Katherine
I see him.
There. With his hands tied and bloody wounds over his body. His face is an expression of pain, an excruciating and endless pain.
His body contracts under the pressure as he holds in the screams of agony. The blood appears out of nowhere. It is smeared over his sweaty skin, some falling on the floor like rain. His head is pulled back, and time slows down for me to watch a cut being drawn without hesitation across his exposed neck -
I wake up with a startle, swiftly sitting up in the bed, trying to erase what I just saw in my dreams. I touch every inch of my body to prove myself it is all in my mind. My skin is sweaty, and I feel my legs trembling under the covers. I get up and open the closest curtains. My hands shake as I unlock the shutters and throw them open. The sky before sunrise stares back at me. It greets me silently, not needing words to reassure me it is only a dream.
"Peter..."
I grab the nearest scarf and leave my room. I ignore the cold floor as I run to his room. I bargue in without knocking on the door, and I find a dark room.
"Peter?" I call into the empty room.
I take small steps as I enter the room. The candle by the headboard still burns, giving me a faint look of the room. Everything is in order. However, the sheets are rumpled. My heart beats to the sound of an imaginary drum the moment I open the curtains. The light before sunrise casts shadows around his room, proving my thought wasn't wrong. I feel the sheets and they are cool.
I leave his room and run to the other side of the castle to search for him in his father's chambers. There is no Peter. I walk in the room and approach the king's bed. There is a almost burned out candle casting shadows over the king. His skin looks like crystal, and his body is completely still under the covers, no twitching or normal movement of his chest give away he is alive. I blow out the candle and leave.
I run the halls barefoot in search of Peter. One thought comes to mind, and I quickly push it away. I go downstairs to search for him in the servants' wing. The kitchens are working with four servants at maximum, but they don't notice I am by the entrance. The Great Hall is deserted, the throne room too, and also the council hall. I search almost every room in the castle, and I don't find Peter.
I am out of breath, my feet are like two stones after a heavy rain, and my body tremble not with cold, but in fear. I suddenly remember of a place he could be, and when I get there, I pound on the door like a lunatic.
The door is thrown open after a long minute of pounding. A narrow-eyed Finnick greets me with a grumpy expression, still wearing his sleeping garments. He tries to open his eyes and stand tall when he sees my face.
"I should be worried, shouldn't I?" He asks. "This is the first time you are here."
"Peter is gone." I walk into his room without permission. It is a small room for someone of his position.
"Gone? How?" He closes the door and turns to me.
"He isn't in the castle! I can't find him! He just... he... he is gone..." I bring my hands to my head. "He told me he was going to Saldrian. I made him promise not go, and he... he didn't listen! He was just waiting for the perfect opportunity to leave..."
"Calm down." Finnick grabs my hands and lowers them. "When did he tell you that?"
"Last night."
"I didn't have any reports last night. He couldn't have left the castle without being noticed by the guards at the gate."
"He left the castle, Finnick! He could have gone through another gate."
"I have guards in every gate, Katherine."
"Then ask them if they saw Peter!" I shout. "Or I will do it, but I won't ask."
"I am sure Peter didn't leave the castle. We will find him before he does anything reckless."
"He left with an unstable mind. He is prone to do something reckless."
Finnick sighs, and lets go of my hands.
"Okay. You'll go put on something more decent, and then we will inquire my guards." He says. "We'll meet at the kitchens."
I nod, and leave Finnick's room with the same feeling of uneasiness. It probably takes three to four days to travel to Saldrian. In one night, Peter could have reached the border between Baluster and Esbart. But I bet he only made it to half way, which is a plus for us. The quicker we find him, the sooner he will return home.
...
I put on some clothes I find in one of the trunks around my room, and leave for the kitchens. In a table by the corner of the room are four guards chatting and having breakfast. I could go talk to them right now, but I would use other methods Finnick wouldn't be happy about. Five minutes pass. Finnick hasn't arrived. Ten minutes and I am getting tired of waiting. Fiftenn minutes later and he finally arrives.
"What took you so long?"
"I have send three guards after Peter, if he did left the castle. If he didn't, I sent three innocent men to die."
"No one is going to die, Finnick."
"I am trusting you with their lives."
"I will add them to my list of deaths caused or connected to me." I say, sarcastically.
He guides me into the kitchens. The hand on my back pushes me forward until we stop by the table. The guards look up, and they immediately stand up.
"Morning, Commander. Your Highness." They greet us as an uncoordinated chorus.
