Chapter Twenty

Left Behind

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Blackstone Castle Dock, 673, Dawn, 28th, October

Sidonia placed more coins in the captain’s hand. The dark princess stared into his eyes hoping she had the ability to compel him, as she pleaded, “This will cover your loss, do not allow them aboard. They killed a few men last night and are attempting to escape justice.” He started to debate it and she tried harder, “You do not want them on your Ferry.”

She feared her weak condition and Dhampir ability was not enough, as she pushed again, “We will all be in grave danger if you let them board.” This time the captain nodded; whether she had compelled him or he just believed the danger she did not care. As she looked at Kolo’s men, they saw the ferry was not stopping, and two men jumped in the river. They swam for the ferry.

The other three men ran down the riverbank, yelling to get the captain’s attention. Sidonia was terrified as the swimmers came nearer; she expected any moment to see their hand on the ferry. Just then, the current took the Ferry out of their reach, leaving them behind. Still, she was uncertain if any of Kolo’s men had realized she was on board, or if they were just checking, and worried they would be at the next stop.

~~

Mystical Realm, Dark Elf, Desert Castle, 673, Dawn, 28th, October

Sighing Anthony thought back saying, “It was the hardest thing, I was tempted to not help Viktor, knowing the danger if I brought Sidonia home. I wanted to leave her in the Mystical Realm, and know she was safe. Yet I could not stand to hear Viktor’s sad thoughts, and knew she could make it better, as she could be with him during the day. How do I forgive myself for sacrificing Sidonia, to save Viktor? I knew and felt I was choosing Viktor. I worry for him now, more than I do for her, as it fulfills her Destiny.” A rare tear rolled down his face.

The other two were choked up as well. Edmund offered again, “I will go to Viktor.” Anthony said, “Thank you. I will know when you can go to him, Obsidian promised to send me a missive. So I can save Viktor only, but I am not allowed to try and find Sidonia.” He nodded to the brothers and hoped he could sleep, as he went to his room.

~~

Grekan woke to the shock of Sidonia’s empty room, fearing Kolo had come and taken all evidence of her. He was so startled that he sat there awhile to make sure he was not dreaming. Still he was not able to come up with a logical reason for him to have slept through her things beingmoved, nor how or why they were gone. As he got his wits about him, then he felt the letters in his pocket. Bringing them out, he set Anthony’s on the cushion beside him, as he opened and read his.

My dearest friend,

I am certain you shall be angry with me, just know that if I believed I was in no danger, I would have gladly brought you with me. Now I must ask you to leave as well. The Evil One will assume that you know where I am,so you must flee immediately. Leave a note for my father and backdate it a few days.

​Tell father you have heard of some books that could be of interest and if they turn out to be desirable, you shall purchase them for him, and make copies for yourself, before returning. Leave it on my father’s desk. Be safe, and watch for anyone following you. Try when you think on me to do so kindly. I hope I shall see you again, my trusted friend.

I will think lovingly of you, Sidonia

Grekan was hurt that Sidonia had left him behind and insulted that she insisted he flee like a coward. Even though he knew, it would be a dangerous venture, as surely many would follow her. Then he remembered his current plight, and all that was going on at the castle was still deadly for him. It was that quick for him to forgive her, knowing she was right.

Then Grekan was more afraid of anyone finding him in her room. How could he possibly explain that he was guarding Sidonia, when she was gone, along with all her belongings? Listening at the door all sounded quiet so he felt it was as good as any time for him to try to sneak back to his own room. He looked down at his nightshirt, robe, and slippers, stunned he had not dressed last night before coming here.

The poor clerk felt it was nearly as humiliating as walking about naked, as it would be to be seen in his night things. Rushing out he quickly locked it, and unbolted the outer door. Grekan’s hands shook so badly he nearly dropped the keys as he rushed out and then realized he did not have a key to relock the outer door. Shaking his head, he just ran.

