Chapter 5

The hard ride to camp was made easier due to Olaf's robust Horse. I felt invincible riding on its back, like a moving fortress, surrounded by other moving forts, my escorts.

The cold air felt exhilarating as we, not too long after, came upon the encampment. It was just a short distance from the initial meeting place. Thankfully, all that walking from earlier wasn't all for naught.

As we rode into the encampment, a sense of melancholy was clear and heavy. It's difficult to describe this level of dread—written in the movements of soldiers, caught in their subtle glances and stares. But it was there that day.

An Ominous lethargy taxed the wounded as they lay moaning in the distance.

I followed the escort toward the center of the encampment, where we found ourselves in front of a red and brown tent—the colors of my house.

I would meet Father once again. Only Father lay inside. I was sure of it. I mustered up the courage and did my best to wipe the grimy mud from my dress.

"Never mind that, my lord, you should go on then," a random knight who had escorted me said.

"It is my lady. My lord father is the Lord, the Duke of Saraqustah," I replied sharply.

"Like I said, just get in there."

I felt the tenseness roll up my spine as I realized the obviousness of his statement. I had been so caught up in the idea of getting back to the estate that I never fully grasped the dire situation. Me, on my way back from the winter retreat, set upon by men trying to abduct me. People like Ruby running rampant in the countryside. This must mean an invasion.

I wondered what dread was waiting for me behind two pieces of cloth. I paused for a moment, hoping to find my footing—or at the very least savor this moment of stability before I was swept up in another ordeal.

I gritted my teeth and walked into the tent.

The first thing I saw was a map of the Mediterranean on a huge table. I didn't recognize the standards or the ornaments that decorated the tent, nor the man brooding in the corner. All I could focus on was the positioning of the figures that represented the enemy and my father's men. If I was reading this correctly, the enemy had already taken a keep on the outskirts of the duchy—a county called Calatayud.

This was far worse than I thought.

"Justine! Thank God Almighty you have returned!"

The man elated to see me was my cousin from Barcelona and heir to the Barony of Barcelona, Pere Ramon de Barcelona.

He quickly left his brooding state and gave me a hug with the utmost urgency. I was happy to be in the arms of family again. Even though I wasn't close to Ramon, he was still my dynasty. I hugged him back.

"I sent a detachment as soon as I heard your husband went looking for your ambushed escort. I'm guessing he was successful. Where is Sir Garfield?" 

"I wish your father, Afentis, was still here. I…"

I Brushed off the question with a question of my own.

"Where is my father? He should be here!" I said in distress, bracing myself for what came next. I had an odd feeling this entire day, but now I knew it was not without reason.

Raymon Answered with deep remorse."The Duke of Saraqustah is dead."