chapter 39

They spent two days in Ms. Monica's farm house. The princess still didn't seems to regained her self. Beatrice and Kate had done all they could for her to eat but she was not responding.

The queen tried too in vain. Beatrice complained to Francis to helped her if he could. To talked to or forced the princess to eat.

"My princess!" Francis began. Unsure of his words. If it shall healed her heart or not. "The king would never be happy seeing you like this. What are you doing to your self?. Look at all of us. We are here because of you.

We would be risking our lives for nothing if anything happens to you. Remember the kingdom, remember your people whose fate and destiny lies in your hands. We need you. We need our Princess back. Your husband too, he needs you back".

She raised her eye lids to meet his. She couldn't think of nothing to say to him. she allowed them fall back and she lean on the wooden headboard.

The room was nothing compared to her chambers in the palace. The bed wasn't grand but it was comforting. The furniture were aged. Shabby dark drapes feigned ignorance on the wall.

Wasn't it informed that it was going to host the princess?. It never bother to concealed it patches and tiny windows created on it by the cockroaches.

The closet was wearing away. The rooms had been deserted for the numbers of years we shall asked Ms. Monica.

The servants tried to tidy it when they learnt they had an uninformed visitors but the forgot to wiped the mirror. It was a good thing so the princess heart could not be ripped off if she sees her self. She looks frightening.

Francis took the tea from the low table by the bed side. He tried to give her but her mouths seems locked. The very eyes that was doing things to princess Eleanor seems like a cemetery to her.

Francis just looked at this new princess. Her face had strained of dried tears. Her eyes red like crimson. He was frustrated. He feared something might go wrong if he leave her in this state.

"What is the right word to say to her now" he thought

" I love you princess Eleanor". This five words blank out memories of her father. The very words she had been craving for. A little too late it came to greased her scar.

She looked at him with boring lonely gaze. Fighting to be the warrior princess her father knows her for. The protector and ruler. Did he meant it or he said that to comfort her?.

"Why did he have to go" she said in a pitiful tone. when it actually not what she had been planning to say when he professed his love for her the second time.

"We don't question fate. It is his time. He left in his time". They were talking about her father. The late king.

Francis held her hands. "All shall be well. You must rise up and fight, Eleanor. You have us by your side".

She heaved on hearing him called her by her name. They were alone after all.

He pulled the strands of hairs that fell from her temple to her eye. He kissed her hands. She felt warm. The warm she once felt in the river.

"Please my princess eat something". His tone soften that made her heart skipped a little.

"I won't take no for an answer". He brought the tea. It was like he had the keys to her mouth. It opened wide. He dropped a teaspoon full of green tea in them. Beatrice just opened the door. She was giggling like a child.

"My princess I shall order for something solid for you"

" How is the princess?" Queen Margaret asked Beatrice when she passed her on the corridor.

"She is eating... My lady" excitement was expressed in her tone. It brought smile to queen Margaret face. She knocked and entered the room.

"My princess" " your majesty" Francis bowed and stood up from the bed. The queen gesture to him with her hands.

"It a good thing to taste something after a long fast" she teased and the princess forced a smile.

"You looked beautiful when you wear that" the princess looked around. All she was wearing was a simple pink dress she had soaked with tears. She returned her looks on the queen confused.

"The smile" she said. She smiled some more. This time a little lively. Francis gaze was magneting.

She couldn't denied it was piercing deep into her skin. She flashed him a stare from the corner of an eye... Quickly, her face turned pink like her dress. The feelings she always experience at the palace when she looked into those pair of eyes returned.

Strange and true. The smile which drew on all their faces broadens. Suddenly the princess stomach growled.

"You should feed her always. Her stomach responds to your hands well". the queen teased Francis.

" My queen" he said and bowed.

The neighed of horses came from outside. Francis looked through the window. It was Bernard trying to calm his horse. The general met with him. Francis excused them and left.

He meet up with general Frederick and Bernard. Bernard got news for them. "Steve stay back, my general". The general understood.

"The emperor of Black Dust Empire came. He told Duke William... King William... Duke William". Bernard looked at the general in confusion. The general patted his shoulder.

"He gave him and the entire kingdom three days to mourned our late king Ephraim before he strike or the princess should be brought to him".

Francis face turned pale. The general shook his head. Just then they heard the churning of the wheels. Their eyes was strained around.

Until they saw from afar troops invading. Francis ran. The general didn't moved an inch. He remained where he was like a tree, no matter what this maybe, he shall face it squarely.

Bernard was by his side, he looked out for him. Francis ran straight to the princess's room. He convinced her and the queen to come with him to the sitting room.

Because the princess's room could easily absorbed arrows through the window. The rest of the guards armed themselves and stood by the door post to defend the house.

