chapter 15

"stay close. all of you". The knights felt awkward moving any closer near their queen and princess.

"Closer". Jessica screamed. "Stop acting like you never hugged a lady".

At the queen's words. They looked around. They were the only ones in the large hall of the floating castle.

"my queen there is a child in our midst". They all looked at the princess. She glared at them, they looked away.

Reluctantly they obeyed the queen. It was an order anyways. They formed a circle holding each other's hands. All of them together.

"If I were you I would closed my eyes". Jessica announced before they felt as if breeze was about blowing off their brains.

After which they found themselves outside the city gate of their dear kingdom, Golden Hill. Quickly they freed their hands and cross-checked themselves. First their numbers and lastly if they arrived in one whole piece.

"What just happened?". One of the knights spoke. Some stood mouth agape. Speechless.

"Teleporting just happened" queen Margaret said less concerned. She had smiles of fulfilment written all over her.

They spent a week and some days before they got to their destination. Serpent Land. but coming back, they arrived within seconds. "why didn't they teleport to Serpent Land". Most of them reasoned but it was pointless. They were already here.

They were grateful after all they didn't have to go through the stressed of the road. It was a right thing to do, to thanked queen Margaret for saving their head from the king's wrath if they didn't bring back the princess on time.

"where is our carr…". Before Eleanor could complete it. It was right there in front of them. The carriages and eight destriers.

"Righteous!" she pouted her lips at queen Margaret. "how". She thought. the was supposed to be some form of contact before things could be teleported.

"You thought right" . It was Joyce who showed her face from one of the carriages.

"Hey you get off my carriage this minute. I still must punished you for the last time and now this. Get off now you little…". Eleanor yelled at her.

"what about forgiveness, my princess". Queen Margaret tinkled her when she crouched to her ear from behind.

Joyce stepped down. One of the knights helping her. She went to Eleanor.

"That must be a thank you from you, I believed". Eleanor wanted to speak.

"Tsk" Joyce interjected. "a thank you for bringing your carriages and horses. Say it or I shall returned them and you shall come back to my land to retrieved them". Joyce had crossed the distance between them.

Everyone there turned to looked at Eleanor. She heaved swallowing hard. The knights didn't want to go back. A thank you wouldn't deprived her of her crown.

"T..th… hmmm. She looked at her again. Joyce gave her a wicked smile. "thank you". Eleanor joined the words together. "thankyou" and walked away.

They gate was opened, she was walking to it with anger. The second chance she seek to deal with this demon girl was the same chance she used to tell her thank you. "how unfair fate was". She whispered to herself.

Meanwhile the knights mounted the destriers and coachmen their carriages. They helped Eleanor in. She looked back from the carriage window. They were leaving Joyce behind until she became tiny just as Eleanor had earlier imagined and she couldn't see her again.

It wasn't long before they reached the palace. They were glad they kept to the time they agreed with the king that they were going to returned home.

King Ephraim was seated at the palace entrance. His two personal guard behind. He was waiting patiently for his daughter. They were in shocked when they sight him.

Immediately the carriages halted. The princess jumped out. Ken was fast enough to lend his hands for her on time. If not she would have been wailing on the floor by now.

She was overly excited, meeting her father again in three weeks. She ran through the entrance stairs to him. The king was already up standing. His heart over flows with joy. He spread his hands apart.

The knights and queen Margaret were now on the ground. All the knights stood there watching. While the queen made a steady steps up.

The carriages and destriers they traveled with was taken away by other guards to be clean and kept.

Eleanor finally got into his spread arms and he wrapped it around her.

"father"

"my child how I have missed you"

"I have missed you more"

"No!". King Ephraim said in a sonorous voice. "it is I who have missed you more".

"Righteous! I have missed you more" Eleanor released their gripped and stamped her feet on the floor and both hands against her tiny waist.

"I have missed you more". King Ephraim crouched to her level. Fondling with the bridge of her nose. It was as if nothing else existed. It was just the two of them.

King Ephraim's eye teared up seeing his child again in three weeks. He pulled her back into his embraced.

Queen Margaret was a metre away from them. Her eyes met the king's. He was still holding tight to Eleanor.

"Come here" he said to her. Putting out his left hands, he drew her into their embrace. The air blew chills into their spines. Chills of love and longings.

The knights knelt when the king descended the stairs. He walked up to them. Their eyes focused on the floor. He started serially. According to how they knelt. He gave each and everyone of them a firm handshake.

"Thank you".

Ken was grateful for himself and the knights with him. Most especially for his knights. In place of their heads being chopped off, a lovely handshake was spared. That also means more golds to their pocket. The valued the handshake to the golds because it was rare. The very first of it kind.

"the king just shook my hands. He looked into my eyes with smiles on his lips." One of the knights spoke. "surely I shall never watched this hand". He kissed it.

They was celebration but it never lasted. How would it. When Eleanor saw her father differently from how she knew him.

It was already two years since Eleanor returned. Things had changed. Her father seems to spent his every minute in the throne all. He wouldn't let her in like he used to.

