Dawn rose on that faithful morning, A.D 16 as Mr. Lingo was already awoken and had gone to also get Abigail up as well.
She hadn't woken up this early since her father had taken her fishing once or twice. She despised early mornings, and found no goodness in it.
She usually tried to sleep in for — just a few more hours, but her father would usually drag her out of bed. It would seem Lingo had the same idea.
After two attempts Abby would rise on her own feet and get herself together. Mr. Lingo packing up his items, and grabbing the most valuable things he could.
Abby was simply in the back and bathing getting herself together. In doing so, her mind wandered into what it would be like living in the palace.
She had no idea what to expect, and it terrified her to think about it. Her mind often wandered about the king.
Did he even know they were coming? Could this possibly be a trap or something that would potentially cause issues?
Abigail would sit in the tub.
Contemplating was often what she did, whenever she was uncertain about something. It didn't take long before her mind went towards the king again.
Although she simply reminded herself of their dancing together, and their brief conversation within the palace hall. It was short, but she still couldn't believe that short man was king.
She expected the king to be bigger, more bearded-looking. Fat, and ugly someone no one wanted to married which is why he didn't have a wife yet.
She didn't expect him to be so handsome, appealing, modest, thoughtful, intelligent, and non-hairy. It was almost like someone was playing a crazy joke on her and she was in disbelief.
Closing her eyes she drifted into a wandering thought, her eyes moving in her mind. It dreamt about how their hands touched, how soft his lips looked.
Abigail began to smile in the bath.
His purple unique eyes, that seemed to mesmerize her with every stare. The fact that they were somewhat the same height, with Abby being a bit taller than him.
Hearing his tone of voice was smoothing and not rough. He sounded like a young man who just became an adult. He had to have been around her age.
Which made Abby ponder more, but the more she thought about him, she thought about him playing on the balcony. His fingers gently play the strings of his instrument.
He had so much compassion within his music, that it sounded sad. It wasn't long before Abigail realized exactly how much she was thinking about the king.
Her face began to warm up into a blush, before she would open her eyes in a jolt. She would look around hoping that Mr. Lingo wasn't nearby.
Luckily for her he wasn't.
.
.
.
Abby had finished cleaning herself, and didn't bother to pack anything considering nothing in this home belonged to her. She eventually found Lingo outside with a wagon.
Horses attached to it prepared to take him and her whenever they wanted to go. Mr. Lingo had noticed that Abigail had chosen another dress to wear.
He was surprised that she had picked that one, due to the months prior of her not wanting to wear dresses anymore. It would seem that behavior changed within her.
" Are you ready? " He would ask her.
" ... I guess so. " She remarked.
Walking over to his side to assist him up within the wagon. After lifting him up and placing him to home the straps. She would walk around on the other side and step up.
Inhaling and exhaling deeply trying to relax her composure before heading to the castle. Lingo could hear her breathing, and he would speak directly to her.
" Calm yourself child. You will find the castle is a busy place, I promise no one will be affected by you being there. " He tried to reassure her.
Abigail, hearing Mr. Lingo's remark, didn't bother responding to it. She didn't bother to do so, because that wasn't the reason for her shaky behavior.
She was going to be living in the same kingdom as the king himself. This was trembling news for Abigail. She didn't know what she'd be doing, and was afraid that she would mess it up.
Her past history always seemed to try and catch up with her. Therefore, bringing chaos to the castle wasn't something she wanted to risk doing.
Lingo and Abigail started to ride towards the castle passing by méchants and other city people. Some men would look their way as they saw Abigail's beauty.
Though would make no moves due to Mr. Lingo sitting beside her. Abigail would quickly turn her head away trying to not make eye contact with anyone.
Her head rose up to admire the decorative designs of the castle from the outside. The closer they got towards the kingdom however, Abigail's heart beat would go faster and faster.
She felt as though she could faint at any given moment. After some time, they had reached the castle north gate.
Immediately being stopped by the guards that was standing in front of it.
