
"The noise came from the slaves camp." He reported. "They're singing and dancing, both young and old."
"Tsk!" he scoffed. "Let them rejoice for now because they won't be able to do it again." then he turned to his subjects and asked about the situation at the main town of the land.
"Looks like they heard about us so they have mustered all their men to prepare for battle. The other towns that we didn't captured yet were all afraid so they joined them as well."
"Damn it!" The leader hit the table and all his subjects jerked in fear. "How many men do we have now?"
"400 in total."
"Choose among the villagers including the slaves all the men who can still fight. Even the old men who can still hold a sword, trained them all."
"A-are you serious? Those old men might die along the way!"
"And who cares about them? they'll die soon anyway so why not die a worthy death instead?"
The men lowered their head after listening to their heartless leader. Indeed, they were young men who has been against the royal bloods and the kingdom laws but this is not what they wanted. All they wanted is equality. To fight for their rights even if they were some outcasts in the country.
However, their main goals when they were yet starting slowly faded away. They've become more and more ruthless!
"And what are you still doing here?" the boss eyed them murderously so they all stood in unison and left the tent at once.
Meanwhile, Liam and the others went to the chief's house to gather information since according to Sarah, they were indeed together.
"Who are you?" Drake asked when the servants opened the gates for them.
"My name is Liam, this is Asher, Lemuel and Sarah. We are here to----"
"Liam? so you know Diana?"
"That's why we came here."
"Please come in. I'm sorry I don't know how to find you to inform you about her." his eyes glowered with sadness.
"Do you have any information who might have taken them?"
"No." he sighed. "Unfortunately, our men are still unconcious from their attack. However, I heard some news that a particular group have invaded some of the towns of Tubal. It was just a theory but that land is the nearest place where the raiders could keep all their captives."
Drake laid an old map in front of them and started pointing some possible towns where they might have kept the prisoners.
"I heard some reports that the mainland town isn't captured yet and they were preparing for battle in case the raiders attacks them. The other towns near them were shaking in fear but they sent their men to help protect the land. There are at least four villages under the group. Unfortunately, they were all heavily guarded and we don't have any report as to what town did they use to hide the hostages."
"They're here." Sarah pointed a small town. They were all looking at her and Drake was about to oppose but Liam butt in.
"I'll try to sneak inside the town later tonight. As for you guys, go to the main town and give them all the help they need."
"I'll go with you---"
"No. I am going alone. You must go with them. I'll try to send a message as soon as I can." he refused Asher's suggestion. Then he faces Drake once again.
"How many men do you have in total?"
"We have almost a hundred. But if we need more people then I could request a backup from my grandfather's friends."
"No it's okay. Sent 50 of your men to main town and the rest will lie in wait outside the walls of the Land. We will attack them side by side."
"Oh okay." Drake nodded in response before he left them to gather his men.
"But wait, I should be the one giving out instructions here since this is my place. How dare him tell me what to do?" Drake hissed in annoyance when he suddenly realizes how obedient he was to Liam. he was about to go back when he recalls how Diana talks about him.
Diana said he is good and is a leader of a group as well. hmmm, how good is he and how big is his group anyway? he thought. Well, this is not the time for such thoughts right now. what's important is to save the people and his grandfather as well. He also needs to prove his ability to his grandfather. Who knows he might appoint him as the next chief after this. he-he!