"Are there any reports from last night?" Finnick asks, in a demanding voice. "Anything unusual?"
"No." They all say.
I look at them, and they are at ease with Finnick, but there is something odd in their answer.
"Alright... did any of you see someone leave the castle last night?" I ask, annoyed.
"No."
I glance at Finnick, and he gives me an I-told-you look. A moment of silence before the storm. I grab the closest knife and throw it to the guard closest to us. It lands on the edge of the table, right in front of his chest. The air around the kitchens is clogged with tension.
"I am going to ask again. Did you see anyone leave the castle last night?"
They exhale and inhale sharply.
"Did you?" I demand. "Tell me! Did you see the prince leave the castle?"
"We aren't allowed to say anything..." One guard says, hesitantly.
"I don't care what the prince promised you or ordered you to do. I need to know if he left the castle or not." I look at them. "Do you want to be ruled by the queen? Because it will happen, if you don't tell me where Peter is."
The silence is thick, and the tension makes it almost hard to breathe.
"Open your fucking mouths and tell me where he is!" I shout at them.
Finnick holds me down the moment I take a step towards them.
"Men?"
"He left the castle, Commander. He threaten us not to say anything to you or to the princess." The guard I nearly injured confesses.
"Did he tell you where he was going?" Finnick asks.
"No. He just left the castle."
"Thank you."
They assent and sit down slowly. I take Finnick's hands off my arms, and leave the kitchens. He catches up to me and stops me in the middle of the stairs.
"Next time I will do the talking."
"They are under your command, not mine." I say, climbing another step.
"Where are you going now? You can't leave the castle. We have to wait for my men to arrive."
"I am going too."
"Katherine, you are staying here." Finnick orders.
"Imagine if it was a close friend of yours. I am sure you would be out of here quickly. Peter is the closest I have to family, and I am not letting him die for a foolish decision."
"I would, but it isn't the same situation. Peter is the prince! Who will take the throne after his father is..." He huffs and brings his hands to his face. "I should have seen this coming! If I had protected the king, I could have avoided this situation."
"Don't blame yourself, Finnick. No one could have seen this coming."
"I should have. I sworn to protect the king and his kingdom, and I wasn't able to do one of the two..."
"There is still time to amend your mistakes, if you help me get Peter back." I plead with him.
"I just don't have a good feeling about you coming with me."
"I lived in hell for three years, Finnick. You don't have to worry about my safety." I say, climbing the remaining steps.
"You know, there was a time when Peter made me swore to protect you." His voice echoes up the stairs.
"I am sure he made you promise every single day to look after me."
...
We leave Baluster with three guards. The horses gallop as fast as they can down the main road. The morning is gray, full of heavy clouds and a light breeze cools the air. Along the way, we ask a farmer if he saw a man on horse - he didn't - and stop to eat, since Finnick and I didn't have breakfast.
The inn is full of strangers chatting loudly. They are mostly men, and when I step into the dinning hall, their heads turn. They murmur among them, never taking their eyes off me. I eye them, placing a hand on the hilt of my sword as we walk to a vacant table.
"There is no need for that, Katherine." Finnick assures, sitting down opposite me.
"You said you didn't have a good feeling about this search."
"About you coming with me, not the search itself."
"Mmhh." I nod.
We order bread, jam and a jar of milk. While we eat, I glance at the men and I spot a few looking at me.
"Perhaps we should ask some of these men if they saw Peter." Finnick proposes with his mouth full of bread.
"I am not sure. There is something in the way they look at me." I look at him. "Something will happen the moment we finish our meal."
He chuckles. "Katherine, you are the only woman in the room dressed like a man. Of course they are staring at you."
"No, I don't think it's that. There is something else."
"These men are probably tired from traveling too much. What you see in their eyes is fatigue and sleep. Give it a rest, and finish your bread." Finnick drinks the milk in his cup and stands up. "I will be back in a moment."
I eat the last piece of bread just as I feel a presence behind me. I glance at the person, and a rough man with traits of old age stares at me. He is armed with two swords and I spot a knife under his sleeve.
"I know who you are."
"You do?"
"You're the outlaw, the one the queen has been trying to kill."
The hall quiets down as they eye the man and I.
"You are confusing me with someone else."
"I am not." He reaches into his vest and pulls out a parchment. "Isn't this you?"
He unrolls the parchment, and a drawing of my face stares back at me. I thought those posters weren't circulating the country anymore.
