CHAPTER 85 Let’s Hear the Riddle!

Henrietta

I wondered for just a moment if we'd gone too far, taking Drendil's supplies.

I may have been a bit angry that they were marching on my new home. I also might have gone a touch overboard having fun playing with—I mean, organizing the automaton army.

With the majority of their forces stuck in the forest, there was almost nothing stopping Keith's [Construct: Small] automata from overrunning Drendil. He had full control of their economic import and export lines, and was capable of destroying the kingdom from the inside out. I shivered, thinking just how much we—I mean, Drendil had underestimated Nilheim.

I had never realized how protected Drendil was from the rest of the continent. Because it was only accessible by water and the forest, they'd never really focused on their land army. After all, the forest was just "a misbegotten collection of ragtag monsters." The pitiful forces my father had sent into the Dark Enchanted Forest were the outcasts of the bigger, stronger naval fleet.

To be fair, few skilled soldiers could be spared when leviathans, pirates, water drakes, and the odd school of killer tadpoles hit the coastline on a semiregular basis. Which was why I had spent so much time up north in the Depths of Despair Dungeon. Where better to train to protect Drendil than in an ocean-themed tower dungeon?

On the route here, Keith had told me that he'd sent constructs to hide under wagons, in the bushes, and out of sight. I couldn't be sure how much the forest itself had been attacking the scouts, but whosoever it didn't pick off would've been taken care of by his automatons.

"Henri. I'm returning to Drendil as promised. Give us back the supplies," Sir Havork ordered. He'd come right up to the bridge and crossed his arms, staring down at me.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Knight Commander." I reverted back to his official title. "You can tell my father thank you for the dowry."

The knight looked stricken, actually taking a full step back. "Wait, you—?"

"I'm joking." I wasn't joking, but I cut him off anyway. "Now pack your army and march home, or I'll be forced to send them home in wagons."

And this time, I'd have the automata pull the wagons. I had a Spring Ball to get ready for! What was I going to wear? Rinrin had mentioned dresses a few weeks ago … I wondered if Keith would like to wear matching outfits?

Slow down, I told myself. We weren't even engaged yet. Yet.

"I did leave you the jerky," Keith reminded him. "And your elementalists should have water. You'll be home in no time."

Havork looked me over, and I could see the moment he gave up written on his face.

"Alright. I was sent to deliver a message to the princess and to fight for her freedom … and you've heard the message."

"I have."

"And your freedom?"

"I'm freer than I've ever been," I assured him.

"Then I have fulfilled my duty. Goodbye, Princess."

Knight Commander Havork turned on his heel and activated a perk to be heard over the entire army. "Attention!"

Ranks of soldiers, knights, and adventurers all came to stand on the road in a beautifully timed display of efficiency and discipline. Knight Commander Havork was nothing if not efficient when left to manage on his own. I felt bad to see him go back to Drendil.

"Pack up and prepare to march south!" His voice echoed in the trees, and I had a strange sense that the woods approved. Perhaps it was my [Sword Aura] perceiving the movement of leaves and branches that played like stressful background music, but the entire area went from hostile and violent to calm and unassuming in a breath.

A few of the soldiers whispered, "South?" or, "Already?"

The knight commander looked at his officers and, still projecting, announced, "We are marching home."

Trevor threw an unconscious Phineas over his shoulder; I hadn't seen when the adventurer had fully knocked the knight out. No matter. It was probably in response to Havork's orders to deal with the knight. Trevor and the rest of the Lancers were going to suffer more pushback from the knights after today, but managing the rivalries between factions in Drendil was no longer my task.

Trevor nodded in the general direction of the bridge I was on, and I nodded back. He hollered, "Have a good life, Princess! You deserve it."

I felt touched.

His words also got a rise out of those close by, but no one outright argued as people I'd known in passing all my life gathered their things and settled in to go back. Some whom I'd personally led or adventured with waved in my general direction.

I watched them all go with a bittersweet feeling in my heart.

"Why did it seem like they couldn't see us?" I asked Gerda.

The bridge troll explained. "The [Area of Effect] spell creates a pocket space on the bridge and up the river using dimension magic. I made everything deliberately obfuscated should the Dark Horde roll up behind me. And I especially didn't want them seeing you in case they redoubled their efforts. That commander is a strong one, though. He saw right through me."

"He is." I nodded. "His Perception is very high."

Keith waved a hand. "I'm impressed at how fast they're packing up. Do you think we can go home soon? This entire escapade has been an embarrassing farce."

"That depends"—I smiled—"on how long it'll take us to solve the riddle!"

Gerda laughed.

"If you're making sure the Drendil army fully retreats," Lieutenant Patina said. "I'll deal with all of ours who are still expecting a fight."

"I'll let Quinton know you're on your way," Keith replied.

"General Pounce is so busy with the twins, I think I could march everyone past Gren's Keep before he got the message," Patina snarked. "Thank goodness for Mistress Puma."

"‘No one checks like Puma Checks,'" Keith, Gerda, and Patina quoted at the same time. I mouthed the saying once so I could join in next time. There was still so much to learn!

Patina headed back up the road.

"I must admit, Miss Gerda," Keith said, "I'm intrigued. Which riddle held off the entire Drendil army for these five hours?"

"Okay," Gerda started. "So this spell has a tiered system which includes the riddle itself and two more hint riddles if you fail. With the amount of time they spent attacking instead of guessing, I only had to give them the riddle and a single hint."

"Hints are for the weak!" I accompanied the statement with a wolfish grin to let them know I was joking. "Let's hear the riddle!"

I got a notification with the riddle as Gerda recited,

"Its birth is laborious, it can be bought,

Its flesh is leathery, all over taut,

It lives as long as elves or fae,

In time, its name will fade away.

What am I?"