Chapter 14

"This is Stanley," said Robina in her tired bossy voice motioning to the man who looked with doleful respect at her and Princess Anastasia. He was an ordinary looking man, with a pop belly and a grizzly beard. "He will be your guide and will help you track down your Prince. He is the best I've got, and I am very reluctant to loose him so be nice."

Stanley swatted a mosquito, not caring if Robina talked as if he was some hound dog.

Anastasia frowned. "Robina, I did not give you a bag of gold to be given a dirty man in return. If he is what you really say he is then, you must come with me. I don't want to control your dog."

Robina looked highly irritated then she smiled and asked, "What are you going to do with the prince once we find him?"

Anastasia glanced at Stanley then shrugged, uncomfortably. "I don't know," she said tossing the hair from her shoulders.

"Stanley, go pack up and saddle your donkey," ordered Robina. Then she looked at Anastasia again. "Well, what are you going to do with him? Because if you have no plans, I have several."

"I don't want to marry him," said the Princess in a disgusted tone. "I really don't know why I'm following him in the first place. Why? What do you want from him?"

Robina casually slid her knife from its sheath and said, "I want revenge."

The princess's eyes widened in disbelief then she smirked nervously. "You want to kill him because his horse threw you?"

"And because he took Perceval," snapped Robina, snapping her blade back in place. "I have to get him back."

"The boy? I thought you didn't want the boy. He was just a twerp and gave you nothing but trouble."

Robina scowled. "Yes, I know. But my brother would be furious if I didn't have him when he came. For some reason the boy is very important to him. Probably his slave, or he knows some secret of his life. Either way I've got to get him. So when we catch Lance, may I have the privilage of slicing his throat? And his friend's."

Princess Anastasia shook her head. "No, you can't do that."

She scrunched up her face in deep thought and frustration. Suddenly her face relaxed into a shrewd smile. "You know I just realized a conversation my father had with one of his advisors. I had only heard a few words but I could not understand what they meant. I do now, and it explains so much."

Robina waited impatiently.

But the Princess suddenly shook her head. "You may not kill Prince Lance, Robina. You can have the boy and the prince's comrade, but I will take him with me back to my castle."

Robina shrugged indifferently, but her eyes showed disappointment. "Suit yourself, Ana. I could have saved you a lot of trouble. We can't take your maid and you'll have to travel in poorer clothing than your silks, or we'll be robbed before you can say 'Prince Charming'. We'll leave at dawn."

Princess Anastasia sniffed in disgust. "Just because I'm going to travel, doesn't mean I can't be a princess. If you are so worried about my protection, then have you and Stanley bring a weapon. But of course you two are only a girl and a filthy man. Maybe we should bring a long a body guard as well, so that I can keep my appearance noble."

Robina clenched her teeth, but she didn't say anything.

Time froze for a split second then Conrad's squeaky faint voice said, "You mean I'm going to be a human sacrifice?"

The leader didn't seem to like that choice of words. "It is a great honor to be given to our gods," he said. "You will be taken to the highest kingdom and given many riches and crow..."

"There is no way you are going to take him," I said. "He is my slave and I own him. You can not just come and take my property away from me like that and give it to your gods who I don't believe in."

Conrad raised an eyebrow then eagerly nodded in agreement.

Wow, he actually wanted to be my slave.

Of course, I guess that's better than being sacrificed.

The leader wasn't fazed. "It is the will of the gods. He has fallen into the Sacred Trap and we must take him. You may chose any one of these men as a slave in exchange for the one you have lost. But now we must leave. We have a long journey ahead of us and can not be detained."

"Nnnno," I stuttered, stepping directly in front of Conrad in a protective manner. "You can't take him...take me!"

That made everyone's eyes bug out, including me.

Did I really just say that? No use backing down now.

The leader looked me up and down skeptically. "You may look more suitable for the gods, but I'm sorry you have not been chosen. Maybe next time, eh?"

I threw down my trump card. "But I'm a prince! Don't your gods like royalty? He's just a stable boy and my slave."

The leader bowed and said, "I regret that you have not fallen in the trap, your majesty. You would have been a fine offering, but the gods have not chosen you. I'm sorry. I'm sure you must be very disappointed."

He said it as if I wasa dog begging for a treat that was already eaten by Conrad.

Creepy.

"Now, if you will excuse us, we have a long journey to make."

Before I could do anything in response, the men grabbed Conrad and Shika from behind and began jogging away. I whirled around, ready to pounce and drag him back but they had already slipped into the forest. Conrad sqawked fearfully, but he was soon gagged. My eyes darted about as I reached for my sword, but the men were all gone. They had disappeared as quickly as they had come. I ran in the direction they had gone and yelled for them to stop, and waved my sword around frantically. But they were gone.

Just like that my best friend had been snatched away from my life. I felt like killing something...or someone.

I scolded myself for thinking like a villian and sighed. No, he wasn't gone just yet. He still had two months to live. Two months. I could track them in two months and save him, couldn't I? Of course I could.

I ran back to Ares and was in the saddle in a single leap.

"Come, on," I said to Perceval, "We've got to get him."

I didn't even wait for her reaction or her but began cantering after the wild men and Conrad. I was sure I could catch up to them, as Ares bounded through the woods, easily dodging all trees without my guidance. But the wild men were no where to be found. They had just disappeared, and they had taken Conrad with them.

The riens tightened and Ares slowed until he was standing stock still. I was breathing heavily, but not because of the ride.

Conrad was gone.

Perceval rode up to my side and said a little gently, "You can't get him back, Lance."

"Of course I can!" I said, feeling a little irritated. "I'll follow them to this sacred place, and I'll save him from the alter if I have to. If I have to I'll kill everyone of those wild men and wrestle with thier filthy preist. Darn religious creeps."

"You'd do that for him?"

I turned to her, startled. Her voice was truly surprised if not shocked and her face showed confused amazement. Didn't she believe in being loyal to friends?

"Of course, I would," I said. "Conrad has been my friend since I was ten. Do you really think I could just let him be captured by wild men and let him be served on a platter to some heathen god when I can do something about it?"

She still seemed confused.

"It's called loyalty. Ever heard of that word?"

"Yes, yes, of course," she said, blushing a little and averting her eyes.

"You don't have to come with me," I said backing up, as if to take the donkey's lead rope from her.

"I have no where else to go. Besides, you might need someone to clear the pathway on your way up to the alter and I know where we can find out where their domain is...I think."

She smiled lightly, and I felt as if good moods could come even without Conrad's sarcastic presence. I am not one to stay grey for long.

"All right then," I said. "Let's hop to it."