The wind was trying to cut its way into the old gray stoned building, lighting was rushing towards the ground, and the thunder was echoing through the forest. All the members of group of rogue, were packed together. Zeudi and Armana were sitting all the way in the back. At the altars steps, something that would be unthinkable when the temple was still used as a place of worship. She still was not over the fact that Idris knew, or suspected who she was and kept it to himself. Or did he already tell some, if not all members of his crew. She wasn't sure about that, and she was not going to ask him. Armana didn't even know that Idris... She shook her head, this wasn't something she could share with her Lady Royal. Armana would think that she had run her mouth, which was not surprising in her case. But this time she hadn't, she was sure about that. Or did she run her mouth telling them about her father and his expectation for her to find a husband. It was no secret that she was trying to find a husband, all of Cidor knew that. But the princess was not the only high-born lady that was looking for one. Most likely the rest of them would get one of those peacocks she rejected. She had no doubt that they would be good husbands for them, but they wouldn't be great husbands for her. She sighed and lay her head against the stone wall. There was no room for her to lay down, which she didn't mind. They were almost sitting on each other's laps, but they were at least dry and the change of getting a cold was small. Although those men have spent a lot of time in the outdoors, so it wouldn't be likely that they get sick that quickly. That was something her mother had explained, when she was studying herbology. Idris stood up and made his way to the door, she followed him with her eyes.
"How are you feeling?" Armana asked, Zeudi looked at her with narrowed eyes. She was not asking about her health, she was asking about when they would try to escape.
"I am doing better, but my head still gets foggy from time to time." She replied, she also stood up. "Maybe some fresh air would help." She made her way carefully to the door. The ones who build this temple were smart enough to expend the roof, so that there was also a place were people could stand outside. Although it wasn't very big.
"What in heaven's name are you doing outside?" Was Idris first response when she stepped outside.
"I needed to stretch my legs, and some fresh air those wonders you know." She replied. She also needed to get away from Armana, but she was not going to tell him that. But her legs also started to cramp up. He sighed and shook his head, muttering something under his breath about how stubborn she was. And all she did was nod, she was stubborn. "You better get used to it." she said under her breath. He looked at her with a smile.
"I am planning to get you back to your family, once you are better." He said, she started to lean against the wall. He did the same. "I am even prepared to go to jail, when that time comes." She frowned. It was indeed a huge possibility. No not a possibility, he was going to jail for attacking a member of the royal household. If he was not sentenced to death, because she wasn't a normal member. Maybe if she tried hard enough she could protect him from that. She lowered her head.
"So you know who I am?" She asked and he nodded. "How?" He sighed, but didn't answer her right away. He turned towards her and lowered his gaze.
"Is it not enough that I know, that you are our future queen?" He asked and she shook her head. No she wanted to know how he knew, and how many other members of his crew knew about it. "I only told Simret, we grow up together." She nodded, she didn't know who Simret was. "He will keep it a secret." That was not something she worried about.
"Thank you for keeping it to yourself." She said closing her eyes, and lowered her head. "At least for now I am able to walk among you as a normal person." She heard him sigh and move. Slowly she opened her eyes and saw that he was leaning on his arm that was pushed against the wall. His face was inches away from hers. What in heaven's name was he doing? She just said that she was glad that she could move among them as a normal person, but for a normal person this was highly unappropriated. She tried to push him away, but he didn't move. He had his eyes closed.
