A Medieval Affair

Chapter Three: Cole

        I looked around the forest where I was.  There was the bridge I was told to meet the mystery girl at.  I had such a restless sleep with her on my mind.  I wanted to know who she was and where she came from. 

        

        When I had finally gotten up this morning, I woke to my family all separated around the castle.  My mother was in her chambers singing, my father in the throne room getting his robe fixed and my brothers in the courtyard practicing sword-work.  Nothing happened until lunch.....

        When I had sat down at the table, my father was very angry about something. 

        "Damn, rotten villains." He murmured as the food was set before us,

        "What is the matter father?"  My father then came unhinged

        "A damn thief stole during the burning last night.  They just grabbed a bag and ran off.  Dobey saw the criminal in action, didn't you Dobey?"  The small man next to me then shook his head,

        "Yes your royalness, but it wasn't I who chased after the thief.  It was Cole."  My father stared at me as the conversation set in, they were talking about the girl who kept me from sleep. 

        "Is this true son?" My father demanded, I only looked up at my sister, Jane, and spoke

        "It is true father.  But they are too far gone to catch now.  I'm sorry I failed you, I must leave now."  And with that I rose from the table and headed out  the dinning room.

        I heard my mom call after me but Jane told her not to worry and that I knew what I was doing.

        

        I did know what I was doing, I was getting answers.  "Where are you?" I called out to whatever could hear, "I know that you are here!"  Then, I saw her, hiding in the shadows watching me.  I hopped off Bailey and tied her to the bridge and walked over it to her. 

        She came out and also got off her horse, I couldn't believe how graceful she was.  "So." she started, "you do keep up appearances.  That's good to know."  I needed answers, not small talk,

        "What is your name?" I demanded, she sighed. 

        "My name is Jezavette, but my father calls me Jeza.  You can chose between the two."  She seemed serious so I went with it, "Okay, Jeza, how long have you lived in Asaba.  Or close by it to be more specific." I waited as she smiled at me

        "I have lived in Asaba all my life." 

        "Which is how long?" 

        "Seventeen years."  A hawk caught her attention and she followed it in the sky until it went out of view.

        "You still haven't told me your name prince." Jeza said as her head slowly came back to face me.  I almost forgot how to speak while I looked at her. 

        "My name is Cole."  Then she smiled again,

        "Prince Cole, has a nice ring to it.  King Cole sounds better though."  Then she began to walk around in circles, causing me to get lost in the whole scene.  After a few spins she sat on the ground, patting the spot next to her, for me to sit with her. 

        Just be calm Cole, I thought to myself, you will be fine sitting next to her.  Right? 

        I sat in the grass besides her, I still knew a question that I wanted to ask her, but how would I ask it?  Well, anything goes right? 

        "Jeza,  what was in that bag you had last night? And how did you come across it?"  She straightened up and spoke

        "It was full of fruits and I got it from Carrie, the owner of the fruit stand.  Why do you ponder that thought?"  I couldn't just lie to her, 

        "You were seen last night with the sack and you are now labelled a thief."  She jumped up

        "I most certainly am not a thief!"  She screamed and walked over to her horse.

        I let her have her moment of anger before I spoke again, "That is what I was told, please do not get mad at me Jeza."  She froze and grabbed the tree, then she turned her head towards me. 

        "I am not mad at you Cole, I am mad at the man you call father.  He is the cause of my anger, not you."  I got up and went over to her, I placed a hand on her shoulder.  Jeza flinched at my touch, then she seemed to calm down very quickly. 

        "I  can go and tell my father that you are not a thief, he may believe me."  I said, I want her to be safe.  

        "Your father can not be changed, he will be after me soon, like he did my mother."  Jeza said before she gripped the tree harder and sobbed. What had happened to her mother? 

        "How did your mother die?" It was a risky question but I needed to get her trust at this moment.

        Jeza turned to me, a stray tear falling down her cheek "She was burned, for being a harlot.  Last night actually, but she was falsely convicted.  She only loved my father, and no one else."  Jeza turned away from me, and I grabbed her hand. 

        "I am so sorry Jeza, I wish I had known.  I would have done something to stop it." 

        "That was what my father should have done, with his warrior status the King may have listened to him.  But he chickened out."  She looked past me, into thought, for a minute or two.

        I heard cannons roar and knew that I had to be home soon, but I couldn't leave Jeza alone.  "Can we meet again tomorrow?" I asked cautiously, she smiled. 

        "I would like that.  Same spot, same time.  Now go, I know what those cannons mean."  She removed her hand from my grasp and I instantly wanted to hold it again, what was this feeling?  I crossed the bridge and boarded Bailey, then I turned to her, now on her horse. 

        "Until tomorrow!" I called, she smiled and called out to me

        "Good-bye Prince Cole."  Then she trotted down the path toward the beach, I felt myself wanting her back.  Instead I did something that could change my life.