Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 241: Calm before the storm (2)

"I want all the servants who were sent outside with tasks to be returned to the safety of the castle. We must also send out knights around the town to keep watch and protect the people. There is always a chance Nigel managed to slip a spy inside the town," said Ophelia.

Ophelia tried to stay on the list she created. She had sat and thought of every possible attack from Nigel and how she should counter it.

"You promised Lord Hastings that the moment you heard of Nigel coming to attack, you would send someone to alert him," Thomas reminded Ophelia.

"It is unlikely that they have reached the palace, but very likely Dante would turn around if he knew Nigel was on his way. I won’t withhold it for long," Ophelia said before Thomas could object. "I am going to alert him, but in due time, so he can finish his plans."

"We are doomed either way if Dante doesn’t help kill the crown prince. We only need to hold off Nigel long enough for Dante to finish his plans and be able to return to us. The border must stand tall," said Ophelia.

Ophelia thought they were lucky Dante had sent Rick to the border. He was there long enough to prepare for an attack, but the only concern was that Rick did not like Ophelia.

Would he listen to her orders and carry out her plans?

"Part of me wishes I could be at the border-"

"You cannot," Thomas said before Ophelia decided.

"I know that I cannot go there. I would be placing myself in danger and giving Nigel what he wanted. First, let us send out the knights to watch over the town and to bring in the families near the border," Ophelia said, staying focused.

"Thomas, I want to write an order that at the first sight of the Valthorns near the border, they are to attack. We mustn’t give him the chance to strike anyone. It would have been wise to set traps for his army," Ophelia said, having a new idea.

"Since the Valthorns won’t reach the border until tomorrow morning, would that be enough time to set a trap?"

"They would have scouts up ahead as we do. They would warn Lord Valthorn of suspicious movement," Thomas answered.

"Then, we can set traps on our land. We’ve already had traps set in the castle. There is still time," Ophelia said, determined to add the new plan. "I need a horse."

"Lady Hastings!"

"It is not to go towards the border, Thomas. You will also be on the horse with me. I have plans to share with the townspeople and to pass on to the farmers who don’t want to leave their lands. I cannot hide in the castle while everyone is afraid. Come with me," said Ophelia.

They would be back in the castle before another message was sent.

"I must get your other guards," Thomas said, refusing to let it be only him travelling with Ophelia.

"Then, you must move fast," Ophelia urged Thomas.

Not long after, Ophelia went to the market to be honest with the townspeople about the incoming war. There was panic at first, but Ophelia calmed the people and instructed them on what to do.

Soon, the market became empty as everyone retreated to their homes to hide inside or prepared to enter the castle.

Ophelia rode with knights, ensuring that anyone who was too old to be left alone, or didn’t have a roof over their heads were sent to the castle.

"They will rush through the fields if they get past the border. I would dig holes and place spikes at the bottom. It won’t get all of them, but a few men down will help us," Ophelia said, speaking to the farmers she passed.

Ophelia continued to oversee the town, while on the Valthorn land, Nigel grew impatient.

Nigel wanted the war to be done now, but it was a long journey to the Hastings’ land. Ophelia had been out of his clutches for too long, and while he was close to her, it would still take a few days to claim her.

"Can’t we march forward without rest?" Nigel questioned the men he placed at his side. He rubbed his temple.

"If we do, the men will be tired by the time they have to fight Lord Hastings and his men. They will fall-"

"If they want to live, they will pull together all their strength and fight back. We are wasting time sitting around to allow these commoners to have a feast. I didn’t bring them here to eat meat and lie around," Nigel said, annoyed with the men.

"It is meat they have caught, and you must feed them so they have strength-"

"I want her back in my arms by tomorrow night. She should be in my tent, on my bed by nightfall, but because you bastards must keep stopping to rest, I will have to wait longer!" Nigel yelled at the incompetent men. "The tricks you did with my father will not work on me."

The men standing around Nigel wanted to leave the tent. The army was taking the breaks it needed, or the men would be tired from the long journey and quickly lose the battle, but Nigel wasn’t listening.

Nigel spent the long journey on his horse and at times, inside a carriage. He had no compassion for the men who were walking the long distance.

Nigel knew nothing of war because he never wanted to learn, and both times he had joined the army, Nigel stayed on his horse.

"Why hasn’t news from the palace come to me yet? I need the prince to know that I am attacking the Hastings on my way to him. I would like his support. Is the king dead or not?" Nigel asked, frustrated news was not reaching him.

Nigel started to wonder if Sebastian had not gone through with his end of the plan. Sebastian couldn’t change his mind now since Edward had already fallen ill, but he was curious if Sebastian had somehow become too afraid to kill Edward.

"Each bird we try to send to the palace seems to be shot down. The Hastings might be the one doing it, or the birds are not surviving the distance. Since we haven’t received messages from the palace, I would say this is the Hastings doing."

"Fortunately, I hadn’t written of my plans to kill Lord Hastings. They won’t know I am coming for them just yet. Let the men have an hour’s rest, and then we move. I cannot wait," Nigel said, eager to have Ophelia back where she belonged.