At the Southern Border of the Kingdom of Zion
"What?!"
Jayra burst out as soon as her husband relayed the ssage Bella had for them. In the ssage, Bella told them that she wouldn't be able to et them since she was already too far out of the way. She also inford them that she was traveling together with Helion's entourage and that there was nothing to worry about.
"She probably saw him already," she weakly murmured as she turned to Xenia.
"And she's handling everything well, wife, so I don't think we need to worry," Bartos reassured her as he gently put a hand on her shoulder. "She said that we'll see each other at the Global Summit venue, right? And her ssage was calm. Do you want to relay anything else to her?"
Jayra sighed heavily and murmured, "Tell her that we'll see each other soon."
Xenia smiled as she did her best to reassure her friend. "I'm sure everything will be fine, Jayra."
Jayra could only nod. Not that there was anything else she could do for now.
"Alright, co now. Let's continue on with our journey," Bartos spoke calmly.
And with that, their caravan continued on with their pace anew. However, for so reason, Jayra still felt uneasy with Bella's ssage. "How about we et them?" she bargained with Bartos. "I feel like that would still be better than just leaving Bella with Helion. I'm really worried for her."
Seeing his wife's distress, Bartos turned his gaze to their King who had just helped Xenia back up on their horse Pluto.
"It's alright… You two can go to Bella if you wish," King Darius comnted. "If sothing's wrong then, inform imdiately."
Almost elated, Jayra looked at Xenia who also gave her a reassuring nod.
"Thank you, Your Majesties," Jayra gratefully nodded.
With their permissions secured, Jayra waited for Bartos to shift into his wolf form before then quickly climbing onto her husband's back. Then, Bartos started running. And with how fast they were going, she estimated that the two of them would reach Helion's entourage in due ti.
[Sothing just feels off to ,] Jayra couldn't help but discuss the matter through her bond with Bartos. [I an, if Bella saw Osman, how co she's not ntioning it in her ssage?]
[We'll soon reach them, so don't think too much about it, my wife,] Bartos reassured her once more. [I believe Bella just doesn't want us to worry about details that she thought we shouldn't hear.]
Jayra could only sigh at that. It didn't make sense in her head, but she'll just have to take her husband's word for it. Soon, darkness clouded the sky, and Bartos stopped as soon as they were near their destination. Already, he shifted back into his human form, and Jayra quickly helped him get dressed.
"Their camp is near, so we can simply walk and approach them from here," Bartos remarked. "I can sll Bella's scent already."
Jayra nodded. With a breath of preparation, she hugged Bartos's arm before they started walking toward the supposedly near caravan.
"Who's there!?" a guard shouted out as they neared. Their swords were aid at them, and she did her best to remain calm despite the danger.
"We co in peace… We received a ssage that one of our own from the Kingdom of Cordon is here," Jayra began as she explained their reason for coming. "She is Lady Bella Hindman. I am her sister-in-law, Lady Jayra, the royal mage for both Cordon and Ebodia, and this is my husband, Alpha Bartos Hindman, one of the Royal Commanders of His Majesty, King Darius of the Kingdom of Cordon."
At their introductions, the guards looked at each other as if waiting for the other to speak. Eventually, one of them signaled for the other. "Inform His Majesty," he said before then looking at the two of them. "Please stay here and don't make any suspicious movents…"
Jayra simply offered a kind smile. Watching as they moved, she noticed how strict the security was. Their weapons were still aid at them, but she paid them no mind.
[Even their bows are pointed at us…] Bartos annoyingly grumbled. [And I can sll iron…]
[Well, isn't our own security tighter anyway?] Jayra chuckled. [This Global Summit is an exercise of compromise, so you shouldn't expect each kingdom to co unard. They'll surely be extra prepared if things go haywire…]
A few beats passed, and it didn't take long before a familiar figure approached them. Jayra her breath as the man stood in front of them, the sa man that they were searching for all this ti.
"Osman!" Bartos burst out as he moved to approach him, but the guards were quick to shield the man from him.
Seeing the response, Bartos frowned as he stopped himself from approaching.
"Brother!"
Jayra held her smile as she heard Bella. She was about to speak to her when her sister-in-law quickly went beside his brother.
"He's King Amon, the King of the Helion Kingdom," Jayra heard Bella whisper into Bartos's ear. "Addressed him properly. Don't ntion Osman's na before his subjects."
Bella then turned to address the guards. "Please lower the weapons! It's just my brother!" she reasoned with a smile. "They just ca here to check on ."
Visibly, the royal guards all waited for their King's signal. By the sidelines, Jayra simply observed the situation. It would seem that things were much more complicated than they seed, and thankfully, the guards all lowered their weapons upon their King's orders.
"We ca here to pick you up, Bella," Bartos hissed. "Co now… Let's leave! We have our own convoy, and I don't see the point of you traveling with this group!"
Jayra could feel her husband's annoyance through their bond. He wasn't pleased with how they were being treated like so kind of dangerous beings, but she could at least understand where they were coming from.
[Calm down… Put yourself in their shoes…] she chided her husband. [And you heard Bella. He's known as Amon here, the King of Helion. Sothing must have happened… He does look like Osman, but sothing seems different about him. Can't you sense it?]
It was what she was getting at the mont. After all, Osman did have a demon father. However, what really fascinated Jayra was how calm Bella was being in this situation.
"I cannot allow the three of you to leave so easily…" Osman's firm and authoritative voice resounded. "Unless we can prove that your identities were not faked, you will all have to stay in our custody for the ti being."
"This…"
Bella gasped as her eyes widened on the glowing string that suddenly ford on her wrist that connected her to Osman.
"The command spell," Jayra murmured with a frown.
"What?!" Bartos growled. "What kind of spell is that?!"
"It's a spell wherein he can command Bella to do whatever he wants," Jayra explained with a frown.
"No harm will befall Lady Bella as long as the two of you will behave," The King of Helion stoically remarked. "I apologize in advance for these precautionary asures, but please understand the situation. It's not easy for us to trust strangers that suddenly walked into our encampnt like this, especially when we're aware that most kingdoms are still wary of our kingdom. All of you will be set free upon confirmation of your identities from the King of Cordon himself…"
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