The lights inside the wooden village houses were now brightly burning, it was time for most farmers to get up and make themselves ready for the day. Zeudi lead the men towards the house she had stayed in while she was on her mission. The men didn't say anything to her, or to each other. Maybe they were cursing her, or thanking her. She didn't know, but she had a feeling that she would discover what they were thinking once they were behind closed doors.

"There it is." She said, while pointing to the building. Which was somewhat larger than all the other buildings inside the buildings inside the village. It was also directly build against the village square. It was build with wood, like everything else.

"Miss, do you know who that woman is?" One of the men asked. He nodded towards the fountain in the middle of the square. The woman in question had her palms up, and from those hands came the water.

"It is the Shield-maiden of this village, Utuliva." She replied. "Better known as the goddess of Tranquility." The man nodded and sighed. It was not strange for a village to have a statue from a Shield-maiden or another god. It was something that had stacked around, something that gave people hope. Her grandfather had pleaded with her grandmother, to take those statues away. But she luckily refused, because she knew what her people saw in them. Zeudi walked past the fountain and went straight for the house. The door still creaked when she opened it. A faint smell of dried flowers still lingered around. There was a large staircase, right in front of the front door. Which lead to the four bedrooms. Armana and she had shared one of these room while they stead here, the men of her personal guard had divided themselves over the other three. The kitchen, living room and dinning room were all on the first floor. There was also a bathhouse in the backyard. The men all started to pour into the space, that they now could call their home, at least for the time being. She wanted to explain everything, but somehow she couldn't find the words. "I am going upstairs." She placed a foot on the first tire.

"Wait, I know what you think but we do not blame you for his injury." Simret said, she nodded. They didn't blame her, that somewhat of a relief.

"But that those not mean that I do not blame myself." She replied. Tears started to sting in her eyes. "I blame myself for not trusting you, yes, you have attacked me at first. But during that attack, Idris and you have protected Armana and myself. And after that you all have cured me to health." The tears were rolling down her cheeks, she wanted to say so much more. But instead she shook her head and shot away. No matter what they said, it was still her fault. Her brother's men were after her, they tried to kill her. Her brother wanted her throne, this shouldn't surprise her. He always told her that she wasn't fit to be queen. Maybe because he still blamed her for her mother's death. No, it is not a maybe, she knew that this was all because he blamed her for their mother's death. But how could she have known, her mother didn't tell her that she was sick. Her mother volunteered to come with her on that one mission, to help the victims of a landslide. Zeudi couldn't have known that her mother wouldn't survive it. She closed the door behind her. Woldu wasn't the only one blaming her for that, her father was of the same mind as his son. But he didn't say it out loud, he tries to stop her from going on missions. She started to lean against the door, she wanted to go home. She wanted to run towards her mother's grave, in the grave chamber under the palace. But she wouldn't leave Idris, not even in Arsema's capable hands.

******

The sun was already sinking, his men have not returned. Which could mean two things, they were dead or they have failed him. If it was the latter, he would silently compliment them for their wisdom. Publicly, he would curse them to the depths of the underworld, nobody failed him and lived to tell the tale. Because if they did, they could betray him. They could spell out all of his plans to his father, the fool was still worried. Couldn't he see that this was a blessing in disguise, now their people wouldn't have to listen to an incompetent little girl. Now their people could rely on a strong leader, him. Nobody inside or outside the palace could deny that he was a capable general, he himself had won many victories in the name of Cidor. But he couldn't become king without more bloodshed, and all because of the rule that only a woman could ascend to the throne. He slammed his fist at the wall, but then shook his head. No matter the cost, he wouldn't allow his sister to become queen. There was a knock on the door, who could be so stupid. Everyone inside the palace knew that he was in a bad mood, and nobody, not even his own father would dare to interrupt him. But the door of his chambers swung open and a woman entered. He knew the woman quite well, it was his sister's Lady royal. He wanted to throw something at her, but he couldn't find anything.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"So you are back." He said, without any form of emotion. The pretty woman nodded, and bowed.

