Chapter 22
1000 Words
She had almost fallen asleep, but the maids knocked on her door to get her up and ready for the journey back home.
"Your Highness," called Nina.
Harry sat up in her bed and rubbed her eyes. She hadn't gotten any sleep since she had woken up from her nightmare.
"Come in," she called back.
Nina, Leona, and a few other maids had come to get her ready.
"Your Highness," Nina said shyly. "We brought you your breakfast. Your mother-the queen said to eat it quickly."
"Okay," Harry replied.
A maid sat her meal up on the table by the couches. This was Harry's last day in Taram. She moved over to the couch and ate while Nina brushed her hair for her.
"I'll miss you, Your Highness," she said sadly.
Harry paused before responding, "I-I'll miss you too."
"It was fun while it lasted," sighed Leona. She came out of Harry's closet with two dresses slung across her arms.
Harry smiled in response. She wanted to go home, but part of her wanted to stay in Taram. She wondered if Cardiaire looked the same as it did when she left, or would it be consumed in flames like in her dreams?
After getting ready, Harry stood outside waiting for everyone to arrive. There were a few bags left to be packed into the carriages, but it would be done soon.
Harry looked around for her family, but she hadn't seen anyone besides Kahil, who stood in front of her. She wondered where the others had gone, but she thought she'd find out soon. Lianne came outside to say her goodbyes, the twins had already done so earlier.
"Did you get any sleep?" Lianne asked.
Harry smiled and happily answered, "Of course I did!"
"You don't look like you did."
"I did."
Lianne scoffed, "Tell that to the bags under your eyes."
Leona and Nina had tried their best to conceal her tiredness with makeup. It looked pretty decent, but nothing gets past Lianne.
"Are you happy to go back?"
"I am."
"You seem anxious."
"R-really?"
A very strong wind blasted towards them.
Harry fought her hair as Lianne stood still.
"It seems like the sky is warning."
Harry turned to Lianne with all her hair in her face.
"A warning?" she asked confused.
Lianne didn't say anything; she only stared out into the distance. The wind soon subsided, and Kahil turned to Harry with a smile on his face.
"That was some strong wind, huh, Harry?"
Harry grinned back, "Yes, it was!"
"Are you ready to go back?" he asked.
"Yes, I am."
Kahil was about to say something else but was interrupted by a knight who came running up to them in a frenzy.
"Your Highnesses!" he shouted. "I have urgent news!"
"What is it?" Kahil asked, his demeanor turning serious.
The knight looked nervous as he told them.
"Your Highnesses, Nathaniel has escaped from The Ivory Tower!"
At that moment, it felt like everything had changed.
"Where's my mother and father?"
"Their Majesties have already left to address the situation, as have many other knights."
Harry sprung forward. "Including Varian?" she asked loudly.
The knight seemed taken aback. "Uh . . . yes . . . maybe?"
"We'll get ready to go, too," Kahil said. "Get the carriage ready now."
Harry watched as Kahil left to hurry up the preparations.
"A war is coming."
Harry felt chills from Lianne's words. She quickly turned to her with a dissatisfied expression.
"What's wrong?" Lianne asked.
Harry lowered her head. "Please, don't say that."
Lianne tilted her chin up. "And why not?" she asked. "It's true."
Harry glanced up at Lianne with a now saddened look. Was she sad? Was she worried? After receiving the warning from Joseph, Harry had done all she could to prevent a war from happening. She had often visited him to see if he could find out any more about the future war.
"I'm sorry, Princess, I have no idea what causes it," he had told her.
"No," she had said tearily. "It's . . . okay . . . Mister Joseph."
Harry watched as all the knights raced to get horses and speed up their preparations on Kahil's orders.
"A war," she mouthed. The memory of her dreams still remained deep in her mind.
"I hope that isn't true."
They had barely been able to give proper farewells before getting into the carriages and hurrying back towards the Cardiaire Kingdom.
There had been no sign of Kaitlyn when they were leaving. They believed that she must have already gone back with their parents.
Kahil tried to make small talk with Harry as they raced through the woods. It was all he could do to keep her from panicking.
"It'll be okay, Harry," he said calmly.
Her response was silence; she didn't know if Nathaniel's escape was related to the war or not. He was powerful when she faced him. If she had to face him head-on again, would she be able to beat him? She didn't know.
"You know the servants have decided to throw us a welcome-back party."
Harry looked at Kahil with a crazed expression.
"A party now?" she asked upset. "After everything that is happening, we're going to have a party now?"
"I for one think it's a great idea." Kahil's response bewildered Harry. "Think about it, we have an escaped criminal on our hands with a personal vendetta against the royal family who, after returning, are opening the doors to the palace with open arms. It couldn't be a better opportunity for him."
"But still," Harry replied. "It's still dangerous. What if . . . what if something happens." Harry hesitated to say the rest. "He has magic."
Kahil laughed, "One boy with magic against a whole army in the palace? I'd like to see him try to fight us."
Harry didn't say anything. She decided to believe in Kahil's confidence. However, she would later come to regret that decision.
- Writer
