So…I'm not so happy with the title of this piece of work anymore. As you've noticed, I've renamed it to Until I Find You. I figured it was a little more appropriate, considering the plot. The rest of the gang, minus Roger and Peppita, make a cameo appearance in here so be on the lookout. By the way, I am so sorry I took forever with this chapter. I was really lazy at the end, but I needed to keep moving for plot purposes.
Until I Find You
II. Tiresome Obligation
She had passed through the town of Arias, earning stares from the townswomen and joyous cheers from the soldiers. Nel was supposed to be in the Sacred City, not riding off the battlefield. She could only imagine the look on Clair's expression now, eyeing her down as she returned with bloodstained hands. Her friend would shake her head and shrug her strong shoulders.
"Lady Nel, is it true? You have cut down Shelby the Heavy-Handed?"
The Crimson Blade lifted her gaze to see a few teenagers addressing her. Fresh, red runes were painted across their arms. The new trainees under Adray, she supposed. They were getting younger every year. She kept her expression neutral, but felt her heart crush. Her chest tightened and her hand flew up to clutch the spot above her heart. This was too much.
They were so young.
"Yes, I have. It should weak their morale." She answered. Shelby had been a lot weaker than she expected, but perhaps, his strength had diminished from being on the battlegrounds for a longer period of time. Nel had arrived near the end of the battle, aiding the Aquarians turn the tide of the battle. The hand clutched at her heart loosened. Maybe then, Airyglyph would give up on the ridiculous war. There were other ways of obtaining what they wanted instead of conquering the land.
"Now that Shelby is dead, do you think you can defeat Albel the Wicked?"
"Perhaps. We'll see." She paused, "Or I'll die trying." Quickly excusing herself, she rode off out toward Northeast gate, moving toward Peterny. It was a race against time. The sun was setting behind her. She had no time to stop and rest. Dinner would be served in a less than two hours. If she wasn't back by then, Lasselle would never let her hear the end of it. When she was past Peterny, she slowed down a little and recalled what the two trainees were saying back in Arias.
Albel the Wicked.
She thought of that man. That man with the deep pools of blood for eyes, he had caught her gaze at the end of the battle. As Airyglyph retreated, she watched him go. His back was vulnerable, so open. She had been tempted to swipe a bow and arrow from a fallen archer and aim at his retreating back. Her fingers were twitching, but she held back the urge. The battle was over. Besides, Nel was an honorable warrior.
She was not one for playing dirty.
Shit.
She could have sworn loudly, but with Lasselle leading to the throne room, she had refrained from doing so. Apparently, they were expecting her. News of the victory at the border had reached her Majesty's ears. Nel had pulled the cloak over herself as she walked behind the abhorred Magistrate, glaring at his back. Her body ached for food and rest, but those things would have to wait. Her Majesty came first above all things.
"Honestly, I can't see why Her Majesty won't marry you off. That would solve all our problems."
Laselle was hitting the nail on the head. Her scarf hid her frown as she walked on, inching closer and closer to her queen. Her Majesty had respected Nel's decision not to marry. It would be bound to attract some unwanted attraction if a nobleman happened to marry the commander of the Secret Legion; her cover would be compromised as well as the safety of her said husband. She would be a sitting duck as a nobleman's wife.
It would kill Nel to sit still.
By the time she shook herself out of her thoughts, Nel was kneeling before Queen Romeria (Aquaria XXVII). Lasselle had retreated to his spot on the queen's right-hand side, away from Nel's grasp. He was lucky to be the Magistrate; otherwise, Nel would have seriously hurt him. She suddenly suppressed her anger when she spotted a young woman with azure-colored hair, standing a few feet in front of Nel herself.
The woman was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and a black corset which hugged her lithe form. Her skirt was something Nel had never truly seen before; the skirt was shorter in the front, but trailed down to her ankles in the back. She wore dark traveling boots and leggings which were cut off near the top, around her mid-thigh. Her blue hair was completely straight, except for the locks on her right side, where she had them in a braid. Upon her shoulder, she bore a brown falcon, a creature which seemed out of place in the audience chamber.
"Lady Nel, this is the Emissary of Greeton's Hagia Sophia, Maria Traydor. Lady Maria, this is the heir to my kingdom." Romeria spoke, extending her hand between the two young women. Maria gave Nel a slight curtsey. Nel followed shortly after, slightly confused at the bluenette's presence.
Hagia Sophia was Greeton's equivalent of the Church of Apris' Holy Mother. Her title meant Holy Wisdom. What did she want from Aquaria? It couldn't be about the war, could it? A tense silence filled the air before Maria finally found her words, "There have been accidents on both sides of your civil war, involving citizens of Greeton. Sir Robert Leingod and Lady Jessica Traydor have been counted among the causalities. The Hagia Sophia requests that the leaders of Aquaria and Airyglyph gather in her lands to discuss the payment as their lives have been taken unjustly."
Nel held her breath. Those names were ones she had heard frequently. Robert Leingod was a man executed in Airyglyph, accused of being part of the Church of Apris; he was a martyr for a faith he never believed in. She had heard about Lord Leingod when she was gathering intelligence for her country. As for Jessica Traydor, she was caught in a civil brawl in Peterny a few months back when she attempted to return to Greeton. Nel had known about this as she was the Duchess of Peterny and signed the woman's death certificate.
