Court had been running for two hours and nothing had been done.
The hazels eyes of ten years old girl stared hopelessly at the nobles of north and west land, who had been explaining to King Harald that the drought that rocked the area for the last two years had reduced the barley crops and to half what t normally was. But the king didn't concerned that one of the kingdom'S main export will be less for the next year.
"Will there be enough for us and Mallet?" the king asked.
Lord Albers, who was speaking on behalf of all of the Lords of north and west responded.
"We believe so my king but there won't a lot left over to sell to the countries," he explained.
Janette could understand what Lord Albers was hinting that. Quebel sold their alcohol to Mallet at the half of what it was worth whilst the rest of got sold normal price. If most of the stock had to be sold Mallet it meant that Lords won't as much money as they normally would. Janette didn't care about Lord's money problems they had enough money to support themselves for a decade it was the common folk she worried about. Knowing the Lords they would most likely raise the taxes to make up for their losses. That would make life even harder for them it was already.
It's not like the common folks had easy to begin with. The drought had affected most of the agriculture centres, causing some crops to fail and nobility to take all the food they want.
The girl had already heard the gossip from the ladies of the court that the death toll had reached a hundred. Not to mentions the mine riots from earlier in the year which also result in about a hundred deaths. (Some say it was actually two hundred deaths).
"Good," the king replied, not moving an inch. "The alcohol that leftover can be sold at double the price," he ordered.
"Thank you, Your Grace," Lord Albers bowed after receiving the advice.
He filtered back into the sea of greedy and power-hungry nobles.
Court contained for another hour and a half with nobles telling King Harald their problems, like demon attacks on the people, the common folks demanding action to be took against the demons, food shortages, some help to be provided for drought and a long list of trouble that harm mostly the common people. With the king looking utterly broad and interested in the affairs of his people.
"If the peasants can't defend themselves then someone stronger will take their place," the king cruelly stated.
Janette gripped her mother's dress tighter than she already was. `How could he be so heartless?` she thought. `It is those peasants who make you wealthy, who clean your clothes and bedding, cook you your feasts and lay down their lives for you,` she continued to angry think.
Her thoughts were stopped when a gentle hand rested on top of her head.
The girl looked up to see a pair of hazels eyes looking down at her. Her mother, Lady Guinevere Lous Lovelace, smiled sadly at her understanding angry.
Guinevere was the most beautiful woman at court. Her stunning caramel brown hair was always held up in an elegant hairstyle. Her dresses were gorgeous, suiting her figure and were the brightest of colours that compliment her skin and made her eyes stand out.
Most importantly, she was the king's favourite mistress. And Janette's father.
Yes, Janette was a royal bastard. Which the king acknowledged, giving her the surname Rozeningale.
No one knew why the king acknowledged his bastard it probably on a whim.
So life for Janette wasn't easy. She was bullied by noble children that would get physical. Noblewomen would say horrible things about her mother and her in front of her. Not to mention the Queen wanted her dead and encourage her sons (Janette's half brother) to abuse her.
Finally court finished for the day. Soon as the king, queen and the princes left the throne room, the court began to talk as they also exited the throne.
Janette felt a hand appeared on her head. It was lager then her mother's hand and much more warm. The girl looked up to be greeted by the smiling face of Lord Oswin Lee Valles, her mother's best friend and the one and only lover.
Oswin removed his hand from the brunette's head after a couple of pats.
"Very thing will be fine," Oswin reassured. "I'm sure that the people will be fine. The rain will come soon," he smiled, always the optimistic.
But Guinevere was a pessimist and knowing the king on a personal level could guess what his response to things are.
"I'm not sure about," Guinevere mumbled. "But the people will suffer and it will most likely end in riots," She predictive.
Oswin grimed whilst Janette started sadly at the floor.
The trio walked out of throne room they a group of noble ladies gossiping between them.
"Did you hear what those stupid peasants are saying?" One woman sneered.
"What?" Another asked in returned.
