Kalix Noah's POV
Arida was breathing heavily, and she was also full of dirt and sweating a lot. Her face is evidence of it. She kneels at her other feet and bows her head.
"Forgive me for being rude, and just enter the court hall without asking for permission from your majesties and court officials. This is an important matter! It took me a day to come back, and I can't postpone any further," Arida says.
I look at her, and I have a bad feeling about this. "What happened, Arida?"
She looks at me and stands up when I sign her. "General Kassandra was right about the letter. When I gave it to her, I didn't realize that something was wrong. She didn't tell me and my dad about her plans. We're already on the road when she told us that someone added something," she paused. She takes a deep breath.
"The words that were suggested were too realistic, and the road that was recommended is something that Captain Klauss will never recommend. That's the fastest and most dangerous place," she halts, her jaw clenched tightly.
"There are different groups of bandits and rebellious groups that are lurking around that mountain because of its misty nature. We are placed in a trap. We've fought and yet are outnumbered because we only bring 30 men with us."
What did she just say?! There are just 33 people in that convoy?! My sister was right! That's why my wife is wearing armor and is in a hurry because she doesn't want me to interrogate her further.
"When 10 of them were badly wounded, she made a decision. She always does that. She went all out to make sure we could escape. As soon as she ordered us to escape and save the supplies, I knew she didn't care if she died," she added. I was right!
Arida's tears fall. "No! She's not dead, or maybe she's being held as a hostage. She had this weird way of telling us if she died or needed us to rescue her," she paused.
Arida realized my reaction and turned pale. "That woman! How can she decide about her life without consulting me?! How dare she!" I roared. The whole room was stunned because of how mad I was. Arida bows her head again.
"Your majesty, we're sorry in her stead. As soon as we reached the borderlands, Dad and I brought half of the army and grouped them. They're all searching for that place. As I went back to that crime scene, I found this."
She grabbed something in her pocket and showed me my wife's wedding ring. "Your Majesty, General Kassandra, leaves the most important thing she had as proof that she's alive. Mostly, it was the gun that her grandpa gave to her or any of the two swords that her dad and brother gave her." Arida gulps and continues.
She gave me the wedding ring and looked at me in the eyes. "Now this is the most precious possession of General Escalante, your majesty. You must give it back to her," she mumbles.
I put my wife's ring on my pinky finger because it's the only finger where it fits. My jaw clenched. She better be alive!
"If it's the comb that her mom gave, that means she's dead. I came here to report to you the situation. It's your right because you're the general's husband," Arida paused.
She faced my mother and father. "I apologize again, your majesties. I'll excuse myself now and head back. Those bandits were known for molesting women. We'll find her before she experiences terrible things!" she roars.
I grab my sword on the floor and speak. "Enrique! Bring our men! We will find my wife and wipe out those scumbags!" I roared.
My loud voice filled the whole room. I didn't care, even if they're terrified because of that. "Understood, Admiral!" Enrique says.
Arida and Enrique step back and walk behind me. My jaw is clenched, and I'm ready for an all-out battle against those bandits who kidnapped my wife!
"Noah!" Dad roars.
I turned around. I'm ready to defy him if he asks me to stay. "Bring her home and make sure my daughter-in-law is safe," dad says.
Mom looks at me meaningfully. I know she's rooting for us. We bow our heads. "We're leaving now, father. I'll make sure she'll come home safe," I asserted firmly.
We rode in our horses and headed back to the port. Enrique gathered all our men. "We will help the rest of the Escalante army find my wife. Annihilate all the enemies who harmed my wife. Did you all understand?" I roared in a firm tone.
"Understood, admiral!" they all said.
Arida was just watching us. I led my own forces and headed straight into the misty rainforest. My wife only reads the part that she wants me to hear.
Is that the reason why she asks Enrique to take care of me in her place? Damn it! I can't think straight anymore. I'm worried that we'll be late and...
'I will hate you until my last breath if you die on me, Kassandra! You haven't proved anything to me yet!'
We traveled twice as fast as it should be. We need to arrive at that mountain in two hours. It's been more than a day since my wife went missing.
"Arida, are you sure there's no other thing that she left on the road?" I ask.
"Her wedding ring is the only thing we found, your majesty. I hope our men didn't find her… no! I know she will find a way to go back to you. She will always come back alive," Arida asserts. Her expression changed. Arida was indeed a loyal vice general in my wife's army.
As soon as we arrived, we heard the sounds of horses in the mountains. "Men, go ahead and spread in groups! Find my wife as soon as possible!" I command.
They all spread and left us. We also headed southeast. We keep on moving forward for hours until I notice something in a tree next to me.
It was cut, and the sap shows that it's still fresh. "Enrique and Astrid, let's go. I hope my hunch was right. Wait for us, you silly duchess!" I roared.
I noticed that the trees had the same diagonal cut. I hope my wife leaves them for us to follow. I've never been scared like this in my life! The road is getting smaller.
The surroundings are getting misty as well. "Did you hear noises? I can't hear the others anymore," Enrique says. He's right…