Golden Promise

Remember the time/Anxious thoughts

The bumps and uneven surface had the group of four and the items in the wagon going left to right. Leo stayed huddled next to Hanako, both very much asleep. Kalthona stayed focused on the road up ahead when Adriel took a seat next to her. One by one, allowing his legs to go over the little board that separated the driver's seat from the back of the wagon. A red cotton blanket in arms and a pillow to sit on. He placed the blanket over Kalthona, who was very grateful , and placed the pillow beneath him. He made himself comfortable and started whistling absent-mindedly. "It's going to be our first human kill since last year." Kalthona stated, nonchalant as she could allow herself to be. 

Adriel nodded, his hands rubbing his biceps to warm himself up. "Yeah….it's a real doozy situation. But we have to grit our teeth and bear through it." Kalthona bit her lip and released it to sigh. A sense of dread then filled her empty stomach. "This is the queen of Sena's daughter we're talking about. A whole princess. Not only her but the minister of foreign affairs." She stated, exasperated. "If we fail, we become public enemies number one. The hunters become the hunted." She finished off. Adriel listened to her worries with a sympathetic look. He understood what she was feeling. This wasn't some small scale mission. This was high class treason. Adriel looked back to the sleeping Leo and looked back ahead." I just hope that the boy's parents know what they're doing. Word has already gotten out, and the main palace is probably under siege by now." Adriel spoke, anxiety now filling his own words. 

Kalthona steered the horses right, the sky was a purplish blue, indicating the dawn was here." The Barcrofts and the Egor have basically openly gone against the royal family and started some sort of a revolution. As mere governors, I'm not sure how they're going to pull it off. Not only that, Black Steel and Fiola want nothing to do with the revolution, due to their everlasting loyalty. Finally, Sena has powerful kingdoms backing them up. The odds against us is too great-"

"Yet, like hungry dogs, we lap up the money dangled in front of us." Hanako mumbled, tiredly. Kalthona looked back and laughed. "Do you remember when you came to Izuru to pick me up?" The short girl asked again. Kalthona nodded her head. "She was drunk in the middle of the field, waving her sword around, chanting 'I'm the greatest'." Adriel could hear this story over and over again and still tumble over with laughter. "Your dad's blood all over your sword made me kinda sick. I'm not going to lie there." Kalthona stated, shuddering as she recalled the memory. 

"Meeting you in Powmonoah was great." Hanako and Kalthona said in unison, a sense of serenity coursing through her body. Adriel blissfully sighed at the memories of his small village. Large fields filled with lavender flowers. Rows of teepees and longhouses. Kids running around and parents happily watching. He wondered what they were doing now. How is his mother and grandmother doing? Kalthona and Hanako had cried when it was time for them to leave. They didn't want to go. 

Leo watched and listened silently. He wished he had this life. Not one where he was constantly patronized, controlled, belittled and compared. He wished that he could be his free self, loving all the women and men without his mother's harsh words about being sick. He then wondered what kind of family the royal family were. Were they as suffocating as his? Or were they understanding about the freedom their children need? 

Sleepiness took over him once again, and he rested his head on Hanako's shoulders. He honestly didn't know whether he was doing the right thing or not anymore.