17 Call to Rise (1/2)

The combined Arnican and Lysean parties were now traveling at a much faster speed. Once again, Prince Leal rode his horse right by the carriage window. After their recent interactions, Hilde became more aware of this – and of the fact that he was doing it on purpose.

Earlier, when they rose from their seats after a rushed but filling meal, she stepped subtly around the table to reach the Viscount's side. It was an instinctual reaction after noticing that Leal had made a move towards her. It seemed his intent had been to bring Hilde out of the inn the same way she'd entered it: in his arms.

She couldn't really blame him for thinking she still needed helping. No logic in this world could explain how she'd gotten enough of her strength back that she could at least walk by herself, but she must still keep up appearances.

”Will you please lend me your arm, Lord Viscount?”

”Of course, of course,” the elderly lord answered.

While Hilde refused to look in Leal's direction, the Viscount had no such reservations. He slid his gaze towards the young man who had just been graciously snubbed, yet instead of looking offended, Prince Leal was smirking. The slightly narrowed eyes he trained at the Arnican princess were flashing with mirth, as if what he was looking at was the most entertaining thing he'd ever beheld.

It was at this moment that the possibility first occurred to the Viscount.

Could it be? Was THAT what he came here for?

But with the way Leal's being something of an ass about it, the Viscount rather thought his young prince had no plans to succeed at this mission.

He was beginning to feel that that would be a shame. He liked this unconventional princess.

With Hilde at his side, resting her right hand lightly around his left arm, the Viscount headed out of the inn and back into the market square.

A little over fifteen minutes have elapsed since the tense events that followed their arrival. In that time, it seemed none of the villagers had moved from their position. Eyes and faces dry, they turned at Hilde's emergence from the inn's doorway.

She and the foreign lord paused on top of the humble platform that was the inn's entrance steps. Seeing the villagers again, Hilde's hold on the Viscount's arm tightened for a brief moment. But in the next instant, she took her hand back and moved forward until she was near the edge. Though shocked, the Viscount did not show any outward reaction nor followed her.

Into the expectant silence, Hilde spoke.

”Prince Dieter…” she began but found herself unable to continue for the sudden lump in her throat. To calm her trembling heart, she took a deep breath and tried again. ”My brother left behind a gap no one can fill.” Her eyes roamed the unresponsive crowd one pair of eyes at a time. ”He was our fiercest defender, he would have gladly died for us a thousand times over. If it was to protect Arnica from anyone who seeks to destroy her – destroy what she stands for – he would not have hesitated a moment.”

Hilde blinked and broke eye contact with the crowd. Looking at the ground, she continued, ”We could not have afforded even one of those deaths… but it happened. The northerners took my brother's life because they thought – they THOUGHT—” the repeated word was suddenly whip-like, echoing within the listeners' ears ”—his absence would make us defenseless.”

Eyes sharper, Hilde raised her head to meet the villagers' gazes once again. Like hers, there was now a fire behind them all.

”Arnicans!” she called, her hands forming fists on her sides. ”We are NOT defenseless! Our strength does not lie on a single person's hand, it lies on all our hands clasped -- together!” Hilde took more steps forward, as far as the platform would allow so she could be closer to the people facing her. With all her conviction, she told them, ”Hold fast, Arnicans! Hold fast! In the name of Prince Dieter and the brave men who died with him, DO NOT LET GO!”

As if they'd just been uncorked, a powerful response erupted from the crowd. Two hundred villagers screamed their throats raw in wordless answer, yet they did not fail to hear it when Princess Hilde declared: ”Arnica – we fight!”

Men and women, girls and boys, every resident who were present in this village just outside of Oste roared over and over: ”FIIIGHT!”

About to be overcome again but holding back her tears, Hilde descended the handful of steps by herself. The roaring villagers met her approach and parted to let her through, only to close in again behind her. Surrounded by people as she steadily made her way forward, her destination was the black-and-silver carriage that would take her back to the capital.

But on the way, though her urgency to reach Oste had been renewed, the young princess pressed the hands of those she could reach, giving strength and comfort where she could.

Unobtrusively, the Lysean men took this opportunity to skirt the center-facing throng and reach that same carriage and horses waiting on the other side.

Speaking under his breath in Lysean, Leal commented, ”Remarkable what a full stomach can help a person accomplish.”

Overhearing this, the elderly lord beside him could not help himself. He said, ”I do hope your words were not meant as an insult… my lad.”