Wilson was shown into the entry hall by the servant. He looked around the hall, it was full of beautiful furniture and paintings certain to have cost more than Wilson would earn in a lifetime. He waited for quite some time and finally sat down in a dark mahogany chair. He waited even longer before another servant appeared.

The servant wore a dark suit and white gloves. “What can I do for you?” asked the servant.

Wilson smiled. “I have come to speak with Princess Variana.”

The servant frowned. “Sir, you must have heard already,” he said; more as a statement than a question.

“Heard what?” asked Wilson.

“The Princess decided to marry Prince Alexander of the North.”

Wilson smiled even wider at this pronouncement. “Then can I speak to her?” he asked.

The servant shook his head. “She was so delighted with the Prince she decided to accompany him back to the North and begin preparations for her upcoming nuptials from there. She has left already with her entire entourage.”

“When did she go?” asked Wilson in surprise.

The servant looked at Wilson with raised eyes. “I’m not sure it matters to you,” he said.

Wilson started to ask another question and then stopped before he began. He stood up from the chair. “She asked me to serve as her body guard. I have come to report for duty. So, I will ask you once more, when did she leave?”

“This morning.”

“That cannot be, I certainly would have seen her on the road.”

The servant rubbed his white gloved hands together and said nothing.

“I will take my leave, then, and seek the Princess on the road.”

“Sir, may I see you out?”

“I can find my own way,” answered Wilson. He walked out the front door. He walked over to the stables. There, he gathered his horse from the ostler.

“It seems there are many horses here,” he said casually to the ostler.

The ostler nodded. “There are so many people here, what with the Prince of the North and the Princess both here visiting the Grand Duke.”

Wilson mounted his horse. “I had heard the Prince and the Princess both had already left.”

The ostler shook his head. “Not yet good sir. Not yet.”

The Black Oak Sword

Chapter 1: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Chapter 2: Part 1 , Part 2
Chapter 3: Part 1 , Part 2,Part 3
Chapter 4:Part 1,Part 2
Chapter 5: Part 1
Chapter 6: Part 1, Part 2
Chapter 7: Part 1, Part 2
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14:Part 1
Chapter 14:Part 2
Chapter 15:Part 1
Chapter 15:Part 2
Chapter 16:Part 1
Chapter 16:Part 2
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19:Part 1
Chapter 19:Part 2
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22:Part 1
Chapter 22:Part 2
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39

**AUTHOR'S NOTE: You may notice I just substituted Ailith for Aella--I finally made the leap because I think the name fits her background and cultural heritage better.

© 2017, Stone Golem Publishing, All rights reserved--no part of this may be used without express written consent.

**All pictures used are labeled for reuse. They come from Pixabay

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