Later on, they were moving forward to Salam.
Sierra was moving in the front near Albert having a speech with him.
Albert: "Finally split you and the commander?"
Sierra: looked the other side. "No… why?"
Albert: "I remember things weren't completely right back then."
Sierra: "What really happened to you?"
Albert: "Wait Princess…" Then he looked behind him. It was Hero staring at him seriously.
Hero: "I made an oath to return her safe to the Palace. Neither you nor anyone else can stand in my way."
Albert: "Yes yes" He was smiling.
Sierra: "Tell me where Maximal hides my sister."
Albert suddenly stopped and then ran toward a flat rock "Come here princess."
He spread a long map on the rock "Even me can get lost in that place so I have this with me."
Hero: "Why do you betray Maximal just for us? It is not right. You must have—"
Albert: "I wasn't intending to serve him from the beginning so shut up and listen. You can doubt me as much as you can, Hero. However, if you do not have the map there are no way you will get inside. I have already made a hole for me to sneak in and out and I will show you where it is. There are plenty of undefended gates out there. As well. Maybe three. Here they are."
Crystelle: "They are not far away from each other."
Albert: "Yes… Since one of them is the sewer, this one is the warehouse, and this one is the staff room but no one is there."
Hero: "…"
Sierra: "What do you think Hero?"
Hero: "I don't know. We have no other choice either."
Sierra: "Then it is decided."
Crystelle: "You did not tell us where he keeps the princess."
Sierra and Hero looked toward Albert
Albert: "Hmmm…First, This room. Second, the study room. Third, the dining room."
Hero: "What…the…"
Albert: "He keeps her where he goes. Or put someone to guard her. However, Princess…."
Everyone looked at him in a great silence.
Albert: "Do you really have to go there?"
Sierra's face began to get angry.
Albert: He looked angry too. "I mean he is after you too. Why not just send anyone to do it for you."
Sierra: "Albert… Above everything she's not any person. She's my twin. And what was all the training I got in the palace for? To keep it there? Or use it when it's needed."
Albert: "Is that all?"
Sierra: "What do you mean?"
Albert: "I meant, why can't you stay at the knight's side." He smiled at Hero and raised one eyebrow. "I'm sure they will protect you."
Hero was not completely trusting Albert.
Sierra: "….." She couldn't tell him that she hears someone in her head that tells her to flee from the palace and from the knights as well.
Albert: "I guess I can't stop you now. Let's move on."
Hero: Looking at Albert "You should know that I don't trust you a bit".
Albert: "Heh… Same here. Who will think someone helps the princess until she reaches her destination…I can say that you were tricking her from the beginning. True or not it depends on you and—" It was obvious that he was only provoking Hero.
Hero: Jumping on him "Shut up!!!" He tried to punch him but Albert dodged.
Sierra: Putting her hand on her head "Goodness..."
Albert: "Now you suddenly get Angry, isn't that suspicious by it se—" He got punched in his face from Hero.
Sierra: 'gasp' "That's enough, Hero stop…" He's not even listening. She started to glow. "Sierra!!" she created a small wall of stone between them. "Water!!" Spell of water to separate them. "Heal!!" separating them and then healing them. Then she kept moving forward without looking at them.
Both of them: Albert and Hero: 'cough' 'cough'.
Sierra: "Crystelle… Leave them here and I want to speak with you for a moment, JUST the two of us."
Crystelle: "Hmm is something the matter?"
Hero: "Sierra, you're not feeling well?" He was really concerned.
Sierra: "NO!" and kept moving forward.
Both girls were whispering and kept the men walking behind them.
Albert: "Finish talking you two?"
Sierra seemed to be calmed down and back to her cheerful self.
Sierra: "Yes."
Hero: "You're not sick are you?"
Sierra: "No don't worry about me." And then she smiled.
Albert: "I wonder what the two of you were talking about, was it abou—OUCH! Why did you step on my leg?"
Crystelle: "Because you're an idiot! Why do you want to know?? Huh?!"
Sierra: "Now, now Crystelle we are going to get along okay?"
Crystelle: "Fine!" Looked at him with a grumpy face "But I don't like you!"
