Chapter 4.2

Judge Beldor did not take in Nala to gain any advantage, which Marli secretly feared. She was Nette's daughter. For him, this girl was like his own daughter. Whenever Nette needed help, she could count on him.

Even in his long tenure as a judge, he had arranged a few small things that helped her and the Amazons. All of it remained hidden.

Possibly not even the Amazon queen suspected it.

That's why his interest in the child was mainly to protect her. Especially from Nerre, who liked to undermine her sister.

To the soldiers they encountered at the city gate, he presented the girl as a cousin of the wife of his eldest son, Jos. The woman by his side would be just a servant.

His wife's cheeks reddened, her lips pressed tightly together. She waited to hear a condemning word from the guards, which did not come.

Judge Beldor had a well-known name. Therefore, the guards and soldiers around the castle and city were also familiar with his family. Just like Miri's way of never speaking a word to them. She considered soldiers, even higher-ranking men deserving of noble status, unworthy of speaking to her.

Only after passing this hurdle did they resume their conversation.

"I will not stand by and watch Nala become a little princess!" Marli hissed close to his ear. "She is the daughter of our leader. An Amazon."

"Nala is too young for such decisions!" the judge exclaimed sternly. "If necessary, I will protect her from anything that happens against her will! If she herself wishes to follow her mother's path, I will not question the decision."

Under normal circumstances, the coachman would lead the horses directly to the house of their friends. To Nette's family. Since the woman only knew about the tragedy of losing her beloved daughter, but not about the joy of having a granddaughter, he instructed the coachman to head for a good inn. He would stay with his family as usual at the friend's house.

Especially Ero found it hard to part from his new girlfriend, and the judge had to impress upon both of them not to mention anything about the child or her prominent companion. Not to the friend or anyone else.

It was too dangerous at the moment.

For this event, soldiers from all three countries patrolled the streets. So that no one could set up a hidden trap anywhere. Or plan an attempt to free the army mainly composed of women.

All of this was to be prevented so that King Teron could forever extinguish this spark of hope in the lands.

It remained questionable what would happen to Nette. The girl for whom the king organized such a hunt. He was completely infatuated with her, and perhaps a different fate would be destined for her. Much worse than death alongside her comrades.

Nerre, leading her victorious army, was only interested in her own glory. The recognition of King Teron and the eradication of her perceived disgrace. She was blind to her mother's pain.

In the next few days, as the judge stayed with his family at the friend's house, a somber mood prevailed. There was not a day when the woman didn't seem on the verge of drowning in a sea of tears.

Miri tried everything to cheer up her friend.

She failed.

Both knew that only one thing could bring comfort. This little girl who needed to be protected from Nerre. That's why they couldn't bring the child into the house or introduce them to each other.

Not against the mother's wishes. And Beldor was the only one who could visit her.

But he couldn't dare, especially if Nerre had the audacity to visit her mother in this gloomy mood. As the potential murderer of her own sister.

The few moments he didn't spend with his wife supporting the friend, Judge Beldor spent with Marli and Nala.

In this short time, the Amazon confided in him about her own daughter. Arela, the same age as Nala, and her home was his city, Ylora.

Once they returned, he absolutely had to arrange a meeting between mother and child. At this point, he showed his ugly side, forcing people into something. Like a shoe that seemed too small at first but fit with a few adjustments.

They also chatted about everything that interested him. The Amazons. Their history, which partly differed greatly from the legends. But also recent events. Like Nette's transformation from a well-mannered young lady into a great warrior, as wise as she was strong.

Little Nette. He still saw her as a child before him. With her pretty curls and in magnificent clothes. He couldn't believe that this child, reflected in Nala, was already 30 years old and until a few days ago proudly led her people as queen.

In return, he told her about all the people he had to condemn alone just for confessing to being Amazons. These condemnations were as difficult for him as the ones to come.