Chapter Twelve – A Penniless Rogue
Everyone in the rescue party of five had a horse, including Harold, which everyone else thought was odd because if he had magic why didn't he just magic himself all the way to the tower? They rode together until they were out of town and travelling on the northbound road.
"Well, I'll see all you fools later once I've rescued the princess and won my money!" Duncan said, about to ride off the road and into the surrounding forest.
"Where are you going?" Justin asked.
"To rescue to princess, obviously," Duncan rolled his eyes.
"Through the forest? That is not the way to Dragonflame Tower," Justin scoffed.
"Uh, yeah it is. That's the way…" Duncan had been about to say that he had come from that direction but cut himself off when he realised he couldn't let these people know he'd already been there.
"That's the way what?" asked Harold.
"That's the way I'd go if I wanted to get extremely lost first," Duncan chuckled nervously. "I wasn't thinking straight, I guess I'll just take the road…" he sighed, knowing it would take twice as long if they took all the main roads. But he didn't want to raise suspicion about who he was or where he'd come from.
"It's probably best if we all stick together anyway," Beth reasoned, staring at Justin.
"Totally! This is going to be totally fun guys!" Lindsay gushed happily.
"You realise this is a competition right? It's not a fun adventure where we make friends for life or whatever," Duncan pointed out.
"The girls are obviously just scared," Justin told him. "They clearly won't be able to take the journey, let alone the dragon," he shrugged.
"That is not true! Lindsay and I have as much chance of rescuing Princess Courtney as the rest of you!" Beth protested.
"Sure, whatever you say," Justin rolled his eyes and grinned at Duncan. Duncan raised his eyebrows and nodded until Justin turned away when he screwed up his face in distaste at Justin. Did Justin think he and Duncan were going to be friends? He'd only known the guy five minutes and he already didn't like him. And that had nothing to do with the fact that the pretty boy was engaged to the princess.
"Did you guys know that almost every part of a dragon can be used in some kind of potion? Even its saliva and also its semen!" Harold informed them.
"Ew!" Lindsay screwed up her nose in disgust and Beth made a face.
"If you want to do what it takes to get a dragon's semen, be my guest!" Duncan laughed. Harold turned red, obviously not having thought it that far through.
"Is that why you're going on this quest Harold? To get dragon parts for your potions?" Beth asked.
"Well, that was part of the reason. But also my frog convinced me…" Harold informed them.
"You talk to frogs?" Duncan snorted.
"Yes." Harold snapped.
"If you're a wizard and can do magic and crap why don't you just use a potion to get the princess back?" Duncan asked patronisingly.
"Magic doesn't work like that," Harold said condescendingly.
"Can you all stop talking? You're annoying me and it's giving me wrinkles," Justin interrupted. Duncan rolled his eyes but they all shut up.
Courtney was glad that Daniel hadn't chained her back up once Duncan had gone, but she still didn't fully trust him. He'd fed her and brought the bedding Duncan had asked him to get so she was reasonably comfortable, although the tower wasn't exactly warm. Her ankle hadn't healed yet either so she still couldn't walk let alone kick him if she needed to. Daniel sat across the room from Courtney staring at her. She was doing her best to ignore him but it was starting to get on her nerves.
"What are you staring at?" Courtney finally snapped. Daniel smirked. It was strange how much he looked like Duncan, and yet when Duncan smirked at her she felt a slight annoyance but when Daniel smirked at her she felt totally repulsed. "Stop that," she ordered.
"You don't have any power here. You can't tell me what to do," Daniel told her. Courtney scowled at him.
"Ugh, you're worse than Duncan!" Courtney muttered.
"Worse at what?"
"Getting on my nerves!" Courtney retorted.
"He is pretty annoying. He's a pretty good guy though. I mean, he's helping me with this whole money thing," Daniel shrugged.
"Yeah, he is," Courtney agreed.
