The Truth Over The Wall

Chapter 31

It had been hard work but Dominic had somehow managed to convince his mother to travel directly home as opposed to continuing with him to meet Hanalea.

"After the engagement," Dominic had promised, "we'll come right up to Araaia. Princess Hanalea is meant to travel to Araaia for the wedding anyway, Mother. You can meet her then."

Besides which, Dominic had mused as he had given his mother's guard instructions to pack up for the journey home. I imagine Hanalea isn't the only person my mother is eager to meet...

Wanting to avoid any such embarrassing exchange, Dominic pressed on the matter. But even with the knowledge that his mother was safe, and could only be safer travelling toward Araaia, Dominic still had several things worrying him. Not the least of which was Jamie; he would need to remember to call on Nora before they moved on. There was also the matter of the witch.

Several gremlins had been actively bating children so far as Dominic knew. The question was: where were there Master Witches? And why had not anyone of their number run into them?

In a state of agitation, he ordered that they would ride immediately back to their own camp. There had been witch in the area, and they were being careful in their movements so as to snatch their prize...

What if that prize was none other than Hanalea? What if they had tracked her down?

By the time Dominic and his soldiers reached the camp it was nightfall, and the eerie quiet made him exceedingly uneasy. Oh God, no, Dominic thought as he jumped down from his horse.

It was a curious sight, disturbingly so. There was no friendly banter among the soldiers as they prepared for supper nor the sounds that occasioned such acts. There was barely anyone walking about and the few people that were, did so in small circles, huddled together for safety. The people in these circles bent their heads left, and right in jerky motions as though wary of being attacked.

"Lord Alban," Dominic said, striding forward as he took off his gloves, "what is going on here? Where is Princess Hanalea?

Dominic finished and felt dread harden in his stomach when he saw Lord Alban's face becoming more and more pale.

Riley, one of Lord Alban's own initiates nodded to Dominic respectfully before he pointed to Lord Arnold's tent,

"In there, Your Highness." Riley said stiffly, with a look on his countenance, that was – if Dominic had not been mistaken – very much akin to anger...or fear.

The one is often mistaken for the other, and more often than not, lead their victim into severe difficulties.

Nodding, Dominic did not ask why Princess Hanalea would be in the tent where Lord Arnold attended to the injured, he merely hurried inside.

"Princess Hanalea!" Dominic exclaimed as he rushed in.

And Hanalea immediately stood up from where she sat, and turned to Dominic with a startled expression.

She held her left arm gingerly in her right, and a stiff square shape could be seen beneath the fabric of her apparel covered her shoulder. A bandage, Dominic thought.

Dominic looked up from her arm to see Alistair standing just a little behind her, studying the same injury with a dark look.

"Are you alright?" Dominic asked her, "What happened?"

He was exceedingly confused when Hanalea's face shifted from surprise to apologetic - and almost guilty.

With redoubled panic Dominic looked about, and finally registered the missing piece, "Where's Lady Amara?"