Count Nuaijka then went near to Ixander, saying "I- I promise, I will make it up to you, sir!"
Ixander replied "You can make it up to me by meeting with my colleagues and not join any suspicious front…that way, you can aid in helping our nation…"
Count Nuaijka did not respond, and just bowed after he stood. He then left the room.
Ixander sees him departing, and upon him leaving, Ixander asked Simjen "What of the Khatana?"
Just before Simjen can answer, a carriage driven by camels arrived at the hospital. It caused the curiosity of those militant guards guarding around the hospital. The Khatana got out of the carriage wearing fur for her to hold onto the thick snow.
The snow this year has been a lot thicker than the last year, but for most Livinians, this is still a tolerable experience.
Khatana Tanya was about to come in, but because of the militant guards, they still did not allow her to pass.
"Who are you, and what is your intention?" asked one of the militant guards.
Simjen saw that the Khatana is being blocked by the militant guards, so he went down to manage the situation. Ixander was about to order Simjen to stop, but he did not because the pain in his shoulder suddenly triggered.
Simjen then arrived downstairs, ordering the guards "Let the Khatana pass!"
And so, they let the Khatana pass. One of the person screamed though, saying "We don't care for our lives, but if you do something to the great grandquester, you'll…"
The person then did a cut-throat gesture, saying "KKHHHHRAAAKKK."
The Khatana, in the middle of the winter, sweated profusely, but she was signaled by Simjen to follow him. "Do not mind them, they are worried for Ixander" Simjen said.
Then, the Khatana arrived at the room where Ixander was in. She saw Ixander with most of his shoulder in gauze. She was shocked at the state Ixander was in. Simjen closed the door before them, and left them alone inside the room.
Tanya walked towards Ixander, touched his left cheek and asked "What happened…?"
"I was shot, perhaps by a hired assassin by a noble…" responded Ixander.
"I should bring you back to Khatanabat, I cannot leave you here, in this state… Your country has been treating you badly" said Tanya.
"I have an army to command, a country to save" responded Ixander.
"But that same country…is killing you…" said Tanya. She then continued "Look, if you come to Khatanabat, I will make sure that you are not to command anything…there will be servants willing to offer their lives to you over there.:
"It's the same here…" said Ixander
"But you, look at you! You are shot by someone…please Ixander! I cannot bear my beloved be lost from me…I…I cannot!" said Tanya, being frustrated, then she wept before him. Ixander looked at her, touched her hair, and said "If you weep in just a small struggle, then…how can we make it…?"
Ixander then planted a kiss on her lips. They remained kissing. Before them, snow fell on the window, and the white sky became colder. In Ixander's room, it is warm. Because that warmth is enveloped by the ardent love between him and Tanya.
Afterwards, Ixander and Tanya giggled and looked at each other. Tanya then said "You know, some person in the crowd threatened to end me if I did something to you… it seems it is not only I that is devoted to you…"
"If I have to be honest, I am quite annoyed by them…but what can I do? If I tell them off, they'd be disappointed that their efforts are not appreciated. So I let them be. Plus, the hospital wants a little bit of that protection. Some other patients did not decide to let their patients in here because of the militants" said Ixander.
"I might be killing their business…" said Ixander.
Tanya giggled and said "Oh well, I cannot judge them for that…once you are devoted, you cannot dispel it…they saw you as hope…"
"Now you understand why I don't want to leave this country. I have a mission here, but there, Farkan can finish what I cannot" said Ixander.
"But promise me, you should be careful, unless I'll drag your pitiful ass across the entire desert to fetch you…" said Tanya.
"Alright, alright, will do" responded Ixander.
Khatana Tanya stayed with Ixander for the rest of his stay at the hospital. And when he was finally discharged on the 33rd Saharmia, he tried moving his arms around a bit, the doctor said "Be careful, you have not fully recovered from the ordeal. Take time to make it heal and you will filly heal."
Ixander nodded, saying "Yes I will, doctor. Thank you, you've been a great service."
