After sunset, Valerian was done with his duties, however, as soon as he stepped outside the princess went to take a bath, he recalled the most important question that he forgot to ask. The knowledge of economical rules and at the same time the laws related to them was very fascinating.
He wanted to turn around and go back inside but recalling that the princess was bathing and she might get angry at his behavior he decided to ask someone else. The first person that came to his mind was Rectus.
Rectus was a Mage and he held a significant position in the princess's staff so he became a good target for Valerian. However, the target could not be found, then only the young boy recalled that Rectus was commanded by the princess to go out and investigate a few things. The boy sighed and made his way back to his room.
Quies was laying on the bed after a long day of work when he found Valerian coming inside. The child had varying expressions on his face. He raised his hand and leaned against the headboard while he asked, "Valerian, do you have something on your mind?"
Valerian nodded and asked in sign language, 'Sir, today, Her highness called Causus over, and then she questioned him. The guy accepted his crimes indirectly. However, Princess Azula, let him go as if the guy was not guilty. I want to know why?'
Quies nodded and said, "The reason, Her Highness let that person go was so that he makes a mistake. So what she wanted to do was to rattle the enemy a little, this way he will try to get into his hole and clean some traces. This way, her highness will be able to catch the guy in the act."
Valerian fell into thought, and after a few minutes, he waved signs, 'I see, then sir, what will her highness do now?'
Quies said, "We will find out in the morning. Go to bed, you had a long day."
Valerian nodded and after changing his clothes, he went to bed. The questions about what the princess worked like sleeping pills. The night was calm, however, the calm was a cover for the current that the Acies City was not as calm as it seemed to be.
Inside a big mansion near the city lord palace, a man was sleeping. Inside the room, a girl with tattered clothes sat next to a fireplace, she was gazing into the fire with blank eyes. If someone saw her up close, they will say that the girl was very beautiful, however, her body was filled with scars left from biting and clawing.
This was not a deed of a beast, but the man, who was sleeping on the bed wrapped in a silk sheet. Suddenly, the girl sensed some movement but she did not react, however, after a few minutes when she did not hear any voice calling her, she turned around.
The man was not in his bed, but inside the room stood a figure dressed in a black cloak, the girl wished that this figure could kill her so that she does not have to suffer under the suspicion of the guards who will blame her for the missing Noble.
She opened her mouth, only to realize that her tongue was gone. The cloaked figure said, "Come with me, you will be safe there. The choice is yours."
The girl only hesitated for a second but then she thought, what else could be worse than what she has already suffered from. She walked up to the girl and the two vanished from the place.
…
On the western side of the city, there was a huge ocean. For as far as one could see, there were just endless waves and turquoise water. In the middle of the night, three people were digging deep holes and erecting poles on the beach. These poles were all as thick as a man.
One of the people nodded, "Minister Rectus, what do you think? Her Highness will be able to go hard on this one?"
Rectus shrugged and said, "You know, Azula might be my apprentice, but what goes in her mind, I have no idea. Also, when did I become a minister. Be mindful, if a shadow heard you, we both will be up on one of these poles."
The guard chuckled and said, "Indeed, I was surprised when her highness called for two shadows. If the first prince and the second prince knew of this, they might declare the trial as a failure, will they not?"
Rectus stood at a side with his arms crossed and his gaze locked at the sea as he said, "The shadows missed the crime discovered by Quies and Valerian. They owe Her highness a favor, so the actions tonight will not be the grounds for the failure. Do not make me nervous, Terry."
Terry was the guard from the protection detail of the princess. He nodded, and began to dig another hole, the other guard had just finished erecting a pole and he asked in a deep voice, "Mage Rectus, what is the story of this boy? Who is he and more importantly, what is he?"
Rectus said, "He is my sister's child. He cannot speak, and cannot express his grief. However, he is gifted with the ability to communicate with the animals and also able to cast magic. He is a Mage blessed by the Magus. As for the story? We will see that in the future."
Just when the guard was about to speak they sensed movement a few meters behind Rectus. A calm and cold voice sounded, "I apologize for disturbing your gossip session ladies, but may I ask you to do me a favor?"
Rectus said, "One favor? You can have my heart on a platter if you want Priscilla."
The guards became alert after they heard the name, Priscilla was not only the maid to the princess but also the dagger in her sleeve. Rectus could tease her but they could not.
Priscilla clicked her tongue and said, "I do not have such heavy tastes. Just see to it that these nobles have a good view when they wake up, also the City must stay above all of them."
Then with a wave of her hand, a dozen of people appeared on the sand. Rectus said, "Your application of Umbra Repono, leaves me speechless always."
Priscilla did not reply and vanished from the place. The guards heaved a sigh of relief, and Terry asked, "Which one first?"
Rectus said, "Of course, the city lord himself."
…
Early morning, Valerian woke up and after washing himself up, he came to awaken the princess and knocked on the door.
"Come in.", a gentle voice sounded.
Azula was aware that it was Valerian. The young boy entered inside and with a bow, he greeted the lady. Azula said, "Good morning, Valerian, can you please find me a pair of maids and butlers in the palace by the time I finish my bath. I need that to deliver a message to the city folk for me."
Valerian was surprised but he nodded and moved through the palace. He found two relatively older employees, whom he thought, were reliable.
The city was not like one of those big cities that will take you a few hours to get to your destination. It was just half an hour in the carriage to get to the beach. The City was developed in the eastern direction while the western side was mostly barren.
Azula directed her commands to the two people, who were first shocked, and then became excited. They bowed to the princess and left the palace. Following this, the city began to murmur.
…
In front of a vegetable stone, a few elder ladies were gossiping, "Have you heard those two palace servants? They said that the princess has a gift for us city folks?"
The other ladies nodded and the communication continued. Azula had asked the people to gather at the beach. They were all curious after all it was not a secret anymore that the princess was visiting the city. Someone has anonymously leaked that the princess made Causus shovel horse shit.
The city lord was not a very loved leader by the people. The ladies were curious about the gifts while the men wanted to see if the princess was as beautiful as she was said to be.
Driven by various reasons the people moved to the beach, but they found a few guards standing there, the people could see some poles in the distance. While the elders were confused, a young man said, "Could it be the princess has arranged for us some sort of performance? I have read in books, that there is a stunt act to entertain the royals. Two people stand on top of the poles and they fight."
The ladies frowned but the males became excited. However, they all calmed down when they heard a jingling noise accompanied by the clip-clops. They turned around and saw a carriage pulled by Ice blue bucks, moving towards them.