" Holt! No commoners beyond this point! " A guard would shout at Abigail and Mr. Lingo.
Abigail would feel a chill in her spine, as she would look over at Mr. Lingo who would respond back to the guard.
" I have a letter that permits me to enter the kingdom. " He explained.
The guards would turn to eye one another first, before one of the guards started to approach the wagon and over to Mr. Lingo.
Lingo would stare directly forward since he was blind partly he could only sense where the guard would be. Gradually, moving his hand to find the letter and would hand it to his left side.
The guard would swiftly take the letter, opening it up and reading it briefly. Shifting his orbs back up at Lingo and then to Abigail before reading more of it.
Meanwhile, the other guard would gradually approach the wagon and move over towards his other guard friend.
" ... What's wrong? " He asked him.
The other guard was stunned as he continued to read his orbs slightly opening wider before he would turn around. The other guard would do the same as they had their backs turned to the wagon.
" This... this is impossible. " The guard would exclaim as he put the letter down from his face.
" What? " The other asked him.
" This says this is the great Isharuma, the legendary swordsman who helped train the old king! "
" What!? " The other proclaimed loudly, as he would snatch the letter from the other and read it.
Abigail would take notice of the two seemingly gossiping towards each other. She didn't know if them taking their time was normal, or perhaps something was wrong.
Though when she looked over at Mr. Lingo, he seemed to be rather calm.
" This... this is insane... " The one with the letter would remark.
" Yeah.. I know... it's hard to believe this blind old man could possibly be the legendary swordsman. " The other guard stated.
" Well... what do we do? " The other asked him.
Before either one of them had a chance to speak, Lingo would speak aloud towards them both.
" ... Should I tell the king that you two are keeping me outside waiting..... I would hate to see what he would do to — two simple-minded guards who cannot read a simple letter correctly. "
The two guards would turn back around, as the one who had the letter first would speak.
" That won't be necessary. "
" Yes, that won't be necessary. " The other would repeat.
" Please, go right inside master Isharuma. " The first guard would remark with a slight bow.
The other guard would quickly move back over towards the gate and with a notion towards a direction the gates would begin to open.
However, Abigail hearing what the guard would say towards Mr. Lingo, it made her look with confusion and shock. She didn't know why they called him master and a different name.
The wagon began to move again, as the two of them headed into the castle and over the bridge that connected all the gates. Abigail looked higher and higher as the closer they got the castle was massive.
From the outside it looked big and narrow, but once you stepped beyond the gates, the interior of the castle was massively wide and long. It was like an inner garden courtyard that had tons of flowers and water fountains.
Abigail looked in awe as she saw gardeners tending to the flowers, and other workers. Eventually, her eyes landed on an unfamiliar male, with a royal hat on, long golden white attire.
He was also holding a golden staff that had an unique shape and a millennium eye at the center of it. He was tall and lean, and looked to be much taller than the king himself.
As they continued to approach the castle Abby was trying to get a glimpse of the male's face, however he had kept his back turned towards them while speaking to some workers.
She had turned her head back around slowly but surely, all the while Mr. Lingo could hear her shifting back around.
" Don't worry, you will get a chance to meet him and the rest of them. " He reassured her.
Abigail looked over at him and once again said nothing in response, as they finally had approached the inner castle doors.
Once again guards stood by the doors but this time there were at least eight of them. These guards seemed to have more armor on, and bigger weapons.
They also had royal attires that looked heavy, dipped in gold and white doves, that had solid masks on that covered their entire face. They stood in silence and didn't move an inch.
Which indicated towards Abigail that these guards and the guards guarding the outer walls of the castle were from different positions. These must be the king's elite guards.
" Holt! In the name of His Majesty the king, what business do you have here? " One of the elite guards would ask as the wagon had stopped near the gates and stairs.
" His Majesty himself has sent me a letter. And I am here to find out the why's.. " Mr. Lingo would speak towards them.
