The cave was very large. It was big enough to occupy everyone including the animals
Its entrance was covered with ivy and so it wasn't easy to spot. It was discovered by accident when a soldier sent out to scout leaned on the ivy thinking it was a mountain face that fell through it.
"This cave is amazing," said Mezolu to Fred while they carry some provisions into the cave.
"Yes, it is! I wonder what it was used for." Replied Fred.
"Don't know, probably used to store coal or Iron ore after they were mined. But my point is it would be good for a party" said Mezolu.
"I agree with you brother, we sure do need a party to lay back and relax after how horrible the week has been," said Fere, who got up to them while carrying some boxes.
" A party sure does sound Nice, we still got a good number of barrels of wine we got from Zoweike and we do deserve a break, but would Cravtar agree to it? You know he is all worked up and out of it due to the accident," Fred pointed out.
"Oh, bumper! What do we do then? We could try to go convince him can we not?" Suggested Fere.
"You know that's unlikely, but hmm... We could ask Nick to talk to him, I am sure he could, speaking of which, here comes Nick, let's ask him".
"What you three doing here, just standing around said Nick, we should go help the soldiers clear a path and try to lead the animals, the carriages and the varts down here so that we don't have to carry the things," said Nick as he strolled towards them.
"Well thank Goodness," said Mezolu. "I was getting tired of lifting so many boxes," he said while stretching." Anyway, Nick, there is something we like to ask you to do".
While they all crowded around Nick some of the princesses can. e intl the cave and joined in the discussion.
Meanwhile, Lune and Luna were awake and apart from their injuries felt quite okay. Cravter was finally at ease and they were moved to the cave.
Upon seeing Cravter finally settled Nick approached him.
"Well, what a rough day this has been, a rough week to be entirely honest" Nick started.
" Yes, it has been truly horrible, the worse since the beginning of the tour, we are just lucky to have found this cave because considering the terrain we wouldn't have had anywhere to camp for the night," Cravter replied.
" Yes! Hmm, everyone's spirit does seem down actually, and considering how miserable we have been. Hmmm..we were all kinda wondering if we could you know... Like, have a party? It would lighten everyone's mood and we still have some wine and we could play our music and we need your permission" Nick said.
" What about the little ones? who would watch over them? And what about food, how do you plan to go about that?
"You don't have to worry about that, Samantha has agreed to take care of the little ones and look over them, some of the soldiers have agreed to stand guard, But and a young lad named Enzo is at the cave's entrance now, Fere is already preparing a mini feast with the servants at that end of the cave," he said pointing at a corner of the cave still quite a distance away.
"The princesses are over there setting carpets and pillows at that end" Nick pointed to the other end opposite where Fere was busy cooking.
" So you see, there is nothing to worry about, I got it all planned" Nick finished.
" Wow, how come I didn't notice all these preparations?" Cravter asked very much bewildered.
" That's because you are very stressed, you should join us, and now imagine all the disappointment if you say no now".
" Oh well. I guess you are right. We all do need a short break but keep in mind, we all move out first thing tomorrow morning.no dilly dally for anyone, we should be at Catanic City in a day or two and the earlier we get there the faster we can get Luna and Lune tested probably".
" Yes! Thank you brother, everyone would be thrilled to hear that," Nick said as he tapped Cravter on the back and proceeded to tell the princesses the good news.
Before long the party had commenced and it was fun for all. Those who could play instruments did, those who could sing did, the story was exchanged, roosted meat was passed, the wine kept coming, even Cravter was able to relax after some wine and all was going well. Until a scream was heard from the direction of where the children were,
Samatha was watching over Frank, Grant, Luna, and Lune while the others were partying at the other end of the cave.
Sam fell asleep and Luna woke up thirsty and not wanting to disturb Samatha had left the tent she was in with Lune to get water since it was dimly lit she tripped and fell leading to her screaming.
When Cravter and the others finally got there. Samatha was already consoling the crying Luna.
"What happened? How come she is here crying?"
I don't know" replied Samatha with tears in her eyes.
"Give her to me" He snatched her from Samantha and looked at her carefully. "What happened to you?"
"I wanted to have a drink of water and on my way, I slipped" Luna answer in between tears.
" Why didn't you tell Samantha to get it for you?" He asked looking at Samantha.
" She was sleeping and I didn't want to disturb her".
"It's alright, it's okay, don't cry anymore. here you go drink" he handed her the cup of water someone had gone to fetch.
"Everyone goes to sleep, the party is over, we have to get up to leave early tomorrow" Cravter ordered.
