Chapter 7 THE PROVINCE REJOICE

Lionel

I stretched out on one of the most soft bed ever or rather the only soft bed I've ever laid upon on in my entire twenty years of living. I was getting a good sleep but I couldn't just help but wake up to the sounds of drum, singing and shouting. I sat up on the bed, lazily rubbing my palms on the bed, I stood up immediately to avoid myself being carried away by the luxurious bed.

Where am I exactly? Why are they shouting and disturbing my peace? Couldn't they find another convenient time to celebrate?

I walked out of the room to check out what was happening outside and why they were singing and drumming so loudly. I stepped out of the room and i saw lots of people or should I say the whole villagers with their arm on each other's shoulders dancing round a bonfire, celebrating, drinking wine. I mean the whole placed reeked of alcohol and the irritating belch of the drunk men that laid on the ground.

"Hey everyone look over there our leader is awake" he said drunkenly, pointing at me.

Me? Leader? He must be really drunk to be saying that.

Everyone turneds my direction and knelt on one knee bowing down before me, instantly I gulped down my saliva.

"Woah, what's happening right now," I muttered underneath my breath.

"We hail you Lord Lionel, heir and successor of Lord Adline, protector of the seven mountains and seven river and the eternal protector of the SEVEN SIEGE!!!!!! May you reign forever" they all chorused loudly.

I was frozen on the spot unable to move, I thought of the right words to say but none was forth coming.

Can someone come save me out of this moment? please anyone?! Never in a million did I imagine I would be someone that they would pay homage to. I must be dreaming, I'm definitely dreaming.

"You may all rise, people of Aristan kingdom, he's just recovering, you should give him time to adjust. Go on now enjoy the party" she said pointing towards the performer, ordering him to continue playing.

"Yes commander," someone from the crowd shouted loudly.

"Uuh," I sighed, feeling relieved.

"Alas someone saves me from this nightmare" I whispered underneath my breath.

The performer and his crew began to play harmoniously with the piper, drum, tambourine and a baroque, which was quite soothing to the ears. And the woman turned to face me.

"Lord Lionel of Aristan, it's good to see that you're awake, you have slept for three days and have survived in the valley of demons for approximately a week" She said bowing down before and standing upright to look at me.

"Excuse me?" I said, even more confused at what she was saying. Asleep for three days, survived in the valley of demons? What's wrong with this people? I think they're delusional or something.

"I don't understand a word you're saying," I said, furrowing my brows.

"I don't remember a thing, my head is blank, I don't remember anything, remind me again how did I get here?" I asked, hoping to get some answers out of her.

"Why are they calling me a Lord. I know I can't remember anything but, I know for sure that I'm no lord, neither I'm I fit to be called a lord," I said chuckling at the thought of me being a lord. That was the most unrealistic thing I've ever heard.

"And besides who are you again?"

I asked looking intently into her eyes.

She graciously looked at me.

"You don't remember anything at all, you don't recognize me?" she said looking intently into my eyes.

From the way she looked at me and the way she spoke to me, something tells me she knows how I got here or even probably knows me. Not being able to sucked right now and all I could feel was guilt at that moment.

What if she was my grandmother and I couldn't remember her, that would hurt right? I really hope she's not my grandmother.

I don't want to have to stress the old woman who looked pretty agile for someone her age. I think I heard overhead someone call her commandant earlier on. Could she really be the commander of whatever this place is?

"I'm sorry I don't remember anything at all, I'm truly sorry" I apologized, feeling bad.

"Oh my dear lord you don't have to apologize for anything, all you need is rest and for you to know that you're in the right place and we'll help you in any way we can to jog back your memories "she smiled sweetly at me.

A soldier dressed up in his armor walked to us.

"Greetings my Lord," the soldier said, paying homage to me and then turning to face the old woman.

"Commander!"

"Ease up soldier," she commanded.

So she was the army commander for the place after all. It was a bit strange to see someone her age still actively working in the army and even still a commander.

"The council requires your presence at the cabin!" the soldier said standing at attention.

"You can go back to the cabin, tell the council that I'll be there." she said, dismissing the soldier.

The soldier gave his salute and walked away.

"I'm sorry my lord for the intrusion," she apologized. I waved it off.

"By the way, I'm commander Augusta, the army commander of the province of aristan," she said, sounding so confident and bold.

