Foreigners
Clip-clop! Clip-clop!
In a near distance, the sound of horses' hooves striking the hard ground as the man-beasts trotted on their way, was no longer indistinct.
For an hour and some thirty minutes long, the hefty men galloping on the devoted horses had put in enough momentum to hasten their stride from the onset, but once they had spotted a certain landmark, they'd decided to let the horses walk and not put in the effort.
Among these men, Zeke was the most impatient.
The landmark they had come upon was the MOOR RIVER...
"For yikes sakes! Theodore! Tell me we've finally reached Griffinwald!"
Ezekiel spat his words somewhat frustratingly and angry.
'IF I had known that this journey would be far more demanding of my strength, I should have attended to my belly when we halted at Wimborne.
But there I stood like a fool, giving myself zero time for leisure while I watched the others eat to their heart's content. Hmph!'
While Zeke wound his thoughts down the path of regret, Theodore got prepared to speak.
"Don't let your heart fail you any further, Zeke. It is a certainty that we have indeed reached Griffinwald," said Theodore with a mocking smirk.
Why?
It wasn't difficult for Theodore to read Zeke's body signs which depicted that he was dead hungry—famished more likely.
From how Zeke had spat his words furiously and with deep-rooted frustration, Theodore could tell so much.
Meanwhile, Zeke's gaze had landed on Theodore once he'd smirked at him in a fit of mockery.
Asshole!
Zeke had cussed because he understood that his facial expression had probably given away how much he'd been holding in his hunger pangs.
"Look! Theodore, you don't have to give me that disgusting shit face simply because you can guess that I'm famished-"
Theodore lifted his hand to indicate his innocence at once while the third man among them let his vision dart from Ezekiel to Theodore.
But Zeke was too offended to give a hoot about Theodore's feigned denial.
"Yeah, yeah try to deny it all you want Theo, but you know what? The shit don't matter. I didn't eat while the rest of you two pigs dug into your beef sauce or whatever, back at that Wimborne village because I am the one with the most focus."
Someone got offended.
"What am I getting dragged into this for?" The third man lifted his brows into an arch in protest.
"Just let us get on with our mission already," said Zeke.
The other two watched him trot ahead on his horse then Theodore leaned over to the other mercenary in a whisper.
"I know this is your first assignment together with him but don't let his temper get to you. He is a madman who would starve himself and then blame others for his poor decisions. And... uhm keep it between us.
He's more worthy in the king's eyes afterall."
Theodore finalized his speech with a roar of careless laughter; the other soldier joining in.
Hearing them laugh so hard caused Ezekiel to feel terribly vexed.
He turned himself around with a look of rage displayed for both men to see.
"Well would you men much rather chit-chat or get on with your mission?!" Ezekiel barked at them both which prompted them to sniff in their laughter.
"Ai-yah!"
They chorused and then kicked on the sides of both their horses while holding on tightly to the reins to steer the man-beast in motion; in the stride of a gallop.
They surpassed Zeke's horse in a dash.
The only problem was...
"We have no clue which hamlet houses the Blythes. There should be a few places we can ask because it really is a small town indeed!"
Zeke reasoned out loud to himself. He then hopped on his way to join the others.
——
{At the Blythe's}
"Why has neither Jacob nor Louisa returned yet and by this hour? Should they not care for their stomachs at least?"
Mrs Letita Blythe murmured out loud.
Initially she had understood her husband's reason for storming out of the house the way he had done.
But who wouldn't?
Not when he had read a note explicitly informing him of his daughter's elopement with a gentleman of the lowest worth[ in financial status and a drunkard] who hails from a neighbouring village [which was carefully not mentioned].
Also had Elizabeth not confessed to letting this man have her pride already a dozen times over and had little regret whatsoever fortwith?
The note had also mentioned how she—Elizabeth hated being called a Blythe these long years and how she had zero concerns if the news of her careless actions would ridicule the family's name once the news of her elopement had spread through the village.
Believing those to be his Elizabeth's words had greatly infuriated Mr Blythe who felt the most offended by the girl's betrayal.
Even more heartbreaking was how she had ended her note.
"... Oh dearest father, your wickedness shall not be greatly missed by me. So, therefore refrain from acting like you care... and I mean all of you!
Does it hurt now to know that you had wasted your resources in uplifting me all these years?
Well, take out time to care for your own health.
With Love,
Your Worst Decision,
Elizabeth."
While Letita deliberated on her well-crafted out false accusatory letter, Bessie disturbed her line of thought.
"Madam! Lunch would be ready in five minutes. Should I lay your food on the dining table or since the rest of the-"
"Do you even have a heart?" asked Letita spitefully.
Bessie stood puzzled.
"Madam, I should say that I do but-"
"You obviously do not! IF you did, you won't stand by my side to talk about food when I have no idea where either my husband or daughter, Louisa have disappeared to for so long..."
'So those are the only ones she cares about not even a slight worry for Elizabeth,' thought Bessie while she maintained a straight face in attention to the scolding she had brought upon herself.
"... IF your disgusting meal is so important to you, then eat it yourself. All of it! I can't even trust that you have not planned my death through poisoning," accused Mrs Blythe.
Bessie bit her tongue and kept her cool in spite of it all.
Just then, they got alerted by the throdding feets of horses approaching their doorstep.
"Who are those? I am not expecting anybody" Letita thought out loud.
Standing still, they soon heard a knock on their door.
"Go and check out who is by the door," demanded Mrs Blythe.
Bessie was already on the move when a witty thought crept its way into Letita's mind.
'Wait! This could be something important or some important personnels. No! I can't have this snake by my side,' reasoned Mrs Blythe.
She then turned to Bessie.
"Get your ass away from there and return to the kitchen at once!" ordered Letita.
Bessie stopped in her tracks, surprised at the woman's sudden change of command.
Another knock on the door caught Bessie's attention but Letita was quick.
"What are you still standing there for? Go to the kitchen and stay there until I send for you. Now move aside!"
Mrs Blythe then waved her hand to signal for her to step aside.
Bessie obeyed and walked to the kitchen.
Once Mrs Blythe had certified herself alone, she hurried to the door and opened it to the sight of three men—obviously foreigners.
Much more important than that, was that they looked like Knights of royalty.
Probably from Aegremonth?
Could it be they have come for my Louisa?
Goodness gracious! Contemplated Letita; her hazel eyes shining brightly as a result of her intelligence.
After letting the woman observe them for a minute, Ezekiel was the one to break the silence.
"Lady, we request to have a talk with the master of this house," said Zeke with authority and composure detectable in his tone.
"What would you have him for and whence have you come?" asked Mrs Blythe.
"We have come from Aegremonth with a message from the King!"
___________________________________________
📚 Hello everyone! It's the beginning of a new week and also the call to a new quest.
Are you all excited about it because I am 😊😊
DEAL IS:
100 POWERSTONES BY END OF THE WEEK= 2 XTRA CHAPS
> 100 POWERSTONES= DO THE MATH 😏
Also, for every chapter unveiled, we get one chapter closer to the unveiling of the Yonder Realm and 'The Prophecy.'
Stay Tuned!
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