praise the gods

Honey successfully snuck out her room and her parents home making sure to not make a sound.

She was headed to Mora and the reason wasn't far fetched. She wanted to see the beings from Tahu up close. Because she wasn't to be seen outside at all, she found herself in the garden of Mora trying to sneak a peek into the building. She wasn't getting any luck and that frustrated her.

____

Miss Neoma opened her grand double doors wide for the team to enter. They stepped into a amazing well furnished foyer, it somehow held enchantment.

The green walls, adorned with shimmering golden tapestries depicting scenes of mythical creatures and celestial wonders, seemed to come to life. A huge chandelier hung from the high vaulted ceiling, casting cascades of light in all directions, creating a dance of reflections on the polished marble floor below. Her girls were already dressed and lined up ready to welcome them.

Some held trays that carried wine ready to be downed down by their guest. One could see the excitement creeping in the eyes of the ladies that welcomed them.

"Welcome!" Miss Neoma turned to her guest. "Consider this place your home for the night. My girls will show you to your room as soon as you so please. Our party tonight shall be in honour of your arrival!" She announced. "It starts in half an hour," she walked intently towards the pair who had stayed rooted to the entrance.

She whispered low "My girls have no problem offering the worldly pleasures you may very well seek tonight, but if any harm comes to anyone of them, I will find you, and I will kill you." She looked from one man to the other.

"We will not let harm come to them. You have our word." Lucia replied in same tone she had delivered her threat.

Miss Neoma smiled in response. "Alright ladies, let show our guests how it's done over here in Ashford." She said at last as she mounted up the stairs to get ready for the night ahead.

As the night wore on, things got lively as everyone seemed to be mingling just fine. Elara had found her way to Vax and was clear on what she wanted from him. He didn't care, they were out of Tahu and could go down that road if they pleased, and he did please, loosing himself in her arms and body.

Miss Neoma, dressed in a gown that seemed to glow moved gracefully among her guests, sharing stories and laughter. She offered them exotic nectars and delicacies. A few of her customers who dared had come for the delights they always sought and was glad they did as they saw they had nothing to fear.

"You want to go out for a little air, Sir Hawthorne." Miss Neoma asked when she noticed he had secluded himself from the rest.

"I'm sorry, don't mistake my lack of interest as a result of how i feel about your hospitality. We are grateful for it."

"Don't be modest boy, it's not for free."

He chuckled. "You are right."

"Take a stroll, you surely need it. There is a beautiful garden out back," She pushed.

"Sure then." He emptied his cup and stood. "Thank you Lady Neoma."

"I'm no lady, but sure."

Hawthorne walked past her to the direction of the garden.

"How funny," Miss Neoma whispered as she set to go back to her guest.

__

Honey was perked up on a small bush as her neck stretched to have a look at the activities going on inside Mora.

"I can not see properly. If only I could confidently show my face inside." She complained. "Oh that's right, Miss Neoma never lets us. Darn it!"

She got down from the little make-shift hill she had created to stand on and frowned keeping her hands akimbo. "This is useless, what am I doing? Father's going to kill me. Or Tiran, whichever one gets to me first." She continued to speak to herself.

"What will my sister do if she was here?" she sighed.

"I use to think myself crazy whenever I do that and wondered what people will say if they saw it too. Now I know." His voice startled her greatly as she had not been expecting anyone to catch her here.

"I guess you owe me thanks then." Honey turned slowly to where the sound of the voice came, her heart raced at what she might see.

Hawthorne stepped out from the shadows slowly raising his hands for her to see he meant no harm.

"Hello Miss?"

Her eyes widened as his face became clearer in the light. The rumors were true. . . "Uuhh. Honey." She whispered.

"Really?" He said with a hint of surprise.

"Yes. My father is known for giving his daughters weird names. My brother however he— he. . ." Her voice trailed off as Hawthorne stepped even closer.

His hair blended with darkness but his face was clear in the moonlight, his looks defied the ordinary. His features were meticulously chiseled, as if sculpted by a master artist with the utmost precision but there was softness in there too. She couldn't help but admire all that he was as her eyes held his.

"You father must be an interesting soul."

She nodded as she tore her eyes away from his to look down. "What is your name?" she asked finally.

"Honey! I know you are here! Honey!" Crown's voice sounded from around the corner.

"Oh no, that's my sister. I'm not supposed to be here." Honey said worried as she turned to where Crown's voice came from.

"It was lovely to meet you, Honey." Hawthorne said as he vanished.

Honey turned back looking at the spot he once stood in now empty.

"Honey?" Crown turned the corner finally to see her.

"Honey are you okay? What's wrong?" Crown came to stand in front of her. "Did someone hurt you?"

"No. I'm fine sister, I just— I just met someone."

"From Tahu?"

Honey nodded with a smile. "He was beautiful!!" She exclaimed.

"Father will have our heads if he finds out we left the house. Let's go and you can tell me more about this beautiful man," she linked her arm with her sister's and dragged her towards where they had come from.

Hawthorne came out from the shadows once the sisters left, watching them disappear from his sight. A pleasing smile rested on his lips. "Honey. How sweet." He turned and headed back inside ready to retire for the night.

____

The next morning came with a loud silence that settled over Ashford. Today was a day that would define all other days to come.

As Mora, bathed in the first light of day, returning to its tranquil state, the team sort to leave and carry out their next and most important mission.

They headed straight for the High chief's house and was greeted by him and a few other men.

"We accept your proposal." Mattan stated. "Not because we desire it so, but if truly it's way to save us all from an even worse fate, then we accept." He looked around the table for a sort of confirmation from the men he had called on to witness it.

"A wise choice Sir Mattan. We thank you for making this journey worthwhile." Hawthorne said at last. He got out the list he's held on to since the start of the journey, there were only three family names on it.

"Who is Dayton?" he asked as looks passed around.

"He's a farmer, one of the best in Ashford. His house is one of the first few you meet once you enter into town." A man explained.

"I hope he will be as willing to give his daughter out to the prince."

"Sure. We've all made peace with the fact that it can be anyone of us." the same man replied.

"Okay then." they all rose up, ready to deliver the news to the household of Dayton.

"One more thing," Hawthorne said like he only just remembered. Everyone was out now and it was just the chief left behind with them.

He gave a look to Phina. "For your kindness and all the troubles you've been through, especially with my colleague here," he tilted his head towards Vax, the Royal house of Zeror would like to leave you with this. He dumped a bag of gold coins that Phina had gotten from their carriage. "Until next time, Sir Mattan."

Mattan waited for everyone to leave before letting his true feelings show. Firstly he was glad it wasn't his daughters that had been selected. Secondly, he was now richer than he had been before as he opened the bag to look at its content. "Praise the gods." he said at last, collapsing in his chair as relief washed over him