"They're saying that the droughts are a curse from the gods for betraying Fortuna," The first woman snorted.
Women all laughed at the comment.
"They are really so stupid," one laughed.
"Ending our alliance with Fortuna was the best thing to happen to Quebel," Another said. "We are much richer now and don't have to waste it useless war and our families don't have to lay lives down for the," she added.
`We're only riches because you work common people's families to death,` the girl bitterly thought.
The brunette shook her head to get rid of the horrible thoughts. She then put on a happy façade. With a big smile, Janette looked up at Oswin.
"Would you like to join me and mother for lunch at the gazebo?" She asked.
One of the many gifts that the king had given to Guinevere was a stone gazebo belonging to the king's grandmother. The gazebo had been abandon after the queen's untimely death. Guinevere often escapes there with her daughter. Not many people adventure down to that area of the garden since it had a lot of monuments from the old kingdom (like the stone gazebo). So mother and daughter spent many happy summers together at eh gazebo.
The man gave the girl an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry but I've got some work to attend to," Oswin told her.
Janette nodded understanding that the kingdom's highest rank architect and man in charge of looking after all royal building, along with being the family head of Valles who owned the largest fleet of merchant ships in Quebel, might be a bit busy.
Janette took her mother's hand so she could begin to lead them to the gardens.
"Lady Lovelace," a voice addressed Guinevere.
Janette's heart down-dropped. The voice belonged to one of the king's personal servants. He stood off to the side of Guinevere dressed smartly only paying attention to brunette woman.
"His Majesty wishes for your presence," the servant said.
The young girl let go of her mother's hand then back up until she was Lord Valles` side. It didn't matter that Janette hadn't spent any time with her mother in three months (The time during court didn't count as they just stood silently). Even if Guinevere had promised earlier in the week that they would have lunch today if the king request (demand) her presence, she must go.
Guinevere to face her daughter to gave her a sad smile.
"Sorry, my flower but I must go," she apologised.
The woman bent down to kiss her daughter's forehead then she left, following after the servant sent to retrieve her.
Hazels eyes watch as her mother disappeared down the long hallway as she tried to fight back tears. The girl took a couple of breaths to stopped the tears spilling from her eyes.
Murmured and hush whispered started up from the nobles that were still left outside the throne room.
Oswin glance at each noble which quite them. He places a hand on her shoulder.
"I think I can make some time to have lunch," he said, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"Thank you," Janette whispered then gave the man a big smile.
Oswin guided the child out to the garden, down the overgrown pathway to the gazebo.
Guinevere had pay gardener to make the area around the gazebo look nice. The gardener had planted roses brushes around the gazebo.
Janette enjoys a sunny lunch with Oswin. (Her father figure).
After lunch, Janette went to her lessons. The king had pay for her lessons as she turned five, one of his wimps. He ordered that she etiquette, dancing, literacy and poetry, a bit of politics and Malletine culture and tradition. And that fact she didn't learn about Quebelian culture, history and tradition greatly worried Guinevere but she reassured it was nothing.
Each day Janette for three hours she would learn one of the topics. Today was Malletine culture.
Now her lesson had finished for the day she had nothing to do for the three to four hours until dinner. So, she was wandering through the vast hallways until she could think of something to do.
Janette stopped at a painting that nearly stretches the whole wall. It depicting the unification of clans of Quebel and the battle against Mundus` first attack on the nation that would become Quebel.
The girl was so absorbed in the painting, she didn't notice three sets of steps approaching her.
"Hey look, brothers!" A male voice yelled down the hallway. "It's the little bastard!"
Janette's body froze up when she heard the voice. It belongs to one of her older brothers. It was Theodore, the second eldest of brothers and leader of the triplet princes. Theodore's triplet brothers Tristian and Timothy closely following behind him.
The fear that had frozen her body up a moment ago melt away and she tried to flee as quickly as she could. There was a tug at her ankle sending the child tumbling down to the ground. Arrogant laughter left the three fourteen-year-olds.
