1 CHAPTER I

Dizmon, a place where the soil almost became barren, whose soil were stamped, laid with corpse and bathed in blood, a land where blood sweat and life of both friends and foe were sowed in exchange of smile and cheerful laughter and a bright future of those who were left. This almost barren land is bestowed to the noble family of Count Durham who bravely went through life and death for the kingdom of Rossia.

Newly Crowned King Simon Marveige bestowed the land of Dizmon to the House Durham as a reward for their contribution on the Lagma war that caused more than half of the soldiers to perish at the unmerciful swords of the enemies. On the perspective of other nobles, this is a punishment rather than a reward, who would want an almost barren land with no citizens to govern? No one. However, Count Durham gladly accepted the land and even promised to return it to its former glory, receiving sneer and jeers.

True to his words, Count Durham did everything he could to bring back Dizmon's former glory. Now, the once barren land is flourishing with life and a new ray of hope. Count Durham burned his money and resources to bring citizens in the land and they soon settled in. Proper water channel is built from the river going to every household, plots are weeded and the soil was fertilized and made into beds ready for planting. Count Durham shared the seeds he bought from the Capital. The Count did not blindly bought seeds, he asked a farmer which crops are appropriate for the season and for the land in Dizmon. Soon the land is painted green, fruits and vegetables alike grew providing food and source of income for the citizens who chose to live in Dizmon. There is almost nothing missing in the town; people, food, business and a kind lord, but, there is one thing the Count is missing.

A wife. A Countess.

Count Durham is the captain of the second legion known as White Lion Knight of Rossia Kingdom, on the battle field the White Lion Knight is positioned near the southern borders of Rossia, battle cries of rage and grief are common noise that can be heard and the trickling color of blood and corpses lying on every direction is a common thing to see on the battlefield. Normally, one would not think of anything other than winning the battle and bringing victory to its own homeland but, Count Durham had a different thought while he was on the battlefield.

A lady should be in a house busying herself with embroidery or house chores or gardening or having tea party with fellow ladies. A female knight is a rare sight to see in the battlefield, her curly hazel brown hair waved unruly freeing itself from its tie, her sharp and swift sword movement is like she's dancing with a male partner in a ballroom. Her daring move beheading a full grown man in one swing struck Count Durham, blood splattered on her breastplate and her sword is bathed in the blood, her eyes emitted a dangerous gaze that even her comrades wouldn't dare go near her or they will be the next one whose head would roll on the bloodied ground. Count Durham stared at the beautiful lady before him and before he knows it his heart started to beat for the female knight he only saw once. Even after returning to the Capital and started governing the land of Dizmon, Count Durham could not forget the unwavering resolution in her eyes; it is to kill or be killed and every time he remembers that scene his heart starts beating uncontrollably.

On one random visit to the Capital, Count Durham has the urge to laugh at fate's playful mind. The female knight that drove him crazy like a maniac appeared before him like an angel that descended from heaven granting him peace of mind and maybe also peace of heart. She looks like a true lady than a knight in her deep blue cotehardie, her wavy hazel brown hair is pulled back on a bun with few wisp of loose hair on the side. Unlike her serious expression that she wore at the battlefield, her smile is even more dazzling than a shinning diamond. Once again, Count Durham's heart fluttered uncontrollably like an animal on heat.

As a knight, Count Durham is taught to grab any opportunity that he comes across in life and never regret his decisions, without wasting any moment of second thoughts, in the middle of bustling town right there and then, Count Durham asked the female knight for marriage.

"My fair lady, you have captured my heart with your beauty and bravery. I beg you, please marry me!" Is what the Count said kneeling on one knee before the female knight.

Aivory Jome, a commoner female knight who ventured the battlefield along with the male knights, her excellent sword fighting gained praises from the commander of both White Lion and Gorgon Knights, after the Lagma war she received the position of lieutenant of Black Knight or the first legion. For nobles, associating with commoners is an act of humiliation. However, Count Durham has a mind of his own and a life of his own and did not spend a second of care to what other nobles are saying about him. Even as a commoner, Aivory Jome's title as a female knight and lieutenant of Black Knight is enough title to marry a noble.

