Murmurs erupted from the courtiers as they decided who should go. An official stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, the first prince is suitable for the position. He is matured, sensible and intelligent." He was obviously a cahoot of the first prince.
Another courtier came forward to counter the previous one. "If we are speaking about intelligence then the Crown Prince is the best candidate for the position." Arguments ran through the hall each person either agreeing or disagreeing.
"Enough." The king said and silence was maintained at once. "The Crown Prince will represent us and report to us after." He finalized.
Sessa came forward. "Thank you Your Majesty."
The court session ended and the official left some in pleasure and some in disappointment.
"The king is too partial." An official said to his fellows as they left the court.
"Yes, not only did he forsake the first prince and named the third prince his Crown Prince. He is also giving this great Panirut into the hands of a weak man." Another lamented.
"How can a sick man rule this kingdom?" They voiced in discontentment.
Nimo stood beside the door of the court hall tensed. She watched as her father came out of the hall, he halted when he spotted her and walked over.
"Nimo."
"Father." She took a closer look at her father, he was still handsome and looking healthy. Nimo noticed the grey hair that had started appearing at either sides of his hair and the truth hit her. Her father was getting old.
"I heard you were back, why didn't you come home?"
"Father..."
He patted her left shoulder. "Try to come home sometime, okay?"
"All right." She watched him walk away and her eyes teared up. Sessa chosed that moment to walked up to her, she quickly turned away and wiped her eyes with the edge of her sleeves.
"What is wrong?" Sessa asked when he saw her action.
"Nothing. I'm fine."
"I want to visit my father, you can go home and have some rest." He said feeling sympathetic towards her for he had witnessed the encounter between father and daughter.
She glared at him. "Your Highness, do I look fragile to you? It is my duty to guard you. Lead the way."
"I thought I said something to you this morning."
"What...oh?" Nimo cleared her throat uncomfortably, she was one who liked to stick to the formalities whenever it came to her job. Was it right to call the Crown Prince by his name?
"I don't think that is appropriate..." She was saying but Sessa wasn't listening.
•°•
Sessa awaited his father in silence, King Sessa was going through the account ledgers. He stood up and sat with his son after he was done.
"What brings you here, son?"
"Why did you not tell me you were going to bring me a female bodyguard?"
King Sessa shook his head. "Ah, your bodyguard must dislike you."
"How do you know?" Sessa asked in surprise.
King Sessa laughed. "Let me tell you a story. Five years ago, after the victory of the Redhulk army. A young girl was brought to me as an infiltrator of the Redhulk army, I was surprised because never had it happened since the beginning of Panirut. I asked her why she came to the Redhulk army when the law clearly stated that no female should be in the army. You know what she answered me?" Sessa shook his head.
"She said 'Your Majesty, I want to prove that a woman is not inferior to a man. I'm willing to take any punishment but I do not regret.' I was impressed by such bravery."
Sessa himself was impressed. "Did you punish her?" He asked.
The king smiled. "Due to the great merit she gave, I asked her to become a soldier of the Redhulk army as a punishment."
"I don't think she saw that as a punishment."
"She didn't but then I thought when she knew what the army was made of such bravery would not last. She is different and has a lot of pride just like her father."
"Ah, she must hate my guts."
King Sessa laughed and shook his head. "Good luck with that. Let's go into a very important topic, you are going to City of Tens tomorrow. Be careful.
"Yes father. I now have a guard remember?" They both laughed.
Early the next morning, the carriage of the Crown Prince had set out to the western part of Panirut where City of Tens was located. Along with him trailed guards and servants and the supplies that was to be distributed at the village.
Inside the carriage, Sessa sat reading a book while Nimo looked out of the window in boredom while munching some walnuts.
"Your Highness..." she started. Sessa gave her a look.
"Sessa, don't you have any other hobbies except from reading?"
"No."
"What about martial arts? I have never seen you with a sword?"
Sessa looked at her and maintained silence, so she does not know that he knows no martial art he thought.
"Let's take a break." Sessa called out at sometime in the afternoon. The carriages came to a halted.
Nimo sighed. "I'm starving."
"Throughout the ride you finished nearly two bowls of walnuts." Sessa stated in wonder.
"Walnuts doesn't satisfy." She flashed him a smile and stepped out of the carriage. Sessa couldn't help but smile, he felt tired because the journey had started to wear him out already.
Before dusk, Sessa and his companions got to Tens and were received by the governor of Tens. A feast was held by the governor in other to welcome his guests. Nimo and Sessa were given room opposite each other and after the feast everyone returned to their rooms.
At exactly midnight, a loud shout was heard.
"Assassin! Assassin! Assassin!"
A figure in a dark clothing and mask over his face could be seen running towards the abode of the Crown Prince. Nimo woke up immediately, picked up her sword and slipped into the Crown Prince's room. Sessa sat on the bed in his night robe, Nimo held her index finger to her lips signalling him to be silent, she blew off the single candle in the room and waited beside the door of the Sessa's room creating and ambush for the assassin.
The assassin crept towards the door of the Crown Prince with a candle stick in his hand. He found no one amd opened the door. Immediately he entered in, Nimo gave him a kick on his back. The man groaned in pain, he retaliated by drawing out his sword. Great auras emitted from their bodies as they swung their swords against each other. Sessa watched on in fascination. When the assassin saw that he was no match for whom he was fighting with, he had not choice but to call out.
"Sessa."
Sessa paused in surprise.