Lucy Wickshire 183 Chapter Twenty-Two 4

Soon, silence held the capital. Only sounds of horse shoes. .h.i.tting paved floors and jubilating enemy soldiers could be heard. Many wondered what happened to their soldiers. If only they knew that it was not that they could not move, but that the generals were ordered not to. The royal family had stated their stand and they could not disobey. The generals one would have thought patriotic sorts, were under the command of n.o.ble families. Seeing as the palace did nothing, and how fast the invaders moved in; they reckoned it must have been an inside job. They wanted to see how this would play out, so they waited. They did not have to wait long before their answer came in the form of the invading army's mocking song.

"A queen shamed in death,

A kingdom sold

A chance to take his father's head.

A kingdom bought with revenge's gold

A father lost to mortal son"

This song had the desired effect on those who heard; despair. No one needed two heads to understand what those words meant. The king is dead. The prince sold the kingdom. One could not describe the chill that set in their hearts. This was a betrayal of the highest order. This meant the beginning of a b.l.o.o.d.y era.

The high ranked martial arts section of the invading force couldn't care less about the outcome of the invasion; their mission was much more important. They had come all the way from the Harnian gate for one purpose alone; Lady Wicks.h.i.+re. Their plan was perfect. They would enter with the invading force and kill her. When word of her death gets out, one would blame the invasion. There would be no evidence that they were here. No evidence that they broke the treaty. Just like they killed Lady Torgenn in secret, even though the Thraines knew they did it, they left no evidence to be used against them. The Thraines do not move unless provoked. It would be odd if they moved when there is no evidence anyone offended them; thus, they would not break the treaty and leave Thriegor.

They had surrounded spring-crest pond. Truth be told, their leader did not believe for one moment that she would be inside. He wanted to call off the raid. He felt as though if she already knew they were coming, then their plan would be used against them. If they failed, that means they expose their true purpose and give her evidence; a reason to react. He somewhat understood why the Thraines insist on reacting only when provoked. It made everyone weary around them, letting them live in peace, yet maintain their strength. They were like the giant sleeping snake of the cosmos; many walk around them, careful not to wake them up. But orders were orders. When they stepped foot into spring-crest pond, only a maid stood at the entrance with an eerie smile on her face.

"My lady wishes you a good stay. She says; you must remember, you moved first." the maid said before fading into the night. The residence was empty.