No one argued. Just went ahead to their different tents.
Cravter carried Luna back to the tent and after she was fast asleep he got out to find Samantha outside.
"I am very sorry Cravter, I did not mean for her to get hurt," Sam said.
" You had one job, for the first time I let you do one thing and you couldn't, just to watch over a child and you couldn't. How then do you expect to look after a kingdom when you become queen" Cravter replied without even looking at her.
Samantha ran out towards the mouth of the cave crying. She ran into Nick who was just walking in after checking with the guards in duties.
"What happened? Why are you crying?"
" Cravter hates me! He said I wouldn't be a good queen and I guess he was right" Samantha said with tears running from her eyes.
" Don't let what he said get to you. He is just stressed, you would be a good bride, and a good queen, we are all humans and we make mistakes, it's okay to go to your tent and sleep. I would talk to him." Nick encouraged. And led Samantha to her tent sent up.in the cave.
He then went over to Luna's tent where Cravter was outside drinking from a wine sack and he seemed already drunk.
"You are tired and stressed, that I understand, but that does not mean you should be mean to Samantha, she is trying her best here and you aren't helping matters."
" Nick, please leave me alone," Cravter said.
" No, I won't, someone has to tell you. It's not fair what you do to that poor girl, you hardly give her any attention, if you did you would have known that she would be a perfect queen, she is nice, thoughtful, beautiful, dutiful but you won't know all this, why because the first time you even got to talk to her throughout this tour you made her cry".
" Nick, Nick, perfect Nick, I don't expect you to understand. You are not the one expected to rule this kingdom, I have to learn, I have to be perfect while you and the others just get to lounge around and party. I have duties and responsibilities. I don't have the time to babysit some princess just because I am betrothed to her" Cravter replied Angrily" Even if so. You are to spend the rest of your life with her, isn't that worth anything to you, you don't even know what you have.
By now the argument had become heated and Cravter was drunk. The guards outside had heard the voices and came in to check what is happening.
"Don't you dare judge me you bastard" Cravter said and angrily swung a punch at Nick.
Nick being faster and more agile moved quickly away and Cravter fell face-first on the floor, scraped his head with blood staining the cave floor, and passed out.
Nick and the guards carried Cravter over to his tent and left him to sleep till the next morning.
Before Cravtar got up the next day the sun was already up and everyone was ready to move, they just let him sleep as Nick told them he needed the rest. After he was up and a little freshened up they were out of the cave and on their way. While they were ready to mount the horses Cravter went up to Nick.
"Hmm... Brother... about last night... I just wanted to say I am... I am sorry" Cravter said stuttering.
"There is no need to apologize to me. I understand, you were drunk and stressed and worried about Luna and everything so I forgive you. But I think you should try and apologize to Princess Samantha" Nick said.
" I am so sorry Nick, I didn't mean anything I said, I was just tired, I am sorry and you were right, about Princess Samantha and I might need your help with that".
" Oh, sure brother! Anything about you, I better go check that Luna and Lune and comfortable with Nicole".
" Oh there is no need I already checked, are you sure you are okay Nick? You do look down, "
" Yes I am fine, just tired"
" I guess we should rest here a little more"
" No, no need, let's get going. The faster we get to Zoweike City the better for everyone".
They got on their horses and everyone filed out of the cave. And the tour continued. After hours they came through the valley out of the mountain ranges and into the Savannah plains. And then they stopped for lunch.
While everyone was set out eating on blankets Cravter went up to Samantha to apologize.
Nick watched from afar and felt his heart fall apart as he watched them talked.
Now Cravtar would give Samantha the attention she surely wanted and what would happen to him.
"Oh, Nick get your head together. You shouldn't be feeling this way. They belong together.
This is for the best" Nick chided himself... But deep down he still felt pain.
Just then the ground shook and there was a loud sound like thunder but it wasn't coming from the sky it was coming from the ground. Like there was a slipt. Everyone feel and felt the shock wave go through their body. After some time all stopped.
"Was that an earthquake? That has never happened before! Is everyone alright?" This was Enzo a Soldier talking to general Bur.
"I have a bad feeling about this, but let's go check on everyone" Bur replied.
They set out to check on everyone and everything.
Back at the cave, there was a loud scraping sound, it was like claws digging into stone. A million claws. At the spot where Cravter scraped his elbow after falling. A thin finger with brown dirty nails and white hanging skin touches the little smear of Cravter's blood. And with a voice like rusted metal pronounced.
"Finally, after many decades, the blood of a king has freed us from our prison".