“Harbor master! Harbor master!” Conor Evans was startled by his employee suddenly running in without knocking first and afterwards trying to catch his breath while panting heavily, “Harbor master! The “Southern Pearl” is anchoring!”
Conor stood up in shock. Around five years ago that ship was seized in a pirate attack and there was no reason for it to show up without any warning, except, if someone brought it back. And there were not that many ‘someones’ in the world and only his cousin currently came to mind.
It has been almost six months since “Queen Elizabeth” returned accompanied by astonishing flotilla of over thirty smaller ships while Clayton stayed behind to look for their family’s little princess. The whole city was in mixed emotions of mourning, anger and hope because together with Kate the two royal princesses were taken as well.
“Quickly, inform the head of the family! And the king!” Conor Evans commanded his assistant, “Right, send an immediate message to Julian Rollen as well!”
He barely managed to say these words, when only a gust of wind was left behind in the office. He trusted his subordinates, but on this occasion he had to see it for himself. In a couple of minutes Conor Evans was already down on the pier and with clenched fists stared in the distance where a particular ship was anchoring between many others.
During the last months most of these ships got only a general maintenance and had to wait for the appropriate crews to finish their training. King even directed a part of his army forces to get brief sailor drills, but the lack of qualified officers held him back in deploying this armada.
Because of the huge amount of the ‘standby’ ships in the bay, the “Southern Pearl” had to lower its sails already at the very entrance to the Aurora bay. With his Qi master’s abilities Conor Evans could discern many small silhouettes on the ship, but it was way too far to see any faces.
“Please, God, let it be them!” He silently prayed.
“Woa! So beautiful! And there are so many ships!” YunYun was shocked, “The Sun kingdom really has a strong naval force!”
“Not really.” Clayton explained, “Many were brought back from the Paradise city and most likely we lack a decent personnel to use them. To be honest, I’m really impressed general Grant managed to bring that many back. His dedication to the country deserves the deepest respect.”
“Wait until the spring,” Nick added, “Then this view will be even more impressive and beautiful.”
He didn’t mind the warm winters around here, but enjoyed the green trees and colorful flowers much more than snow.
The seven friends were up on the quarter deck together with Ali and his sisters and with mixed feelings watched the harbor, city and the ships in front of them. Meanwhile the former captives were currently gathered on the main deck and anxiously waited for their turn to get transported to the docks.
On the previous day Clayton held a large briefing and finally informed that among them there were two princesses who were abducted more than half a year ago and it was only proper to let them leave first while the rest would follow after that.
There were no objections as no one wanted to experience an awkward meeting face to face with the king while his daughters were still somewhere on the way. Even more, these princesses saved all of them and during the voyage didn’t back down from any dirty work! The girls had earned deepest respect and love of everyone.
There is no need to describe the shock of the three little Al’s when they realized the identities of their saviors. The smallest one, of course, couldn’t comprehend anything, but the both eldest suddenly understood what company they have had all along.
Seeing Ali staring in shock at the two sisters, Nick teased him, “What are you gawking at? You saved two princesses, be proud!”
Only at this moment the boy understood, that back in Ulum both parties saved each other and even discussed the terms on equal grounds.
Even for him it now seemed laughable and he blushed in embarrassment, but still held his head high, ‘That’s right! I saved them all!’
“Let’s dash over!” YunYun was already impatient since she first saw the land on the horizon. She had been practicing Qi control all this time and was confident to make it that far.
“Nah.” Nick shook head, “They have to be the first to reach the docks. Now that we are in the capital, everything must be done properly. Look – they are wearing pretty dresses even though they feel uncomfortable in those!”
“I don’t care about that! I want to try these jeans of yours!” YunYun pouted.
As soon as they approached Aurora, Nick immediately changed to his regular attire – jeans, white shirt and the small backpack. If one didn’t count his short hair, tanned skin and the fact that he had grown a bit taller, he looked exactly the same as when he left.
“I’m telling you, it won’t feel right if you to wear the wrong size. Later I’ll introduce you to Stefan and he will tailor some specifically suited for you.” Nick tried to calm the anxious girl down, “But I’m sure you’ll look great in those. Your short black hair and the sword on your back also will go good with the jeans.”
“What nonsense are you trying to pull here?” Kate angrily glared at Nick, “After we get home, she’ll get the prettiest dresses and a bumpkin like you will only look ridiculous at her side.”
“I don’t want dresses, they are uncomfortable.” YunYun shook her head, “I’ve already decided to try the ‘jeans’.”
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Kate could only facepalm at this weird couple, but others just laughed. They were like this all the time and there was no reason for them to suddenly change just because they got back to Aurora.
“Alright, let’s go!” Clayton ordered, “My guess is that his majesty had enough time to arrive, that is, if he’s in the city.”
Then he turned to the other passengers, “I have brought you home as promised, but please be patient for a while. Also, our agreement still stands and everyone will get their share of compensation.”
The rest of people on board were excited, but tried to keep themselves in check and watched how their saviors, together with the three small children, boarded the first cargo boat.
When they came closer to the docks, everyone could see a huge crowd that was gathered on the pier. It felt almost like half of the city came to welcome them home.
