The Thousand Year Dynasty
26. Hiding Fugitives
"What exactly does Lucia do at times like this?" Amithy sounded furious after he heard the news about what was happening on the west coast. "Did he know the impact it would have on our relationship with the Urbar kingdom, if we were to protect their fugitives?"
"If according to what was written, I'm sure the princess will not think more than what was in front of her eyes, at that time" Nata said later while laying out a paper roll containing news from Lucia.
"Truly very troublesome. What else at a time like this. Good thing we just got a trade agreement approval from the central government" said Amithy as he took a breath.
"We've just officially opened this crossing. There's just trouble coming. Hopefully Urbar's side does not respond too much to this" added Amithy later while sipping a drink in his glass.
"We will see the development later" said Nata chimed.
"I think I also need to inform the Matues" Amithy said as she walked out of the room.
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Five days later Nata and Amithy were shocked by the 25 soldiers of the Urbar kingdom coming in front of the south gate. But since the crossing of the steam train opened, guard soldiers have been placed to guard in front of the gate. It was headed by Vossler.
"Since when was there a gate and guard in this place?" A knight with a dark iron plate and a short robe on his brown back descended from his horse. His face was covered in an iron helmet.
Shortly thereafter, Vossler came out from behind the gate. After one of the guard soldiers called out to him.
"Who are y'all? And what do you want?" Vossler asked after he was in front of the knight in brown robes. It seemed that the knight was the leader of the soldier.
"We security soldiers from Urbar want to meet the ruler of this region. We suspect there are fugitives who fled to this place" said the iron helmeted knight later.
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Meanwhile at the residence of Amithy in the southern highlands. A soldier came with a message from Vossler.
"I thought something like this would happen. How, Nat?" Amithy looked a little panicked after receiving the message.
"We must not do things that can make things worse" Nata said later.
"So how do we let them meet Lucia?"
"We just meet them first" Nata said later.
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Nata and Amithy headed to the guard post at the south gate. Because according to Nata it is better not to bring the soldiers inside. For the sake of safety and to avoid many questions as they looked at the steam-powered tools that were all over the southern region.
Immediately Amithy welcomed the leader of the soldiers. And it seemed that the knight was a Narva with a stout stature, as he took off his iron helmet.
"Welcome, knight sir. My name is Amithy and this is Nata. Sorry to keep you waiting" said Amithy greeting the knight who seemed to have waited long enough in the post.
"Good day, introduce me to Percival. The leader of the Urbar kingdom's security forces" replied the knight who immediately stood up from his seat and bowed politely to Amithy and Nata. "Are you the ruler of this region?" Add it later with questions.
"Not Mr. Percival, I am only in charge of the southern region of this land of Pharos. Is there anything we can help you with?" Amithy seemed to answer with as much gentleness as the knight.
"We're in pursuit of a fugitive. Our soldiers reported that a week ago the fugitives managed to escape after they were about to capture him on the west coast of this land" Percival said.
"Oh, is that it?" Amithy was stupid.
"We were going after him, until we found this land now inhabited. Therefore, we ask that the fugitive be handed over to us if indeed you have arrested him. Don't worry, the reward for the fugitive will still be given if you hand him over alive" Percival continued.
"Because of our position away from the central and western regions, so it might take some time to find out about it. So if you'd like, give us three days. We'll find out whether the central or western region has captured the fugitive or not" Amithy tried as much as possible to sound convincing.
"No, sir. We really don't hear the latest news from other regions" Nata said this time. Trying to support Amithy's earlier explanation.
Then Percival looked to nod his fist. "Well, if so. But by the way, since when did you guys occupy this land?" Add it again with a face that looks curious.
"Since approximately eight months, sir" Nata replied quickly.
"Oh, I deserve it. Last year I saw this place still empty" the knight said later. "You guys are really strange people wanting to occupy dead lands like this. All right then, we'll be back in three days" he said then, wearing his helmet again, then walking out.
Amithy soon sat down as Percival left the guard post. Legs limp. While Vossler who had been standing still in front of the door, now walked Percival out the south gate.
"How now?" Said Amithy later.
"I think we need to meet Lucia's daughter" Nata replied later.
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Later that day Nata and Amithy head to the central city to meet Lucia. They soon had meetings with Lucia, Orland, and Aksa.
"We can't just hand Miss Anna over. He's a good man, he's been slandered by a nobleman named Tyrion" said Lucia, apparently defending her decision.
"What did you say? Tyrion?!" I heard Amithy asking in disbelief, with what Lucia had just said.
"really. He's the one who framed Miss Anna into being a fugitive and has also killed her family" Lucia tells the story.
"He, that guy. We can't deal with that guy. He's a sneaky guy. He can do anything to get what he wants" Amithy said.
"Now that he already holds an important position in the Urbar kingdom, do you know Lucia? He could have deliberately done bad things to all of us" continued Amithy again.
"What else after hearing this from my aunt. Wouldn't it be more untrue to hand Anna over to such a man?" Lucia's reply left Amithy speechless. He could not dispute the words of his nephew.
"How do you think, Nat?" Amithy threw it at Nata.
"How do you think, Aks?" Nata continued his question to Aksa.
"You're asking me?" Aksa asked back.
"You were nearby when it all happened" Nata said again.
"When I told him like a child, that you and Lady Amithy were building relationships with the people of the south. But this princess's wits are shorter than a child's" Aksa's remarks no one disputes. Because there was no Jean at the meeting. It's just that Lucia's face looks red and looks unacceptable.
"We just have to tell him that the fugitive managed to escape through the north gate" Lucia replied later.
"You're looking for trouble, now?" Tanya Aksa interrupted.
"really. If all the lies are discovered, it can be a serious problem. Not only with Tyrion, but with the kingdom of Urbar" Nata said then while staring at Lucia who was still red-faced. Between shame and anger.
Amithy and Orland were speechless. They have no solution to Lucia's stubbornness.
"Don't tell me we didn't warn you" Aksa added.
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