chapter 16

She flitted and slide. She was first looking at the commoner with the corner of an eye before she saw him in full so miserable and in deep pains.

Two guards hovered over this commoner and two handmaidens by his side.

As she went, she bowed before her father and took her seat beside queen Charlene.

The peasant man knelt breathing like he will be switched off in a moment.

He tried to looked at the princess. His left eye was swollen and his cheeks bulky. His skin was red and bruised, its flagged less concerned from his torn tunic.

At the other end was a royal guard who had a minor injury on his arms, cheeks and leg.

The petitioning commenced again, once princess Eleanor was seated. They was no need for them to used the lectern. The king could detect and weighed their every words.

He was reported for fighting with the royal guard sent on an errand by queen Daniella, the third queen who now assumed second. Queen Daniella ensured that he was arraigned before the king to be disciplined according.

"What is your name?".

"Joe... Joe Miller your majesty".

The words of the king are precious. It commands life or death. Promotion or demotion. Patiently they waited for the frail king to speak.

"Didn't you know that he was a royal guard when you fought him".

"I... Knew your...your majesty. He was trying to defiled my...my fifteen years old daughter. I saw...saw him..him on her and I pounced on him... My king that...that is all I know".

Eleanor's eyes drifted to the two handmaidens by his side. She could see the youngest amongst them. "I am a year older than she is and she would have gotten defiled by an overbearing knight". Eleanor thought. The king observed Joe Miller carefully.

"the palace guard tried to raped your daughter" he said more to himself. He was clasping his hands and then took his thumb to caress his lips.

He then asked the guard to explained what happened.

"My king" he knelt.

"This man is one of the worker in the orchard of her royal highness, queen Daniella. I met his daughter there where I told her of my lady need of a handmaiden.

She sworn it was an honour if she could be one but the other sister came and insulted me. Us my king, we were two guards.

She slapped me saying that I tried to forced her sister away. I couldn't stand being slapped by a maiden. I retaliated that was when this peasant man came and attacked me from behind".

Princess Eleanor felt there was no truth in what the royal guard said but it was not in her place to question.

"My king he lied". One of the handmaiden prostrated.

"how dared you speak when you are not asked to". Queen Daniella query as she stood. All eyes turned on the Queen. The other handmaiden who was still standing shivered. Their father, Joe Miller tried to pulled her up.

" Speak" the king commander. Slowly queen Daniella sat disappointed.

"May you live long my king". She tried to controlled her emotions. She stood up from the floor and flung opened her sister's commoner frock. She had bruises on her thighs and waistline. The loincloth was tore. She was also bruised on her chest and lips.

"How dare you lie before me". The king was furious at the guard. The king rose. The guard prostrated on the floor. Everyone stood.

"Joe Miller" he called

"My king"

"You shall be compensated for the humiliation. You and your daughters".

" Thank you my king". They bow.

"you shall ceased to be a gardener in my queen's orchard. You shall come before me after fourteen days and tell me what business you shall do".

Queen Daniella face dim. The man sprang up and dart about. He found his daughter's hand in his. He spinned her around and later fell on the king's legs. His daughters knelt.

Queen Margaret and princess Eleanor became emotional. Their faces glimmer with pity for the commoner and his daughters. The rest just stared.

"My king..."

"Speak no further". King Ephraim shut him up.

Joe Miller suddenly realized he was in pains. All parts of him aches. But how was he able to spinned around.

The king ordered the guards to take them away to be treated by the royal physician. He turned to the guard.

" I shall allowed my queen to decide your punishment".

Queen Daniella gulped. She glared at Joe Miller and her daughter as they departed. Even a queen cannot keep a king waiting.

"My king... I thanked you for granting me this opportunity". She was not satisfied with the judgement but she must act according to the king's command. So she ordered that the guard be flogged and taken to the dungeon.

The king ordered the queens to excused them.

"And the young princess my king" Duke William said

"she stay." The king said.

Princess Eleanor was dazed.

First her father invited her into the throne hall. When even she was aware that they were going to have an important meetings.

She over heard his knights discussing about it. but she doesn't know what it was really about. She didn't hear them. Everyone seems frightened by just speaking of it.

She was sorry for being rude to lord Zane. He finally did something after six years of promises. She was sure he manipulated her father to act otherwise.

But then shortly after. Her father rose and left the hall. She went with him. She could see the surprised looks on the minister's faces as they went. She herself was more surprised than they were at what was actually going on.

"Father. She called him while they walked on the corridor to his chambers.

"I am not feeling too well my child"

" and you are just telling me. You have refused to let me into your life this past eight years father".

"There is an empire threatening us. They are most powerful. I'm afraid we might perished in their hands".

She was dazed why her father was scared and if the protection of the kings' Stone was no longer valid. But she said something different.

"Never father I wouldn't let that". The father halted and turned to looked at her.

"what would you do". He forced himself to smile but he was not expecting an answer from her.

"While I was on the throne". He walked again.

"My head was light. I was sweating".

"I shall called on the royal physician at once". She said concerned. They were the only ones walking by the corridor. It was still the early hours of the morning.

"he is on his way. I sent for you because I need you to be in the meeting with them. While I go to take some rest. Now go back".

Eleanor stood for some minutes. How was she going to handled this ministers who had wanted her to leave earlier if not for her father.

What her father wanted her to do was an order and not a request.

She hurried up to him. He hold on for her. "I thought I told you to go back"

"I shall father. Only on the condition that I watched you sleep".

