Ian stepped out the castle, and took a deep breath. He gazed around, at the world before him. He was soaking in the scenery, admiring it properly, something which he had never done before.
Now, let's get on with that walk, why don't we?
The prince jogged down the stairs of the castle, and was just about to set foot on the ground, when something caught his eye.
Chariot tracks. And they were still fresh.
It couldn't have been the Starlings, they haven't arrived yet. The tracks couldn't have been from yesterday, since it rained at midnight. Either someone arrived in the morning...or someone went from the palace.
Ian saw that the tracks were coming from the forest. Or where they leading to it?
He would soon find out. Ian ran toward the royal stables, his heart beating rashly against his rib cage. He saw his white stallion, and quickly got it out.
"Come on, boy. We've got a mystery to solve."
The horse galloped through the woods, his nimble legs fast and agile. Ian hung on tightly, following the tracks with great difficulty. They seemed to stretch on for long, until, they finally stopped at a destination.
"Shit!" Ian cried out in frustration. "We were so close!" He jumped off the horse, and kneeled near the area where the tracks stopped.
They either mounted the chariot from here, or discarded the chariot and continued on foot.
Suddenly, Ian's horse gave out a soft neigh.
"What is it, boy?"
Ian walked toward the animal, and saw what it was looking at. There, among the dense plant, was an abandoned white chariot, which looked just like the one the Kabras used.
"Bingo! Good job! The people did come from our palace." He mounted the horse again.
Ian and the horse went along the same path for miles and miles, but didn't come across anything. Ian felt dejected. He was about to turn back the horse again, when a single cry in the air got his attention.
It sounded like a girl in distress.
The duo galloped toward where the sound had come from, and arrived in front of a thick bushel. Ian parted the stalks with his hand, and the scene in front of him shocked him.
It was Jake, his despicable cousin, and the maid, Amy.
Jake was holding a dagger to Amy's throat, and she appeared to be crying. A dangerous and cruel glint was present in Jake's eyes, and Ian knew if he didn't act fast, Amy would be shish-kabobed any minute.
Ian's eyes darted around the place, and he saw a rock lying on the ground. He picked it up, and after carefully aiming, threw it at Jake's head.
"OW!" A scream pierced through the air, and Jake stumbled back, losing his grip on Amy. Ian emerged out from the bushes.
"What the hell's going on here?!"
Jake got up, and Ian realized that there was blood dripping from his forehead.
"This doesn't concern you, cousin." He spat. Jake grabbed a stunned Amy by the hand and pulled her to him. "This is between me and Amy. Or should I say...my fiancee."
"What does that mean?" Ian demanded.
"Can't you see? She's wearing a wedding dress, Ian." That's when Ian noticed, Amy was indeed wearing a white dress. It reached till her toes, and was sleeveless, so that her white porcelain hands were exposed.
She looked...lovely.
"We are getting married, cousin. Won't you congratulate us?" Jake purred.
"No, you're not! You were trying to kill her!"
"Yes." Amy finally spoke up. "I thought you loved me Jake. You brought me here so that we could get married. Why did you try to kill me?" Jake edged closer to Amy, his lips almost touching hers.
"I did love you. But that was before you went and kissed that IDIOT!" Jake screamed, pointing at Ian.
"Y-you saw us?"
"No. But Isabel did. And she came rushing to me afterward. You have to go, Amy. You've caused too much trouble. Isabel ordered me to murder you. If the Starlings ever find out what happened between you and Ian, a lot of damage will be caused." Jake picked up his weapon from the ground. "And we just can't have that, now can we?"
"N-no. Please. I-I'll go f-far away from here. I won't tell a-anybody."
"Sorry. We are not taking the chance." Jake lunged at her.
"NO!" Ian shouted, running toward the two. He pushed Amy out of the way, and she fell down, hitting her head in the process. The blow caused her to faint.
"Why do you care if that peasant dies, Ian? Why? You never cared for anyone lower than you, why start now? Go away, and we'll act like this never happened. I'll kill her. Just like your mother wants."
"I don't care what my mother wants, I'm not going to allow you to kill an innocent person just so my marriage goes smoothly."
"Is it really about just killing an innocent person? Are you sure, that, over the time, you possibly might have fallen in love with the girl?"
Ian couldn't answer that.
"Put down the dagger, Jake."
"No. Not till I dispose of this bitch."
That was the last straw. Ian pounced on Jake, and delivered a knuckle sandwich on his jaw. Jake, in turn, kicked Ian, which caused him to fall down, and bruise his lip.
"I warned you."
Ian reached for the dagger, which was a bit near to him, but Jake stepped onto his fingers. Ian howled in pain.
"Sorry, cousin. But I believe this belongs to me."
And the excitement starts!
A big thank you to all the amazing reviewers out there! Seriously, you guys are awesome.
Read, Review and PM me if you feel like it.
-Ghost.
