---------------------Phil's POW----------------
I woke up early that day and could not go back to sleep so I stepped outside a side door of the castle for a breath of fresh air. Knowing that the rest of the castle, save the servants, were probably still asleep, I decided to go for a walk in the woods to refresh my mind for another day with Vivian.
As I strolled, I heard a scream that pierced the eerie silence of the trees. The cry was immediately subdued. Deciding to investigate the noise, I headed stealthily in its direction. When I arrived I saw a familiar girl tied and gagged to a tree with a short man standing beside her.
"I'm sorry, Rina. But I have no other choice." The stranger was saying. Rina! Of course! She was the maid I had met. In my haste to catch the stranger's words, I had accidentally stepped on a twig. Immediately, Rina and the stranger turned to me. Wincing, I came forward.
"What do you want with her?" I demanded, placing myself between Rina and the man.
"I'm not going to hurt her, your majesty. She is my slave that I have bought and shall release." The stranger answered slowly.
"What kind of man buys a slave just to liberate her?" I asked.
"One who is seeking the heir." The man replied.
"Heir?"
"Let me introduce myself." The man said. "I'm Keith. I come from the kingdom of Keron. I bring some unpleasant news." I recognized Keron to be a neighboring kingdom. The king, queen, and heir had died sixteen years ago. The new king, an uncle, was now in command. I've never been there, but I had heard stories. The kingdom was apparently wasting away. War had torn the countryside shortly before the last monarchs died and the kingdom had not recovered.
"The kingdom of Keron was once prosperous place." Keith continued. "The crops flourished and the people rejoiced under the wise rule of their king and queen. That was sixteen years ago. Nargul was the king's brother, a scheming, wicked man who set his life's goal to killing the royal family and gaining the throne. He gained followers with promises of power and threats of death. Your parents, naturally disappointed by his actions and disliking war, delayed the war as much as possible. However, Nargul had spies, military skills, and the desire to win.
War erupted and the peace-loving monarchs lost more land and power to the rebels with each coming day. Nargul planned with his close knit council of cunning men. I admit I was one of them."
Rina, who had been stunned by the story, began to stuggle again. "Stop it." Keith told her. "Let me finish. Nargul told me lies and filled my head with ideas of riches and treasure. It was too late before I realized his intentions. By that time, I had already given him information that endangered the royal family. You see, I was the king's childhood friend. I knew all about him and his family. Nargul used the facts I gave him to plan his next move. That's part of the reason why the monarchs were outwitted in every major battle.
"I eventually discovered his plans. It was too late though. His assassins had already killed the king and queen and kidnapped the only heir to the throne, a baby girl. You see, all this was happening undercover. Nargul was planning to announce that the monarchs had died because of some freak accident and he would rule as surrogate king for the baby and they later announce the baby died cholera or something and officially declare himself king.
"Anyway, when the queen was assassinated and the king was in his deathbed, the truth was reveled and announced to the peasants. The king died and Nargul had no choice but to declare war. He was going to kill the heir, but I sneaked her away. I stole her from your prison and travel here to this kingdom. I begged Lord Profest and Lady Vilene to take her in and they did. Knowing that Nargul would hunt me down and hang me for treason, I hid for all these years. Now I've come back, when the baby has grown old and wise. When YOU have grown old and wise." Keith finished his narrative and glance at Rina. She was frowning and the color was drained from her face.
Rina mumbled something. Keith removed the gag from her mouth. "You mean I'm the heir?" She gasped.
Keith nodded. "The only heir to the throne of Keron."
"Why tell me now? Why let me live sixteen years of my life in torture? Why not take me with you?"
"You see. I've been planning a rebellion. I had no time to look after a child. Nargul's powers are weakened when out of the country. Besides, Lord Profest owes me a favor, anyways."
"What happened to the king's ― my father's ― loyal advisors?" Rina asked softly after a moment's silence.
"They tried to fight back after the king was killed. Many of the ringleaders were killed. Others were locked up and driven to insanity. Still some escaped Nargul's gasp and are hiding in our secret base waiting for you to grow to be the suitable age to inherit the throne."
"So you want me to join your fighting force and try to overthrow Nargul." Rina said slowly more to herself than Keith.
Keith nodded.
"How do I know you aren't lying to me?" Rina accused.
"I wouldn't dare lie to the future queen and besides, you're already my slave so I could kill you right here and now if I wanted to. Why bother coming up with an elaborate hoax if I was in command of your life now." Keith reasoned.
Rina nodded slowly. "You have a valid point."