"Awww, did the little bastard fall over," Timothy mocked with his index finger waving in the air. Hinting that he used his magic to trip her up.
Janette looked over her shoulder to glance at the princes. Theodore in the middle of the group (as normal) with Tristian lending on his shoulder. Timothy stood slight in front of his older brothers wagging his index around with a triumphant smirk across his face.
The girl scrambled up to runway from her tormentors. But there was a painful tug at hair. She dragged to where her half-brothers were standing. She pulled into the centre of the boys.
"Where do you think you're going little bitch!" Tristian growled.
Tristian must of the one holding her since she could only see Theodore and Timothy. She could see the hatred and disgust in their emerald green eyes looking down at her. Janette didn't know why they hated her so much though it might be due to their mother, the Queen.
Queen Diana was a jealous, childish and greedy woman. She came from an wealth and powerful Quebelian family, Mcbeths. She was spoilt from the moment she was born. Having the finest food, clothing, jewellery and makeup without lifting a finger. Diana had become arrogant after she married and became queen, she demands only the finest of items and would beat servants if she didn't get what she wanted. The queen saw herself as the most beautiful (she was average at best) and all-powerful (she wasn't). Diana never had the king's favour as Harald found his queen annoying, making him seeking out the company other women. Diana needed to be centre of attention in court, so when someone like Guinevere who was actually beautiful, elegant, smart and threatens her `power`.
They also might hate her because their father paid attention. When I mean paid attention I mean he actually acknowledged her existence, unlike his triplet sons. Like twins and other triplets, only one was planned. Theodore was only born because the king's adviser said that the king should have spare if something would happen to the crown prince.
More pain shoots through her head as Tristian started to swing her head side to side.
Janette had learnt the hard way that crying and showing any sign of pain.
Then there was a sharp pain across one of her cheeks. The sting was a familiar presence on her body, one of her brothers had just punched her.
"Hey!" Theodore shouted. "Listen to us when we're talking, bastard!" he yelled furiously.
Janette wanted to answer back but that would lead even more pain and all of the princes being furious.
The blows continue on with the other boys joining in the abuse and Janette let it happen. She hopes they would get bored quickly and some else to do.
"What do three of you think you're doing?" A stern voice came calling down the hallway.
Janette lifted her head from where it had fallen when Tristian threw her to the ground. Her hazels eyes landed on the looming figure of the Crown Prince of the kingdom of Quebel, Henry William Claude Rose-Griffiths.
The Crown Prince was known for his poker face and strict personality. He was risen by nannies and not his mother like his brothers. Harald had order the best education in Quebel which mainly focus on military, ruling and politics. The twenty-one-year-old was had a brilliant mind allowing him to win many wars from his father which lead him to become General of Quebel army and navy.
Henry's cold emerald green eyes stared at his brothers as walked down the hallway to them.
The triple immediately stopped beating their younger half-sister as their older brother marched down to them.
"Do I need to repeat myself?" Henry ordered, staring at the triple unimpressed.
"We're reminding the bastard of her place," Tristian stuttered out.
The unimpressed stay on Henry's face as Tristian's answered his question during this Janette had slowly gotten up, using the wall near her for support.
"Reminding her of her place," The Crown Prince repeats the phase that Tristian said, missing out he swear word since swearing was beneath him. "You three are pathetic," he stated. "Those in power don't go around reminding the people beneath. Your mere presence should put them," Henry told him.
The young girl knew what the oldest prince was talking about. His own presence demands respects from the people around whilst the king's presence fills the room was terror and power. But the triple princes` presence was blearily noticeable, Janette was only scared of them because they beat her up.
Janette slowly moved away from the princes during their conversation. But the time Henry was finished belittle the triple she manages to slip around the corner before one of them notice she had escaped.
Dashing down the hall around the corner Janette then came to a stopped at door a in the hallway. The extravagant craved door frame told her it was one of the lounges use to entertain dignitary.
