The broken queen

35.

****

"My lady, I know that look," Nancy said with narrowed eyes.

She wasn't happy about the entire situation too but Donald was right. She could have the baby at any time, which meant that she shouldn't be in the middle of the chaos.

"We need to get out of this carriage, Nancy, we need to go back to the palace!" Irisa shook her head.

"My lady, you need to stop obsessing over this, your child should be your priority! He does not need us anymore Irisa, we must leave and protect ourselves..."

The carriage suddenly screeched to a stop. Nancy frowned and opened the curtain that veiled the window.

"What has happened?" she questioned the guard on the horse, "there is an old woman, in the front of the carriage." the guard answered.

Nancy glanced at Irisa, "what does that mean?"

"She will not move, she says she must speak with the Empress first."

Irisa blinked, an old woman? She didn't know any old woman, and calling her the Empress when she was removed was treason. Anyone with a sense of reasoning and fear of retaliation from the royal family of Kaley knew it.

"Try to move her, she is only an old woman." Nancy urged.

"We cannot force her out of the way, Miss. This route is not the usual one."

They all knew that but what was crazy was the woman knowing she was in the carriage, how is that possible?

"Something happening..." the guard informed them, "what is it? What is happening?!" Nancy queried in anticipation.

"I must speak to Empress Irisa at once!" a frail voice came from outside the carriage.

Irisa and Nancy turned to each other. What did that mean? Why would an old woman know that she was in a carriage on a secret route out of Harriton?

"We do not know who you speak of. Please be advised to leave." the guard answered her.

"I must see her! She knows what she must do! She is hearing me now! She must see me!" the woman was adamant. She kept insisting. She would not leave no matter what the guards said. Irisa suspected that the woman was no ordinary woman.

"I will see her."

Nancy's eyes narrowed, "what are you saying, Irisa? Do you want to see a stranger when we are supposed to be on our way to Hasten? You cannot see anyone."

"Nancy, please... If I see this woman, she will leave us alone, and we can leave."

"I know you Irisa! Whatever you are planning, let it rest here! You are not going to that palace not with how dangerous it might become!"

Irisq looked away, she couldn't make any promises. She moved toward the entrance of the carriage. The guards turned to her noticing that was outside.

"Miss, please go back into the carriage." the guard urged her.

Irisa ignored the guard, she walked toward the woman who was smiling, she was old and decrepit. She looked like she was not far from death.

"You want to see me, I am here," Irisa said to the old woman.

"I cannot see you in front of these people," she nodded at the guards.

Nancy opened the carriage. Her jaw clenched. She was not going to allow her lady to leave with this old lady.

"You must not my lady!" Nancy snapped, her eyes narrowed.

"Nancy, go back into the carriage," Irisa commanded.