As we pass under the portcullis of the great city, we are ordered to wait as heavily armoured men verify our identities. A large unkempt guard with his face hidden under his helmet, comes closer to Caspian. Though he obviously knows who Caspian is, he looks curiously towards me.

  “Who is the girl?” He snarls towards Caspian just as though he was disgusted by the sight of him. The tone of the man confused me, how dare he act so arrogant against such a beastly man. One that seemingly commands an army at that!

  “A chambermaid from Dunmed, I'm in need of one for my castle.”

  “Yet she rides with a Duke. And not with the filth of your people back there.” He arrogantly gestures with his thumb to the chainmail clad weary men walking alongside the horses.

  “Has a Duke fallen so far that he is smitten by a servant?”

  “Watch your tongue guard, or I shall cut you down for your impudence to my rank.” The guard's expression darkened at the insult of being put in his place by Caspian. “She is of no consequence to you, allow us to move on.” Caspian stares with a domineering glare, exuding himself with a valiant presence.

  Seething in a silent hatred, the guard steps aside, shouting for the gates to be opened. The first half of the army enters, the sound of roaring claps and booming cheers surround us, rows of people lining the paths of the city to watch the army arrive. Strung white flowers decorate the old city of white stone and wood buildings. With Caspian leading the troop into the city, cheers strangely turn away from him onto the other men in the battalion or completely halted, with some even frowning at him. Can I trust Caspian with all the people angered at him? What has he even done to deserve this?

  I tense up on the horse feeling as though I have put my faith into the wrong man considering the evil eyes given upon his sight. Nevertheless, I am at the forefront of it due to riding with the man, despite seeming as though Caspian wants me hidden. Though in my questioning at Caspian’s actions, I notice that though he was getting unpleasantly looked at, it wasn’t by many onlookers, in fact the hated gazes would only last so long. It seemed as if Caspian was both visible and invisible, the wool cladded people didn’t seem to care for him enough to stay looking in his direction. I turn my head and watch as a few women from the city run alongside some of the men on horses, trying to give them their personal items. Husband and wives, children and siblings, reunited, knowing alas that by tonight they’d all be home safe.

  “You’ve killed my son! Where is my son!” An older woman grapples on the front of Caspian’s horse. “Where is my son, Lavid Curoso! Where! He was in your squadron!” She cries aloud in a desperate screech, gaining the attention of onlookers who are also searching for their loved ones.

  Caspian pulls his horse to a halt to save the woman any injury, and from his belt he pulls off a small coin purse, grabbing the lady's hand and placing it gently within.

  “War is cruel. It’s equal to all those who serve. Your son paved the way to victory, that’s an honour you must revere in his absence.” Caspian pulls his horse away from the crying woman who is shouting that money won’t bring her son back. These men are all victims of war, especially those wrapped up in the wagon. There is no God or mercy in war, but these people expect Caspian to be? As if he could ensure everyone's safety?

  I’m not sure how many people left this city but it seems like a lot returned. Is that why people hate Caspian? Because he was one of the leaders of war? Jobs like this don’t choose people, they’re given. A king requests the need of arms, not a duke. I’m not sure of the world I spawned into, but it seems unjust. Unless I'm…wrong and there’s something else?

  The calvary of men make it to the doors of a grand white, ivy castle, hidden behind a wall that separates it from the city. A neat garden spans itself in front of the castle, the rest of the land between the space of the city’s wall and the palace was working land of horse keepers, blacksmiths and other high professionals seemingly only catering to those in the castle. The men spread out, taking horses to stables, weapons to the weaponsmiths and sorting out resources to take into the city. Caspian unclips the fur coat holding us together and wraps an arm around my waist, lifting me to the side of the horse and letting gravity gently guide me out of his arms onto the ground beside the horse. Getting off himself with a thud, Caspian yanks his cloak and reattaches it to the chain on his shoulder, recreating his barbaric look from the war tent. Some men walk over and take Caspian's horse and sword away as Ester walks up behind us, anxiously gripping a silvery object on his belt.

  “What now Cas- My Lord?” Ester corrects himself in front of the legion of workers from the castle bustling outside to accommodate the weary army.

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  “Send for Mandell. Get her to take this maiden under her charge till our departure.”

  “Resourceful. Aaedan won't go near the scullery, she'll be well hidden until we can leave.” Ester nods with his arms folded over one another, finally relaxing.

  “Leave? Where are we going?” I pipe in, wanting to know where I'll be unwillingly transported to next if my escape plan doesn't work out.

  “To my home, in Arken. Our sole purpose here is to report to the king.” Caspian states looking down to me, as he loosens the string on his leather fingerless gauntlets.

  I really hope that it's not further away from that blasted forest, I need to be able to make it back there without getting lost in this freak world.