"Where did she go!?" She heard Theodore scream from down the hall.
Panic filled her body again. So she quickly pushed open the door and rush through to ornamental fireplace. Her hazels eyes skimmed a crossed the obsidian mantelpiece decorated with gold accents. Her eyes darted right to left then up and down, scanning inch of the fireplace for something.
"Come on, come on, come on," She mumble repeatedly to herself as she heard triples` angry voice coming closer to the lounge she was in.
Then she finds what she was looking for, a tiny craving hidden behind one of the golden swirls. Janette's hand shot into the slit of her dress to grab a tiny tile. The tile was on a piece of string with a relief that matched the craving on the fireplace.
The girl quickly slotted the tile onto the craving. After a pain-staking moment for a sound of something click followed by a heavy groaning of something moving. The brunette moved back from the fireplace, taking the tile with her. She had stepped back to see the back of the fire area slide the rest of up. A smile of relief across Janette's face before she darted into the hidden entrance and closing it behind her.
Janette stayed behind the wall for a moment clam down her panicking heart. During that time the triple princes had been in the lounge, continually yelling insults and cursing her whilst they search the room for her.
Janette made an unpleasant hum before she walked through the small tunnel until the floor started to descend down. At the bottom of the stairs, the tunnel grew larger and made it easier for Janette to walk through. The girl stopped once she had gotten quite far into dark tunnels. Janette held her hand in front of her. With a deep breath, summoned the magic power deep within her to bring fore her bronze lantern. The lantern was already lit went it entered her grasp, revealing the large tunnel system that lay hidden underneath the palace.
The Cedar Labyrinth stretching the whole area of Cedarroot Palace with some stretching further than the palace.
The tunnel system was built alongside the construct of the palace. The labyrinth was built as an escape route if the palace was ever attacked, which had never had since Quebel had a strong army.
The tunnels were carved out of the rocks underneath the palace then was reinforced stone and decorated with white marble floors, tiles, columns and arches. Beautiful even if it had been forgotten for centuries. Dirty, dust and cobwebs had taken over the tunnels.
Mostly everyone had forgotten, mostly everyone.
The Valles family had never forgotten about their second greatest treasure – Cedarroot Palace being the first. The Valles had kept a detailed map of the Cedar Labyrinth which had been pass down generation to generation. Since Oswin was family head, he had given a copy of the map to Janette so she could escape from her brothers and everyone who wanted to hurt her.
Janette pulled said map out from of her pouches from under her dress. Oswin had also enchanted the map for Janette so she wouldn't get lost in the labyrinth and would always know a way out.
Thou at the moment Janette didn't know where she wanted to go. So she stood there in the dark a dirty tunnel with cheeks puffed up with air trying to think what she could do.
After a while of staring at the map, an idea finally popped into her head. An evil grin spread across her face. She would put flowers on her grandfather's monument.
The monument was built and finish just before the previous king's death and Harald had never given an order to tear it down but it was an unspoken rule that you should never visit the monument since Harald hated his father. From what Janette could gather her grandfather was a kind-hearted man which made him weak in her father's eyes. So once in a while, she would put flowers on the monument to watch everyone panic but only once in a while not to upset the king too much, or it would end badly for someone.
Janette scanned the map once again to see which route would be the best to take to the garden that the monument hosted in. There many paths she could take but the best path would take her to pass the king's office which he would most likely be there that moment. The king would definitely sense her if wasn't extremely carefully but she would risk it because she didn't want to walk so far for a little prank.
With the map and lantern, Janette guided herself through the labyrinth until she got to the king's office. Once she had gotten close to the office she slows down so she could focus on controlling concealing her presence s she walked passed.
Janette slowly walked the stairs leading up to the king's office, she could hear loud voices coming down from the passage. The girl stopped to listen to what it was saying but it muffled for her to hear. Curious got the better of her and she claimed the steps to the small hallway behind the hidden door. Here she could the loud voices better.