Abigail would sigh as she felt this was once again going to take forever. Exactly how many walls and inner gates were there in this place?
However, it would seem as though that same ordeal wasn't going to happen, because someone from the royal court would walk out of the royal doors. He proceeded to walk down the steps and where Abigail and Lingo were.
With a warm embrace from his voice he would open his arms in a form of a greeting.
" Ah! Master Isharuma, welcome! I do hope your travels here were most comfortable. " Barclays would ask him.
Isharuma would slowly rise towards his feet grabbing his cane as he did so. Abigail, seeing him struggle somewhat, would swiftly stand up as well and try to assist him.
Barclays would notice the woman as he would speak towards Isharuma with a question.
" And you brought a companion? "
" Indeed. She lives with me. She must go where I go. " Isharuma would remark towards him.
" I see. " Barclays would remark back as he would take another look at Abigail.
Abigail would climb out of the wagon entirely, as Barclays would with his expression notion for the guards to assist them with their belongings and from the wagon.
Two of the guards would take ahold of the wagon, while one of the guards helped Abby with Isharuma climbing down from the wagon.
" She is your personal assistance then? " Barclays would ask him.
Abby took notice towards Barclays who was a roundish man, with a long white beard and a royal hat on. He looked friendlier than others, and had a demeanor about him that made you feel comfortable.
He also had a much more lively voice and gentler smile that he was giving towards Isharuma. The only question Abigail had was how did Lingo know these royal people, and why did they keep calling him Isharuma.
" Haha— well, I see you haven't changed. Your personality is what I have always remembered and have heard. " Barclays would speak back towards Isharuma.
" .... Indeed, now are you going to continue to give me small talk, or am I going to see what you wish for me to work on. " Isharuma stated directly.
Abigail was somewhat speechless by Lingo's behavior, he sounded like an impatient old man, which was normal for him to do. However, she found it to be life threatening considering she was speaking to a royalist.
She didn't want him facing death because of how he was talking, but judging by Barclays demeanor he didn't see phased by it one bit.
" Now — now, master Isharuma. You must be patient, I thought you would've learned some from your many long years away from actual duties... " Another man would chime in to speak as he walked down a long stairwell.
Everyone turned their heads to meet his gaze, as Abigail orbs widened a bit seeing who it was. She remembered this man from the festival.
He was in the balcony with the other royal's only he had narrow dark eyes, with shadow lines around his eyelids, and a narrow face. He looked like a snake, and was tall and pale.
He had a tall royal hat on, and long golden white drape for his attire with a royal ring around his neck. It looked like a pyramid in the center but had pointy sharp daggers around it and a circle.
Abigail took mental note of this man as he had only but a mere second made eye contact with her.
" ... Zealot.. " Barclays would sneer a bit under his breath but tried to keep his composure around the guest.
" That's master Zealot, master Barclays... please don't forget that around commoners again.. " Zealot would remark towards Barclays.
Isharuma would intervene and speak to Zealot.
" No. Master Zealot I have had plenty of patience, I am doing that right now, while you two argue like children in front of me. "
Everyone would look back at Lingo, as Abigail couldn't help but form a small giggle smile under her face, though no noise was made. Zealot would notice the remark and Abigail's expression.
He would scuff under his nose before looking over at Abigail and speaking.
" And what, or who is this woman? And why is she here? We specifically asked for you, master Isharuma we didn't plan to accommodate ... others. " Zealot questioned.
" But that won't be any trouble... " Barclays chimed in to add.
" And why not? " Zealot demanded to know.
" We don't allow commoners within the castle walls and now you seem to have allowed a ... stray .. to enter the mist. The king won't be happy about this... and it is my duty to maintain order within— "
" By the God's are you planning on listing every thing you do in the royal court again... master Zealot.. " Another man would chime in to ask him, as everyone turned their heads and body to him.
Abigail awed in silence as she had finally seen the man she was looking at outside when they were coming to the castle.
" Ah. Master Mahad. Thank you for your assistance... " Barclays was beginning to say before Zealot intervened.