"My prince, your sister has escaped a second attempt on her life. But this was not because your men were not skilled enough." The woman said, was she really pleading for his men's lives. This was going to be interesting. "But the leader of the group of rogues, that you hired, was killed during the attack. The fool had not informed the rest of the group about the job and now they are protecting her." Woldu couldn't believe his ears. So his sister was still allowed to breathe, because there were still rogues out there that did not want to harm a woman. It was truthy unbelievable. He sighed and walked over to the girl, what was this. She was shaking, was she afraid of him? Good.

"Well Armana, thank you for telling me this. But why are you here? You should be with me sister, and that useless gang of rogues." He said, with a dangerous low voice. She quickly looked down, so she was not able to look him in the eyes. He smiled and grabbed her by the chin. "What am I going to do with you?" She tried to pull herself out of his grip, tried and failed. "Hmm, you are quite pretty, and are quite obedient. I need a consort, when I am king, and right now the chips are falling in your favor." Now she looked at him, with those pretty amber colored eyes. Well a lesser man would fall for those, not him. "I think you like the sound of that, but remember, nothing is for free." She wanted to nod, but he was still holding her in a tight grip. "Good, now we have that out of the way there is something I want you to do."

********

A knock landed on the door and she quickly jumped up. She had fallen asleep, while sitting on the ground.

"Princess, are you alright?" It was Simret, she shook her head. She wasn't alright, she wanted to go home. But she knew that it was right now too dangerous for her to do so. Besides that, she didn't know if Idris would be alright. Another knock landed on the door, this time she didn't jump. This time she suspected as much. "Princess?"

"Do not call me that." She snapped, she quickly slapped her hand before her mouth. Quickly opened the door with another. Simret was still standing on the other side. "I am so sorry. I am..." But he raised his hand.

"It is alright, you are just tired from everything that has happened at far." Simret said, she nodded slowly. Only she would not have used the word tired, she would go for weary, or something similar. "What should I call you, from now one I mean." She gave him a smile.

"Just call me Zeudi, that is my name after all." She replied, he nodded.

"Zeudi it is. I will also tell the others about this, so that no one accidentally calls you princess." He said and walked away. Leaving behind a pile of clothing, she stepped out of the room and picked it up. From outside, she could hear the men laughing. Something she had not heard them do, in the time she knew them. The sound of water was also audible, so they have found the bathhouse. Which was a good thing, she smiled and stepped went back into the room. Lay the clothing in a trunk and went downstairs. She didn't know how much time had passed since she had gone upstairs but she knew for a fact that the men would be hungry after their bath. She couldn't smell anything that resembles food, inside the house so that gave it away. When she entered the kitchen she came face to face with the local women.

"Princess, we already heard what had happened. We are so sorry about your men, are you here to help use. We know how much you love cooking."

She smiled at them, it was so simple. But their genuine concern and their involvement thatched her, it was something she wouldn't get at home.

"Thank you, and yes I want to help where ever I can. What are you making?" Zeudi replied, the surrounding women started to give her instructions. She couldn't tell how much she had missed the simple task of chopping some carrots, while listing to the gossip.

"Are all the men single?" One of the women asked after a while. Zeudi almost choked in her sip of ale. Another woman slapped the one who asked it on the arm. So they were not only here to cook a meal, they were hunting husbands for their daughters. She could have known, they had done the same thing to her guard.

"As far as I know, they are single." She replied, hearing the backdoor opening. "But you should ask them yourself."

"Ask use what?" One of the men asked.

"If you are single, Sennay." She replied. Their happy faces were gone, and all of them looked at her in shock.

"So you escape in the middle of the night, so that you can play matchmaker for my men." Someone from the threshold said. All of them looked at the owner. It was Idris, with a large grin on his face. She rolled with her eyes, while they started to tear up. She was happy that he was still alive, and not only that. He was walking around as if nothing happend.

"I am not playing matchmaker, but do not blame me if the mothers of this village are hunting you down, with their daugther close behind them." She said, while motioning towards the women inside the kitchen. "You all will see why when you are put to work in the moring."