~ Twenty-Five - Season IV ~

The guards immediately looked up to me with wide eyes.

“In this matter, we are asking you to risk your lives to protect us. The very least that we can do is to minimise casualties,” I continued as I walked amongst them. “With all that I am, I will talk to His Majesty and see if I can persuade him to take the forest trail.”

A smile finally appeared on their faces. And the captain gave me a nod of approval. It might not be the best promise. But it was better than nothing.

If the lives of our guards didn’t matter to James, it mattered to me.

~*~*~*~

After the meeting was dismissed, James still hasn’t returned.

Instead of waiting, I took the time to visit Grandpa Ben. And upon my arrival, the Medicine King mentioned that Grandpa Ben had some kind of progress. But it would continue at such a sluggish pace.

And I would take that rather than nothing.

Grandpa Ben’s clothes were changed as well. He didn’t sweat as much. And he seemed to be resting more peacefully.

As I watched over hi