When Rina continued to hesitate, Keith pulled out a velvet bag. He upended it in his hand. It was a gold medallion in the shape of the sun, complete with wavy rays. On top of the flat medallion was a carved form resembling Chinese calligraphy. "It's the royal emblem. I believe it has significant value, not just as money, but as a key, but I have not been able to figure it out. Here." Keith held it out to Rina. "Take it. It rightfully belongs to you." Rina slowly took the medallion and said nothing, deep in thought.
After a few moments, Keith said, "take you time and think about it. I know you can't go back to the manor, so use this money for food and to buy travel items for yourself if you decide to go with me." He handed her a purse. "I'll meet you here tonight for your answer. Good day." Keith disappeared into the forest.
Rina continually stared at the medallion. After a moment's silence, I coughed and whispered, "What will you do now?"
Rina regarded me for a moment than answered quietly, "I'm not sure. Maybe you should untie me first."
"Good idea." I said, pulling out my pocket knife and slashed at her bonds. I had completely forgotten that she was tied.
"You ought to go back." Rina told me once she was free from the tree. "Vivian will go crazy looking for you."
I sighed at the thought of going back to that mindless harpy. "What will you do?" I asked.
"I'll probably just stay her, thinking. Considering my choices."
"Keith seemed pretty honest. And regretful for this past decisions."
"I know, but I still don't completely trust him. There's a lot of nasty people in this world. And the whole heir thing is still quite a shock."
"Would you feel better if I went with you?" What was I saying? I said it without thinking? But I somehow I didn't regret my decision.
"You can't Phil. You have a duty to your country." Rina protested.
"As do you." I said. I left her pondering over my last remark as I headed back towards the castle.
When I arrived, I saw Vivian waiting for me at the door. "Oh Prince Philip!" She screeched when she saw me. "I heard from one of the servants that you had gone for a walk out in the woods. My prince, you must be more careful. Without your body guards you are prone to assassins. You could be killed!" Vivian was nearly hysterical, obviously expecting me to sooth her. When I didn't move, she threw herself against my chest, sobbing. When she realized I wasn't going to hug her, she stopped and grabbed my arm. "Oh Prince Philip. I'm sorry for my most unladylike display. But I was just so worried." Vivian pretended to wipe tears from her eyes. "Please, walk with me in the gardens so I may calm and recollect myself before I face others." So that was what she was up to. Great.
Rina arrived at the tree that night to find Phil waiting. He was dressed in a rough, homespun shirt and trousers. A hat was pulled low over his head so no one might recognize him. A pack hung from his shoulders with a half conceled sword embedded in it.
Rina herself was dressed for traveling. Her hair was tied back and covered with a handkerchief. Her faded gown was that of a poor girl who wasn't worth the effort to rob. A slight lump on the front of her dress suggested that Rina wore her medallion underneath her shift. She carried a bundle under her arm.
Rina seemed surprised to see him waiting. "I see you've decided to come." Phil stated, gesturing to her attire.
Rina nodded. "And what are you doing here?"
"Coming with you." Phil replied.
"But what about you're parents?"
"I told them the truth and they let me go. They're all for good foreign relations."
"You told them all of the truth!" Rina gasped.
"Well not all, just enough to get them to let me come. I might have elaborated a bit here and there." Phil shrugged as if it was no big deal.
"Won't everyone know you're gone?"
"I'm suppose to be sick, sent back to the capital for the best treatment."
A couple minutes later, Keith arrived. He smiled when he saw them. "I knew you would come. A true queen would never abandon her country in times of need."
"Queen?" Rina asked.
"Of course. Why do you think we waited sixteen years for you to grow up?" Keith answered. "Come on." Keith led them through the trees to the road adjourning the woods. A hay wagon drawn by an old, skinny herrk was half hidden by the shadows of the trees. Keith pushed the hay to one side. "Lay in here." He instructed. "I'll cover you with this hay and it'll protect you form being recognized by any of Nargul's guards. He's got pictures of all the rebels posted everywhere, even pictures of you."
"How'd he get pictures of me?" Rina inquired.
"He had artists guess. And besides, you look a lot like your mom. We shouldn't take chances anyway. Who knows what the guards might do if they saw an old man with his young granddaughter. The guards up there are pretty nasty. Besides, hiding will save Phillip here from getting recognized." Keith explained while pulling on an old hat an pasting a white beard on his chin.
Rina and Phil climbed into the wagon, pulling a heavy yellow blanket over them. "Don't move until I tell you you may." Keith instructed as he replaced the hay on top of the blanket. "We will likely be stopped by guards on the road, particularly when we drive near the Keron border. Don't move whatever you do."