"I am sorry." He said after a while, he then opened his eyes. Those stormy gray eyes, they suited him quite well. But he didn't move at all, not even a step backwards. "I am so sorry." He repeated, but again he didn't move. Why wouldn't he move even though he knew that he was in the wrong? She tried to not look him straight in the eyes, she didn't want to give him any ideas. Instead, she looked up and down, until her gaze was caught by the hilt of a dagger. Was he really that careless, or did he want to see how far she was able to go? Well she was not going to disappoint him. She grabbed his dagger and placed it on her own throat, now she was able to look into his eyes. He said nothing but nodded. "Fearless, just as I remember you. But what are you going to do next?" Just as he remembered? So they had met each other before, but where? Maybe during one of her missions? Which was the most likely possibility, because where else could have she met this rogue? But still this was her chance to get home, and to safe him a prison sentence. She stepped forward, and this time he moved. But not backwards, he grabbed her hand with the dagger. Quickly getting the dagger out of her hand. "Not even a scratch." He looked at her and sighed. "It is my own fault. You needed a way to protect yourself." He placed the dagger back, and sighed again. This time he stepped backwards into the rain. "Please go back inside, I will stay here for a while to cool off." She was not going against him this time.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
*****
The moon was high in the sky, her light barely reached the ground. Thanks to the large Wanaoanza trees with their black leaves, which have white spots. The trees were also called star leaf trees. Not that Zeudi was paying much attention to that, one of the men was snoring very loudly keeping her awake. Armana of the other hand was deep a sleep, leaning against the altar. Idris was standing guard in the doorway, she stood up and again made her way towards him.
"Why are you still awake?" He asked when he looked over his shoulder. She didn't answer him until she was close enough to whisper.
"Are you really asking me this?" She replied, pointing toward the source of the sound. "I was worried that one of the trees would end up on our heads." He started to chuckle softly. She quickly thought about the time he was leaning against the wall, the time had flown since then. Her head wound almost healed, it was almost time for her to escape, or was he going to keep his word and bring her back to the palace? She really didn't want to risk it, not for his and her own sake. It was maybe better if she escaped, and when she did, it will give Armana also an opening. Because all attention will be on her, and not on just a high-born lady. She stepped through the door and took a deep breath, it had stopped raining. Idris had told the man to move out of the temple, but it was she who reminded him that the rain season wasn't over yet. It will take another month before it was safe to camp outside. She could use this to her advantage, not that she intended to do it. But she could use it nonetheless. She took another step.
"What are you doing?" He asked, she turned towards him. He was standing right behind her, she could see in his eyes that he already knew the answer to that question. She sighed, and pushed him as hard as she could. He took a step backwards, but tripped over the threshold. Falling backwards, which woke up the other men as well. But she didn't mind that, without a second thought she started to run. The dark forest gave her the cover that she needed, and she knew that which way to go. All thanks to some of the men's big mouths. After what seemed forever she left the forest behind her and was back in the main road. Now she was left with two options, go to Hifadhi or back to the capital. She looked towards the two options, she wasn't going to bother the villagers. She took a deep breath and started to walk in the direction of the capital. It may be night, but that didn't mean that there would be nobody else would be out there. So she kept her head low, hoping that she would attract too much attention towards herself. That is when she heard it, hooves a lot of them. She turned her head around, maybe those were members of the army. But her heart sank when she saw the men coming towards her, they all had an eagle on their chest, her brother's emblem. This in many ways was even worse, if she had stayed with Idris and his men. How in heaven's name could she ever being so stupid. Her brother's men started to surround her, they might not know who she is, at least not yet. That didn't mean that they had other plans on their mind, plans that would quickly change when they figured it out.
"Well, well what have we here. A little girl that has run away from home, it seems. And what do we do with little girls that have run away from home, boys." The leader said, it was not the captain of her brother's personal guard. Which was not that surprising, but even if he was there the men would act this way. Despicable, they were tasked to keep the people of Cidor save. And she was pretty sure this was not keeping anyone safe.
"What about bringing the lost girl home. Lord Demas Aibsa." She replied. She raised her head and looked the man straight in the eyes. "Or is that to much off an ask. Specially for the prince's men." She motioned towards them. Demas's mouth started to fall open.
"Princess Zeudi... We didn't know that it was you." Another said. This shouldn't even matter.
"But what are we glad to see you safe and sound, your highness." Demas said. She still has her eyes locked on him. He was not happy to see her at all. She couldn't blame the man, he was one of the men she rejected. His hand went towards his sword. Was going to attack her? It looks like it. "You wanted to say that I am sorry to do this. But then I would be lying."