It took a week for the message to arrive. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBrrXiNugM 維尼
The messenger, a young boy who wore only a thin shirt and short pants, was shouting into the inn’s tavern one morning. “Message for Maya Shieldsmith?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡghYY5GhmdK 維尼
Maya jerked her head up from beneath the kitchen table and yelped. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWpbtpnzvg 維尼
Janice came out from Gerald’s study. “What was that? Did something fall?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡToAMWnVkAu 維尼
“No, i just hit my head.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BN3L38rfQ 維尼
“Is Maya Shieldsmith here?” the messenger asked and stepped through the threshold. “I have a message from her da.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIxGSBZQcu 維尼
Janice and Maya froze. Their eyes widened and stared at the boy who was impatiently waiting for someone to answer him. “Well? I haven’t got all day, you know. Could I get something to drink while I wait for Maya Shieldsmith?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKma2SF3K7 維尼
“I-I’m Maya,” Maya said. “You have something from my da?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3FbEAnSMu 維尼
The boy rummaged around his bag and brought out a small folded piece of paper. “Here.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡKogwmjtl2H 維尼
Maya took it with shaking fingers and gave Janice a nervous look. The woman patted her arm and went to fetch the messenger a drink. Maya took in a deep breath and unfolded the paper. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUXeQdOJh1 維尼
Jorge, 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡruHgSoV0Ki 維尼
The materials that I requested last week has not arrived yet. Please send them at once to my shop so I could fix your girl’s necklace.8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwm6CmClnJ 維尼
Mabs8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KPlpFEqwR 維尼
Maya stared incomprehensibly at the letter and flipped it. She read it again with shaking fingers and looked at the messenger who was drinking eagerly out of a mug. “This isn’t for me.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQkf9a9m8X 維尼
“Of course it’s for you,” the messenger said. “Maya Shieldsmith, right?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cys763kEn 維尼
Maya’s heart, which was still racing so fast, made her yell. “This isn’t for me! Look at it!”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nUb2K2sHX 維尼
The boy took the letter and squinted at the recipient. “Oh! You’re right.” He took out a stack of letters from his bag and spread them out on the table. “Hm…which one is it?” He began to look at every piece of paper and reading out the names. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡctYZq3y6bY 維尼
Maya took a step back and placed her shaking hands to her head. “Do you actually have a letter for me or not?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxBU1d1yD0 維尼
“Yeah, yeah! The man with two horses dying of heat in that odd heavy cloak of his. You’d think that he has never been to Enzla before, with what he wore. Your da coming from Icia?” the messenger looked with with a cautious frown. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33QDb7eu7q 維尼
“He was just down south in the cold region!” Maya said in dismay. “Why would da go to Icia?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCRSV4ELt3 維尼
The boy raised his hands defensively. “He was roasting in his clothes! And here, the letter.” 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfNNpc99AJ 維尼
Maya snatched the letter from the messenger with a huff. She looked at the folded piece of paper which had her name on the back. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡmygfTFhaCK 維尼
Maya Shieldsmith. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8KNcSibBx 維尼
“Is there anything else?” the boy asked. “It’s right, isn’t it? Why aren’t you opening it?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxZRja6SCy 維尼
“I’m going to,” she said, staring at the words shaped into letters with the same curves that she recognised from her father’s notes.8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGAG5uYOGt 維尼
“Then open it,” the boy urged. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNRv3eqD0d 維尼
Maya glowered at him. “What’s it to you? You can go now!”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡOp9vjRWZRa 維尼
The boy shrugged and poured the letters back into his bag. With a wave, he left at a jog. Maya turned her gaze back to the letter. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUkYx4DUXj 維尼
“Go on upstairs,” Janice said with a light push. “There’s nothing to do down here except clean up.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1Sl2G7BZk 維尼
“Are you sure? This could wait,” Maya said and started to put the letter away into a pocket. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy57k0B6Fd 維尼
Janice gave her a shocked look. She stared at Maya for a second before shaking her head. “Maya, you’ve been waiting for something like this for six years! Go and open it right now. There’s no reason to be scared!”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxrKWt6xjH 維尼
Janice was right, Maya realised. She was stalling. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Z0JmpVA69 維尼
She hated them. She didn’t want to read something given to her from parents who abandoned their daughter for six years. Still…what was in the letter? What if something happened to them? What if—? Maya steered her thoughts away from those dark thoughts and did as Janice ordered. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4Thzy531a 維尼
Sitting on her bed with her back against the wall, Maya flipped open the paper and held her breath. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6vVXtiBP4 維尼
Maya, 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9rQeUHFf0 維尼
I’m sorry it took so long to write to you. We weren’t able to send any letters out from where we were because of the trouble on the road. I’ll be coming back to you on the morning of the new moon. Hopefully this letter finds you before then. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCqE2aPqKP 維尼