Albert: "You wanna know something important about the commander?"
Sierra: "?"
Albert: "You should put in mind, all the rumors in the past were…. Umm… just rumors."
Sierra: blinking.
Albert: "You know what I mean right?"
Sierra: "I…. don't know…"
........................…..
Once they reached the gate of the town Salam. Sierra started to get anxious. While they were crossing the gate, the gate keeper stopped them "You all look suspicious, we don't need any trouble here so get out of the town."
Sierra: "Please, we need to get to the—" She was going to say to the bazaar.
Hero: "We are merchants, and we came here to buy some goods. Is there any problem?" he was in front of Sierra and Crystelle.
Gatekeeper: "If you are merchants then show me your ID."
Crystelle: "??" "But our boss asked us to bring the goods, but he did not mention any ID?"
Sierra: "I don't remember Salam required IDs in the first place. And it is a freelance city who welcomes merchants from all over the world. Also visitors comes from everywhere to this city to see goods from all places."
Gatekeeper: "When men speak, ladies should shut their mouths."
Sierra: "I think stopping us from entering is a choice you made up."
The gate keeper was coming toward Sierra and she stood like a statue without caring about getting hit or punched (with confidence).
Hero got more in front of Sierra to protect her.
Gatekeeper: "What? Let me deal with Lass here—"
The gatekeeper punched Hero in the face.
Then Hero pushed the gatekeeper and punched him in the face.
Sierra: 'gasped'
The gatekeeper was going to Sierra to pull her hand and he did. When he pulled her, Hero's eyes became wide and he wanted to jump on him but someone came to the rescue and grabbed the gatekeeper's hands and stopped him.
?????? : "They are my merchants."
"P-p-p-prince A-A-Aniston. I-I-I really apologize; I did not know they were yours."
Sierra turned behind her and surprised by the person she saw. It was her fiancé Aniston.
Sierra: In a low voice. "Aniston…!" she was shocked.
Crystelle: Looking at Aniston, then look at Sierra, then look at Aniston again. She whispered to Hero. "Do they know each other?"
Hero was serious focused on the scene
Aniston was serious protecting Sierra, his betroth. She can sense that. The look toward the gatekeeper was slightly mad.
Aniston turned his eye to look at Sierra. "You ok?" he said it gently. He cares about the princess a lot since she is his fiancé.
Sierra nodded slowly. She whispered in a low voice only the ants heard her maybe. "…yes…"
Aniston: gave a small smile from one side only and nodded to her.
Aniston: looked at the gatekeeper and pressed his hand to make him leave the princess's hand. "You try that again, I will break your arm for you…"
Gatekeeper: "…!" sweating.
Sierra Was about to jump on him to embrace him but Hero grabbed her hand from behind to stop her to keep her identity a secret.
Hero: Shook his head as 'no' wiping the blood from his mouth. "You don't want to get discovered, do you?" whispering to her ear.
She started to look around her, there were so many people and the crowd is everywhere.
Aniston: Looked at the gatekeeper. "Your hands will be chopped if you tried that again you hear me…!" Very quiet and serious.
The gate keeper: "Y-Yes… your highness… I sincerely apologize."
Hero: "Let's get inside. Ahem, sister." Tried to push Sierra but she didn't budge from her place. She was staring at Aniston.
Aniston: "Nice move Hero." Then he looked at Sierra.
Sierra kept staring at him. She wanted to be with him.
Aniston slowly nodded at her as 'It's alright. You are safe now.'
Sierra inhaled deeply suddenly
Aniston coldly with his head gestured to her to get inside the city of merchants, Salam so he could finish his job with the gatekeeper.
Sierra suddenly felt pulled by the hand by Hero. "Uh!"
Albert pushed Sierra from behind
Albert smiled as he entered. "Heh."
Aniston was looking at him.
As they moved slightly far from the gate.
Sierra looked behind to see Aniston.
Aniston was looking at her. Then he moved his lips and said 'The Blue lantern'. Reading lips was the best way to communicate when they don't want anyone to hear them. It was a technique used by the four princes and princesses. Sierra, Jewel, Richard, and Aniston.
