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The next hour was a rush, spent organizing everyone’s travel details. It wasn’t an easy feat, coordinating more than twenty people, and that too incognito. But Harrison’s skills were no joke. They had been honed in the fires of service to the Haribeorts.Within the hour, two travel carriages stood waiting at the back gate, disguised as ordinary wagons, the kind used by commoners for long-haul journeys across the kingdom. Inside, however, they were fitted for nobility, complete with every creature comfort the era had to offer.Leal took the rider’s seat of one, while Taro rode the other. Everyone except Jack and Jerome was blindfolded.Although Jack didn’t want Mira blindfolded, he eventually gave in to her insistence. She didn’t want this to become the seed of a grudge, one that could strain a friendship that had endured decades, surviving even distance and long silences.It wasn’t reasonable to keep everyone blindfolded for the entire day-long journey, so they agreed on a compromise.
“So, we are not the youngest anymore… ha…ha…ha…” Axel was the first to burst out laughing, breaking everyone from their reverie.Taro glanced at the younger version of his mischievous young master and grinned as he retorted with affection, “Nay, that position is still yours to keep. Leonie is older than you by 6 months.”“You know who I am?” Axel asked, his eyes wide as a saucers.“Sot!” Avril rolled her eyes.Taro chuckled, “How could I not?”Axel grinned sheepishly as he realized the folly of his question. He slowly took two steps back which sent everyone into laughter again, easing Leonie’s nerves.“You… you are Jack’s sister?” Orseus, who was slow to catch on, stammered as he came out of his stupor.“You really are his sister?” He didn’t wait for an answer. He burst out laughing, looking like he had won the world. However, his happiness didn’t last long. Another thought crossed his mind and he stopped abruptly, turning towards his father.His expression twisted between anger and ho
Silence took over the breakfast table, looming over like judgement itself.Jerome was the first to break it. “Prison time cannot be negotiated. As for the rest, it is open for discussion. By the rest, I mean whether to be re-sold as a common slave, sold to the brothel, or even release without the label of slave, it is all negotiable.”He lifted a hand to silence Martin and Oden as he saw them shift, their demeanour expressing that they were about to voice their opinion.“I am not saying that she is above the law and that her relationship to you excuses her behaviour but…...that also does not take away value from your services.”Jerome continued “Their involvement in the kidnaping warrants prison time, there is no argument about that. Whether their actions can be interpreted as treason is another matter entirely. And considering your contributions, despite not being trained or called upon, cannot be overlooked. Their association can be explained as nothing more than being manipulated.”
The next morning brought new surprises for everyone at Southamberston castle. Cornelius and the others had stayed back at Southamberston and were all seated around the dining table in disguise for breakfast, when a soldiers from the castle’s outpost arrived, requesting audience with the duke and duchess.“Your grace, there are two men and a young lady at the gates requesting entry to the castle.” The soldier informed Jack, bowing respectfully.“One of the men asked to pass the message to the Shadow Soul, that Eagle comes to pay respects to the Cub.”“Let them pass” Leal stepped forward and whispered to Jack “They are your father’s men. At least eagle is, that’s our code name, and he will never bring danger into your fold.”Jack gestured his approval with a wave of hand. Though his eyes sparkled with curiosity, he maintained a calm façade and continued with breakfast, as he didn’t want to rush the others. Harrison followed the soldier to the front porch to await the arrival of the guest
Excitement was never far from the Zumerong household. Just when Linus and Edgar sighed inwardly in relief, believing they had put out the fire by dispelling Edith’s suspicion, fate seemed to curl its lips in quiet mockery.However, the interruption, rather, the intrusion upon their calm, comfortable atmosphere, came not from Darrius’s search, as one might have expected, but from five travel-weary figures who rushed in as though their tails were on fire, with two fully armoured soldiers close behind.“Where is the surprise?” Humphrey blurted agitatedly as he rushed in, looking around before his gaze fixed on Wilkin.Wilkin literally face palmed while Marvin couldn’t help himself, he ducked his head like an ostrich as he chuckled.Edith hooked her eyebrows as her eyes darted between her brother and husband, wondering who would cave first.“Haaiii…. Let’s talk inside.” Elias frowned as he turned his gaze towards Wilkin, his eyebrows raising subtly as if he to ask, ‘What the hell was that
Although it was a family reunion, none of the others felt uncomfortable or out of place. The only people who weren’t used to this were Matthew, Harry and Uzi. Cornelius, Baldwin and Farris, however, were familiar with such gatherings; this was the Zumerong way. Even before misfortune struck their walls, they knew what was important- not the titles and land they held, but the people around them, family.“How did you all meet up?” Baldwin asked once all the ruckus from the family getting together had quieted. He and the others had stepped back to give them space although they didn’t leave the room like Bari and his men. Harrison settled Bari and Credi in the wing with Matthew and Harry, and his men in the service cottages on the ground.Wilkin took over the narration as he retold everything that unfolded from the time they split up from the throne room.Hours earlier, once everyone had settled comfortably in the carriage-“Maryanne and Edith are going to kill us.” Linus sighed, his tone







