Chapter twenty one
With the Duke's cheeks cupped in her small hands, Elizabeth asked with the saddest of tones, "When will you be back?"
Philip faked a warm smile, trying to be in the cosiest of moods around her.  He held her shoulders reassuringly and replied, "I will not be more than ten days. And as soon as I get back, I'll see to it things get less awkward between us before our marriage." He still doubted that even while he said it.
Elizabeth nodded with a smile and glanced at Monica knowingly. The latter laid upon her horse with her elbows braced to support her weight.
With a smile, she returned the look shortly before taking them back to the grapes she was feeding on. If she was affected by that, she did not show it. But inside, she smiled.
Elizabeth could have all the fun she wanted to have with her betrothed tonight. Because if Monica was sure of something, it was that Philip won't be the same after their trip. His heart would belong to her, that she was bloody sure.
The blonde seemed to want her attention at any cost. When the jealousy trick did not work, she faced Monica and added, "Goodluck getting your home back."
The Scottish did not reply. Instead, she gave a cold glare that spoke more words that what she could have said. Just before her mood got spoilt, she looked away slowly.
With her aim accomplished, Elizabeth smirked knowingly.
Earl and the other four had just arrived on their horses into the empire. Jason was the first to sight the blonde who had her eyes fixed into the Duke's in a possessive manner. Annoyed, he scoffed and rode to Monica's side without a word.
"My Lord," she said while she sat up and held the horse's straps, "Any idea why the trip became so sudden?"
Of all possible topics, why did she have to pick the one he hated to talk about. Sighing, he turned to look at her. She looked serious today for some reason, "I met Elizabeth's butler on his way to inform Philip about you. I stopped him then. But obviously…they'll come again until they get you. Before then," he returned his gaze straight ahead, "we have to go."
Monica's frown softened slowly, "You saved me again."
He gave the last reaction anyone being thanked would give. With a sigh of frustration, he frowned at her, "If I need any appreciation, it is clearly not this nostalgic behavior of yours."
After a while, they were all getting bored of watching Elizabeth and Philip whisper to each other as though they were the first couple to get betrothed. Even when the rest chose to say nothing about it, Earl Robinson hissed at the Duke, "Philip! Quit that little fling of yours, would you."
The Duke turned to him with a frown. He seemed to always spoil every moment. However, he obeyed and climbed upon his horse. Taking one look at his mother's window, he hoped she'll come out at least, wish him luck, shout, anything. But she never did.
At that, he sighed and turned to Tiffany, "Tell my mother I'm gone."
The butler bowed slightly and repeated the question he'd been asking since dusk, "Are you sure Your Grace that you do not need the company of a footman or a bodyguard. Using a carriage would have been a better notion."
The Duke hesitated before he forced a calm rasp, "For the millionth time Tiffany, I'll be fine."
With a second bow, the man turned around and escorted Anna and Elizabeth back into the mansion.
Automatically, Monica finally chose to look at her cousin. The series of emotions that whirled in her at that instant was surprisingly warm.
However, she had had enough of it, and soon after, she made her horse start the walk out of the empire."
Earl's animal galloped quickly to her side as the man asked, "Did you not bring any belongings?"
Monica kept her gaze ahead and hesitated. After rolling her eyes, she replied, "I have more manners than belongings my Lord."
"Well that's a negligible amount," he smiled amicably, making her mood lighten a bit.
Onwards, seven of them rode slowly through the gates without a word to the other. A carriage followed just behind them, carrying every not human they might need.
***
When they were a reasonable distance into it, they had company. Monica's face lost all emotion when she turned to find Nax approach from the military camp on a white Arabian horse. He returned the glare shortly, turning seconds later to bow to the Monarchs.
The Scottish sighed. This ride was going to be long and discomforting, with that man's face always ringing in her head or passing her sight. Yet, she forced a lighter mood on. If she didn't spice up the trip, who will.
***
"Kilmarnock," he roared greedily, "if we get it, it's a different fortune altogether. Are my intentions clear?"
His men gave nods and heard him continue, "Sometimes those who own a treasure to not know its real worth."
Lord Mathayus studied his fingers aimlessly just before he went on with his blabbering, "The Duke of Anfield wants to return that duchy." He began pacing up and down the room, stating things his listeners already knew. But they had to listen didn't they, "It will be damnation to the whole of England if Scotland gets it back."
His brother, secretary of the duchy of Lancaster had been most attentive as far as he was concerned. When he frowned at Mathayus with fright in his eyes, he asked, "What do you plan to do, Your Grace?"
The Duke of Lancaster smirked and turned to his shelf of weapons. Obviously, they had been idly there for a long time. A time like this was perfect for their use.
"Follow the Duke of Anfield and his allies," for the first time he went straight to the point with a tone of finality, "Bring me the seal of Kilmarnock ownership. No matter what it costs.