It was a political way to call a temporary truce.
For a second, Nel wanted to refuse the request until she glanced at her queen. Romeria seemed to be deep in thought, her eyes clouded with decisions. Her face was turned away from Lasselle as she thought of the possibilities. Greeton could be conspiring with Airyglyph to bring down Aquaria, but Romeria could not believe Azrei would stoop that low.
She knew Vox would, but Azrei…was an honorable person.
Romeria was considering the peace talks. Nel could tell by the look on her queen's face. Aquaria had lost too much to this war. The queen had lost many of her royal guards. Laselle had lost a brother or two while Nel had lost her father and Clair.
"Nel, what do you think of the matter?" Romeria inquired. This was not the first time she had asked for Nel's opinion. Lately, these instances occurred more frequently than Lasselle would like. Nel folded her arms underneath the cover of her flowing black cloak. Out of the corner of her gaze, she noticed Maria's eyes watching her. In a way, those foreign eyes held sadness. Nel had known that sadness when she had lost her father to the war. She could only imagine what was going through their guest's mind.
Nel cleared her throat. "I think we should consider it."
Lasselle looked appalled, but everything Nel stood for appalled him. This was nothing new.
"B-b-but what of Airyglyph? Surely, they'd be planning something."
Romeria gave her advisor a sharp look. Her people were too quick to judge those who lived beyond the borders of Arias. Events have left the Aquarian people rather tense. The court was even beginning to become restless. The brief silence was then broken by the falcon's cry.
"I assure you. Airyglyph will not try anything to risk open war against Greeton as well." Maria interjected shortly after silencing her pet. "I have a partner discussing the peace talks with them. Should the negotiations do not work, he will send word via falcon immediately. Greetian falcons are the fastest in the land, You Majesty."
Nel looked to her queen. Her thoughts lingered on what would happen if Airglyph decided not to attend the peace talks. The action would be seen as an act of war, causing Greeton to attack. Of course, Airyglyph would lose; even with its brigades, the kingdom was no match for Greeton's technology. The same could be said for Aquaria, which barely stood a chance. The peace talk was the only option. There was enough time to delay the fighting so their people could recover.
"Then, what do we have to lose? We have sacrificed too much already. A few days of our time for peace talks should be enough." Romeria decided, pulling Nel away from her thoughts. Maria moved from her stance, causing the falcon to spread its wings and flutter down to her hand. The guest bowed graciously as she spoke, "Thank you. Now I must inform my partner in Airyglyph. Please excuse me."
Nel watched the woman from Greeton as she departed. Her movement was slow, but Nel learned to never judge a person by appearance. Perhaps with the right orders, that woman was deadly. Nel gulped as she turned away. She had a bad feeling about all this, but she trusted her queen's judgment.
He was neither rejoicing nor desiring to be back on the battlefield. Actually, he would rather be back at his station at the Kirlsa Training Facility than in the conference room at Airyglyph Castle. From where Woltar was sited, it appeared that Albel was brooding, but his thoughts remained on the woman. Her hair was the same color as his eyes, the color of blood. He couldn't forget her face.
"I see you've lost your second-in-command, Albel." Duke Vox snickered.
"Bah, there was no reason to go in and save if the fool could not defeat that wench." Albel replied. He made no effort to hide his annoyance.
"Sir Shelby was defeated by a woman?" asked the King of Airyglyph, Arzei.
Albel grumbled. "A red-head."
"Quite interesting indeed." Woltar remarked. His graying eyes looked to his hands. Out of the corner of his eye, Albel watched the old man very carefully. This reaction was very odd. Was it remorse? Either way, it seemed the old man knew a thing or two.
"Old coot, you know of her?" Albel suddenly asked.
"That would be Lady Nel, daughter of Nevelle Zelpher, one of the greatest Aquarian spies known to roam these lands. It seems the girl has inherited her father's talent. However, if the intelligence our spies have gathered is correct," Woltar paused, putting his hands together and leaning his weight forward. "Then, that young lady is the heir to Aquaria's throne."
"I'm surprised Aquaria would let their heir waltz onto the battlefield." Duke Vox snorted. He was known for his opinion of a female monarchy. He despised women in power, believing their place was in the home and not in politics.
"With all due respect, my Lords, I don't think the Aquarian people know that she's next in line." A new voice spoke up. Albel, being the youngest and the quickest, stood from his seat and unsheathed his katana – only to have his victim dodge it. He had never seen that blue-haired boy before. His green eyes were burning holes into him. A falcon rested on the shoulder pad of his brown chest plate, which bore the symbol of Greeton. His expression was surprised, but not exactly frightened.
"Fayt, you've arrived." Arzei nodded. He looked at Duke Vox and Woltar, silently dismissing them. Duke Vox glared at Albel, who the king looked at next. With a look, Arzei commanded him to step down and Albel did so, returning to his seat with arms folded across his lean chest. By the time Woltar and Vox were gone, the falcon cried and moved toward Fayt's hand, allowing him to relieve it of the message it bore.
Albel did not like the looks of this.
When Fayt unrolled the message, he looked up quickly. "Aquaria has agreed to the peace talks."
The next thing heard was Albel's roar. "WHAT?"
