CHAPTER 26

“I won’t tell you what to do but please forgive her,” Daren pleaded on Nora’s behalf once again.
“Then I will find you an ultimatum.”
“Whatever you want me to do I will do it,” Daren said and Valery was pleased with it.
“Call the young lord here, Nora,” she instructed.
“Yes, Mistress,” Nora said and left the hall.
“While we wait for me to pass my judgment, I want you to tell me the purpose of your visit. Not even once had your family entered my mountain. So, tell me, are you here to spy on me or what?” she asked him.
“I didn’t come here to spy on you and my family is not even aware of my visit,” he answered.
“So why are you here? Don’t let me ask you once more,” she asked.
“I came to see the woman who raised Lady Nora. I was amazed by her the last time we met and couldn’t forget her ever since. Since you are like a mother to her, I wanted to pay my respects,” he explained and she found it very amusing.
Such a young man was straight forward. He must really have a great liking towards Nora but she wouldn’t let her go without a fight.
“That’s very good of you but as for that matter you have to settle it with Nora yourself,” Valery said as Nora and Xavier entered the hall.
Xavier paid his respect before turning to Daren.
“What are you doing here?” Xavier asked Daren.
“You two know each other?” Valery asked.
“Yes, we met a few times back in the capital,” Xavier answered.
“Then that’s good. I called you here to serve as my judge. Nora here broke a rule of the palace and invited a guest without my knowledge. Lord Daren here has begged for leniency on her behalf. I don’t want to make things harder for the two of them which is why I will let you fight Daren here. Have a duel and I will pass my judgment after the duet,” she explained and saw Nora’s face. She simply looked at her and shook her head.
“I will comply with your order Saintess,” Xavier said with a smile on his face.
“What about you Daren? Will you comply?” the Saintess asked.
“Do I have a choice?”
“You have. I can punish Nora myself, let you have a duel with Xavier or have one with Nora. Which one do you want?” she asked wondering which option he will choose.
“Last time I fought with Lady Nora and she caught me unaware, since I can have another chance to have a duel with her then I would like to have one with her,” Daren said.
Valery looked at Nora, she trusted her but she also wanted to see if she would agree.
“What do you think Nora?” Valery asked.
“If you want me to have it then I will,” she replied.
“But I should warn you, if you lose to him on purpose, I will have a duel fight with you myself and that is something you wouldn’t want. Show me I haven’t let you stay by my side for nothing,” she told her very seriously.
“I will not let you down,” Nora said.
“Good then. You will have your duel in the training grounds. I will call everyone to watch, don’t embarrass me,” she said.
“You may both leave and prepare,” Xavier said and the two left the hall.
She smiled as she watched the two leave.
Xavier walked up to her and sat beside her.
“Who told you to sit on my throne?” she asked him.
“I just want to be next to you and ask you what are you really scheming this time?”
“Those two need to get closer. What other better way is there than for them to have a duel together?” she asked him.
“We have never done that before. Came we have a duel too?”
“Do you want to die?”
“I don’t mind dying in your hands. But do you think they will lose to each other?”
“I will have to see that. I just want to see if Daren takes Nora, will he be capable of taking care of her as well as to protect her. I won’t let her suffer for anything,” she said.
“You are being considerate.”
“You can see it as that. Gather everyone at the training grounds, we have something wonderful to watch,” she said.
“Yes, my lady,” Xavier said and stood up. He looked at her and bent down to give her a peck on her forehead.
Xavier left the hall and she continued reading her memorials.
Minutes later she stood up and took the palanquin for the training grounds. The ground was already full with disciples. She was using this time to see how well Nora had been training and to send a message to everyone in the palace that everyone was judged no matter whom you were.
She sat in her usual position and Xavier joined her.
“Is everything ready?”
“Yes, it is,” he replied.
“Let it begin, I have things to do,” she said.
The duel was announced for it to begin and she watched as Nora was dressed in her warrior outfit. It has been long since she saw her wearing that. Some would look down on her thinking that she was just an ordinary maid but to her she was an outstanding warrior and she should be respected for that.
They both bowed to her and they began the duel.