I’ll see you soon. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AxYJeGUe1 維尼
Love, 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8O2JN73O7w 維尼
Da8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOFPJs4iUD 維尼
Maya stared at the last words. Love, Da. Da? Da? Her fingers gripped the paper until she heard it crinkle. She abruptly dropped it on her bed and fisted her hands. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdbGa8vOZ4 維尼
Her father was coming back after six years? Six years of no contact and that was his excuse? Sent by a note? How dare he call himself her da!She crumpled the note in her hand. She flattened it and then held it in both hands, ready to rip shred it and stomp it into the mud until it was only a soggy patch on the road. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWAIQthUy0 維尼
But she let go of the note and cried. I hate them. I hate them. I hate them!8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zD2cTfaYL 維尼
…8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEMycJjjex 維尼
“Janice?” 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeB1MhqGRs 維尼
“Good morning!” Janice looked at the customer and smiled at him. “What would you—M-M-Marcus?” Janice dropped her apron and stared at the man in shock.8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iJEw5jqk4 維尼
The last time she saw him was when she was fourteen—old enough to get an impression of him but so long ago that she didn’t recognise him at first. He still wore his hair short and probably also still had two braids at the back of his head. Now, she stood only a head taller shorter than him. There weren’t any visible signs of age, but something about him marked the passage of time.8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNCfYyHQ7k 維尼
Marcus’ smile faltered. “You didn’t get my letter.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1x0MDe5DV 維尼
“W-We got it just this morning—where have you been all these years?” Janice exclaimed. “Maya’s sick with worry over you two! Not that it shows. It’s bordering along hate now.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡydiXUq8udl 維尼
Marcus closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. “There were disruptions while travelling and there were even more complications when we got there. Where’s Maya? Is she well?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AGdeD5BDY 維尼
Janice frowned in disapproval and gave him a glare. She was with Maya every day since her parents left to go on their one year mission. She was with Maya when the younger girl cried, when she threw things in anger, and when she read those notebooks and journals so hungrily, looking for any connection to her parents. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCluogXS65 維尼
Marcus was going to have to work for Maya’s smile if he ever wanted to see it again. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBnPe9d57O 維尼
“She upstairs. Third floor,” Janice said and jerked her chin toward the stairs. She turned back to the door with a start as Marcus went up the stairs. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2b5A4IEWRA 維尼
Aldene. Where was Aldene? Janice clutched the apron she retrieved from the floor and went to the stables next to the inn. Two almost identical brown mares were settled in comfortably in the last two stalls. She rubbed their noses and saw Marcus’ ridiculously thick garments abandoned on the crate in his horse’s stall. There weren’t any other bags that would hint at Aldene’s presence. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhgPq8YF7v 維尼
Where was Maya’s mother?8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pmHhcb7Iw 維尼
Suddenly she heard Maya shrieking. Then a door slammed.8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4p09ovZ2qX 維尼
…8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEbVWYWrbv 維尼
Aldene is going to kill me, Marcus thought. Their daughter had just slammed the door in his face after screaming with tears in her eyes about how she hated them.8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡshDAObjkhO 維尼
He considered knocking on the door again. Then he gently felt his crushed nose and thought it would be better to wait. Even so…she grew so much! He recognised her immediately but his Maya was no longer a child. She could no longer wrap her arms around his legs asking for a lift up. She’d no longer jump as high as she could, trying to reach for his raised hands. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg10WoJXiV 維尼
Maya was still shorter than him but compared to her ten year old self, having her head reach his shoulders made her feel very tall to him. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxuDGSKs3A 維尼
Marcus hit his head against the wall in despair. We’ve missed out on so much. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLOm5Q5w6a 維尼
After setting his nose right, Marcus went down to the first floor just in time to see Gerald emerging from his room and Janice coming in through the back door. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nezU16vl4 維尼
Gerald’s eyes bugged out at the sight of Marcus. A wide smile stretched across his face as he said, “Marcus, you’re back! Thank the ’sters you’re safe!” He wrapped Marcus in his arms and crushed the younger man to him. “Ohhh, it’s so good to see you again.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAzzT1rPKM 維尼
Marcus laughed and returned the hug. “It’s good to be home. Thank you for looking after Maya.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm3RSwlGBB 維尼
“About that,” Gerald said slowly and released Marcus…only to punch the man until he doubled over.8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlXsE0IZiB 維尼
Janice gasped. “I can’t believe you just did that.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡekQK4YDYCt 維尼
“Mmm…he deserved it,” Gerald said. “No news for six years? Usually they are considered dead if they do not come back three years past the original date.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCqCK4xKiM 維尼
“You thought they were dead for two years and you didn’t tell us?” Janice asked. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNZnJdtKfL 維尼
