Chapter 61

“Violence will be avoided if possible, our main priority is to get in, get the children and get them out. The mages along with Princess Seraphina will be entrusted with bringing the children back to the manor. Magnus?” Aurelia addressed the solider.

“Yes Princess,” the aforementioned stepped forward with a salute.

“You will stay here with your men to await their return in case anyone tries to follow. The children will stay the night here with their families, they will be seen to by the palace doctors, Helga and Bethel to see if they require any treatment. You are to guard them at all times. I want 2 soldiers stationed inside each of their rooms and an additional 2 guarding the doors.”

“Won’t you be returning to the manor?” Magnus kept his eyes forward as he addressed her.

Aurelia shook her head in response.

“We do not know what will await us. In any case, my team and I will stay to interrogate everyone who played a part in kidnapping the children.”

Magnus nodded his head in understanding before turning to send out commands to his soldiers.

Leonardo cooed as Seraphina rocked him in her arms humming a light tune. Pulling him into her chest, she buried her face into his thick mass of blonde curls and inhaled his scent. Wrapping her hair around his hands, he pulled her in closer, giggling as she tried to detangle her hair out of his little fists.

“Someone doesn’t want his mama to go,” Achilles smiled as he leant against the doorway watching the two interact.

Hearing Achilles’ voice, Leonardo’s face lit up as he turned his head to face him. Achilles held his arms out, taking the baby from Seraphina and nuzzled him.

“Mama doesn’t want to go but, this is something we have to do.”

Looking over Leonardo’s head, Achilles gave Seraphina a solemn look.

“You don’t have to Seraphina, Aurelia and I can handle it, you can stay here with Leo.”

Shaking her head, she took a deep breath and tried to push down the pit that was forming in her stomach.

“Taking the children back on me will be the fastest and safest way out of there, we can’t risk Briseis getting a hold of them again.”

Achilles gave her a solitary nod.

“I know… I also know it worries you to leave Leo here alone.”

“He won’t be alone, Nona and Pop-pop are here and there are 20 or so other mages and half the army staying behind,” Ethena swept into the room followed by Narcissus.

Seraphina turned her attention to Ethena and Narcissus, giving them both a brief kiss on the cheek before turning back to Leonardo. A smile adorned Achilles face as Seraphina peppered Leonardo with kisses.

“Okay, okay, you’re going to smother him,” Achilles chuckled as he pulled Leonardo back into his chest placing a kiss to the top of his head before passing him over to Ethena.

“Here, it’s Nona and Pop-pop’s turn to coddle you.”

Ethena’s face lit up as she tried to cuddle the baby into her chest, though he squirmed in her arms as he turned his body to face Narcissus.

“Aurelia is ready and waiting with the men now,” Narcissus looked over to where Achilles and Seraphina stood watching.

Seraphina gave a single teary nod before taking a deep breath.

“Okay,” She moved forward to give Leonardo a final kiss.

“Mama will be back before you know it, my sweet boy, I love you.”

Casting a brief, faint smile to Ethena and Narcissus, she turned and left the room, Achilles following on her heels.

As they reached the doors leading to the garden, Achilles came to a sudden stop and grabbed hold of Seraphina’s hand, pulling her into an embrace. He placed a soft kiss to the top of her head before resting his chin on her.

For a moment they stayed embracing, their chests rising and falling with synchronised breathing.

“All will be fine my sweet flower, we’ll get the children and be back here before you know it.”

Seraphina let out a long, frustrated sigh.

“What if Briseis is waiting for us? What if she comes back here and tries to take Leonardo?”

A low growl escaped Achilles’ lips and his arms tightened around Seraphina’s waist.

“If she is waiting for us then, I will take immense pleasure in tearing her to pieces and if she were to come back here, like mother said, there are 20 mages and half an army, she won’t get close enough to look at Leo, never mind lay a finger on him.”

Seraphina nodded her head.

“I know, I just don’t know what I would do if anything were to happen to him.”

Achilles’ hands moved up to Seraphina’s shoulders as he pushed her back to look her in the eyes.

“Nothing will happen to him, I swear it.”

She bit her lip as she tried to hold back tears that were stinging her eyes.

Tugging on her hand, Achilles gave her a soft smile.

“Come on, lets go and bring those children home.”

As they descended the stairway to the inner garden, Seraphina couldn’t disguise the shock on her face, Ethena wasn’t joking when she said half of the royal army was present. There were at least 700 palace soldiers, suited and armed as well as the all of the mages, save for the young ones.

“Wow, Achilles… Is it really necessary to have this many soldiers?” Seraphina gasped.

Achilles nodded his head.

“We don’t know what Briseis is capable of, for all we know, she could have an army of her own waiting for us.”

Seraphina struggled to swallow over the lump that formed in her throat, her hand tightened on Achilles’.

They quickly found Aurelia in the crowds and took their place besides her. A young woman shuffled forward and took a deep bow before them, holding the hem of her stained, tattered dress out before rising back up.

Vacant, sunken eyes met Seraphina’s, dark circles surrounding them. Faint scratches marred her sallow skin.

“Your highnesses, my name is Theresa… I… I just wanted to thank you for all of your efforts in locating the children.”

“We serve the people of Matera, it is our honour and duty,” Achilles lowered his head slightly to the woman.

Tears sprang to her eyes as she blew out a long breath.

“Are one of the children yours?” Seraphina extended a hand out to gently brush the woman’s shoulder.

She gave a shaky nod of her head.

“My daughter, she is only 9 months old, I… I’ve been beside myself wondering where she is…how she is, when I will get her back, if…” she clamped a hand over her mouth as she choked on a sob.

Seraphina stepped forward, tears brimming her own eyes as she wrapped her arms around Theresa, letting the woman cry against her shoulder.

“Your daughter is fine, I can assure you of that and we will return her to you, if it is the last thing I do.”

The woman’s body shook as she tried to contain her sobs.

“It has just been so hard!” She went slack in Seraphina’s arms as her body continued to quiver.

“I can imagine… I lost my twins a couple of months ago but, at least I have the comfort of knowing they are safe in heaven with the gods… It must be nothing short of torture not knowing where your daughter is and not being able to look upon her.” Seraphina stroked the woman’s hair back.

A gentle hand touched Seraphina’s arm, she turned her head to see Bethel stood to the side.

Bethel placed a hand on the small of the woman’s back and gently peeling her away from Seraphina as she wrapped an arm around her waist supporting her.

“Isobella said they’re ready when you are,” Bethel gave her a warm, motherly smile.

Seraphina leaned forward to place a soft kiss on Bethel’s cheek and gave her a nod.

Turning to face Achilles and Aurelia, she straightened her shoulders back before marching towards Isobella and the other mages.