Chapter 4: The Beginning of the Dilemma (1)

"Commander, you're back. So, what did the king said?" Czedrick ran to Ashlyn when she saw Ashlyn coming in their direction. Instead of being optimistic about their victory, the commander was wearing a face that tells there is a problem.

Czedrick question was not answered for Ashlyn was too focus on the problem at hand. Hse don't know what to do, or where to start.

"Commander? Is something wrong?" Czedrick asked again as he taps the shoulder of Ashlyn. This gesture made Ashlyn return to her senses. She saw that she's already at the training grounds.

She sees the troupes being all happy and waiting to celebrate their victory.

Ashlyn clench her fist and lowered her head. 'I need some time to think. I need some plan and I don't want to burden my troupes because of this crazy new mission.'

She gave a look at Czedrick and holds his shoulder. "Go with the troupes and celebrate it somewhere. The king has not given us a celebration party."

Czedrick quickly glances at Ashlyn. "What? Is there a problem that they need to cancel the party?"

Ashlyn turned around and stare at him with seriousness in her eyes. "I will explain later. The king gives me an order and I need some plan."

"I can help you."

Ashlyn shakes her head and turned her back on him. "Just enjoy for today. I need my men to have a rest. This is an order."

Czedrick couldn't reply back. When she said that it is an order, no one should complain. Czedrick could only bite his lips and gave her a chest salute. "Yes, commander."

Ashlyn nodded and started to walk away from the place.

Czedrick could only do is to watch her commander back, a back that tells that there is a huge problem. Even if he wants to know, he had no rights. A knight should always follow their leader's commands. He will wait for the commander to tell them the whole situation.

Ashlyn briskly walks toward her horse and rides on it. "Hyaa!"

She drove fast toward the grand duke mansion. Whenever she is in a pinch, the duke is the only person she could ask for help besides the late queen. She needs some help regarding the situation. Even though she looks strong and has leadership charisma, she also needs some help. She couldn't be a leader if she always depends on herself.

As soon as she arrived, the guards that were guarding the gate salute her and let her in. She was greeted by the servants and the stableman took care of her horse.

"Where is Duke Vista?" she asked as they walk the hallway. She notices that the atmosphere around the house was a bit gloomy as if something happened. "Did anything happen while I was gone?"

The maid that was walking in front of her stops and she turned around to face Ashlyn. "I apologize but I cannot answer that. Master will give you the answer directly."

Ash nodded and they continued to walk.

"Master, Commander Ashlyn has arrived," the maid knocks on the door and announced their arrival.

"Let her in."

The maid opens the door for her on which she entered. The door closed behind her leaving her and the duke alone. She saw the figure of a long time relative, looking outside the window.

"Duke Vista, I think you know why I came here," Ashlyn walks until she was beside the duke.

"Even without you telling me, I already know. What do you want to ask?" the duke glance at her. She saw the sadness in his eyes.

"Tell me what happened, everything. Don't leave any minor details," Ash said. The duke nodded and look outside the window as he recalls the beginning of the dilemma.

"Everything was fine at the beginning after you left for the battle. Although there was a bit of a problem, the king resolves it with ease. I was always there beside him to lend him a hand. However, things get out of hand when the king started to check every fief in the kingdom. But, I wasn't there when the king inspects Baron Ed fief.

There was a disease going on in every small village that I need to check on. But, the next day, I was surprised when the baron was present in the main room together with his allies. It was good at first but, as days go by; the baron gains favor to the king.

I don't know what the baron did but, it made the king show him with favor. The king that I knew once was gone. Every time I see the king, he was drunk with pleasure. I always told him to get his act together, but he began to show his fury on me. The day before you arrived, the king gives me a punishment. The punishment was that I could never ask for an audience to the king or even attend his meetings. That is why I am stuck up here waiting for him to withdraw his punishment on me."

Ashlyn had a bitter look on her face. She didn't expect that things will get out of hand as soon as she left.

"I think we know who started this," Ash glance at the duke and the duke nodded in agreement.

"Also, there is something I need to tell you," Ashlyn turned around and lean on the window. "The king gave me a new mission."

"I think I know where this is going. Is it about the plague that has been happening recently?" the duke asked.

"Yes, and their solution is not something I approved but, I have to or else," Ashlyn thinks of the children in the orphanage. The innocent children that have nothing to do with the problem, has been taking a pawn. Thinking of this irritates her.

"What was it?"

"To burn the village and kill the entire resident."

"What? That is madness!" the duke reacted strongly that it shows on his face, a look that couldn't believe what he's hearing right now.

"The king has lost his ways. Killing his people is not what a ruler should do," Ashlyn walk around the room and saw the picture of the late queen that is hanging on the wall. "I made a promise to the queen that I will protect the kingdom no matter what it cost."

Duke Vista also stares at the picture. "What is your plan?"

"Before I tell you," Ash turns her head toward the direction of the duke and looked at him with weightiness in her eyes. "Would you support me, Duke Vista? My plan is something that will change the future of this kingdom."

The duke stare at her for how many seconds and smiled. "I am always at your side, Ashlyn. No matter what your decision, I and the late queen will support it."

Ash smiled and went near the window. She pulls out her sword and points it in the castle's direction. "I will start a rebellion."

Duke Vista wasn't surprised by her words. He knew that a day will come where Ashlyn will put back together with the order of the kingdom even if it means rebelling against the king. "Good decision, Ashlyn. I and the mansion of Scounbeirgh will lend you a hand."

Ash looks at her reflection on her swords and took a deep breath. "Duke, I have a plan will you listen?"

It took an hour to discuss the plan that Ashlyn had. It was a plan that needs careful planning, a plan that will start a conflict inside the kingdom.

"I will inform my men about this," Ash said.

"May the blessings of the Oryn kingdom be with you," Duke Vista said. Ash nodded at him and quickly leaves the place.

When she returned back at the training grounds, there was no one except Czedrick, her trusted friend.

"I thought that you will be with the troupes," Ash got off from the horse and face Czedrick.

"I was but, I had a feeling that you will be here and that feeling was right," he smiled. Czedrick was known for his correct hunches. If he tells you something good or bad, you have to believe it.

"Commander, I am all ears."

"Good, so you better listen," Ash lead him toward her office and discuss what she and the duke had a plan and her rebellion against the king. She thought that Czedrick would be against it but, he was supportive.

"Commander, you may not know but, I and the troupes have a big trust in you. No matter what your commands, we will trust it. That is why we always won the battle, without trust there will be conflict, right?" he asked.

Ash snickered at her friend's demeanor and taps his shoulder. "Thank you for always supporting me, Czed."

"No problem, commander. All of us are family so we need to trust each other."

Ash smiled which she shows rarely to anyone.

She continued to discuss the plan until sunset arrived.

"You better tell the men to prepare tomorrow night. We will perform the mission that the king had ordered us," Ash said.

"Yes, commander," Czedrick gave her a chest salute.

Ashlyn closes her eyes for a few seconds and opens them again. This time, she had a face that shows her determination to solve the dilemma that the two crazy bastards had done.

'My queen, I will protect the kingdom no matter what. So, rest assured,' she thought as she looks at the sun coming down the sky.