Ixander then departed with Tanya, her retinue, and his aid Simjen. Ixander wore his winter uniform delivered to him by Simjen and he got out of the hospital.
As he went out of the hospital, the crowds saw him, "LOOK, IT'S THE GREAT GRANDQUESTER!!"
"HAIL THE GRANDQUESTER!" "LONG LIVE IXANDER!" shouted some militant guards around the hospital. Ixander raised his right arm in cheering.
"I thank you for protecting me against any assailant in my stay here at the hospital. Although, you should not have been too brutal…"
The militant guards laughed in Ixander's statement. "Again I thank all of you" continued Ixander.
One of the guards shouted "LONG LIVE IXANDER!"
And they all together cheered.
He rode the camel-drawn carriage going to the shelter.
Inside the carriage…
"I'm surprised the camels can survive winter condition" said Ixander.
"In fact sir, they can survive in the harshest conditions as they store water in them, as I have heard" said Simjen.
When they arrived, Ixander was greeted by his supporters lining the streets going to his shelter. "Is this not for the King of Livinia?" asked Ixander.
"No sir, it seemed they are concerned of your safety, and they also wanted to see a glimpse of the savior of the country" said Simjen.
"Savior of the country? That's an exaggerated statement is it?" asked Ixander.
"No sir, the King bestowed you an honor" said Simjen.
Ixander just stared confused at Simjen.
When the carriage finally went near the crowds lining the street, the crowds cheered his return. One child from the crowd asked "Father, who is inside that carriage?"
"Ah, that, my child, is the great Ixander, Grandquester of Pregrenav, Prime Minister of Livinia, and Savior of our Nation!" responded the child's father.
"How about you, father?" asked the child. The father laughed at the question and said "Well, I am just a proud father of a son!"
Ixander waved at the crowds who are shouting "Ixander! Ixander! Ixander!"
Then the carriage went inside the gates, then to the front door. In there, the King of Livinia, King Stijepan was there to receive Ixander.
Ixander went off the carriage, and was surprised to see the King receiving him. Ixander then said "Ah, I told you Simjen, the crowd was not for me, but for his majesty."
"They are for you, Ixander" said King Stijepan.
"I am humbled, your majesty" said Ixander. He genuflected before the King. Khatana Tanya followed by getting of the carriage again. Ixander stood and said "Your majesty, may I introduce you, her majesty, Khatana Tanya of Carab."
"And so I have heard. You went rushing to Ixander after you heard of the news. I am grateful of your visitation to my humble realm" King Stijepan nodded once to her.
"I am grateful for the warm welcome of your subjects" said Khatan Tanya, albeit when she arrived, she received quite the harsh treatment from some of the militant guards, but she did not get into it for the sake of the meeting.
"I will stay with Ixander for the rest of the winter" said Khatana Tanya, informing the King of her intent.
"You are more than welcome to become company to him, Khatana Tanya" said King Stijepan.
Ixander then went to the balcony on top to address the people. Behind him is King Stijepan and Khatana Tanya. Ixander then began speaking, saying "I have come back to the people of Livinia, to serve you once again. I promise you, people of Livinia, that no injury will impede my service unto you, but only death alone!"
The crowds went cheering, saying "Long Live Ixander!" "Long Live Livinia and its Virtue!"
Ixander then raised his right hand, signaling for the crowd to listen to him. "I now ask you to plea with me, to renew your faith and loyalty to the King, and to the banner of Livinia, and its Virtue!"
Ixander faced King Stijepan, genuflected before him, and said "I plea to the king my faith and loyalty!"
The crowds then genuflected before the king in unison and said "We Plea!"
The King in response, said "I- I accept your plea!"
The crowds then stood together and cheered in great joy amidst the cold winter.
Then, Simjen gave a telegram to Ixander, Ixander opened the telegram. "Haha! A celebration of Khova's Glory on the 35th Saharmia? W-well I will come, just wait…��