Here you go, an update on Preston's perspective at the kingdom

Next shall be about how Mitch is doing over at the alliance area and stuff :3

This one shows how King Ross really is quite a character. . .

Anyway, surely do not forget to vote, and the goal will be 12+ votes ^-^

I hope you enjoy this chapter and I will see you all in the next update!

❤Much Love!❤

____________________________________

Back at the kingdom, Preston was laying on his back on a bed in Ingrid's hut, with Blaise looking closely at his injuries. Preston was confused, Mitch, his best friend, betrayed him two days ago. He didn't know why, but he just did, and defended a useless bacca over him. Preston winced and moved around when Blaise started using a needle to close his wound.

"Sit still Preston." Blaise muttered, gritting his teeth in frustration. Preston stopped moving, but he bit his lip in pain.

"How can I sit still if you are sewing my skin! Clearly, that doesn't sound very comfortable, now does it?" Preston retorted, trying his best not to arch his back.

"Of course not, but if you want to die of blood loss, then be my guest," Blaise said, continuing to sew, "Now sit still or I'll make the wound open on purpose so that you die of infection."

Preston kept still, and gritted his teeth in anger and pain. How was he going to explain Mitch's disappearance to King Ross himself? He wasn't just going to walk up to him like,

'Excuse me, sir, but your son has run away after he idiotically confronted me while I was killing off a species you thought was dead, and your son ran away with that awful creature just to top it all off.'

Suddenly, the wooden door opened which made Preston and Blaise look over. Adam and Ingrid had walked in, Adam's face full of concern, while Ingrid pointed at where they were. Preston never liked Ingrid, he thought of her as a mysterious, mystic, subhuman female with the powers of an evil being. But, nonetheless, without her, Preston would be screwed as a dying chicken calling out for mercy. Adam walked over to Preston and asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, I'm just fine! I was just about to stand up and drink some sweet wine in pure joy!" Preston answered sarcastically.

"You do not have to be sarcastic about it, I was just asking a simple question." Adam muttered, grabbing a stool and sitting close to the bed.

"Well then, to answer your question, no, I'm not fine." Preston said, "And to be honest, I'm worse than not being fine, I'm completely confused!"

"I know, I'm confused as well." Adam said, looking down at his hands which were pressed together in thought, "I never imagined Mitch doing what he did."

"I had it coming." Ingrid blurted out, looking at her ingredients.

Preston glared over at her, "Oh really? What makes you say that, old hag?"

Blaise gulped, "Preston, I don't suggest you-"

"No, it's fine Blaise. This boy thinks he's all smart and strong. Well let me tell you what, Preston, your little 'friend' Mitchell is somewhere I don't even know, and he ran away from something he didn't mean to cause, but guess who decided to stay back and help you?" She said, looking over at Adam, who looked back at her in a perplexed way.

"I couldn't just leave Preston laying on the ground, I had to help him!" Adam protested.

"Preston would have been helped anyway, you know," Blaise admitted, looking down at his sewing work on Preston's hip and cutting off the string with his teeth, "Your choice seemed pretty useless."

"How would I know? I was under pressure." Adam said, looking at Blaise and Ingrid.

"Pressure, that's a very bad excuse, you know," Ingrid said, "I've heard it before, but there is no way pressure had overwhelmed you, if the simple answer was to follow Mitchell and bring him back."

"Just, shut up, ok?" Adam said, looking at Ingrid. Suddenly, the door opened once again, bringing in a soft, cold breeze. But this time, there was a knight at the door, it was Rob.

"Rob?" Preston asked, looking confused.

"Preston, I have a message, it's from King Ross, he wants to see all of us, now." Rob said, his face full of worry.

"What? Why?" Adam asked, puzzled.

"What else do you think? It's because of Mitch, what else would the topic be about?" Matt said, coming from behind Rob, his face just as nervous.

"Can you tell him to wait? I do not want to send Preston over there like this." Blaise commented, looking down at Preston.

"The king is loosing his patience, he has no time to wait." Rob said, unintentionally, and Preston could tell.

"I'm fine, thank you, Blaise." Preston said, looking at Blaise, nodding and sitting up. It sent pain to Preston's hip, but he didn't react. He got up from the bed, and looked at Matt and Rob, "Alright, lead the way."

Matt and Rob looked at each other, but they left the hut. Preston struggled to walk, but with the help of Adam, he proceeded. Preston could tell that Ingrid and Blaise were following them, their footsteps being heard on the soft gravel.

"Does it have to be this cold?" Blaise asked, hugging himself, his breathe showing in the air. It made Preston realize that it was the end of Autumn.

"It means it's going to snow soon." Matt answered, walking continuously.

