Charles could not believe what was happening. Sir Guillaume never seemed to be a traitor.
“Why would King Paul order a Knight to kill his own sister?” Charles asked.
“Who knows? He’s an idiot!” King Erich responded.
In St. Vangaltier, Sir Guillaume and Amelia arrived at his mother’s home. As they got off the horses, his mother noticed he was injured.
“Guillaume, my son you are hurt, come inside.” His mother said.
Amelia helped Guillaume indoors.
“Mother, this is Lady Amelia of Landford.” Guillaume said in between moans.
His mother bowed and smiled.
“How did this happen?” His mother asked.
“Mother, I had to get Lady Amelia away from Schillingburg, the only way was to make them believe she was injured by injuring myself and removing her from that situation.” Guillaume answered while his mother cleaned his wound.
“My son, I have been worried, King Paul has set forth an order for yours and Lady Amelia’s capture. Why is that?” His mother asked.
“My brother is King Paul of Willshire. He claims I betrayed him by releasing the murderer of my other brother. It is such a big mess, my dear lady, but Guillaume has nothing to do with it.” Amelia answered.
“Oh my” His mother whispered concerned.
“I made an oath to protect her and I have grown to love her, Mother.” Sir Guillaume said.
Amelia reached over and grabbed his hand and said “I have grown to love you as well, Guillaume.”
While his mother bandaged his wound, she commented “It is not as bad as it seems, it is just a flesh wound.”
Sir Guillaume smiled and responded “Fleshy but still painful Mother.
Sir Guillaume knew they could not stay there, it could be dangerous for his mother. Knowing that many were out to capture them made it hard to know who was actually on their side. Sir Guillaume had many friends but for money those friends became scarce.
King Erich called his soldiers into formation. He had decided to send a few of them into St. Vangaltier. He knew Sir Guillaume’s mother lived somewhere in that small town.
“Sir Omaur, get together your best men and prepare them for a trip to St. Vangaltier. They will visit every house until Sir Guillaume is caught. I don’t care if it takes days and I don’t care who gets upset, I want him bought to me alive.” The King ordered.
“And Lady Amelia, my grace, what do we do with her if found with him?” Sir Omaur asked.
“Kill her!” King Erich replied.
King Erich watched as Sir Omaur chose and prepared his soldiers, they were all ruthless killers and King Erich knew they would complete the task. He tapped Sir Omaur on the shoulder and said “Wonderful choices, let us have sport, we will give Sir Guillaume and Lady Amelia a night to find a good hiding spot then we shall surprise them. Prepare to leave in the early morn.”
In Landford, things were a bit different. Thomas showed no worries, as David was consumed by it because he knew if they were found they would be killed.
“So what are your plans?” David asked.
“My plans for what?” Thomas answered.
“Your plans about Amelia? What are we going to do?” David asserted.
“We are not going to do anything. Brother, she does not want to be here and I am not going to force her to come back. She chose her destiny.” Thomas responded.
“What the hell are you talking about, Thomas? How did she choose what has happened to her? That Knight took her.” David answered.
King Thomas walked towards the window and looked out.
He turned to David and said “Those are my orders, like it or not. No harm will come to her if she returns to Landford but I, you or my soldiers will not go for her.”
David could not understand Thomas’ change of heart.
“Are you serious? You are just going to let her be killed?” David asked.
Thomas shrugged his shoulders and walked away. He knew his decision was harsh but what else could he really do.
David yelled behind him “This is unacceptable Thomas! You cannot do that to her!”
Thomas stopped and yelled back “I CANNOT DO WHAT? Let Amelia die? WHAT!? What can I not do? I DO NOT THINK YOU REMEMBER, I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT, I AM KING! And as I repeat myself once again, she will find no harm in Landford if she chooses to come back here but we will not help her come back.”
“I cannot believe you are so cold. You know, yes I can, I thought you had changed but as always it was a farce.” David replied.
Thomas laughed and said “She chose this David, she knows what she is doing, let her live with her choice. Landford will not intervene.” Thomas ended.
He began to walk away then stopped and warned David “Oh and if you decided to go for her remember you are not needed in Landford either, I will dispose of you like tomorrow’s trash.”
David walked up to Thomas and said “You do not scare me, brother. You should be more afraid than I.”
Thomas laughed and shook his head.
David walked away angrily.
In St. Vangaltier, Guillaume and Amelia said their goodbyes and went on their way. They were fugitives so they had to travel at night. After a few miles, they stopped near at the divide. There they found a cave where they can have some shelter for the time being.
“Amelia, you can rest in there, I will be at watch!” Sir Guillaume said.
“My sweet man, we can both rest in there, we are both alert enough to watch together,” Amelia answered.
“Where shall we go? We can head east past Willshire to Alistair or west to Wynnfrith. You choose?” Guillaume said.
Amelia laughed “It does not matter, where will we really be safe?”
Guillaume took a deep breath and responded “Truth? I do not know.”
Amelia smiled and put her arms around him.
Morn had come quick.
The quiet town of St. Vangaltier was being taken over by Schillingburg Soldier’s looking for Sir Guillaume and Amelia. Guillaume’s mother was returning from the bakery when she saw Soldier’s setting her home on fire. She could not do anything but watch in horror from a distance. As they rode off a few townsmen came to her aid and put the fire out but most of her home was destroyed. The town looked like it had been through a war. Dead bodies, burnt homes, and all for nothing because Guillaume and Amelia were nowhere to be found. As Guillaume’s mother tried to collect her things, Sir Omaur approached her.
“Who are you?” Sir Omaur shouted.
“This is my home, sir” Guillaume’s mother replied.
“Oh so you are Sir Guillaume of Schillingburg’s mother ay?” He added.
She nodded her head in agreement. He jumped off his horse and approached her.
“Where is he?” Sir Omaur asked.
Guillaume’s mother remained silent.
He grabbed her arm and shook her and whispered “Your son? Where is he?”
She closed her eyes and said nothing.
“Do not make me hurt you old lady, where is he and Amelia?” He whispered ominously.
“SPEAK” He yelled.
He threw her to the ground and slowly removed his sword.
“Well since you will not speak, I will leave a message for him that I am sure will make him respond.” He stated.
He pierced her chest with his sword. He slowly walked passed her and spit towards her and said “Your son is a traitor and will die as one.”
King Erich was not happy with the news that they had gotten away. He sent out his soldiers to patrol into Landford. He was not giving up on finding them.
Guillaume and Amelia had decided on going to Wynnfrith. It was a beautiful small town along the coast in between St. Vangaltier and Wynnfrith were miles of dense forest so their travels were going to be treacherous. They knew they would probably confront many perils.
David could not let this rest like it was. Amelia was his sister and he felt he had to protect her no matter what. Thomas had another idea though.