The group met up with Sam at the edge of town. The young boy was pacing back and forth waiting for his companions. He had somehow found another cloak to wear and had the hood pulled up over his head. The first thing Finn did was slap it off his head.
“It is dark and hard enough to see. You need to be on guard, not trying to look cool.”
“Whatever Finn, all you ever do is try to look cool.”
“I do not try, I just am.”
A heavy sigh could be heard from Liza. “If you boys are done playing grab ass, we need to go.” Liza and Brox were already going over the gear Sam had laid out. Making sure all the packs were in order.
The group gathered their packs and set out toward the south. They walked for several hours in almost pitch darkness with Sam leading the way. Charlotte was barely able to see anything. She just continued to follow with Anastasia clinging to her side.
As dawn broke Charlotte was finally able to assess her surroundings. She notices the Black ridge mountains on the left. Those should have been behind them if they were headed to the capital. Charlotte noticed the worried look on the princess' face and spoke up.
“It is good that you noticed, yes we are headed south.”
“But why? We are only a few days from the capital if we head west.”
“True but that is the direction they will search first. By heading south, we can loop around the marshlands to the southwest. This is by far the longest and worst way to reach the capital from here.”
“I see, but won't they still send people south just in case. They will have horses. We need to make it to the capital as fast as possible.” Anastasia voiced her concerns.
“True enough Sarah, but we will only use the road for a few more hours than we will be turning west.” Finn spoke up from the front of the group.
Even Charlotte had a surprised look at this comment. Did this man intend for them to travel over the marshland to get to the capital?
“I do not think that is wise.” Charlotte protested
“While it is dangerous. It is a known amount of danger. The monsters in the marshes should not be a problem for us, but a few hundred soldiers catching up to us would be a different story.” Finn’s tone was as carefree as ever. It was as if nothing the night before had happened.
“A few more hours to get some distance on the road then we will make for the forest. The marshes are about days walk through that forest.”
Charlotte was unsure of what to make of this plan, by first hand knowledge she knew moving through the marshes would be extremely hazardous. The monsters that call those lands home were some of the strongest in the region. To say they would not be a problem for a group of only four adventures was laughable. Charlotte had a worried look on her face but did not question him. Feeling Anastasia’s gaze on her, Charlotte tried to ease her expression, with little success.
Anastasia took a deep breath “We will defer to your judgment, Sir Finn.”
“Sarah it is just Finn. We are old friends, remember.” Finn had slowed his pace and was now walking beside Anastasia and Charlotte.
Anastasia was clearly annoyed and Finn kept calling her Sarah.
“I will stop calling you Sir Finn , if you stop calling me Sarah.”
“I don’t know, I kind of enjoy it. It’s like a pet name lovers have for each other.” Finn leaned in, raising an eyebrow.
Anastasia was unable to keep herself from blushing at the implications. Charlotte also was not able to contain her emotions at the comment either.
“You will speak to her highness with more respect.” Charlotte barked
“Fine princess, what should I call you?”
“I am the first princess Anastasia of Galand. You can address me as your Highness or Princess Anastasia.”
“Sounds good Anna. We will be turning in a little for the woods so be prepared.” Finn moved back to the front of the group with Sam.
Charlotte saw the frustrated explosion on Anastasia’s face. Only her mother and sister called her Anna. For this stranger to be so cavalier with the princess.
Charlotte was not so willing to forgive the inappropriate conduct. Before she could raise her objection, a hand was placed on her shoulder. It was Liza who had come up behind her.
“I find it best to ignore his antics. Getting worked up will just fan the flames.”
Charlotte looked at the woman who was the most responsible for saving her last night. She had so many questions. She wanted to ask them all, but lost the chance when Liza slipped back to the rear-guard position she had been in before. Leaving the large man Brox between them.
Within the hour as Finn had said they turned toward the forest. It did not take long to reach the tree's edge. Just as they did Charlotte looked back toward the road and could see a dust plum billowing up. She focused her eyes and could make out riders racing down the road at high speed. Charlotte grabbed the princess and made for the trees and knelt into the brush. They watched as the riders passed, they did not seem to notice their group or even slow down.
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“Damn, that was cutting it close. We almost got caught.” Finn said as he stood over the kneeling pair .
They both looked up at him in surprise at why Finn was not trying to conceal himself more. Finn cocked his head and noticed the confused and worried look on their faces.
“Do not worry we are about a mile from the road. The only reason we could see them clearly is they were kicking up a mess. No way they can see us against the tree line at the speed they are going.”
The pair both let out a small sigh and relaxed their bodies but remained kneeling in the brush.
“Come on you too, we are going to head in a little way and make camp. You both need to rest.”
“We can keep going, we will rest at night.” Anastasia stood up defiantly. She did her best to hide her fatigue, but it was clear she had not slept in over 24 hours. That would not be a concern for trained knights like Charlotte normally, but her injuries were still not healed. With how she was treated by her assailants it was a miracle she was still moving. Healing would repair the body but did not replace lost blood or stamina.
“How very valiant Anna, but this is a long tough path we have ahead of ourselves. If you pass out on the first day, it will not be good.”
“We will be Just fine, we can keep moving right Charlotte.”
“As her highness says we will keep moving. We must put more distance between us and our pursuers.” Charlotte tried her best to hide her exhaustion.
