Hello second/last chapter for this week.

Please enjoy! [th_109_.gif]

-October 23rd of 1312

Unexpectedly Lena hears pounding footsteps as the figure of Corporal Ace breathlessly bursts into the study without even knocking. Unable to speak, Corporal Ace merely holds a letter out to her, bearing the King’s insignia.

Lena frowns as she reads the hasty written letter.

“General Bartholomew,

Your immediate presence is required at the capital. A Wyvern has been sent, depart immediately for the capital.

King Julius Sorrell.”

Lena finds her surprised by the abruptness of the letter considering the man. The hastily written letter can only mean one thing, the situation is rather dire. Lena swiftly orders, “Corporal Ace immediately bring Captain Darrell to me.”

Still heaving Corporal Ace nods and rushes out the door. Lena heads to her room and without surprise finds Holly and Dolly already packing her belongings. Lena leaves them to their task and returns to her study as she carefully withdraws a packet and place it on her person.

A sleepy but alert Captain Darrell rushes in accompanied by a still bright eyed and wide awake Chief Officer Gauthier, (who is carrying the familiar duck that the rest of the compound knows as Coco.)

Without bothering with decorum, Lena firmly says, “I am needed at the Capital. If the men ask, say I was needed at my families’ estate for personal business.

Captain Darrell, you are left in charge of the fort during my absence.

And Chief Officer Gauthier continue with our previous discussed actions unless there is a change and if so, use your own best judgement to act accordingly.

I am not sure, how long I will be gone, but I have faith in the both of you.”

They both salute as Lena curtly nods at them and heads out the door. By the time, Lena arrives outside, Holly and Dolly are already seated on the wyvern. Without any aid, Lena climbs onto the wyvern and barely seat herself as the wyvern hastily leaps into the sky. The air is cool against the skin as they ride through the air as Holly and Dolly are warmly bundled against the cold.

With gleaming eyes, Lena enjoys the sight of the passing by clouds and the bright night sky above her. As a summoned hero, she rarely enjoyed her flying experiences since they were constantly under fire. But she must admit it, flying like this Lena would have much more enjoyed her time as a summoned hero.

An hour later, the wyvern glides over the dim, but still lit capital. The wyvern circles the ground as it comes to a stop on the palace grounds. Lena easily leaps off the wyvern, before turning to catch the leaping figures of Dolly and Holly.

Lena easily catches them and softly whispers, “I don’t know how long I will be here, go and inform my family of my arrival. Besides I am sure that Dolly is eager to see her family as well.”

They both silently nod in agreement at her words with various degrees of eagerness. As they depart, Lena follows the impatient squire into the palace to the King’s personal chambers. Lena hesitantly open the doors, before shutting them with a soft thud behind her.

Within the King’s chambers my father wraps an arm around the weeping figure of His Majesty. Lena gapes for a moment before remembering herself and says, “Forgive my intrusion, I shall take my immediate leave.”

Her father softly says, “NO! This is why you have been called here. Pleas sit Lena, His Majesty merely needs a bit of time to grieve.”

At her father’s solemn words, Lena seats herself and wonder, why exactly she has been called to the capital?

The minute’s trickle by as at last His Majesty regains control of himself and dries his eyes. Time goes on until His Majesty trusts himself to speak without shaking and gruffly says, “General Bartholomew, your father shall explain the situation.”

Her father pours His Majesty a cup of wine, before turning to me. “Lena, the crown prince is dead with half of his party. The remaining party members are currently being held in the palace dungeons” Her father bitterly said.

Lena does not react as she waits for her father to continue. “The crown prince has committed high treason by attacking the Bartholomew household. Your mother is fine, but-, Sebastian and many of the guards did not survive the assault.

The blood rushes from Lena’s face as she sees the familiar immovable face in her mind. The one who showed her how to sneak out of the house. The one who always had snacks ready for her after her training. And the one, who when no one was looking would smile shyly at Emma, Holly’s mother.

As if in answer the haunting words of a philosopher creep into Lena’s mind, “But the easiest thing in this world is self-deceit, for every man believes what he wishes, though the reality is often quite different.”

