Can Ryvna Redeem Herself?

She could barely see from afar shadows of people in horses and some spaced out on their feet.

Si Philip and Sir Von were not in any town she passed. She couldn't be too far away from the Queen so here she is, going towards the borders of Takèif and Xuediv where a massive disaster just happened.

She coughed and her eyes starts to sting.

She managed to cover her mouth with her damp outer layer dress from crossing the river earlier.

Cautious of her surroundings, she pulled out her sword with her other arms covering her eyes and continued onwards while looking at the ground. She can barely see anything.

Moments later, everything gradually gets clearer. She saw Queen Vana and beside her is Sir Von. She felt relief seeing a knight beside the queen.

She went closer and faintly heard them talking.

"I'm sorry Queen Vana, I still don't understand." Sir Von said it like he is in an unlikely situation. And he is in an unlikely situation. He did something he was never ordered to do so.

"This is not supposed to happen." The Queen answered with disbelief spread across her face with her hand on the leather strap of her horse.

"What's not supposed to happen?" he asked hiding his disbelief.

"The barricade Von. This is because of the barricade." her eyes flared with fury and an incredulous gasp from the knight.

"How is this because of the barricade? We haven't even made half the progress yet to expect an attack. " And even if they oppose building a wall how come they bombed us right away? He thought to himself.

"Have they been waiting for this to happen?" he asked once more and the Queen looked at the exasperated Sir Von sternly. She assumed Ryvna never made it to inform Von.

"Wha...I'm right?" he said frustratingly at the absurdity of what he thought was right. He tried so hard to contain his words and frustration, he is really not the type of knight who shows dismays. Not even in the toughest situation.

Both saw Ryvna on her horse just staying still and listening to them. As she realized she was discovered, she gets down, came closer to them, and did not utter a word. She waited for what her queen will say to her.

After Queen Vana saw the guilt-ridden face of Ryvna, she said, "The consequences of your actions are something to be talked about when the situation is at ease."

Ready for whatever ways the queen could reprimand her, or worse strip her of her rank, she felt embarrassed and pathetic. Losing her rank is even frightening to her.

"Even so, this is bound to happen. Sooner or later, they are still going to find ways to shake our kingdom...I am not saying this is any better... What I'm trying to say is that regardless of restraining our kingdom against them, it's guaranteed stuff like this is likely to happen." Silence deafened them for a while. To Ryvna it's a relief.

A relief that somehow this chaos is inevitable.

"The impact of the explosion is directed from Takèif, although I couldn't see how they were able to acquire such resources for the bomb. The chance that this is an attack from Takèif is high enough." Sir Von said as he deduce the account of the situation.

"Then let's go there." The Queen declared but the knights gently opposed.

"We need you safe. Let us do the work, Queen Vana." Ryvna finally said something.

"It's between us family. This is not about the kingdom anymore. They want something else from me." the Queen said knowing that the root of all of this is her being chosen as the ruler of Acairè. After all, it's already been four years, this could be the perfect time for them.

"The more we need you safe." Ryvna insisted again.

"I am not going there to fight yet Ryvna. I am just having a conversation - I need to know how they want this to end. I want this settled once and for all. I can't be having petty fights with them anymore." Hearing Ryvna interferes again irked the queen.

But as a knight, protecting her is what she does even if it meant stopping her from doing something, and it's something Queen Vanameryth already knew. Still, she didn't like it.

"I still can't find Sir Philip. We should wait for him." Ryvna is trying to convince the queen to stay to protect her, as all knights should do.

"We have enough men here today. We don't need everyone to get in Takèif, we might scare King Vardyr thinking we are already taking his kingdom down." Queen Vana responded as she tries to calm herself.

"Alright then. But let me, and Sir Von clear your way out first before we rally over there....this might also be a trap for you." The Queen considered Ryvna's suggestion this time for she knew she is just trying to redeem herself.

And she could also be right. They might be actually luring her in. Still, she's pissed off.

"Make it quick."

*

Last night, when Sir Philip left Ryvna in Misty Town, he was troubled by the abrupt change of decision of the Queen. He may be troubled when he talked to Ryvna the way that he did, but Sir Philip worries more about getting in trouble with the citizens.

To Sir Philip, the barricade is the best decision the Queen can ever make if she wants to avoid conflict. Just like Ryvna, he's also been waiting for the wall to be standing.

"I mean, what can Takèif and Xuediv do to Acairè?" He mumbled to himself thinking Acairè has way more strength than the other two kingdoms combined.

Just outside the town, a man is trying to hide by the street lamp.

It was dark, he could've not known he was there if he wasn't moving about in the dark.

"Who goes there?" He uttered still eyeing the shadow.

Surprised by the voice of Sir Philip, the shadow flees the lamp trying to avoid him but by doing so, he revealed his form.

It's a body built the way Sir Philip recognizes.

The person storms away and went so far from the town.

He's a prisoner from Xuediv.