The male workers on Ms. Monica's farm grabbed their weapons. The fight wasn't their own but it was in their territory.

"To Ms. Monica" One of them passed the order and most of them spread out. They surrounded the building most especially the backdoor. With axes, flails, hay forks, shears and any tools that entered their hands.

They stood their grounds to defend their house and farm.

In an instance the building was surrounded too by the gallant knights of Golden Hill. In their golden knights uniform. Black boots, holster and helmet. They were prepared for an attacked on their horses but were waiting for an order.

Duke William came down. He walked on the dust of the field as though he was on dumped site. Slow and calculative. General Frederick was quick to moved. He was already two metres before him. Bernard tracked behind.

"I didn't come here to pick a fight general. I came here to get my queen and princess back home".

" Your grace" the general bowed for him. His mood changed.

"Addressed me as your majesty". He was loud, hailing himself with hands in the air. "Your king" he lifted his head up high and his shoulders hovered above. The general lifted his eyes and smirk at the crown that perched on his head. He heaved bitterly.

"I'm I not worthy of the crown?". He asked the general when he noticed his mockery glare.

"A thief is worthy if he is not caught" the general responded.

" What did you say" Duke William asked annoyed. His once hysteric tone turned serious. The sky turned serious too. Sending scorching sun on their heads.

"The princess and her majesty sent their greeting but they won't be inviting you in. I advised you take your leave".

Duke William stared at the old general for sometime. General Frederick stood holding his left wrist with his right hand. His trouser was neatly tucked into his long boot and his cream tunic in the brown trouser. His tommy was bigger than that of a woman who was almost due for labour. There he rested his hands.

Ken and Sea was at the door post ready to pick a fight. The workers who drew battled line before the knights were waiting for who would start it.

Francis protected the princess. He constantly peeked through the window. He made sure nothing moved inside, so he would know when to strike if it finally does. The women had daggers ready for martial arts. Princess Eleanor was still down. Too weak to flipped a sword. All she could do was hugged the ancient sword.

"I need them home that we may mourned their king together. To also planned on how to ruled the kingdom together. I am generous, let do everything together. Duke William said.

The general smiled at his words. He knew the emperor has threatened him to hand over the princess. So he was using means to passed the message across.

" Their king" general Frederick emphasis.

" Your late king" Duke William simply stated.

" I am your new king now. The earlier you acknowledged that the better for you. Beside who would have taken over the throne after the king's demise. He had no male child. Eleanor is nothing but a little girl whose place, I would have make to be in my bedchambers if not that she is married. I must said Ephraim was smart in that to have married her off." He closed his eyes and imagined vain things.

" Why does a little girl brings his majesty from his glory to these lowly side" general Frederick mocked. He stretched his hands and bowed. "And why would you want to take her home when she already have a home. Her husband's home in Mistletoe kingdom".

Duke William eyes turned red. Anger crept slowly into his reasoning. He saw that general Frederick was not repented. He couldn't lured him into his cabal then and even now he seems tougher.

Bernard hands hugged the handle of his swords when Duke William's temple began to palpitate. Donald, Duke William's personal guard was on your marks.

Ken and Sea felt awful when they saw the general bowed. They thought he was succumbing to the Duke or King William's term until they saw Duke Williams lift his hands for the knights to attacked.

"Halt!". The general commanded. "Rolland!". He called the captain of the team. "I trained you..." He walked into their midst. They were still on their horses.

" All of you... You are who you are today because of me". He spoke with a loud voice to their hearing.

" You received orders from me. Now you want to killed me. Have I ever belittled you? Have I ever wronged you?". The knights sat confused.

All of them turned to looked at Rolland their captain. Sea and Ken catapulted themselves behind Bernard. The workers replaced them at the door post.

" I am your king!, I command you to attacked!". Duke William spoke with the last strength left in him.

"He is the king my general" Rolland said and climbed down of his horse. He drew his sword at the general. All the knights drew their swords immediately. "I take orders from the crown no matter who wears it".

But Bernard, Ken and Sea had drawn their sword before they could. Duke William smirked scornfully. "Killed them all" he said.

When Francis saw the uproar, he moved few steps closer to the princess and positioned well. The women knew it was almost time.

The general held Roland's Blade. "Who made him king?". He looked him in the eye and Rolland couldn't give an answer.

"If I must die, let me die by your sword" he told him and pulled his sword near his throat.

Rolland took a heavy breath. He looked around.

"what are you waiting for". The Duke screamed.

Rolland dropped his sword and knelt before the general. The rest descended from their horses and did same. Ken and Sea and Bernard stand down. The farmers too and Francis and the women.

Duke Williams cursed but to no avail. The general bought the troops he came with, with words and past commitment before his very eyes.