“I mean… you both can keep moving after we stop, I guess, but I need at least eight hours of rest, or I am a nightmare to deal with.” Finn turned on his heel and went deeper into the woods.
Anastasia and Charlotte, both followed him. After a few more hours it was just before noon the group stopped.
“This is far enough. Make camp, unusual duties. Ladies have a seat next to me please.” Finn plopped himself down on the ground. Anastasia and Charlotte were so beyond the point of exhaustion that they said nothing and sat next to Finn.
“That is how I like my ladies, docile and obedient.”
Anastasia and Charlotte were just too tired to say anything and ignored him. However, a second later a small rock hit Finn in the back of the head and he looked over his shoulder to see Liza setting up a tent. Finn smirked.
Finn spoke loud enough for all to hear. “Sometimes I like them to be dominant and rough.” This time a much larger rock came flying at him, but he was able to catch this one.
Finn pulled out the bag that Ginny had given the group last night and passed it over to the princess and her Knight. He waited for one of them to grab it. They had not eaten anything since the day before. With all the excitement they had not really felt hungry. That was until just now when they stopped moving.
Charlotte took the bag from Finn and opened its contents. It was several sandwiches with thick cuts of meat. Jugs that she was sure were wine or ale. It was a simple meal most likely prepared in haste but still seemed to be made with care.
Charlotte was not able to contain herself and grab the first sandwich from the bag and placed the rest down in front of Anastasia. She dove without much care for how it must look. It was the most magnificent food she ever tasted. This was likely just because of her hunger but she did not care and savored every bite.
After eating about half, she noticed the princess leaning against her. She seemed to be nodding off. Charlotte shook her gently and unwrapped another sandwich and gave it to the princess. Anastasia’s eyes widened as she remembered how hungry she was, and dove in. Finn could not help but laugh at the sight before him.
Anastasia and Charlotte noticed his chuckle and immediately straightened up. Pretending as if they had been using proper manners this whole time. This only made Finn laugh louder.
“HAHA… No need for all that out here in the wild ladies. No one here will judge you. We do not care about what fake masks you put on. Just eat, you need your strength. Eat as much as you can, we will be here until morning so lots of time for the food to settle.”
The pair looked at each other and dove back into the food. It did not take long before they each polished off three sandwiches. There was only one left and Finn proudly took the last and a bottle of the wine. By the time Finn had finished his food Anastasia had fallen asleep, her head resting in Charlotte’s lap.
“Sir Finn, may I ask you something.”
“It is just Finn.”
“If you insist… My question goes along with your name. Who are you really?”
Charlotte could not understand the group of people before her. They had saved her from a group of more than thirty trained knights. In truth it had just been Finn and Brox that had done most of the fighting except the first strike done by Liza. A random band of four adventures could not have this level of skill without her knowing of them, or at least hearing rumors of them.
“I am just a wandering adventurer slash mercenary, nothing special or mysterious. I am unsure who you think I may be. To be honest I am more interested in you. I woman of your beauty could have had an easy life. I am sure you could have married up the social ladder a few rungs at least. Or even made the leap and been a second or third wife to an extended member of the royal family even. Instead, I find you taking an extreme ass whooping to protect a snot nosed little princess.”
Charlotte did not let Finn’s obvious provocation and defection derail her from her question.
“I have dealt with a great many men like you who cannot give a straight answer. I am entrusting the princess’s safety to you. I would appreciate it if you answered my question.”
Finn met Charlotte’s gaze. He knew he would not escape this without answering.
“What answer would satisfy you, my lady.” Finn paused briefly, not really waiting for an answer. “I am the disgraced son of a fallen king. My family had everything taken from them and I am on the path of revenge.”
Finn waited for Charlotte to respond before interrupting her as she did. “Or maybe I was a knight protector much like you are. I failed to save my charge and her screams haunt me to this day, so I saw a chance of redemption in the princess.”
Waiting again Finn interrupted Charlotte before she could speak. “Or maybe I am just a poor orphan who has seen the harsh cruel world that we live in. I cannot help but stand up to noble bullies who seek to get their way through violence. Not worrying about who they trample on or what lives they destroy. As they live a life of luxury drinking the blood of those ‘below them’.” Finn’s normal playful tone was replaced with a much more serious one.
Finn again waited for Charlotte to start speaking and interrupted her one last time. “I don’t care what story you chose to believe. Pick the one that will help you rest at night.” Finn stood up and knelt next to Anastasia before lifting her into his arms.
“Come on, Liza has finished with the tent. No need to sleep exposed like this.” Finn made his way with Anastasia to one of the tents Liza had set up.
“Here you two can share this one with Liza, the boys will be over in that one.” Finn knelt and placed Anastasia onto one of the bed rolls and then covered her with the available blanket.
Charlotte was overcome with guilt. She knelt beside Finn “Sir Finn I am sorry If I have offended you. I didn't mean to impugn your honor. You have done nothing to cause me to distrust you. I am truly sorry.”
Finn sighed heavily “Are you hard of hearing the name is just Finn.” Finn rose and left, not looking Charlotte’s way.
Charlotte reached out her hand as if to call him back but was unsure what she should say. She chose to say nothing. She entered the tent and laid next to the princess. She took a moment to look over Anastasia's sleeping face. She looked so peaceful. No one would have known she was being hunted like an animal. Charlotte diffed off to sleep almost as soon as she had that thought. The ordeal she had been through was too much for her body to fight any more.