Chapter TWENTY: Letting Down-DEVIN

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A few days later, Devin looked down into the steep Thail Valley, ready to make the trip to Thais. A thick blanket of fog covered much of the land, fitting the sad occasion. These were perfect conditions for him to travel into Thais unseen and visit Queen Alisandra's grave now that she had been buried. Frederick had told him that the royal family had declared the week a holiday for all citizens to mourn, so the kingdom would be practically vacant of all peasants and guardsmen.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Devin?" Frederick asked worried for his friend, even though he had insisted that Devin go days earlier. "If you are seen who knows what will happen to you. You'll probably be arrested or worse!"

"I want to...I have to, Frederick. It is the right thing to do and the last thing I will do for Queen Alisandra. I still have some sense of dignity left in me even though I am a no good deserter. But you must understand that I was her guardian, her protector, her fortress, her shield, her-"

"Okay! Okay! Just wear this so you are less visible," Frederick murmured, annoyed, and threw a dark grey over-sized cloak in Devin's face.

"Thank you. I knew you'd understand," Devin said righteously as he wrapped himself in the cloak that could easily cover a small elephant.

"Would you like me to come with you?" Frederick offered.

"No thanks, Frederick. If you're caught with me you might also get in trouble. I'll be fine on my own. If they arrest me then...I've had it coming for a long time. If not, I will be back tonight!" Devin said as he began to leave the safety of the animal sanctuary after so long.

Frederick shrugged his human shoulders from uncertainty, knowing that insisting to change Devin's mind any further was futile.

They both walked to the riverbank where they bid each other goodbye.

Devin walked alongside the woods barely able to see ahead of him through the bleak haze, searching for the bridge to Thais. He also spent some time picking wild flowers to take with him, but finding nice flowers proved to be a challenge in the dense fog.

I'm in no hurry, he thought, when he arrived in Thais, feeling surprisingly excited to be back. He headed towards the tavern nearby for ale and to warm his hands over the fireplace.

The tavern appeared to be the only place in the kingdom that was open. There weren't as many people inside or outside as normal. Good, I can drink in peace, Devin thought contently.

When he was finished his drink, he headed towards the exit. He gazed ahead of him suddenly at the incoming tavern patron. His eyes widened and he held his breath to stop himself from saying her name. It was Alicia. Devin quickly lowered his head making the cloak's hood sink to the tip of his nose as he passed the unsuspecting new queen.

Relieved, he could not help laughing lightly under his breath once he made it outside. However, Devin's mind began to race after seeing Alicia as he started to walk towards the cemetery.

It had been two years since he last saw her. She had not changed much, if anything, she looks more stunning than ever, Devin thought, recalling the last time he had seen her at the ball. He felt guilty for avoiding his once dear and incredible friend, and wondered what she was doing outside of the palace so late. It was not safe for her to be out alone this late, especially since the alleys were empty and unguarded.

With reoccurring thoughts that something bad might happen to Alicia, Devin quickly turned around towards the tavern again, making the risky decision of waiting until she walked out of the tavern.

He sat to the side of the building keeping an eye towards the door. Alicia did not take long to get out and walked passed him towards the castle. He decided to follow her at a distance for protection, careful that she would not see him. She then turned the corner suddenly and he lost her somewhere in the foggy mist.

"Where did she go?" Devin whispered out, perplexed. He waited a few minutes to see if she would show up again, but then turned towards the cemetery, thinking she had probably made it back safely to the palace.

The grave site was covered with freshly-cut flowers, both common and exotic, like a beautiful garden. Devin placed his now wilting ones close to Queen Alisandra's grave and kneeled on both knees and began to pray silently. The shame and disgrace he felt were beyond words. He felt guilty for her death in some way, even though it was due to illness. A minute later, still kneeling, Devin felt something pointing sharply into his back.

"Get up! Who do you think you are following me, you filthy peasant?!...And now you're touching my mother's grave with your dirty hands! Show yourself!" Alicia yelled, seething; though, he could also hear her crying.

