Chapter 36 Part 1
The sun was blazing brightly above me, causing beads of sweat to dot my burning skin however the cool coastal breeze blew through my hair, offering much-needed relief. My head was filled with the many mixed thoughts and emotions of my soldier behind me. Granted, we would have arrived at the Palace much more quickly if we had all transformed into wolves. It was indeed a pain in the arse having human soldiers in the army, but many generations ago, my great grandad promised to uphold equal rights towards non-shape shifters, hence why they remained in the army today.
We had been travelling for just over two hours and as we carried on Westwards over the cliffs, the horizon began to shine a brilliant blue, signalling that the sea was fast approaching. The air had a definite salty tang to it and the cries of hungry sea birds rang out as they circled overhead. The long moorland grass whistled and waved under the breeze, causing ripples to swim along the cliff tops. As we made our way down an off beaten track down towards the beach, a large, magnificent Palace began to emerge before us in all its glory.
A large central tower surrounded by four small towers caught our eye as we made ourselves closer. The blue roof tiles glinted under the afternoon sun while the sandstone walls looked flawless, not a speck of dirt in sight. Long trails of wildflowers and roses hung effortlessly down over the surrounding walls while ivy climbed up over the towers, taking them for its own. The Palace itself stood upon a tall grassy mound overlooking quaint coastal cottages, small cosy taverns, a vibrant market square and a bustling harbour filled with small cargo vessels and small fishing boats.
Pressing on, I led the soldiers down the winding path down the cliff face and onto the beach. The beach was nearly empty except for a few children playing happily in the surf. They soon stopped and watched with renewed interest as we marched on by. As I glanced back, I spied a few of my men saluting to the children who immediately stood tall and proudly saluted back. A small grin broke out over my face as I thought fondly of my unborn child. If Elena was still alive, what would they grow up to be like? Would they look like their mother or would they take after me? Would they be brave and strong or clever and inquisitive?
A small crowd of curious townsfolk had now begun to gather along the walls surrounding the beach, eagerly watching us amid excited whispers as me and my horse led the armour clad men up the slipway and off the beach. Glancing around, my eyes took in the vaguely familiar surroundings. It had been years since I had last stepped foot in this neck of the woods and there were certainly some major changes that had happened around here. I turned to face the large, imposing Palace sat atop its mound and set my horse at a steady pace towards it. Behind me, was the sound of many pairs of feet marching in a steady rhythm to keep up, filling the streets with the sound of clanging metal.
With our steady pace, we soon made quick work of the winding streets and soon found ourselves outside the gates, which surprisingly was opened. The last time I was here, the gates always remained shut. Without saying a word I jumped down off my horse and tied him to the nearest tree before turning my attention to the soldiers. A soft gust of breeze suddenly made me freeze to the spot as the hairs on my neck stood up and the blood run cold in my veins. I could smell Elena’s scent! She had been here!
“Right, I want every inch of this place searched, from top to bottom,” I ordered sternly, feeling my heartbeat quicken. “It shouldn’t take us very long. This place will be empty. No one has been here for years!”
“How do you know, Your Royal Highness?” Reginald asked uncertainly. “This place doesn’t look abandoned?”
“Because I’ve been to this place before,” I replied softly, swallowing a lump in my throat. “The Palace of Pearls used to belong to my mother after my father presented it to her as a wedding present!”