Everything that happened finally seeped into my bones as my energy left me. My anger was replaced by a deep hunger. Begrudgingly, I got back up and knocked on the door,

“Hello? Is there someone there?”

“What do you want?” a somewhat familiar voice asked. He must be one of the knights from earlier.

“I’ve been asleep for three days with no food. I’m starving,” I answered.

I could hear a sigh from beyond the door, “I’ll get you some food, just don’t go anywhere.”

“I’m locked in, how will I go anywhere?” I retorted.

The knight tsked but said nothing else. I heard the clacking of armor fade as he walked off. It probably wasn’t wise to mouth off to the person who is getting my food, but this whole situation has thoroughly ticked me off.

I paced the room in hopes it’d take my mind off my hunger, but it only seemed to make me hungrier. At long last there was a knock from the door,

“I have you some food, I’ll bring it in, but don’t try anything,” the knight said.

“Alright, you don’t have to worry about me doing anything,” I answered.

A click sounded from the door before it opened. The knight came in with a wooden tray of some bread, dread meat, and water. I looked behind him, and saw another knight just to the left of the door. Great, not only is there one knight, but two and possibly more nearby.

I grabbed the tray, “Thanks.”

He nodded before he left, closing and locking the door once more. I sighed and sat on the bed. I began eating as I thought of what to do. I can’t just stay here, not with the king who thinks I’m someone else. I also don’t like how they have seemingly caged Asmara.

My eyes traveled to the window once more, my mind reeling with ideas. As I see it, my only chance now is to jump from the window and hope I don’t injure myself too badly. My body was still suffering from the building incident, a fall from that height would no doubt cause some major injuries.

I finished my food and stood the chair back upright before setting the tray on it. I paced my room once more, unsure of my decision. It was starting to get dark out, so having that cover of darkness would help. I reached out to Asmara through our bond once more to be met with more silence.

I grabbed the chair and carefully placed it underneath the knob of the door. I need to be careful to not make a sound until I’m ready. Pulling the sheets from the bed, I tore them into strips before tying them together. I made a loop and hooked it to the bed. I grabbed the tray and as hard and quickly as I could, I hit the window.

Some cracks appeared but the window didn’t shatter. The sound, however, drew the attention of the knights.

“Hey! What are you doing?!” I heard one call.

I looked and saw the door knob trying to turn. I slammed the tray against the window, more cracks forming. I repeated this before finally the glass broke. Not wasting a second, I tossed the makeshift rope out the window. I grimaced as it barely reached halfway down the building.

The knights continued to shout and bang on the door. I could hear more storming down the hall. I heard a loud crack and looked to see that they had broken the door. I stepped up onto the window seal, the fragments of glass cutting into my feet. I winced and leaped from the window, gripping the makeshift rope tightly.

I knew it wouldn’t belong before they got into the room so I needed to be quick.

“Send some men out below! Make sure he doesn’t get to the Griffin!” Leon yelled, “And pull him up!”

I looked and saw three knights grab the sheets and started pulling me up. No, no, no! I looked Leon in the eyes before I released my grip and fell, his face became one of surprise.

“Dammit! Get some knights down there quick!” He yelled as he disappeared from the window’s edge.

As I fell through the air, the icy wind felt like blades against my skin. I hardly had time to maneuver my body as I landed on the ground hard. Pain spread throughout my body, and my consciousness threatened to leave. I could barely breathe, the impact had knocked the air from me. The cold snow only worsened my pain and I carefully sat up. I took deep breaths, trying to rid myself of the dizziness.

I heard the shouts of knights, and quickly stood. I only took a moment to look around before taking off in the direction opposite of the voices. Each step I took was filled with pain, but I had to endure it. I could not allow myself to be captured. I stumbled over my own feet, but I had to keep going.

***

“So what you're telling me is that, Luci- no Crow, escaped from his room out of his window?” I asked.

“Yes, your majesty. He had made a rope from his bed sheets and broke the window with the food tray one of the knights had given him. We tried pulling him up, but he let go of the rope and fell. I had thought that since he had fell from that height, he wouldn’t have been able to move, but I was wrong,” Leon responded.

I sighed, “Even if he doesn’t remember who he is, he acts just like he did in the past. Well, where do you think he has gone?”

“I believe he is still within the castle grounds. I think he will search for his Griffin, therefore I have stationed my men with the beast,” he answered.

“Good, based on his actions so far, I feel it is in the public's best interest to keep him here,” I stated.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Very well, I will make sure my men and the other knights are aware of what he looks like. Is there anything else you’d like me to do?” Leon asked.

“The Winter Festival Incident, have you found the ones responsible?” I inquired.

He shook his head, “I apologize Your Majesty, those terrorists live up to their names. As soon as they caused some mayhem, they disappeared.”

I sighed, “Very well, you may go. Call Kian in for me.”

