A fleet of Anmarian ships approached Delarian shores the next 

daybreak, a day longer than planned. The course had been altered by 

Sela at the very last moment. All anchored into a cove surrounded by 

high rocky cliffs, no other vessel nor human was in sight. 

As the men began unloading the ships, Theo stepped out of his cabin yawning 

and trying to break his sleep, woken up by the bustle. It was a cold and 

cloudy morning, the sun was barely out. Theo lazily looked around 

for Dena to complain.

Where in the world are we? 

'Dena!' he yelled.

'Right here,' Dena walked swiftly towards him.

'May I ask what's….,' Theo yawned in between '...........going 

on...?' 

'We are here' Dena gestured.

'One thing that we were on the waters more than Sela mentioned 

to me back in Orelia, and the other thing, what kind of place is this? 

Doesn't seem inhabited to me. Are we in the right place?'

'Sela wouldn't have ordered the men to unload unless it wasn't, 

Dena nodded.

'Then I might be missing something, I don't see any Delarians 

waiting.......,' Theo waved his hands around pointing at the shores.

'Why don't you wash up and I shall have a word with Sela 

meanwhile,' Dena walked away.

Sela was on the lower deck overseeing the men, 'Get on with it 

men. We have to reach Menore by nightfall, we haven't got all day.'

'Theo wants to know why no one from Deladra has shown up to 

escort us.' Dena enquired.

'I do not have time for this now.' Sela seemed impatient, 'Inform 

the prince, I will be there shortly to brief him.' 

Dena wanted some answers as well, but he pretended to be fine 

with everything that had been going on to support his brother. He 

also knew that Theo wouldn't be happy with it. Once everything was 

unloaded and they were getting ready to leave, Theo approached 

Sela.

'Are you ready to talk?' he raised his eyebrows

'Spare me sire, it is not the time nor place. Once we reach 

Menore, I will be at your disposal to provide you with all the 

information, but we have to leave right away........ Onward men!' 

Sela ordered.

They rode swiftly upon the rocky cliffs with astounding golden 

sea views with the sun shining on the dark waters. Where the cliffs 

ended, it was marshy lands onwards. It smelt and felt weird to Theo 

who had never before experienced this. But it meant that they were 

getting closer to the city, so Theo endured it for a small moment while 

it lasted. 

Dena was tired with his endless complaining and was about 

to give up when they rode into the woodlands, it was that time of the 

year when the trees grew dry and seemed creepier than usual. They 

reached Menore just as the sun was going down. 

The royal Delarian guards saw the flags as they approached but the gates didn't seem to 

open.

'Weren't they informed of our arrival?' Theo questioned, tired to 

the core

'Let me handle this sire' Sela climbed down his horse and walked 

towards the huge gates.

 

A guard walked out and enquired Sela who handed him a roller. 

He took it in as they all waited but Theo was growing impatient.

'What in the world! How dare they make me wait at the gates? 

This insolence is intolerable. They are going to be in deep trouble 

when they realise who they have offended.'

 

'Kindly be patient for a moment. There must be something 

going on,' Dena tried to pacify Theo, but he wasn't ready to listen.

'I command them to open the gates this instant!' Theo 

thundered.

'But s……........,' Dena tried to say something, when the gates 

opened wide and a middle-aged man with some men on horses 

approached,

 

'Pavo, great to see you!' Sela smiled.

 

Pavo quickly climbed down from his horse and embraced Sela, 

'We were beginning to worry. Cannot describe in words how 

relieved I am that you are here. We waited for what seemed to be ages 

at port Gini the other day. There was no trace, so I ordered the men to 

stay there and returned. I do not see my men with you?' Pavo looked 

worriedly at Sela.

Sela cleared his throat and turned around,

'His royal highness, prince Theoden of Anmara,' he introduced 

the prince.

Pavo and his men bowed to Theo instantly.

 

'Some respect long last!' Theo raised his brow, 'Weren't you 

made aware of my arrival?'

Dena tried to say something, but Theo raised his hand to stop 

him.

 

'Spare me sire, but something seems to be missing. We 

were expecting you to be arriving much earlier, and even now, my 

men await you at the port,' Pavo apologised.

 

'Men? Do you see any of those men with us?' Theo scoffed.

Sela intervened before Pavo could speak again, 'If I may 

sire, shouldn't we carry on? We can always discuss this in leisure,' he 

gestured to the gates.

 

Theo was not pleased, but for the moment he rode forward 

agreeing to go inside followed by Dena, Pavo, Sela and the others.

 

'I hope you had good sailings without any trouble, Sela?' Pavo 

enquired

'All the trouble was after we reached here, no one to escort us 

nor get us through the closed gates.' Theo turned back complaining.

 

Sela grinned in discomfort and Pavo didn't say a word. Though 

not as old as Kaleo, Pavo had been the chief advisor to king Aiden 

longer. 

He was well known for his wisdom and loyalty. Sela had 

heard that he was so bound to his duty that he never married, as it 

might be an unneeded distraction. 

His straight face could not hide his heart even if he wanted to. He had been bald 

and had a thin moustache rounded to the edges of his lips eversince Sela had known

him. 

Sela had visited Deladra quite a few times with his father on 

royal business after he was appointed a general.

As they rode through the streets, people gathered to look at 

Theo, even some who did not know who he was. They were just 

curious of the armies marching into the city. Theo on the other hand 

was delighted with all the attention that he had been craving for and 

waved to them proudly. 

The sun went down as they entered the marketplace and the vendors got 

busy packing up their belongings. A delightful scent invited them.

'What is this enchanting aroma?' Theo's voice went down as he 

closed his eyes to take the aroma in.

'Lavender sire,' Pavo gestured to the bunches of lavender hung 

down from the mantles of the high lanterns as they lit up.

 

'Never seen them, but the scent is soothing.' Theo admired 

and observed as the straight streets and houses lit up gradually 

and he could feel the warmth growing in the cold weather which 

reminded him of Orelia. He had always admired the city in the 

night and was already missing home.

 

They rode out of the city bounds and finally saw the Delarian 

flags in the distance. 

The royal flag of Deladra was brown with ruffled silver edges and 

had a great silver wolf in the middle. 

King Aiden awaited them at the gateway. He was a tall, 

hefty man. His face was barely visible with a dense moustache and 

beard that extended to his chest. He stood there with his hunched 

stature and seemed very pleased as Theo climbed down the horse.