Chapter 65

Her grandmother had said she needed two days to prepare for the trip to Mordis but after seeing how much she was arranging on the first day alone Gauri had to intervene. As they sat at the royal dining table filled with many delicacies Gauri tried to find the right moment to speak. However, her grandmother was very determined to fill her in what she had prepared so far.

"Grandmother...."

Kalyani took a big gulp of her hot tea after she excitingly recited what was in the 10 treasure chests she had assembled for the trip. It took her an entire day to chose the best diamonds and crystals from Fray and once she was done the sun had long set.

"All I need to do is prepare our troops tomorrow and we are set Gauri dear."

"About the troops grandmother....I would like for you to reconsider bringing along so many."

Kalyani set her cup of tea down as she stared into her granddaughter's eyes. She was still amaze just how even tempered and intelligent Gauri was. Her poise expressed both dignity and grace as she sat across from her casually sipping on a glass of red wine. Even now her composure was intact with not a single trace of being disturbed.

"Why do you think I need to reconsider dear?"

Her lips curved up into a gentle smile seeing how dejected her grandmother looked.

"Why do we need hundreds of troops to follow? We are not declaring war....are we?" Gauri sarcastically asked.

Kalyani could see Gauri's point. Traveling with so many armed troops would definitely send off unwanted alarms.

"Then how many would be appropriate?"

Gauri knew that Fray has not once meddled in the games of war so seeing her grandmother at a loss was not surprising.

"Arjun has told me about the men under him. I propose to have them escort us."

"The High Guards? But that consists of only 7 men. I have 10 heavy chest to bring al-"

The moment Kalyani saw her granddaughter's eyes smile at her forming a beautiful crescent shape she knew the meaning immediately.

"You don't want me to bring that many chests do you dear?"

"Mordis is not lacking in such treasures grandmother. Besides, two chests is more then enough."

"But...you are the Crown Princess of Fray...if we travel too lightly then no one would realize who-"

Once again Kalyani was stricken by Gauri's eyes smiling at her while her face was now resting on her palm.

"You don't want anyone to know we are from Fray?" Kalyani asked in frustration.

Gauri took another sip of her sweet red wine before walking over to sit next to her elderly grandmother.

"There will be many people heading to Mordis during this time. I wish to travel with ease instead of constant worry."

"Are you afraid of your Father? Do not worry dear. If he dares to even lay a hand on you I will not show mercy!"

Gauri let out a soft chuckle as she took hold of her grandmother's hand to calm her down.

"I believe that you will. However, Sahil is still the Crown Prince of Ashen. Besides, wouldn't it be more entertaining to surprise them all?"

Kalyani clicked her tongue in annoyance. "I don't find it entertaining at all. I rather have everyone see you as the Crown Princess of Fray."

"They shall grandmother but during our travels anything could happen. I do not want the Queen of Fray to be in any danger because of me. So please...do heed my request."

"Even if I did...do you think people will not notice you? The King of Mordis is trying to find you. He even disperse many of his men to infiltrate Ashen again and just yesterday Arjun has reported that one of his men was lurking near our border. If it wasn't for my decree to not let anymore ships into our waters he would have found you by now and taken you away."

Gauri couldn't help but laugh seeing her grandmother throw a tantrum. "Well...he is relentless but even if he did find me...I promise that I will not leave your side until the day of the wedding."

Kalyani eyes brighten and a big smile spread across her face. Indeed her granddaughter was just too smart. The reason she wanted at least 200 hundred troops to follow them was to prevent the King of Mordis from taking Gauri away too soon. But now that her granddaughter has given her word she had no more worries about the matter. Nevertheless, she was still confuse how they would be able to travel without being recognized.

"How do you intend to secretly travel to Mordis dear? With the High Guards beside us at all times is enough to draw many eyes."

Gauri raised up her brow in a playful manner as her lips hooked up into a mischievous grin. "Shall we pick out some veils tomorrow instead?"

"Veils?"

"Yes. Even if people stare I doubt they would be able to determine our identity so easily. Furthermore, I also want to see how long it would take him to personally come to me." Her eyes was brimming with haughtiness as she thought of Omkara.

Kalyani was still skeptical. "How will wearing a veil hide us? It would make us stand out instead."

"Our maids will also be wearing veils. People will assume we are from another land where it is our culture to wear veils. Especially with the news of Mordis signing a peace treaty with Ashen many people will want to see the excitement. So it will not be uncommon to see different people traveling towards Mordis. When I traveled with my master we stumbled upon many different tribes throughout the land."

Her granddaughter's words were very reasonably and so in the end Kalyani agreed to Gauri's suggestions.

**************************************

After picking out several different veils for the women traveling with them Gauri summoned Arjun who was always guarding her.

"Arjun."

Standing just outside his Crown Princess's chambers Arjun immediately opened the door to come inside.

"Yes Princess."

With seven silver mask on her small tea table Gauri commanded Arjun to stand up.

"At ease Arjun. Come over here."

As he came closer he could see the shiny silver masks lying on the table with only one slightly different from the others.

Gauri casually picked up the silver mask that had dragon scale carvings around the eyes and handed it to Arjun.

"This mask is yours and as for the rest you could just hand out to your men."

"Why is my mask the only one with the carvings Princess?"

"The orders of things should always remain regardless if we are in disguise. You are head of the High Guards of Fray so this mask shows your rank. In addition, I won't be confused who is guarding me and the Queen."