He nodded before leaving. Does he really not remember his past? His actions are strange, he hasn’t asked me anything about what happened? Is it possible he is acting on muscle memory? What’s worse, is that those terrorists appeared for the first time in years. Why now? Is it because of his return?

My thoughts were interrupted with the door opening again. Kian walked in,

“You wanted to see me, father?”

“Yes Kian, I know you had questions about the man I had brought in,” I answered

He nodded, “I did.”

“I want you to beware of him. He has currently escaped the infirmary and is still within the castle walls. If you see him, call for the knights and get away from him. You hear me?” I instructed.

“Yes father, but why? He didn’t seem like a dangerous individual and besides you saw how he saved that woman and her children,” Kian said.

I furrowed my brows, “Kian, just listen to me for once. He is dangerous and I don’t want you to get hurt. Do you understand?”

“Yes, father, I understand,” he replied with his head hung low.

I cleared my throat, “I’m sorry, if you knew what I knew about him, you’d understand. Just promise me to stay clear of him. You may go.”

He nodded once more before leaving. I saw what Lucian did, but I can’t believe it. Where he got such strength and healing ability from I wasn’t sure. What’s more unbelievable is that he was alive. I know for sure he was dead, how couldn’t I? After all, I was the one that stabbed a sword through his heart.

***

I slowly made my way around the castle grounds, careful to avoid the unwanted attention of the knights. I need to make my way back into the castle, but with how tight the security is, that is practically impossible. The most likely location for Asmara is the dungeon of the castle. I heard footsteps approach and quickly ducked down behind a bush.

I was concerned that the snow would make it easier to follow me, but my feet had stopped bleeding. All I had to do was cover my tracks. I held my breath as they walked by and released it when I was in the clear. I stood up and went the opposite direction they had gone. There has to be a door somewhere around here.

I stopped short as I saw a figure standing a few feet in front of me. I quickly tried to duck out of sight but he caught me. His face bore a resemblance to the king, was he perhaps his son? That wasn’t important right now, he was quickly making his way to me. My blood ran cold in fear of what would happen.

“Hurry, follow me,” he said in a hushed whisper.

I stared at him, dumbfounded, “W-what?”

He grabbed my arm and pulled me. I hesitantly followed him and he soon led me to a somewhat small door.

He opened it, “This is a secret passage entrance, follow behind me and close the door.”

He crawled in and I waited only a second more before I crawled after him. The crawlspace soon became big enough to walk in. After walking for a decent amount of time, he stopped and began feeling the wall.

“Aha, here it is,” he said. I was confused but a sound interrupted me as a portion of the wall swung out into a room.

He turned back to me, “This is my room, you’ll be safe here.”

He walked out of the passage and I followed him.

“Who are you and why did you help me?” I asked looking back at him

“I’m Kian Ivor Eskya, Crown Prince of Eskya,” He responded, “and I helped you because I didn’t think it was right for you to be hunted down.”

My eyes widened, “Oh, forgive my rudeness, but your father is the one who ordered my capture, so why?”

“Because, you saved that woman and her children,” He said, his eyes meeting mine, “I couldn’t really tell because of the darkness, but are you hurt?”

“Thank you and truthfully, yes. I fell from almost three stories up on my back, not to mention my feet got cut by glass,” I replied.

His eyes widened as he rushed over to me, “Please sit down, I’ll get a healing potion.”

I did as he said and welcomed the comfort of the soft chair. My tired body ached as the adrenaline began to leave it. My limbs felt so heavy, I didn’t think I’d be able to move them.

I slowly clenched my shaking hands in an effort to get them to stop with no luck. I looked at the bookcase as it finally shut, looking as if it was never out of place. I turned my head and watched Kian who was looking around on a desk. He grabbed a bottle and rushed back to me,

“This is a healing potion, drink it. It should heal most of your injuries, but some of your serious injuries may not fully heal. Still, it’s better than nothing.”

I nodded, “Thank you.”

I grabbed it from him and pulled the cork from it before downing it. Surprisingly, it didn’t taste as bad as I thought it would. I immediately felt its effects kick in as some of my minor injuries, such as the cuts on my feet healed. Along with the healing came more drowsiness.

“Your Highness, please, I hate to ask a favor of you, but I need my griffin back. Can you please find her?” I asked as my eyelids became heavier.

“Of course, but it appears that the healing potions effects are kicking in quite fast. While I go search for your griffin, please rest. Oh, but stay hidden in case someone comes into my room. I’ll order them to not come in, but one of my butlers or maids may do so to clean up,” He responded.

“Thank you, I mean it,” I said.

He smiled before getting up and walking to the bookcase, “This here book, when you pull it, it’ll open the bookcase back up.”

I nodded and he left his room quickly. I slowly stood up and made my way to the bookcase. I pulled the book and waited for it to open. I’d rather fall asleep somewhere I knew I’d be out of sight than in his room. With it fully opened I walked inside and slid down the wall until I was seated.

I was no longer able to keep my eyes open and succumbed to the exhaustion my body felt.