have been the same way if she hadn’t insisted against it. The guards on the grounds had been doubled since the murders at Soliham, so she knew she had to be cautious.
She followed the secret passage and walked down the dirt road. She looked around her. Amira hadn’t returned yet and there was no sign of any one. She walked faster. The horse was tied up there as promised. It was a handsome brown steed. She untied it and climbed on it.
‘We head south to Naphdael.’ she said to the horse, rubbing its neck. They rode off into the night.
***
‘She ran away? How could she? She should have stayed and fought.’ said Kalani, slamming her fist on her lap.
Amse stroked his beard and said, ‘I suspect that is what you would have done. But Kalani, you must remember that the sword answered by the sword cannot bring peace, only bloodshed. It is wiser to pick your battles at the right time. So may I continue my tale?’
‘Please do.’
CHAPTER 2 5
‘Why are you hindering our meditation?’ Akasha asked, as all the rahis turned to see Amira at the doorway panting.
‘Father of Helmford,’ she said, ‘the princess has run away.’
The shock shot through the hall and noise broke amongst them. Akasha had stopped in his tracks on the dais. He composed himself and said, ‘Priests of Machish, this isn’t how you were trained. I am needed, but while I am away, pray for the princess’ safe return.’
The rahis rose from their seats as he left the hall. The Rahmon’s assistant took over. He made incantations in prayer and the rahis joined in unison.
Akasha closed the door behind him and led Amira down the hallway.
‘How are you sure she ran away?’
‘This morning, I went to her room and I found a note addressed to the queen. It said she had run away but she is safe.’
‘Was it in her handwriting?’
‘Yes. I showed it to the queen and she was as pale as death itself.’
‘Why did you not come to me first?’ he said. They had reached his office. He closed the door behind them.
‘I was confused and afraid. The guards are searching for her and messengers have been sent to the king. I fear we might be exposed.’
He held her hand and said, ‘Do not fear. It wasn’t you who lied to the queen. Remain in the palace. It’s the prince who should go into hiding until we find the princess.’
‘My lord, the prince has more cause to be unhappy. His prize horse is missing. We fear the princess took it with her.’
‘Fool. He will have more cause to weep when the king returns. Tell him to come to me. You may go.’
She curtsied and left the room. He sat down on his chair and stroked a black and gold ring on his finger.
‘You cannot escape from me.’ he said, and blew on the ring.
The windows opened and a fog breezed in.
CHAPTER 2 6
Natalia sat under a tree as she chewed on a chunk of bread and examined the map under the diminishing sunlight. There was a noise behind her. She glanced back but saw nothing. She scrambled to her feet and continued walking.
She had been in the Havern Forest for six nights since she left the castle but she hadn’t slept for two of them. She had wanted to but the voice wouldn’t let her. She had made a costly mistake on the third night of her journey when she entered a cave filled with bats. They weren’t happy with her intrusion and they showed it. She screamed as they flew past her into the open air. She had once been taught that screaming in the Havern Forest was equivalent to attracting one’s death but she had forgotten at that moment. Since that night, Natalia felt she was being watched by someone--or something--and that being had also killed her horse.
The day after her encounter with the bats, she found a place to sleep in a small space enclosed by flower bushes with shimmering white petals. She tied the horse to a tree
She followed the secret passage and walked down the dirt road. She looked around her. Amira hadn’t returned yet and there was no sign of any one. She walked faster. The horse was tied up there as promised. It was a handsome brown steed. She untied it and climbed on it.
‘We head south to Naphdael.’ she said to the horse, rubbing its neck. They rode off into the night.
***
‘She ran away? How could she? She should have stayed and fought.’ said Kalani, slamming her fist on her lap.
Amse stroked his beard and said, ‘I suspect that is what you would have done. But Kalani, you must remember that the sword answered by the sword cannot bring peace, only bloodshed. It is wiser to pick your battles at the right time. So may I continue my tale?’
‘Please do.’
CHAPTER 2 5
‘Why are you hindering our meditation?’ Akasha asked, as all the rahis turned to see Amira at the doorway panting.
‘Father of Helmford,’ she said, ‘the princess has run away.’
The shock shot through the hall and noise broke amongst them. Akasha had stopped in his tracks on the dais. He composed himself and said, ‘Priests of Machish, this isn’t how you were trained. I am needed, but while I am away, pray for the princess’ safe return.’
The rahis rose from their seats as he left the hall. The Rahmon’s assistant took over. He made incantations in prayer and the rahis joined in unison.
Akasha closed the door behind him and led Amira down the hallway.
‘How are you sure she ran away?’
‘This morning, I went to her room and I found a note addressed to the queen. It said she had run away but she is safe.’
‘Was it in her handwriting?’
‘Yes. I showed it to the queen and she was as pale as death itself.’
‘Why did you not come to me first?’ he said. They had reached his office. He closed the door behind them.
‘I was confused and afraid. The guards are searching for her and messengers have been sent to the king. I fear we might be exposed.’
He held her hand and said, ‘Do not fear. It wasn’t you who lied to the queen. Remain in the palace. It’s the prince who should go into hiding until we find the princess.’
‘My lord, the prince has more cause to be unhappy. His prize horse is missing. We fear the princess took it with her.’
‘Fool. He will have more cause to weep when the king returns. Tell him to come to me. You may go.’
She curtsied and left the room. He sat down on his chair and stroked a black and gold ring on his finger.
‘You cannot escape from me.’ he said, and blew on the ring.
The windows opened and a fog breezed in.
CHAPTER 2 6
Natalia sat under a tree as she chewed on a chunk of bread and examined the map under the diminishing sunlight. There was a noise behind her. She glanced back but saw nothing. She scrambled to her feet and continued walking.
She had been in the Havern Forest for six nights since she left the castle but she hadn’t slept for two of them. She had wanted to but the voice wouldn’t let her. She had made a costly mistake on the third night of her journey when she entered a cave filled with bats. They weren’t happy with her intrusion and they showed it. She screamed as they flew past her into the open air. She had once been taught that screaming in the Havern Forest was equivalent to attracting one’s death but she had forgotten at that moment. Since that night, Natalia felt she was being watched by someone--or something--and that being had also killed her horse.
The day after her encounter with the bats, she found a place to sleep in a small space enclosed by flower bushes with shimmering white petals. She tied the horse to a tree
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