Chapter 14 – Escape
The fire crackled as John and I sat around a fire in the forest. I thought back to my escape…
Right after I read John's note I started packing. I didn't have much, just my clothes, my mother's fairy book, my bow and arrows, and a few other personal items. I looked around the room for something to put the stuff in. the suitcase would be too obvious and impossible for my horse to carry. My gaze fell on my bed sheet. I was sure they wouldn't mind if I took it. I wore a long cloak and hid my bow and arrow underneath as well as my bundle.
I opened the door and told the guards that I needed to see my horse. They nodded and followed me.
I walked to the stables and saw John mucking out a stall. I smiled at him and was about to call out when one of the guards jumped in front of me and forced me back. I staggered back from surprise; they didn't want me to even talk to John.
"What's that Your Highness?" the guard asked, pointing to something by my foot. I looked down and gasped silently. I dropped my bundle when the guard pushed me back. Luckily I didn't drop my bow and quiver.
"Um, nothing." I answered, but the guard eyed me suspiciously. "It's just some apples for my horse." I added and quickly picked up the bundle.
Lightning neighed a greeting when I came to her stall.
"Wait out here." I told the guards and lifted the latch to go inside.
"I'm sorry Your Highness, but we are not supposed to let you go anywhere out of our sight except for the privy and your room." The guard bowed.
I sighed in annoyance, "Lightning is a horse, she's not going to tell me any secrets." The guards reluctantly stepped back. At least they are courteous, unlike the Count.
I walked to the back of the stable slowly so I wouldn't startle Lightning. When I was sure Lightning blocked the view of the guards, I took my stuff out from under the cloak and set them down on a pile of straw beside me. Then I covered it in a thin layer of straw. Now I had to let John know where I hid my stuff. I took a stick and started writing on a bit of the floor not covered in straw. I hoped he was the only one here who knows how to read.
As I turned to leave I saw a piece of parchment sticking out from behind the food trough. I picked it and scanned it quickly, it was from John. He wanted me to come again at midnight.
I tucked the note in my pocket, petted Lightning and left her stall.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Just before the clock struck midnight, I crept out of my room silently. I was wearing my stable hand uniform and my long cloak for warmth.
I was making good progress when two guards stopped me in the hallway.
"Where are you going Your Highness?" one of them asked.
I was shocked, how did they recognize me?
"We saw you come out of the Princess' room." He seemed to read my mind.
"Just to the privy." I whispered, "Could you please talk more quietly, I, I don't want to wake everyone in the castle."
I walked in the direction of the privy hoping they wouldn't follow, but I had no such luck. I went to the privy, stayed there for a moment and outside towards the stables.
"Where are you going now Your Highness?" came the pesky voice of the guard.
"I left something there." I answered. I hoped John had a plan to get rid of them for good.
When I reached the stables, I looked around for John. He came up to us with his arms waving in the air and was saying something.
"Please help, the horses escaped." He came closer and looked out of breath.
The guards looked confused. John explained, "The horses of the knights escaped and I need your help to bring them back in."
"Why us?" one guard asked.
"Because you look like strong men and these horses are quite quick." John answered matter-of-factly.
"Why don't you ask the other stable hands?" the guards were still not convinced.
"I'm on duty tonight, all the others are asleep in their quarters. Since you are here now, I'd thought to ask." John said with a wink towards me, "Unless you think you aren't quick enough for these horses."
"We're quick enough. Where are the horses?" John pointed to the pasture behind the stables and the guards left.
He turned to me with a smile, "Told you I'd distract them." Then he said more seriously "Let's go, we don't have too much time. The horses are waiting."
I followed him to where Lightning and Hotspur were waiting. My saddlebags were packed and ready as John promised. I hopped on Lightning while John mounted Hotspur.
"Wait, let me go first." John led me towards the entrance of the castle. I had no idea how to get past the guards, but I trusted John to have everything under control.
We stopped a couple of feet away from the drawbridge. "Wait here. When I say go, gallop as fast as you can." John stared intently into the darkness.
I followed his gaze and saw two guards by the entrance, one on each side. Thankfully the Ayorthaians always left their drawbridge down.
We waited for what seemed like forever when John's voiced snapped me to attention.
