(I am beginning to like Robina...)

Chapter 17

Perceval was sitting up in a tree when we arrived at the spot. She looked down at us, her face well hidden and said, "The camp is just down this hill."

I looked down but could only see trees, bushes, and more trees.

"Where?" I asked.

"The wild men don't have tents and don't make fires," explained Tyler. "They are down there and look exactly like their surroundings, so you'll have to be careful. Last year Troy bumped into one while caught up in yelling and screaming. The man whacked him upside the head, and I nearly had to kill him in order to drag Troy away. That's why they are getting the worst lamb of our flocks this time."

Trent, ...t..t... all the T Brothers that were supposed to make a racket went first. Only when we heard a clamor of shouts and the sound of a hundred footsteps running in one direction did Tyler, Theo, Thian, Perceval and I advance. I saw Troy and Tanner running back and forth and yelling something about the pheasants being upon them.

"The prisoner is kept over here," said Tyler.

"There is his pen," said Theo excitedly.

I strained my neck, trying despertely to see the pen and Conrad. But I couldn't do that and watch where I was going. I had a habit of knocking people over when I'm trying to see something.

Tyler suddenly stopped and I bumped into him, hard. He stumbled and tripped me.

See what I mean?

"There's no one there," said Tyler in an amazed voice.

"What!"

I jumped to my feet and ran towards the pen. It was crudely made and very small, and stood about the height of a man.

But I didn't really see this.

I only saw that it was empty.

"Are you sure this is the right pen?" I asked.

Thain, Tyler and Theo just looked at me. Thian was glaring, insulted that I had doubted their knowledge.

"Brothers of Terif!"

I jumped when I heard and recognized the voice. That creepy wild man leader was striding up to us, his animal skins flapping. His hair was disheveled and his eyes wild with grief.

Thian made a move to his sword, Theo placed a hand on his dagger, and Perceval's fingers twitched for her bow.

Hold on a minute, I thought, the guy isn't even armed.

"I am so grateful that you have come."

We all raised an eyebrow...or two in my case. He was grateful?

"Our gift for the gods is not here as you can see."

"What happened to him?" I asked, glowering.

"You have come too late," said the man, and tears actually began to come from his eyes. I wondered if they were fake. "The gift for the gods has done a shameful and dispicable thing. The gods will advenge and curse him for such an act. He will never have a good life. I never thought anyone would dare defy the will of the gods and refuse such an honor to be..."

"Killed like a chicken?" finished Theo.

I stifled a laugh.

"Just get to the point and tell us what happened to him," said Thian.

The wild man glared at them both then said reluctantly, "Last night the one who has fallen into our sacred trap managed to escape on his own. He is gone."

"Are you absolutely positive it was him?" asked Robina for the third time, trying hard not to be smug and amused. She loved being annoying.

The tavern keeper was on the verge of spitting fire as his face turned red, if that were possible, seeing that it was already a tomato.

"Yes!" he yelled. "The boy was Prince Lance of Adelfos!"

"Thank-you sir," said Anastasia, sending a glare to Robina.

"Were there two boys with him?" asked Robina.

The tavern keeper glared at her furiously. He hated her guts. "No. There was only a young boy with him, whom I suspect to be a girl."

Robina blinked.

"What!"

"I am not repeating what I just said," hissed the keeper between his teeth as his eyes shot dagger blades at her.

"I guess Lance ditched both the stable boy and Percy and picked up with a new chick all together," said Anastasia tossing her hair. "He is so fickle. Tell me, mister, was this boy/ girl pretty?"

The tavern man hesitated. "Yes. She was. Of course not nearly as beautiful as your majesty."

"Oh, thank-you," said Ana dryly and smiled. "It is better that he have this new girlfriend. It works better for me."

Robina was silent and her smug grin was gone. She did not tell Anastasia that she suspected the girl to be Perceval. She had always wondered about the 'little sibling' her brother had given her. One of the reasons she didn't like Perceval was that he (or she) was so mysterious, and Robina was one who wanted to know everything about everyone.

She decided not ever to mention it and asked, "What about Perceval, Ana. I have to have him."

"Tut, tut," said Ana. "We'll deal with him later. Maybe he'll pop up someday. Or if your brother gets mad at you, you can blame everything on me, the princess." She turned back the man who was calming down. "Where is he now?"

"He left on an expedition some men have here in town that involves tracking wild men," huffed the tavern man.

"Will he be back?"

"Most likely," he replied.

"Good. Robina, we are staying in Terif today. Tell your Stanley to put the horses away."

"The stables are just around back," said the man eagerly. He was excited to know that a princess was staying at his inn.

Anastasia turned 'round again and faced the man with a sneer

"We are not staying at your inn, peasant pig," she sniffed. "You of all people should know about the three story building just down the street that has lace curtains. After all, it is competition for you."

She flounced her skirts and followed Robina who gave the man a final smirk.

So, thought the tavern keeper as his spirits deflated quicker than a needle in a balloon, That was the princess our prince is forced to marry. I do believe now why he ran off. He swore. He had just betrayed his prince, he didn't know how but he just knew it.