A Father's Gift

We had to get back to the village with my grandfather as soon as possible. Without wasting time, we left the training and headed toward the village with my grandfather. The bells in the mage villages were generally rung in case of attack or destruction caused by a great disaster, otherwise, it was forbidden to ring the bells.

There was a little uneasiness on my grandfather's face, but he did not lose his composure for a moment. We were getting closer and closer to the village, speeding up our steps. The village was surrounded by the king's soldiers. We wondered how they found this place or if they were here for us.

We managed to reach the village. If it were up to my grandfather, he could have passed directly through the soldiers, but since he knew that I was wanted, we returned to the village by passing through a part where there were no soldiers.

When the other chiefs saw my grandfather, they approached him and asked curiously. "Why are the king's soldiers here? Are they here for your grandson?" My grandfather replied calmly, "We don't know anything yet, so let's be calm."

Furon's father remained silent, but another chief challenged my grandfather in a stern tone. "I told you we shouldn't have harbored him here. You endangered our people." My grandfather sternly retorted to the other chief. "This girl is one of us. It is my duty to protect her like everyone else here. So leave the talking to me for now."

My grandfather called out to me, walking quickly towards the soldiers at the entrance. "Lezlie, follow me." I asked him worriedly, "What do we do now, Grandad?" He replied confidently, "They know you're here because they brought so many people. So we'll show them what they want to distract them."

Just then, the prince came rushing up to us. "The soldiers know we're here," he said urgently. "They've already surrounded the village."

"No problem," my grandfather replied confidently. "Once we've got their attention, I'll do something to distract them. Then you'll use the secret passage to get away from here."

The prince and I followed my grandfather to where the soldiers were. But we wouldn't get all these people in trouble because of us. So I asked my grandfather with some concern. "Grandfather, what will happen to the people here?"

"It's you they want," he reassured me. "Don't worry, they're not authorized to attack the people here."

The prince supported my grandfather's words. "Your grandfather is right," he said. "The king's paladins and soldiers do not attack civilians without orders. If we leave here, I'm sure they'll leave too."

I asked my grandfather, "Why do we want to draw their attention to us?"

"The secret passage is on the left side of the village," he explained. "Otherwise it would be impossible for you to escape anywhere else. The only way I can get you there is to dash forward, past the soldier at the front."

The prince didn't understand and asked my grandfather, "Leap forward?"

"Just keep up with me," my grandfather replied. "That's all."

We listened to my grandfather and followed him to the soldiers. The king's soldiers were almost everywhere. In front of us, a dozen soldiers were lined up, blocking the entrance as if waiting for us.

"Who is responsible for you?" my grandfather asked them boldly.

Upon these words of my grandfather, footsteps started to come from behind the soldiers. The footsteps were getting closer and closer. The soldiers were retreating to the right and left. Just then, two knights, one male and one female, appeared in front of us. The female knight was the same knight who had interrogated us in the town.

Apparently, she had recognized our identities and had followed us here from the town. We kept silent so as not to draw attention to ourselves. The female paladin approached us and started talking.

"My name is Kino," she said. "I am the third paladin of the third kingdom. This is my partner Jin, the fourth paladin. We're here to pick up wanted people. That's all."

"There has been a misunderstanding," my grandfather replied calmly. "Furon himself wants the wanted men, not the king. That's why I want you to go and interrogate him."

"Unfortunately," Kino said firmly. "I cannot possibly agree with what you say. The wanted list has the king's name and the king's personal order on it. So hand the suspects over to us without any trouble and we will leave you and your village alone."

"Then, say hello to your king for me, okay?" said my grandfather with a smile.

My grandfather stomped his foot, just like he did on the training field. The huge field of soldiers in front of us shook. Huge walls emerged from the earth around them. After the soldiers were surrounded, there was nothing in front of us for the time being.

We started to run into the forest after my grandfather. My grandfather called out to us from behind. "The wall won't hold those knights for long," he warned. "They could escape at any moment."

After a short run, we stopped in front of a large tree in the forest. My grandfather tore off a piece of the tree trunk and showed us the secret door in the tree. "Go down here and follow the tunnel to the end," he instructed. "It will take you south of the town. But be careful, the town is full of soldiers."

"Are you sure they won't do anything to you?"

"Don't worry, daughter," my grandfather reassured me. "Your grandfather is not an empty man. When you leave here, I will run south and they will follow me. That will buy you time."

"What about my education?" I asked.

"I have taught you all I can," he replied confidently. "I'm sure you'll get stronger with time. I trust you. One more thing," he added and took a necklace out of his pocket and handed it to me. "Take this. It was your father's. He wanted you to have it. Your mum gave it to him."

"Thank you, Grandad," I said gratefully. "For everything."

"We'll meet again, my daughter," he said with a smile. "I can feel it. Until then, be careful."

The prince said his last word to my grandfather before leaving and we parted. "Thank you," he said simply.

My grandfather nodded and led us toward the tree. After seeing his face one last time, I could hear the voices of the soldiers behind him and we started to move forward in the darkness of the tunnel.