He spoke, "Mr. White will be just fine. Though it seems like he had gotten into a pretty nasty fight, but none of his injuries are anything major. The doctor has given his some medicine so that he sleeps peacefully."
A murmur of relief ran through the room and Joseph pushed his way to Aria.
"Aria, why had Jacob snuck out? I took him out to explore almost every day." Joseph whispered, but the whole room grew silent as everyone waited for Aria to say something.
Joseph's voice seemed to break Aria's train of thought as she looked around and then murmured, "He snuck out with Helen." and she handed the note she had in her hand this whole time.
Everyone's face in the parlor went from surprise to horror as they connected the dots.
Jacob had snuck out with Helen, but had returned alone, so battered. Where was Helen then?
Joseph's face went blank too as he read the note.
By this time, Mr. and Mrs. Scott had pushed their way to Aria and Joseph.
Mr. Scott snatched the paper from Joseph's hands as Mrs. Scott shook him to ask what aaa written on the note.
Joseph looked at Mrs. Scott, opened his mouth but closed it again.
Mrs. Scott shook Joseph even more violently and asked him, "Joseph!!! What was in the note!?!?"
"We have the queen's hidden daughter. If you want her back safe and sound, queen Amber will have to accept a fight on our terms.
--- Night warriors"
Aria suddenly spoke. Her voice sounded eerie and dramatic in the silent parlour.
If the parlour had been silent before, it went deathly quiet now. You could even hear the breathing of everyone as a collective shiver ran throughout the parlour.
Upon hearing what Aria said, Mrs. Scott lost her balance and fainted.
She would have fallen to the floor had not Aria had enough sense to first catch her with her own arms and then use wind bending.
Mrs. Scott's fainting seemed to breathe the life Aria's words had sucked away back into the parlour. A murmur ran through the parlour as everyone began to talk at once.
Some expressing their sorrow, some saying that they would surely find Helen, and others devising various plans to help find Helen.
Among the chaos, Mr. Scott's voice rung out with authority, "Get the horses ready. I'm leaving to see queen Amber right now." "Anyone who wishes to come, can come." he added, looking around the room and specifically in the direction of Aria and Joseph.
Many people volunteered and Mr. Scott nodded. He took Mrs. Scott from Aria's arms and shook her. Mrs. Scott seemed to recover and she looked at her husband.
"Are you okay?" Mr. Scott asked in a worried voice.
Mrs. Scott nodded, straightening herself up, and spoke, "Go. I'll make sure everything is fine here."
Mr. Scott nodded and turned to look at Joseph. He opened his mouth but the next instant a voice announced, "The horses are ready." Mr. Scott gave Joseph a last look before rushing out with the few who had volunteered to go.
Mrs. Scott looked around and clapped her hands, "Okay everyone. First things first. Aria, where did you find the note?"