Kyren left again, this time accompanied by his healer, thirty knights, and five soldiers.
It was not a crime that summoned them, but disaster.
Relentless convective rainfall had battered a southern province near the border.
A bridge had collapsed, and a landslide had severed road access to several villages. With the Knights of Gerhard being the nearest available force, the request for aid came swiftly.
Without hesitation, the commander led his men to assist.
Unlike previous departures, Anna was not overwhelmed with restlessness. She knew this mission was one of relief, not battle or political conflict. They were going to rescue, not to fight.
Ayden had already completed brewing the improved potions based on the corrected translations she provided. The results had proven remarkably effective. And so, her task at the infirmary was done.
With Kyren gone, only Ayden, ten knights, a handful of soldiers, and several squires remained to maintain the camp.
The reduced manpower kept everyone occupied. Duties doubled, and patrols rotated more tightly.
Understanding this, Anna chose to remain inside the commander's tent rather than add to their burden.
Days passed.
The stillness began to weigh upon her.
Without the bustle of a fully manned camp, the air felt hollow. The familiar clang of armour, bursts of laughter, and the steady rhythm of drills were absent.
And above all—
She missed Kyren.
After several days confined within the tent, the princess finally stepped outside.
The sky was muted, with thin clouds drifting lazily across the sun, and the light felt softer today.
She walked slowly across the grounds, noticing how quiet everything seemed. The camp felt almost foreign in its calmness.
"My lady, are you heading somewhere?"
Anna turned at the voice.
Two knights approached her.
One bore tanned skin and sharp black eyes beneath short dark hair.
The other appeared younger, with pale features, blond hair, and clear blue eyes that still carried a trace of youthful eagerness.
"I'm only taking a walk," Anna replied gently. "Is something the matter?"
The younger knight bowed.
"Then, it would be best for us to accompany you. Let us introduce ourselves. My name is Elijah Henderson, and this is Senior Knight Sir Damon McQuinn. We have been appointed as your escorts in place of Sir Noah Brooks."
Damon inclined his head in confirmation.
Anna recalled Kyren's words about new escorts. But she had not expected two.
"Are you truly a knight?" she asked Eli, her curiosity evident as she looked at him.
"Yes, my lady. I'm newly ordained. This is my first campaign," he answered, unable to hide his pride.
Damon added smoothly, "Though Sir Henderson is young, he is capable. He is Sir Navin's finest apprentice."
"Oh, I did not mean to doubt you," Anna said quickly. "It is simply impressive to be knighted so young."
Eli smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.
"You are most kind, my lady."
"How old are you?"
"Nineteen."
Anna's eyes widened.
"Then we are the same age!"
She rarely met anyone her age. Most around her were older, except her late brother.
"Aa… no wonder my lady looks youthful as well," Eli said without thinking. "You have a petite—"
Damon elbowed him sharply. The young knight had a habit of speaking too frankly, often leaving an awkward silence without realising.
Eli coughed. "I meant… youthful presence."
Anna laughed lightly.
"I do have a small figure. That much is true."
Damon quickly redirected. "Where would you like to go?"
She hesitated, thinking ahead. "Well... I've been touring around the camp with Sir Brooks..."
"Perhaps you would like to view the scene beyond the perimeter?" Eli suggested. "We are permitted to escort you outside of the camp."
"May we?" she asked, surprised.
They nodded.
Thus, Anna stepped beyond the camp once more with a delighted smile.
***
After strolling through the marigold field, the princess paused.
"Sir Henderson… may we stop by the lake? I would like to wash my feet."
She had gathered wild blooms along the way—hydrangeas in varied hues, zinnias, and baby's breath—carefully arranging them into a modest bouquet.
"We could summon water to the tent," Eli offered.
"No. I do not wish to trouble the squires. The lake is just nearby."
The two knights exchanged a glance before nodding in agreement and escorting her toward the shallowest part of the lake.
It had been a week since they were assigned to her. By now, her routine was familiar to them.
On days she did not visit the infirmary, she would take quiet walks around the outer edge of the campsite. They allowed her a measure of freedom, trailing at a respectful distance while keeping careful watch.
The two knights' assignment might have appeared straightforward, but they did not approach it lightly, considering how fiercely the commander protected his wife.
The memory of how her former guards had nearly been punished for letting her loose lingered among the ranks. And because of that, they dared not fail.
Anna slipped off her shoes and dipped her feet into the cool water. Relief washed over her instantly.
The lake shimmered quietly beneath the afternoon light.
For a fleeting moment, she considered stepping in further, but propriety restrained her. Therefore, she settled for washing her heels instead.
Then—
Damon stiffened, his head tilting slightly as he caught the faint sound of movement nearby. Swiftly, he raised a hand towards his comrade.
"Someone is approaching. My lady, quick! Stay behind me," he ordered.
Anna quickly slipped her shoes back on and stepped behind the knight.
Eli moved forward, drawing his blade halfway from its sheath.
"Help! Sir, help!"
Three men stumbled into view.
Their clothes were worn and travel-stained. Two supported a third who seemed barely conscious.
"What happened? Who are you?" asked the young knight.
"We're foragers," one of the men called out weakly as they staggered closer. "We came from Mistdale. We're terribly ill… My friend can barely stand. Please, Sir… help us!"
"Mistdale is not far from here," Eli replied sharply, keeping his distance. "Why come to the knights' camp?"
"Our villagers drove us out," the man said hoarsely. "They refused to tend to us. We had no other choice. We heard there are skilled healers among you. "
Eli's brows knitted as he studied them carefully. The foragers were wearing liripipes, covering their faces from visibility.
"Remove your hoods," he commanded. "Let me see you."
The men hesitated—then obeyed.
Elijah's breath caught.
Red lesions spread across their faces and necks. Their hands were worse.
Angry rashes mottled their skin, creeping up their arms. If it had reached their faces and hands, it would have likely spread across their entire bodies.
"Stop!" Eli shouted sharply. "Do not come closer!"
"What's wrong?" Damon called from behind, alarmed.
The young knight's sudden shout startled Anna as well, making her instinctively step closer to the back of her escort's cloak, seeking cover behind him.
"They are covered in rashes!"
One of the men collapsed to his knees, crawling weakly forward.
"Please… we are dying…"
Eli raised his sword instinctively.
"Stay back! One more step and I will strike!"
Damon stepped forward and saw their condition.
Immediately, his face paled like a white sheet.
"My God…"
"What is it?" Anna asked from behind him, heart tightening.
Damon did not look away.
"It's the Laradie Plague."
His voice was no more than a whisper.
Then louder.
"Sir Henderson—fall back!"