“Why are there so many people?” Beata felt butterflies in her stomach from the moment they anchored. Seeing her loved ones was only a dream two months ago.
“The fact of your return spread like a wildfire. We didn’t even manage to leave the pier when his majesty arrived. It looked like he just left his study and simply ran here. And many other people got the wind of it too.” One of the dock workers explained while energetically paddling.
“But how … how did they know we are alive?” Conny barely managed to whisper. Tears were in her eyes when she heard her father was already waiting.
“No one lost their hope all this time.” The other worker replied with a wide smile, “Everyone in the city knew that master Clayton, your husband and Nick went after the three of you so we all waited and prayed for the best.”
“Sigh, just paddle!” Clayton shut him up. Up until now he didn’t really think of this side of their return. He knew his wife was waiting somewhere in the Evans’s estate and that he would be able to finally hug her, but yesterday it all seemed so far.
The boat didn’t even manage to hit the pier when the three girls got out and with a shout ‘daddy!’ jumped in their respective father’s arms. Both Alexander Maxwell and Winston Evans were anxiously waiting while trying to hold themselves back from running over the water towards the little boat as soon as they recognized the people inside.
Girls hugged their fathers while sobbing and the huge crowd in the background loudly cheered. Their return was confirmed and these news spread even faster than the first.
“Your hair is so short.” His majesty sighed while caressing the heads of his daughters and both of them barely managed to whisper ‘we had to’ through sobs.
“Two hundred and twenty nine days!” King exclaimed emotionally.
“Sorry, your majesty, it took so long, we did our best.” Nick suddenly took a step forward and slightly bowed.
King glared at him, apparently getting a bit angry, “I’ll be waiting for your report in the afternoon! Let’s go!”
As soon as the king turned around, the crowd instantly parted. He held his two daughters by hand and they boarded the carriage that was already waiting on the pier.
Steven sighed, shook his head and approached his father as well. Both of them looked at each other for few seconds, then loudly laughed and hugged.
“Let’s go home as well.” Julian Rollen happily said.
“Uhm, we’ll have to take care of the kids.” Steven pointed at the three children who were still in the boat, staring in shock at the huge crowd, “I can’t leave them with Nick or they might start some weird training.”
Julian Rollen glanced at the boat and shrugged, “Sure.”
During these eight months a lot has happened and even if it included adopting few children, he didn’t mind if he could get his son back.
“Listen up, the three of you will have to go with Steven for now, but don’t worry, he has a big house. Conny will join later after she visits her mother.” Nick smiled and put the kids on the pier one by one and then stuffed the smallest girl in Steven’s hands.
“Will we ever meet again?” Ali anxiously asked.
“Of course, Aurora is not that big. Besides, I still have to pay you according to our deal.” Nick winked, then bumped fists with Steven and turned to Clayton.
“I guess our trip is over.”
“Ye, finally.” Clayton exclaimed, “The king probably will have a feast soon, so we’ll meet there. By the way, don’t forget to report to the king later. I’ll go with my brother now. Ahhhhhh, how I miss my wife!”
He almost shouted the last part and left while laughing out loud to hug his brother and Kate at the same time.
“Oh! Finally!” Nick stretched, “Let’s go. I have to visit a place and after that I’ll treat you to the best dish in the world!”
“Alright!” YunYun replied, “But why was the king angry at you? Didn’t you help bring back his daughters? Or it took too long?”
“He wasn’t angry, but thankful. Didn’t you see he almost teared up? I couldn’t let that happen in front of all these people so we found a way for him to express another emotion and let him quickly leave.”
“We?” YunYun was confused.
“Of course, we have a kind of understanding with him.” Nick laughed and they left through the cheering crowd as well.
People and, from what it looked like, even cats and dogs were in celebratory mood and it got more festive when an hour later king announced exemption from taxes for everyone for three days. In an instant the whole city turned in to a large festival, just like the during Midsummer, except for the lack of green leaves and flowers, of course.
Meanwhile Nick went to see Ben. The old man didn’t say much and just patted him on the shoulder awkwardly, but auntie Maria didn’t shy off to hug him for few minutes and cry her eyes out. After some time she noticed YunYun nearby and while repeating ‘good boy’ over and over again hugged him even tighter.
When Nick finally got out of the torture, they darted over to “Sunshine”. The waiter on the lower floor instantly recognized him while waving and happily shouting from the distance, “Master Nick, welcome back!”
Nick didn’t want to get too much attention and they quickly got his usual room and ordered ten different pizzas. YunYun didn’t know what that amount meant, so didn’t care until waiter brought the weird looking dishes over.
“You eat it like this – just take a piece in your hands and don’t bother about your fingers getting greasy.” Nick instructed.
YunYun’s eyes widened after the first bite and soon she started wolfing down pieces of pizza one after another.
“Don’t rush, we can eat here every day! Eat slowly, we have guests coming.” Nick smiled while watching her enjoy his favorite food. In in this world he hasn’t met a person so far who didn’t like it.
“Guests?” YunYun asked with full mouth.
“Mhm, I bet some fellows will soon run over.”