"That is someone who looks a lot like me, but it isn't me."
"Listen, bitch - " His hand shoots out and he grabs my hair harshly. "You killed my friend."
"I have killed many people like you." I spit at him.
The anger in his eyes turns to fury, and he bangs my head against the table. My head buzzes like a swarm of bees. He bangs it again, but I reach out and scratch him across the face. He hisses in pain, and for a moment lightens the hold on my hair. My other hand searches for the knife of the table and I bring it down to his thigh. He stumbles back, cussing at me.
"Try to hurt me again, and I will kill you." I warn him, standing up.
The room is quiet. The men stare, but they don't make a move.
Finnick appears, and I wonder how he didn't hear the noise. He sees the man on the floor clutching his thigh. He glances at me and immediately grabs my arm to get me out of the inn.
"Let's go." He orders the guards when we are outside.
I mount my horse with a buzzing head, but I am able to ride him without veering off the road. We are far from the inn, and so Finnick tells us to stop. He helps me out of my horse. My feet touch the ground and I stumble to the side.
"I guess I can't leave you alone. You start a fight with everyone." He says, frustated.
"That bastard came at me. I was only defending myself... Or would you want him to kill me?"
"I wouldn't want that." He sighs. "Maybe I should have waited for you."
"You can't protect me from everything, Finnick."
"Alright, let's not start again... Let me take a look at your head."
"It's fine."
"Don't be stubborn." He grabs my jaw and moves my head to the right. The buzzing intensifies. "There's no blood. Just a lump."
"Great..."
"Go sit by that trunk. We will rest for a moment."
"The longer we rest, the harder it will be to find Peter." I take his hand off me. "I can ride with a bruised head."
"I am not - "
"I can do it." I stand my ground, and watch him try to find an excuse.
Finnick shakes his head. He helps me mount my horse, and we resume our search.
The clouds are darker and fuller. Without the sun, I don't know how long it has passed, but I am certain we have been traveling for a couple of hours. We find no trace of Peter. The fields are wild, and I don't see houses or people. And so we stop for a moment to let the horses rest.
"We should go back, Katherine." Finnick says. "A few more miles and we reach the border."
"Finnick, we can't stop now. I am not giving up."
"We don't know where Peter is! For all I know, he took a different route and returned to the castle."
"Send one guard back, if you are so certain."
"Then how would we know if Peter was back at the castle?" He huffs.
"If you want to go back, go! I will go forward."
"I am not leaving you alone, not after what happened at the inn." He declares, scratching his temple in a frustated manner.
"If it would please you, you can leave me with one of your guards." I cross my arms.
"I am not sure if it is a good idea. My guards are professional, but I made a vow to protect you."
"You made a vow to Peter, not me. And it doesn't matter what you vowed for."
I turn away from him, and walk over to my horse to drink some water.
"Commander, there."
I glance at the guard's call. A horse appears out nowhere with no one riding it. I drop my waterskin and run to it just as one of the guards grabs its reins to stop him. I check the satchels strapped to the horse and find nothing. There is no sign of Peter.
"Is it his horse?" Finnick asks.
"I don't know... Do you recognize it?"
"No."
A wound on the horse's neck catches my attention. I touch it carefully and my fingertips come stained with black blood. I immediately wipe them on my shirt.
"We have to warn Esbart and Bluemoon." I glance at Finnick. "Go back to the castle and send birds."
Finnick grabs my arm.
"We are going back."
"You -"
"The Baluster people are counting on you to guide them. You aren't dropping everything to save Peter. We are saving him together, but at its own time."
"I am going to Saldrian, and you are going to tell our allies about the on-coming war." I order. "I am saying this as your superior, Commander."
He eyes me, and then his hand drops from my arm. The world tumbles to the side when something hard collides with my head. I see the grass for a second before everything turns into darkness.
...
Noise fills my head. Feather-like touches grab my hand. I hear words, but I don't know where they come from. My eyes open slowly as I adjust to the strong light.
"Welcome back, Your Highness."
I narrow my eyes to see who spoke. Someone snaps two fingers near my left ear, and I startle at the sound. My head pounds like thunder, and when I bring my hand to it, someone stops me.
"Don't make sudden movements."
"I should have stopped him."
"Commander, I am sure it was the only way."
"Where am I?" I say, interrupting the high-pitched voices.
"Baluster."
I try to fully open my eyes. Two silhouettes morph into two men, Finnick and Master Aurelius. One smiles, the other examines me. A rush of adreline takes over my mind. It takes the pain and turns it into fury.
