Mariana departed from the village early in the morning. She saw from the carriage window, her village running behind.
Caelen had offered her his carriage. He was so happy when she had told him about the meeting with the princess. He suggested her to take his carriage which was newer and bigger than her's, to make a good impression in the town. She had told him there was no need but he had insisted. Caelen really helped her whenever she needed. It was foolish of her to think he wanted something in return. He was her best friend and a kind person and that was it.
She sighed and arranged her skirts. After lots of thinking and listening to lots of advises, she decided to wear this grey skirt, full white blouse, grey cravat and a hat and the matching overcoat. It gave her a subtle, but professional look.
Mr. Roberts sat in front of her on the opposite seat of the carriage. She wanted to leave the shop to him but he and aunt Penny too, insisted he accompanied. It would be better to have him for help, guidance and security. So aunt Penny would look after the shop for this day.
Mariana was nervous. What if she didn't make a good impression? What if she made it but later somehow lost it? What if the princess didn't like her work? Well, it would be alright if she didn't like her work. It was her personal opinion after all. But she hoped the princess liked their meeting, that she appeared strong, clever and a nice lady. She sighed again.
"Everything will be alright, Miss Mariana", Mr. Roberts said with kind eyes.
Mariana smiled at him. "I do hope so, Mr. Roberts. Aren't you nervous?"
"Not at all. I'm just excited to see the palace".
"Have you never been to town?"
"I have a few times. But never have I gotten a chance to see the palace", Mr. Roberts said. "The palace is a bit out of town, secluded between the town and the woods".
"Then I'm glad I brought you".
Three hours had passed when she next saw her pocket watch. Mr. Roberts had nodded off midway. She saw the town passed away. Huge mansions, clean stony roads and massive carriages. The town was beautiful.
Her coachman, Mr. Lawrence stopped and asked the shortest way to the palace and the person suggested to go through woods. There was a carved path through which they could reach the palace in their carriage.
Now, they roamed around since quite a bit of time. She hoped they didn't get lost. She was about to lean out of the window and ask Mr. Lawrence about their way when suddenly she felt a hard jolt and found thir carriage tilt a bit.
Mr. Roberts woke up with a yelp. She leaned out and saw Mr. Lawrence jump down and coming towards her. "The carriage wheel is stuck in a hole, miss. In a moment, I'll get it out".
She and Mr. Roberts got out of the carriage and saw the wheel in a small dig.
"Oh dear".
"No worry, miss. Mr. Roberts, lend me a hand please".
Both men tried to lift up the carriage but it looked really hard for them.
"Let me help too". Mariana took a step forward.
Both men said, "No".
"You will get a helping hand".
"No miss. We are gentlemen. A lady must not trouble herself in our behalf", Mr. Lawrence said.
"Besides, you must not sopil your dress. You are to meet Her Highness", Mr. Roberts said wiping the sweat on his forehead with his sleeve".
Mariana couldn't just stand and watch when both men tried very hard to lift up the carriage. She thought about what she could do.
"I'll see if I can get help".
"It won't be safe to wander in the woods". Mr. Roberts said worriedly.
"I won't go much far". She clutched her parasol. "You keep trying".
She stared to walk and look for the help.
The woods were pretty scary. Dark, even during the afternoon hours. She started to walk in the deep woods hoping to see someone walking. Surely people would cross woods for shortcuts. But she didn't find anyone.
She was about to turn back when she saw few men at the distance. Relieved, she started to walk towards them. They were farer than they looked.
When she reached a recent distance, she saw many men standing in a group. And then a single man standing alone. The men in a group were standing in a semi circle.
Against one man.
She immediately hid behind a tree. She peeked and saw the alone man's back was facing towards her. He stood alert, his posture cautious as if getting ready for a fight.
One man.
Against eight!
Oh dear. She must save him. She should get Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Roberts. But it would take time. What would happen to the poor man till then?
He was built strongly but no way he could fight eight men.
One of the men removed a dagger from his belt. Mariana's eyes widened in fear. She looked carefully and saw half of them had weapons.
And he had none.
Oh dear. She must help him. She couldn't let this man face eight men alone.
Her kind heart couldn't stop and she ran forward to the man.
Aaron rode on his horse alone, slowly. He would get rid of those thugs today. Charles would get the guards here in a bit.
Aaron was capable to fight ten men alone comfortably. When he suggested he would go alone to the thugs, Jasper and Charles were not worried a bit. But Charles offered to come with him as he always had from the childhood. Aaron told him he could handle it easily. Charles too, knew it was true so he didn't persist but asked to be after him soon.
Just as he had planned, a man appeared suddenly from the woods and stood in his way. Aaron was not startled in the least. But he haulted his horse and acted to be.
"Get down, man", the robust man ordered. He removed a dagger from his belt and pointed it towards him.
Aaron wore ordinary but decent clothes which made him appear someone with good income. And he had a trunk behind him on the horseback to let these thugs believe he had stuff.
Aaron raised up his hands as if he was scared and jumped down from his horse.
Another man appeared behind him and held the reins of his horse, probably to stop him from running away.
Good team, these bastards had.
The man in front of him beckoned Aaron forward with his fingers.
Aaron walked forward slowly.
"Come on, give me all that you have", the man said showing him his dagger.
Aaron too, had his daggers. One attached to his boot and other inside his coat. But this was not the time to pull them out.
Aaron begged, "Leave me, I don't have anything".
"Give me all you have and you can go".
Aaron walked slowly to the side of the road and the man eyed his wrist.
"Give me your bracelet".
My mother would kill me then, even when you don't, Aaron thought, though it was his plan to show them the chain.
As he was walking to the side, Aaron was closer to the woods. Then, he ran inside the woods.
And the men ran after him.
He ran slowly to let them catch his pace.
A third man joined them to get to him.
Yes, that was what he wanted. He looked behind.
Another two joined.
Good. Five of them.
They ran behind him. They were pretty far from the road now.
Three men appeared in front of him to stop him in his tracks. Aaron haulted.
So, there were eight of them.
Each one plumper than the other.
He was in between them. He watched them one by one and moved accross slowly.
"Where will you go now?"
He again moved slowly.
"Give us the chain".
Again alowly.
They removed their weapons.
He got them in a half circle now.
Aaron smirked. They were just as he wanted them. He would fight with them easliy now.
Atleast they should have been ten in number. Aaron would've enjoyed an adventure.
His one hand went near his coat pocket and he bent a little to get the dagger from his boot. Two daggers in his hands and he can injure each of them in a matter of moments. His hand reached his coat pocket.
"Wait!"
A high-pitched voice called. Then, a gray woman's back stood in front of him. Actually a woman who wore gray.