"It's weird that you agree. I mean, the guy kidnapped you and dragged you across the countryside. That can't have been pleasant," Daniel mused.
"He made it more bearable somehow," Courtney shrugged. Daniel stared at her again, cocking his head to the side as if trying to figure her out.
"How did he make it more bearable?" Daniel asked curiously.
"I don't know! He just has this kind of presence… and he makes me feel safe…" Courtney explained slowly. Daniel raised his eyebrows at her. "I can't explain it. It doesn't even make any sense to me!" Courtney finished exasperatedly. Daniel stared at her for a moment, studying her curiously.
"Oh my god, you're in love with him!" he burst out.
"I am not!" Courtney denied, blushing. Daniel started to laugh.
"You know, I'd heard that people who have been kidnapped often fall for their abductors. I didn't think it was actually true!" he chortled.
"What are you talking about?" Courtney snapped.
"Don't worry, you'll get over it," Daniel assured her. Courtney pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at him.
"Get over what?" Courtney asked exasperatedly.
"You're not really in love with him," Daniel told her.
"I know, I just told you that!" she rolled her eyes, but was glad that Daniel had been convinced so easily. If only she could convince herself as easily, because she was starting to think Daniel had actually been right. She'd barely stopped thinking about Duncan since he'd left and it was driving her insane. Could it really be possible that she'd fallen for a penniless rogue?
"That's not what I meant," Daniel said seriously.
"Well for heavens sake tell me what you meant or shut up," Courtney demanded. Daniel hesitated, and Courtney frowned at him. Why was he being so cryptic?
"You think you're in love with him," Daniel started. He saw that Courtney was about to protest so he quickly kept talking. "I know you do, don't deny it!" Courtney shut her mouth and looked at Daniel with a pained expression. "No need to give me that look, you'll be relieved to know that it's just a phase. Like I said before, I've heard it said that victims of kidnapping sometimes fall for their captors. That's all it is. As soon as you're back in your castle you'll forget all about Duncan." Daniel explained.
"How do you know?"
"It's not like you two have anything in common," Daniel shrugged. Courtney exhaled heavily, closing her eyes and leaning back against the wall. "Are you relieved?" Daniel asked her.
"Not really. Even if what you said is true, I still feel like I love him now. I never knew love was a painful emotion until now," Courtney sighed.
"But at least now you won't do something stupid like propose marriage to him or something," Daniel pointed out. "Though he might be disappointed about that…"
"I'm betrothed anyway. Why would he be disappointed?" Courtney questioned. Daniel looked a little guilty at having revealed Duncan's feelings.
"Don't worry, I'm sure he only likes you because you're a princess. Plus, you're like the only girl he's ever even talked to," Daniel laughed. "And he thinks you're pretty."
"Did he say that?" Courtney asked eagerly. Daniel raised his eyebrows at her disapprovingly. "I mean, I don't care if he thinks I'm pretty," Courtney corrected herself. Daniel smirked and shook his head at her.
"You're pathetic. No, he didn't tell me he thought you were pretty, but it was kind of obvious from the way he was looking at you," he revealed. Courtney smiled to herself and Daniel rolled his eyes. He stood up and headed down the staircase.
"Where are you going?" Courtney called after him.
"I have to go and get some more food before it gets dark. We ate everything your friends gave us already," Daniel called back. "I'll be back soon."
Courtney was glad to get rid of him for a while, although she didn't hate him quite as much as she had initially. He hadn't tried to hurt her and he hadn't chained her up or tortured her or starved her or anything. But he really was even more irritating than Duncan was.
A few of you have noticed that Courtney may have developed Stockholm Syndrome so good work on picking that up... later we will find out if that's all it is or whether she genuinely likes him ;) haha!
Funny story, I actually sprained my ankle on the weekend so at the moment I am just as helpless as Courtney... it kinda sucks but maybe I'll be able to find the time to write some more while I'm incapacitated. Hope you liked this chapter!