Gerald waved a hand. “Marcus and Aldene are experienced in the field. They know how to look after themselves so I did not worry too much.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVG06r2qEG 維尼
Marcus groaned from his position on the floor. “I put all the blame on the Icians. Damned kingdom can’t even control their own people.” He blinked at the ceiling for a few seconds. After he caught his breath, he stood on uncertain legs and settled onto a nearby bench. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWzbgMOMPn 維尼
“Janice, get him something to eat,” Gerald said and took the bench opposite the small square table. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9ICik3k0f 維尼
“I know we’re late,” Marcus said. “I can’t even say that we would’ve been back within a year. Perhaps two, but there was so much going on.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqIFKfAWjy 維尼
“Can you tell me?” Gerald asked. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDoE6iO9BZ 維尼
Marcus mulled over the question. “I don’t see why not. The news will spread soon enough. Lord Albin was poisoned by a rare disease that we had never seen before: one that changed each time an antidote was administered. The only time any of us had heard of it was in myths. It turned out that the disease is still a myth. He was continuously poisoned by one of the healers, Konnoly. For years, we didn’t know what was going on. When we were getting close, the Icians attacked.8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Lv2kDlmKS 維尼
“That occupied more of our time and attention, dragging out Lord Albin’s recovery. And neither one of us were willing to leave them when the enemy was at their doorstep.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjLFbwg7I4 維尼
Janice placed freshly baked bread in front of Marcus and took the seat between the two men. “Marcus?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AcyFFpKsn 維尼
“Yes?” Marcus bit into the bread and started to chew. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡNntBs8arCp 維尼
“Where’s Aldene?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxw01W0K2k 維尼
Gerald gave her daughter a sidelong glance before watching Marcus’ reaction. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnX7jzkw4F 維尼
Marcus paused for a second before continuing to chew, albeit more forcefully. He took a swig of the contents in the mug Janice set out for him. “She’s fine.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNb1wy2F3b 維尼
“But—” Janice said but Gerald interrupted her. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtLjpSrWdC 維尼
“Janice, leave it.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55ZKr6dsBH 維尼
Janice gave her father a dismayed and questioning look. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1sz0WSIEM 維尼
“Go see how Maya is doing, please.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MgkZrhmwO 維尼
Janice huffed and left the table. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYvJa5EKdy 維尼
“Maya’s not taking this well,” Marcus said quietly. “We’ve been gone for far too long.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡG63utvyiTV 維尼
“It will take time,” Gerald said, “but you are still her father and she loves you.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0X0tJBsPX 維尼
“She said she hated me, Gerald!”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡY42Ies97ti 維尼
“She’s sixteen. Sixteen year olds hate everything and everyone.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9vaSv9IrM 維尼
“I didn’t,” Marcus muttered. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44v1pRQvqr 維尼
Gerald remained silent. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWFGWnX2iO 維尼
“Oh, all right, all right. Stop looking at me like that. But this is different, isn’t it?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBkOWhcLFd 維尼
“It may be harder for you, considering the circumstances.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkFwV4T3bR 維尼
“You mean normal children don’t hate their parents because of a six year absence.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjwZ3pVvoU 維尼
“Usually it is…something smaller.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKPAd6Imrz 維尼
“That’s good to know, Gerald.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGf62faJOt 維尼
“What are you going to do today?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wlxauOc3E 維尼
Marcus looked toward the stairs again. “I need to go to the palace. Do you think Maya will be interested?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGHikfar5h 維尼
“I can tell you that she hasn’t been up there yet,” Gerald remarked. “Still, she might not be interested. After all, it’s only the palace.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXOlWTAWc6 維尼
Marcus snorted. “It’s worth a try. If Maya agrees to come, we’ll probably stay in my rooms there since our home burned down.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpJI2EX3Wc 維尼
Gerald’s face suddenly froze. Marcus caught the expression instantly and narrowed his eyes. “What is it?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEtn2GCzR6 維尼
“Your daughter doesn’t remember that your home was burned to the ground. She didn’t think about it at first and later, she had no interest in going back.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZDfaGDXMD 維尼
“That’s more disheartening.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡak9PYBKAQ0 維尼
Gerald clasped a hand to Marcus’ shoulder. “It will work out. By the time Aldene returns, you’ll both be at the gates to welcome her home.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yTFdCth2S 維尼
Marcus gave Gerald a familiar grin, thankful that his retired mentor still had the same effect on him. Marcus left his bag on the table and headed once again, to the third floor. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ83dE9OMDU 維尼
…8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡUX05RSm92E 維尼
Maya couldn’t believe that she just exploded on her father. She just wasn’t expecting him so soon! The letter did say that he was coming on the morning of the new moon—she wiped her eyes dry and thought on that. The new moon was today. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlcZzk1BaY 維尼
Serves him right for not bringing the note sooner, she thought.8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3gJyL2Xua 維尼