Arjun nodded and quickly grabbed the masks.

"Preparations are done Princess."

"Then we shall set forth."

With two palanquin, Gauri shared one with her grandmother while the another contained the two treasure chest and the four maids. With seven men carrying the palanquins to the nearest city Gauri was glad to see many different palanquins traveling in the same direction.

"You were right dear. So many people are already traveling towards Mordis." Kalyani exclaimed as she looked out her small window.

"Yes. Seems many people are using this opportunity to travel to Mordis. I hope these people realize that the winter in Mordis is very cold." Her eyes narrowed as she peers out of her window to see women and children wearing only a layer of clothing.

"I think we will be fine dear. It can't be any worse then Fray."

"Fray is indeed much colder grandmother. I am not concerned for us but rather outsiders that are not well prepared and those that do not know any better."

As they continued to enter the inner city of Cassi Gauri could already see the many Inns being bombarded with guests lining up at the host's desk. If it wasn't that they had to cross through this city to head towards Mordis Gauri would have rather taken the woodland route like she did before with Arjun. However, this time her grandmother wanted to see how lively the outside world was.

"Your Majesty. Princess. I have managed to get us four rooms."

Arjun was very reliable so it wasn't a surprise that they did not have to wait in line for service.

The maids quickly came down from their palanquin in order to hustle over to aid the Queen and Crown Princess of Fray. Once they stepped down from the palanquin Gauri could already feel the cold night breeze brushing across her face and blowing her white veil to and fro. Even Kalyani felt that the night wind was refreshing.

"So this is Cassi." Kalyani uttered as she stared at the many people inside the Inn. There were people sitting at the bottom level eating dinner while the upper level was where one would retire for the night.

"Your Majesty, I have arranged for our food to be brought to our rooms. Our rooms are on the highest level where it is more peaceful. I have arranged for a room for Your Majesty and a room for Princess Gauri and as for the remaining two, one is for the maids and one for the High Guards." Arjun reported.

Kalyani nodded her head in satisfaction as she grabbed on to Gauri's arm.

"Let's head up and freshen up before dinner dear." As they all headed up the stairs a scream from below halted their steps.

"Someone help my child! Please! Help my child!" The women was frantic as she held her son in her arms. The child was sweating profusely and was having difficulty breathing. Everyone in the dining area started to surround the small family as they pleaded for help and yet no one came forward.

Kalyani felt Gauri gently removed her arm away as she gazed towards the bottom level.

"Dear?"

"Grandmother...why don't you head up first and I will soon follow."

Kalyani refused and continued to follow Gauri down the steps. As people had already made a human barricade around the family Gauri had Arjun clear a path. Everyone's eyes stared at the young woman in white with a veil hiding her face slowly approaching the mother and son.

Gauri crouches down to see the boy more clearly "Let me see if I can help."

Her gentle voice could be heard as the crowd had already gone silent the moment they were nudged by seven men in silver masks to make a path.

The woman was still still crying hysterically as she held tightly to her son. Even the father of the child was in a state of shock.

Gauri gently laid her hand on the woman's arm that was snaked tightly over the boy. "If you want your son to live you must let him go."

"Are...are...are you a doctor?" The woman asked with much hope in her teary eyes.

Gauri only smiled under her mask but her eyes were able to reach the distraught mother who trembled as she set her son down on the cold floor.

The boy was only about five or six years old and shouldn't have been traveling in such weather for this long. It was obvious he had caught a cold and without treatment it has now worsen into bacterial pneumonia.

Gauri knew she had to help reduce the boy's high fever so she grabbed a pill that was tucked in her waistband and grinder it up.

"Arjun...get me some warm water."

As she mixed the medicine in the warm cup of water Gauri fed it to the child who at first coughed it up but gradually managed to drink it entirely.

"Such a good boy."

She could see the boy open his eyes to look at her with his red apple cheeks and labored breathing.

"This might not taste so good but you must be a brave boy and drink it okay?" With the pink liquid ampule in her hand Gauri broke it over the boy's mouth and when the mother saw her son's face expression grimace she nervously came closer.

"What is that?"

"This is an antibiotic for his infection. I will give you 6 more ampules. He has to take this for 6 more days in order to make sure the infection in his lungs has cleared. In this time you must not continue your travels. He needs rest."

"But...but we...we have family in the next city. We can't afford staying here....is there no other way?"

"There is."

Gauri looked up at Arjun and with just that a bag of coins landed in the mother's lap.

"This should be enough for your family to stay here for 6 days."

The father was finally out of shock and immediately knelt down as he repeatedly bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you! Thank you so much Miss! He is my only son! You have save my only son! How can I repay you? May I know your name?"

"That is not necessary."

Gauri stood up and as she turned around she could see her grandmother's eyes glowing with pride.

"Grandmother, you must be hungry. Let us head back to our rooms."

Kalyani gently grabbed on to Gauri's arm as the two headed the stairs not knowing that there was a pair of eyes looking at them.

"I must report this to the King at once!"

Ranveer had been lurking around Fray's borders in hopes of some news but when he was unable to obtain a ship he had no other choice but to return. However, with luck he had to stop and rest in Cassi.

Ranveer jumped onto his stallion and with much vigor he rushed through the night as quickly as possible.

"With this path it will only take me a full day to reach home!"

**HOpe you guys enjoyed this update. Do vote if you did.**

Target votes: 260