CHAPTER FOUR
The men sent to abduct Erika arrived at Ragaounia the next day at almost dusk.
Immediately they arrived at the palace, news flew to Queen Anaya that her men were back so she waited for them at the front of the palace.
As soon as the men got down from their carriage, they knelt at the Queen's feet to pay their respect.
"Long live her Majesty." Anaya smiled in approval.
"Rise, and tell me your progress."
"Your majesty, we have successfully captured the princess of Jadovia."
Queen Anaya's smile got even wider.
"Bring her to me." One of the men went to the carriage and brought a bound Erika, throwing her to the Queen's feet.
"Hello Erika." The Queen said sarcastically, Erika couldn't speak because her mouth was tied so she could only make muffled noises.
"Of course, by now your father must have noticed your disappearance and be searching for you, but that is besides that." Anaya squatted to Erika's level as she was forced to sit on the ground because of how she was bound.
"You remember your mother right?"
What Anaya said caused Erika to stop short as look at her.
"Your mother was my best friend, she was like a sister to me. I knew I shouldn't have agreed when she offered to make things right between the two Kingdoms, but I was still a new Queen and I didn't give it much thought. But your father, your ruthless, inconsiderate, selfish and horrible excuse of a father killed...no, slaughtered her because of a mere suspicion!"
Anaya was getting angry as she glared at Erika so hard that the poor girl flinched.
"And oh, I heard that your father threw Zayna's third son out of the Kingdom because of his appearance, is that so?"
Erika stared at Queen Anaya as though in a trance, she was obviously giving her scary chills, so much that she forgot she was even being asked a question. Anaya roughly dragged down the gag from Erika's mouth.
"Speak! Where is Zayna's son?!"
"I don't know, please let go of me." Erika pleaded as tears filled the corners of her eyes.
Anaya stood up to her full length and took a deep breath while still glaring at Erika.
"If it weren't that you are the daughter of my best friend, I would've had you slaughtered and sent back to your father the way he did to Zayna."
Tears involuntarily ran down Erika's cheeks out of fear, she couldn't even look at the Queen's face.
"Keep her in one of the rooms downstairs, but give her food to eat and clean clothes to wear." Queen Anaya ordered a few maids before leaving to her chambers.
"My father will come for me." Erika said in tears as she struggled with the guard holding her. Anaya scoffed at what she said but she didn't turn to look at her.
"Of course he will." After that sarcastic remark, the Queen left.
The main thing on her mind was when her 21 years old daughter was going to return to the Kingdom. Anaya had sent her off to the best teaching centre in the middle east and she would finally be returning home in five days.
She only prayed that she would arrive safely, and she also made sure her journey back was as discreet as possible to not attract danger.
Meanwhile, Zayn was sparring with Joselu in front of their cottage and people who passed by watched in admiration with how skilled the boys were, some passersby even stopped for a minute to watch the show.
It wasn't long before a small crowd had gathered and we're watching the two from a distance.
While that was going on, a group of two ladies and a tough looking man we're passing by and wondered why gathering so they went to see for themselves. Amongst the two women, one of them with a pair of amber coloured eyes looked surprised as she beheld the scenario.
The woman turned to her companion.
"Do you know anything about him?" She asked, pointing to Zayn briefly.
"You mean the one with the black hair? I don't know much but I've heard he's the village's hero and sweetheart along with his best friend."
"Sweetheart? Why is that?"
"I heard he's such a good person who never hesitates to help anyone, and he also said to be such an incredibly handsome lad so obviously, he effortlessly attracts all the ladies."
The two women stared at the friends sparring with each other.
"What's his name?" She finally asked.
"Everyone calls him Zayn."
"Hm." She looked at him again, her amber eyes piqued with interest by the second.
"Zayn.." She muttered so low to herself that even her companion couldn't hear her, so it was surprising that Zayn turned to her direction as though he heard her say his name.
Immediately she saw him look at her, Xantheia turned and left quickly, her excorts following her closely.
"Xantheia..." He muttered to himself but as soon as he saw her leaving, he left Joselu with his sword hanging in the air and went for her.
"Xantheia wait." He called out to her, not minding the puzzled looks on everyone's faces.
Zayn was quick enough to get to her and gently pulled her by the arm.
Xantheia pursed her lips in anticipation before slowly turning to face Zayn. Now that she took her time to look at him, he really was very handsome.
"I've been wanting..." Zayn paused when he realized there were numerous eyes staring at them. Practically everyone looked puzzled, especially Joselu. Xantheia felt embarrassed and Zayn was quick to notice so he pulled her to a secluded area, leaving behind even her escorts who looked stunned.
"You're embarrassing me." Xantheia said immediately they were out of earshot.
"My apologies Xantheia, I've always wanted to run into you again, we didn't get the opportunity to talk the first time we met."
"There's nothing you have to say to me, we're strangers to each other."
"But if you let me, we won't be strangers anymore."
Xantheia sighed frustratedly as she massaged her temples.
"Please I beg you Zayn. I was heading somewhere before I stopped."
"Oh." Zayn's eyes showed a tinge of dullness but he sobered up immediately after. He turned around to leave and had only gone two steps when Xantheia spoke.
"We'll discuss at the food fair."
Zayn turned to look at her, a smile finally appearing on his face.
"Unfailingly." With that, Zayn left the place since she was going somewhere else.
By the time he came back, the crowd of people had dispersed and Joselu was sitting in front of the cottage waiting for him.
"Is that the girl you're crazy about?" Joselu asked immediately Zayn sat beside him.
"Yes." He didn't even acknowledge the fact that Joselu said he was crazy about Xantheia.
Joselu shook his head at his friend.
"I'll say this again. You have obviously lost your mind, because nothing could make you leave me hanging in the middle of a spar."
Zayn laughed at his friend's complaint, promising him another sparring session later that evening.