Destined to Protect

The seal on Fleur's hand had taken on the colors of a tree. There were a total of thirty leaves that adorned the tree. The glowing leaf on her hand was somewhere around the middle of the tree. Whenever it glowed, that part of her hand throbbed. 

Howard and Fleur left the palace and returned home. 

Isidorus had asked her to take some forces with her to protect Adrianna. However, she didn't know anyone. She thought she would ask her friends, but Howard said, "Fleur, the army is already ready. They are waiting for you to depart. Isidorus has always been reserving that army for this day. The fact that I took you over there to meet Isidorus was to indicate to Isidorus that the queen has been found."

"Father, do you mean that you have always known that I would be chosen to protect the queen?" she asked, amused at the turn of events.