Chapter Nineteen - Confront Me

                                    

                                          
The next morning when Emaia woke up, she had prepared a speech in her mind. She was all set to talk to Aide – only he was nowhere around.
                          
"Haven't seen him since this morning," Dashel told. "He left at the crack of dawn and said something about checking out the road ahead, and that he'd join up with us later."
                          
So Emaia would have to wait until they arrived in Daleon. They couldn't really have this talk on the road. They would reach the city today, with a bit of luck, and maybe then she'd get a moment to talk to Aide. 
                          
But as the group started heading towards the City of Daleon, Aide didn't show up. Emaia was really starting to grow worried. Had she really scared him off?
                          
By nightfall, they reached the city gates of Daleon. They checked in to separate Inn's, like at The Western Coast, and were all prepared to give their speech in the morning. But Emaia couldn't fall asleep. 
                          
Where was he? What was he doing? Was he mad at her? Obviously he was. But she just had to talk to him. She needed to confront him. 
                          
Her head was all flustered as she finally managed to fall asleep that night, after many tosses and turns. She hoped it wouldn't affect her public speaking skills in the morning.

                          
-*-

                          
"...and that is why we must stand up against Ragnar, and fight for our freedom!"
                          
The people of Daleon cheered loudly, clapping and shouting their support. The City of Daleon was known for its exotic fibers and fine clothes. You didn't find finer threads in all the kingdom – that was, until the man that Emaia was meant to marry had raised a war against them, after they denied him supplies. In other words; her ex-fiancé started a war against these people, because they had refused to provide him with fine clothes. 
                          
When the people of Daleon had asked the King for assistance, he had turned them down and stood eerily by, as they got slaughtered and conquered by another town. Ergo, the people of Daleon hated the King. 
                          
Emaia smiled to the crowd, who looked up at her with hope in their eyes. The rebellion was there too, getting motivated by her words. But was one face missing.
                          
Emaia stepped down from the platform of the town's art figurine – a statue of the old King, wearing a magnificent cape made by the people – and walked up Hanke and Dashel. 
                          
"You were brilliant!" Dashel cheered as the crowd kept adoring her. "Who knew that all we needed was a woman's stern voice to reach out to the crowd?"
                          
"We tend to carry more emotion and feelings in our voice," Emaia chuckled a little, then worriedly frowned. "Have any of you seen Aide yet?"
                          
"He was at the Inn this morning," Hanke grunted. "The lad was all dressed up in his costume, saying something about important things he had to do."
                          
He always said that, Emaia thought. The truth was, he was avoiding her and now it was beginning to annoy her. Aide, the brave savior of the night, had no guts to come look her in the eye. She wasn't taking it anymore. 
                          
"When do we leave for the City of Quail?" 
                          
Dashel frowned a little. "Not before tomorrow. Why?"
                          
"What time?"
                          
"Uhh, an hour past sunrise. Why is it so important?"
                          
Emaia had a plan. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."

                          
-*- 

                          
Damn, She thought, as Hanke and the rest of the men came down from their rooms. He wasn't there.