Honey : The Empire's Treasure 359 Cross the Line

Finding a chair, he carefully placed her there as he bent down to un-do her shoes and to help her out of her outergear. He then went to his closet and pull out a set of clothes, "Mikaela...Mikaela...wake up…" Nudging her softly awake, Ailwin pressed clean clothes into her hands, "Here change into these, in there." He pointed at the large bathroom where she could hear water running.

Mika looked at the distance between her and the bathroom, and wanted to whine. She wanted to tell him that her arms and legs felt like a ton, but to ask him to change her was too embarrassing, even for her.

Getting herself out of the chair, Mika slowly treaded towards the bathroom.

Inside, she felt the hot water calling her name. After fighting through the pain of undressing herself, Mika took her sweet time bathing the soot and sweat from her body before changing into the new clothes Ailwin gave her.

Leaving the bathroom, she found that Ailwin had turned down the bed for her, but wasn't in the room.

Believing he probably had important things to handle, she threw caution to the wind and climbed in. Sinking into the soft mattress, she gave into her exhaustion and she instantly fell asleep.

Standing just outside his room's door, Ailwin thanked the Gods for his strong willpower.

When he heard the whimpers of pain coming from inside his bathroom, he had to stop himself on multiple occasions, from opening the bathroom door to see if she was okay.

As he sat waiting for her to finish, he realized that it would be an awkward situation if he were to stay after she comes out of the bathroom. Thinking it would be better if he left, he turn down the bed and made his exit just as Mika opened the bathroom door.

Having never been in a situation where he would allow a young woman into his personal space and to sleep in his bed, Ailwin was unsure on how to handle it.

"Commander…" The chief of the loading bay called out to him, bring him back from his thoughts.

"Yes."

"Both shuttles have been loaded up and we are ready to go, sir."

"Good, then lets set off." Ailwin marched towards the observation deck.

With Ailwin gone, the chief glanced at his Commander's room door, Is it really true that Commander bought a woman into his room?

By this time all the chiefs, squadron leaders and captains heard the gossip from their men. They wanted to confirm with General Gilwenys, who was their go to source for information. However, General Gilwenys is in surgery, which left them wondering if they were to have a sister-in-law or not.

It could be said that most of the commanding officers saw this as an opportunity, especially those who wanted to move up in the army.

Ailwin was unaware that Mikaela's presence on the air carrier was about to create a big competition for "sister-in-law's favor".

At the observation deck, the captain saw his Commander on deck and relinquish his chair for Ailwin to take.

"Are all the men on board?" Ailwin asked.

"Yes, sir."

"System in functioning…?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then let's get the hell out of here."

"Yes, sir!" All the soldiers on deck shouted out.

"Um...where to sir?...To the Imperial Capital, or…" A pilot asked.

"Home." Ailwin didn't bother to think about going to the imperial capital as he was quite sure the King was trying to kill him.

"...take the scenic route…." Ailwin said, thinking it wouldn't hurt to be prudent. 

Hearing their Commander's words, they knew that to take the "scenic route" would mean they were trying to throw off their enemies.

"Yes, sir…" The captain nor the soldiers knew who their enemy was, but it seem like it was a big one from the look on their Commander's face.

The original joyous mood at returning home, was turn sour instantly.

Ailwin didn't worry about his men's thoughts. Right now, his enemies probably assumed they are dead. Which would have been the case if it wasn't for Mikaela intervention.

Thinking about that little minx that was full of mischief, Ailwin's heart gave a slight squeeze as he realize her identity might have already been expose.

There are many problems that needed solution, but his brain was just too stressed from the pass couple of days to solve them.

For now, he'll have make due with just getting everyone home before thinking about the rest.

Once the air carriers were up in the skies and making there way back towards his home, Ailwin felt half the weight on his shoulders fall off.

"Captain, you're in charged. Update me regularly." 

"Yes, sir."

Ailwin left the observation deck to go to the sick bay. He needed to check on Braeden before going to rest.

At the sick bay, Nylian sat by Braeden's bed waiting for him to wake up. 

The healers were able to suture and repair all of Braeden's injuries with the help of the Head healer's cellular activation.

"Commander…" The Head healer noticed Ailwin at the door.

"How is he?" 

"I was able to closed his wounds, but he lost a lot of blood. We have pump some honey into his body, to help give him some nutrients." Ailwin helped the Head healer to sit back down when he saw the dark bags underneath his eyes.

"...thank you, it took a lot out of me to heal all his wounds."

"When should he wake up?" 

"Mmm...I would say in another hour or two."

"Okay...good job." Ailwin patted the man on his back before leaving to see Braeden.

"Thank you, sir."

Nylian sat listening to Ailwin' and the healer's conversation. He had asked the people on Braeden's status when he walked into the sick bay, but as he wasn't part of the army they weren't obligated to respond to him.

So he just waited by Braeden's side as that was all they were allowing him to do under their supervision.

"What are you doing here?" Ailwin asked once he was standing on the other side of Braeden's bed.

Chapter end