Sierra: "(Blue lantern?)"
she was wondering, what he meant by 'The blue lantern'?
Albert: "Now let's get inside and find an inn first." With a normal tone.
Hero: looked at Sierra.
Sierra: her eyes welled some tears
They were shocked seeing her like that that way.
Aniston was looking at her from afar. He didn't take his eyes off her as they entered.
She stayed in her place tears coming as she
Sierra fell on her knees facing the ground crying hard. She was tired from all this.
Aniston saw that and made his heart melt. Whispered to himself. "Let us finish here quick.... And go back..."
Her cries almost drew attention so Albert tried calmly to move her to alley.
Aniston saw that, and the moment they disappeared from his eyes, Aniston gave the gatekeeper the grim reaper look and pushed him from his neck to the wall.
Sierra continued
Crystelle looked at Hero and shrugged.
Hero smiled and nodded. He knew what's going on. Then he rubbed Sierra's head. "You're gonna be fine. It will pass and things will turn out to the best. Ok~?"
Sierra: "Hm…." And nodded.
Hero: calmly speaking. "Now cheer up and wash your face~" Took her in an embrace. He knew that Sierra wanted an embrace from Aniston at that time.
They went to a fountain and washed her face.
Sierra: while smiling. "I feel better now. Don't worry."
Crystelle: "Here." She offered a napkin.
Albert: smirking looking at the gate side.
Aniston: whispered to the gate gatekeeper. "Do you know what you were going to get yourself into?"
The gatekeeper shivering. "u-u-u-u-u-UUUGGGHHHH!!!" he got punched.
Aniston: "I heard you are a pain here in the gate."
The people were whispering.
The gatekeeper: "Help me!!!"
The people started. "Yes he is a bother. And always gives us headache. He desereve to be punished!!" "Yeah!!" "Yeaaah!!!"
Aniston left the gate spot.
Oval: "You scared the devil out of him."
Aniston: "Get your men to teach him a lesson."
Oval: shrugged. "Heh."
Aniston: "Kick him out from the position of the gatekeeper."
All the people were happy from what Aniston did. The gatekeeper was always pain in the neck to all merchants and visitors.
They were searching for inn and found one.
Sierra remained her quiet self and Hero was helping her to move.
Albert: "This is my last destination with you guys. I need to leave now."
Sierra: "To Maximal?"
Albert: whispered to Sierra. "By the way…" he smiled widely. "He said blue lantern."
Sierra: "Huh?"
Albert: now Answering. "…To—"
Innkeeper: Yelled cheerfully that distracted everyone. "Need rooms ya folks?"
Hero: "Yes... two rooms please…and as you were saying Albe--. Huh. Where did he go?"
Crystelle: "Whoa he vanished!"
Hero's eyes became little bit angry. He was worried that maybe he will betray them and led them directly to the trap.
Sierra was completely lost in mind.
Inn keeper: "Please follow me to show ya the rooms. This is the guy's room and this is the ladies room." And then Hero's room door was shut and Crystelle got to the room so fast that it gave Sierra the chance to ask about the Blue lantern.
Sierra: "Umm excuse me… Where is the blue lantern?"
Innkeeper: "What the…trying to change place before even trying it"
Sierra: "(So it's an inn…huh! As I thought.) N-no. Not that. Just curious. Where is it?"
Inn keeper: "It is two streets away from here and ya will see a big blue lantern sign there. Ya will not get lost searching for it don't worry"
Sierra: "Thank you so much for the help." ^.^ then she got to the room and shut the door.
Innkeeper: "What a nice lovely lady she is!" he was rubbing the cups with a clean towel.
...............…
After few minutes Hero knocked the door to Sierra and entered.
Hero: "For now get some rest and we will start the plan at midnight. Although the security will be higher than any other time so we should be extra careful. See you later. And Sierra. Don't ever think of going alone. Crystelle, watch her for me."
Crystelle: "Sure…" Then he closed the door.
Now Sierra is planning to go to the Blue lantern and she is getting ready wearing again her boots and hood.
Crystelle: "What are you doing? Where are you going??"
