Chapter 4

Cyrus then led the two back into the inn. "Sit," he commanded, pointing at two sits. They did and Tom knew what was going to happen.

"Now, Tom you were going to tell me why the Queen gave you that piece around your neck?" staring at him.

"But I asked you not in front of the Princess!" looking very confused.

"Drop the act I know you were faking it so you can just tell me!"

"How do you know I was faking," trying to stale.

"Because if you have forgotten we played cards together, I know when you're bluffing," he ginned at himself.

"You played cards with him so you two are old friends this is just lovely!" asked the Princess

"Excuse me, if I needed the money and the only way I was going to get was to work for someone," replied Tom

"What we're you his cook or something?"

"No. He was my mercenary," said Cyrus

"What! Tom how could you!"

"I needed the money!"

"So let me guess what this is all about. You stole this guy's map and now he wants it back! And you got me involved! Thanks!" she said glaring at him

"No the map was mine I found it while I was defending YOUR country!"

"I told you not to go! That was your choice!"

"And I would do it again!"

"Why? SO you could be the hero!"

"ENOUGH!" interrupted Cyrus "I have to be the only one who gets two prisoners who never shut up!" he took a breath, "Now, Tom you are going to tell me right now how you got the medallion. And you," pointing to Tor, "are not going to interrupt once!"

"Fine," she said.

"What was that?" he glared at her. She was about to repeat her answer when she realized what he wanted from her, and remained quiet, "Very good, now Tom began," Tom was silent, "Do I have to threaten the Princess?" he pulled out his knife.

"No I was just trying to remember all the details."

"Oh" he said but did not put away his knife.

"When I was around six years old, I started working at the castle. My first job was to watch the Princess all day to make sure she didn't get into any trouble, which she did a lot-" Tom was interrupted.

"Skip the life story," said Cyrus

"Okay, the Queen was dying, no one was sure why but she was, and while on her death bed she asked to see me. I came in and she told me that she wanted to tell me a story. I had heard other stories from her but nothing like what she told me that day. She began like this…"

When I was twelve years old I discovered that I had powers, I could make things move, see the future, shoot fire from my hands, claim the untamed, I could do everything! And for my father's birthday that year I was going to make him the most powerful sword the world was yet to see. The first thing I had to do though was to find a blacksmith to help me. His name was Arthur and he was the oldest blacksmith in the village, I know that if I wanted the best sword for my father that he was the man for the job. So when I went to see him of course he agreed to help me. We spent many months welding magic and steal together, to form the sword, but what I didn't know was that my father was trying into a more vindictive man as the months past. He was panning on taking over every last bit of land from everyone. Now you must remember that Lasta was not as big then. Anyway as I worked on the sword with Arthur, my father took more and more land.

My brothers tried to reason with him but he only kept going. Finally, my brothers took up armies against him and were fighting back, making a civil war. After a few more months my brothers had my father off, they were about to win when sure enough I had to give him the sword. He slaughtered the people and his own sons, every last one of them. I was so upset and disgusted at what he did, that I stole the sword back from him while he was asleep. I rode my horse to a far away part of Lasta, where I knew no one would find it. When I came back my father was so angry that he threatened to kill me, and then I knew I did the right thing. He threw me in my own prison where I stayed for four years, always being asked about the swords location but I never told him. He went crazy after that and died four years later.

When I was released I was crowned Queen, at age sixteen. I was frightened of ruling with no one. Princes came from all over for my hand but they were only after the swords location. After I turned away another prince I had a dream about someone releasing the sword and I know that person had to be the true ruler. Next I made a map to get to the sword, for I knew I wasn't going to live for ever to release it. I then made a key to the map so that I could not fall into the wrong hands. I then broke the key in two; I thought I would keep one and pass it down in my family until the person came. I then gave the second piece to my old friend Arthur.

I waited for the person to show put they never did that. Same year, I met the king and we fell in love and I stopped worrying about the sword until I made another stupid mistake, but that's another story. After the king I was blessed with my baby, your Princess, but that year someone close to me was also taking away, Arthur my old friend died, but before he died he gave me back the piece he told me would have gave it to his son but he did not trust him, he did tell me that he thought his grandson would be a good man when he grew up and that he would trust the little guy with anything. I then told him that when he was ready I would give him the medallion.

And that is why you are here….

The flashback story ended and Tom continued, "My grandfather was Arthur the blacksmith and that is why the Queen gave the medallion to me, after she told me the story she told me to get the king and she died," he lowered his head.

"Tom why didn't you tell me?" asked Tor more worried than curious.

"I was trying to protect you from the hurt of losing your mother."

"Tom, I'm-" she was interrupted.

"Yes very touching but what about the map?" asked Cyrus.

"What do you mean?" asked Tom.

"Where is the location?"

"On the map are you stupid!" said Tor.

"Shut it! How does the key fit in? Show me!"

"I can't," said Tom.

"Why not?"

"I'm a little tied up."

"Untie him, and bring him here," Tom was released from his bonds and walked over to the table and looked down at the map.

"Now," Tom began, "If you look at the map it looks like a normal map, it has land markings," he pointed to a group of trees painted on it.

