The Heirs

Ethan: Finding Out More

Chapter 6:

(Ethan POV) -Albuquerque-

I kept following Damira and I just kept looking over at her. Something was different and I couldn't explain it. We rode deeper into the woods and then we eventually approached a cottage, "Is this..." I started but she answered before I could, "Yes. It's where an old... ally lives. He has helped me out before and we are going to need his help if we are going to face the Cunningham's." We approached the cottage and Damira was quiet, "Ready?" She nodded her head and got off her horse. I followed and she turned to face me, "Promise me that you won't ask questions about anything you hear in there." It took me a moment before I agreed.

We entered the cottage and all the windows were boarded up. It was dark except for the fireplace where I could see the outline of a man sitting in a rocking chair. I looked over at Damira and she was careful not to change her expression but, I could see her fidgeting her fingers. She went closer, "Gabriel." He turned and I could only see his outline from the light of the fire, "Blew it already, didn't you? What do I keep telling you Damira, you have got to stop blowing it." He then noticed me standing behind her, "You brought a friend this time." She then spoke, "It is different this time. The Cunningham's kidnapped the twin princesses." This caught his attention, "They have contact again... They haven't since..." "I know," Damira quietly said looking at the floor almost ashamed. "Then we need to get you out of here, away from the kingdom..." He started but, he looked over at Damira and knew that wasn't the plan. "No. NO you are not going to..." "I have to, I am the only one who can," Damira said, "I need to know about their prison. All entrances, exits. I am going to make a deal but, I don't put them above going back on their word." He gruffly nodded before looking back over at me.

"Who are you?" I looked over at Damira and she gave me a small nod, "Prince Ethan." This widened his expression, "Damira, you can't." "He insisted. He was going to try and go on his own if I didn't bring him with me." The man looked over at me, "That might be either the bravest or stupidest thing I have ever heard in my life." "They are my sisters. Wouldn't you do anything for your family?" I asked. His expression softened, "If I could." He looked over at Damira who was looking at the ground.

(Damira POV)

"Are you going to help us Gabe?" He looked over at me, "Of course I am. I promised you I'd help you all those years ago didn't I?" I nodded my head. "Alright well, there is the main supply entrance that comes by once a month but, if you come on the same day as the shipment as this planning will be for nothing. There are tunnels on the north and east side of the mountain. If you could get through to either of those you will be able to get into the house," I nodded my head along and saw Ethan was nodding as well. "If you get in they probably have the princesses in the North towers. That is the only place that has one entrance and exit point so it is the easiest to guard. If you two make it to that point without being spotted then you are going to scale down that tower and run because you don't have long, if you are found..." I stopped him, "Leave that to me. Ethan you are going to be the one who takes the girls if it looks like we are going to get caught. You bring them here and if I am not right behind you, you bring them home." He nodded his head, "Alright. If you are not right behind me I will meet you here and then we will bring them home." I sighed at the comment but nodded my head.

Gabe gave me a look before turning to Ethan, "Mind giving us a moment." Ethan nodded his head and left the cottage. "Damira, you know you are probably not making it out of this." I nodded my head. "When he gets here with the princesses, I want you to bring them to the castle with him and for you to tell him why I won't be coming back. Go with him, get pardoned, live your life, " "Why can't you just tell someone else about all of this and let them handle it?" He asked. I looked over at him, "I know that place better than anyone else could. I am the person most likely to get the girls out alive. No one else is able to say that." He sighed, "I'll have an exit ready for you if you do make it out. Even if by some miracle you do come out of this one there is no way you can stay here." "Or Corinthia, or Enchancia, or Freezenburg, or Tangu I know," He nodded his head. "I am rooting for you kid even though I think it is stupid." I nodded my head and went out.

