at me. I had to chuckle at the cheeky man. Then he got a serious look on his face and shared, “The war council expects you there in four days, or they will vote in a person of their choosing to speak for the Lupei. They want to send a war party to liberate my clan as the first order of business.”
The Duke spoke, “If our men travel to the mountains to free the camp, that will take two days. You'll reach Heaven's Gate with time to spare.”
Celeste nodded her agreement.
Then Prince stepped up to Alexandru, who pushed past Doc's restraining hands to stand and don his purple, blood-soaked tunic. Prince George said in a gravely serious tone, “Alexandru of the Lupei, I give my word as ruler of the Altii, that the attack on your people and subsequent abduction of your leader was in no way sanctioned by the crown. We will do all in our power to seek out those who perpetrated this heinous act and bring them to justice. I will give you a writ stating such before you leave Wexbury Keep.”
He offered his arm and Dru took the man's measure and then gave his aloof smile and nodded they grasped forearms.
The Prince said, “Let us feast tonight as the Knights prepare for travel at first light of Father Sol.”
Dru nodded and started to walk to the door with my Liege.
Max called out, “Where are you going, young man? I don't recommend you leaving bed yet.”
Dru winked at the man. “Thank you for all you have done for me healer, but I will be fine by morning. We Lupei are a hardy bunch.”
Then we all followed our friend and the Prince out of the hospital with a protesting doctor behind us the whole way. The huge church bell chimed out noon, and I looked to the clock in the tower. Sir Tennison was just galloping up on his steed beside Verna at the last reverberating dong settled across the village.
He dismounted and bowed to the Royals. Then the Duke said in a strong voice for all the people in the market who were gawking at the spectacle, “Sir Tennison, I need you to assemble a force to free the Lupei family of Mountain Gypsies on the lands of Wexbury from an encroaching force that has them under siege. And escort their visiting dignitaries to Heaven's Gate.”
He continued, “You are then to return to the Keep, leaving behind a diplomatic escort composed of four knights of their choice to guard them as they travel the lands of Sparo.”
The Prince nodded. “Nicely done Fred.”
The Duke grinned back. “Not my first rodeo.”
Tennison looked confused and asked, “Dignitaries?”
Princess Everly said like it was obvious, with a mischievous grin on her face, “Why the gypsy princesses, Sora Laney, and Sora Celeste of course.”
Tennison rubbed his hand over his face in exasperated resignation. “Why do I feel a clusterfuck coming on?” To the royal women for his language, he quickly said, “Apologies.”
Everyone laughed at the huge man's confusion. Celeste rolled her eyes at him. “Come on big man, I'll fill you in privately at the castle before we feast.”
I went to follow but then gleeped as I was tugged back to take Princess Everly's arm. She said in a conspiratorial tone as she looked around at all my confused friends and family, “Let them discuss all that monotonous planning, you must tell me about your adventures with the Lupei. I have heard so many rumors.” She grinned at Dru and looped his arm too and dragged us toward the market, half the Knights peeling off with her.
She called back, “You have fun planning violence dear George, I find it tedious. We will see you at the feast.”
The man just chuckled and called back, “May the Lord have mercy on your soul Laney.”
A few of the Highland Knights chuckled at that. I just blushed and went with the most powerful woman in all the lands.
Chapter 5 – Whispering Forest
The next morning, Celeste and I found ourselves heading out the gates and riding hard toward the west, with a rescue expedition of twelve Knights of the Realm, and six
The Duke spoke, “If our men travel to the mountains to free the camp, that will take two days. You'll reach Heaven's Gate with time to spare.”
Celeste nodded her agreement.
Then Prince stepped up to Alexandru, who pushed past Doc's restraining hands to stand and don his purple, blood-soaked tunic. Prince George said in a gravely serious tone, “Alexandru of the Lupei, I give my word as ruler of the Altii, that the attack on your people and subsequent abduction of your leader was in no way sanctioned by the crown. We will do all in our power to seek out those who perpetrated this heinous act and bring them to justice. I will give you a writ stating such before you leave Wexbury Keep.”
He offered his arm and Dru took the man's measure and then gave his aloof smile and nodded they grasped forearms.
The Prince said, “Let us feast tonight as the Knights prepare for travel at first light of Father Sol.”
Dru nodded and started to walk to the door with my Liege.
Max called out, “Where are you going, young man? I don't recommend you leaving bed yet.”
Dru winked at the man. “Thank you for all you have done for me healer, but I will be fine by morning. We Lupei are a hardy bunch.”
Then we all followed our friend and the Prince out of the hospital with a protesting doctor behind us the whole way. The huge church bell chimed out noon, and I looked to the clock in the tower. Sir Tennison was just galloping up on his steed beside Verna at the last reverberating dong settled across the village.
He dismounted and bowed to the Royals. Then the Duke said in a strong voice for all the people in the market who were gawking at the spectacle, “Sir Tennison, I need you to assemble a force to free the Lupei family of Mountain Gypsies on the lands of Wexbury from an encroaching force that has them under siege. And escort their visiting dignitaries to Heaven's Gate.”
He continued, “You are then to return to the Keep, leaving behind a diplomatic escort composed of four knights of their choice to guard them as they travel the lands of Sparo.”
The Prince nodded. “Nicely done Fred.”
The Duke grinned back. “Not my first rodeo.”
Tennison looked confused and asked, “Dignitaries?”
Princess Everly said like it was obvious, with a mischievous grin on her face, “Why the gypsy princesses, Sora Laney, and Sora Celeste of course.”
Tennison rubbed his hand over his face in exasperated resignation. “Why do I feel a clusterfuck coming on?” To the royal women for his language, he quickly said, “Apologies.”
Everyone laughed at the huge man's confusion. Celeste rolled her eyes at him. “Come on big man, I'll fill you in privately at the castle before we feast.”
I went to follow but then gleeped as I was tugged back to take Princess Everly's arm. She said in a conspiratorial tone as she looked around at all my confused friends and family, “Let them discuss all that monotonous planning, you must tell me about your adventures with the Lupei. I have heard so many rumors.” She grinned at Dru and looped his arm too and dragged us toward the market, half the Knights peeling off with her.
She called back, “You have fun planning violence dear George, I find it tedious. We will see you at the feast.”
The man just chuckled and called back, “May the Lord have mercy on your soul Laney.”
A few of the Highland Knights chuckled at that. I just blushed and went with the most powerful woman in all the lands.
Chapter 5 – Whispering Forest
The next morning, Celeste and I found ourselves heading out the gates and riding hard toward the west, with a rescue expedition of twelve Knights of the Realm, and six
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