He heaved. He knew the was nothing he could do to talked her out. They went to his bedchamber. He didn't want her wasting too much time. So he hurried up with what he had to do and climbed the bed. His daughter was not the type he could fool with a fake sleep.

He let his mind be comforted by her presence until he fell asleep

"Be well father.." she kissed him before tiptoeing out of the room.

She left him and went back to the throne hall.

"It has been three days of Dusty Empire camping outside our city wall".

" That must have been three days of mercy". Minister Mammon interjected the general.

" We should be prepared to wiped the Intruders out. The knights are waiting patiently for the king to give the command. but it doesn't seem to be coming. I wondered why our king has refused to battled against them. They should be teach a lesson".

"Aye" they agreed.

It was general Frederick that spoke. The whole hall became quiet when they saw her. Still looking at her as to questions where the king was.

She didn't wait for them to asked. She already knew what they shall asked.

"My father, your king, asked me to be part of this meeting".

Eyes were glared at her. One by one they left the throne hall hissing as they go.

" I have waited for ages for the king to passed an order. Only for him to bring his princess. What can she do?". He screamed angrily.

The general wasn't expecting her but her father, the king. The throne hall was now empty. Only the two of them and her personal knights were left. The princess and the general.

He kept looking at her without a word. She told her knight to excused them while she spoke with him.

" My princess!... I have waited like the farmer awaits his crops to be ready for harvest in due season. Where is the king?".

The princess walked towards him proudly. "My father! The king... has too many things to attained to and this..."

She tilt her right index finger to the ground

" is the least of it".

General Frederick eyes widen in furious. " So I was waiting for the breeze to blow the morning into night then I returned to my abode".

He walked past the princess to the main door opposite the throne. "I was here waiting in vain. I shall take my decision in handling the Black Dust Empire" he murmured as he went.

" Why are you furious my general. My father, your king has commanded me to handled this".

She said following him. He stood still and turned to her.

"The king... commanded you... My princess!" He said pointing fingers at her". She nodded her head confused by his reactions.

"Seeing you are just but a child and a girl. How can you handled matters of the elders. Politics and war affecting the most stubborn and wicked kingdom as Black Dust Empire".

He paused and turned to looked at this young princess behind him. His brown eyes acknowledged her beauty. Her dark brown hair remind him of her mother, queen Lucy.

There were long and held in a ponytail behind her back. He looked at her flat forehead like the sit of wisdom and her eyes it light. Her eyes were blue and clear as the ceilings of Serpent Land. Her cheeks silky and fluffy letting the dimples raised his emotions.

The princess's tender smiles enticed the beholder. Her thick pink lips was as inviting as a meal. He looked at this semi matured princess in black trouser and top. Her physique was not yet ready for consumption. Even if they were, it not in his position to have.

"Go to your chambers little one. Don't mocked my grey hairs. I have been to wars thrice my age now. I am capable of handling this"

The princess went a bit closer, making him inhaled her sweet lavender scent. He froze in place. The thought of what could be done with a woman behind closed doors ran through his mind.

"Oh great one, I mean no disrespect. I have heard my father told tales of how you defeated kingdoms in his name. Great is your history and it shall be remember through ages".

She looked at him still. He was struggling to concealed his dilemma. His uncontrollable emotions and admirations.

She allowed him wallowed in his nightmare. He kept blinking and swallowing too hard to hide his feelings.

" I hope all is well with you.. my general"

the general gave her a questioning look and then nodded all round, unsure of what to respond to her.

"You look like one who is enchanted and trapped in a love nest. You are blushing and horny seeing your rod point at me. It should be directed to the enemies. Black Dust Empire warriors my general" she said in a rush and in confidence she bowed

The general quickly crossed his legs. He swallowed his saliva for one last time and put his irrational behavior on hold.

"Prudence! My general they say is not in age". She encircled him, as she spoke.

"I have seen men with grey hairs still being folly. Knowledge and wisdom is much more. Larger than the ocean and diverse too.

A human person who have both, have but in fractions. No man has possession of all. Its a collective effort that shuttled the wheel. let's conquer Black Dust Empire together general Frederick"

Frederick looked at her speechless and numb. He was bemused at her intelligent. He had seen her handled cases and give counsel but he never spoke with her one on one like this before.

He stepped aside and ushered out his hands for her to lead the way.

They went to the city gate and to the watched tower to take a look at the people that dare took them into a siege. They were a large number of them surrounding them.

Ranting and shrilling and screeching. They looked like rice stalk on the field when the watched them from the tower. Princess Eleanor viewed them through the microscope.

They had raised tents. Some were preparing their weapons. Others practicing how to fall their enemies. Others just scattered and roamed from point to point.

While few more were lifting their weapons up and down shrilling with the unknown. Some of them were on horses. Most were on foots. They were few carriages.

They wore leather cloths and chainmail. Their knights helmet didn't cover their entire face. They had some skin smear with mud.

Princess Eleanor took a break. General Frederick was staring at her with eager eyes, wanting to know what she saw. She gave him a blank look and used the microscope once more.

The princess scanned through. She was looking for their emperor. At last she found him in an open carriage seated so serene and overbearing.

She gave the microscope to the general.

"Their emperor is there". She said in a rush and left. General Frederick followed her. They went to the large city gate. She ordered the keepers to opened it.

"What! Princess how could you order the gate to be opened for our enemies to killed us".

"Opened it". She screamed.

The gate keepers opened the gate as ordered reluctantly. After sometime, the emperor of Black Dust Empire and few of his men came on horses. The knights made themselves available around the princess and the skeptical general for their protection. They met some meters away from the gate.