The Mix-Up

“So, what’s the plan when we get there?” Sophia asked.

“Simple. We go in, search for the women that have been kidnapped, and when we find them, we arrest that Oash bastard and everyone involved there.” Valeria explained.

“And how do we get in?”

“Through the door, I’d reckon.”

“Huh? You think they’ll just let us in?”

“They’ll have to if a princess of the Empire is knocking at their door.”

“You want to reveal your identity from the start?”

“Yeah, it will give us easy access to the estate and while we’re in, we can look for evidence.”

“Won’t they just hide it, when we go in there, or simply don’t show us? I doubt they just have the women caged in the open. Maybe they’re held somewhere else. Probably even…”

“That may be right, but our presence there will probably make them panic and they’ll make a mistake while hiding evidence. We just have to surveil them in the next days and look for suspicious behavior. If nothing happens, we still can sneak in there or think of something else, but maybe we get lucky and we find something right away…”

“Well, if you say so…”

The two of them were sitting in the cargo area of the cart. Bastian and Kieran on the coach box. The sun was close to settling as they arrived in Leiden. They spotted the Oash estate from afar. It was a giant villa on the east side of the town, surrounded by high fences. Bastian steered the wagon in that direction, and they arrived as the sun began to vanish behind the horizon. A bunch of soldiers were stationed at the gate and barred their way to the estate.

“Time for a princess's entry…” Valeria mumbled and plucked some branches out of her sloppily braided blonde hair.

A group of guards came closer.

“Who are—” the one in front began to ask but froze up for a moment when he noticed Kieran. “Oh, it’s you, sir. Right away.”

The speaker turned around and faced the rest of his men, still sitting at the gate.

“Oi, you lazy fucks! Get your asses out of the way and let them through!” he bellowed.

The soldiers followed the order.

“Please drive on, sir. The Lord is expecting you,” he then said and bowed towards Kieran.

Bastian let the reins snap and they drove onwards. The soldiers didn’t even check the rest of the cart and totally ignored the confused looking women sitting in the back.

“What’s going on, here?” Sophia whispered after they made it through the gate.

“I have no clue…” Valeria replied. “You know them or the Lord of this region, Kieran?”

“No, I don’t. I have no idea what’s going on as well…” Kieran admitted quietly.

“Maybe they mistake you for someone… didn’t the boss of that gang also thought you were someone else at first?” Bastian interjected.

“Whatever it is, let’s just go with it. Maybe it will be good for us.” Valeria decided.

They drove up the path to the estate. They noticed three large carriages in front of the villa. A bunch of armed men stood around them. They looked more like bandits than soldiers. When Bastian drove the cart past them, a young woman was just shoved inside one of the carriages and the door shut.

“Oh, Sir Liam. Right on time. We just finished loading the merchandise and the Lord is expecting you,” A man in butler clothing said and bowed towards Kieran, after rushing towards them, when they parked in front of the entrance.

“Good,” replied Kieran curtly.

“Sir what happened to your voice? You sound so different, did you catch a cold on the journey?”

Kieran cleared his throat.

“Yeah… I did…” he added with a slightly hoarse voice.

“I see… Shall I prepare some tea for you, sir?” the butler asked.

“No thanks… that won’t be necessary.”

“As you wish. Now, would you be so kind and follow me.”

The butler turned and took the first step up the short stairway to the entrance.

“Could I take a look at the merchandise, before we go inside?” Kieran asked.

The butler turned back around and looked at him for a moment and then began to smile.

“Yes, certainly. Please,” he then said and waved his hand in the direction of the carriages.

Kieran went over to one. A bandit-looking soldier opened up the door to the inside when he came closer. Kieran looked inside and saw six young women staring at him. Aside from their fearful look and puffy eyes they seemed unharmed and healthy. A few of them had similar looking shackles around their wrist like the ones that had suppressed Sophia’s magic. Kieran nodded to the bandit-looking soldier, and he closed the carriage back up. He then went to the two other carriages and saw the same thing. Kieran nodded slightly towards the other three, still sitting on their cart.

“Everything in order, Sir Liam?” the butler asked after Kieran had returned from the inspection.”

“All looks good,” Kieran replied.

“Splendid. Then would you all please follow me now.”

Sophia went to grab her sword before she would climb off the cart, but Valeria grabbed her hand.

“Leave it here,” she whispered and looked her in the eyes.

Sophia nodded slightly and they both climbed down the cart, without their weapons. Bastian jumped down from the coach box, his sword dangling at his hips and together they followed Kieran. Inside the grand entrance hall, the butler turned around.

“Would you be so kind as to leave your weapons here, sirs. It’s just a precaution,” he said and bowed slightly. “Don’t worry we will take utmost care of it until during your stay.”

“Of course,” Kieran replied and handed his sword to another butler that came rushing towards them.

Bastian hesitated for a slight moment, but then did the same.

“Thank you, sirs. Now please continue following me,” the butler said with another bow and led them towards a corridor.