Return of the Lost Bloodline

Chapter 5.

When they had taken their time to mourn the passing of Ben and had laid him to rest, they got ready to return back to the other half of their family. And while they prepared, William joined them determined to return with them, until he found answers to his many questions he was not going to part with them.

Seeing that William wasn’t going to enter into their country after coming that close to its borders after so many years, Paige sought to know why, after all they haven’t had time to exchange pleasantries for two people who used to be very close when they were little. “Don’t tell you are going to vanish again William?”

“Believe me Paige, I must.” William answered, he knew they were going to have that conversation from the moment he saw her but didn’t want to be the one to bring it up.

“That means you’ve not heard.” Paige rightly concluded, making reference to the things going on in the country.

She took his first departure very hard too, she had loved him from childhood as more than a friend even though William had the heart of another who wasn’t of noble birth, it didn’t stop her from loving him even after knowing that they could never be together. She accepted the bond they shared the way William wanted and wouldn’t push it, yet she cared also for the well being of the kingdom and the crown which was the main reason she chose to become Andrella’s apprentice.

“Oh Paige,” William drew near and gave her a hug. Her feelings for him were no secret, yet he loved and respected her for accepting him the way he wanted her to and knew she was making reference to the passing of his beloved mother and the illness of his father. “Trust me, I’ve heard.”

Then she pull away from the hug to look at his face because she wasn’t convince he’d heard what she was talking about, and just as expected from his facial expression, she could tell that he have heard one or two but not everything she has to tell him else he would not be eager to go with the strangers instead of entering his kingdom.

Nonetheless, she was amazed as to how he would know his mother’s passing and his father’s illness and not want to enter the country. She knew he left home because of what his father did to the woman he loved but she thought he should have gotten over it by now and move on with his life, after all how long could hold on to the past and run from his birthright.

“What is more important than the well being of your people that you have to go with them?”

“You heard Lady Andrella, Dylan is a Carr, he has a younger brother who needs protection. I need to find out why Ben kept his identity a secret to his children.” William answered her.

But she knew him better than he thought, years of staying away could not change that, she could see through his eyes that there was more he wasn’t telling her, still she felt he was needed more in his lands than far away. “I’m sure Dylan can take care of his brother, you are the Prince for crying out loud and your people need saving or all will be lost by the time you decide to come back. Almost all the noble houses seek to take the crown for themselves. The country is in ruins and only you can restore it.”

This part he knew nothing of and was surprised, now he didn't know what choice to make as he looked at Logan, Sean and Dylan who were ready to go, waiting for him to finish talking with Paige. “Send news of my being alive to my sister, she would be able to hold the crown long enough till we return. One of them is being targeted by a bugbear and I don’t need to tell you what that means.”

“You are joking!” Paige stared at the three of them in belief, she knew the tales about the bugbear was no joke and understood instantly why William was bent on going with them even though she knew it was a huge gamble against the country’s fate. “Who do you think it is?”

“After listening to lady Andrella, I am no closer to figuring out who is. Bob, Ben’s brother was going to tell me before Ben came down with the illness, so we had to head here. Nevertheless, Sean suffered the most injury from the attack but they are all suspects.”

“Do what you must, but be quick, the crown is at stake.” She pecks him on the cheek. Without giving him further information the kingdom that would definitely change his mind and make him head for the palace at once.

As he was about to get on his horse, she asked. “Where can I find you if I have to?”

“Corriver town,” he climbed on the horse and they all rode away leaving the cart behind since it would slow them down and they had no use for it again.

On the borders of Corriver town, Finlay and his riders encountered them again as he rode out of the town after realizing William wasn’t within its border any more. They tried countless times to get Bob and the other half of Logan’s family to tell them where they went but no useful information was given because even Bob didn’t know where William took Ben for the healing.

“Just the person we are looking to find… Where have you been?” Finlay said, stopping them from going into the town.

“That makes the two of us.” William replied showing he had interest in talking to Finlay now.

Logan, Sean and Dylan had been too long away from their family and seeing that William was ready to talk with Finlay they figured it was time they parted ways with him, after all there was nothing he could do for them anymore.. They could wait to break their failure and the information they just gathered about Ben to the other members of the family, especially Bob who could tell them more about Ben.

“I guess this is where our journey ends.” Sean said to William and then to Finlay and his men who had them surrounded. “You have no business with us, so it’s best you let us pass.”

Finlay looked at William to get what he had to say about Sean’s request, even though they weren’t his responsibility he sure knew William was stuck with for a reason and just as he presumed William got him the signal not to let them pass because he wasn’t done with them.

Logan, Sean and Dylan sure notice what just happened and get pissed, after spending eighteen days with William on that journey even though they didn’t get to talk much about themselves, they thought he’d be reasonable at that moment. Nevertheless, they drew their weapons ready to fight their way through the eight riders after all they were quite skilled with the sword.

“Gentle men, this does not call for a fight.” William was shocked by their reaction as it was totally unnecessary.

“Then command them to move aside?” Logan replied, letting him know they saw what just how he signaled Finlay and his men not to move aside or even draw their weapon after they did draw theirs.

“It would just take a moment and we’ll continue our journey to your family.”

“My lord?” Finlay was definitely confused.

William knew he had mistaken his wanting to talk to him for wanting to go home with them, so he had to clear the air and rid him of his confusion. “I have a task for you.”

“I only take orders from the King of Rherar and you are not yet king.” Finlay replied.

“If you wish me to become king, then you would as I ask.” William saw through his pretence and went on with his request anyway. “You will go back to Rherar and ensure my sister holds the crown until my return.”

That was not the request he was hoping for but it was definitely what he wanted to hear, William returning home which was a surprise to him even as he wondered why the sudden change of heart and what he had heard in the course of his journey with the strangers.

“Yes your Highness,” Finlay bows his head and then says to his company of riders. “We ride for Rherar.” as he could see the cheerful look on the face of his men. They have all been away from the country and their families for over a year because the king charged them not to return to Rherar unless William was found or else they would be beheaded.

“Mother, Gracie! They’re back.” Caleb shouted as he sighted his brothers walking into the compound on horsebacks. They have been expecting them for days now and it’s been his daily routine to look out for them.

Hearing Caleb’s voice, Gracie and his mother came out of the house to welcome them, but the moment they couldn’t sight Ben with them they knew what it meant and didn’t know whether it is to rejoice or weep. The zeal of running towards them was gone with tears in their eyes.

Logan, Sean and Dylan were looking forward to this reaction already but seeing it live was totally different from the many ways they have imagined it play out in their minds, they couldn’t help but feel sorry for not being able to save Ben as if there was something they could have done differently to avoid the loss.

“Where is father?” Sean asked as they tried consoling them of their grief and noticed his absence.

“Your father is sick, Sean,” Marta, Dylan’s mother, answered.

“No….” The three of them shouted, rushing into the house thinking he had come down with the same sickness that took Ben from them.