Lysandra stared blankly at the spot the man was standing a few seconds. Her lips were left agape, speechless after the spectacular deaths that just took place. "Where did he go?" She whispered to herself. The man with silver eyes. But how? How could someone's eyes be so bright? Brighter than a star. It was as if someone plucked a star from the sky and place them into his eyes.
"Sandra, are you alright?" Albertina's worried voice came from behind her. She was still pale as a ghost from the sudden interference of the strange man. The man had stood so close to Lysandra before disappearing into thin air.
Lysandra snapped out of her thoughts and rushed to meet her sister, who was still sitting on the muddy ground. Beside her were the king's guard, who met the same fate as the others that dared attack the man. She couldn't stop thinking about everything that transpired between both of them. It was as if the man could read her mind.
See you soon, Lysandra.
"Lysandra!" Albertina snapped. Her sister had rushed to untie her yet, she was unable to do it.
Fixing her expression, she quickly untied the ropes from Albertina's hands and feet. "Sorry," she said.
Tina bit on her lower lip as she stood up so her hands could be untied, too. She could see that Lysandra was spacing out. Grabbing her sister's hand, Albertina pulled her into an embrace.
Lysandra snuggled into her sister as if her life depend on it. For the first time, she lost it and cried into her sister's arms. She wanted to be strong for both her sister and her mother, but deep down, she couldn't. They were just princesses who escaped. It was challenging to begin with.
"Shhh, we will be alright," Albertina said as she patted Lysandra's hair. "Did that man hurt you?" She asked. There was a small scratch on her sister's face, smeared with blood.
Lysandra shook her head. "No, he didn't. He saved us," she answered with a frown. Who is he?" She asked her sister, then pulled back to inspect Albertina's wrists.
"That was the Lord of Everia," the coachman replied in complete awe. He had heard about the silver eyed lord. Young ladies and gentlemen whom he carries on his carriages to the winter balls often gossip about it.
Both girls, or should he say princesses, stared dumbstruck at him. "The Lord of Everia?" Lysandra asked as if she was having wind in her ears. Both girls then walked towards the coachman, who was yet to leave. Soon, a man in a pale brown suit ran out of a building.
"Yes. That is him," the coachman replied. "He saved us. I knew those men were going to kill me after I pointed to the wrong person. Meanwhile, the both of you were under my nose." He then shook his head.
"My ladies."
Both girls turned to see a man in an old brown suit approaching them. When he got closer to the dead guards on the ground, he trembled like a child. "If I may, are you the missing daughters of king Owen Flynn?" He asked in disbelief. When the king's guard showed up at their town's doorstep, looking for two girls, he began to wonder who they were.
"Yes," both girls chorused in apprehension. They feared the unknown. The less people knew of them, the better.
The man beamed before prostrating a ninety-degree bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you two. I'm the magistrate of this town, Groove town."
"It is no issue. How did the king's guards manage to surround this place? According to my coachman, he said that the other man is the Lord of Everia," Lysandra replied with a solemn look on her face. It was already dark.
The magistrate rose and nodded his head. "It is indeed the Lord of Everia. To be sincere, my lady, no one knew he was around Groove town. Before dusk, the king's guards had come here. The town was still lively by that time," he said, and his face turned red from anger.
"Come, let me show you something, my lady," he said to them before walking away.
Albertina threw a glance at Lysandra who also did the same thing. They hesitated for a few seconds before Albertina followed the man.
Lysandra then turned her attention to the coachman. "Were you done with the carriage wheel before those men dragged you here?" She probed. They had been delayed by the king's guards and broken wheel.
The coachman shook his head and replied, "I am halfway done." Then he made to walk towards the direction of the carriage when he stopped.
On the other hand, Lysandra was already walking away. "The Lord, you called for his help, didn't you?" The coachman's question reached her ears.
She paused to think about it before asking, "you think so?"
"No. I believe you did call for his help. You were staring at him the whole time," the coachman replied. "I have heard stories that the Lord kills without remorse. But he touched you."