"It's not normal it has a hole in the middle!" yelled Cyrus.

"Yes, but other than that it is completely normal."

"But if it's normal than why does it need another key?"

"Exactly, this map already has a key so if it isn't a key for a map than it is the real key."

"So what you are saying is the key is the location on the map?"

"Yes, and all we have to do is put the two pieces to together and place it on the map and that is where the sword is!"

"Brilliant!"

"Now that you have what you need you will release the both of us," Tom said very seriously. Cyrus turned his back on Tom and walked towards the window.

"I see your point but you gave me your word that you would work for me," still looking out the window.

"I know but-"

"So you want to go against your own word!"

"No!"

"Well then I guess you're not leaving just yet!"

"Then release the Princess!"

"Release the Princess," he turned around, "are you not the same person who told him that she would do anything to save you. How am I suppose to release someone who would just be a pain in my side trying to save you!"

"I'd make her go!"

"You would make her!" he walked over to Tor and grabbed her chin, "do you see these eyes, do you know what they are saying right know," Tom had to look away, for he knew what they said, "they are saying I would die for you Tom Kint!" Tor shut her eyes releasing a tear.

"Then I would send Cookie to make sure she left!"

"You would send a monkey to do a man's job!"

"That monkey is more of a man that you are!" Tom defended his friend.

"Really?"

"Yes, really!" walking in Cyrus's face.

"Prove it," he spat. Tom just glared he knew that he could not prove it, "Well, no that, that is settled, I can deal with you!" pointing at the Princess.

"What are planning on doing with me since you will not release me?" she asked.

"Well, first I plan on using you to get to Tom, which is just for my entertainment for it is quite funny to watch him beg for you," she looked at Tom, he just dropped his head, "Then you will next release the sword-"

"And how may I ask am I suppose to do that, I'm not my mother!"

"But her blood runs through your veins! You should really use this thing up here more often," he tapped her head and Tom was readying to kill him for touching her. Cyrus then turned around, "See isn't it fun to make him jump," he still was tapping her head.

"Stop…please," asked Tom.

"Well since you asked so nicely," and he stopped, "then I will ransom you off to your father and lastly make you my bride!"

"I will not marry scum!" he slapped her.

"I am not scum! And you will treat me with respect!"

"I will give it to whom disserves it!" he slapped her again, and Tom started to move towards him.

"Don't move!" he told Tom, and he froze, then turning back to Tor, "We will talk about his later!"

"What ever you wish," Tor spat, this just made Cyrus laugh.

"Cheeky, you are very cheeky," patting her on the cheek that he slapped twice.

"Now on to bigger and better things, Liam you will bring her highness and Tom to the room on the right and lock them in until I need them," Liam began to move towards them, "Also I think you can release the Princess from her bonds she must be quite in a lot of pain."

"Yes, my Lord," said Liam he them took the Princess and Tom up to their room and locked them in.

When Liam left them, Tor ran over to Tor and hugged him for a long time. He realized that she needed this and he just left her hug him. Finally after a while she let him go. "What are we going to do?" she asked.

"We are going to have to do what he says until the time is right," he told her.

"You are not going to let him marry me though are you?" she asked.

"No! If I had my way you would be safe at room doing your women's work, like I did four years ago."

"Tom you know I don't do women's work," she smiled at him.

"I know I just thought maybe you did take it up when I left."

"To tell you the truth I did a lot less women's work than I did before you left. I spent so much of my time training my self so that I could go and find you and bring you back."

"Why?"

"Because I couldn't stand being without you," he walked over to the bed and sat down.

"Then why did you act like way did when I first got back?"

"Because! I could not believe you left me that day, and I still can't believe it now!" she turned away from him.

"You knew that's what I wanted!"

"But what about what I wanted!"

"You're the Princess you always get what you want!"

"I never get what I want!"

"Oh servant go get this, servant go get that," Tom through his hands around trying to imitate the Princess.

"I wanted you to stay, I didn't get that,"

"Let me be the first to tell you we all don't get what we want!"

"So what are you saying I don't disserve you!"

"I'm saying that sometimes life does not go our way," he said it much nice, seeing that she was about to break down any second.

"Like not having a mother?" and she broke she started sobbing and fell on the floor. Tom walked over to her and pulled her into a hug.

"Come on now," Tom said rubbing her back to make her claim down.

"What…if….I….was…better," she tried to say through her sobs

"You know it's not your fault," Tom told her.

"But-"

"No if, and, or, buts, it was not your fault, she just got sick. You had nothing to do with it."

"Why?" she said still sobbing.

"Sometimes it's just your time."

"But it wasn't her time."

"That's not your decision."

"I wish she was still her," she was claiming down.

"And if she was she would be so proud of you."

"Proud of Me! No…"

"Oh yes, especially the way you stood up to Cyrus today," smiled down at her.

"Yeah I guess," she smiled back.

"You guess, you were great and you have to stay strong so we can get out here, okay?" Tor was crashing and she was crashing fast.

"Um ka," and she was gone. Tom lifted her up and took her to the bed. He took over the boots and slipped her into the bed. Then he walked over to the chair in the corner and sat watching his sleeping beauty.