And when he is with her, He looked at her like she was an outcast. Constantly he looked worried but has refused to talked about it.

She thought maybe the ring might helped if she invites lord Zane to let her know what his eating up her king. What is making her father to be shadow of himself.

She gave out instructions to the maid and her personal knights that she doesn't want to be disturbed. It was in the evening. When she entered into her bedchamber and secured her locked safely.

All this months. She had kept to her promised and did not tell or showed anyone the ring.

She closed and double checked that the drapes were properly covered before camping on her bed.

She hold the ring in her fingers. Slowly she turned it.

"lord Zane" she called softly.

"why didn't you invite me because you wanted to spent time with me. Must it be until you have something bothering you". Came the voice from the dark part of the room.

It was only the brightness from the fireplace which gave light to them. She wanted to see the face of who just spoke to her.

"Are you afraid that it not me".

"Just wanted to see if you have finally grow horns". She said and chuckled.

He let his hands burned with light and he took it to his face. The next thing he was by her bed side.

"don't scared me please. If you want to get closer. You walked. Legs are for walking my lord". She heaved loudly.

lord Zane was out of sight. She looked round. He was gone. She kept turning the ring but he was gone for good. She later lit candles to see all corners of the room clearly but he was still not there.

"lord Zane please pardoned my manners. Queen Margaret is really trying to teach me how to be behave nicely. But how was I supposed to tell you that you were scaring me". She mounted on the bed again.

"I know you can here me. My father is troubled from many things. I know one of it is from my older stepped mother queen Charlene. I don't want to pry. Another is about the kingdom. I don't know exactly what it is. Since I came back. He wouldn't let me in again, in anything concerning the matters of the state. He is hurting me the way he is. Please help me out".

"he is protecting you" he came back and lean on the door.

"From what!". She asked.

"what exactly do you want me to do".

"Get information from his head. I want to know what he is keeping away from me".

"he is keeping away because he doesn't want to let you worried over it. It might be bigger than you".

"I called you here so you could helped me out. She stood from the bed and walked round. "what is wrong with all of you."

"I asked Jessica she claims she hasn't noticed her husband moody moods for the past two years".

"Does Jessica lived here.

"Queen Margaret. Stop teasing me. You know queen Margaret is also Jessica. How you helping me or not?".

"Is this how rude a princess is?. If you are asking for a favour. Ask nicely".

She paused and looked at him. She then walked to him and bowed before him.

"lord Zane please could you help let me in to my father's problem". Still in the courtesy position.

"I can't". "but why"

" became I care about you. I don't want you to worry".

"That all you say. You are a demon, you can't care about me. I'm a human. There is a difference. You said you were going to do whatsoever I shall asked of you". She was pacing again.

"You have forgotten there was a condition".

"Which is".

" I shall tell you on your eighteenth birthday". He paused and looked at her. "I shall tried.

"don't try. Just do it".

But he was gone.

Days passed into weeks, weeks into months, months into years and six years passed by like it was another heavy wind. lord Zane did nothing. He gave her an empty promised. She refused to talked to him again.

Many times she has gone to her father to remind him of the need of communication. They were two many things to be talked about and many others to be ignored. But her father kept things a topmost secret.

It was another six years to her age. She now sixteen. She was not growing any younger. Soon she shall be a woman.

As usual her time table was the same. In the study, with her father and other times practicing the art of sword she never had the chance to experiment it for real. Only in friendly matches. The only slight difference in her time table was her absence from the throne hall.

This period she spent it with queen Margaret and her maid Beatrice and tended to other petty things that couldn't add up.

Today she was on the lawn in her garden when the king's guard came.

Her maid Beatrice directed Bernard to where she is.

They halted when they heard the clanging of the swords from a reasonable distance. They spectate the duel.

Princess Eleanor and Ken suffered the vulnerable lawn. It's was small and bothered by bed of flowers.

Eleanor swung her sword from her back and curled around her waist line. She strike the guard with one hand. Her left hand was behind her back. Ken blocked her attacked letting their swords sparked in the air.

Bernard smirked knowingly at Beatrice. She raised her brow bemused.

"The princess is too fast and strong for her age". He said

Beatrice heaved. "I have served her for the number of years that she is and I'm saying of the fact that she is different in many ways. I'm not in the position to tell the difference".

She moved a little forward. Bernard followed her. Beatrice was brief and plump like newly harvested pumpkin. Her afro hair was dark and thick like the bed of flowers in princess Eleanor's garden where they were.

Her ebony skin radiate with the early morning sun. The structure of her face was too perfect for her height. It made members of the royal family wondered if she was actually a maid. Her forehead was as round as the moon. A pair of turquoise blue eyes in a dark beauty.

Her long lashes wasn't her fault or her nose that posed elegantly on her delicate face. Her exquisite cheekbones rose above her smiles.

Those smile were a web that engulfed without warning. In it mighty knights drown but they never sunk to the depths, they remained afloat.. where she wants them to… clueless.

