Ten
The messenger arrived in front of the merchant king home and refused to enter the house, requesting for the merchant king and when the merchant king arrived, the messenger then requested for his wife who came out too after much protest.
The merchant king was confused about why the messenger didn’t want to enter his house but thought that he wanted to go back to the camp settlement as soon as possible, when his wife came out and he saw how pale she was. He started to suspect that something else was going on.
“Warlady Themis, asked me to gift you this item, she wanted you to see it in your husband presence.” The messenger said as Lord Cale relaxed. It was just a gift.
His wife was reluctant to open the package. “Be fast, I am sure that the messenger is in a hurry to leave, he would still be here to take your message of thanks back to the Warlady.” He snapped at his wife who slowly unwrapped the gift. What she saw made her gasp.
“It is fine silk.” Lillian said
“And expensive too.” Lord Cale nodded appreciatively, he knew because he had materials like this in quantity he can count on his fingers.
“It is so beautiful.” Lillian gushed as she brought out the material to spread it only to scream when the head of the snake tumbled out.
“What is the meaning of this?” Lord Cale roared as he kicked the head of the snake far from his wife was looking faint like she would soon swoon at any given moment.
“The message from the Warlady is: you have declared war on me, Lady Lillian. You lost all my respect and I hope we never see again because if we do, I will make sure that everybody knows what kind of snake you are, also your little gift didn’t hurt me, cannot say the same for my guard but if you ever try something like this again, it would not be only the snake head I will take off. Yours will be next.” The messenger said as Lord Cale looked at his wife who flushed with embarrassment.
“What is the meaning of this? Did you send a living snake to the Warlady?”
“A living, venomous snake my lord. My uncle is suffering right now, almost at his death if the medicine the slave of Lady Themis fails. I also have a message for you, Merchant King, from the war lord.” The messenger said as Cale turned to look at him again dreading what message the warlord is going to pass.
“Let’s hear it.” Lord Cale said quietly bracing himself.
“I am sorry my friend but our friendship is over… until you can do something about that shrew you have as a wife.” The messenger said with a smile. “You are not welcomed anywhere near me and I hope I never see your wife, the only way she is still alive is that my bride pleaded for her sake, nobody get to harm a warrior weakest point. My wife is my weakest spot and your wife almost got her killed. Your wife is living on borrowed time just like she made us greatest enemies, I cannot be friends with people who will try to stab my weakest spot. Stay far away from me and keep your wife far too because anytime I see her, I will try to kill her.”
Lord Cale turned to his wife with his face a Dark mask of anger. “What have you done?”
“It was just a joke.” Lillian said as she fidgeted.
“Trying to kill the wife of a warlord. A joke, have you gone mad. People have been killed for less. Their line destroyed for just an insult and you nearly killed her.”
“And injured her guard, tarnished the protection which the warlord provided for his wife since you tried to harm her within his camp, within his tent. The tent where he sleeps with her. You destroyed the safety he offered her.” The messenger said with fury in his gaze.
“I will send a tent to the warlord, a bigger and better tent.” Lord Cale said as the messenger shook his head.
“Pardon my lord but the warlord refused. He is doubtful of any gifts your family offers to his, I have overstayed my welcome. I am not allowed to spend any more time here.” The messenger said as he bowed his head to Lord Cale and glared at Lady Lillian before striding out of the compound, mounting his horse and galloping back to the camp.
“Cale.” Lady Lillian said with tears in her eyes.
“Don’t.” Cale said in a deadly tone. “You have done enough damage, you are not to go anywhere near other ladies of the council members or their husbands, and I forbid you before you get me thrown out. You better spend time learning how to grovel because when Lord Orel comes back to the capital to report, you will grovel at Lady Themis feet for forgiveness.”
With that Lord Cale strode out of his compound, intent on visiting the high priest and begging him for his advice and for his help in gaining Orel trust again.
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Within a week, Boan was well again to travel on horseback instead of the wagon which he stayed in while Dyane took care of the snake bite.
He had never seen anybody recover from the bite of that snake before. He was a living miracle and Dyane was slowly becoming richer as different warriors came to meet her to cure any ailment they have.
My husband was slowly becoming less worried about Dyane attacking me so he was letting her keep her mixtures of herbs and allow her to ride into a forest when we come close to one so that she can gather the herbs she see for her stock so that she can treat people with ease.
I was also nervous around Orel and Elison , the day of the snake bite, when I had gone back to the tent I asked Dyane if she said anything to Elison and she said that she had told him everything that happened and that was how I knew that Elison know of my strange little magic.
I was sure that he would not keep that information from his friend based on the fact that his friend was the warlord and in charged so that he will know how to protect the people under his care and also because the same friend was married to me, he would want to protect his friend by telling him all he knows of me so as to arm his friend with information which would protect Orel.
I was getting sick of acting like they didn’t know but I was more scared of openly discussing about my dreams with them, they might believe I was a witch even bigger than what my fellow villagers thought of me then. Not just me, also of all the females in my family. And that was the main reason why I could not allow anyone close to me enough to be my friend back in the village, I was scared of being burnt for practicing witchcraft.