~~

Blackstone Castle Grove near the Dock, 673, Dawn, 28th, October

The day guard Grunt hurried back to Kolo’s carriage as he said, “I grabbed four others and we attempted to stop the ferry. The captain started to pull to the bank, I guess it must have been too shallow and he feared getting stuck, because he left.” Kolo raised his hands, “And?” Grunt frowned,saying, “Two of our men dove in the river and tried to catch it, but the current was too strong and they had to come back.”

Kolo groaned, “No you imbecile, was Sidonia on the ferry!” The guard gasped. Grunt looked back at the ferry that was now out of view. Grunt hesitated then said, “A, I-I do not know. I mean a, I did not see her nor anyone that might be her.” Kolo cringed at the man’s stupidity, distrusting that he had even looked for her and demanded, “Where are the guards I asked for?” His face went pale and his throat was dry.

Grunt had come up with a response, which he thought saved himself from becoming food, “We are running low on Day Guards. I do not want Captain Heg to notice how many you have looking for Sidonia nor how many you have killed.” Kolo saw it in Grunt’s eyes, and sneered, “You think you are so clever with your lame excuse, and have saved yourself from death.” Grunt could not help beaming with pride.

Kolo hissed, “If you were smart, you would have brought peasants to me instead!” Grunt frowned. Then the guard brightened, “Oh. That is clever. Where do I find them?” Kolo groaned, “You are so inept that I wonder how you are still alive. Where are the peasants usually? I do not care if you have to knock on their doors because you cannot find them in their fields.” Grunt scratched his head. There was another awkward silence, and Kolo groaned, “What is it now?”

Grunt asked, “Well, how do I get them to come to you?” Kolo weakly joked, “Tell them I have sweets.” The Human guard frowned, “I am not sure that would work.” Kolo scoffed, “Must I think for you? Just tell them I have coin and need assistance.” Grunt nodded, “Oh, yes that would likely do it, what if they will not come.” Kolo groaned, “Knock them over the head and carry them back.” Then Grunt frowned, “I know you said you want a few, I am strong, but I can only carry two.”

Almost crying Kolo said, “Can you not see how weak I am, and you are draining me further, with this tedious conversation. Carry them to me one at a time if you must. Just do it now, before I kill you for annoying me to the point I prefer death!”

~~

Grekan nearly fainted at every shadow and once he made it into his room, he bolted the door and had to lay down. There he thought through the plan, then quickly dressed and packed his travel bag. He thought it a lucky coincidence that he had heard of some books; in fact, it was why he had tried to get Sidonia to go to Greece. He then realized she had heard his thoughts and it was why she said it.

Feeling confident of his plan, he listened at his door. He heard the staff moving about and deemed it safe to leave now. Still, things did not seem normal as the guards went out of their way to follow and watch him. He grabbed a quick bite in the kitchen and packed a sandwich into his bag, before going to Anthony’s main office. Once there he wrote the quick note backdating it just as the princess suggested.

Finding a key in Anthony’s safe, he went up and locked the outer door. Then he returned the key, taking some coins, he relocked the safe. Now Grekan left the castle, feeling uncertain he ever wished to return. While he had not brought all of his belongings, the few he left were of little importance. Still on edge, he felt everyone was staring at him.

~~

​Kolo finished off his three peasants, and ordered the idiot, Grunt,“Take these bodies into the forest. I see Whitey is at the front gate. Tell my driver to turn about so we can go find out what he has learned.” Grunt said, “There is no one to drive.” Kolo glared, Grunt said, “I will drive you there and come back for the bodies.” Whitey saw Kolo’s coach coming, and went out the gate and came over to him. Grunt stopped, getting down.

​Whitey informed his master, “I have posted guards at each gate, and Peck one of our guards is still trying to locate a maid with keys to enter the private quarters and Sidonia’s room.” Kolo nodded, “Good. Finally, it seems I have found one guard with intelligence. I will leave you in charge. When I arrive home, I will send my men to get regular reports from you. You shall follow their instructions as if they were mine.”

