Chapter Six

The Hunt

"Good morning." The Prince and his horse galloped to my side.

"Good morning, your highness." I replied while I saddled my borrowed horse.

"Kieren." He sighed.

"I can't, your highness."

"Yes you can. Ki-er-en. Try it." The Prince insisted.

"Yes, K-Kieren." I blushed.

Kieren smiled, "Did you know that you are the first person I met that looked to have a kind and decent heart?"

"No." I smiled, "Really?"

"Yes." He frowned, "I'm sorry, but I believe that I do not know your name."

"It's Arabella." I grinned broadly, "Just Arabella."

"Well, Arabella, I believe that you have just become my new subject of interest." Kieren smiled jokingly, and I laughed. Just then, the archery master's booming voice interrupted our conversation.

"Archers! Assemble!" He ordered.

I quickly mounted my horse and adjusted my bow and arrow.

"Now, in an hour, you will be required to assemble here. You are dismissed."

I urged my horse forward, and we sprinted into the forest. I heard the pounding of hooves behind me, and knew that it was the archery master and Kieren. Without a thought, I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds around me. Aside from the pounding of the hooves, my hunting instincts distinguished another sound: the sound of growling. I followed the noise and soon came face to face with a tall and majestic bear. The bear, threatened, rose to its full height and glared down at me. In response, I slowly pulled back my arrow, took careful aim, and released. It would have been a perfect shot, but just then, the bear returned to its normal height. Not wanting to waste a perfectly good shot, I shot another arrow towards the one that was still flying, intending to hit the end tip of the old arrow to turn it downward at the target. My plan was precise, and it prevailed. The bear, giving a final roar, tumbled to the ground.

Behind me, someone gasped. When I turned around, the archery master's eyes were as round as saucers, and Kieren's grin was wider than the Cheshire Cat's. I smiled, but just then, I saw dark figures loom above Kieren and the archery master. Before I could utter a cry of warning, a hand covered my mouth, and I heard the voice of the man whom I never wished to see again.

"Utter a sound, and I will torture you until you breathe your final breath." Benjamin whispered in my ear.

I looked up, and I could see Andrew, Ralph, and Finn as they carried of Kieren, who was now gagged and bound with ropes. The archery master lied on the forest floor in pain: he had a wound in his chest that was heavily gushing blood.

"Now, I will take you back to the castle, and you must tell the royal family that you failed to rescue the prince, and that you are willing to be sold into slavery once again." Benjamin seized me roughly by the shoulders.

"And if I don't?" I dared to ask.

"Then," Benjamin seemed to contemplate the question, "I will not harm the prince, and he will be returned to the castle."

I knew that his words were lies, and as I glanced back at the figures of Andrew and the others carrying Kieren to his death, I knew what I had to do. Slowly, without attracting Benjamin's attention, which was now averted to the archery master, I pulled out my small hunting knife that was hidden under my tunic, and plunged it into my captor's chest.

Benjamin let out a small cry of alarm, and fell heavily to the ground, clutching his chest. I didn't waste any time to think about how I had just killed a person for the first time: I ran after Kieren and his captors.

As I ran past trees, bushes, and boulders, all I thought of was recuing Kieren. I've known him for only a couple of days, but it seemed like a lifetime. As predicted, he had a kind and wondrous heart: one that was caring, understanding, and faithful. Sometimes, you just have to burrow deep inside one's heart to understand what they are truly like: just like an arrow.

"Hello, slave." I froze dead in my tracks. Andrew came out of the concealment of the woods, sword in hand. I drew my bow taut, ready to shoot an arrow when needed.

"I could make a deal." Andrew smiled as he motioned to the shadow in the forest. Finn emerged: in his grip was Kieren, held at the tip of a sharp dagger.

"If you lower your bow, and let us leave this kingdom in peace, I will hand the prince to you, and nobody will be harmed." Andrew intoned, "But if you assume your position, I will plunge this dagger into his heart."

I nodded, unable to speak. Then, I lowered my bow and arrow, but did not let go. All at once, Finn and Ralph dropped Kieren and turned to run, but Andrew wasn't done yet.

"Goodbye, Kulornia." He whispered, then shot an arrow straight at Kieren.

In panic, I threw myself at the Prince, and the arrow whizzed past, grazing my neck. Exhausted, I drew my bow taut and stood up, fully intending to shoot Andrew, but when I looked up, he was nowhere in sight.

Silently, I untied Kieren's binds and helped him up. He too, was silent.

Then he smiled, and gazed at me with a mixture of emotions that I couldn't decipher. "Thank you for saving my life."

I grinned, "I owed you."

"I know," Kieren whispered as he stepped closer. Then, without warning, he kissed me.

Sure, I've kissed guys before, so I wasn't completely clueless in the art, but this kiss was different. It filled my entire body with a tingling warmth. Maybe it was because this kiss was different, because it came from a boy who didn't like me for my beauty, but for my heart. In any case, I melted.

When it was over, I felt a bit woozy, and before I knew it, everything turned to black, again.