Bride Of The Two Warlords

Chapter 3

On the middle ship, Isobel got into the white carriage with her six maids, lead by white horses. Half of her soldiers disembarked first checked for danger and docked the ships with the grassland warriors, then they formed a neat formation as they awaited their Princess to come down. 

"Good morning, I am Thomas Wanch, a warrior under the lords. I and my men are to escort the Princess."

"Good day, I am One head of the Princess's soldiers. If you could lead the way, then we shall follow." One answered in a cold uncompromising tone. It was no wonder, he was a proud soldier whose DNA donor had been a galactic general.

"As you wish One. I am at the Princess's service." Wanch compromised upon seeing the unyielding stance. Besides they were the Lady's guards and he did not want to crash with them.

Just then, a soldier lead two black stallions to One and the companion beside him.

"Get into formation soldier, her Highness disembarks!" One issued the order and the men fell in line.

 Suddenly, Wanch and his men heard the hooves of horses moving in sync. On turning around, they were dazzled by such a sight. They were grassland warriors and had been used to seeing horses, yet this eight horses were of such incredible beauty that they seemed unreal.

The carriage moved forward. Isobel's first feeling was that the road was too bad at this times. Her carriage felt way too bumpy for comfort. 

Behind her were the thousand men and women who were experts in various fields. These and the soldiers were her sharpest weapons in these dark ages. 100 soldiers followed behind and another 100 Infront of her. The rest were left to look after the goods in the three ships.

As the carriage moved forward eating away the hours, Isobel got bored and opened a compartment and all she could behold were the endless farmland and grassland, many people in ragged clothes. People are farming and grazing on the farmland and the grassland. During this period, the scattered dilapidated houses and huts. The huge castle built on the highest ground in the distance is even more magnificent and tall.

Isobel's team attracted a lot of attention, not only were they strangely dressed(military uniforms and boots for soldiers, Victorian maid dresses for the women and butler suits for the men), they also had such a chilling air- the soldiers and the eight beautiful pure white horses and carriage in the middle were so dazzling. Such Grandeur, only a Princess could bring. 

As the carriage moved along ,day making way to evening, the stench of filth and sewage kept getting stronger and stronger. Isobel's team reached Gadleigh Castle at night, that was going at full speed with no stop to rest as per her instructions. It was a long tedious journey that took so many hours before finally reaching their destination.

Upon reaching the Castle gates, the drawbridge in front of the Castle was lowered upon Wanch identifying himself and his men.

Isobel's carriage was granted entrance. As she passed, she chanced to look at the sentinel soldiers, they look like outlaws, their armor and clothes shoddy and rusty in some parts, the chainmail showing broken links in some parts. They do not look like serious soldiers, if not for the murderous aura surrounding them to tell Isobel that these are war men. It seems that Castle Gadleigh and it's Lord are in much need of coin.

We get to the inside of the Gadleigh Castle the hallways are dark and clammy, The interior is just as crowded as all medieval castles in this era, the overhead candelabrum filled with melting candles that offer a warm orange glow to the great room. There's a massive stone fireplace and a long wooden table covered in dirty dishes and half-empty beer mugs.

 The window openings in the walls are very small due to safety considerations, so sunlight cannot enter the castle at all, which makes the whole castle always dark and damp. And the stench surrounds. Men are everywhere, and so are hunting hounds. It looks like a keep that hasn't seen a woman's touch in...ever.

The place stinks of everything, just like Zomis, the capital of Cronia. Isobel has the idea of turning on her heels and leaving for a moment, her ships are still docked and her dowry untouched yet. 

"Welcome to Castle Gadleigh "says a rich, smooth voice from behind them.

Isobel turns to and the first thing to catch her eyes is a blonde haired, olive skin toned male, with a height of 198 cm, dark green orbs and lashes that would make a woman jealous.

This man looked too good looking, according  to Isobel's mathematical calculations, that face and body was the perfect male golden ratio.

"How do you do?" Isobel curtseyed to him according to the aristocratic etiquette.

She did not notice of course, but the noise in the castle had come to a grinding halt when she entered. Such was her beauty that it seemed to defy words. The fact that her Fascinator hid half of her face only served to add a mysterious edge to her beauty. It was because of her enchanting looks, that Kurz Kelmaris had moved towards her before his instincts had time to kick in. She was a goddess, his bride to be. And she was not the original Isobel Belmont, of that he could bet his lands upon.

"Forgive my younger brother's manners which seem to have deserted him, miss. How do you do? I am Abbas Kalmaris and this is my brother Kurz Kalmaris. We are to be your husbands." Isobel turned towards the source of the voice only to see a photocopy of the green eyed Kurz, only this one had grey eyes.

"Excuse me, did you just say married to the two of you?"