Chapter 26

Two women were walking together beneath the blinding sun. One was petite and slim with translucent white skin and silver hair, a fresh-faced beauty. The other was a large, tanned woman with glossy golden hair tied back untidily. She wore light, comfortable men’s clothing with lace-up shoes, and on her back she carried a pole-shaped bundle about as long as she was tall, wrapped in dingy cloth. Abruptly, the blond woman stopped and slowly surveyed her surroundings. They were on the main road in Alslain, the capital of Adelbide. On either side, elegant jewelry shops and dignified old dress shops were interspersed with fashionable teahouses and sparkling clean restaurants. Everyone coming and going on the paved street looked happy—not a beggar or a vagrant to be seen. The smaller woman threw a suspicious glance toward her companion, suddenly stopped in the middle of a busy street, and frowned. “Is something the matter, San?” San’s sharp, willful face formed an ironic smile. “No, I was just thinking how different this place is from our own declining kingdom. And all this in just a few hundred years since independence? I tip my hat to them. I can see how their neighbors would be envious. Can’t you, Eularia?” The silver-haired woman cast a glance down the lively street and nodded. “Yes. I imagine they are blessed with fertile lands as well, thanks to the abundant water and mineral deposits in this kingdom.” “Coming from a land like ours on the verge of death, we couldn’t want anything more. Our brilliant forefathers really messed up,” San said before lowering her voice, wary of being overheard. “And what did the old goat Kendall have to say?” Eularia, too, lowered her voice knowingly. “He said the little star twinkling in the sky was stolen by the migratory bird who flew in from the west at dawn. From Adelbide, Faris is in the west, and the bird of dawn is Daeg Gallus. Obviously, the little star must be Prince Ulysses.” San clicked her tongue. She’d been expecting to hear that. “That damn hairless goat let his guard down.” “He’s getting on in years, I suppose. I think it’s time to demote him from a slightly useful goat to a completely useless one.” Ignoring this comment from Eularia, whose sharp tongue belied her gentle appearance, San sighed softly and scratched her head. “We’ve already got our hands full with Allie… She’s probably crying all alone as we speak.” “I’m sure she’s fine. She’s always been strong. I’m more worried about Uly. He may act grown up, but he’s still a child.” San lowered her brows. “You’re right,” she said, then went on a bit self-mockingly, “Who could’ve imagined we’d end up with two damsels in distress? I swear, we can’t catch a break.” “There was nothing we could have done about Allie,” Eularia said soothingly. “You did the best you could at the time. It’s not your fault.” San didn’t answer, other than to murmur, “We’d better hurry,” looking up at the clear blue sky overhead. Then she turned her strong gaze in the direction of her homeland, Faris, far away to the west. “If we don’t, we might be too late.”