Her father with tears in his eyes with pain attempts to smile, but fails as his smile is so very bitter. Lena opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. they sit there in heavy silence as the minute’s trickle by until the moon reaches its peak.

Her sorrow passes swiftly like a waning tide as a cold and familiar blaze erupts inside of her. It was a rather familiar feeling she had once experienced as a mercenary and then as a summoned hero. Lena would avenge her loss not allowing anything to stand in her way.

Lena raises her dry eyes to her father’s silent weeping face as her father recoils at the ferocity in his daughter’s gaze. “Please explain in more detail, father,” Lena flatly said.

My father tries to open his mouth, but nothing comes out. His Majesty raises his dry gaze from the floor and pats her father on the back. “It’s fine, Randolph. It is my duty to explain the situation to my subject,” His Majesty assuredly said.

Her father closes his mouth and nods as His Majesty turns towards the solemn young woman. Without feeling His Majesty speaks, “My foolish son head was filled with all sorts of rumors of the Bartholomew household. Flint Alcott attempted to dissuade my idiot son’s notions to no avail.

Much too late, Flint Alcott’s written message arrived. By the time the message arrived and forces were dispatched my foolish son had perished.”

His Majesty bitterly pauses as his voice croaks. “Flint Alcott was the first to perish as he did his duty in protecting his lieges honor. Rather than my son reevaluating his decision choose to press forward with the attack. His idiotic decision brought about the death of most of his companions,” His majesty said as he paused and somewhat reluctantly added,

“But it cannot be made known that the Crown Prince was responsible for the attack on the Bartholomew Household. We will state that Cypress was behind the attack. All those that died will be honored and those held will be silently punished out of sight.”

Lena’s unsympathetic gaze halts His Majesty in his tracks. The room is heavy as neither of the men dare move. It was though a wild animal was deciding to eat its prey or not.

“Your Majesty, I will forgive this slight. But I will not forgive foolishness a second time,” Lena icily replied.

His Majesty closes his eyes with anguish and nods in understanding. If he had been stricter with his child, would this have been the end result?

After a long pause of silence, His Majesty clears his throat and gruffly says, “Prime Minster Report.”

Her father automatically responds, “During the onslaught, there were unknown killers. Disregarding the prince’s state of mind, the prince had aide from an unknown party. At first, the killers were thought to be in employ of Cypress, but they were too skilled to belong to Cypress.”

Lena lets out a bark of laughter as her father and His Majesty stare back with a mixture of puzzlement and annoyance at her mirth. “I thought as much,” Lena confidently said as she reached into her clothing and pulled out a small packet.

Lena held out the packet as His Majesty gingerly took it and opened it. Her father and His Majesty gape at the contents, an Archimedes Spark.

At first glance it is a simple mirror, but upon further investigation even a novice of magic like Lena can see the amount of intricate magic upon it. Besides Chief Officer Gauthier had also confirmed the existence.

Archimedes Spark is a rare spell that only a handful of wizards can produce. Unlike mages, wizards are mages who do not only possess one element but more than one. The spell takes many years to complete since it must be done in stages, requiring rare and costly ingredients, and not to mention certain parts of the spell must be completed at certain intervals of time.

Upon completion, the spell can unleash a death ray capable of vaporizing a capital or an army. However, usage of the spell is forbidden even in war time, but that does not mean it cannot be deployed at third of its power or used as a bargaining tool, (aka blackmail or extortion).

“Chief Officer Gauthier found this lovely trinket hidden in the abandoned enemy’s camp. Now correct me if I am wrong, but Cypress does not possess a wizard strong enough to create such an item nor the wealth to buy such an item from one who is capable of such a feat.

Since my appointment to the fort I have been constantly plagued by many question. As a result, I had my own suspicions, but they were only confirmed after this trinkets finding. Is it not too much a coincidence that Cypress knew where and when to attack?

As far as I am aware, the King of Cypress was intelligent, but to the degree of launching such an ingenious attack? I am sure that both of you know and are better aware of the character which the deceased King of Cypress possessed.