The last part of his sentence clearly conveyed the severity of the situation. No matter what it costs…
Lancaster was not the only duchy that wanted the seal. Throughout England, states and duchies received the fathomable news. Kilmarnock was about to be returned. And by God they would not let that happen.
A greater half wanted the fortune, a few others feared a war. Scotland was surely going to strike back after all their fortune was returned. And with that, Victory was theirs already.
Either way, the Duke of Anfield and his allies had to be stopped and they would do it anyway possible.
***
Twig snapping…
More twig snapping…
And even more twig snapping.
Their horses pressed their goofs upon the litter of sticks and dried leaves upon the ground.
Monica was done studying the general from afar. What if they had a pleasant chat. She rode slowly towards him and snarled, "How are you doing sire?"
Nax Brethwell snickered at her guts and almost chose not to reply. But it did look like fun. So, he looked ahead and said, "Oh I'm splendid."
The lady made sure to show the hatred she had for him in the look she gave him. "Trust me, it's only going to be temporary," she said, receiving a charming smile from the man.
After that, she rode away with pure disdain. Nax just glared. If he was to be worried about someone in this trip, it would not be some Scottish woman. He had heard stories alright about how she's termed to be the strongest maiden in England. He had laughed when he heard that. Strongest his foot. Not everyone who could kill a bird or do a few flips could be termed strong. He had to see for himself.
But right now, there was something bigger to be worried about. It seemed more twigs were snapping than normal. Eight horses couldn't be making all that noise.
Cautiously, Duke of Anfield raised a hand to give a halt order. And even when everyone had stopped, horse steps were still being heard not so far away. They had company.
Even before the order was given, Monica pulled out her sword and waved it in preparation. But then, it wasn't long after and the clan they awaited creeped out from the covers of the trees around them. They seemed to notice them as well, and now, both clans had stopped and began glaring at each other for God knows why.
There didn't seem to be anyone leading the team of soldiers who blocked their path, making their identity anonymous. However, imprinted on their swords was a small marking that was clearly Norwich origin. Norwich soldiers! Just what they needed on this trip.
But just out of caution, Monica sent a suspicious look to Nax. He was certainly behind this.
As though to prove her right, The General slipped out a dagger from the groove of his boot, placing it in a grip as he turned to the Scottish.
Was he…aiming at her?
He threw the blade to her, watching it pierce through air and soar towards her in a way only trained men could throw.
Monica still hadn't understood his motives though. With a frown of confusion, she tilted her head slightly to the right and let the dagger pass by her face narrowly. He was bad at aiming if he asked her. What she didn't know was…she wasn't the target.
Someone released a groan from behind her, a painful, masculine groan, making her turn around quickly. She began nodding now in understanding when she found Nax's dagger deep in the soldier's chest. Now she turned back to face him with her head still bobbing up and down in a nod, an action that was supposed to be appreciation. So he saved her life. Was there any more surprises awaiting her?
But now their enemies were offended, surrounding them now on all sides. To Monica, this was not a job for just one sword, and from the most unexpected place, she pulled out another. Only God knew the other weapons hidden so skillfully in there.
Jason retrieved his least expensive arrows and fixed three into a bow, just waiting for anyone around them to move before he arched their hearts out.
Earl however searched his horse's girdle eagerly, seemingly forgetting where he'd left his barrel gun at a time like this.
While the males were still being unnecessarily hesitant, Monica had jumped down her horse and begun clinking weapons with the enemies. It wasn't long after that she'd brought down a reasonable fraction of the army.
And finally, a gunshot! And complementing that, one more soldier down. It seemed Timothy chose to open the massacre for the males. With his horse straps in one hand and a smoking pistol in the other, he couldn't be any less disappointed that the enemies were this easy to deal with.
The Earl of Vetcom went second. He released his arrows now towards the three soldiers behind Monica. If only she would just bend low…
The Scottish had both her swords in one man when she found Jason's arrows approaching. This was pure temptation.
She tried pulling her weapons out and moving away but now that was slightly difficult. Abruptly, she bent backwards deeply and watched the arrows take down two soldiers.
She rose upright again just to glare at the Earl who shrugged nonchalantly at her as though she was the one who was blocking his path first.
Philip looked round the bloody scene of soldiers dropping dead for no reason. But he did find it a bit disrespectful. With a sigh, he thought it was time to quit acting noble and jumped down his horse.
He clutched his barrel gun with one hand and a pack of bullets in the other. While filling the gun, he realized his friends were more than capable on their own. Nax even seemed to have daggers in every part of his uniform.
The lad had spent years as a potential Duke killing and hunting. Well just animals. But now he was having his first ever mini war, and by God, he was going to show them how perfect he was at killing bush pigs. Their identity could wait till they were done with them.