" But we don't need it. " Zealot said with an attitude.
" I would disagree.. It seems you are making poor Master Isharuma stand here as ... advanced in years that he is, and making a woman stand around...I'm sure your mothers themselves taught you manners, yes? " Mahad stated to Zealot.
Zealot would scuffle with his eyes and throat, as Barclays would simply nod and agree.
" Very well, we should attend to this matter later. In the meantime, Eron. "
" Yes, master Barclays. " Eron, a royal elite guard, would respond.
" Please see to Master Isharuma and— " Barclays would start to say before looking over at Abigail awaiting her name.
" ... Oh.. Abigail.. " Abigail would finally chime in to speak.
" Very good. See to Master Isharuma and Abigail. Show them to their quarters and make sure that they have everything they need within it please. "
Zealot would roll his orbs and proceed to walk off without another word as his personal guards and note taker would walk off with him.
Mahad would shake his head at Zealot as he watched him walk around and shift his fix over towards the others.
" My apologies for Master Zealot, he can be— "
" ... Ill mannered. " Barclays would chime in to say.
" This is not new to me... master Zealot has always been what I always knew he was. " Isharuma would reply back.
Mahad would nod and shift his eyes towards Abigail, as she would stand beside Isharuma and say nothing. Though she noticed Mahad looking at her and would eye him back.
" Forgive me my lady, but—- you seem— oddly familiar... " Mahad would tell her.
Isharuma, noticing that Mahad had somewhat approached Abigail would use his cane to help him turn around and watch them.
" That is the woman that His Majesty the king was dancing with at the festival. Her name is Abigail. I took her in as my own — she is not kin. But she works for me and helps me. "
Mahad hearing Lingo's words would turn back towards Abigail as Abigail would look at Mahad without a word. It wasn't until Mr. Lingo would speak to Abigail, that she would respond.
" Say something child.. "
" Oh.. umm.. Hello... sorry I— " Abigail found herself a bit overwhelmed and flustered.
" Ha-ha. It is quite alright young lady. You do not have to be too formal. I am master Jiuza Mahad. But you may call me Master Mahad. " Mahad told her.
Abigail would somewhat smile and nod to him.
" And this here is Master Quzta Barclays the third, but you may call him— "
" Master Barclays, at your service. " Barclays would chime in to say as he would slightly bow to Abigail.
Abigail would nod towards Barclays.
Mahad would then point towards Mr. Lingo and would smile a bit.
" I am surprised Master Isharuma hasn't told you about him. He is well known in this kingdom. He used to work for the former king centuries ago. " Mahad explained.
Abby would look over at Isharuma, as she would look back at him and shake her head.
" No... I — umm I did not. "
" Oh? " Mahad would remark.
" Oh how rude of you master Isharuma.. " Barclays would begin to say with a chuckle.
" Not telling a young woman that you are known around the kingdom is a bit of a bad thing wouldn't you say? Surely your mannerisms haven't escaped you yet... " Barclays added further.
Isharuma said nothing, as Mahad looked over at them all and then would speak.
" Well, I have duties I must attend too, and I'm sure Barclays you do as well. "
" Indeed, Master Mahad. "
" Very well— well, we shall leave you to Eron. He is a very loyal servant. He shall assist you, please enjoy your stay here. I shall inform the king of your arrival, and Master Isharuma the king shall meet you in the throne room later. " Mahad explained.
" Very well. " Isharuma would remark.
" Good day. " Barclays would say as he would proceed to walk away with his servants following him, as Mahad would do the same.
Abigail watched as they all walked off, as Eron would motion for them to follow him down towards their private quarters. The two of them walked in silence, as Isharuma was following Eron.
" Come along girly.. " Isharuma would remark towards Abigail as she was frozen in place.
Abby turned around a bit looking towards the direction of where she was supposed to go. All the thoughts rushed to her mind, as she sighed and would soon follow Eron and Isharuma to their quarters.