Dyane was the same case as me, and I was sure that was why I wanted her to be my companion. That and the dream I had years ago that I didn’t remember until the minute she was standing in front of me.
“My Lady, the warlord wants you to ride with him along with your companion.” A warrior said stopping his horse in front of me. I nodded as I glance to Dyane only to see that she was grasping the mane of her horse, unlike me, she was not comfortable on horseback and her horse follows mine everywhere.
“Let’s go.” I said as I kicked my horse to a trot and her horse follows and when I got close to my husband horse at the front of warriors leading the way to the army.
“You called husband” I said as Stormpacer used his tail to wipe my hand. I glare at the horse as Elison chuckled quietly. There was no way which me and that horse will ever agree.
“We are closed to the army. Over those hills, all you will see will be the plains lands which only have grasses and the army encampment close to the other side of the plains is where the army currently is. If there is anything you need to get from forest with your companion, I suggest you do it now.” He advised as I nodded and when I looked to Dyane, she wetted her lips still holding tight to her horse.
“There is something I need to get from the forest.” Dyane said as Orel nodded.
“Go with them.” Orel ordered Boan who bowed on his horse and started a trot into the forest and then Tyra followed and when I heard a tiny squeak knew that Dyane horse had also followed.
“You want what?” I asked Dyane some minutes later in the forest not believing what I heard.
“A what?” Boan asked same time as me.
“A poisonous plant so that I can extract the poison.” Dyane said looking at Boan who scratched his head.
“Why would you want a poisonous plant, for what purpose?” I asked.
“The greatest antidotes for poisons are usually created from a stronger poison and that is why I want a poisonous plant. I want something that will keep me busy when we get to the army site.” Dyane explained.
“You being my companion will keep you busy.” I countered as Dyane smiled.
“You will be too busy doing Warlady things and learning your husband way of life to be needing my companionship.”
“Okay, it is a good thing we stopped in this forest but know that after providing you with the poison I will be letting the warlord know. He will decide whether or not you get to keep the plant.” Boan said as he started to move deeper into the forest, Dyane and me followed closely behind me until he stopped, we looked around him to see a dry patch of land surrounding some blue beautiful flowers.
“The roots contain the poison and it dries everything of its water, the leaves should contain the antidote because the more vibrant the plant is the more poisonous its root is.” Boan explained as Dyane nodded the carefully uprooted some of the plants including the roots and kept it inside her pouch which she brought along for the purpose of new herbs.
We turned back to walk towards the camp but at a slow pace since Dyane seemed to be lost in the forest, following us at a slower pace while sampling and checking different plants, sometimes she would remove the leaves of some plants, other times she would uproot the whole thing as if she plans on replanting it, watching Dyane get lost in her own world brought a smile to my face.
It reminded me of my parents when they were alive and how they always get lost in their world whenever they were around each other. They were that in love. I used to wish for an ending like that when I was young but now I know better. Love matches were rare and so rare it doesn’t happen in two generations, my parents already had their love match. It would be next to impossible for me to get mine too. And that was before my marriage. Now I am just happy that my marriage could at least save me from death and would keep me safe and protected.
We finally got to the edge of the forest only to see Orel striding towards us with a glower. “Where have you been? You have been gone for the better part of two hours.”
Before we could answer, Dyane walked happily out of the forest with a smile on her face that didn’t diminish even at the sight of Orel furious face, she just bowed her head to him and continued on her merry way as if the warlord was not glowering at her.
I laughed at Orel stunned expression, he certainly was at lost of what to do, he wasn’t expecting her to act that way, and none of us was.
“She was the reason why we were late sir.” Boan said as Orel nodded.
“I can tell, you are excused.” Orel said as Boan bowed then quickly walked off, I could tell that he wanted to give us privacy because that was what Orel asked for with his words. The army started moving again.
“You are not leading and yet they are moving how?” I asked as Orel smiled.
“Elison must have caught sight of Boan and so he continued moving, when I am not present, he is the next person to give orders who everybody follows. If anything happens to me, they will follow his commands.” Orel said and after a pause he added. “If anything happen to me and a decision needs to be made, your decision has more weight than his does.”
I nodded at what he was saying until I heard the last part. “Nothing will happen to you.” I said with a scowl.
“We don’t know the future.” Orel responded with a shrug and then said in a serious voice. “If anything happen to me, I want you to make a decision that will good for the whole army and the Dar Empire at large even if it means my death.”
“I would not sacrifice you for the empire, the empire would have burnt me yet you saved me, I owe the empire nothing, I owe you everything.” I said with my voice heated with passion. I hate this conversation. Nothing was going to happen to Orel. It has been a few days since I met him but he keeps me well protected, nothing will happen to him, not while I am alive. I vowed within me.
“And I owe the empire everything, including my life. Promise me Themis.” Orel said as I shook my head.
“I will try my best to save everything, you and the empire but you are my major concern. I promise I will try to save the empire to the best of my ability without it harming you in any way. That is the highest I can promise.” I said with a silent voice after I have given it much thought.
“Thank you.” Orel said with a nod as he bent to kiss my forehead before walking away as if he had not just kissed me for the first time ever.