Chapter 14
1410 Words
“I’m not sure if we share the same facts so if you could brief me about it,” Ralph said coolly looking at the men who were seated in front of him.
“Lord Ralph, this is about the little girl who has been staying in your castle,” Kace began to speak, “From what we have gathered she is a human you rescued a few months back from the ambush that occurred in the village that was situated between the border of south and west region. Is that right?”
“Yes, she was the sole survivor from the attack that took place,” the Xeridia Lord answered promptly, “But did you know the outlaw vampires were released irresponsibly by Lord Edgar’s men which led to the ambush of many families that lived there?”
“Is that so?” Baron asked turning his grey eyes on Kace who nodded like an obedient child. Ralph pushed a small button on his desk as they spoke, “Did they take action on it?”
“Sir, the matter was hushed with the lack of evidence of who had let the outlaws free. It was the time when the Head Assembly and you had gone to visit Lord Bart,” Loren spoke diligently and added, “We’ll look into the matter once we head back from here.”
“We aren’t here to speak about who attacked the village,” Baron spoke getting the matter back on track, “It has come to our attention that the human girl was mistreated without giving any food for two days by the vampires who you are acquainted with and that is not all. You have marked the girl without her consent and that too in such a young age. Do you know the consequences of it?”
“If you are talking about punishment, the deed is already done. Being the Lord of the Xeridia Kingdom I’m aware of the laws that have been placed,” Ralph said leaning forward slightly, “And about the mark you’re talking about, what proof do you have that I have marked her?” he asked them.
“That will require for us to see the girls neck,” Baron said firmly.
“Of course,” Ralph replied and at the same time, the door opened where Lailani stood accompanied by a guard of the castle.
“Andre?” Lailani’s small voice filled the room, going to where Ralph sat.
“This is the girl?” Kace asked.
“No, I’ve replaced the actual human with another,” Ralph deadpanned and it took few seconds for the new assembly member that the Lord was being sarcastic.
“Hmm, the girl doesn’t bare the mark,” Baron said looking at Lailani’s neck carefully, “As she is a human and young, living with vampires isn’t safe. Therefore the head assembly decided that it would be better if the girl lived with her relatives who live in the Kaldria. We hope you can coordinate with us on this.”
“Relatives?” Ralph asked curiously.
“Her father’s brother lives there with his family and they had sent a letter to the assembly asking if anyone survived during the attack. I’m sure she’ll be safe there and have people to call as her family,” Baron said, his eyes trained on the human and then back at Ralph’s calm collected expression. He wasn’t sure if the Xeridia Lord would comply with his decision.
Seconds passed by before Ralph spoke, “When would you be taking her there?” he asked making the elder assembly member release his breath.
“We’ll be going today as soon as her things are packed,” Baron said as he stood up from his seat with the others.
“Alright, I’ll ask someone to get it done right away,” Ralph said walking out with the others and asked Maya to help packing what ever Lailani would require.
While Lailani’s clothes and other things were getting packed, Ralph took Loren along with him for a little talk.
“I have given the information to Head Ethan as you wanted me to regarding Lord Edgar’s title to be taken down,” Loren spoke in a low tone.
“How long is it going to take?” Ralph asked looking at Baron speak with a fellow palace guard for information related to the marking. It made the Xeridia Lord’s lips curl to the slightest.
“Perhaps a month?” Loren responded pursing his lips.
“Your assembly works like a snail, did you know that?” Ralph questioned as they began walking to where the two assembly members stood, “She’s going to be safe, right?” he asked seriously.
“Who? The girl? Yes, I’ve made arrangements to make sure she stays safe. A thorough check was made on the family and I’m sure they’ll look after her well,” Loren replied as he stepped down the stairs while Ralph stood at the top of it.
“I hope they do for their own good, and for yours,” Ralph said with a cheerful smile which made the assembly member smile back uneasily.
When Ralph went to check on Lailani in her room he found her sitting on the floor with the wolf he had given her. Hearing the footsteps in the room she looked up to see Lord Ralph in the room. The rim of her eyes had slightly turned red in colour indicating that she had cried.
Walking towards her, he sat down to level his height with hers and heard her speak,
“I’m scared.”
“I know you don’t want to go but you need someone who is your family right now. You can send us letters if you want,” he assured her and saw her eyes sparkle with tears. He then saw her look at the wolf and he sighed softly. Unfortunately, even though he had gotten her the wolf, she would have to leave it here and go as the south Kingdom wasn’t welcoming when it came to the wild creatures like wolves. Once she would leave the mansion he would ask the butler to put it as a safeguard in the horse-shed.
“Will you come to meet me?” She asked taking him off guard.
“Of course. Here,” Ralph said taking out the chain he wore with the cross in it and putting it around the girl’s neck, “If not now but later I will come to retrieve this. Take care of it for me until then,” were his promising words and she hugged him good bye before departing with the assembly members.
Sel who was quiet all this time asked Ralph, “When you said to Lailani that you would come to see her later was it in days or weeks context?”
“Years,” replied Ralph heading back inside the castle, “She needs to live a normal life right now. I’ve already sent someone there to keep an eye.”
“As expected,” murmured Sel.
“Moreover, we have things to fix in the four Kingdoms. Having her here is going to be nothing but a distraction and I don’t want to drag her into it unnecessarily,” Ralph replied making Sel nod in understanding.
Lailani looked at the castle through the back window sitting in the couch until the castle vanished behind the trees.
Arriving at her relative’s house she was greeted by her uncle William Miller and aunt Nova Miller along with their thirteen-year-old son, Andre.
Having lost his younger brother, William and his family loved Lailani like their own daughter. The income that was brought home was just enough to survive the week they had but it was a happy home, unlike the ones that cribbed even though they had enough to survive a year.
Days passed to weeks and weeks turned to years in the Kingdom, seasons changing one after the other such that twelve years passed.
In that time, Ralph visited Lailani once a year in the beginning for two consecutive years but stopped after that. She waited for him every year as he had promised the previous time when they had met that he would be back to get his chain.
But then time is a tricky thing, letting memories vaporize while leaving only its fragrance behind.
- Writer