"You are an hipocrit, Commander!" I shout as I throw myself at Finnick. Master Aurelius grabs my arms before I reach Finnick. "I asked! I plead for your help, and you betrayed me. She will kill him -"
"She will not!"
"You're a bastard!" I shout at him as Master Aurelius forces me to lay down.
I struggle against his hold, but the adreline is gone, bringing back the pain. And so I give in.
"May I let go, Your Highness?" He asks firmly, his eyes examining me.
I don't give him a sign, but I am sure he takes the pain in my eyes as one. He lowers my arms and lets go, followed by a tentative touch at my shoulder.
"No sudden movements."
"Can you leave us for a moment, Master?" Finnickas asks.
He leaves. I follow him with my eyes to the door, giving me a good look at the room. The neutral colours tell me I am in my chambers.
"I can't trust you again."
"The guard has already been punished." The corner of his mouth rises.
"It doesn't make a difference what you did to him. I am talking about trust, about me trusting you." I fist the covers when the pain is too hard to endure.
"I didn't betray you. You have to believe me when I say it wasn't planned. I didn't give him an order to hit you in the head."
"Either way, you wanted me here, away from danger, away from the only chance to save Peter."
"We will save him, Katherine. You can't think of what you want." Finnicks says. "You have to think of what everyone wants."
"Finnick..." My throat feels cloagged, and there is a sting under my eyes. "I won't stop worrying about Peter until he is out of Coin's hands."
"The rescue has to be well-organized, Katherine." Finnick sits on the edge of the bed. "I can't just break into Saldrian with three guards. I am sure you know what follows..."
"Then gather an army."
"You have to. I am only a commander, not a king."
I dab at my dry eyes to release the unshed tears. Finnick eyes me for a moment, then look down at his hands.
"I am not a queen, Finnick. I don't have an army. I don't have influence over anyone. I am powerless." The noise inside my head intensifies. "How can I gather an army without power?"
"You have more power than you imagine."
"I am not risking the peasants' lives."
"If they believe you can give them a better life, I am sure they will join you without a second thought." Finnick glances at me as he sighs. "Try to rest. I will talk to the council."
"You don't have to assume the command," I say. "I can do that."
"With a blow like that?" Finnicks stands up. "Once the meeting is over, I will report the decisions."
The door closes after him. I stare at the canopy over my bed and let the tears escape my eyes. The silent tears turn into hiccups. I turn on my side to muffle the crying with the pillow. The nightmare fills my mind, and I have to shut my eyes to keep it at bay.
A knock on the door startles me.
"Go away."
I wait for a second knock, but I don't hear anything beyond the door. I grab the sheet and put it over my head to hide myself from the world.
Time goes by silently. I sit by the fireplace when a scream startles me, bringing my mind into focus. The scream continues, and I recognize it as the sound of trumpets. I stand up and walk to the window to see what is happening outside.
Guards run around the gardens under the afternoon cloudy sky, their voices loud and clear as they shout orders. The door to my room is thrown open. I quickly turn around, expecting a threat, but it is only Finnick.
"Are you apt for war?"
His words tug at my heart and squeeze it until it is drained of blood.
"Y-yes..." I clear my throat, "Yes, I am."
I stay rooted to my spot, unable to move a muscle. Finnick closes the door behind him and approaches me. His hands rest on my shoulders, prompting me to look up at his face. There are many emotions painted on his face, but determination shines through.
"You don't have to do this, Katherine." He reminds me. "There is no need for you to be on that battlefield."
"I have to get Peter back."
"I will bring him back, safe and sound."
"No, Finnick." I exhale. "It is my duty to save him. He is in there, because of me. Because of a dispute that has lasted too long."
"He is in there, because of his reckless decision." Finnick grasps my shoulders. "If something happens, I don't want you to think it is your fault, okay?"
I bite my lower lip, apprehensive to answer. Deep down, I blame myself for everything. I have come to accept what happened in the past, but a tiny part of me holds on to the blame like a child to a blanket. It is inevitable.
"Okay." I say to appease his worries, but I know he sees behind my lie.
"Good. Now, suit up, because the journey is long."
...
Peter
Blood.
My body baths in it as punchs, cuts, lashes mark my skin. The metallic flavor is nauseating, and I taste it in my mouth as I spit it out. I exhale deeply, trying to catch a break. Yet the sharp blade is once again brought down on my back. I feel the skin being cut open and the blood crawl down slowly.
