"We really did not set the inn on fire. We have no reason to," Helen said shaking her head furiously.
"Arrest the two young men and move them to the prison. I will interrogate them tomorrow," the senior said seriously. If anything goes wrong and these men are not the arsonist, then he will just move the blame to his junior when he is asked for the reason.
"I will not let you take us without evidence. You must prove that we did it," Aurora said firmly as her hand rested on the plummel of her sword ready to pull it out of the scabbard.
The senior guard saw the stance of the taller young man and knew immediately that he was a good handler of sword and he might lose some men and perhaps get injured himself so he decided to arrest the man slowly.
"I don't believe that any of them did it. They obviously did not set the inn on fire," a young man with his blonde hair packed to form a bun at the back of his head told his companion.
"Then why does he want them arrested?" the companion asked as he leaned on the wall of the shop he stood in front watching the show.
"He wants a scapegoat. Everybody is too busy now with the fire to have full knowledge of what is happening. The moment that young man gets arrested, the victims and the victims' family members will be glad and have someone to pour anger their on.
"Once they get executed, he will hunt down the person who really did it and kill him quietly while this man takes the blame and he gets a huge reward for arresting the culprit immediately.
"Everybody will forget about it even if he doesn't arrest the real culprit," the blonde young man replied shaking his head in disapproval.
"Your highness, we should leave here before it gets too crowded," the companion advised when he noticed it was all beginning to gather more crowd.
"Yes, it's only wise that we leave," the blond man said as he began moving away from the building to leave that place.
Aurora did not know how it all turned out to be this way. She was certainly not going to let them arrest her as a man which is one problem and delay her journey which is another problem.
She pulled out her sword signalling to Helen to get ready to ride off. She was not sure how things will end but she was willing to take the risk.
"Mr. Collins, I have waited for so long at the camp for your arrival," a deep musical voice was heard before a handsome young man walked before them.
"Who . . . Who are you?" the senior guard had to ask with a shaky voice when he noticed the person was a soldier of a high rank.
The person showed the senior guard a name plate which had the guard on the floor with his knees and he bowed in fear. "Your Highness, what brings you here?" the senior guard asked shaking in fear like he will wet his pants any time soon.
The blonde man who began leaving with his companion paused and looked back.
"I had to come look for this man when he did not arrive at the camp since yesterday the appointed time," the blond handsome youth said in a majestic voice that spoke of his power.
Hearing this the companion of the man wanted to go towards the burnt down inn to inquire about what he just witnessed but he was held back by the blonde man.
"I want to know what will happen next," the blond man told his companion with a pat on his shoulder to make him relax.
"You must have encountered a lot of obstacles on the road for you to arrive this late," the majestic soldier said apologetically.
"Yes. I was attacked on the way here and just now, my room was set on fire to kill me but I was not in the room," Aurora narrated to the blonde man before her who looked very much like her uncle.
"I am glad we could finally meet or the message the king asked you to give me would have been lost forever," the soldier said with an understanding nod. "You must be tired of all the dramas."
"Yes I am." Aurora made sure to glance at the guard accusingly and the guard immediately bowed his head in fear. She knew the person before her now was not her cousin but she could easily detect that the person meant no harm to her.
"I give you two days to find who the culprit is. I want to know the person who is bold enough to attack the king's personal messenger on his way to the border camp. You must report to the camp in two days or I will be troubled to come myself," the blond soldier ordered in an annoyed voice.
"Yes . . . Yes . . . Yes your highness," the senior guard stammered. He promised to deal we with his junior very well when this is over. If not because of the idiot he won't be in the situation he is.
"I hope you don't disappoint me," the majestic soldier warned the guard before walking away with the other soldiers behind him and the two men. They mounted their horses and soon rode off.
The senior guard sighed and glared at the junior who fell on his knees knowing he was going to get demoted and punished not rewarded.
"Now, that was the coolest disguise I have seen in a while. I should really be that cold whenever I visit this city," the prince, Viktor said laughing as though he just finished watching the best comedy show of his life.
"Don't you think it is dangerous for someone to easily use your identity for their benefits? It will tarnish your image, your highness," the companion said seriously. He was already calculating the number of guards that will be enough to catch them and punish them severely.
When they got to the gate of the city from the inn, the 'prince' left a message that the gates should be tightly locked so the guards of the city will be able to find the arsonist who tried to kill the king's messenger.
"Let us leave now. I want to know who those people are," the real prince said as he walked to his horse with his companion.