CHAPTER 7

RESCUE MISSION

Ashina's eyes flew open. Her uncle was sounding smug, she hated it when he sounded like that. 

"Hey you swain! Why are you looking at my business associate in that manner, get lost!" Gonzalo commanded.

Ashina reluctantly left the palace hall. She cried in both panic and happiness. Finally, she'd be saved from the webs of the ruthless prince and his mother.

"My apologies, Ernest.." Gonzalo apologized. "Sometimes these servants can stare at attractive visitors for so long, you are quite attractive."  

"Thank you," Sadie, Ashina's uncle forced a fake smile. "For my age? I'm flattered."

"Now, back to business, how much are you willing to invest in my farms? I can take you around personally and show you the best of my farm lands. Very fruitful and blessed with good soil."

"I don't doubt you at all. Poldark is known for having fruitful farmlands." Sadie replied.

"Proudly.." Gonzalo said.

"My prince, this is my first time in Poldark, I don't know anyone here, and I am not a fan of motels.."

Gonzalo didn't let him finish. "I have a big palace to accommodate my investors for as long as they wish to stay."

"Thank you, the rumors about you being a ruthless and proud prince is quite false.." Sadie complimented. "You have shown and treated me with nothing but respect and hospitality."

                                      ***

Ashina spent all evening trying to find out which particular guest room did the alpha prince keep her uncle in. She checked almost all the guest rooms without success. Suddenly she remembers there's a guest room downstairs. She races down to the room and push the door wide open. There he was, sitted on the bed. Ashina closed the door behind her.

"Uncle Sadie.." Ashina was whispering and crying. She jumps on him, hugging him tightly.

"That son of a bitch! Look at you..look at what he turned you to.." Sadie scowled. "Next week.."

"Next week?" Ashina didn't let him land. "Are you having a feet or cold feet? Get me out of here this minute. Go call the police!"

"I tried but they wouldn't come.." Sadie broke the sad news to her. "I'm sorry."

"What?" Ashina panicked with zero satisfaction. "Something has to be done uncle.!"

"That is why I'm here..I have come disguised as an investor that wants to invest with the prince on his farm lands, relax, I will smuggle you out!"

Ashina nodded. "Thank you Uncle..I have to go now." Ashina said.

"Yes..I'll figure it out." Sadie responded. "But how did you know it was me?"

"You are my uncle! Even in my sleep I can easily recognize your voice.." Ashina broke into small laughter. She remembered her life before Poldark happened, how happy she used to live with her uncle and cousins.

"Before I leave, I want to ask you few questions and please promise to answer me honestly, will you?" Ashina asked.

"Just ask.." Sadie wasn't sure but agreed. His instincts told him the questions were about her father.

"Did my father kill the alpha king?" Ashina questioned, breathing heavily. "I need to know the truth."

"Ashina, some things are better left unsaid.." Sadie began. "It's been over a decade, what the truth is does not matter."

"It does! Because I am the one stuck here, as a slave. I need you to assure me my father was an honest wolf and the alpha Prince is just making up stories just to keep me here!" Ashina spoke, breathing more heavily. It was a tense moment for her. "Uncle please answer me! I cannot even remember being here before! Just flashes of one or two scenes of a little girl running around this palace."

"Yes..your father murdered the alpha king.." Sadie squeezed his face in a deep frown as he spoke. "He was caught and banished along side everyone that was related to him.."

Ashina broke down in fresh tears of disappointment. "My father?..uncle are you sure of what you are saying, why would he even do that?"

"Greed.. he tried to kill the two princes too but was caught..I don't know, but greed could only be the reason." Sadie stated.

"So then Prince Gonzalo is not lying or making up stories with his mother?" Ashina asked.

"He's not.." Sadie replied.

"That means father..was wicked and.." Ashina looked at Sadie. "And now I am paying for my father's sins?"

"Ashina, be strong, don't let what happened decades ago to break you. Your father committed a crime, you should not be punished for his sins."

The revelation was too much for Ashina to process, she left the room hurriedly, in tears.

