Elena’s POV
Glenda stared at me with blazing eyes, stomped her foot, and pointed her finger at me. She started screaming in rage, “You-!”
Before she could start blabbering about nonsense again, I interrupted her with a sigh and went on, “You’re wasting your time, Glenda. You’ve yet to receive your military punishment.”
“Silver whipping, wasn’t it?” I reminded her. “I suggest you prepare for that instead of further embarrassing yourself.”
After all, she had done, though the Rogues punished her for what they deemed was right, she was still not safe from the kingdom’s law. As she broke the rule of war, a warrior’s principles, and brought shame to the kingdom’s name, only right that she was to be punished.
Glenda pursed her lips together and clenched her jaws before storming away like a little child throwing a tantrum.
Staring at her as she walked away, I thought inwardly, “Let her seethe. She brought this on herself. Nhave more important things to worry about than her petty grudges and misplaced pride.”
Shaking my head, I turned around with care and went on to follow Maise and the others.
“Finally!” Maise uttered as she slammed down to one of the seats and stretched her strained body after almost an entire day of us patrolling and helping on the rebuilding.
“Think fast!” Saige shouted, alerting both Maise and us.
Looking up, we saw a flying bread coming our way and immediately caught it. Saige let out a knowing smile as she took a bite from her own before sitting in front of us.
Shaking my head, I raised the bread she gave me and opened it. “Thanks,” I said before taking a bite.
We sat around the campfire at the back of the main tent, where everyone was gathered, enjoying each other’s company. The mood was far lighter now that the war was over, but looking around, behind the smiles and laughter, the scars the war brought us still lingered in the air as those injured still grimaced in pain and those who lost their life for the others were now six feet below the ground.
In the middle of our eating, I watched both of my friends as they laughed with ease and couldn’t help but already feel like I was missing them.
Without further ado, I asked, “Are you going back to the Custodes or back in the kingdom with me?”
Maise tilted her head a bit and asked me, instead of replying, “What about you? Once we’re done here, what’s next? Are you heading back to the training grounds to teach us a few new tricks?”
She even wiggled her brows in excitement to make an emphasis.
I smiled faintly at her jokes and shook my head before letting out a small laugh. “And be back at the training grounds? Haven’t we spent enough time there? Besides, you don’t need me to babysit anymore.”
We all laughed as we were reminded of the times we would have to look after our juniors or newly acquainted Custodes apprentice. We all laugh about it and call it babysitting since we had nothing to do but watch them fail as a new apprentice and cry at failure.
Saige excitedly pointed out, “Babysit? Come on, Elena, you’re practically a legend now. If we head back, everyone will be begging for your mentorship. But… the kingdom sounds more exciting.”
7/2
Chapter 83
+25 BONUS
Maise then suddenly stooped up and even raised her hand up in the air. “I vote for the kingdom! Let’s see those nobles applaud us for once. And Glenda…. Imagine the looks on their faces when they see her for what she really is.”
She hadn’t even finished speaking and was already jumping at the mere thought of it.
My friends could indeed be ruthless when they were mad.
Saige nodded her head and uttered after gulping down her beer. “Agreed. The kingdom it is. We’ve earned this. Let them cheer for the real heroes.”
I chuckled at their silliness and nodded my head at their words. “All right, the kingdom it is. But don’t get used to applause. It fades faster than you think.”
The three of us were still laughing around from our silly jokes and reminiscing, but that instantly died down when Bryson started approaching us from a distance. My eyes narrowed as I observed his tense shoulders and hesitant expression.
With my mood already dead, I sighed and asked indifferently, “Bryson, what brings you here?”
He fidgetted for a while, looking everywhere but my eyes as though he was guilty of something. Merely seeing his expression already brought me a foreshadowing that whatever I’d hear next from him would bring me annoyance. Swallowing, he replied hesitantly, “I… I came to talk. Can we speak in private?”
Looking at my friends, who were looking at him intently, I replied, “We’re all friends here, Bryson. Whatever you need to say, you can say it here.”
Taking a deep breath, Bryson spoke, “It’s about Glenda. I know she’s going to be punished. I… I was hoping you could speak to Prince Deacon. Ask him to show mercy… she’s still severely injured…”
My brows instantly raised upon hearing his dumb question.
Scoffing in disbelief, I asked, “Mercy? After everything she’s done?”
“I know she’s made mistakes. But she’s still my mate… I can’t just stand by and watch her suffer…” he replied in a low voice.
How could he say that? How could he be so dense and selfish to say those words?
My eyes dimmed as I looked at him intently before replying in an ice–cold tone, “Did she show mercy to the people she betrayed? To the warriors who trusted her? No one pleads for them, Bryson. Why should I plead for her?”
Bryson raised his head and looked at me with desperation, glinting in his eyes. “Because you’re better than her. You always have been. Please, Elena. I’m not asking for anyone to forgive her…Just…”
He swallowed and stared at me before continuing, “Just leniency.”
I stared at him briefly before taking a deep breath and replying seriously, “You should take this up with Prince Deacon yourself. It’s not my place to interfere.”
He desperately looked at me and hurriedly replied, “I already did. He refused to listen. That’s why I came to you.”