"But Your Majesty, if these droughts do continues the people will riot like it's Prildo Ira. You must at least have some kind of plan to deal with the riots?" an advisor asked, stress laced heavily in his voice.
"Kill those who are rioting,"
Those words silence the room then filling it with a suffocating atmosphere. Even thou she couldn't see the faces of advisors and one else in the room she knew their faces had gone pale with the look of horror spread across them.
"How would you achieve this, father?" Henry requested.
Janette could tell by her brother's tone that he only wanted to know what sic plan he was thinking of.
"Use the army," Harald said if he was stating something that was obvious. "Or I ask Mundus to send over some demons to deal with them," he added on as a second thought.
The silence continued on for a moment longer before someone coughed, probably the head advisor.
"Well then let's get on to the topic that's been the courts` mind, Janette," the head advisor said.
Said girl's heart missed a beat when she heard her own name.
`Me? Why do they want to talk about me?` her panic mind thought.
"What about her?" Harald asked uninterestedly.
"Many people are wondering what planning on doing with her," an advisor stated. "You are spending a lot of money on her so people are curious. Even Lady Lovelace doesn't know and that Lord Valles has been trying to find out,"
Janette could hear the disgust when the advisor talks about Oswin. No one in the king's council like him as he embodied every about the old kingdom that they hated. But Oswin was powerful with mage which that could be only compared to the king's.
`I shouldn't be listening to this! I'm going to hear something bad`
"She going to be a gift to Mundus,"
The world seemed to stop for the ten year old.
`What…?`
A gift.
Her father was going to give to Mundus.
"Ahhh… I see. A concubine, that be a perfect role for her," another advisor mutter.
"Yes, it certainly would," the king agreed. "She's the living image of her mother, the most beautiful woman in this land. I'm sure in a couple of years she will follow her mother's path and become as beautiful as her, then I'll give her to Mundus. If he doesn't want her, one of you can have her,"
It was horrible. The worst thing she would hear she would in all of her life. Her own father is talking about her like she was a dog or a horse.
Janette dropped her lantern and not waiting to hear the commotion that would follow from the office, she ran.
She ran as fast as her small body could take her. She ran as far as she could away from that room until she collided with the wall of the labyrinth.
An eerily silence wit the labyrinth's air about the young girl. The girl pulled herself to her knees. She stays still for a moment before letting everything out.
The first tear slowly falls from her hazels eyes then another until they quickly one after the other. She a let out a heartbreaking cry. All the years of abuse, suffering and trying to be strong were all let out. NO one was there to comfort her in the dark, dirty and lonely labyrinth.
She cried for the longest time she could remember.
`I need to leave,`
That's the only thing she could think of when she couldn't cry anymore.
`I'm not going to be some monster's gift!` she bitterly thought.
"But how…?"
The moon had risen for the night. Most of the palace had gone to bed but Oswin was still wide awake as he had documents to review. Reading by candlelight, Oswin read through the mountain of minutes from the different meeting that he couldn't attend that day.
Oswin sat in his quarters' lounge in the palace. He had just re-stock the fire warming up the room and giving the room a comfortable atmosphere. And with a glass of rum to help him relax, Oswin felt peaceful.
A series of loud knocks interrupted Oswin's comfortable atmosphere.
Oswin knew who was at the door. There was only one person who would knock on his door like that, at this time of night.
So he immediately jumped up from his seat and rushed to the door. Stood there was Guinevere, looking with a panic look in her hazels eyes.
"Guin, what's wrong?" he asked, letting her into his quarters.
"It's Janette," Guinevere said, worry laced through her voice. Oswin could tell she was on the vague of breaking down even though her voice was steady. "I can't find her anywhere," she stated. "Ii and the maids have looked everywhere for her. I had Lu even wake up Lady Santoro to see if she attend lessons today, which she did," Guinevere told him as she paced back and for. "It's not like her to miss dinner or not return to our quarters for bed,"
"Guinevere," Oswin called her name. He put his hands on her shoulders to stop her pacing. "I'm sure everything fine," he reassured her. He noticed tears swilling in her hazels eyes, so he moved to cup the cheeks of his best friend and only love. "I'll find her. I think might know where she is. And I'm sure that she's fallen asleep," he said.