You needn’t answer, we all know the answer is No. Therefore, that only leaves one possibility, there is someone else moving in the shadows. Who is capable of handing over such a trinket for a mere fort? Any kingdom/country belonging to the Silver Compromise or the Empires.”

Her father and His Majesty can’t think of a single word to argue or repute my claim.

Lena leans forward and soberly say, “That is why, your Majesty sue for peace. Use the death of your son as a reason to declare peace between both of our countries. I am sure that the new King of Cypress will be more than willingly as he will be able to save face in front of his subjects. Whilst His Majesty will be seen as the benevolent ruler, who wishes to protect his people at all costs.

And most importantly if our enemy is from the Silver Compromise or from the Empires, we need to buy time and gain a strong ally that will be at our side. But we are in an urgent need of a powerful ally and ample time to fully prepare for a full-scale war. We managed to win this time because of luck and our enemy underestimating us, but that will not be the case next time.

Next time our enemy will prepare properly and move to crush us in a single move. As of now, the Kingdom lacks trained officers, soldiers and lacks urgent needed personal at the fronts. In our current state, I fear that realistically speaking we will be luckily if we survive the first onslaught of attacks.”

Her father opens his mouth to protest but Lena harshly interject, “No, father, I have not forgotten our loss. I am merely being pragmatic about our current situation. Not only will this move give us the ample time we need to prepare and gain allies, but it will also serve the purpose of drawing out the culprit or at least hinting at the mastermind.

Because without a doubt they will begin to rapidly move in response to our own unexpected movement. I am certain that they wished for war in order to be able to openly move about. And without that reason, they will fuel the makings of war another way. After all Cypress, is only one our neighbors seeing as we have several more countries and kingdoms bordering ours.”

“But if his majesty cannot so easily do so, I understand. I will add the finishing touches to allow for his majesty to sue for peace,” Lena flatly said as she rises to her feet and adds, “Now if you excuse me, I am rather tired and I am sure that tomorrow-, there will be stately functions to attend.”

His Majesty doesn’t move or react at her departure as Lena easily passes through the silent palace and through the streets until she arrives at my manor. The familiar greeting silhouette is missing as she wordlessly makes her way to her own quarters.

Lena locks the door behind her as she slides onto the carpeted floor. She painfully closes her eyes and curl up on her side to sleep on the soft carpeted floor. It hurts, but soon it will fade away. She just needed to bear the brunt of the pain until it did.

~ POV of King Edward Ⅲ (Current Ruler of the Kingdom of Cypress) ~

King Edward was resting in the arms of his woman, when he was rudely interrupted by a frantic servant. Forced to leave the comfort of his women as he clothed himself, King Edward swore to himself that he would have the servant killed for interruption. But first he was to see to the annoyance. To his vast shock, King Edward found an entire household seeking a refuge.

King Edward sat in his throne rather crossly. How dare the idiot suddenly break away from the Kingdom of Cypress! Did he truly believe that King Edward would protect him, because he worked with them? How foolish of the idiot, if King Edward did not kill him then they certainly would.

But they were known to be a fickle lot. If King Edward refused, would they blatantly withdraw their support? King Edward would sidestep the situation much as possible.

King Edward smiles benevolently at General Percy Byron as King Edward extend his hands out in welcome and says, “Please be welcome General Percy Byron and all of your household. We the people of Cypress will gladly welcome you with open arms. I can only hope that we will not fail to disappoint your hopes.”

General Percy Bryon bows and gracefully answers, “Thank you, your grace. And should you require anything from our House merely speak and it shall be given.”

King Edward snorts under his breath as he embraces General Byron in a brotherly fashion. General Byron looks humbled at his actions and bows once more. “Be at ease General Byron, now go and settle in your household for the night. We shall speak more on the morrow,” King Edward truthfully said.

King Edward happy leaves the nuisance to the care of his aides and returns to his chambers. Kind Edward finds his woman sound asleep on her back. Feeling full of vigor, King Edward climb onto the bed and place kisses on her spine. She sleepily arches her back and turns to face him.

King Edward smiles down at she pulls him down for a deep kiss. King Edward decides that sleeping can wait as he can’t possibly disappoint his beauty. Without further ado, he pushes all thoughts out of his mind in favor of doing.