32 Chapter 32 Guard Town (2/2)

”Sam and Todd. They seemed to be the two that were the best of all of them. I'm not sure who the adult guards will be.”

”That's good, Master Joseph. As a future king, you need to have some loyal guards.” She seemed happy, but at the same time, she looked a little unhappy with the news.

”Is something wrong? You seem a little unhappy.”

”I just have a lot to get done before we can leave in the next hour. I don't want to hold up your father's caravan because I'm not ready.”

”Do I need to find someone to help you?” he asked, looking around. There wasn't a slave that wasn't already working hard. Even some of the guards had stopped what they normally do, to help out.

”No, Master, I have it.”

”Alright.” He watched as she hurried off, a nagging feeling lay in the pit of his stomach. He was pretty sure there was more to her unhappiness, but his father called him away just then.

That night, as he settled down to sleep, he was very relieved. He managed to get eight hours of training in, after they departed, to finish missile emission.

x.x.xxX

Stella watched the new guards as they talked excitedly between themselves. The two boys had cornered her when they had first arrived, a few days ago, and she hadn't liked fighting them off at the time. They had noticed she was not dressed like one of the slaves under William, so they believed she was open to be bullied, or raped.

Even at the age of seven, they were willing to give it a try, and she had made it very clear to them, that she belonged to Joseph, William's son. When they didn't believe her, she had to escape. She would have beaten them down, but she didn't want William to get mad at her. She still wasn't sure why he didn't like her.

Stella knew that the only reason they had beaten her Joseph so bad, was because they were trying to get back at her. But she didn't want to cause more trouble, by telling Joseph. He was so excited at getting his own guards, because she knew, it made him feel as if he was one step closer to his goal of being a king.

The older guards, twin men named Logan and Dylan, shushed the boys and got them settled for the evening, in the carriage that followed behind Joseph's new one. She watched, perched on the roof of Joseph's carriage, through a window near the roof line of the guards' carriage, as they goofed off, and finally settled in to sleep. The two older guards finally left, to patrol along the sides of Joseph's carriage for a bit.

The drivers of both carriages were used to Stella jumping onto the horses by now, as were the horses. She had given the horses enough treats by this point, that they hardly flinched when she landed on their backs. Nodding to the driver, who nodded back, she handed him an apple, his favorite, and swung around the side of the carriage towards the door, noticing the wide grin on his face.

It was time these boys understood the importance of their new job.

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