-35-
The day after, Miriel brought Mark to an old hut a distance to the side of the mansion.
They watched as an axe sank through a log from its tip to its end, stopping at the stump below.
The split logs fell to the sides of the stump.
Anne pulled the axe back to her, moving her hands to the middle of the shaft.
She turned to the two watching her.
"There. It's simple enough but why does Mister Mark want to split firewood?" Anne asked, with her head tilted.
"Precision training, Anne. So he can land the axe where he wills."
Anne thought for a moment, then widened her eyes.
"Would you like to continue, Anne? You can split a few more."
Anne bobbed her head, then set a log on the stump and repeated.
"This is your plan, Miriel!?" Mark whispered, "After I said I should stay away from anything tree related?"
"And why'd you bring Anne here? I thought we were keeping it even from Louis and Yorn?"
Miriel saw the frown on Mark's face as he watched Anne. His eyes trembled and his hands jittered
"Be honest, are you not scared of Anne more right now? Does she look like the demon that your demons fear?" Mirield said, as she watched Anne split another log.
"Miriel!"
Miriel held Mark's hand and gently smoothed it with her thumb.
"You must face your fears Mark and we have to start somewhere. It will only get worse if we do nothing but wait while we search."
"They are tiny logs and Anne thinks you are training. Mask it a bit and she will not know."
They watched as Anne set the axe beside the stump and wipe her brow with her sleve.
"I think I'll stop here, my lady," Anne said.
"Well done, Anne." Miriel replied.
Anne moved to the side and sat on grass.
"You can do it now Mister Mark!" She shouted.
Mark stood with his feet rooted and his eyes fixed at the stump.
"Come, Mark. Swing it once."
Miriel walked to the stump, holding Mark's hand as he followed.
Mark eyed the stump and the axe for a moment, then lifted the axe and examined it.
Miriel set a log on the stump and turned to Mark.
Mark stared at the log while holding the axe. His hands trempled, his chest heaved, there was sweat on his brows.
"Close your eyes, Mark." Miriel said.
Mark closed his eyes.
"Lift your axe high."
He lifted it up.
"A bit to the side," Miriel pulled his arm to the right, " There."
"Now lift it over your head."
He lifted it overhead.
"Swing."
Mark strained his arms and the axe descended.
*thud*
"Hahaha!" Anne laughted as she clutched her stomach with a hand and pointed at Mark with the other.
The axe landed on the stump, to the side of the log. He missed.
Mark glared at Anne - who was laughing with tears at the corner of her eyes - even has his hands trembled.
"You did well Mark," Miriel gently patted Mark's back.
"Now, once again."
Mark lifted the axe, closed his eyes, then swung it down again.
The axe hit the stump, missing the log.
Anne laughed harder.
"Again." Miriell said.
He repeated, but missed again.
Anne kept laughing.
"Again." Miriel repeated.
He repeated and missed.
"Once more."
Mark breathed heavily as he raised the axe.
"Hah!" He shouted. Glaring at the log as he opened his eyes and swung the axe down.
The axe sank halfway through the log and stopped.
Mark let go of the axe and plunked on the ground, his chest heaving with each breath. His palms trembling as he planted them on the ground.
"Well done, Mister Mark." Anne clapped where she sat.
"You did well, Mark." Miriel patted his shoulder.
"How often do I have to do this?" He asked, looking at Miriel with shaky eyes.
She saw his clenched hands faintly trembling as he stared at the log, and the axe lodged in it.
"Do it between first light and breakfast. Even just one log." Miriel replied.
Mark laid his back on the grass and stared at the blue sky.
Miriel turned to Anne, and then at Mark.
"Shall we return for brunch?" She asked.
"You can head back first. I want to stay like this for a bit." Mark closed his eyes.
"Anne?"
"Right away, my lady."
Anne got up, patted herself then followed Miriel to the mansion.
-
"My lady, a letter arrived for you."
Back at the mansion, Louis handed Miriel an envelope.
"From whom?" Mirirl asked.
"The princess, it seems." Louis replied.
Miriel examined the letter and saw the sealing wax with the princess's insignia.
"I shall read it now." Miriel said.
Louis handed her a letter opener.
She opened it and handed the envelope and the opener to Louis, then straightened the letter and read it.
A frown spread over her brows as she read and deepened as she read more.
"Is Uncle Yorn here Louis?" Mirirl asked.
"Yes, my lady. He is in his study." Louis replied.
"Thank you Louis."
Louis - palm to chest - bowed.
Miriel paced up the stairs and to her Uncle's study.
"Uncle Yorn." She said as she knocked on the door.
"Miriel? Come in." He replied.
Miriel opened the door.
Yorn sat in a chair, clearing and piling the parchment on his table
The room had fewer items in it compared to her father's study. There was only one other table with two sofas by it, and bookcases with books arrayed nested against the walls to the side of the room.
"Uncle Yorn, you must read this." She walked to him and handed him the letter.
"Hm? A letter?" Yorn took the letter and read it.
His brows creased more the further he read. He placed a palm to his forehead as he dropped the letter on the table.
"When will she arrive?" He said.
"The runner would take a day to deliver the letter, two days with rest," Miriel replied,"By her words, the princess probably left the same day the runner did. Tomorrow, probably."
"So we have until tomorrow." Yorn planted his elbows on the table as he slid his palms down his face.
"Still think we should be mingling with the princess, Miriel?" Yorn asked, his voice weak and thin.
Miriel stared blankly at the letter on the table. She was honestly, undecided.
"Okay, where's Louis? I'm going to Louis and gathering all the servants. We'll have to work our butts off to prepare in time. Miriel, you prepare whatever you have to." Yorn stood and paced out the room.
Miriel stared at the letter for a moment, before leaving the room as well.
The contents of the letter, if abridged, were simple; Princess Allesol was heading to Lerkester, and in all likelihood, she would arrive tomorrow.