"She is supposed to teach who is training her. I mean tell me what girl at her sixteen year will fight a full grown man full of life like a mate. Not so, will defeat a well trained knight like a babe". Her oval lips curved to say

But Bernard was already engulfed in her web. He was quiet, imagining things. Things her endowed physique did to him. Beatrice turned around when she didn't hear him speak.

"Sir Bernard...!"

"Yes... yes my lady... "

"Your lady" Beatrice made a face.

" Forgive me. I meant she possesses some powers. Imagined what happened the other day at the field, the day she defeated her entire knights point blank. So fighting only sir Ken is not a good enough match for her". He said in a rush.

"Strange indeed but don't speak vain of the princess. You know, we the indigenes of Golden Hill is not known to possessed any magical powers and at such the kingdom doesn't permit it usage except on critical situations". Beatrice added

Bernard was still drooling over her. She was used to men lusting after her beauty. So she ignored him and sat on the deck chair avoiding the sun.

The princess legs kept moving forward as she strike, counter and double strike. Their sword flapped when it cut through the air.

Ken was withdrawing because he was exhausted from defending himself against the young princess. And he was ashamed seeing princess Eleanor punished him in a duel.

No matter how he tried to cover the pace. To prove that he is an hefty man and the best among her chosen knights, he failed.

The princess tortured him the more. "She is smarter and too strong for her age". He thought.

Before he knew he was leaning on the edge of the flowerbed begging for mercy.

Reminding the princess that it was just a training and not an actual fight. At last his sword escaped his gripped and he lifted his hands in the air. The princess sword held close to his throat.

"My princess" he called frightened

Bernard and Beatrice on the other side clapped for her.

"Well-done my princess". Bernard bowed. "That was professional".

The princess stared at him indifferent of his praise.

"How long have you been there?".

She asked breathing from her mouth. Beads of sweat was raining on her ivory skin. Her hair was a mess harbouring crumbs of dirt.

If she wasn't a princess she would have packed her tunic and wiped the sweat that dared penetrates into her eyes. But she held her shoulders high and waited for the piece of cloth to be brought to her.

"Long enough my princess to learn a skill from your art of sword".

Princess Eleanor gave him a brilliant sneer.

"What brings you".

"Your father, the king, my princess. He demands for your presence in the throne hall".

The princess seems furious. She has wished to be with her father in the throne hall like she used to, when she was a child. Now this knight didn't call her on time. She fling her legs slightly to have more relieved.

"Why didn't you called for my attention"

"I begged for forgiveness my princess but the king ordered me not to disrupt any of your activities. I must wait till whenever you are done with what you might be doing before my arrival. Only then shall I informed you of his need of your presence".

She couldn't pretend enough of her aching boot. She bend to loosen it to released her slim leg from the boot arrest.

"I shall do that my princess". Bernard offered to helped but she declined. He insisted and she gave in.

He knelt with a knee and loosen it. Before Bernard could finished losing the laces Beatrice came with another boot.

"That won't be necessary Beatrice'.

"ok my princess I shall go and prepared a bath for you". Beatrice packed her boots and left.

Ken just recovered himself. He was walking to them to resume his duties behind his princess.

"Get some rest. I shall not bother you for today".

Ken was over joyous and thanked her immensely before he took his leave. Princess Eleanor looked at the sweat glistening on her muscles and the rising sun trying to dry it off. Her dirty palms and...

"Tell my father that I shall be with him shortly".

" As you wished my princess". Bernard courtesy and left.

She bathe as fast as she could. Soon she was set to meet with her father.

On her way to the throne room. She met with Francis, the Duke's grandson. There have been friends for quite some time. Distance friends though.

Princess Eleanor never had the time to weighed his smiles or his kindness and little concerns over her. She assumed she was a princess so everyone and anyone could be exceptionally fair to her.

"Greetings my princess!" Francis bowed.

"What keeps you outside the throne hall?".

His face was beaming that the princess stopped to asked. She often times responded without stopping.

His posture was stately. He had a brown trouser and a blue shirt. A boot.

His auburn hair fell straight on his shoulder. Those grey eyes of his, shines like the evening skies. Francis face was firm and knowing. His sleek cheek bone positioned while his pink lips curved into a smile. His skin was light brown and creamy. His smiles became too obvious that made her wonder if was alright.

"My grandfather. My princess. He kept me waiting, here". He speak in a calm low voice

"you smile like a moron but..." She sized him up. "You speak like a person. She curled her lips into a wicked smirked

" Are you always this mean" he raised his voice.

" Oh you have a voice. Know how you use them. You are before the princess of this kingdom. Next time, Stop behaving like a kitten before me. Because you always do".

" You have been noticing me" he asked excited but she had walked past him and went into the throne hall.

Her glide was exquisite as though she was walking on the air. The hall became silence to announced her presence

Her father the king sat in his majestic. The other queens were in their places. They were seated on a seat near the dais.

Queen Charlene sat alone beside the king's right hand while queen Margaret and queen Daniella share boundaries on his left. The nobles sat on sit withal.

She saw a commoner. He was dripping blood and water in places her eyes was still trying to trace. Her once calm strides suddenly changed to awkward