"Go Dee, ride as fast as you can and don't stop until we reach the forest." Before I could do anything, John was off. I followed suite and urged Lightning into a gallop across the drawbridge. Before I got there, I glanced at the guard post and saw no one there, but before I could think about it, we were galloping across the field to the forest beyond.
We didn't stop until we were safely in the cover of the trees.
John dismounted and pulled some oats from his saddlebag for the horses. When he finished settling down the horses, he sat down beside me where I'd already started the fire.
We stared into the fire in silence, both thinking our own thoughts. Finally I decided to ask him the questions that had been on my mind.
"Why were there no guards at the posts?"
"Because it was time to change shifts. That's why I asked you to come at midnight." John continued to stare at the fire.
"What about Edward? I didn't have time to warn him yet. Will he be alright, maybe we should've taken him with us." I started to panic.
"Edward will be fine. He can take care of himself." See my worried face, John added, "There are many people who can be trusted who knows about the Count's plan. They will warn Edward. Don't worry Dee, he'll be fine."
"Then what will happen to us? Won't the Ayorthaian be looking for us in the morning?" I asked.
"By the time they come looking for us, we'll be long gone." John chuckled.
"But they'd be searching for us. After all, the King and Queen are responsible for me. If they lost me, it might start something ugly between the two countries. I don't like to worry them."
At this John was silent.
"Maybe we should've gone to the King and Queen instead, and let them send the message." I mumbled.
"But what if they are on the Count's side and might make things worse." John argued and set his intense gaze on me.
"Why would they? Ayortha and Kyrria have been friends for hundreds of years." I looked steadily into his eyes.
John looked back to the fire, "Don't you want to be free?" he said quietly.
"Yes, but not at the cost of possibly destroying peace." I answered.
We were both silent.
A gust of wind came across my skin. I shivered, although it was hot at daytime, the nights could be quite cold.
"Here." John wrapped an arm and his blanket around me. I leaned against his warm shoulder and closed my eyes.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Wow what do you know I finally updated. To make up for the long wait, here's a long chap (at least by my standards).
Review plz!!!
The fire crackled as John and I sat around a fire in the forest. I thought back to my escape…
Right after I read John's note I started packing. I didn't have much, just my clothes, my mother's fairy book, my bow and arrows, and a few other personal items. I looked around the room for something to put the stuff in. the suitcase would be too obvious and impossible for my horse to carry. My gaze fell on my bed sheet. I was sure they wouldn't mind if I took it. I wore a long cloak and hid my bow and arrow underneath as well as my bundle.
I opened the door and told the guards that I needed to see my horse. They nodded and followed me.
I walked to the stables and saw John mucking out a stall. I smiled at him and was about to call out when one of the guards jumped in front of me and forced me back. I staggered back from surprise; they didn't want me to even talk to John.
"What's that Your Highness?" the guard asked, pointing to something by my foot. I looked down and gasped silently. I dropped my bundle when the guard pushed me back. Luckily I didn't drop my bow and quiver.
"Um, nothing." I answered, but the guard eyed me suspiciously. "It's just some apples for my horse." I added and quickly picked up the bundle.
Lightning neighed a greeting when I came to her stall.
"Wait out here." I told the guards and lifted the latch to go inside.
"I'm sorry Your Highness, but we are not supposed to let you go anywhere out of our sight except for the privy and your room." The guard bowed.
I sighed in annoyance, "Lightning is a horse, she's not going to tell me any secrets." The guards reluctantly stepped back. At least they are courteous, unlike the Count.
I walked to the back of the stable slowly so I wouldn't startle Lightning. When I was sure Lightning blocked the view of the guards, I took my stuff out from under the cloak and set them down on a pile of straw beside me. Then I covered it in a thin layer of straw. Now I had to let John know where I hid my stuff. I took a stick and started writing on a bit of the floor not covered in straw. I hoped he was the only one here who knows how to read.
As I turned to leave I saw a piece of parchment sticking out from behind the food trough. I picked it and scanned it quickly, it was from John. He wanted me to come again at midnight.
I tucked the note in my pocket, petted Lightning and left her stall.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Just before the clock struck midnight, I crept out of my room silently. I was wearing my stable hand uniform and my long cloak for warmth.