"What were the odds of you coming here and killing me?" Coin asks. "Answer me."
My face is a mask of concentration as I endure the excruciating pain. Coin stands by the door, too afraid to step into the cell and get her regal clothes dirty.
"You poisoned my father," I growl at her.
I grunt at Coin the second the whip collides with my scarred back. My muscles stiffen at the cutting sensation.
"Answer me."
"None..." I breathe out.
"Exactly, because I am an entire kingdom and you are only one. A poor, reckless young man."
"If you think that... wait until you see an entire country march towards... your castle..." I say, taking deep breaths between words.
"You are so full of hope, Prince Peter."
Her footsteps echo around the cell as she finally steps inside. Her hand lifts my chin, and I am staring into vibrant gray eyes. There is malice, torture and poison in them.
"Hope turns countries into ashes and people into slaves. Too much hope and everything seizes to exist." She murmurs, her face just a few inches from mine.
"You fear it."
"I don't fear anything!" She snaps, dropping her hand.
"Katherine gives people hope." I smile, knowing I found her weakness. "They look at her and see-"
"Quiet him!"
The guard immediately grabs my arm and breaks it at the elbow. I groan, the sound that leaves my mouth is not human. Heat goes up my arm and it spreads down my body. My limp arm hangs above my head, prompting me to stand straighter.
"One more word about the princess, and the punishment will be worse." The guard threatens.
"She isn't a princess. She is an outlaw. A mistake."
"Katherine gathered an army, while you hid behind this castle."
"Oh, how wrong you are." She chuckles, dryly. "While she hid like the coward she is, I lead an army of thousand of men and claimed every kingdom."
"She will liberate-"
The guard throws a punch at my face, hard enough to have me spit blood.
"Put him to sleep." Coin orders.
She walks to the door and looks back at me.
"When you open your eyes, the first thing you will see will be her head. Separated from her body."
I struggle against the rope, completely forgetting the excruciating pain in my left arm. The door closes. The guard walks around me as I snarl at him like a feral dog. His hand collides once again with my face. I cough blood, but he doesn't waste time. He punches me again.
He repeats this move until my face is numb. There is nothing to do but to close my eyes and fall into the void.
...
Katherine
One day since we left Baluster. The fields that harbor our camping party are free of snow, yet the air is still cold. The laughs and shouts of merry guards fill the air while the wood burns in a small firepit.
Back in Baluster stayed the counselors and, at least, one hundred men. Finnick gathered three hundred that include guards and some villagers. I never thought I would see so many people ready to fight for their country. My goal is to free Peter, but the opportunity has finally presented itself and I can at last kill Coin.
There is a tent for me, yet I prefer to sleep under the night sky. I still can't get around the priviligies. There shouldn't be separation between people during a war.
"You should be resting."
I look behind me. The nearby fire casts half of Gale's face in shadows. He holds out a cup to me.
"If you insist." I joke, and take the cup.
The ale is bitter, but it feels good after the third gulp.
"I was thinking about what I told you back at my house." Gale says.
"That I needed to lead an army?"
"Yes. And look at you." He motions to everyone around us. "I never thought it would be like this."
"Well, wait for tomorrow. Esbart will make us look like... what's the word?... pussies."
Gale laughs out loud.
"I am glad you still have a foul mouth." He says.
I look at him. I haven't seen in weeks, but it feels like months. I wonder why he is still here, and not in Alighter with his family.
"Royal accomodations and fancy dresses can't change me." I say. "There were many moments when I wanted to run away and go back to the woods."
"There is still time." He says, and drink so more. "After this is all accomplished."
"I have thought of that." I say. "But there's something else."
"Would he be willing to renounce the throne for you?"
"No, I don't think Peter would." I drink the rest of my ale. "And I couldn't ask that of him. I was ripped from my home and thrown into a strange world. I don't want him to go through the same."
"I think it would do him good, Katherine." Gale's expression turns serious.
"Do you hate Peter?"
"I don't." He says. I raise an eyebrow. "I look at him... and see myself, if my father hadn't forsaken my mother. Peter is... carefree. It is irritating."
"Then you are jealous of him."
"Maybe I am..." He drinks. "Anyway, personal matters aside, I am confident this war will thrive. Have you had any response from Bluemoon?"
"No, but I hope they will join us before we march for Saldrian." I scrap the ink off the cup. "Finnick hopes the birds will arrive tomorrow. I doubt that."