Rumors of seduction and rebellion sparked after the wedding of Count Durham and the new Countess, the rumor of rebellion was soon denied by Count Durham by swearing an oath to King Simon Marveige but the rumor of seduction stayed but neither the Count nor Countess paid attention to the baseless rumor.

The couple lived at a mansion surrounded with flowers and trees at Dizmon and their innocent yet subtly sweet love bloomed blessing them with twins that are loved by the citizens of Dizmon.

~*~

"Father, I'm going to town today." Ainsley Durham says, she is the youngest of the twin and the only young lady of Durham House.

"Bring Tim and Sarah with you."

"I can go on my own Father."

Count Durham glances at his daughter over the document on his hand then glance back to the documents. "There are reports of kidnapping lately, it's better to be safe than sorry."

"Father I can take care of myself."

"You are not allowed to go to town if you won't bring Tim and Sarah with you."

Ainsley Durham sighs and gave in to her father. She soon left the office to prepare to leave.

Outside the mansion, the knight named Tim waited with the coachman Martin. Tim is not the best knight in Dizmon, however, he managed to pick the shortest straw among the other knights, escorting the young miss is either lucky or unlucky job for the knights and picking the shortest straw is not yet the time to know whether it is a lucky or unlucky job. The distant memory of the Durham twins' mischief replayed in Tim's mind, he involuntarily shivered, he came back around when the young miss of Durham and the maid, Sarah, came out a few minutes later, Tim opens the carriage's door and escorted the young miss inside, Sarah sat with the young miss inside the carriage while Tim sat outside with the coachman Martin.

"It's gotten warmer lately." Martin said and slaps the horses to move.

"Indeed it has. Summer is right around the corner now." Tim replied.

"This means the festival is drawing near. It will be a busy year again." Martin said with a smile plastered in his thin and wrinkled lips.

"Everyone is excited for this year's harvest again. Will Helen be able to participate this year?"

Martin's smile broadened and spares a moment of glance to Tim. "Yes. Her health is getting better nowadays. She's excited to join this year's festival."

"I'm glad. Everyone will be delighted to see her active again."

Martin nods remembering the wide smile and excitement on his daughter's face this morning, Helen has been talking about the festival and what kind of treats she will be selling with her mother Marianne. Helen is born with poor health, she falls ill from time to time and if possible she would just stay in bed resting to not strain her health.

Soon, the carriage pulled to halt outside the market gate, Ainsley got off with Sarah.

"Martin, go and visit the town. Tim will call you when it's time to go back." Ainsley said to the old coachman.

"Thank you, Milady. I shall be on my wife's stall."

Dizmon's harvest festival is still a month and a half away but the market place is already decorated with colorful triangle flags sewn on a string and tied on building windows or posts, each flag has a painting of fruits or vegetables or grains or the Rossia Kingdom's roaring lion.

The company of three strolled at the market checking out stalls and greeting the town's folks. So far, there are no complaints against each other but the citizens are showing concern about the recent kidnapping. Two days ago, a boy and a girl at the age of 7 were kidnapped while they are playing somewhere in town, at sundown the mothers noticed that their children are not coming home so they searched the town and even asked the other kids if they saw the two children but none of them saw the two. The knights on patrol that day notified everyone to be extra careful of those who come in town, the town's gates are heavily guarded and all luggage, carriages and wagons that pass through are thoroughly checked.

"Lady Durham!" A mother called crying, behind her is her husband desperately looking for help.

"What's the problem?" Ainsley asks. Instead of answering, the mother cried harder and fell on her knees weeping.

"Lady Durham, our daughter is missing. We were with her just a while ago but she disappeared. We looked for her around the town and at the places we visited but we can't find her." The husband explained consoling his wife.

Ainsley turns to Tim. "Go and notify the knights on duty. Don't let anyone leave the town today."

"Understood, Milady." Tim replied and left.

"Please calm down. We will find your daughter and the other missing kids." Ainsley said assuring the parents that their children will be back to them. With determination, Ainsley ordered the knights to do a full scale search sending a few teams on alleys and also at the forest where kidnappers could be hiding.

In the eyes of the citizens they are looking at the young miss of Durham but they could not help but see the fiery shadow of the late Countess, it seems like the late Countess' fire of will is passed on to her daughter that so happens to be the spitting image of her.

______________________________End of CHAPTER I