Guinevere nodded her head to Oswin's words knowing she could always rely on him.
The two of them stepped away from each other. Oswin went to grab his coat as Guinevere walked to the door.
When Oswin exited the room his friend was waiting for him.
He gave Guinevere one last nod of reassuring before they parted ways. Him heading to the nearest entrance to Cedar Labyrinth whist Guinevere absent-mindedly walked back to her living quarters back in the King's Tower.
Once down in the labyrinth Oswin made his way to Lone Tower.
The Lone Tower was built along with palace and labyrinth as a prison for royalty if they had committed any crimes against the king or the kingdom. But the tower had long been abandoned at corner of the palace's grounds. The only way to access the tower was through the labyrinth.
Oswin knew this is where Janette would be. It was far away from the palace for no one to find her but not far enough for her to escape the palace its self.
Once at the Lone Tower, Oswin pushed open the door with a horrible groan. Even if the after a couple of centuries of abandonment the tower still looked grand. There was no expense was spared in decorating the royal prison. Gold leaf, ebony wood furniture and jewels everywhere but it was all covered in dust and cobwebs.
The man walked up the stairs to the top floor of the tower. There, on the top floor was Jannette, hugging her knees to her chest with her forehead resting on top her knees. Oswin hadn't seen her like this since she was a toddler.
"Janette," Oswin called out to the girl.
She didn't move, she stayed in that position. Oswin moved toward her, kneeling by her side. He reached out for her, taking her face into his hands. He saw that normally sparkling hazels eyes were now dull and lifeless.
"Janette!" Oswin gasped. "What's wrong?" he asked.
There was a brief moment of silence before she gave an answer.
"He's going to sell me,"
"What?" Oswin stuttered.
"He's going to sell em to Mundus!" Janette cried. "He's going to give me to that monster like a piece of meat!"
Oswin was shocked at Janette's out bust but when he realises what she had said, angry fill his blood.
How dare Harald use her as a tool. That man didn't give his own daughter the time of day. The only time that the king had inactive with Janette was a week after she was born to acknowledge and give her her surname. After that, there was no inactivation, no birthday wishes or seasonal greeting.
Harald might act all-powerful and mighty at court but in the presence of Mundus, he became a little bitch. He would give Demon Emperor presents to stay in his good books.
"I don't live anymore!" Janette cried.
She didn't want to continued living knowing that her fate was to be given away to a monster. Oswin couldn't have it either.
Even if hurt Guinevere he would help Janette leave this country.
Oswin moved to hug the young girl.
"Janette," he whispered. "I'll get you out of this country,"
Janette stays still in the hug for a moment before she returns it. Oswin picked her up. Janette buried her face into Oswin's neck, he kissed her head.
"Let's return to the palace now, " Oswin whispered again. "Your mother is worried sick about you," he told her.
"We can't tell her about our plan," Janette said.
"No, we can't. Though your mother would never tell anyone but someone would notice her change in behave and investigate," Oswin
Janette quietly hummed as Oswin carried her out of the tower and back to the palace. When he reached Guinevere's quarters he knocked on the door.
One of Guinevere's maids opens the door. Her eyes open wide when she saw Oswin carrying Janette in his arms. She quickly ushers him in.
Guinevere came rushing out of her once she was informed that Oswin had returned with her daughter.
"Is she alright?" the woman asked.
"She fine now but she heard something that upset her greatly," Oswin told her as he handed over the sleeping child to her mother.
Guinevere pulled a face of concerned.
"Did she tell you what she heard?" she asked.
Oswin shook his head.
"Unfortunately not," he replied.
