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But also because one can never hide from them. Apparently not even Huyan, Aurora’s mother who thought she’d kept a great distance between herself and her daughter. She was surprised when she got a visit from a rider with Maldonian sigil attached to his armor.

Forewater was a place she chose to hide from the world. It was rather a small village inhabited by less than two hundred people living in harmony. These people were farmers and settlers, they dreamt of nothing else other than crops and rain.

To Hayun, Forewater was peace and her dream destination after her failed marriage with Aurora’s father many years ago. She has kept moving from time to time but one thing she wasn’t aware of was Lord Balrus was moving with her – or better yet his rodents were moving with her.

“How did you find me?” asked Huyan shocked at the Maldonian sigil.

The rider had no time for explanation he just handed Huyan a small parcel “A letter from your daughter” he said and rode away.

Huyan froze with the parcel on her hands looking on as the rider disappeared from her view. A young girl who was sixteen

.....

came out from one of the cabins and called out “Mother...” she was aiming for Huyan.

The girl was Huyan’s daughter and Aurora’s half sister, her name was Yara. Huyan was married to a Dohan man whose name was Seif, however Seif died three years ago hence leaving Huyan alone.

Yara noticed something unusual about her mother “Are you alright?” she asked. Huyan hid the parcel inside her big dress and then turned back.

“Yes my love. Are you done with the baking?”

Yara chuckled softly “Come see for yourself”

Huyan walked slowly to her cabin, she turned back to see if she could see the rider but he was already gone.

While the war emergencies thickened between Maldonia and Prophis, the far away kingdoms couldn’t help but being obsessed with it. But not only the kings who were obsessed, even Aprophil who seemed to be in distress following the news.

Aprophil was now known as the Lord of Freehall and master of the sea. The first black man in the history of the liberty cities to own a castle with servants and ships. The good thing about the liberty cities is no one was ruled and people did as it pleased them.

What made Jordy and Aprophil wealthy was the treasures Lord Balrus gave them on the day they decided to part ways with Maldonia. King Arteides made sure his son get to live a good life before he died, no matter the consequences.

Jordy stood behind her son’s success over the years and cheered for his praises and comforted him when he was down. Now Jordy was a grandmother to a beautiful baby boy named Arteides.

A year a go Aprophil married Miranda of Liberty Cities, the daughter of the wealthiest man in Liberty Cities. The reason to even why Miranda’s father agreed to wed his daughter to a black man was because of Aprophil’s wealth.

“They say whenever there is gold, there’s power” Lord Balrus said with a smile when he heard the whole story between Aprophil and Miranda’s wedding.

Aprophil wore a red cloak with white feathers, a pretty expensive cloak – a display of wealth. On the inside he had his usual black trouser with black shirt which had long sleeves and a sword attached to his waistline.

Miranda was in a long blue dress adorned with white pearls, her hairs were long, yellow and they fell back effortlessly. She was so beautiful and perhaps the most beautiful woman Aprophil has ever laid eyes upon.

“It is not always the gold my Lord” Miranda disagreed, she looked at Aprophil with eyes full of passion and love. “Sometimes it’s the matters of the heart” she added.

“I’m sure they are my lady”

Miranda smiled, kissed Aprophil on his lips and then she walked away with Arteides, or to be precise young Arteides who seemed to be sleepy. Then it was just Lord Balrus and Aprophil in the halls of Freehall castle.

“I have to be honest you’ve outdid yourself young man...” Lord Balrus said as he was fascinated by the pillars and the decorations inside on the walls.

“Thank you my Lord, my mother and I owe you a great debt for all your kindness”

“Nonsense! You owe it to your father... he dreamt of you living like this. King Arteides’s fear was seeing you growing up to be a slave in the mines rather be treated like the -” he stuttered.

Aprophil added “Like the true heir of Sweet Waters throne?” It was a question out of curiosity.

“What?” Lord Balrus’s eyes widened with amazement.

“It’s nothing my Lord. I barely even think about it but my mother told me the truth after all these years... the truth about my father and my position in Maldonia”

They reached the doors of the hall and kept on walking. After a short distance the gates were opened and they walked outside of the castle.

“I have to be honest the liberty cities never cease to amaze me” said Lord Balrus.

“Why is that so my Lord?”

“Look at them – so happy and so alive with no rules to restrict their freedom nor wars to fight”

Lord Balrus sighed and Aprophil intervened “There’s a war?” he asked.

“I’m afraid so son”

“In Maldonia?”

“It’s coming from the North”

“Prophis?”

Lord Balrus nodded “Yes. The king’s younger brother have joined the forces of one of our houses. It may seem the war is actually between the two brother”

“What brothers?”

“King Castellan and Prince Ambrose, both sons of the late King Taelin”

A vendor selling baked beef passed right through them calling out customers and carrying his big bowel full of hot meat and pepper.

Aprophil stopped the vendor and he bought two pieces of the baked beef for one shilling. The vendor was extremely happy and he went on selling his meat.

As they indulged in the hot meat, the conversation continued. It was all about the talk of the upcoming war, Aprophil asked if he can join the Maldonian army but Lord Balrus strictly denied it.

“There are thousands of black soldiers in the army no one will recognize me” Aprophil made his point.

“Son, everyone will recognize you. Perhaps you should take a look at yourself in the mirror and see how you are like his shadow. Your face, your eyes, you mannerisms...” Lord Balrus paused for a moment to take a breather. “Not to mention you named your son after him, this is absurd Aprophil”

“The name is harmless”

“Arteides is the most famous name in Maldonia and here in the liberty cities. The clueless people won’t see it but what about people like me... Masters of spies with rodents and birds. You are ought to be careful son”

“What would you have me name my first born son? I was keeping his legacy alive, and I... I know he’s never been there for me but my mother told me all about his kindness. He once laid down with me for a week when I had the worst fever, he took my mother and I to a foreign city just to spend time with me. My father loved me my Lord, this is a show of gratitude and thanks”

Aprophil was speaking his heart out and it pained him that he was in exile. However, the exile didn’t seem so bad since he had everything he wanted and many more all thanks to his father.

They continued to stroll through the market having their conversation. “I do not want the Sweet Waters throne my Lord, I shan’t wage a war against my brother. Artemis is a better king, I am only asking to provide forces to Maldonia shall you inquire them. I have fifty thousand men loyal to Freehall and they will fight for my course” said Aprophil.

The position seemed promising and they did need the men, each man they can get if Maldonia was to survive. Lord Balrus said his goodbyes to Aprophil with a promise of writing soon enough in case of any changes.

That’s what made Aprophil somber that day, to just sit and do nothing while his father’s kingdom was in danger.

Jordy walked inside the drawing room of Freehall looking for her son. She’s been passing corridors and higher walls calling out his name. Until she found Aprophil sitting in the kitchen surrounded by female scullions, he had a plate of tiny pieces of lemon cakes and a glass of honeyed wine.

The scullions bowed before Jordy when she arrived suddenly, Aprophil stood up still with his plate of lemon cakes and walked to his mother.

“I have been looking for you everywhere. Miranda told me you were having a meeting with some Lord... who was it?” asked Jordy worried for her son.