Devin froze. His eyes still shut, not wanting to open them. He just wanted to disappear, and not face her. He suddenly felt his hood being pulled down, though he now hung his head low.

"Get up! NOW!" her words echoed somewhere in the fog. Devin raised his head to meet with her sky-blue eyes as he finally stood up.

"Devin?" Alicia said, shocked. "It was you at the tavern...It was you!" Alicia gasped as she jumped on him swinging her arms around his high waist.

"Princess..." Devin panted gently, his arms latching around her as well.

"I thought you were dead...We-we looked for you! You're alive! I thought you were dead! We looked for you! You're alive! You're alive!" she repeated joyously with tears springing out of her eyes like wild streams out of control, as she kissed his face all over, missing only his eyes and lips.

"Alicia...you thought I was dead?" Devin mumbled, now feeling more guilt about what he had done; though, he felt more alive than ever right now.

Alicia barely heard the words when she suddenly let go and thrust him forward. Her hand hit the sides of his pale face twice like a double-edged sword, making his cheekbones sting like a bad burn.

"Where have you been?!...If you are alive...Where have you been, Devin?! Where?!" Alicia shouted angrily, but still pulled him towards her again, now clinging to him tightly.

"I'm what you should think I am...A coward, a disgrace, a dishonor to Thais," Devin answered holding his arms around her again, falling forward into her shoulder. Alicia's golden hair covered his face. He waited for her to react to his treachery; but of course, she purposely ignored all of that he said, not hearing a word of it.

She kept her ear close to his chest able to hear his heart rhythm. They stood silent in the cemetery until Alicia began to speak again, "Where we're you, Devin? Why didn't you come back when you told me you would at the ball?"

"Alicia...I have been in Animalville with Frederick. I have been there since Talia became the Dreamer."

"Devin-father, mother, and I searched for you for a very long time. We really did send all the king's horses and all the king's men out to find you. We even went to Mysten Far, but the priestesses said that you had left not long after you'd arrived.

"When spring came, a searcher found the canoe downstream shattered in pieces. We thought you had drowned...But you're here...You're here! And you can come back with me to the castle and..." Alicia said crying even more, but Devin interrupted.

"I'm sorry, Alicia, but being here brings back so many memories. It's best that I leave."

"But you can't leave! You're a knight, Devin. You have duties to fulfill!" Alicia reminded wanting to drag him by the ear back to the castle.

"Alicia, don't you see...I'm a deserter of your father's army. I am an enemy to the throne."

"No, Devin. I am the queen now, so I have a say in whether you're a deserter or not. Father will understand. Please, just give me some time. He will let you come back. I know he will-He must. Just do not go! I need you at my side again, Devin Perry," she begged, anguished.

Devin had never seen Alicia so distraught before. He recognized her pain from the loss of her mother when she looked over at the grave, then to him again. Alicia did need him and something told him that he needed her too.

"Please, Devin, I will talk to father as soon as he feels better. You may no longer be the highest knight anymore, but you can still come back."

"Alicia...for you, dear friend, I will. I'm prepared to face my consequences."

With that said Alicia finally let go.

"Devin, you must remain hidden for now. At least until I speak to father. I will find you in Animalville soon," Alicia said hurriedly as she pulled the hood back over Devin's face, snuggly. "I will visit you tomorrow. I have to go to the castle now. They're expecting me."

"Queen Alicia, thank you," Devin replied, realizing this was not the first time she had saved him from his own self-misery.

"Oh, Devin, when you come back we can start from where we left off. You still have at least a dozen sword moves to show me," Alicia said happily before she turned to leave.

"Alicia, wait, before you go...I need to tell you...I missed you," Devin said before he turned to leave as well.

"I missed you, too, Devin. More than you will ever know."

Devin soon walked back to Animalville, not sure how he was going to handle returning to Thais.