No Greater Love

Chapter Eighteen

"Now, where to begin?" Mother sighed as she sat on the maroon cushioned chair with a mohogany wooden frame. I had just gotten changed, unwillingly, into a green cotton ball gown parted in the front revealing a white skirt. The bodice had puffed sleeves and white buttons down the front.

"Mother, I don't think you realize the immediate danger our kingdom is in." I stated worriedly. My hands shaking with the fear of Almasa. "I've been captured while out on my birthday adventure and was taken to lord Almasa's castle. He has created a large army of thousands of men and he's headed this way quickly. He wants our gold!" I said frantically.

Mother then sat up straight and her breath quickened as her eyes widened. "lord Almasa?" She breathed in worry.

"Yeah." I muttered. "Why? Do you know him?"

"All too well. Come dear, we must warn the people. Tell them to move out to Crendbridge." She said authoritatively with a straight face to a bodyguard nearby. He nodded obediantly and ran quickly out of the room and through the hall to our captain of the guard's chambers. Mother rose from her chair and walked briskly to the stables.

"Where are you going? How do you know Almasa?" I asked quickly as I jogged behind her.

"Come dear." Mother ordered as a maid handed two large bags to her. "We're leaving."

"We can't leave!" I confronted. "Our people need us."

"The captain and his men will take care of that. We can do nothing but lead our people to a safe haven." She declared strongly, mounting a black horse with a white muzzle.

"Our duty is here, protecting our beloved kingdom. Someone else can lead the people to Crendbridge." I debated.

"We are the future for our people, we must race to Crendbridge--to safety. " She demanded in authority.

"How selfish is that? Running away from war." I declared.

Mother looked sternly to me and said loudly, "do not speak to me that way Victoria. You do not know of Almasa's heartless ways."

I laughed shortly. "I don't know? Mother, I've been tortured for weeks in his dungeon for information of the location of our gold! I think I know how cruel he is."

After saying this, I noticed a pang of compassion in mother's eyes. "I'm sorry dear. But lord Almasa will wipe out our kingdom in no time and-"

"Of course he will if we don't put up a fight!" I cried out. "Our kingdom needs us and I will not stand by and let our beloved home crumble to the ground. Our people have lived here for centuries and I will not give up so easily. You can go, but I'm staying here--where I belong."

"Darling, you'll die!"

"If I die, I die. But it will be with courage instead of regret."

Mother shook her head slowly in despair. "I can't let you do this." She whimpered with tears welling up in her eyes. I laid my hand on hers which held the horn of the saddle. "It's the right thing to do. You should go. Almasa will be here any minute."

Mother then placed her soft hand on my face, "You be careful. Promise you'll come back to me."

"I'll do my best." I stated, with a grim smile on my face. "Now go!" I urged, slapping the horse's rear.

Mother galloped away and called out behind her, "I love you!"

I waved, as she disappeared into the roads, I sighed. It may have been the hardest goodbye of my life. But I knew it to be the right thing to do.

"Time to get to work." I muttered.

(c) doveseyes 2015