Penelope narrowed her eyes. "Your letter",
"I never sent you any letter", The prophet said stroking his beards
"Let's get inside, it's not safe to talk outside, the wind carries news", He place his hand on her shoulder giving her a pat before walking pass her.
Penny had a puzzled look on her face. If the letter wasn't from the prophet then who sent it, was it all a trap to lure her out of the castle?.
They walked into the previous king study room, the army commander shut the door behind them.
"When did you get the letter", The prophet inquired.
"This afternoon", Penny answered taking of her cloak and placing it on a nearby couch. "I think someone is working for the mages in the castle, another spy", She sat down on the soft couch.
"We don't have much time, we need help from the Emperor ". The prophet sighed rubbing his template.
"For now henceforth you are not allowed to leave the castle without a trustworthy knight", He concluded.
"But I can protect myself I don't need any knight to trail me like a kid", She stood her ground.
"You are a princess, your safety is more important than anyone in the entire kingdom, you are the people's last and only hope Penelope". He turned to the army commander, "Bring in your most skilled knight", He ordered.
The army commander walked out without any word.
"Preparations to travel to the central empire should commence immediately, the king left me in charge of state affairs until you ascend the throne, we have to do anything to we can to keep the kingdom under control before you ascend the throne", The prophet said after taking a seat.
The door opened immediately and two men walked in.
"Mark?", Penny eyes widened in surprise, one of the men looked at Penny and smiled.
"It's really you", She stood up to give him a tight hug, "It has been long your highness", He bowed.
Penelope and Mark have been childhood friends, they spent almost all time together in the castle, Mark grew up in a noble family and trained to be a knight in the castle so they saw each other everyday.
"Mark here would be your personal knight", the army commander explained.
A sword was presented to Penny and Mark immediately knelt down. "From today onward, you will place your life in line to serve and protect the future queen", Penny said raising the sword.
She used the sword to touch his shoulders to complete the ritual.
Mark stood up and swore "My life is yours to take the moment I betray the throne".
The prophet nodded in satisfaction.
***
"Your highness the carriage is ready", A guard said while bowing.
Penelope walked out with mark tailing from behind.
The carriage was stationed at the entrance of the castle, the princess escort bowed when the princess arrived, the princess escort consist of twenty knights and two maids, they were quick to attend to her needs and In no time she was seated in the carriage alone. Her thoughts drift off to the conversation she had with the great prophet earlier.
"Great prophet, you don't have to bother yourself, am fine going alone and besides the kingdom needs someone to watch over it in my absence", Penny tired to persuade the prophet.
He sighed slowly "Fine", He finally gave in.
"You should be careful about the Emperor, rumors said he is as sly as a fox", He concluded with a worry look.
"I am no longer a child, I would be able to hold a decent conversation with him", She reasoned.
"And be careful, please don't roam around the empire grounds, it's filled with night creatures".
"Yes i know, Humans also live there, I'll be fine", She smiled.
Someone tapped on the window of the carriage, jerking her out of her train of thoughts.
"Your highness if you need anything just let me know", Mark said, He was riding on a horse right outside.
She smiled at the brown haired knight in armor.
"How many days journey was it again?",
"Seven days at most, if we move very fast we'll make it there in five days", He explained.
Penny nodded.
"This would be a long ride", She breathed out loud.
***
They arrived at the central empire at the calculated time.
The gates of the palace opened at the arrival of a foreign royal carriage, a troop of guards rushed to the carriage and the knights protecting the princess drew out their weapons ready to defend the princess if they planned to attack.
A messenger rushed out with a royal decree in his hands, He stood in front of the Emperor's troop.
"His royal Majesty acknowledges her highness's presences and requests that her highness's escort surrender every weapon in other to enter the palace without further problems, take this as a precaution method". The messenger said, after reading the decree, he matched to the carriage without anyone stopping him.
He slightly bowed at the princess seated in the carriage before presenting the decree to her to confirm.
Penny scanned through the words written in fine ink, she threw Mark a side glance and nodded.
Mark was reluctant to give his sword to the guard that came up to him, the others surrendered their weapons after seeing their captain without weapons.
The troop of guards finally gave way, allowing them to pass through the gates.