Head in the Clouds

Chapter 30:The Grey and Blue Girl

The training grounds were more hectic than ever. Men were scattered around the area placing armor over their bodies, and barrows of gas and flintstone waited for transport. Prince Clyde and Prince Paul stood in a corner with the young boys who'd be joining them that night.

"Stay behind," commanded Clyde. His voice was stern, almost like how he'd speak to a knight.

"But how would we fight?" A boy contested bravely. Clyde hid his frown as the iron dawning the small boy's frame seemed to almost fall off his body.

"You don't," Clyde said. The boy's hopeful face fell, but Clyde continued, "We need something very important from you all. If something goes wrong, and the plan fails, we need you all far enough away to run home and warn everyone to evacuate. Can you do that for me?"

The boys nodded dutifully, happy not to just sitting safely behind. The boys then began the struggle of putting their swords in their holsters only causing the princes' anxiety to spike.

"Nice one," mumbled Paul to his cousin, with a voice filled with somber victory.

"Thanks," replied Clyde just as softly, "Let's hope it's enough to keep them safe."

"Prince Clyde! Prince Paul!" 

Prince Clyde's brows furrowed as he turned to the gate. A pale man wearing a gold necklace around his neck and red garments over his skin rushed into the training grounds. No one else looked his way, but someone did indeed notice him.

"Sir Ko?" Clyde addressed the well-dressed visitor. He tried to maintain an indifferent tone, but irritation was still easily present in his voice. 

Ko stopped right in front of the two princes, looking over his shoulder every few seconds. Paul, seeing wrinkles form on Ko's smooth forehead, momentarily forgot about the few boys preparing for a fire. His brows narrowed and almost immediately realized something was wrong.

"What is it?" Paul asked, his voice low.

Ko's eyes darted around the courtyard. Prince Carter was nowhere in sight, but Ko figured he had to be here somewhere. 

"It's Deidre," Ko reported softly. He didn't seem frightened, more annoyed than anything else really.

Clyde's brows untangled upon hearing of her. He leaned closer to Ko in a way he never would before. The feeling of pure annoyance Ko often sprung was subsided for the time being.

"What about Deidre?" Paul hissed. 

Clyde didn't have to think very long to figure it out.

"She went to the wall," Clyde stated almost emotionlessly.

"No, she didn't," Paul shook his head, " She wouldn't."

He looked to Ko. There wasn't so much as a smirk on his lips. He turned to his cousin. His eyebrows knitted again, but this time he was sinking front teeth into his bottom lip.

"She didn't," Paul insisted, but he looked to the straight-faced Ko, "Damn it."

"She must have thought she could talk to them," mumbled Clyde. 

"How do you know this?" Paul asked harshly. 

"I watched her go into the wall with them," claimed the thief, "I stood there for a while, but she hasn't been back out."

"Damn it, Sab!" Paul remarked lowly.

"So she's alive?" Clyde asked.

"As far as I know."

Clyde nodded and rested his index finger over his mouth and thought.

"We can't just storm in there after her," he thought, "Why would the fairies bring her in? Don't they hate humans?"