I was running. Faster. Faster. I ran till my breaths came in short gasps. I ran till my legs were ready to give out. My heart was racing. My chest was ready to explode. But still, I kept running. Trees were flying by. Birds and other animals scattered before we could trample them.

"Wait! Cress! You've won! Stop, please," my brother said from behind me.

"Not till we get to the king's highway!" I shouted over my shoulder.

Then, about ten feet from the highway, I stopped. A carriage was coming down the old road; it was a royal carriage. I caught my brother's arm as he ran past, jerking him to a stop. He looked back at me, questioning my abrupt halt. I put a finger to my lips, pointing to the carriage.

I looked down the road, to the right. A man was standing in the middle of it, a black mask covering his eyes, sword in hand. The carriage stopped in front of him, and the driver yelled words of a different language.

The highwayman's eyebrows rose. "Galadorian, are we? No matter. Hand over the gold and be done with it." When the driver did not respond, he flicked his sword at the poor man. The driver got down.

Going to the carriage window, he tapped on it. The highwayman stepped forward. My brother put his hand on his sword, but I smacked his arm, and he muttered a soft oath. The highwayman's head whipped toward us, scanning the trees for soldiers. Clearly anxious to leave, he advanced on the old man. My brother drew his sword, but I was quicker. Drawing two of my daggers, I was on him in an instant.

I knocked the sword from his hand with one dagger. Holding a blade against his throat, I said, "Get off this highway, now. If I ever catch you thieving again, it won't be your hand I'll have them cut off."

"You've no right." He said.

"Really?" He nodded. "Look at my face and say that again."

After I took my knife away, he turned. Seeing my face, his eyes grew wide. "Princess Cressida." He swallowed audibly. Then his eyes narrowed. "You're just a silly girl. What harm could you possibly do?" He pushed me to the ground, roughly. Turning around, the carriage door opened swiftly, knocking him on his hands and knees, away from the carriage. The shock on his face was soon smothered by rage. He leapt to his feet, only to find a dagger at his throat once more. He tried to turn and run, but I caught his ankle, bringing his face to meet the moist, brown earth of the forest.

"That will teach you to never underestimate the princess," said a thickly accented voice. My body tensed. I knew that voice. It was older and deeper, perhaps, but I knew that voice like I knew my own. A hard jerk of my arm brought me back to reality. I still had ahold of the thief's ankle. Nicholas, my brother, put a foot on the man's back to hold him to the ground, pointing his sword to his neck.

I looked up at the man getting out of the carriage. He was as handsome as I remembered. His chiseled features stood out amidst the tan skin, black hair, and searing green eyes. "Philippe?" I stared at the Galadorian prince, dumbstruck.

He chuckled at my expression. "Hello Iddie."

I glared at him. "Don't you dare call me that."

Nicholas looked at me questioningly. "Why the hostility?"

I glowered at him. "Tie him to a tree. I'll have the guards come get him."

"But, Cressy-" Nick started.

"What?" I turned on him.

"We don't have any rope."

"So sit on him." And I started running to the palace.

Hello readers! (If there are any) This is my first story, so Please tell me if it's any good or not. =) Thanks for reading.