She stiffened when someone knocked firmly on the door. She briefly wondered if Janice was back. But it couldn’t be. If it were Janice, she would have just opened it. Gerald wouldn’t bother to come up the stairs—he’d just holler.8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YIPRGdnuW 維尼
“Maya,” came her father’s muffled voice. “I need to go up to the palace now.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoLoPJUgUr 維尼
Maya gave the door an astonished look. He was going to the palace? Where the queen lived? A hint of curiosity entered her mind but fell away at another thought. He was leaving her again. Will he ever stay in one place?8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡXd5B3x1Wsi 維尼
He continued after a pause. “Do you want to come with me?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDcsj5Rxqn 維尼
Maya scrambled off the bed and flung the door open. Her father had a surprised look on his face. She gave him a glare and asked, “Do you think I’ll forgive you both just because I get to visit the palace? No! I don’t forgive six years that easily!”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQ6EMG8NkU 維尼
He shook his head in protest. “What? No, I just need to deliver a message to someone there! And you can’t expect to live here with Gerald and Janice forever. We have our own place to live.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqoSdSQQVK 維尼
Maya slowly comprehended what he was saying. It hadn’t even occurred to her that she’d have to leave. Now that her parents were back, there was no need for Gerald and Janice to take care of her. “I-I can live on my own,” she said. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUizGrGsB8 維尼
Marcus gaped at her. “You’re only…” he closed his mouth and shook his head. He seemed to be debating something with himself. “I’m sorry that we didn’t come back sooner. It wasn’t supposed to take so long, but we couldn’t leave.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTBsFgKpTf 維尼
Maya wanted to cover her ears. She didn’t want to hear excuses, no matter how good they were. She wasn’t ready to forgive either of them and she knew that no matter how bad the excuse was, she’d take it and forgive them. But that would only leave her heart empty and broken. The part that wanted to forgive them belonged to an abandoned little girl. Stubborn as she now was and used to defending herself, Maya pushed the little girl to the corner of her mind. “I don’t want to hear it! Go to the palace on your own. I won’t be going with you. Just…where’s mother?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBGltSHXJW 維尼
She had thought that her mother was downstairs talking to Gerald or brushing down the horses. But now that she was getting used to the idea of her parents being back in her life, she realised how stupid she was. Her mother would have come straight up like her father did. She should have been yelling at both of them, not just her father. She would have, if her mother was here in the first place.8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyqjf6c52w 維尼
“Where is she?” Maya repeated.8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0ldefvQaU 維尼
“She’s fine.” Marcus clamped his mouth shut and a dark look passed his face. “I mean she’s not here.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOGoumxTBp 維尼
“What do you mean by that?” Why didn’t they come home together? They loved each other and wouldn’t leave the other behind. She was starting to feel the hysterics returning. “Is—Is she—Is she—” Dead?8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWt8zKZMBi 維尼
Marcus focused his attention back to her. “That’s what I’m going up to the palace for. I have a message from her that someone needs to see.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPyPqshAqU 維尼
“But where is she?” Maya shouted. “Why isn’t she here with you?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡbT4Xcnrqfm 維尼
“She was delayed,” he said. “I can’t tell you more.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gq1pNwTyO 維尼
“Delayed? How can she be delayed? It’s her daughter that she’s coming back to! How could anything have delayed her?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrHtxj09qz 維尼
“Maya, she’s a scout, there are many things that can delay her,” Marcus finally said in a low voice. 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn6IslKgNJ 維尼
“It’s not like we’re at war and they actually need scouts!” Maya waved her arms. “You don’t needa scout to send messages. Just send for any other messenger!”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡutjweiHO1J 維尼
Marcus hastily pushed Maya into her room and shut the door behind them. Maya took an extra step back and looked at him closely. “Is there a war?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4L9pFNDyb 維尼
“Keep your voice down.” 8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3cVnvShrN 維尼
Maya’s breath hitched. “There is one, isn’t there?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdwitn6RTK 維尼
“No,” her father said quickly. “There’s no war. It was just a skirmish with the Icians. Your mother discovered something suspicious on the way home. She went to investigate because it might be something bigger than a small invasion on Lord Albin’s castle. Whatever she finds might tell us if we need to prepare for war. That is why she’s not here.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2pbAuUwhi 維尼
Marcus grimaced. “I need to go to the palace. Will you still be here when I come back?”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHNt3fS7Ln 維尼
Maya recovered from the shock that her mother was on a mission. She glared at him. “I’m not leaving here! You can go and do whatever you want. I’ll continue to work so I could stay here if I have to!”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCgYKqkJAi 維尼
He sighed and opened the door. “We’ll talk more later.”8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZdtYmpgXs 維尼
“And now you leave again.” Maya muttered in a voice so quiet that Marcus didn’t hear. 369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBmuIWvILV
8964 copyright protection365ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSVkFSbTPP 維尼
