Wendy sat beside Rine that was laid on the bed in the hospice. She was weeping profusely. The death of Sonia was still like a dream to her. She kept blaming herself. If she had not wanted to chase hamster. Sonia would still be alive.
Rine was dying. In fact, she was closer to death than living. The only thing she murmured whenever she made sound was 'Craig'
Craig was the goldsmith's son's name. It seemed she really loved him above every other thing or anyone.
She would force herself to smile whenever Wendy called the name after her.
Wendy stood up quickly as she heard approaching footsteps. She was very sure that was her father.
"Wendy" his father rushed to hug her.
She cried in her father's arms. She pointed to Rine on the bed.
"She will be okay" the Mighty King consoled her.
"Sonia is dead" she continued crying.
"I have sent people to retrieve her body" he supplemented. "Do not cry, Wendy. It is their wish to die in your place" he consoled her.
"And that is what makes me feel so bad. They are dying because of me" she broke away from her father and sat down back.
"Sonia and Rine are not just your handmaid, they serve as your protector and once you attain the throne. A lot of people, warriors are going to die for you and they will be happy doing that" he was obviously thinking he was consoling her but he was only making her situation worse.
"Please, Father. Stop" she wiped tears off her face. "I want to avenge their death. Sonia can not die in vain" she proclaimed.
"Of course, this people are still coming back. They want you and they won't stop. And we will get them killed before they get you" he explained.
"My daughter is some sort of bait now?" the Mother Queen came in suddenly.
"Mother" she rushed up to hug her mother. "The knives were raining on us. We couldn't see anyone and the knife kept coming. I'm afraid, mother" she mumbled.
"You are safe now, my daughter" she held her tight to her body.
"What is this?" it seemed the Mighty King had just noticed something. He pulled Wendy away from her mother and turned her around. "What is this on you, Wendy?" he was just seeing the clothes she had on.
"I changed into this before we were attacked" she said awkwardly.
"Were you at the tavern?" he asked furiously.
"Tavern? No. Father. We were in the woods playing" she scratched her head. She turned to her mother expecting her to bail her out.
"What kind of play do you play in the woods?" the Mighty king asked anxiously.
"Jude. None of these is necessary now. Just find a way to protect her or take back your words of making her your heiress. I'm very sure that is why she was attacked" the Mother Queen advised.
"Impossible. Never" the Mighty king retorted angrily. It seemed he was disappointed by what the Mother Queen just said.
"She has become the heiress and that will never change" he raged up.
"I'm sorry, but her life is more important to me than any other thing including the throne" the Mother Queen was also displaying her disapproval.
"She will be safe. We will get a protector for her" the Mighty King asserted. "I will find the best one for this position" he added.
"Rine is the best out of two hundred fighter when we recruited her. Sonia was the best of another two hundred. Here lies Rine while Sonia has gone out of this world" she said sternly.
"This time I am not going for the best fighter to protect her. It is someone far better than just fighters" he assured her. "And Julia, let us respect Sonia and Rine. They did not fail in their duty that is why Wendy is still alive and well" he rectified and went outside.
"Is this how they will keep bringing innocent people to die for me. I don't want this" Wendy cried.
"Do not cry, my daughter. No one else will die for you. Let us trust your father the Mighty king" she assured her.
"Don't die on me. Rine. Stay alive not for me but for Craig" she held Rine's hand and squeeze it within her fist.
Rine smiled briefly at the mention of Craig's name. She groaned as she was obviously reveling in pain.
"Let's get you freshen up, Wendy" her mother called her.
"I can't leave her side" she insisted.
"The physician will take good care of her" she reached for her on the bed.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Zander saw a horse galloping towards their house from the woods. The horse was still far away but he could see it with his powers.
The man on the back of the horse was not just a traveler. He looked wealthy but he had no one riding with him. He was alone.
"Father!" Zander called his father out. He wanted to tell him what he had seen to seek his advice on what to do.
Kander came out of the house immediately.
"You see something" he asked.
"We have an incoming rider. He looks wealthy but he has no accomplice. Maybe he is a traveler" he explained slowly.
"Is that all?" Kander seemed not to take him seriously.
"Yes" he moaned.
"Then, let's wait for his arrival" Kander looked in the supposed direction. He was relaxed contrary to what Zander expected.
A noble riding towards them spelt danger. Zander felt it was another threat to leave their house just like the demon.
"The Mighty King!" Kander hailed as the rider Zander had seen came upon them.
"The Mighty king?" Zander whispered to himself. He was wondering how the Mighty king of the Mighty Kingdom could be riding around in the woods probably to visit his father.
"Kander!" the Mighty King smiled. He got down from his horse and walked towards them.
Zander was still in awe if this was really happening. The highly spoken about Mighty king knew his father personally.
"Your Majesty, your presence here must have been very important for you to ride solo all the way here" Kander took few paces to stand by the Mighty king's side.
"Your Majesty" Zander bowed awkwardly as the Mighty king put his focus on him.
"This must be Zander. He has really grown up" he walked straight to stand before Zander.
Zander couldn't look him in the eyes. He remained bowed with a lot rushing through his mind. He had never, for once heard from his father to know the Mighty king not to talk if having history with him.
"I'm very sure Wendy will be so grown too" Kander replied.
Zander was meeting the Mighty king for the first time but he had heard a lot about him including her sole daughter, Wendy. He imagined how beautiful she would look, living in luxury and eating nourishing food.
"She is and I have named her the heir after me" the Mighty king said and left Kander's mouth opened ajar.
"That is a very brave move, your Majesty" Kander said in amazement.
"Yes, it is high time we change some beliefs that are not stated or bear any background. She would make a good king just as a man" he bolstered his opinion.
"And does that have anything to do with your showing up here?" Kander drove the point forward.
"Yes, but on a larger scale. This is a matter of life and death. I want you to protect my daughter as the new position has brought her a lot of enemies" the Mighty king divulged.
"Kings are protected by guards,swordsmen and I do not think princesses are exceptions in cases like this. I am neither a fighter nor a swordsman" Kander shook his head, he had just turned down a proposal to live in the palace.
Zander wished he could move him to a place out of here and speak sense in to him.
"I want a wizard to protect my own daughter" the Mighty king insisted.
"And why will you want a wizard?" Kander chuckled, it seemed he couldn't believe the Mighty king.
"The power you wield, that's what I need. Nothing else" he professed.
"No problem" Kander finally said something that made Zander happy. "But I think I have a better idea. Instead of taking me to your daughter and getting her bored by being followed around by an old man. I will do something for you" Kander's words were not understandable.
"And what is that?" the Mighty king asked eagerly.
"I will give you the god of Wizard" Kander revealed.
"I have heard so many times that he is the most powerful wizard and he is the oldest. If your old age will bore my daughter out, there is no way someone older than you won't bore her to death" the Mighty king replied and chuckled.
"The god of Wizard had reincarnated and he is the one standing before you" Kander turned in the direction of Zander.