The old man struggled to stand up to pack hay for his horses.
It's been a few days since he saw his daughter and it really had an effect on him. He now looked older than his age, wrinkled knuckles and face, twisted veins that only popped out of his body when he felt pain or injury.
The horses seems to notice this and instead of letting him do the feeding, they dipped their mouths into the hay and fetched a great amount and started eating it.
Landi never felt so much better than before, seeing this, he strikes the nose of Lorn and the other horse lightly because he couldn't stand up.
For fear that he might die, and not see his daughter again.
****
"I already knew that, Marian. Everything felt like it was going on nicely and no one thought they'd come back again" Lea said.
Marian and Lea with some of the other girls are seen chatting and eating in the long dining table. Most of them are still in the pain of leaving their parents, while some are trying their best not to even remember Maneth by talking to each other.
Lea is explaining to Marian how the soldiers of Barenui caught her in Maneth.
"Oh. You guys over there thought that they wouldn't come again after taking me?" Marian asked and Lea nodded as she raised the cup of wine to her mouth and sipped from it.
"That's right, Marian" she said and dropped her cup.
Before Marian said anything, Sir Butler walked into the room and walked straight upto Lea. Non of the ladies noticed him except Lea and Marian.
"My lady, the Prince asked me to call you" he whispered into the ear of Lea.
Marian didn't hear this, because of the order of Valdemar, Sir Butler made it too calm.
Lea said nothing, nor did she do anything at first, but then..
"Marian, I have something to attend to. Will you be okay on your own?"
Marian wanted to tell her No, but her sight caught up with Edward who just exited the room. Curiosity then took hold of her.
"I will. See you later" Marian said and Lea departed, closely behind Sir Butler.
Her eyes then diverted to where Edward had gone out through.
"What is there?"
Lea followed Sir Butler until they were at the doorstep of a room. The room had multiple designs on the door.
Confirming that she was with him, Sir Butler knocked on the door gently and after a while, Valdemar's voice was heard.
"Let the girl come in"
Sir Butler gave her a reassuring look and she nodded.
Taking a step in, Lea held her breath as she proceeded. She really didn't want to take in the adorable smell that is all over the room.
She looked up and well, guess she isn't the only one called upon.
With a deep bow, she said nothing but had sweat over her face in fear that she might have done something wrong, even if she knows she haven't.
Laura, another girl that goes by the name Audrey and two other girls namely:- Lina and Maddie, stood there, silence everywhere.
And even King Basseneu and Queen Sarah stood there with their son.
"Good day, your Majesties" Lea greeted after scanning their faces thoroughly.
"Hello Lea, how are you today?" Queen Sarah inquired with a smile on her face. The King and his son had the same expressionless face, but she could still see through those so called, expressionless faces.
"I am doing well, Your Highness"
Sarah gestured for her to take a seat with the other seated ladies and she obeyed respectfully.
Laura felt uncomfortable sitting directly opposite Prince Valdemar. She didn't want to start spilling out all the plans she and Jen had orchestrated, so she avoided looking up.
"I have called the four of you to let you know that we have watched and we love the way you fight" Basseneu started.
Lea's eyes diverted to Valdemar and caught him eyeing the other ladies. She would have laughed if what she came for wasn't important.
"So, a war is coming up in the next three months and... You will all be taking trainings. But the four of you will take extra classes. The war isn't just for three days or a week, it depends on the Queen that will ascend the throne... "
The Queen! What Lin had said earlier!
"But in the meantime, you four will be going out to hunt, going out on walks to know every corner in this city and probably go to the next Kingdom to check out their weapons" Queen Sarah said.
This... Is... So... Not Good!
Lea opened her mouth but closed it tightly again. She didn't want to say something that she may regret passionately, so she just kept the hell shut!
"And also, know that the Prince and few of his troops will follow you everywhere you go. If anything happens, both him and the other person that is alive will be held responsible" Basseneu said.
Ouch! The King's saying hurt a little.
Lea looked at Valdemar who also stared at her. She mocked him by staring at him.
Awww.... Little Prince Valdemar is gonna be held responsible if anything happens to me, so sweet.... Lea thought.
It won't be a bad thing if I got myself into trouble, right? Cause I won't be responsible for it. She thought again.
Valdemar rolled his eyes and faced Laura who sat opposite him. Her head is bowed and he could guess that different weird things are going through her head right now.
Am I right Princess? He thought.
"Ask Questions. If you have any" Queen Sarah said.
Maddie's hand shot up and the Queen nodded, for her to continue.
"Your Majesty, the hunts and spying of these places, are we allowed to mingle with other people?"
"That isn't a good idea. They might be sent also, they might escape from here if we eventually help that person during war. Or worse, kill the person that have a high regard of him or her as friends" Valdemar's tune sounded sarcastic.
The question got him pissed off. He didn't expect that ladies would be so dumb like this one.
Lea's hand shot up when everywhere went silent again.
"Yes, Lea?" Queen Sarah asked, her attention on her now.
"Are we allowed to see our parents on the journey?"