The Hidden Princess: Kingdom's Fate (book three)

Chapter Sixteen: How Dare You Show Up!

My eyes shot open and I tried to sit up, but my body was weak. This was not my room, this was not anywhere familiar. The walls told me I was in a wooden cabin, the window showed trees, a thick forest. My heart sped up. Memories filled my head. La Fray had left me for dead, how had I ended up in a cabin? Looking at where my wounds were I noted they were wrapped. I tried to sit up again. "I wouldn't do that yet," a familiar voice said. However, when I turned my head to the voice the face was a stranger.

The stranger smiled kindly and walked forward slowly. "You were lucky that Kiko found you when he did," he said, nodding to where a giant black ball of fur lay at the end of my feet. "He's hardly left you since we brought you in a week ago," he said, patting the dog on the head.

"A week?" I croaked, my hand going to my throat realizing how dry it was.

The man walked forward. "Let me help you sit up, get you a drink of water, then we can talk," he said. He helped me into a sitting position; then handed me a glass of water. "Take it slow," he said sitting down beside the bed.

"Thank you," I said after sipping the water. "You said I've been here a week?" I asked.

He nodded. "The fire was fierce. We just barely got out of there before it closed in on us. You've been in and out of it for the week. Mostly out," he said. "Your wounds have healed well, although one seems to be taking a little longer," he said pointing to the one lower down.

"Yeah... my guess is that one opened up an old wound in the same area," I said. "My name is Sam, by the way," I added.

He nodded. "And mine is Kel. How does one as young as yourself have multiple wounds such as the ones you do?" he asked a look of concern on his face.

I hesitated. I did not know this man. He had been kind enough to help me so far, but how much could I say? "I come from a family with power... a man wants that power and has been after it for many years. My friends and I are in your country trying to find him and end this," I said.

Kel did not respond right away. He sat looking at me. "A family of power?" he questioned. "Why not hire someone to come end this for you then?" he asked.

"Because this man has taken my family again and again. I need to see it come to an end and not rely on others," I said. My face dropped as I thought of those others. How had they feared in the fire? Did they make it out?

"It's a mess out there!" a young voice called as the door from the outside slammed open. "Kel? Where are you?" he cried. Footsteps were heard and then a young boy around twelve was standing in the doorway. "Whose she?" he asked looking at me.

"This is Sam. She's been keeping me company since you and Akim left," Kel said turning to the young boy. "Sam, this is my little friend, Ikaika," Kel said. He then raised an eyebrow. "Where is Akim? What took you guys so long anyways?" he questioned.

"Someone decided to set fire to the forest! Then to top that off there are like swarms of king's guards searching the forest," Ikaika said with excitement.

"Seems as though a certain young queen has gone missing," another familiar voice said. This time when I turned to the voice I knew the face.

"Elakim!" I said with wide eyes.

Elakim smiled walking over and taking a chair beside the bed. "Hello, our little queen," he said.

Ikaika and Kel raised their eyebrows. "Queen? This is who they are searching for?" Ikaika exclaimed, staring at me with huge eyes.

Elakim nodded. "Yes, although it seems as though they have given up hope. They have all returned to Sayven. I'm sure a certain group of young men will be back in a day when they are given the supplies needed," he said eyeing me.