I was making good progress when two guards stopped me in the hallway.
"Where are you going Your Highness?" one of them asked.
I was shocked, how did they recognize me?
"We saw you come out of the Princess' room." He seemed to read my mind.
"Just to the privy." I whispered, "Could you please talk more quietly, I, I don't want to wake everyone in the castle."
I walked in the direction of the privy hoping they wouldn't follow, but I had no such luck. I went to the privy, stayed there for a moment and outside towards the stables.
"Where are you going now Your Highness?" came the pesky voice of the guard.
"I left something there." I answered. I hoped John had a plan to get rid of them for good.
When I reached the stables, I looked around for John. He came up to us with his arms waving in the air and was saying something.
"Please help, the horses escaped." He came closer and looked out of breath.
The guards looked confused. John explained, "The horses of the knights escaped and I need your help to bring them back in."
"Why us?" one guard asked.
"Because you look like strong men and these horses are quite quick." John answered matter-of-factly.
"Why don't you ask the other stable hands?" the guards were still not convinced.
"I'm on duty tonight, all the others are asleep in their quarters. Since you are here now, I'd thought to ask." John said with a wink towards me, "Unless you think you aren't quick enough for these horses."
"We're quick enough. Where are the horses?" John pointed to the pasture behind the stables and the guards left.
He turned to me with a smile, "Told you I'd distract them." Then he said more seriously "Let's go, we don't have too much time. The horses are waiting."
I followed him to where Lightning and Hotspur were waiting. My saddlebags were packed and ready as John promised. I hopped on Lightning while John mounted Hotspur.
"Wait, let me go first." John led me towards the entrance of the castle. I had no idea how to get past the guards, but I trusted John to have everything under control.
We stopped a couple of feet away from the drawbridge. "Wait here. When I say go, gallop as fast as you can." John stared intently into the darkness.
I followed his gaze and saw two guards by the entrance, one on each side. Thankfully the Ayorthaians always left their drawbridge down.
We waited for what seemed like forever when John's voiced snapped me to attention.
"Go Dee, ride as fast as you can and don't stop until we reach the forest." Before I could do anything, John was off. I followed suite and urged Lightning into a gallop across the drawbridge. Before I got there, I glanced at the guard post and saw no one there, but before I could think about it, we were galloping across the field to the forest beyond.
We didn't stop until we were safely in the cover of the trees.
John dismounted and pulled some oats from his saddlebag for the horses. When he finished settling down the horses, he sat down beside me where I'd already started the fire.
We stared into the fire in silence, both thinking our own thoughts. Finally I decided to ask him the questions that had been on my mind.
"Why were there no guards at the posts?"
"Because it was time to change shifts. That's why I asked you to come at midnight." John continued to stare at the fire.
"What about Edward? I didn't have time to warn him yet. Will he be alright, maybe we should've taken him with us." I started to panic.
"Edward will be fine. He can take care of himself." See my worried face, John added, "There are many people who can be trusted who knows about the Count's plan. They will warn Edward. Don't worry Dee, he'll be fine."
"Then what will happen to us? Won't the Ayorthaian be looking for us in the morning?" I asked.
"By the time they come looking for us, we'll be long gone." John chuckled.
"But they'd be searching for us. After all, the King and Queen are responsible for me. If they lost me, it might start something ugly between the two countries. I don't like to worry them."
At this John was silent.
"Maybe we should've gone to the King and Queen instead, and let them send the message." I mumbled.
"But what if they are on the Count's side and might make things worse." John argued and set his intense gaze on me.
"Why would they? Ayortha and Kyrria have been friends for hundreds of years." I looked steadily into his eyes.
John looked back to the fire, "Don't you want to be free?" he said quietly.
"Yes, but not at the cost of possibly destroying peace." I answered.
We were both silent.
A gust of wind came across my skin. I shivered, although it was hot at daytime, the nights could be quite cold.
"Here." John wrapped an arm and his blanket around me. I leaned against his warm shoulder and closed my eyes.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Wow what do you know I finally updated. To make up for the long wait, here's a long chap (at least by my standards).
Review plz!!!