5 Meeting Acquaintances

The party had started and most of the guests had arrived, these were Adriele's friends and acquaintances in school and during her time at the palace. Also some adults from the upper class, were there because of her background and the presence of the queen. Adriele was dressed in a blue long sleeves gown which highlighted her golden brown eyes.

" You look lovely lady Adriele" a woman complimented her.

"You too Mrs Donnelly" Adriele returned the compliment. It was her best friend who moved to the North after getting married

" It's been so long since I last saw you, sorry I couldn't come visit you my husband is being paranoid over nothing" the woman said

". He just wants to keep you safe, the world is cruel you know" Adriele assured her

"I have something to tell you" Mrs Donnelly said pointing at her belly. Adriele was wondering what was up before she realized and said " I'm going to be a godmother?"

" Yeah you are" she said and Adriele gave her a hug. A majority of her age mates were already married, she turned eighteen today and wasn't married or engaged yet, which made people talk about her.

"So where is Mr Donnelly?, how could he leave you alone with the load you're carrying" Adriele teased

"Go away" Mrs Donnelly said " Who's baby are you calling a load?"

" It's definitely going to be the cutest, and most enjoyable load worth carrying, ever" Adriele said, and both girls laughed at what she said.

---------------------

"What happened to the carriage you took from the palace" Killian asked his brother

" It broke down" Darren said, they were at the dinning table and he didn't want his mother to know what happened or she might have a panic attack"

" And the coachman's body?" it was his younger sister Merlia who asked. Darren had sent Elias to go fetch the body and send it back to Kleevland.

And Darren bluntly said "it was an unfortunate happening"

"See mom, I told you he won't be able to give you a reasonable explanation, this is the third body this week and it's not even half the week yet, is this the type of king you want for the people. If Darren refuses to take the throne, it will be given to you the man Merlia marries and she wanted to be queen.

" I don't mind adding a fourth" Darren said still concentrating on his food.

" Did you just hear that mom, he threatened to kill me, his own sister" she said as she stood up from her seat pointing at Darren who was unaffected with her words and was savoring his meal.

" Take your seat Merlia, you provoked your brother first and that is not how a lady behaves, you're a princess" her mom said and with this she glared at Darren an sat down.

" And Darren don't use don't use such words at your sister again"

Darren finally looked up and said "Yes, mom".

The king and queen left the table when they were done with their meal along with Merlia who had lost her appetite after confronting Darren, but could not leave since it's considered rude to leave the table before the king.

"Tell me what actually happened Darren" Killian asked?

" I was attacked"

"What!!"

"Don't be so dramatic about it, you're not mom" Darren said and he iterated what happened to his brother.

"Seems like you're on a wanted list, congrats bro" Killian said jokingly

"Thanks, it's not easy" Darren replied in the same tone

------------

Some where in Kleevland later that night in a house, five people with four who wore black cloaks with hoods, and one who wore a purple cloak and the man who had escaped from Darren in the forest.

"What do you mean, you couldn't get him Lucio" one of the men asked.

" He killed the others, I was the only one who managed to escape" the man called Lucio said

"And are we supposed to applaud you for that? another man asked.

"What do we do now" the first person who spoke asked the man in a purple cloak, who was sitting in a chair backing them so they don't see his face.

"We wait" the man said " Darren will never agree to it anyway and if he does he won't be able to win the hearts of the people with that attitude of his.

The men started to dispatch, taking different routes to their destination.

------------------

It's been two weeks since the King's had made the decision to renew the treaty, the Prince's of Kleevland had come to Silverland.

To inform the King about the change of plans, Darren was the one who is going to get married and not Killian. But after getting so many No's from Darren about going to Silverland to personally choose his own bride from the Royal family, he accepted last night so he got the carriage ready as quickly as possible in case he changed his mind again *as I formally said Darren is a chameleon he could change at anytime*

** Last night**

Killian: Are you sure you won't come to Silverland with me?

Darren: I will but not to choose a bride, I've told you guys that I'm not getting married.

Killian: I'm satisfied enough with you going with me, who knows you might like one, anyways why are you going then?

Darren: I'm looking for someone, who stole something from me

Killian: Really? there's a person who can steal something from Darren Knightdale and still breathe the next hour, I really need to meet this person.

Darren: You will.

************

The Prince's had left the palace of Kleevland in the morning two days ago and they arrived Silverland today. Unlike the east of Silverland the Palace is located in the west and to reach there, is a minimum of two days plus.

" Welcome Prince Killian" Crown prince Derick greeted Killian. He looked behind to not see any one else then he asked " Isn't Prince Darren with you"

" No, he'll arrive in a few days. He stopped in the East for some work"

" Ok I see, please come in" the crown prince said with a hand gesture. While they walked, away the butler and servants of the palace took his things and placed in the room he'll be staying in.

In the east of Silverland at the church, children were coming out of the building.

Since the approval of classes to be held in the church, Adriele had been teaching the children there, it was two in the afternoon and classes were over. Adriele left the church wanting to stroll back home, when she noticed a somewhat familiar face which had been trailing her, since she left the church, and he kept on smiling at her each time their eyes locked. It was Darren, he had gone to see Elias about the information which he had asked for about the girl he had seen that day. Fortunately for him Elias had seen who he was looking at and he knew exactly who she was.

Adriele quickly hurried up her footsteps and she took a short cut through the forest, but she froze when she heard a voice behind her "You seem to be really bold to walk alone in the middle forest"

"What do you mean?, I won't have had to if you weren't following me" she said as polite as she could be right now.

" You have a good eye sight, did you see them too" Darren asked pointing at three men who lay unconscious on the grass.

"Huhh, are they dead" Adriele asked with a terrified expression.

"Do you want them dead" tilting his head to the side

" Why would you even ask me that?" she asked with an annoyed look and heading towards the men to check their pulse, when Darren held her hand to stop her " I won't do that if I were you"

" Why not?"

" These men had talked about having a good time with you and I merely stopped them"

" Thank you"

" That's it? I just saved your life and all you can say is thank you"

" What do you expect me to say' sir?, it's not like I can tell if you're any better than them"

" Ouch!!, that hurts and don't call me Sir it makes me look old"

" Sorry but I have to be cautious, what then is your name?"

" I can't tell you that either, call me your saviour"

Adriele laughed inaudibly then said " Okay *SAVIOUR*". and they walked through the forest.

" Ok, back to the subject of payment, what do you propose to give me"

" But I thought calling you my savior, was payment enough"

" I am your saviour and you acknowledged that, rewarding me is a whole different ball game"

" What are you bragging about so much, I could've handled them if they did approach me, thank you." Adriele said a little bit annoyed with the man.

" Really now?" he asked staring at her.

" What was that for?, do you think, I can't defend myself? why? cause I am a woman?" she asked this time really annoyed with him.

" Hey Miss don't get me wrong, I believe a weakling is a weakling regardless of whether it's a man or woman"

" Did you just call me a weakling?" she asked boiling in anger.

Diverting from the question he was just asked he said" Hey look here, we've reached the road now I'm sure you can go on by yourself, until next time, bye" and with this the man left her and started walking back the way they came.

" Hey, there you didn't answer my question Mr." Adriele said as she watched the man walk away but he didn't turn back. What kind of a man is he she thought to herself.