Prince Terian and his knights left the forest behind them and reached the
village of Darian in the middle of the afternoon of the next day. It large,
as villages go, with plenty of accommodations for the travelers that often
stopped by on their way to and from Bast. Darian was nestled between
leftover strips of woodlands, in a fertile, wet area called the Bowl. No
one really knew why, considering that the land was almost perfectly flat in
the Bowl and most definitely not circular. Still, it was among the best
farmland in Kyrria, and its people grew bountiful crops.
The Bowl proved to be both a problem and a relief to Tayli. After spending the day guiding Moonflight carefully but quickly through trees in the woods, open country was a relief. However, it would be difficult to follow the prince unnoticed in an area where there was little to no shelter from prying eyes. She would have to take the risk of showing herself by riding behind them at a distance. It would put her task at a serious disadvantage, however. But hopefully, the party wouldn't look behind them much. If they did, she would be in jeopardy. Master Menlan had assured her that it was so, and it made sense. The more people that knew of your existence, the more people there were that might want to nullify it. But she would have to take the chance-she had no other choice.
Tayli tied Moonflight to a tree close to the tree line, where the proud and tired stallion could graze the fresh sprigs of grass that grew there. He did not need a stable-Moonflight had been specially bred for these types of missions and excursions, when the owner could not or would not stable him. After seeing that the prince and his followers had been safely escorted to a good-looking inn, Tayli chose a spot farther back into the forest and lay down for a nap-she would need one if she was to guard tonight.
^^^^^^^^
Terian looked around at the knights surrounding him and smiled jovially. Sirs Michael, Jonathan, Luke, William, Garram, Zachary, Jerrold (named after his father), Frenery, Natal, and Bertram Jr. were all good and solid men, and good friends to the young prince, who was in a fantastic mood. He was in strange country with 10 trustworthy knights, exploring, was finally of age, awaiting an adventure, and away from court, where everyone constantly fussed over him. What could be better?
^^^^^^^^
(A/N: In case you don't catch on, this takes place hours later.)
Tayli sat silently perched in a tree outside Prince Terian's open window. The cloak that she had wrapped around herself kept out the chill like a fire, and blended her shadow in with that of the tree. Her finger stroked the ready bowstring meditatively as her veil-hidden amethyst eyes held their steady gaze on the room inside. Some instinct combined with her training had told Tayli that this would be an excellent place to do harm to the heir, just where everyone would be trusted. She had climbed quickly and silently up at sunset and watched as Terian (a bit muzzy from the wine, and tired from the day's ride) had fallen into bed as soon as he got in the door. It was, she judged, about 2 hours later now, and still nothing had happened. But Tayli had a feeling that something was going to happen, and one thing she had learned was always to trust your instincts. So she stayed.
Suddenly, she sat up straighter, and almost unconsciously readied her grip on the bowstring. Had she heard something, or was it just the leaves of the tree she sat in rustling in the wind? A few moments went by without another sound, and Tayli was beginning to relax when she saw the door to the prince's room slowly open. Her whole body taut, she peered at the shadow that inched through, and cursed the moonlight for not being stronger, so she could see who had come in. The shape was large, and seemed to be a man. It crept along, hesitating each time the floorboards squeaked in a distinctively furtive manner. Definitely not someone to be trusted. As the shadow reached the prince's bed, a stray glimmer of moonlight hit cold steel, and Tayli could see a raised dagger, poised to kill, dangerously outlined in the white light.
It happened in one movement. Automatically, Tayli's hands rose and brought the bow to her face. Then, with all the tension that had been building up inside her since the door had first opened converting into strength, she pulled back on the bowstring, aimed, and let fly.
$$$$$$$$$$$$
A/N: Sorry its not too long, but I wanted to leave you guys off with a cliffy! I'll update ASAP.
Thank you so much to all my reviewers! I love you!
Kitera-Matar: Thanks! I'm writing as fast as I can w/ 2 other stories going.
aPPle-FrrEAk: I'll keep going, the story will be great you'll see.
