"All of them" he finally said, gaining their attention even more. Rena and Elijah turned to face each other. They had long awaited their arrival but they were not expecting all of them to arrive at the same time, but perhaps this is just what they needed. Maybe it was fate that they returned at this exact moment.
" We will resume this meeting one hour after the middle of the day, to accommodate the remaining council members that have just arrived. Ariah, you can come with us." Elijah announced and immediately led Rena and himself out of the room. They moved quickly to the horses' stables, they mounted unto them and took and took three extra horses, with a single guard. They headed towards the docks used by the royal family and other dignitaries, with great speed they travelled through the shortcuts to avoid the villagers' curiosities. They had reached just in time to welcome Luka, Rena's older brother, his wife Meera and Rena's younger brother Ash, they were representing Elensia in a treaty with Androca which would allow them to freely trade between the two kingdoms.
Also arriving was Elijah's younger brother Jasper and his wife Jessica (also Rena's best friend) had finally returned from their honeymoon which should have ended weeks ago.
Lastly, the former King and Queen of Elensia, His Grace Wesley and Her Grace Anastasia whose journey consisted of them enjoying the beginning of their retirement.
"Well I know we came back on schedule but aren't you and your new bride a little late Jasper, or did time not exist while you were doing whatever it was you were doing?" Luka said with a hint of sarcasm trying to contain his laugh walking towards him and Jessica.
"Oh believe me we knew exactly what we were doing, every second of every day" Jasper quickly responded as if he anticipated Luka's sly rhetorical question. They finally came face to face and embraced each other.
"It's so good to be back home and to see you again, how has married life been so far?" while Jasper and Luka engaged in their conversation, Meera and Jessica started their own. Meera has been like a big sister to both her and Rena all of them are from the "Sirrah" tribe, she helped train both of them, although Jessica was drawn more to the medicinal practices. She could still hold her own but would never place herself in the same league as Meera and Rena.
"Look at you, you are glowing!" Meera said while embracing Jessica, their hung lingered until they pulled apart with Meera smiling at her with tears in her eyes, the two laughed and embraced each other again.
"Well it's good to see everyone made it back in one piece" His Grace Wesley joined in the conversation with Jasper, Luka and Ash.
"Some would say that is not entirely true" Her Grace Anastasia was now standing next to Jessica smiling.
"Great, you are all back!" Elijah, Rena and Ariah had finally arrived before anyone had the chance to make their way to the castle. All eyes were on the three that stood before them in all seriousness. They would be lying if they said they expected a warm filled welcome as opposed to being called upon immediately. But then again each one knew the different sides of Elijah and Rena and one of them was that they were only like this when the situation is dire and they couldn't figure it out on their own.
"We brought horses for you to share" Rena dismounted on hers and climbed upon the one Elijah was one.
"Continue unloading the ships before dawn" Elijah instructed the servants to continue their tasks without having to worry about why they were present at this exact moment. They climbed upon their respective horses, Ash walked towards Ariah still on hers and gently lifted her off and placed her on the ground, he then swiftly climbed on and offered his hand so that she can climb back on. She stared at his hand and then at him, for a moment it was as if she hesitated to accept his help. Eventually, she did, without having to see his face she knew there was a satisfying smirk on it.
Rena wanted the conversation to occur amongst them before the meeting this afternoon. Technically, the only members that were missing were His Grace, Jasper and Luka. Every single member has contributed and it has always been something worthy, if they could not legally be in a formal meeting then they would call this a family catching up on lost time. They rode through a secret passage in the forest, at a particular location there was a space with stumps to sit, surrounded by trees and the sky can be seen.
Once everyone had settled into the atmosphere, some dismounted from their horses, some chose to sit on the available stumps while others leaned on the nearest tree. The idea that they entered an area that only they knew, it was safe to say they wanted it to be just them. Elijah and Rena stood side by side in front of them, seeing their family is a bittersweet moment; they have finally been reunited after many months and now they are tasked with having to deliver the news of an upcoming, serious threat that would be the greatest they have ever faced both apart and together.
"Ariah has been having a reoccurring vision, she sees the kingdom falling, she.....she has even seen our deaths," Rena thought by cutting right to the chase would allow them to deal with the situation faster. But as soon as she began saying those words, Elijah reached for her hand, she began to sob catching her tears. He pulled her and she buried her face in his chest and continued to cry.
"Ariah's vision doesn't reveal who the culprits are, so we have no suspects" Elijah continued to rub his hand up and down Rena's back.
"I bet it is the Yagorites, it just has to be them" Luka spoke with such certainty, he walked into the center where they were all gathered.
"It is an obvious choice" Jasper agreed looking towards Elijah and Rena, "we all know their intention was always to have a seat on the council which can only be done by being a noble."
"And their aspirations have escalated to Yura proposing an alliance between his son and Elise since the day he knew of her birth" Ash continued to add to the motive as to why it could be the Yagorites.