I took a deep breath as I looked up at the sun. I needed the light, the warmth, the feeling of being safe. I knew I had limited days feeling this way. "It was drearily dark in there," I turned and saw Ethan had both horses ready. "Yeah, he's been in hiding for a long time. Doesn't want anybody who is riding by to peak in." "What is he hiding from. I turned and gave him a look, "You just said not to ask about what I heard in there, not about the sketchy man we are getting help form." I was angry when he called Gabe sketchy and I wasn't sure why. "He helped me. That is all you or I need to know. Let's go," I saddled up and began riding off.

(Ethan POV)

Damira got quiet again after that. She stopped for a moment and then looked over at me, "Desertion." I looked over at her, "What?" "He deserted the royal guard. That is why he is in hiding." I wasn't sure what to say or ask because whatever I would say would make it worse. "Why?" I asked. She looked me in the eye, "Because of me. He saved me and by doing so he had to give up everything. I know that he is 'sketchy' but that man..." she stopped talking for a moment as she was struggling to breathe, "he saved me." I went closer to her, "Damira, what did you need saving from?" She looked over at me. "We should get closer to the mountains, start staking out the area and finalizing the plan." I went to snap the reigns but I felt a hand stop me, "What did you need saving from?"

I took a breath, "The people who raised me." "Your family?" I asked confused. She turned to face me, "They don't deserve that title. If you are looking for another label then the people who are genetically responsible for my existence." She took another breath leaning her head back before looking at me, "Gabriel saved me from a fate worse than death and has continued to help me since then, so please don't judge him. Help him, like he helped me when this is over." I nodded my head.

I knew I only knew bits and pieces of the story but, I couldn't push my luck for more. We rode through the forest to make sure that no one else would see us. We made our way there and set up camp far enough into the tree line that no one would see us. Damira set up the tarp again and I gathered wood for a fire but, Damira didn't light one. "We don't want them to see the smoke and know that someone is coming. They might do something rash and until those girls are out we can't risk that," she explained. As the sun set though I saw her growing more and more anxious.

(Damira POV)

I hated the dark. I always have and always will. I knew that lighting a fire would be reckless but I really wished I could. I was sitting under the tarp and I felt Ethan place his arm on my shoulder. "Are you alright?" I looked straight ahead, "My mother." I swallowed a lump in my throat, "she was a fan of unique forms of punishment. One of her favorite things to do was after punishing me locking me in a room, sometimes for a few days." I looked over at him, "I use the word room loosely. It was more like a closet. There was no windows, no other doors. Just a cold wet floor and the brief flickers of light that made their way under the door." Neither of us said anything when Ethan wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a hug. I closed my eyes, "I'm so sorry Damira." I nodded my head against his shoulder. I moved my head back and looked up at him. My mind went completely blank. That voice that kept yelling at me to stay away went quiet. I rested my forehead on his still holding on tight. "Damira..." Ethan started. "Mira," I whispered. He breathlessly spoke, "Mira..." I leaned in closer, closed my eyes and my lips parted.

(Hugo POV)

I kept waiting for Ethan to come back through the doors but he never came. Three of my children. Ethan, Emma and Mia. I needed them back. I kept watching the main gate as search parties came in and out to report what they found. I then saw James and Andrew coming in. I went down to meet up with them, "Any news?" James asked. I shook my head. "Alright, I will go figure out where I am going to search," he said going inside. "Sofia wants to go with you," I said. He turned around and quirked an eyebrow, "Alright, Sofia wants to go out to search and you are the only one I trust." He nodded his head, "I'll go meet up with here." Andrew was going in behind him, "Andrew, I need you for something else." He nodded his head. We walked into the castle and into a separate room, "Look Ethan went out there without anyone else. Everyone is focusing on the girls I need you to find him. You know him better than anyone." Andrew thought it over for a minute, "Have you tried finding that squire girl Damira?" Squire Girl? Was she the girl he was talking about that night. Andrew shook his head, "I will ask around. We will find them all Uncle Hugo." I nodded my head and watched as he left. My head was pounding as I thought about it. I needed them. I needed them to be safe. I needed them to be home. I needed them all. I let out a breath, "Please come home."