Lysandra inhaled sharply as she glared at the coachman. "What are you implying?" She asked.
The coachman shrugged, "I haven't heard stories about the Lord touching ladies' faces," he replied with laughter in his voice before walking away.
The tips of Lysandra's ears and face turned deep pink at the coachman's words. "Did most people see that too?" She murmured and quickly walked to catch-up with Albertina and the magistrate.
The scent of spices filled the air as the magistrate came to a stop in a market. "The townsfolk were going on their daily affairs when the king's guards arrived and started asking questions. We told them that the girls they seek were not in our town, but they were so adamant.
Lysandra's eyes fell on scattered crops, vegetables, and items. The shops at the front were distorted, while those behind were left untouched. "It seems the king's guards threatened the people by throwing their stuff. Those whose shops were deep into the market flee."
The magistrate nodded, "you have keen eyes, my lady. But one of the young traders wasn't lucky enough to escape. She was raped by the head guard and two others," he replied in sorrow. "She is my daughter."
Both princesses were left speechless at the magistrate's revelation. "I— I'm sorry about that," Lysandra said in a low voice before walking away from there.
The town was getting brighter as the faint glow of oil lamps filled the street. "We should get going," Tina whispered to Lysandra.
"Yes, we should," Lysandra replied and side hugged her sister.
"My lady!" The magistrate called.
Lysandra and Albertina turned to look at the bald haired man with round spectacles resting on the bridge of his nose. "Do well to tell the Lord about this town. We are willing to join Everia," he shouted from a distance.
"I will!" Lysandra yelled back.
As they made their way towards the carriage at the entrance of the town, Albertina chuckled.
"What?" Lysandra asked. She was tired and hungry.
"It seems the Lord has a soft spot for you somehow," Albertina grinned like a young teen who just saw her crush.
"Huh?" Lysandra was speechless. Why was everyone trying to make it look as if she and the Lord were well acquainted?
Albertina rolled her eyes, "come on, Lysandra. Don't tell me you didn't notice the man was handsome?" She scoffed. "He even touched you. Don't tell me you didn't register when he did that. Oh, I know. It was because you were too flustered at his presence," she giggled.
"Stop that, Tina, I was baffled. Just think of how he killed those men. I saw him kill Cyprian with just his gaze. He is someone we need to fear," Lysandra tried to reason with her sister. "Father's favorite guard is dead. He would stop at nothing to get us. Let's hope such a scene doesn't repeat itself. Because if it does, I don't think the Lord of Everia would be there to kill for us," she spat and walked away, leaving Albertina confused.
"Lysandra!" Albertina called as she hurried towards the carriage.
"The carriage wheel has been fixed, my lady. We are set to leave,"
Lysandra nodded. "You haven't formally introduced yourself," she added.
The coachman stood up with a small smile. "Yes. I'm Lionel Holmes, my lady," he said and bowed. It wasn't every day a passenger gets to ask for his name. Probably another decade before he would ride a royalty in his carriage. Perhaps, not in this lifetime.
Albertina then came to stand close to her sister. "Is your father Sherlock Holmes?" She asked. She grinned when Lysandra threw a funny gaze at her. "What? I'm just asking. I barely know nobles with Holmes' last name," she tried to explain.
Lionel hesitated for some time as the princesses bickered. "I'm sorry to disappoint you my lady, but my last name has nothing to do with the famous Sherlock Holmes," he bowed and quietly took his place on the coachman's seat. "We should arrive in Everia by sundown tomorrow."
"Thank you, Lionel," Albertina said before entering the carriage.
"Albertina, have you read about magic from one of those fairytale books?" Lysandra asked.
"Is something wrong?" Albertina asked with a mouthful of bread.
Lysandra looked out of the window where her eyes fell on a certain silver haired man, perched on a tree. "No, not at all," she replied as the carriage started moving. What kept bothering her right now was why is the other man spying on them?