The Union 252 Thrown Logic

Fortunately Shadow assured her that horsemen would come. This was apparently the meeting place they had decided upon. She heaved her worries away though her bleak fate still remained. Water, food and horses would be a good respite.

She shifted her tied hands, testing if yesterday's event could be recreated. The ropes bit deep in her wrist though. Shadow must have learned his mistakes yesterday.

Her eyes then turned towards Shadow's feet, unplanned and accidental. She grimaced upon seeing the state of it. The wounds were like crevices, ugly and split. Some looked like vugs still wet with pus.

It wasn't my fault, she tried to convince herself. Shadow was the one who captured her and Shadow was the one who chased despite being barefooted. She just shrugged, avoiding to look at the carnage on Shadow's feet though a pinch of guilt remained.

The horsemen soon arrived, galloping in their armored horses and waving the flag of Vanadis with glee. The Pelican waved in the air as if flying. Eighteen, Layfare counted. Their armors were different from the Castonians' black mail topped with plates. Theirs were azure segmented plates over gambeson. Unlike the Castonians who loved their halberds, the Vanadians had simple spears shafted with some dark wood.

Their trots ended a few paced in front of her. The front man dismounted, giving a swift salute to Shadow.

"I am not an officer" Shadow protested.

"You are of high rank compared to us Sir Shadow"

Layfette frowned upon hearing that. It seemed his name was truly Shadow. The Vanadian eyed her, nose wrinkled and eyebrows raised.

"I don't know what you're doing Sir Shadow but the Queen told me that this is urgent. I won't ask for details but you better dress her nicely if you are going to present her to the Queen"

Layfette felt a tinge of insult in that. She had been abducted from her sleep. She was transported down the river through a creaky and flooding small boat. She trudged in a forest. She ran and hit her face against a rock. Of course she would look like this.

They soon mounted. She shared a horse with Shadow, an unthinkable act for a lady. Instead of gripping on Shadow, she just let her arms limp to the side. The only good thing was the saddle. It was soft and the leather was gripping.

It was near midday when they arrived at the Union's camp. It was large. The outer walls were reinforced with spiked moats towering walls. The palisades themselves were a man's length five times over. Towers stood every hundred paces, equipped with ballistae.

A hundred leagues to the front was the Hadean camp- safety. The trenches extended long and wide bringing headaches to anyone who looked. She had seen her father's men build the defenses for a month. She knew how tough it was and how difficult it would be for a breach to happen. But she knew, somehow, that the Castonians would break their defenses anyway.

They entered the camp through a wooden gate which also served as a bridge to the moat when lowered. Two guards stood erect on both sides of the gate with their bodies stiffed, almost not breathing. Their eyes were fixed at the distance though Layfare doesn't see what they were looking at.

The whole camp was arranged in a square with four main roads from each sides meeting at the center. The center was occupied by a large tent with walls of its own. The towering the flags were those of Vanadis and Castonia displayed at equal length.

The soldiers were all busy doing something. Some were repairing defenses. Others were occupied with cooking some good-smelling broth. A single group though, Vanadians by the look of their armor, were building catapults from planks.

"Don't stare while they work" Shadow mumbled. "Vanadian engineers are shy when it comes to building things. They probably fear condemnation if their computations are wrong"

"And the Castonians? Are they shy too?"

"Er, no. Just don't talk bad about His Majesty. Especially the Rooster lads. Never do that."

She nodded, not caring if Shadow felt it. Maybe her silence would tell him. She was too tired to ask or to heave worry. If she dies by the end of this then at least she could see Neil again.

They reached the large tent at the middle after a while. Now that she had a closer look, the tent was further reinforced with another spiked moat. Guards wearing blue full plates and capes stood with vigilance. There were hundreds of them, the famous Royal Guards of the Union. Tales talk of a giant riding a bear among the Royal Guards. Layfare dismissed it as mere rumors. A giant riding a bear would be ridiculous. Talks of bored...

Layfare's jaw dropped after her eye caught a large burly man in an equally large set of Royal Guard armor riding a bear with spikes. The man halted near them, eyeing Layfare with contempt.

"Who is she?"

"A secret Mister Abraham" Shadow looked down. "Bear"

"A secret? You are bringing a foreign girl into the royal tent."

Shadow glanced back to her and gifted a wink "He's a little overprotective." He faced the large man. "Just take away all our weapons and escort us personally. That will prove sufficient right?"

Layfare felt bare when the Royal Guards patted her. It was humiliating though she knew that it was a necessity. They didn't recover weapons though. Shadow, on the other hand, had a dagger and a cane. She didn't know where that cane came from.

The tent was comfy as they entered with the large man. The carpet was gentle, warm and patterned with pretty designs. The familiar scent of perfumed beeswax candle wandered into her nose, cherry was the flavor if she wasn't mistaken. She looked to the side. Stacks of paper were on top of a table, a woman with a crown sat behind. Her golden hair curled down to her lower back, braided beautifully. Through those blue eyes she studied Layfare, scanning her for every inch of information.

"You can go now Abraham" said a soft male voice. Layfare turned her look for the voice.

For the first time, Layfate saw the King of Castonia. Timothy Castonia, The Great Lion, Father of the Union. She had heard too many talks about King Timothy, elevating her perception of him. His deep dark eyes were like those of a falcon, always aware, always looking. His face was youthful, a painful reminder of Neil. He was dressed in a fine silk buttoned shirt of grey shade. His pants reached up to the ankles, loose yet somehow stylish. A dagger hung on his belt with a curved hilt laden with gems.

The large guard offered a bow and left her and Shadow with the monarchs. Shadow immediately gave his salutations, a devotion somehow rivaling that of the giant Royal Guard. It wasn't just loyalty though. No, Layfare had seen the looks of loyalty. It was something else. It was... faith.

"I see you succeeded" King Timothy said then lowered a look at Shadow's feet. "And I see she has given you quite a trouble."

"I did Your Majesty" Layfare stole their attention. "I apologize for that"

"No, we should be the one apologizing" The Queen said, eyes cast down. "I can justify what we did and what we might do with a thousand reasons but I won't. I will simply apologize for this. You know what might happen right?"

"I might be killed by you if my father refuses to surrender."

"You seem unmoved" The Queen said, more of a question.

"Oh I am daunted. But what can I do? It is what it is. I am your hostage already"

"She is smart and pragmatic. I like her" The Queen looked at her husband.

"Sadly" The King said.

"Will your liking be enough to make you set me free?"

"Unfortunately, no"

"Then I will die here. My father is too proud to give up his kingdom to you"

King Timothy stepped closer to the Queen. "You are correct, your father refused our demands."

She felt terror. She was going to die. If her father refused even after the threat, then the monarchs would need to make it clear that they meant their threats. It also pained her that her father would rather choose Hadea over her.

"He refused?" Layfare asked, head lowered. "Well I am surprised but fatherly love has bounds"

To her words the King chuckled. "Oh how wrong you are." He was shaking his head. "Your father is so enraged by what happened that he's attacking as we speak."

"Impossible!" She shouted. "Abandoning his position, the trench he built for a month?"

The King smiled and shrugged. "You might be surprised what a father would do. They would throw logic away sometimes for the sake of their children. Trust me, I know"

Chapter end