The Forgotten Princess

The time was getting late, midnight was fast approaching. Count Forger and his son Raymond was summoned out of the dining room because of an urgent matter. The two quickly exited the dining room and walked straight to the count’s office.

The office was dim with only a few candle lights lit. Once they entered, a big sturdy man that looked untidy was there waiting inside.

“What is the problem?” Raymond was the one to ask hastily.

“My lords.” The big sturdy man greeted. “There was a bit od an accident at the pens, my lord.”

“What happened?” Count Forger asked.

“The creatures… they… they ate some of the workers that were tasked to feed them tonight.” The big sturdy man replied. He looked quite spooked when he was relaying what has happened.

“Did any of the creatures got out?” Raymond asked.

“T-There was some that got out, b-but we were able to contain them.” The big sturdy man replied. “But in the process, some of the facilities were damage. Repairs are needed, especially to the cages that holds these creatures.”

“I will go and check the damage father.” Raymond said. “You stay here in the manor while the emperor and empress are here. They might suspect something if you were gone.”

“I understand, my son.” Count Forger replied.

“Prepare a horse for me.” Raymond ordered the butler.

“Not a carriage, my lord?” The butler asked.

“I need to move swiftly.” Raymond replied. “And it would be best to be silent as well while the emperor’s entourage are here.”

“I understand, my lord.” The butler replied. “I will prepare a horse for you to ride on at once.” He bowed and exited the office.

“You.” Raymond looked at the big sturdy man with raging eyes. “Pray that our goods have not been jeopardized because of this accident. They will be shipped to Xing ten days from now. They should be in good condition once they leave the facility tomorrow night.” The big sturdy man looked nervous after Raymond’s words.

“I-I am sure that the creatures are in all good condition, my lord.” The big sturdy man replied. “Except for ones that escaped that have minor injuries due to the shock they got from the magic stones.” He looked at Raymond with fearful eyes.

“I will assess the damage once I go there.” Raymond said with eyes burning in anger. “Go back at once. I will be arriving there as well shortly.”

“Yes, my lord.” The big sturdy man replied. “H-How about the families of the personnel? What will we tell them? They will surely ask what happened to their family members.” He asked nervously.

“Of course, tell them that their family member was caught in an unfortunate accident you dimwit.” Raymond yelled. “Give their families a big amount as compensation. They will surely shut their mouths and will not ask further if they are given a huge amount of money.”

“Y-Yes, my lord.” The big sturdy man replied. “I will carry out your order at once.” He bowed and left the office in haste.

Raymond closed the door that was left open by the bid sturdy man.

“His majesty’s sudden visit was really a bad timing.” Count Forger said. “The shipment should have left tonight. It is at least eight to nine days travel to the temporary port in South Atlantia.”

“Do not worry father, I will take care of it.” Raymond replied. “The goods will arrive at the port on time.”

“I know I can count on you, my son.” Count Forger said. “I am so proud of you.”

“Thank you, father.” Raymond replied. “I will not let you down.”

**

A forest was found at the outskirts of the city. This forest is found at the borders of Alvannia and Grandcrest.

Inside the forest, there was a facility hidden. Around the facility were high fences and the entrance was guarded heavily by armed men.

Raymond arrived at the entrance in horseback. He was approaching slowly, and the light of the torches has not yet illuminated him.

“HALT!” A guard shouted while in an alerted stance. “Who goes there?” He asked with authority.

“It is I.” Raymond said while nearing the gate. _{ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​}

“My lord.” The guards bowed in his presence. “The boss had told us of your arrival.”

“Then open the gates at once!” Raymond ordered.

The gates opened at once and Raymond entered the facility.

Inside, torches illuminated the road. There are buildings that were guarded by armed men like the ones at the entrance.

While Raymond was making his way towards one of the buildings, he saw six bloodied sheets lined up on the ground.

“These must be the workers that died in the accident.” Raymond looked down with not even a hint of sadness. “How unfortunate of them.” He remarked and went on.

Once Raymond arrived at the building, the guards bowed to him and helped him get off his horse.

“Greetings, my lord.” The guards greeted.

“Where is the manager?” Raymond replied.

“The boss is inside, my lord.” The guard relied.

“My lord!” The big sturdy man went out of the building in haste and bowed.

“Enough with the greetings.” Raymond said looking irritated. “Report to me of the situation.”

“Y-Yes, my lord.” The big sturdy man felt nervous. “The incident happened in building five. Would you like to see?” He asked.

“Yes. Lead the way.” Raymond replied.

“Then this way, my lord.” The big sturdy man gestured.

The manager and Raymond walked along the path that are lit by torches. It was quite along the path until they came across one of the much larger buildings. The buildings looked more like a warehouse and there at the entrance was a door that is use by humans and another was a large sturdy metal gate.

Shrieks were heard inside of these buildings together with the voices of people shouting.

“What is happening? Why are the creatures behaving oddly?” Raymond asked.

“We do not know, my lord.” The big sturdy man replied. “It started at dusk. The creatures started to behave oddly and were pretty aggressive. The workers were also scared, my lord. Some would like to resign due to the over work here and the less pay they are receiving. They are still asking for an increase in their wages.”

“They are still blurting out that.” Raymond scoffed. “If they work with their mouths shut then maybe I can be kind and give them bonuses after this latest shipment has been made. If they do not keep their mouths shut, then tell them I will do it for them.” He said with a menacing tone.

“T-That is what I had said, my lord.” The big sturdy man replied. “Do not worry, my lord. I always keep the workers in check.”

“That is good to hear.” Raymond replied with a smirk. “Once this shipment has been made, I will make sure to give you a bonus.”

“Thank you, my lord.” The big sturdy man said with a happy smile.

The manager and Raymond got to the building where the incident took place. The huge door at the entrance of the warehouse had dents that were made from the inside. When they entered, a thick metal fence was placed from the doorway leading inside. Inside were weird winged creatures that are standing in two legs. They looked reptilian in nature.

“It is in our luck that these creatures had surfaced in our area of the forest. At first, they were a nuisance. They started to attack our farm animals and wreck our crops in their wake. I was about to seek help in the capital when a merchant from Xing came.”

Raymond was looking at the creatures inside the fence. They were fascinating in his eyes. But blood still smeared the floors inside the fence. Scratch marks and dents were since at the metal gates, seeing how these creatures tried to go out.

“The Xing merchant called them wyverns. They are creatures that are close to dragons they say.” Raymond said. “Dragons are creatures that are revered in their country, and they offered to buy these creatures in high prices. That is why we need these creatures in good shape before being shipped.” He looked at the big sturdy man with piercing eyes.

“Y-Yes… of course, my lord.” The big sturdy man replied. “A-As you can see, the wyverns are all riled up. This has been going on since dusk.”

The wyverns inside the fence were looking agitated and wild. They were shrieking wildly.

“These wyverns are only younglings and you cannot control them?” Raymond said. “If you saw the adult ones, I am sure you will wet your pants. Fortunately, the Xing merchant take them off our hands before they get even bigger. It was them that thought us that this creatures’ weakness which is lightning. We are fortunate that lightning magic stones are being sold in the market after the recent war. Atlantian magic comes in handy.”

“What are we going to do, my lord?” The big sturdy man asked. “How can we ship them out tomorrow night if they are still like this?”

“Let us see if they calm down until tomorrow.” Raymond replied. “If not, then we drug them to sleep. But a huge amount of paralytic medicine that we will need in the voyage.”

“I understand, my lord.” The big sturdy man replied.

“This shipment cannot be delayed any longer.” Raymond said.