33: Next Step

"You seriously need to stop that, Zairo, it's not funny." I said frowning at this mischievous gray-eyed prince

For the past two weeks, Zairo wouldn't stop reminding the knights that I might suddenly escape again like what I always do which would often lead to Dame Maia or Dame Therese guarding the door just so I wouldn't escape.

"You might leave again." The young prince said

"I won't, I already told you I won't leave again without your knowledge." I said

"But you will if it's part of the plan." Zairo interjected

"And not a remaining part of the plan includes leaving you." I said and rolled my eyes upward

"Well, aren't you going to Holland?" Zairo suddenly asked

Oh, right, that reminds me…

"I will be, however…" I trailed and looked at my knights

"Sir Charles, Dame Maia," I called them

"Yes, your majesty?" they asked and stood in front of me

"I'll be leaving tonight, as for the two of you, go with King Zachary to Arcadia to prepare the army you'll be leading in assisting the Holland Kingdom." I said and they nodded

"Knight Stephen, Dame Therese, I need you to keep an eye in Astrae, inform me if there's anything suspicious or if there's anything different." I said and they nodded

"As you wish, your majesty." They bowed before me

"What about me, Queen?" the young prince asked

"I have a task for you as well but not now." I answered and he nodded

I turned to Zairo who's looking at me amusingly, I think I'll need to remind him about something, just to make sure.

"And, Zairo, remember, no one else must know about this apart from the knights they'll bring along." I reminded him

"I have kept that in mind, Queen, Reagan and I are not to appear until the final act." He said and I nodded

"I'll be leaving at dusk, so be ready to start your task at the break of dawn tomorrow." I said and stood up

I went to the bedroom and started preparing for my journey to Holland, I wore the bracelet Zairo gave me just to assure them I won't disappear their grid. I don't want them to worry about me and just in case something goes wrong, I would be able to contact them and as for assistance, just in case.

"Queen," I turned to the door when I heard the young prince's voice

"Come in, Malika," I said and placed the satchel aside

"What is it?" I asked when he went inside

"I still don't know what my part in your plan is." He said and I smiled

"Come here," I said and he sat beside me and I hugged him

"Your part in the plan, you ask? You'll be our heart." I said and he looked at me confusedly

"Your weakness?" he asked and I shook my head

"No, you'll be our heart that will stop us from going overboard in this retaliation." I said

"If you're wondering what would be wrong with going overboard, if we go overboard in retaliating, we're no longer retaliating by then, what we'll be doing would be revenge." I explained and he nodded

Revenge…

I remember how everything went downhill because of the revenge I had with Ezra and Katrina, for their lies and betrayal, for deceiving me. How stupid it was to stoop down their level and play with their games.

"I'll miss you…" he mumbled and I smiled

"I'll miss you as well, young prince." I said and tapped his cheek

"When all of this is done, I'll be going home and I'll make sure that the alliance between our kingdoms will be stronger." I said and he smiled while nodding his head

He helped me fix the things I'll bring on my journey, I had already finished preparing before dusk arrived and I saw the young prince holding the book, the book about the 'Gift of Ice' given to the Astrae bloodline.

"You can bring that along if you want." I said taking his attention

"To Arcadia?" he asked and I nodded

"Just hide it from other people." I said and he smiled and nodded

I went to him and hugged him, he hugged me back and I ran my hand through his hair. His hair color really is peculiar, it's unique, he didn't inherit the pure black as raven hereditary hair color of the Arcadia Royal Family but he inherited their stormy gray eyes.

"Your majesty," he let me go when we heard Dame Maia's voice from the outside

"I'll be there in a bit." I said and took the satchel from the bed

We went downstairs, the door is open and they're outside, lining up to send me off. We went outside and they looked at me, the young prince ran to Zairo who placed his hand on the young prince's head.

"Take care on your way to Holland, my queen." Zairo said and I smiled

"Take care as well, my king, young prince, knights." I told them

"We wish for your glory, Queen Patrice." The knights said and knelt down on one knee with their clenched fist on their chest

"Thank you, knights, I wish for your safety." I said and fixed my cloak to cover my head.

The sky is starting to go dark the moment I had passed the marking where the barrier ends. Moving stealthily had been quite easier now that I already had formed a route to enter and exit Astrae safely, I just wish I do not meet trouble along the way. I do not want to put the plan on hiatus, I must arrive in Holland before Zairo and my knights do, to prevent raising suspicion from Astrae and Holland and to keep our plan going along perfectly.

I passed by the outskirts once again and I approached the kids who are leaning on the wall, I took out a small blanket and covered them with blanket, a child woke up and looked at me confusedly, one by one, the children suddenly are awakened.

"Here," I said and handed each of them a piece of bread from my satchel

I smiled at them before putting the cloth on to cover my face.

"Who are you?" one of them asked and I smiled

I was about to answer when I heard a voice from behind me.

"Vielle?" I turned around and I saw Tariq

"Tariq," I acknowledged his presence

"He's the guy?" I heard Zairo's voice in my inner communication

'Yes,' I answered

"Why is he there?" he asked

'I am yet to know.' I replied

"You're back here? How?" he asked

"I came back." I answered

"How did it go? Did you meet the person you need to talk to you? I didn't see you after you left." He said

"Why are you here?" I asked not answering any of his questions

"I came back to restock." He said and I nodded

"I see, it's nice to see you but I must leave." I said

"Where are you going?" he asked

"Good bye." I said and stepped into the mist

"Wait –"

I immediately drifted away from there, I have regained my stamina and if I were to get exhausted, I have brought enough water and food to help me survive for at least three days and I trained the past days to cover far distances without depleting my stamina.

I have covered far distance within couple of hours, I am close to the border between Astrae and Holland, the rock that served as the marking of the border of the two kingdoms is already within my range of sight even though it's dark.