Chapter 6

Escape

Strange, Cedric thought. Shortly after the prisoners had been given their meal, two soldiers had come forward, untied him from the rest of the group, blindfolded him, and told him to march. He had been led into what he thought was a tent due to the fact that all outside sounds had been muffled. He had been ordered to sit in a chair and remain still while his hands were tied together around the backside of the chair. He had been blindfolded. He had remained in this state for what seemed like hours, but he could soon here the sound of crickets intermingled with the sound of the drunken soldiers. He knew night had come.

"Hey. Are you awake?" A voice suddenly spoke behind him.

"Huh? Are you talking to me?" Moaned Cedric.

"Yes, I'm talking to you!" the voice spoke again. Cedric was in a state of shock; he had thought that he was the only one in the tent.

"Who are you?" he asked. The voice was definitely that of a teenage girl of about sixteen.

"That's not important right now, just listen. Can you reach my hands?" Cedric groped around until he felt the skin of the girl's hands. They were extremely smooth he noticed. "Can you untie the knot?" The girl asked.

" Give me a minute. I'm blind folded so this is kind of hard."

" I know that you're blind folded, just untie the knot." He felt for the rope and found it tied securely around the girl's wrists. He began to untie the endlessly tangled strands.

This is so hard! he thought. I'll never complain about the sunlight being in my eyes ever again. After fumbling with the rope for about five minutes it finally loosened enough for the girl to free her wrists.

"Hold on a moment. Let me get up, then I'll help you out," she whispered

Cedric heard a slight scraping sound as the girl slid her legs out of the ropes that bound her. The whole time she was relaying a plan for escape.

"The guards have drunk much wine tonight." Now is the perfect time to slip away unnoticed. I can hear the sound of the guards snoring now. We'll slowly make our way to the woods that are right next to the camp."

"Are you out yet?" Cedric asked anxiously. "Get me out!"

"Here we go," the girl whispered. The white cloth bound about Cedric's head was suddenly lifted and standing before him was the princess.

"Princess Kathryn!" He couldn't believe what he saw before him for a moment. "Umm, I would bow to you but I'm tied up."

"Don't worry about bowing, I am a prisoner just like you. I am no longer a princess. I have no kingdom," she sighed. There was an awkward moment of silence between the two. The sound of the wind brushing through the spring green leaves on the trees could be heard for a moment. Kathryn spoke first breaking the silence.

" Come on, let's get you out of those ropes." She bent down and began to untie his legs from the chair. Once he was completely free, he stood up and stretched his sore limbs.

"Thank you," Cedric muttered as he stuffed the blindfold in the back pocket of his old breeches. This statement was greeted with silence. Kathryn's head was bowed as if in mourning.

"We should go," she sighed.

The two silently slipped out of the tent, past the sleeping guards. They wove in and out of tents, jumped over men who had fallen asleep in the pathways, and crawled underneath fences. Soon they reached the edge of the camp.

This is it! We're almost out! Cedric's mind was screaming. He grabbed hold of Kathryn's hand and broke into a dead run, headed straight for the forest, which the camp lay next to. They sped into the safety of the trees. Although Cedric did not know, two beady eyes, peering out from underneath the hood of an old muddy cloak witnessed his escape. The figure muttered to itself.

"May the Creator's good will bless those two; they flee one danger only to make matters worse. This news must be told to King Vincent right away."

Cedric, still holding tight to Kathryn's wrist ran as fast as he could through the tangled branches. He didn't begin to slow down until Kathryn, out of breath, pleaded for a stop. He released her wrist, and slumped against a tree. Kathryn was out of breath. She sat down upon the ground while attempting to slow her pounding heart. Cedric's arm had snagged a branch during their mad dash. It had ripped his shirtsleeve, and scratched his arm drawing blood. He pulled the blindfold out from his pocket and began to bind up the wound.

I'm glad I kept this, he thought. Suddenly Kathryn spoke.

"This is somewhat of an awkward time to ask, but we have not been properly introduced. You seem to know my name, but may I ask the name of my companion?"

"Princess…" Cedric began before Kathryn cut him off.

"I have told you this already. I am no longer a princess, my kingdom was destroyed. I am a friend. My name is Kathryn… Kathryn Treat." She extended a hand in Cedric's direction. Cedric was stunned for a moment, before reaching out taking her hand, and shaking it.

"Cedric," he replied "Cedric Pickard. Friend of Kathryn." Kathryn smiled.

"We should keep moving, no doubt a search party will be sent out as soon as dawn comes." Cedric declared. They continued walking onward in complete silence.

The entire world has gone mad, thought Cedric as he crept through the underbrush of the forest. The night sky was overcast, hiding the stars from view.

Tonight I have escaped a prison camp, befriended Princess Kathryn and am now on the run. Strange