Preston frowned. It reminded him of when the truce broke, and it was the day Mitch was never the same energetic boy he used to be. He was much more confusing, an unreadable boy, at least, that's what everyone called him.

"We're here, come." Rob said, leading the way up the stone stairs and opening the large wooden door. Just by looking at the castle, Preston had a bad feeling at the pit of his stomach. They all entered, but, the castle wasn't as 'joyous' as it probably would be. Everything around him was gloomy and dark, the candles seemed to flicker softly, as if there were a death. Preston walked down the large hall, the red carpet floor making his footsteps seem softer beneath his boots. Preston looked around, and up at the throne, waiting to see if King Ross was sitting there. But no, he wasn't, Preston's eyes widened, it wasnt him who was sitting there. Instead, sitting there, was Millie, she looked awful, bags under her eyes, tangled hair, and her expression serious, an expression that Preston thought he'd never see.

"Millie? What are you doing on King Ross' throne?" Blaise asked, his face as confused as everyone else's, except Ingrid, who glared at Millie.

"What else would I be doing? I'm actually helping King Ross, don't you understand what pain we are in?! He lost his son, who is probably running around aimlessly, lost and scared." Millie snapped, her eyes glaring down at Blaise. Preston glared at her.

Oh he knew Millie alright, and he used to be with her, before she took a sudden interest for Mitch, and she persuaded King Ross for her to leave Preston. After that, Preston was alone, left confused and full of sadness, not craving for anything having to do with love. Seeing Mitch and Millie together made him silently pray that Mitch would give her a taste of her own medicine.

"Camila Baravough, the daughter of a high-ranked knight, interesting," Ingrid said, her eyes glinting, "If you cared highly for King Ross, you wouldn't be here in the first place, you'd just leave the poor, demented man be."

Millie growled, "How dare you disrespect King Ross? He was the one who asked me to complete his daily duties for him."

"Why do you think he has Lady Sarah accompanying him?" Rob asked.

"She's depressed as well, you know, it isn't every day that you lose your son." Millie answered.

"It's not like Mitchell died or anything, you're all overreacting." Preston exclaimed.

Millie's eyes glinted in amusement, "What would you know about overreacting, Preston? Everything, I suppose."

Preston opened his mouth to retort, but he quickly shut it, glaring at Millie instead.

"Where is King Ross? He sent Rob and I to retrieve Preston." Matt said, trying to change the subject.

"I'll go and get him right away, Ser Matthew." A maid said, bowing down a little and walking up the stairs of the castle.

"See? That is taken care of now." Millie said, crossing her legs, resting her arms on her light pink dress, which flowed down to the ground.

"Millie, Millie, Millie, if only you weren't so, enclosed, we all might understand why you'd be interested in caring about the King so much." Blaise said, looking at Millie intently.

Millie glared at him, "It's not like I'm doing anything wrong, I'm trying to help, and you are all looking at me like a threat," the glare suddenly turned into a smile, "And it's not like I'm not using my wits, you know. I'm being smart about all of this. I'm slowly taking orders, helping out, it's like I was born for this, yet, I was not. And I know much about it already."

"Oh, I know a lot, mostly everything as well, pretty much. You see, we're two different people, for example, I have an interest for learning, you don't, I actually use my brain, you don't, I actually care about things, you don't. See? I'm smart as well, and I didn't even have to try." Blaise retorted, smirking.

Preston let out a muffled chuckle, almost everyone else there did as well, but Millie was not amused, "Really? Are you here to mock me? Or are you here to see King Ross?"

Blaise looked around in a sarcastic thought, "Hmm, now that you bring it up, both."

Millie looked like she was going to snap back, but King Ross, whom was walking down the stairs with the maid, said, "What's going on?"

Millie looked up at him, "Rob is here with Preston, Adam, Ingrid, and Blaise."

Preston frowned at seeing King Ross coming down. His eyes were weary and tired, his hair tangled, and his beard was as well. He looked bad, and it's only been two days. It sure comes to show that King Ross and Millie cared about Mitch a whole lot.

"Preston, Adam, Blaise, and Ingrid. It's been a while since we've seen one another, hasn't it?" King Ross said, finally making his way at the end of the stairwell and walking towards them.

"Yes, of course it has, why do you think I have avoided you for a long time?" Ingrid said, her eyes looking right at King Ross', who looked back.

"I see you haven't changed yourself, Ingrid." King Ross said stiffly, his voice making Preston nervous.

"Same with you, Rossell." Ingrid said, crossing her arms.

"So, why did you bring us here, my king." Matt said, trying to break the tension.

King Ross' glare suddenly turned into a smile, "Ah yes, Preston, Adam, may I speak to you in private?"

Preston and Adam looked at each other, and they both nodded.

