To Save a Kingdom

Chapter 13

Jared packed up his things and went to the stables to get his horse. Even Eve's horse was gone. The king was extremely thorough at his rouse. Jared couldn't believe the situation that he had gotten into. Eve was gone. Joseph was dead. He was alone. The king expected him to return home as if nothing had happened. As if Jared would accept that Eve had just up and left him. What would Eve's mother say when he returned home without her daughter? He would probably be strung up by his toes then flown like a flag from the tallest tower. The woman seemed frail but Jared had no doubt in his mind that she would think of some serious consequence for returning home alone. 

Jared saddled up his horse trying to appear casual as he tightened the buckles. If the king thought he would just go and never return he was sorely mistaken. The fact that he had expected Jared to leave after saying that Eve had just up and left proved that the king was crazy. Jared would ride out into the woods out of the sight of the castle. Then he would stash his things in the trees and return under the cover of darkness to find Eve. He had every intention of getting her out. 

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Joseph stood up and limped over to me. His bruises were a dark green color turning yellow around the edges. His nose looked swollen and broken. Both of his eyes were black as result of the bruising. He limped over to me.

I couldn't believe my eyes. Yesterday I thought he was dead. Today I learned he was actually alive. And now here he was standing a few feet away from me.

"You look awful." I managed to whisper.

He chuckled.

"You've seen better days yourself."

He grasped my hand causing me to cry out then he put my shoulder back in place. The pain was awful and intense but then it felt better. I wanted to talk to him. Come up with a way out but I was so tired. My eyes were drooping and I was struggling to keep them open. 

"Thank you." I whispered looking up at him as my eyes closed of their own accord. 

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Joseph couldn't believe his eyes. Eve was here just a few feet away from him. He had wished to see her but not like this. Not down in the darkness beneath the castle. Joseph had pictured a different kind of reunion with his younger sister.

The bruises on her face made his blood boil. Eve didn't deserve to be treated like this. The fact that a guard had done it to her made him even more angry. Joseph understood how the king and the prince were evil but the fact that they had convinced a guard to beat a girl made the whole castle seem crooked. Was everyone who lived there bad? There were at least three prisoners locked within the walls and those were the people that Joseph knew about. There could be any number of people being held captive.

Joseph almost laughed at how king Theo was supposed to save them. He was going to be what saved Joseph's kingdom. Now Joseph was here locked in chains. It was ironic.

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Jared ducked behind a tree as the night guard walked right past him. He could feel the rapid beat of his heart because he had almost been caught. He couldn't get caught. Eve was depending on him.

He checked the way then ran the short space between the trees and the castle. He went inside the kitchen and inside a closet. The cook was putting out the flames of the fire. She brushed her hair out of her eyes with her hand then she walked straight towards Jared.

Jared raised his sword ready to strike. He didn't want to hurt the woman but if she was going to give away his position then he had to do what he had to do. He almost sighed in relief when she fumbled with the hook that was hanging on the back of the door to the closet as she hung her apron up. She stifled a huge yawn then turned and walked out blowing out the lamp on her way. Jared eased open the door of the closet then slipped out into the kitchen. Out of the kitchen was a staircase that led to the castle away from the servants quarters. If Jared went up the stairs he would be in the castle. He couldn't even make it through the kitchen without running into someone how was he supposed to search the whole castle in one night without being discovered and then make it out with Eve?