Sierra: "For a walk. I need to be alone for a while. Don't worry about me" She was happy that she would meet Aniston at last.
Crystelle: "Okay but don't be late or Hero will kill me."
Sierra looked at her and said something with her lip. It was 'I'm sorry', and left seeking the inn of the Blue lantern.
The road was full of merchants, fresh fruits and new goods. While looking around she found the Blue lantern inn. Sierra from the happiness rushed inside. It was nearly empty; high class inn. She walked to reach the reception. "Excuse me…"
Inn keeper of the blue lantern: "This way my lady. He is waiting for you upstairs. Please follow me."
He led her to a room and opened the door, the moment she got inside, he closed the door and she noticed that Aniston is in the balcony. She moved forward and took the curtain off and said "Aniston." He was completely taken by the beauty of the view from the balcony and sweet voice called him from behind. He turned to see his little fiancée is here. He walked toward her. But she was looking down she did not notice that he's walking. "Aniston…I—" He embraced her.
Aniston: "No need to say anything. Rest for now. You've been through a lot."
Sierra also calmed down and relaxed within his arms.
After this, both of them went to enjoy the view from the balcony.
Aniston: "How was your journey, Sierra?"
Sierra: "Tough a little bit, but I enjoyed it. I have learned so many things and met new friends. No one goes to a journey like this every day, I consider myself lucky."
Aniston: "Princess..." He was serious.
Sierra turned her head toward him "Hm?"
Aniston: "Let's infiltrate the castle together. And alone"
The voice inside her head again "(No… Don't leave with Aniston. Make any excuse.)"
Sierra: "Huh… (Mother!!)"
Aniston: "??" raised one eyebrow. Noticed how she was distracted again.
Sierra: "Huh. But, I've dragged my friends here. I can't leave them in the middle of the road like this".
Aniston: "I will make preparations immediately to save your sister."
Sierra: "Wait Aniston! I trust Hero—"
Aniston: "Do you think he cares about the safety of both of you more like the way I do?"
Hero: "Of course I do." He was on the roof and no one noticed him and he was biting an apple. He threw the apple halve eaten and jumped toward Sierra and grabbed her hand. "She's one of us now and her goals has become my goal. If I would be worried, that would be from you… Aniston the prince! Commander of the knights!" He took Sierra and left the place.
Sierra while moving she looked back at Aniston "Aniston…" She was wondering why he did not get mad and become furious as usual after hearing what Hero said.
Hero: "I'm pretty sure that you can flee from me and go to Aniston."
Hero was moving so quickly but his grab was gentle. She can manage to flee but she did not. Then he stopped and turn toward her.
Hero: "But why do you insist on staying with us? If you want to go with him it is up to you. I had a bad feeling toward him I can't even explain. That is why I came to get you back. You can choose your fate. Although, I will invade the castle myself whether you came or not. I don't care about money or prizes. I'm doing this by my own free will. As I said, I will keep you safe, and I will return you back home safe with my own hands. This was my promise to you remember? Save your sister and take you back safe to where you came from." He told her that when they left the palace. She was down and he did not bear to watch her fall in despair. "If you want to leave with Aniston, it's your call."
He is remembering the voice in his head before coming here. "Go bring back Sierra quick!!! She went to the blue lantern inn!!! Aniston is not a bad guy. But never let him take her back now. Ever."
She did not know how to respond. He is trying to help her with his might although she remained silent and walked behind him to the inn where they used to be.
Hero was walking toward the inn and his eyes were scanning the place. "(He thinks I didn't notice all the knights implanted here in the city.)"
Many knights were hiding and keeping their eyes on their princess, Sierra.
When they got to the room Crystelle's face was very worried: "Uhh Sierra..!! Are you okay?"
Sierra was down she might have not heard Crystelle talking.
Hero calmly let out her hands and made her sit: "Now, prepare you two, we will infiltrate the castle at this moment."
Crystelle : "What?"
Sierra : "Hero!?" Sierra's face was a little bit tired. She did not have a chance to rest. Even he was tired but they're not sure why he did this.
Crystelle was worried. She thinks Sierra is mad at her because she of course know that Crystelle is the one who told hero to go after her.