AUTHOR'S POV
"Ah! Eirah.. just in time", King Desmun welcomed his third legitimate daughter. As brilliant as the sea of the sand of Vierme, Eirah beams in a long flowing yellow dress full of ornaments, with sheer sleeves and a gold belt… different from the gowns she wore while in Nether.
"I apologize, your Highness", the presence of the princess immediately woke the General up from his senses. He kept his sword back on his waist, and stepped away with a lowered gaze. Ottis cleared his throat, making a side eye on the short-tempered general. He made sure that the next time this man drew his sword against him, he won't falter and turn his curved blade against the peevish general.
Eirah entered the sitting room with her hands clasped together. "Father, you called for me?", she asked, with a pair of her personal maids on her tail.
"My new friend here just arrived and has been telling nonsense ever since he opened his mouth", King Desmun called her daughter to come forth. The princess was hesitant to come closer, seeing the current situation in the sitting room. "Can you please tell him what was written in this letter sent by the paladin knight, my darling daughter?", he handed the letter to Princess Eirah, who stood behind him.
"Father.. I uhh", Eirah was unsure to read the letter. She didn't expect for this day to come, that his father would entertain a conclave with his enemy despite making it clear that a war is set between two kingdoms.
"Come on Eirah.. it couldn't be helped. You know your old man have a very poor eyesight", the King insisted, until the princess took the letter from his hand.
The princess opened the small piece of paper and read what was written with her trembling hands. "We will head for war in the.. order of the King of Nether, Galen.," Princess Eirah said.
"That's certainly a lie", Ottis blurted out. "Sir Stellan wouldn't write such stupid letter".
"Pardon me?! Who are you?", Eirah crumpled the paper into a fist, until her nails dig in her palms.
"You have trust in your paladin, not thinking that he might have ensared you here blindlessly for your imminent harm?", the King asked watching Ottis' unchanged cocky expressions.
"If Sir Stellan wants war, he won't send a letter. He would send your daughter's head", Ottis blurted out.
"This is despicable! How dare a lowlife like you call me a liar! Off with his head!", she commanded furiously.
"That's it, you're dead", General Nizar, once again, attacked Ottis. As expected, Ottis retaliated as he swerve away pushing the general down on the carpet, grabbing the scimitar in his hands and pointing the end of the blade at the back of the general's head.
The King sprung up that halted the other sand soldiers back. Princess Eirah placed her hands on her mouth seeing that the knight sent by Nether has no match against their general. "Now I completely understood why you were sent here in solitude.", King Desmun watched how Ottis skillfully pin Khaled down in a blink of an eye. "Alone, with nothing but your guts. Calling my daughter a liar in front of me and crushing my general on my expensive carpet…", he looked down on General Khaled, grunting. "I wonder what's in Nether that make its warriors unafraid of anything".
"I may have done my share of horrendous toxicities but I never spin tales for anyone's benefit. If it is blood-curling war that we want, we don't send love letters. We send arrows and swords!! So if you find our proposal nonsense, we'll have to deal with you first then.. before we take Atrius out of the shackles of King Galen. However, it might be too late by then", Ottis sternly drew a line, as he get tired of the lenghty talk that have been going round in circles.
"Will you let go of my general first, and let's talk.. Man to man.", King Desmun insisted, placing his hands on his back.
"We've been talking for quite a while now, King Desmun", Ottis gritted his teeth, until he decidedly released Khaled. This time, he didn't let go his the scimitar in his hand.
"Thank you", King Desmun uttered. Feeling defeated, Khaled stood up and backed away near the King. He mouth his apologies to the King, who seemed very disappointed in him. "You know, I have always wondered why Stellan would send me a poorly written epistle just to inform me of something that has already been decided. It was too gentle of him actually… unfitting to his physique. And to think that Galen sent me severed bodies of my people because he insists war", King Desmun sucked between his teeth as he squinted his eyes on Eirah. "I have received many letters from Lord Nero. And not one of them had no emblem of Hesam. You're right, Knight. A true enemy… would have sent my daughter back to me limb per limb in a box, and not accompany her to the borders of Vierme with a full escort of knights…", he said with a deep sigh. "My daughter may have missed those important details".
"Fa…ther", Eirah was weak to her knees seeing her father look at her with disdain, when all her life she was spoiled with love.
"I was blinded because you are my daughter. I let you manipulate me, and murder my sons. What you and your mother have done is truly unforgivable. And this has to stop", King Desmun felt lighter in his chest, as he pull one of the thorns that has been pricking his heart. "Take her away", the King ordered, with chin up. General Khaled, despite in shock, signaled his men to take the princess out of the King's sight. He couldn't defy the direct orders of His Highness, that came unexpectedly.
"Father please! Let me explain!", Eirah plead with tears as she struggle from the gripping hands of the sand soldiers. She was dragged away shouting for mercy from his father, whose ears have been shut down for his beloved daughter.
"I didn't know the King of Vierme is wise, just like his son", Ottis uttered while he watch the princess being taken away.
"I regret nurturing a viper in my bosom. But be careful, lad. I may have you as a sand soldier one day", King Desmun smirked, offering a goblet of wine to Atrius.
"My loyalty and my sword is solely for Princess Helena. I only stand before you as her loyal servant… and, I will drink when all of these are over", Ottis said with unrelenting confidence handing over the scimitar to General Khaled. "While we fix our internal conflicts in our own kingdom.. We implore you to please stay out of our way, for we won't stand back if you still choose blood", Ottis said as he lower his gaze.
King Desmun is utterly impressed with Ottis' uncompromising vantage point. He started to be more interested about the princess that Nether suddenly gained. "This Princess Helena, what is she like?", King Desmun walked towards the window, watching his people under the heat of the afternoon glow.
"Hmm?", Ottis jolted as he unexpectedly hear the King's interests on the squirrel.
"You speak highly of her, that my attention may have been driven to the woman who shook two kingdoms", King Desmun said.
"She's.. she's a Celestial Soul Traveler", Ottis revealed with a slight worry that such informstion might put Helena in a more difficult position now that King Desmun knows her real identity.
"Ahhh… No wonder that she is of great importance for Galen. She is worth making the King go mad and foolishly wage a war", King Desmun thought. "Does my son took a liking to her as well?".
"That I may not know of. Princess Helena possesses undeniable beauty, great power and wisdom", Ottis smiled awkwardly. It seems like the King wants Helena for his son. "I heard she's already betrothed". He lied.
"Still, not yet bound in the sanctity of marriage. Besides, Atrius can have many wives according to our culture", King Desmun said. "Ottis, is it? So… what's exactly your plan?", King Desmun turned to Ottis, as he agree with the paladins' plans.