"It has been my pleasure serving under your father and it will also be my pleasure to serve other your authority," she said, paying homage to me.

Things were getting pretty intense, I wasn't understanding what was going on anymore. Serving under my father? Serving under me?

"I know you must be confused, since you lost your memories and you have a lot of questions but right now the council needs me so I'll be taking my leave now, make yourself feel at home" She said, without giving an opportunity to say anything.

"Pete!!!, come over here " she said pointing at a young boy who was about my age but probably a little older.

"Who's that commander??" I asked, curious to know why she was calling him over.

"He'll watch over you, he's more like a body guard. Anything you need just let Pete know, he'll get it right away and he can start filling you in on the details" She said so full of confidence in the young lad.

"I'm at your service, lord Lionel heir and successor of lord Adline" he said paying homage.

"You all have been nothing but sweet to me and I'm grateful for that but..." I said, then got interjected by the commander.

"I understand how you're feeling now, but I assure this is the best decision you'll be making, I'll leave you two to get into whatever details he needs to know, for now duty calls,"

"Welcome back home, my Lord," she said, paying homage and walking away.

I wore a forced smile on my face as a sign that I was grateful but at the same time confused.

Even though I was confused, this people, the way they celebrated, the way the commander has calm with me makes me feel safe and all my worries just thrown out the window.

And in that moment all my insecurities flew away at that moment and I felt secure in this strange land.

I walked even more confidently with Pete just behind me. I had a lot of questions to ask Pete but I'm just going to take it one step at a time. I looked and walked around the people that were around the bonfire just dancing and celebrating it was indeed a beautiful thing for the eyes to behold.

I stopped walking and instantly that moment my head became so heavy and I grasped my head so tight, it was too painful to bear, I went down on my knees squirming.

"Lord Lionel!!!! Are you okay?" Pete screamed, his voice filled with worry.

I could hear him, but his voice was so faint and it was like the world was spinning round me.

In a matter of minutes the villagers were agitated, gathering around us. The music had stopped, the villagers stopped dancing. And I fell to the ground, Pete was trying his best to help.

"Somebody, anybody help!!" Pete cried out.

"Someone should go and call the commander"

It was like my sense of hearing was heightened I could hear someone running out from the crowd towards the cabin to call the commander.

"Where are the witch doctors?" Pete asked, his voice loud and demanding.

"They're all at the cabin with the commander," someone from the crowd answered.

While I was going through the ordeal of pain that's loud and excruciating, it was like my being was divided into two. My subconscious, had separated completely from my body and somehow I could feel the pain going on within my head and at the same time I wasn't and I could see everything that was going on.

The witch doctors were not around, they had followed the commander for a meeting in the secret cabin and it seems it would take a while before the messenger gets there and retrieve the witch doctors.

"Alicia, I know you're out there, you must save him now please" Pete shouted holding my head on his thigh.

A fragile young girl with a dark shiny skin and her long brown hair flowing down her shoulders.Her elegance shines even brighter than the sun, she was like a literally goddess on earth.

She looked like she was about the same age as me, she came out with her little purse in her hands feeling timid by the loss of hope in the eyes of the people.

"Enough with the pitiful eyes the lord will be okay!" she said out loud with her yet comforting voice.

Pete looked stunned at the way she carried herself in such a tranquil manner, it was always something to be admired.

"Thank you so much for coming out. I know how you don't like the crowd staring at you." Pete said whispering.

"It's okay, I understand." she said smiling awkwardly.

Alicia put her purse on the ground and placing her index and third finger on my neck to check my pulse. Instantly, she brought out a potion like she knew what was wrong, opening my mouth and pouring a potion inside my mouth and then chanting a few incantations and moving her fingers and hands in the rhythm of the incantations.

My once divided self, came back together and I woke up gasping for breath, and holding Alicia's arm tightly.

"You!!! Why did you wake me up why?" I said holding and shaking Alicia furiously.

I was no longer myself, even though my subconscious was still very much active, my body was doing a very different thing completely.

"Lord Lionel, please it isn't her fault, I told her to wake you up, we all panicked when you suddenly slumped on the ground please my lord" Pete begged breathing heavily.

"You need to calm down lord Lionel"

I could feel that the aura around me was so strange and yet so powerful. My grip on Alicia's arm tightened even more causing her to squeal in pains.

"A war is coming!!!" I said affirmatively.