Traitor

The crunching of the snow was heavy as I ran ,ran somewhere,anywhere that I felt was safe.who am I kidding my home wasn’t even safe for me anymore.

Grabbing the hood of my cloak I shoved my inky black curls out of sight gaurds were looking for me everywhere. If I wanted to escape with my life I needed to get help and quick ,quicker than the pace I’m going at right now. Scanning the entrance to the stables from my perch in a tree ,I searched for any servants around . When the coast was clear in leaped down barely making a sound and legged it to the stables.

My mind was swimming, in the past twenty four hours my life has been turned upside down; at my farthers birthday banquet my fourth brother and his coup stormed the castle taking power and murdering my farther ,the king, infront of the whole royal family and then tried to force us to submit to his rule . After my mother refused along with me and my full brother we were thrown into the dungeon until we did, Leopold knew he needed the queens support if he was to rule and killing her only son and daughter was not the way he would get it .Little did he know we had help ,one of my mother ladies in waiting had tried to free us but we got caught and only I was able to escape .I don’t know what happened to my mother or my brother philippe they could be ,no the can’t be !

Coming back to my senses my eyes landed on a pure black shire horse who if I remember is called Ember. Feeling pressure to leave I quickly saddle him up and just as the fire light of a guards torch played shadows on the wall behind me we galloped into the cover of the forest. Memories of me playing hide and seek here with my mother and brothers when I was young flooded me and caused a lump in my throat ,swallowing hard I pushed down the raging sea of emotions it’s was a lot to take in but not the right time to deal with it. What I need to think of is a plan. I Have no home no family my only true friend is nowhere to be seen and could be dead for all I know.

Edging Ember to a stop deep in the veggatation of the forest to give us cover ,I don’t have much time a search party is probably being sent out as we speak and I don’t know where to go . All I could think of is the power hungry look in Leopold’s eye as he talked about taking over Rhys and then Ūdisen the neighbouring kingdom ;we were once just one kingdom but was then divided by war that was ended about ninety years ago and trade between the two countries is thriving but the royal family’s compliance with each other is fragile. Wait Ūdisen ,he’s coming for them next ,I’m sure they would help if I explain the threat to both our kingdoms. It’s worth a shot it’s not like I have anything more to lose. Patting Embers flank I mounted him and raced to my beacon of new hope.

lights of the kingdom shone through the forests shrubbery,warm and welcoming . Hope slowly entered my chest. Hope that was short lived as the sound of hunting dogs and horses hooves shook the ground . Dam! I didn’t think the search party would go out of the borders of Rhys . I urged Ember on faster ,we raced to the gates not wanting to be caught . The sound of an arrow whistled past my ear,fear gripped at me as my heart sped up .there trying to shoot me now ?! He wants to kill me. I didn’t have any weapons to defend myself ,Ember was my only hope. I guess he doesn’t want anyone to know of what’s happened tonight.

Sharp pain broke me from my thoughts as an arrow dug itself into my right shoulder,gritting my teeth I broke the wooden spear in half leaving the arrow in.Ill need a doctor to look at that if I want to use a bow again. Relief flooded my nerves as I passed the barriers of my sanctuary ,stone walls closed in as I glanced at my retrieving hunters and headed towards the palace.The clack of hooves on cobble stones filled the quite streets .it was a lovely town with quaint houses and taverns , music faintly drifting from it .I’m sure a market would be set up in the early hours of the morning with a bus along crowd.

The castle loomed up ahead filling me with dread of rejection what would happen if the sent me away ,I would already be dead before I left the kingdom.grasping the reigns one last time. I tied Ember up and ascended the steps ,upon telling the guards who I was and that I needed to speak to the Queen I was now standing in what I assumed is the court room ,body tense and getting light headed ,my nerves where getting to me .suddenly the giant oak doors groaned from being opened and there silouetted was ,was. I didn’t know who it was they where to young to be the queen and thier frame gave away that they were male but yet he strutted over and threw himself unseramoniously on one of main chairs it’s was hard to see his profile in the dimly lit room his face seem to blur And re focused,must be the light I thought.”Who are you?”the voice that confronted me was baritone .I was finding it hard to breath .”I’m princess Izla Kirin from Rhys and I need your-your.” The world seemed to spin causing me to loose my footing and fall on my side . Hissing in pain I clutched my right shoulder ,my fingers became sticky and wet .confusion over took me as I tried to place where I am ,what was I doing here? What happened? Glancing up I saw the silhouette of a man “can you hear me ? Hello, need what ?” The voice sounded far away echoing in my skull.”Help,I need your help!”I couldn’t support my head anymore ,why?what’s happening? I was so confused .the silhouette clicked their fingers at me “Help with what ?!” My eye lids tried to close feeling heavy “he’s coming for you next,please help me.” And with that every thing whent black .