Charades

Chapter 21

     The sun was sinking below the horizon and Ronan and I were walking around the edge of town. The forest was next to us, but we walked down the stoned path, beside a group of houses that ran along the street. We were quiet as we took in the sky changing from blue into a cyclone of orange and red. The sun sunk lower and lower, creeping behind the mountains that were miles away.

     My cloak was above my head and it casted a shadow over my face. I could never leave my house without my cloak; not when Kamal and Satheesh were suspicious of me. Working at the flower shop was also risky, but it had to be done. Until Ronan and I could leave, I had to spend every day risking my life. And with every second that passed, I feared that I'd either get caught or would have to leave without the people I loved.

     "What's on your mind?" Ronan asked.

     I paused, faltering. Ronan slowed his pace to match mine, his eyes knitting together to form a look of worry.

     "Nothing," I said. "I just wonder when this will all end."

     "Hopefully when we run to Graythone."

     I shook my head. Despite Devan being the cause of my pain, the one keeping me chained to Edolas when I should be long gone, I understood everything he said. He was a lot of things, but never irrational.

     "Devan is right, you know," I said. "Even if I run to Graythrone, the soldiers could be sent there. And then I'll have to run again. And then the soldiers will go there. And then what? Do I keep running and being chased for the rest of my life? I hope not. Because that's not the life I want."

     Ronan froze and turned to face me, his eyes gleaming with pain. He jaw was working, as if to figure out the right words to say, but he was quiet for a moment. Because reality was settling into both of us, reminding us of the life I was thrown into.

     "Then what should we do?" Ronan asked. "If running isn't the answer, then what?"

     Fight? I wanted to say that, but that couldn't be the answer. I was never violent, I rarely even argued with anyone, and the thought of fighting my uncle who carried a rage that would take down an army alone made me shiver. Violence wasn't the answer, but if running or fighting wasn't, then what was left?

     "I don't know," I said. "Right now, I really don't know what to do."

     Ronan reached out and took ahold of my hand, and he intertwined our fingers together. His rough hand, callused from years of working on roofs, was firm in mine and I welcomed his touch. I stepped closer, feeling my heart race as it always did, whenever Ronan touched me.

     "We'll figure out a way," Ronan said. "You don't deserve the life you were given and I'm sure things will work out. The only problem is, figuring out how they'll work out."

     I smiled sadly. Princesses is books always had happily ever afters. Dragons were slain, curses were lifted, but I couldn't see the path that would lead to my happily ever after. I wasn't even sure if there was a path for me to follow to one day be happy. Because maybe, I was doomed to a life of running and hiding, being chased down by the man who was supposed to replace my father. Because maybe, not all princesses had happily ever afters.

     "Amara, look at me," Ronan whispered. My eyes rose to meet his blue eyes that were darkened with the setting sun. "Thing are going to be okay. I promise you that."

     "A promise is not an easy burden to carry," I whispered.

     Ronan hesitated, but then he grew more confident, his eyes gazing into my soul as he spoke again.

     "Then, I will carry it to the grave," Ronan said.

     I shivered. Ronan's hand was still holding onto my hand, as if he feared he would lose me in the mess that was my life. My eyes glanced around Ronan's face, wondering whether I should be dragging him into my mess. I loved him. I always would. But, should he be helping me?

     "Well, hello there!"

     We flew apart at the voice of Kamal. We wheeled to face him and my heart stopped beating as he stalked towards us, carefully, calculating with Satheesh at his side. Behind them, were two horses that were neighing and grunting, their hooves slapping against stone ground. They looked ready to tackle us down.

     "Hello," Ronan said. He shifted to block me from the view of the two men. I had to peer over his shoulder to see Kamal and Satheesh nearing us, their eyes cold. "Haven't I told you both to leave my fiancé alone?"

     "By law, we must take you both to Prince Emir," Kamal said. "Both the princess and the man who kidnapped her."

     Ronan tensed and I stepped back. My hands shook as tried to come up with a plan.

     "She is my lover, not the princess," Ronan said. "This is nonsense!"

     Kamal lunged at Ronan and tackled him to the ground. They rolled and Kamal slapped Ronan and his head whipped to the side, but then Ronan punched Kamal straight in the nose and Kamal flew back. Blood gushed out of his nose and Ronan jumped to his feet, his eyes wild. But then, Satheesh rushed over and kicked Ronan in his side, which left Ronan gasping.

     I ran over and yanked Kamal away, knowing there couldn't be two people against one as Ronan grappled with Satheesh on the ground, kicking up dirt and debris as they wrestled each other. Kamal spun on me as I hauled him away and he slapped me, leaving me gasping at the stinging pain against my cheek.

     "You may be the princess, but you're dirt to me," Kamal sneered.

     I took off my satchel and hit Kamal with it. Again and again. I wished Eren was with me. I wished Indira or Devan or anyone was with me as Kamal grabbed my satchel and threw it away, leaving me flying towards him weaponless.

     He grabbed my arm and pinned it behind me, and something wrapped around one of my wrists before my other wrist was pinned behind my back and tied with it. I squirmed and tried to kick out, but it was no use. Kamal was taller than me. Stronger, too. And his grip was iron like.

     "How's the man!" Kamal shouted at Satheesh.

     "Knocked out," Satheesh said.

     My eyes flew to where Ronan lay on the ground, his face bloodied and bruised, his body limp. I screamed at the sight of him. Screamed as Satheesh tied rope to Ronan's lifeless limbs, leaving him trapped.

     "Stop screaming," Kamal snapped, stepping down on my foot.

     I bit my tongue to stop another scream from clawing out and Kamal dragged me to one horse and Ronan was dragged to another. I wanted to scream for help, scream to be saved, but no one was around. And soon, Kamal and Satheesh were riding off into the forest, away from Edolas, with us tied up on the horses backs.

     "Why are you taking Ronan!"

     My heart froze at Devan's panicked voice, appearing out of an alleyway. His eyes were wide with panic as he chased us down the road.

     "Shut up, fool," Kamal shouted. Devan pushed himself faster, his eyes frantic. "You told us where the princess was and we promised to catch her. But, we never said we wouldn't take your brother with us."

     "No!" Devan screamed.

    Kamal yanked on the reins of his horse and the horse took off, dashing into the forest that was dark and shadowed from the sun that sunk away. And as I watched Devan disappear behind a blur of trees, my eyes fell shut and I knocked out, wishing I'd been dreaming. I wished this was the nightmare I could wake up from.