"How is my daughter doing, please forgive her, it's not her mistake, she got too involved into her father's works and the exceptions on her by others after you left were too much . She couldn't handle it so much pressure."
A beautiful looking middle-aged woman but in a haggard condition was talking with her eyes welled up.
"Ma'am, I understand she is your daughter and you care for her but she has committed far too a greater crime to let go. She should suffer and pay for her crimes not more not less."
"Ma'am,"…." did I hear wrong, you... you used to call me..."
"Enough ma'am".
She was cold and seemed a bit angry.
" I came with you to the alley when you called me now let me go, the lady must be searching for me, I will take my leave now."
She was about to leave, walked a few steps and looked back. The person was still standing there.
"It is going to chilly soon, you head inside ma'am."
That person gave her a smile…
She did not want to believe it so she did not responded and walked further.
She left the alley looking pale and went again to the central plaza, to the place where the lady had told her to wait.
The central plaza was empty now, as all the people went to their homes after the announcement by the castle herald, even the lady was not to be seen there.
My lady is commendable; she reminds me a bit of how wise my master used to be. It is great working with her.
After my masters death, none of the council members questioned her in taking the lead and being our head till the next one is reinstated. It was because of what we witnessed that day, when my master had indirectly given the message that she will lead us and we are to follow her orders and also her leadership capabilities.
But, I miss the moments she used to be childlike and innocent and always waiting for my master to praise her.
Such thoughts crossed her mind, when she was waiting for the lady.
Someone came from the opposite back alley, running.....
"Sarah ....where were you ...you know how ....worried I was...when I did not...see you, I was searching for you.."
She was breathing very fast huff….huff..huff...then put the hand on Sarah's shoulder as she was very happy to see her again.
"Lady dani, I was here in the back alley having a conversation with one of my past family members."
A family member, only one of them is alive now, I think I know who she is talking about.
"Ya now that I look at you, you seem to be pale, is everything alright, what did she ask you for you to be looking like this.?"
"She was worried about the traitor, don't worry I did not talk to her much just said to her only things which were appropriate, I was not rude with her."
"If you say so Sarah, you were not rude with her but gave her a bit cold shoulder I guess."
She nodded, looking at Dani.
"... but I guess you didn't want to be cold to her after all you still love her, you only said those things in anger, if you want you can go back and say sorry to her."
She did not make any expressions now, a straight looking face.
"Not to worry lady dani, what's done is done, we don't even know if the imperial family is also involved in this attack and most importantly her face reminds me of that traitor, I don't want to talk to her."
I guess, after everything cools down their relationship will also improve, let's not meddle in it more than necessary, let's stop here.. Dani thought to herself
In all of this she forgot to tell her the important thing..
"Sarah, the barrier is all checked, there is no crack in it now, I will have to tell Casper to increase security in the secure chamber too."
"Great news lady dani, your other plan is also brilliant, the announcement which the Herald made got positive views, there was just very minor backlash among the the demons buy it soon got settled now without me meddling."
"Oh, that's nice…Yes I hope he takes the bait."
They headed to the castle, it was not that far away from the castle hence they walked instead of using any other transportation.
This allowed them to check on the condition of the city, what butler Joyce told her seemed to be right, there was no such panic among the citizens.
"Sarah you can go ahead inside the castle and do your work, we are done for the day, if you meet sir danver, tell him to be present for tomorrow mornings meeting.
Also you are the report to me the total number of mages who are able to fight.
She removed a pen and paper from her bag wrote something.
"Pass this to danver when you see him."
"Okay lady dani, I shall head to the magic training room now to practice and improve the sustenance of my spells."
They headed to the opposite directions, dani went in the direction of the punishment room outside the castle.
There he was, the knight commander talking to two other knights.
"Sir Casper, did you check inside, how is deux?"
"My lady, he is unconscious and in a terrible state, the marks and scars on his body seem to be very painful."