"You should learn from him." Gale flashes me a small smile. He grabs my cup, taking a step back. "As I once told you, you give people hope."
I watch him walk away and join a group of men by the fire.
The night quiets down, and soon the dark sky gives way to the early morning light. I slept wrapped in my cloack and one wool blanket beside a lone camp fire. My eyes search the bodies scattered around the field. It is a wonder how so many people didn't desert and go back to their houses.
I sit up to find a few people already up. One of the men looks my way. He nods as he passes by me. I stretch my stiff muscles before standing up. The morning dew floats around the field.
I go to my tent, where I drop the blanket and grab my sword. As I am walking out of the tent, the curtain is pulled back to reveal Finnick.
"Morning."
"Dammit, Finnick!" I scold him. "It is still early for scares."
"You are needed. A bird arrived from Bluemoon." He says.
...
"Lord Heavensbee is jesting with us!" I drop the letter on the table, before I tear the parchment to pieces. "This isn't a war? Then what is this? Child's play?"
"At least he is sending a hundred men to aid us." The ginger-haired man comments.
"What can a hundred men do better than our three hundred and the ones coming from Esbart?" I ask the group of five men in front of me.
"Your Highness-"
"Please, Katherine." I huff.
"Katherine, the more men we have, the quicker the war will end." The bearded middle-aged man says, leaning forward.
"And bigger will the number of deaths be." I sit down on the bench and rub my hands over my face in desperation. "I can't do this..."
"You can. If you didn't believe this would work, we would be back in Baluster waiting for another attack from Coin. And Peter-"
"Stop, Finnick." I let my hands fall to look up at him. "Don't you dare go there."
Finnicks sighs, while he runs a hand through his hair.
"Fuck Bluemoon."
We all look at the young man. I believe his name is Mitchell.
"Now that we are finally at war with Saldrian, they hide their heads between their arse cheeks.
"We aren't exactly at war with Saldrian. We are on a rescue mission." A man, possibly of thirty years old, says.
"It's war." Mitchell contradicts the man's words.
"If it was a war, the whole country would be on our side."
"They are cowards like Bluemoon."
"Enough!" I shout at them. "The day has just began."
I look at the map on the table, at the wooden dolls suggesting our positions, at the lines that dance up and down the parchment.
"Okay, I - we will receive Lord Heavensbee's men." I say, uncertain of my decisions. "And they are to be treated as equals. The same goes for the people of Esbart. I don't want fights and dead bodies scattered around the fields."
"Of course, Katherine." The bearded man agrees. "In the meantime, I would like permission to train some of the villagers. They lack... experience."
"Hey!" Mitchell calls out the bearded man. "I know some fighting techniques."
"Some? More like none." The bearded man smiles playfully.
"You have the permission to do as you please, Sir...?"
"Boggs." He says. "Nevermind the 'sir'. I am no knight."
I nod in understanding.
"Anything else?" I ask.
It is hard to know what is going on. It only shows how prepared I am to be queen...
Everyone looks at each other. I sigh and sit down.
"Okay, you may go back to your activities."
They leave the tent, except for Finnick. He sits on the same bench as I.
"You are handling this quite well, Katherine."
"I feel horrible, Finnick. The weight of the world has fallen on my shoulders, and everyone is waiting for my advise." I rest my head on the table. "I wish this was a dream. I wish we were back at Baluster, the king wasn't dying and Peter was safe."
"Don't let reality take a tool on you." Finnick places a hand on my shoulder.
"It is already doing that." I offer him a sleepy smile.
"Are you prepared to meet Lord Lyme?"
"No. From what I remember from Peter's letter, Lord Lyme is a tough person, hard on the exterior."
"Yeah. I can tell you something. Be careful. He will try to bring you down even if you a princess, Katherine."
"Commander."
I straighten my back at the call. A guard in Baluster armour stands by the entrance, trying to catch his breath.
"There's word of Esbart approaching our camp."
Finnick and I quickly stand up.
"Thank you." Finnick nods. The guard leaves.
"He will try to bring me down..." I repeat.
"Keep that in mind, Katherine."
It seems the faster you want to finish a chapter, the longer it takes. Anyway, we are almost at the end of the story. I am not sure how many chapters there are left, but I can assure you in, approximately, five chapters I will end the story. I need to dedicate my time to writing film scripts. Enjoy the chapter, and don't worry about Peter. He is alright, apart from the broken arm and the scars ;)