Sonchika: I can't wait for what happens next either!
Icepixie: I'll keep that in mind, but my computer doesn't let me do it most of the time. Thanks for the suggestion!
The Bowl proved to be both a problem and a relief to Tayli. After spending the day guiding Moonflight carefully but quickly through trees in the woods, open country was a relief. However, it would be difficult to follow the prince unnoticed in an area where there was little to no shelter from prying eyes. She would have to take the risk of showing herself by riding behind them at a distance. It would put her task at a serious disadvantage, however. But hopefully, the party wouldn't look behind them much. If they did, she would be in jeopardy. Master Menlan had assured her that it was so, and it made sense. The more people that knew of your existence, the more people there were that might want to nullify it. But she would have to take the chance-she had no other choice.
Tayli tied Moonflight to a tree close to the tree line, where the proud and tired stallion could graze the fresh sprigs of grass that grew there. He did not need a stable-Moonflight had been specially bred for these types of missions and excursions, when the owner could not or would not stable him. After seeing that the prince and his followers had been safely escorted to a good-looking inn, Tayli chose a spot farther back into the forest and lay down for a nap-she would need one if she was to guard tonight.
^^^^^^^^
Terian looked around at the knights surrounding him and smiled jovially. Sirs Michael, Jonathan, Luke, William, Garram, Zachary, Jerrold (named after his father), Frenery, Natal, and Bertram Jr. were all good and solid men, and good friends to the young prince, who was in a fantastic mood. He was in strange country with 10 trustworthy knights, exploring, was finally of age, awaiting an adventure, and away from court, where everyone constantly fussed over him. What could be better?
^^^^^^^^
(A/N: In case you don't catch on, this takes place hours later.)
Tayli sat silently perched in a tree outside Prince Terian's open window. The cloak that she had wrapped around herself kept out the chill like a fire, and blended her shadow in with that of the tree. Her finger stroked the ready bowstring meditatively as her veil-hidden amethyst eyes held their steady gaze on the room inside. Some instinct combined with her training had told Tayli that this would be an excellent place to do harm to the heir, just where everyone would be trusted. She had climbed quickly and silently up at sunset and watched as Terian (a bit muzzy from the wine, and tired from the day's ride) had fallen into bed as soon as he got in the door. It was, she judged, about 2 hours later now, and still nothing had happened. But Tayli had a feeling that something was going to happen, and one thing she had learned was always to trust your instincts. So she stayed.
Suddenly, she sat up straighter, and almost unconsciously readied her grip on the bowstring. Had she heard something, or was it just the leaves of the tree she sat in rustling in the wind? A few moments went by without another sound, and Tayli was beginning to relax when she saw the door to the prince's room slowly open. Her whole body taut, she peered at the shadow that inched through, and cursed the moonlight for not being stronger, so she could see who had come in. The shape was large, and seemed to be a man. It crept along, hesitating each time the floorboards squeaked in a distinctively furtive manner. Definitely not someone to be trusted. As the shadow reached the prince's bed, a stray glimmer of moonlight hit cold steel, and Tayli could see a raised dagger, poised to kill, dangerously outlined in the white light.
It happened in one movement. Automatically, Tayli's hands rose and brought the bow to her face. Then, with all the tension that had been building up inside her since the door had first opened converting into strength, she pulled back on the bowstring, aimed, and let fly.
$$$$$$$$$$$$
A/N: Sorry its not too long, but I wanted to leave you guys off with a cliffy! I'll update ASAP.
Thank you so much to all my reviewers! I love you!
Kitera-Matar: Thanks! I'm writing as fast as I can w/ 2 other stories going.
aPPle-FrrEAk: I'll keep going, the story will be great you'll see.
Sonchika: I can't wait for what happens next either!
Icepixie: I'll keep that in mind, but my computer doesn't let me do it most of the time. Thanks for the suggestion!