2.1 CHAPTER NINE: THE WIDOWER
The Sagma knights, continued their journey toward home the very minute dawn broke. Many of the people affected by seasickness recovered well once their feet realized they were already on the land.
Lucian led his army atop his steed. He could not remove the strange notion that someone was watching them since he had seen the figure in the forest. But every time he'd looked around, Lucian could find no one.
He had confided in Uli and Aleksy, who was riding beside him. The two agreed that Lucian would not feel bothered if there was nothing. That they trusted his instinct. So, the two of them raised their guards up without raising the alarm to the rest of the knights. With no further evidence that someone was indeed watching them, they could not trample into the excited feelings of the knights about coming home.
Sen Anki, who was as well riding a steed just a few feet behind Lucian and his friends, suddenly caught up to them. He nudged his horse's flank with his heel, and it started running after the three horses.
"Whoa," Sen commanded as he pulled the reins to stop his steed, blocking Lucian's.
The Sagma commander pulled at his own reigns to avoid collision with his mage. Uli and Aleksy did the same as the rest of the knights murmured to themselves.
"What is it, mage?" Uli harshly asked. He never did get along with the wizard.
But Sen barely gave him attention as he stared at Lucian. "Disturbing news has reached my ears, my lord," he started.
"Is the path we've taken surrounded by monsters?" Lucian asked, looking around, but the forest was calm.
Sen shook his head. "No. It's your wife, lady Urian,"
Lucian's eyes widened slightly in panic before he calmed himself down enough to ask the mage to elaborate.
"I have sent my familiar to the neighboring villages to gather intel about the roads we are taking so that we would not be ambushed by monsters. But, he brought me back dire news, my lord,"
"What is it?" Lucian asked, his voice strained with an effort to appear calm.
Sen took a deep breath before he answered. "A few of the villagers had been talking. They said that one of the royal duke's daughters had died. Three years ago,"
"What?" Lucian felt his world stop.
"They never mentioned a name. But, as the duke only has two daughters, there is a half chance of it being your wife. I thought you ought to know,"
He could see the wizard's mouth still moving, but Lucian could not hear a word. His thoughts went to Karme. How he had left her side three years ago without a word. But now that he had returned and they could reconcile, she might be dead.
"Lucian!" Uli shouted.
Lucian's eyes darted toward his best friend.
"Go," Uli ordered as he gathered his commander's attention. "I can lead this army back to Vasilios. But you will get there faster if you run alone. Cover more distance in a short time if you push your steed,"
"But I–" Lucian started, but Aleksy interrupted him.
"Go, commander. We will be only a day or two behind you. See your wife,"
Lucian nodded. He thanked them and reminded them to be careful as the forests can be home to several monsters.
He nudged his steed and snapped his reins. His horse snorted as it raised its two front hooves in excitement before galloping away.
Lucian could not think of anything but his wife. The news must have been merely a rumor. Karme was strong despite how she looked. But Lucian still could not help but worry.
The foreboding feeling he had been experiencing since his arrival flashed front and center in his mind. The figure he'd seen in the forest. He was sure it was Karme.
Was it a ghost?
Lucian believed in many supernatural things. After all, monsters and mages roamed the world with humans. But ghosts? If ghosts existed, a lot more places would have been so haunted to be livable.
It took him four days to cross the border into Vasilios. The guards at the gates stopped him for his identification. He hastily showed them his order's insignia and emblem. It had not escaped his trained eyes how the guards looked at one another before allowing him passage.
But Lucian could not spare them any of his time as he continued toward the direction of castle de Serin. Once more, he was stopped by the guards.
"Lucian Urian," he announced. "I am here to see my wife,"
"I am afraid I cannot allow you to enter, my lord," one of the guards answered. "the duke is not expecting visitors today,"
Lucian glared at the guards, who visibly shook under his intense gaze. "You ought to know not to get in my way. Move,"
"But lord Urian," the knights pleaded.
"Move," his voice cold, heavy, and menacing.
The guards gulped down and opened the gates to allow him entry into the de Serin castle. Lucian snapped his reins, and his steed galloped once more.
Once he was at the front of the doors of castle de Serin, he pulled the reins, and his steed came to a stop. He jumped down and tied his harness to a nearby tree as he marched toward the door.
The huge, wooden doors of the castle had opened up even before he could have knocked. A maid, who he had never seen before, greeted him. He had half expected it to be Maya, his wife's personal attendant, but it was not.
"The royal duke has been notified of your presence. He has ordered to guide you. Please, follow me, my lord," the maid bowed down in greetings before leading the way.
But instead of being directed toward his wife's bedchamber, the maid led him outside through the gardens. They walked towards the family resting at the ends of the royal grounds.
Lucian felt cold as he read what was written on the headstone in front of him. He fell to his knees, his armor making a loud, clanging sound. But he could not care.
He raised a hand and caressed the words engraved on the precious stone carved into a headstone.
"Here lies Karme de Serin,
A loving daughter and a wife."