"Well, I guess I do not need to do the manifestation spell again as he is going to get a huge surprise day after tomorrow. Let him lay like this for today."
Oh that surprise, it would be perfect for him, Casper thought to himself
"My lady they are Sunny and Jhonny the two loyal and strong knights of mine, I have conveyed your instructions to them."
"Nice, so Sirs sunny and Jhonny , do your work normally now but when the sun sets, hide yourself somewhere or pretend to be lax if you are suspicious that someone is approaching the room."
They both bowed a bit and said together.
"Understood, my lady."
"Sir Casper let us go now."
They left and headed to the castle.
"I forgot to tell you, there is a meeting tomorrow after sunrise. So I want the total number of functional knights and their strengths of the current army of Memoria. We got to discuss our future plans for the war in tomorrow's agenda.
The current information we have, the formation of the knights and mages and the power sources we have.
All the other necessary things will also be discussed."
"Okay lady dani, I did not receive any other information from the captains guarding around the city regarding the cruelmancers and deux's subordinate."
"Hmm... It is very likely they have escaped from here, we need solid evidence for that though."
Then she had a worrisome thought regarding Sophia who had gone off too Morquine. I hope she doesn't encounter any problems there and it goes smoothly in the church. She will reach by tomorrow noon, I might get the clues I need.
"Yes, I agree my lady. One more thing,I did not ask your opinion for this.. "
"Yes, for what thing?"
" I... I..."
"Don't hesitate and tell me"
"I have already activated the esponioge of the secret golden army of Memoria moments before you came to meet me.
I did this in order to keep an eye on the movements of the demons, the few members of the imperial movement and most importantly if they notice deuxa anywhere nearing the castle to come and inform those knights and us."
"Oh this, there is no need to worry, I was about to tell you to see into it, great job for doing it soon enough."
"How was the condition of the barrier, all restored up..?"
"Ahh…yes…just increase the security near the secure chamber before heading to bed."
"Sure, the credit goes to danver and the mages isn't?"
"Yes, that's why I am planning to thank them in person tomorrow to boost their morale."
"Danver will be very happy too…
By the way my lady, where are we heading to..."
"To the underground where Melania is, I thought you must have not seen her as you were busy the whole time."
"What.. Melan... I mean the empress. Sorry I cannot go near her, I am very guilty about it, you.. You go ahead..."
He literally ran away from there.
"Casper, Casper come here and meet her, it is very important , Melania would also be happy to see you…"
"Casperr....!"
And he left
I will see you in the meeting tomorrow, we need to confront him. Danver, Sophia, Sarah, all have gone to meet Melania except for him….
She nodded her head in displeasure and entered the room for the second time the day
She approached near the icy cold tomb... Slowly... Slowly
"Melania, I am back, are you feeling too cold, you know I have given appropriate punishments to those who stabbed us in the back.
I hope I do everything perfectly, the plans, the execution of it, all..
Melania... U r with me right?"
Don't take so much stress my friend dani...
She heard it for the second time today, melania's voice
Not again... She thought to herself
"That Casper, he is sulking and feeling so much guilty, you know how much he cares for you and everybody, he still thinks you died because of him. He is still the same Casper, sensitive and caring, we all know.
Don't worry I will drag him with me tomorrow.
I will come in the morning Melania. Byee"
This time dani was much more comfortable in talking to Melania. She was not crying too.She got used to it now.
She shut the door and headed upstairs to the room.
The sun had already set, everyone had their dinner in their rooms and were not sleeping but completing their tasks..
But according to the dani's plan, they had to burn off the candle and sleep.
Dani was in the bed her heart was beating fast, she was unable to sleep and feeling uneasy. It was because of the mouse trap she had laid to lure the mouse.
The whole castle was quiet now, it was the night time.
Tip toe... Tip toe.... Tip toe..
A suspicious person was roaming inside the castle grounds and towards that place, the punishment room in the middle of the night.
"Master.... Master... Wake up...."