Kolo sighed wearily, “Now, I need to leave. I have urgent business at my home. Find me a driver; I might have drank mine to death.” Whitey motioned a guard over and Kolo compelled Turley, telling his new driver which direction to head. Just as Kolo was about to order his driver Turley to leave, Kolo saw someone of interest, causing a cold smile. It was just bad luck that Kolo knew Anthony’s clerk, due to him being in the library.

Naturally, the librarian’s name had also come up in his interrogations of Sidonia; as she used the ruse of organizing Anthony’s three libraries, while searching for the book. Kolo now saw that Grekan was carrying two bags with him as he approached the front gate, it made him suspicious. He tapped Whitey with his cane asking, “Go find out where he is going and what he knows of Sidonia then come back.”

Whitey nodded and rushed over, going in the front gate.

~~

As Grekan left the castle, he had a sense of abandonment to where it caused him to feel lost. Certain he would never see Sidonia again; he was also mourning the loss of a friend. It was harder on him than it would be on others, where it had always been difficult for him to make friends in his life, even as a child. Still worse was that Kolo had taken his feeling of being safe at Blackstone Castle that had once felt like his home.

Slowing under the weight of his bags, he approached the front gate. Now, Grekan sensed there was too much interest in him, as all of the guards glared at him with suspicion. He saw the white haired guard whispering to Heg the Day Captain, who nodded and turned, halting Grekan as he demanded, “Where is Princess Sidonia?”

~~

As the ferry passed empty docks, the princess saw nothing of Kolo’s men;she slowly worried less of them catching her. Yet still seeing the Black Forest in the background, she felt too near home. Sidonia desperatelywanted to believe that she had managed to escape Kolo, hoping he was badly injured, enough that he would not come after her tonight. It seemed unlikely due to seeing his coach during the day.

However, it was still a few days to the ocean and there was a lot that could still happen to her between now and then. While she did not believe she deserved it, she hoped to find someplace safe. A nice home where she could live out her life; doing only good for others, and know some peace. In the back of her thoughts was the goal to find an army to fight for her and come back to destroy Kolo and release her mother.

How could she feel harmony for herself as long as her mother had none, because of her? Even though her school taught that she should not seek visions of her own future, it felt like this might be an allowable exception. Attempting it, instead she had a repeat of her death premonition. As she saw the muscled tall blond man, it all felt so real that when the dagger hit her, she groaned aloud with pain.

Sidonia saw the others looking at her and regretted not being able to stop herself from gasping out loud. Nervously she watched the other passengers, who finally just shrugged at her outburst and then went back to their own conversations. Sidonia reassured herself, ‘If anything it means that I do successfully escape Kolo, in order to be somewhere else.’

As unsettling as the vision had been, she still believed two things. First, it was likely years from now that she would face this stranger’s dagger. Lastly, one of the two Grandess’ of the living realms, Fate, or her sister Destiny were warning her. She clung to the belief that she could do something to avoid this untimely death.

It was easier to expect it in her future, than worrying about it now, when Kolo was still a greater threat to her. Princess Sidonia also admitted, “I rather deny Kolo the satisfaction, and accept the dagger of a stranger, than death at the hands of one who has betrayed me so deeply.”

~~

A chill went up Grekan’s spine, at the glare and question coming from the man who was over twice his size. Whitey, Elsbert, Gareth, and Hanis, moved from guarding the gate to now stepped forward wanting to hear his answer. Grekan replied with surprise, “I thought you would have seen her leave, last night.” They all had worried looks as the brave little clerk looked into their eyes, daring them to call him a liar.

Grekan stated firmly, “Sidonia told me she was on her way to Witch Island, to stay with the Grand Daquan of her Rambler clan, her great grandmother Romina. She is going because the instructors at her old school asked her to come advise them on a new Oracle training. A girl died during a vision, and while they managed to revive her, it made many angry. Naturally the princess could not deny them if it would save others.”

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