The Son of Hades - Born of Fire

Hailey Chapter 44

The Princess of Alenore had arrived in the North on a white stallion wearing a heavy brownish, whitish coat on her back. Her long blue dress began dragging in the mud as she jumped off her horse. She looked up, above her head she saw a sign hanging that marked the words "Welcome to Laveth." She knew she was in the right place and so she took a long deep breath before walking through the cold and crowded Village. As she took her time walking, the people of Laveth stared at her with whispering mouths.

"Who is she?" they asked one another as they stared at the mud hanging from the tale of her dress.

"Look at her, she must be a Lady," said a woman in the crowd as she stared at Hailey's beautiful gold hair hanging down from her shoulders.

"She has to be," another said. "No woman in the north is as pretty as her."

As she continued walking she saw a bald man, old and tall with a long grey bread hanging from his face. She stared at his eyes as he groomed his horse. She saw deep yellow eyes as he stared at her. "Excuse me," she said. He looked at her with a grim face. "I'm sorry to trouble you but I was hoping to find a man name Mackenzie."

"What for?" he asked, staring at her from head to toe. "I'm a friend of his. I'm Hailey, Princess of Alenore."

"He walked over to her and he bowed his head. "My apologies, the name is Stray. I am the advisor to Queen Lyra of Earagus."

"It's nice to meet you. Can you tell me where I can find him?" she asked.

"Follow me. I'll take you to him."

As they both took their time through the snow, Hailey looked around and she saw triangular shaped buildings reaching over four stories in height. As she walked near the tavern she heard singing and laughter growing louder and louder as she came nearer. "It isn't a fancy place to visit but the people here are welcoming, It's the reason my Queen rather here than Earagus. It's full of spirit and warmth even if the weather freezes our ass off." Hailey smiles as she heard him speak. "Sorry for my language Your Grace, I speak this way from time to time with Lyra. She doesn't mind my profanity. She says it reminds her of the people here. I've grown use to this manner of speaking. I sometimes forget my manners."

"It's alright," she told him. "Everyone is free to talk the way they do."

He carried her toward the end of the village, up on the hills where she saw a man chopping pieces of wood wearing a brown leather vest upon his back. "That's him," said Stray. "Should I stay with you?" he asked.

"No, I'll be fine. Thank you for your assistance. You may go."

She took her time walking toward him while he continued to chop the wood into smaller pieces. She stood behind his back while he closed his eyes and inhaled the air that brought the sweet perfume he couldn't name by name but knew he'd never forget. There was only one person he knew who wore such a pleasant smell.

"Hailey," he whispered to himself. She stared at his back with her heart beating four times as fast. "I'm I seeing right?" he asked her. When she saw him she noticed he wore a scruff upon his face and his hair was even longer. "Or have I gone completely mad missing you?"

"You're mad," she joked. He drops the axe and he hugs immediately.

"I'm sorry I didn't return," he told her. "I failed to find what I was looking for."

"I guessed that," she admitted. "I dreamt you'd be here. It sounds crazy but it's true."

"Lyra told me you were getting married."

"I was until I ran away. I threatened Magnus until he agreed to help me. He should be right behind."

"Your father is going to murder me if he finds you here," Mackenzie joked.