" I don't want to killed you, we have a common enemy, the emperor. Let's joined hands and conquer him instead of fighting ourselves. No kingdom ever succeeds divided".

"Never". He screamed. " I am King and I shall killed all of you".

Duke William stepped back and started incantation in a strange tone. The dust started stirring up. Every one fell back.. He flashed his right palms at the old general. Slowly the general feet's rose from the ground as his hand was tilting up until general Frederick became afloat.

"Put him down" was a shout from numerous voices

"I am undefeated you old fool"

they guards ran to attacked him. He flung his left hand without looking at any of them. They all fell like apples to the ground. He moved general Frederick in the air and he after him.

The workers teamed up at the door.

"He is using magic" Francis screamed from inside. They were all frightened. How would they defeats this self made king with his magical powers.

"Get out of the way" Duke Williams Commanded. " Leave us alone. We have done you no harm" one of the workers said.

" You have what I want" he said and snapped his fingers all of them flew like chaff to a distant land. Francis opened the door.

" Put him down you wicked monster. I thought you were ordinary. Little did I know that you have gone beyond bars. Put him down".

Francis swung his sword at him. It jarred as it cut through the air.

"You are my grandson, the reason I don't want to harm you. I repeat... Get out of the way!".

" Never! I hate you grandfather". Francis stepped out and closed the door behind him. He then swung the sword again and this time it tore his robe. This made Duke Williams angrier. He lifted him up like he did the general. He kissed their heads together and let them fell like vegetables.

He started reciting some terms with gesturing fingers in the air. Twisting and clasping and folding and opening of his hands. He uproots the door and throw on the wheat field.

The knights on the opened space were still trying to get on their feet. Sea and Ken and Bernard were leaping with the helped of their swords. Their bodies was covered in dust. Francis and the general were fast asleep.

Duke Williams entered into the house while Queen Margaret hurried up to stand in front of him. The maids protected the princess.

Meanwhile Ms. Monica hurried into their middle. In between the queen and the Duke.

"What brings you to my home" she asked. Duke Williams tossed her to the wall. Her head was smashed against it and it's splits into bits.

"Where is the princess?" he said in a devilish tone. His eyes was black and smoky. His crown was dripping blood and his robe same.

" You can never have her". Queen Margaret challenged.

He started an incantation. Queen Margaret turned to Jessica and he flinched. Then composed himself immediately.

Duke Williams gaze shifted to see the princess who sat at the corner of the living room hugging her knees. Her tears was the water she drank and her burdens her food. She was absent minded about all that was happening.

"Bring her to me or you shall all die". He warned.

The maids except Kate laughed a cunning laughter. Kate was very frightened. She threw herself on the princess to die with her. The other maids stood like warriors behind queen Margaret. Unshaken. Their guts was like the storms of the high sea. Fierce and persistence. They were the daughters of Serpent Land.

Jessica clapped her hands to draw his attention.

"You maggots" the Duke cursed and raised his right hand to smite them with his plague.

His hand stiffen in the air. His gaze shifted to released the hand but fail and returned a loser. He wondered how queen Margaret dared possessed magical powers in Golden Hill kingdom and go unnoticed.

"Where you the only one that desired to used magic in this kingdom". A voice said as if it read his mind. " How cruel".

Jessica stepped aside. She was not the one that counter his attacked.

Duke William was surprised. "Do you also read mind?". He asked. He still didn't know who it was. All three brief Beings before him stood innocently. Beatrice, Stella and Martha. They never let their disguised down.

Duke Williams turned to looked at Jessica. She had returned to queen Margaret and was busy with the princess. Kate was relaxed now she pulled the arm chair closer for the princess to seat on.

His gaze traveled back to see if it was the general. General Frederick and Francis staggered at the wounded entrance with the other three in the middle. Their hands were around their shoulders, they stood like rotten vegetables.

He turned back to this three and the other female workers were face flat on the floor where Ms. Monica lied lifeless. He let his glimpse sprayed like yards over the princess. Who was now seated on the chair indifferent of the happening.

"Who dare suspends the king's hands in the air?". They laughed at him again. This time louder than before.

"Run if you still need your life intact" Beatrice informed him and stepped forward. Duke William lifted the other hands to cast a spell but Beatrice had already swept him off the ground. No part of her body was seen moving except her head and the rolling of her delicate blue eyes.

She used her mind to controlled her magic and with her focused eyes she executed her plans. She was about ripping Duke Williams of his glory.

"Don't hurt him. Give him the benefit of doubt as a king" queen Margaret warned

She smirked disappointed but obeyed. She allowed him float like balloon. Duke Williams who was hovering in the air was fast forwarded outside and dumped on a horse with his head facing the horse's back. He laid flat on his stomach, while his hands and legs swing as the horse rode away.