Charades

Chapter 19

     Days were flying by and soon days turned into weeks. Things were getting worse. More soldiers were coming to Edolas and Emir was adamant on finding me. He was searching everywhere, leaving no stone untouched and I feared what would happen. I feared my time was running out. Going to Graythone seemed like my best option, but yet, I wasn't ready to leave Edolas yet.

     I sighed as I walked to my shop. I was dragging myself there, exhausted mentally and physically. After my talk with Indira, I realized I lost Ronan and his family for good. Even though Indira didn't hate me, it was obvious Ronan and Devan did and there was no way they'd ever forgive me, which meant I had to move one. And I should start a new life in a new region, but yet, I was attached to Edolas. And not just because of the people I met there, but because of the life I built there.

     The market was busy as usual and people were scurrying around, shopping and laughing and chatting. I was nearly at my shop when I heard someone shout my name.

     It took everything in me to not stop walking. My heart jolted and I quickened my pace to the shop.

     "Hey you!" Kamal shouted. "Stop."

     Realizing it might look suspicious if I kept running, I halted and spun to face Kamal who was with Satheesh. They were striding towards me, their eyebrows furrowed and Kamal was smirking. I pulled my cloak tighter, the hood falling over my forehead, casting a shadow to disorient the way I looked.

     "Hi," I said. "Is there a problem?"

     "I remember you. You're the cousin," Kamal said. "But, there's something off about you. Something that tells me you're the lost princess."

     My blood ran cold as I tried to conceal my emotions. Glancing between Kamal and Satheesh, I tried to devise a plan.

     "I told you, I'm the girl's cousin," I said. "We grew up here together."

     "You're brown," Satheesh said. "Why don't you take off your cloak, so we can see if you're beautiful."

     Satheesh reached forward to grab the hood of my cloak and I stepped back, horrified. My eyes were  wild as I wondered what to do. I couldn't let them see me. I couldn't let them know.

     "I don't appreciate a strange man touching me," I said. I forced a scowl - a look that was a mixture of disgust and fear. "Excuse me, but I am not your princess. A princess wouldn't be working at a flower shop."

     "A princess without a choice would," Kamal said. "Come on, just take off your hood before we force it off you. Or be prepared to be dragged straight to Prince Emir, who will rip off your cloak and feed it to the sharks."

     I was backtracking slowly as Satheesh and Kamal cornered me against the flower shop. My back hit the wall and my heart hammering against my chest. My hands were trembled as I kept my hood tightly around me, ensuring they could barely see my face.

     "Just do it!" Kamal shouted. "Stop being so difficult."

     Kamal lunged forward to grab my cloak and I cried out, but then the sounds of hooves slapping against the ground appeared, running towards us. Kamal and Satheesh staggered back as a horse leapt between us, separating us and my eyes flew to the rider. And when I saw Ronan sitting there, furious, my jaw dropped.

     "Excuse me, I don't appreciate you touching my lover," Ronan snarled. "You better step away or else."

     "We just want her to take off her cloak!" Kamal exclaimed. "She's the one being difficult."

     "Don't you dare ask her to take off any article of clothing."

     Kamal blushed madly and Satheesh looking sheepish. I stared at Ronan, feeling as if I was dreaming. Never had I dreamt of Ronan swooping in to save me, as if he was the knight in shiny armour that I desperately needed.