The adults stood there, quietly letting their thoughts run wild.
"You should return to your chambers before someone catches you her," Guinevere said.
Oswin nodded his head in agreement then left the room.
Guinevere readjusted her daughter so she could place a kiss on the sleeping girl's head. The woman then took her daughter to her bed-chamber. The maids helped undress the young girl into her nightwear for her mother so she could tuck her into bed.
Guinevere pulled the sheets up to Janette's chin.
"Good night my flower. I will always love and protect," She whispered as placed another kiss on her forehand.
Guinevere then quietly exiting the room.
A month had passed since the incident and Oswin hadn't come up with any sort of plan to help Janette escape from Quebel.
From her part, Janette continued on like nothing had happened. Continuing to going to her lessons, behaving her best as normal and trying to stay out of trouble best as he could.
Though it seems that tonight she wanted an update as came to his office. Her large hazels stared at him from the other side of his desk.
"May I help you, Janette?" Oswin asked.
"Do you think I could become a doctor in my new life?" she asked in return.
Oswin was surprised by the girl's question. In Quebel only man could become doctors, women were discouraged from taking up any jobs.
"Why do want to be a doctor?" Oswin asked.
"I want to help people," Janette stated. "I was reading this book from outside the kingdom," she started. "It`s about a female doctor who goes off the find a cure for a disease. She helps many people on the way to find the cure,"
Oswin listens to what the girl was saying. During her talk, he was reminded of an old acquaintance. He did mentions that a lot of places were in search of doctor it, they didn't care what the gender or wealth.
"I might have an idea. Come back to me next week," He told her.
For that week Oswin got in connect with his acquaintance to arrange a way for Janette to leave the country. The acquaintance told Oswin that the perfect place for the girl to hide was Prildo Ira.
Prildo Ira was a former kingdom that was loosely held together by the fact their still held some kind of loyalty to the former kingdom. Or it could be the fact that all the vulnerable land was taken when the royal family was assassinated and what was left stay together out of spite.
It was a rough country where the black market thrives but the everyday people live happily. It`s a good place for anyone to hide, it would be perfect for Janette.
So by the end of the week, Oswin had a plan for Janette which she agreed to.
So the night after Janette agreed to the plan, her and Oswin were walking through Cedar Labyrinth to the capital's docks. Both of them dressed in hooded cloaks and normal peasant clothing.
To say that Janette was nervous was an understatement. The young girl had never left the palace's grounds in her life, so to leave the country altogether without her mother was petrifying but it was for a better future.
The two of them exited the labyrinth into the dock's sewers then up the ladder to the dock.
The docks were mostly deserted apart from a lone light at the other end of docks.
"Captain Marsh?" Oswin asked.
"Yes," The Captain replied.
Oswin moved his hood back a bit to reveal his face to the Captain. The Captain gasp when saw he younger man.
"Lord Valles!" The Captain gasped loudly.
Oswin and Janette shushed the older man.
"A-Are you the one that asked me here?" Marsh asked.
"I am," He confirmed. "I would like you to transport this young lady to Prildo Ira. Once at Prildo Ira's docks a man called Fino will ask you `if the donkey is beyond the bayou` you must answer `Of course that's where the demon isn't`," He explained.
"Anything M`Lord. Valles family has done more for my crew and their families then any country or king," The Captain said as took the girl into his care.
"You're too kind Captain Marsh," Oswin awkwardly laughed. "My family just wants to help your fellow countrymen," he told the old captain. His pale purple eyes turned to the hazels one of Janette."Goodbye Janette. I hope your new life is happy, prosperous and find someone to love," he gave those parting words to her and placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Goodbye father," she said, failing to hold back the tears forming in her eyes. "Thank you for everything,"
Oswin held back the tears forming his eyes.
Then two of parted ways.
Oswin returning to Cedarroot Palace as Captain Marsh guided Janette to his ship.
Once on deck, Janette took one more look back on her home country before proceeding onwards to her new life.