CHAPTER 56: THE DESIRED JOY

Norton and Liam stepped out of the tent, Norton smiling while Liam froze in shock and confusion. Norton had never shared this plan beforehand because he did not want anyone else to know until it succeeded.

Elite Ashfield troops came in from all directions, surrounding the negotiation site until the rebel leader was left with no options.

He glanced around, the Moko soldiers pointing their swords forward, and saw no gap to escape.

"Those uniforms and weapons... I remember them," said the rebel leader.

"You fought against the Moko Kingdom, didn’t you?"

Liam gasped, then focused straight ahead at Gideon and Lena. He could clearly see their clothes and weapons. Something came back to him.

"Is he—"

"Correct. He’s the one who killed Commander Argus," Norton cut in, turning his head.

"Ohh, he’s part of that ghost team."

Norton’s companion could hardly believe it. The ghost team was the very same unit that crushed Moko’s large army in the south.

Now Norton was clearly working with him for this mission. Liam was drowning in confusion, desperate for Norton to explain.

"What about Princess Alanar?" Norton asked.

"She’s safe with Luke and Lyra," Gideon replied.

"Falcon Two. Situations?"

"Package secure in the village. All clear. Over," Luke answered.

Gideon nodded, then faced forward and explained that Princess Alanar was safe in Nemora Village. In a few days, she could return to the Capital. But Norton wanted her brought back to the kingdom immediately.

"We need to do something for Princess Alanar," Gideon said.

"What do you mean? You never explained this in the original plan."

"Princess Alanar is still young, but she has been kidnapped, locked up, and held hostage. Looking at her condition, she needs trauma healing," Lena answered.

"Trauma healing?" Liam asked, hearing the term for the first time.

"Healing her fears. Convincing her that her life isn’t over. Bringing her smile back," Lena explained.

"You don’t need to worry. Princess Alanar is as important as one of my team members. We’ll take good care of her," Gideon added.

Norton went silent for a moment, staring at Gideon, whose thoughts he couldn’t read for some reason. But he had already decided to trust him, especially since his team’s mission had been swift and tactical.

For Moko soldiers, such an idea might be impossible. For Gideon’s team, this could be an easy mission.

"Falcon One here. We’re moving," Gideon said.

"Copy, Captain."

He handed the rebel leader over to Norton and Liam. They were free to do whatever they wanted with the man, whether interrogating him or executing him on the spot.

Gideon’s mission was to rescue Princess Alanar, and that had been accomplished. It was time for Falcon One to leave the negotiation site and return to the village.

Norton agreed, watching Gideon and Lena walk away. His focus shifted back to the rebel leader. It was too early to execute him.

"Take him to the prison and keep a heavy guard. There are questions I need answered," Norton ordered, and his soldiers obeyed.

Liam patted Norton on the shoulder. Too much had happened that night, leaving him speechless. He asked Norton why he had sought help from a force stronger than anything people of this age could imagine.

"You must explain them to me, Earl Ashfield," Liam Duncan said firmly.

"Of course. How about I take you to Nemora Village for a glass of wine? You can see Gideon and his team directly," Norton offered.

Liam nodded. The two mounted their horses and left the site. Elsewhere, Gideon and Lena finally arrived at the village unharmed and without contact with anyone.

That night was quiet, only a few sounds coming from the village tavern. Luke and Lyra were already at the inn with Princess Alanar.

The two entered the inn and went upstairs. Gideon’s room door was open, voices drifting out, Luke and Lyra’s conversation.

When they arrived, Gideon saw Princess Alanar sitting at the edge of the bed with her head down, still wearing the sackcloth rags that were a disgrace for a royal princess of Moko. Lena hurried inside and knelt before the ten-year-old girl.

"We need proper clothes for her," Lena said.

"I’ll take care of that," Luke replied.

Gideon walked in as Luke stepped out. He removed his helmet and gear, setting them in the supply crate, left in his tactical shirt as usual.

With her motherly approach, Lena managed to calm Princess Alanar, who cried uncontrollably as the memory of the rebels’ cruelty haunted her. Lena realized the trauma she carried was serious.

"I need some time alone with her. Do you mind?" Lena asked.

"Not at all."

Lena nodded. She took Princess Alanar to her room, where she began listening to the girl’s story, though Alanar could not say much. She was still closed off.

Luke returned with borrowed clothes for a girl from one of the villagers. He stepped into Lena’s room and handed them over.

Now Alanar’s appearance had changed for the better. She had bathed, eaten, and felt far more comfortable in the inn than in the rebels’ shack.

"The mission is over. What do we do now?" Luke asked as he entered Gideon’s room.

"Store your gear and get some rest. Princess Alanar is safe with Lena."

"Yes, Captain."

***

A few days later.

Gideon helped villagers finish building a simple wooden house for his team. The house had been offered by the villagers as thanks, both for defeating the bandits some time ago and for improving the village far beyond what it once was.

Liam Duncan, Viscount of Mischo City, came and often stayed in Norton’s tent. His suspicion faded, as did Norton’s.

Princess Alanar was still in the village, her condition much improved, even joining other children at play under Lena’s supervision.

The situation was peaceful. The rebel leader had spilled everything after brutal interrogations. Norton’s elite troops were preparing to storm the rebels’ main base in the south.

Liam spotted Gideon working with the villagers, Luke helping as well. Liam approached, still dressed in his purple noble’s shirt.

"Captain Gideon?" Liam asked, drawing his attention.

Gideon stepped closer, wiping sweat from his neck towel.

"What is it, Viscount Duncan?" he asked.

"There are things I don’t understand about you and your team. Why would you help Princess Alanar? You’re an enemy of Moko."

"You could’ve used her as a hostage to force Moko’s surrender," Liam continued.

"About that... I couldn’t do it. Princess Alanar is still a child and has suffered greatly at the rebels’ hands," Gideon replied.

"I rescued her purely out of principle. Humanity."

"Humanity?" Liam asked.

"Helping the weak and those in need. I didn’t save her as Moko’s princess. I saved her as a child. That’s humanity."

"And because of that, my team and I had the duty to save her," Gideon explained.

"You’re Moko’s enemy. You should act according to your positions," Liam argued.

"True, but I am human. Humans should help one another. Besides, Princess Alanar has done nothing against us."

"Come on. She’s just a ten-year-old girl. Why make her life harder?" Gideon asked.

He turned his head, watching Alanar laugh and smile freely as she played with children her age, building sand piles, playing tag, and other simple games she might never have known in the palace or in the rebels’ captivity.

"Look at her," Gideon said.

Liam turned and saw Alanar’s wide smile, bright and carefree, like any ordinary child in her plain clothes.

"Could you really keep torturing such a joyful girl?" Gideon asked.

"I don’t understand," Liam admitted.

"You don’t know us. Your thoughts and heart are still chained by the kingdom’s social doctrines. If you can’t see with your heart, you’ll never see the real truth."