Sadie huffed, looking at the ceiling. He wondered on what will work best in escaping Poldark with Ashina. He knew for a fact, it was going to cost him a fortune!

                                               ***

"The sins of the fathers shall be visited on the children.." Gonzalo said aloud with a straight face when Ashina walked into the dinning to serve breakfast.

Her heart and uncle's stopped beating that moment, they both looked at Gonzalo with guilty eyes.

"For I will visit the sins of the father even to the fourth generation." Gonzalo looked into Ashina's eyes as he spoke.

"The sins of everyone should rest upon them, the soul that sins, shall die." Ashina murmured very quiety to herself. She panicked, was the alpha Prince aware of her conversation with her uncle last night?

If that were the case, she knew by now he would have instructed for her death or torture for attempting to escape.

Sadie bent his face trying to focus on his plate.

"The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth have been set on edge.." Gonzalo continued in his parables.

Danciana looked up at Gonzalo in confusion. "Zalo..why are you speaking in parables?" She looked at Ashina, assuming it had something to do with her. She rolled her eyes, then sighed.

"Nothing mother, let's enjoy the breakfast." There was a smile in Gonzalo's voice. "Tell me Ernest, when will you be leaving?"

Sadie didn't look up. "I don't know yet my prince, maybe in a week. Depending on when we finalize and seal the contract."

"That doesn't waste time, all you need do is sign a few papers, that's all. Then you come return to your town, except maybe you really love my kingdom and don't see yourself going back." Gonzalo said.

"Show me where to sign." Sadie replied.  

Gonzalo pushed the papers to Sadie, across the table.

Without reading the papers, Sadie signed.

"Perfect!" Gonzalo smiled.

                                          ***

Ashina stood by the Queen's door, knocking. She offered silent prayers to the moon goddess.

Danciana looked at Ashina irritatedly. "Slave girl, when last did you have a bath?"

"This morning.." Ashina answered.

"You stink.." Danciana snapped. "Oh yeah, I forgot no amount of water can wash off the stench of poverty and misery."

"Thank you, your majesty." Ashina said swallowing hard. It was only a matter of few minutes and she'll be far from them.

"What do you want?" Danciana asked.

"I wanted to know if you'd like some fruits, I noticed there were no fruits at the dinning table.." Ashina stated.

"Hurry! Go and get me fruits! Fresh ones. Do you copy?"

"Yes your majesty." Ashina said, took a bow then left.

                                     ***

"Quickly, get yourself inside this sack!" Sadie spoke in a very tensed voice. "This is our only chance."

"This is a rice sack.." Ashina said, but rushed to open the sack bag trying to push herself into the sack bag. Sadie helped her get into the sack. He added vegetables and other fruits into the sack, then carried the sack with all his might into his cart.

Satisfied everything was set, Sadie pushed the cart and walked to the palace door. He met Gonzalo halfway.

"Ernest.. don't forget to bring my money when you get to your town." Gonzalo said, his face with all smiles.

"Of course my prince, you have my signature on the documents." Sadie said, breathing heavily.

"Boris can help you with your cart, an aged man like you shouldn't be doing this." Gonzalo said.

"It's fine, I can do it." Sadie replied.

"My guards help you, at least while you are in my palace." Gonzalo insisted.

Boris pushed Sadie's cart to the palace gate.

"Go well, Ernest, my good investor!" Gonzalo said, shaking hands with Sadie. "It was nice doing business with you." Gonzalo pointed at Sadie's cart. "Look at all that food! Your family will definitely be happy!"

Sadie fakes laughter. "Thank you my prince. The pleasure is all mine." Sadie replied then entered his cart. He pulled the cart aggressively and made way to leave the palace.

"Open the gates!" Gonzalo instructed.

Sadie walked with his cart aggressively. He was out of the palace now, he increased his speed. He needed to leave the walls of Poldark before anyone noticed Ashina's absence.

He rode his cart successfully until the front tyre came off in the middle of the boundary between Poldark and another pack.

"Damn it!" Sadie muttered, coming down from his cart to inspect the tyre.