  Caspian splits off from Ester and I to report to the king via the front doors of the castle, whereas Ester takes me to a small wooden door on the side of the building. Loud noises of clattering, women laughing and hurried footsteps echo from within. A maid? They’re making me a maid? In stories most lost women become princesses or duchesses, or made into a position of power! Not damn scullery maids…

  Ester opens the door and guides me through. Now standing in the wooden, herb hanging, fire crackling busy kitchen, I finally feel as if I’d been transported back in time to a simpler era of close connections and humble lives. Ester flags down an imposing large woman who is hurrying maids holding bedding into the palace.

  “Oh Ester! My dear! Give meh a great ol’ kiss!” She slobbers a kiss against the head of the visibly unwilling Ester, who forces himself to smile once she releases her tight grasp.

  “Mandell, this is…Gen. She is with our company, so she'll be under your charge till we leave.” Ester flicks his eyebrows up, hinting that she has to ‘keep an eye on me’, causing her to quickly squint in thought before continuing.

  “Oh…Your company, eh? Well, we always have’a job need’n to be done.” She gives a quizzical look in my direction, probably questioning why I, a lone woman, am with an army of men to begin with. Nevermind thinking why I’d be important enough to rejoin the company's march to their final destination after reporting to the King.

  “I supposed she be need’n a bath and appropriate cloth’n then; come along child.” I look back at Ester who watches me get pushed away by the housekeeper into a room off from the kitchen.

  cxxx{}::::::::::::::::::::::::::::>

  “Ah, I figured they’d be of fittin’.” Mandell chuffs, skimming her hands over the simple long blue wool dress. It's clear that the gown was made for a working class woman, with its tight sleeves, lack of decoration and patterns, it is a practical garment for getting work done. It was humble compared against the long sleeved silk gowns of the women in the upper classes, those of which I caught sight of in the celebration earlier.

  “Can I ask yer of the reason you be found with them men?” The large woman curiously asks from behind me, moving to the front of me and clasping her hands together with a quaint smile at the potential gossip.

  “Quite frankly, they found me. I’m not sure why they won’t let me go, but all I want is to go home.” I frown to the now sympathetic Mandell, who reaches out her hand to hold mine.

  Oh what could my friends be thinking? Or my students? Or my colleagues? I wonder if they’ve put on a hopeless large scale manned search for me.

  “Oh you poor child…Them men be goodens though, whatever reason they be having, be a good one.” Mandell lets go of my hands and wags her head in a pointed manner at her knowledge of the goodheartedness of the men.

  “But this is kidnapping!” I throw my hands up, mouth agape and brows in a furrow. How are these people justifying a crime! I am an innocent bystander in this madness!

  “Neverthelessen’ knowin’ them men they be gettin’ yer home when time be right. It all just be a matter of wait’n my dear.” She smiles in an attempt to calm my righteous anger at the matter, but I just shake my head in disbelief. If these men were as kind as she thinks they are, they wouldn't have kidnapped or tried to kill me at every opportunity they’re given.

  Those men are nothing but lunatics riding on false righteousness.

  Mandell doesn’t stand around long enough for me to argue, she hands me a rag and forces me out of the room with her to get to work immediately. This world has magic and yet I'm handed a rag to dust manually…

  Mandell watches me with an expert eye as we trail through the long corridors dusting statues and accent tables. I map the layout in my head as we continue into the vast white stone castle, marking possible routes I can take within the night when everyone is asleep. Hearing footsteps approaching down the torch lit corridor I look to identify the noise, a man with brown wavy shoulder length hair, in a black tunic with gold threading and a black sleeveless fur trimmed robe makes his way down the corridor. Mandell gasps and pushes me to face the wall as the man walks past, the man pays no mind to the action and continues his walk. I am baffled at first until I remember that servants used to face the wall when higher social classes walked into a room. It’s like the twelfth century all over again, but with weird magic.

  When the coast is clear, Mandell removes her hand from my back holding me to the wall and pushes me to continue cleaning, encouraging me by reminding me I’d feel better eating knowing that I've ‘earned it’. Soon enough another well dressed, decorated man comes walking down the corridor and without Mandell having to guide me in what to do I turn to the wall. As the man passes, I quickly turn around avoiding Mandell’s suspicion and pace myself behind the noble man to disguise the sound of my escaping footsteps. We turn the corner before Mandell turns around, and I duck myself against the wall as the nobleman keeps walking unaware. Without looking around the corner to see what Mandell is doing, I decide the best option is to hide in the nearest room. I quickly close the door behind me, cautious to not make a noise in case I’d be found by Mandell. Stepping back into the room praying my feet don’t cause noise, my gaze began to reveal the blessed sight of a book-filled haven. An old library!