"I think I can manage that," I replied, and then Fiona handed Melodious a bag as she let me go.
"You might need this. It is a bag of coins, so you can make purchases while you are out," She said with a smile and then gestured to the door.
"Go now, and remember what I have said. Do not linger outside for too long, and do not forget about your training tomorrow," Melodious added, and then I was pushed out of the room by Fiona.
"Try not to spend all of it. We are running low on funds, and I have a list of things that we need," Fiona said, pulling out a folded square of paper.
"Running low?" I asked as I took the paper, and Fiona nodded.
"That is one thing that the queen has neglected to tell you, but it is no secret. I think she is more embarrassed about it than anything, but we are only renting this castle from Lachlan right now. You could say that he has a lot riding on this, so he expects results from you," Fiona said, and I blinked at her, but that actually made sense.
"So how much do we owe, and how much do we have?" I asked, looking at the back of the gold coins in my other hand as I tucked the note away. I could read it on the walk.
"25000 gold pieces, but that will be 26 in a week because month end is coming soon. Thankfully you were only a month and two years later than we projected, but predicting when a vision will happen isn't really an exact science. This also attributed to Lachlan's attitude towards you," Fiona explained, and I nodded.
"I guess it is what it is, and it makes sense why he knew his way around the castle," I said, and she nodded back.
"He is big into controlling areas by renting out the castles. That way, if the person isn't a good ruler, he just kicks them out. This world is savage, so it is not an unreasonable tactic," Fiona said.
"Well, I think it is best if I just get going. I will try not to spend too much," I said as we made our way to the front door of the castle.
"Yes, and try not to get in any trouble. You might draw unwanted attention," Fiona said with a nod before she opened the doors.
I smiled and nodded my head at her. "Will do," I promised before taking off into the inner courtyard, heading towards the portcullis.
The warm sunlight stung a little against my skin as I made my way through the town square. People stopped to gawk at me, and then some whispered or pointed. A few even stepped out of their homes to point, but no one seemed unfriendly.
Things seemed fairly normal at first, and I pulled up the note that Fiona gave me, but it was a map. I traced the path with my finger and then frowned at the end of it. There was a name, Kya. That was the name of the Lady of the Lake I had been told about, but I thought I was supposed to wait to see her? Why tell me to get groceries and then give me a map to do what I was told to wait to do? Were my maid and queen not on the same page?
"You look lost, monster," Lachlan said from beside me, and I almost jumped out of my skin, dropping my note. Lachlan caught it out of the air and looked at it. "What is this? Going to see her already? I thought I told them to wait?!" He growled, but I grabbed the paper back.
"You want me to get better, then I am going to need a weapon, right?" I asked, trying to sound angry and divert the attention from Fiona and Melodious.
"Would you like to get stabbed a few times here? I can let the people that secretly already talk behind your back know just how much of a monster you really are!" Lachlan sneered, but I just walked away from him.
I was done with his games, but I wasn't going to forget everything he said. I would figure out a way to make this work and come out the other side stronger than ever. That is what my people needed from me, and that is what I would provide.
I followed the path on the map, but now people were keeping their distance from me and giving me dirty looks. It was like the interaction with Lachlan had soured the people even more than before. There had been the odd whisper before, but now they were everywhere.
I soon reached a river and looked for the Lady in the water but did not see anyone. I was about to turn back when I heard something splashing further out. I walked closer until I saw her. Her brown hair was down, and she had a flower crown on. She must have been swimming because as I got closer, I could barely make out a pale yellow dress under the ripples.
"Um... hello? My name is Azriel, and I am here... to get to know you," I said, keeping my distance so that she didn't feel threatened. She stayed in the water, not making any sound, and then finally spoke up.
"You look like a human, but you don't feel like one," She said, and I nodded.
"I am an Allgora and the King of that castle over there," I said, pointing to my large castle in the distance. It actually looked quite impressive from this far away. Unfortunately, my words did not have the effect I hoped for. Truthfully, I really wasn't sure how it was going to turn out, but this was not the way!
"Just another King coming to take me as his bride!" she said with sadness and started to turn away.
"Wait! I am not like that! I have been King for all of a day, Kya!" I said, and she turned back with narrowed eyes.
"How do you know my name?" She asked, her voice sounding much more dangerous now.
Well, this was not how I had thought this was going to go, but I needed to diffuse the situation somehow.