"Very well, follow me. Millie, order the servants to prepare the dinner." King Ross ordered, and Millie nodded. Preston bit back a retort, and followed King Ross upstairs.

"My king, um, I don't mean to question your choice but, are you sure you trust Millie?" Adam asked. Preston was surprised, he hasn't talked in a short while ever since they left the hut.

"Millie? Of course I do. She is like a granddaughter to me. Very responsible, caring, and loving." King Ross responded, not looking at Adam, his large red cloak dragging along the floor. Preston nearly gagged. Millie? Caring? He'd never see her like that, not even if she pretended to do so for a week.

"Very well. . ." Adam said, looking down at the floor. King Ross then turned to face a large bedroom door, and entered, revealing a large, well kept bedroom, with a king-sized bed with large curtains and a wooden rooftop to it, the room decorated with cabinets and a large desk behind a large window. The window was open, which showed the grey clouds covering the skies, and the rest of the village and all of the closest houses.

"Preston and Adam, I know you two very well, you are the closest friends that Mitchell has." King Ross began, walking around the room.

"Including Matt and Rob, they are as well, my King." Adam added, and Preston agreed.

"Well, yes, they are as well. But, you two are the high-ranked squires in your process of training," King Ross explained, "And, well, I have a quest for you."

Preston stopped breathing, a quest? For them? He almost jumped with joy. He'd always dream of going on quests. But then he remembered that there were other older knights that knew about these things, like Ser Alvinsion.

"My king, we are honored, but, what about the other bright soldiers? What about Ser Alvinson?" Preston asked.

King Ross' eyes suddenly grimaced, his eyes glinting darkly, "Don't work about it, especially Ser Alvinson, he was taken care of."

Adam and Preston looked at each other. This did not sound right.

"What about Ser Alvinson? Did something happen?" Adam urged, looking at King Ross nervously.

"Let's just say, he was, punished." King Ross explained.

Preston raised an eyebrow, "What? Why was he punished?"

"Let's just say, he was involved with the disappearance of my son. Maybe if he didn't let him go patrolling it never would have happened." King Ross answered, his voice dangerously low.

Adam gulped, "My king, if you don't mind me asking, will we ever see Ser Alvinson again?"

King Ross turned to face the window, "Perhaps, but I think not, unless you know how to raise the dead."

Adam gasped, but Preston stayed quiet, furrowing his eyebrows in confusing and anger.

"Why would you do such a thing? What are you? Mad?!" Adam asked, his voice cracking in sorrow.

"I may be. If so, it would be for my son, Mitchell. I'll kill anything, or anyone, in my path that tries to stop me, since I do have the power to do so." He answered in a simple manner. Adam opened his mouth to say something else, but Preston put his hand over Adam's mouth, which made Adam let out an annoyed muffle.

"If you don't shut up, you'll kill us both." Preston whispered harshly to Adam, whom got his hand off of Adam's mouth. Adam looked at Preston in sadness and worry, which nearly made Preston take out his sword and lunge straight at King Ross' back, but not here, not now.

"My king, what was the uh, the quest?" Adam asked quietly, forcing himself to say the words 'my king'.

"Ah yes," He began, looking at Preston and Adam, smiling, "You two will search for Mitchell, I will send Blaise with you, since he is quite smart, and you will go off and find him."

Adam and Preston looked at each other, but Preston did not refuse the quest, and he nodded.

"Yes, of course." King Ross responded quietly, and he suddenly asked, "So, would you two like to join us for dinner?"

"Um, no thank you, my king, we would like to go back downstairs." Adam said.

"Very well, I will lead you to it." He said, walking towards the door and leaving the room, with Preston and Adam following him. Preston was in thought, the king never showed any response of being mental before, was it just because Mitchell was gone? Preston shook his head and followed King Ross downstairs, where Ingrid, Blaise, Matt and Rob were waiting. Once they saw them, they all smiled.

"You may all leave, unless you would like to join dinner?" King Ross proposed.

"I have work to do, Rossell, I would not have time for it." Ingrid refused, crossing her arms.

"Ingrid, don't be so rude." Blaise muttered, glaring at Ingrid.

"It's fine, Blaise." King Ross said, smiling at Blaise but glaring at Ingrid.

"I would like to join, my king." Matt said, looking at King Ross.

"I would like to as well." Rob said, but Preston could hear a bit of uncertainty in his voice, along with Matt's.

"Thank you, boys." King Ross said, smiling, "Oh, and Preston, Adam, don't forget what I told you about the quest, don't take to long.

"Yes, my king, we will start very soon." Adam answered, nodding at the king.

"Oh I know you will." King Ross said quietly, which made Blaise look at Preston and Adam in confusion. King Ross' words echoed in Preston's head, which made him mutter,

"Oh you definitely know we will."