Camera cuts to a hallway on the southern wing of the castle, where Stace is sneaking.
Trying to avoid being caught with the sheathed dagger, which she holds in a purse, she has removed her shoes to try and be more stealthy, opting to walk in just her socked feet.
Stace
(Thoughts)
I have to get this dagger to someone who's trustworthy, but first... I have to get out of here alive.
Walking along the hallway with easy steps so as to not make much noise, she reaches a corner and peers around it.
There are two guards walking her way.
Stace
(Thoughts)
Dammit, I have to hide!
She looks back in the hall she's walked through and sees several doors, noticing one she recognizes and knows will be empty.
Running to the door as lightly as possible, she grabs the door handle and opens it, stepping inside. It's a dimly lit supply closet that the castle staff uses for cleaning supplies.
After a bit of waiting, she hears the two guards pass with their metal armor clanking as they pass. Growing farther away, it's gets quieter and Stace looks through the door to see them rounding another corner.
Stace
(Thoughts)
Good!
She comes out from the closet and walks back to that corner, looking around it again to see that no one is there.
She continues down the hall sneakily, finding an open window, wind blowing through.
Stace
(Thoughts)
And here I thought they were supposed to lock the castle down... Phenomenal job.
She walks to the window and can hear some soldiers talking. Right next to the window on the outside.
Guard 1
So, now we're following some nobody?
Guard 2
No, he's a prince from some kingdom off the mainland.
Guard 3
To us he is a nobody though. Why are we following a foreigner?
Guard 1
(Scoffs)
Because the princess is apparently incompetent at her job.
Guard 4
(Angered)
Don't talk about the princess that way, fool! She'll be our leader soon! This guy is just in charge because of a suspected assassin going around!
Guard 1
And who's to say that he's not the assassin himself? Ever thought of that, "fool?" Or are you brain dead?
Guard 4
(Furious)
Why you...! Come here!
Two of the guards begin fighting while the other two attempt to stop it.
Guard 1 runs away, guard 4 gives chase, and the two others follow behind, pleading with them to stop.
Stace peaks out the window and sees the four running to the left of the window. (From her perspective.)
Stace
(Thoughts)
What a cluster...
Stace looks to the right and sees a guard at the gate that leads to the front of the castle. He's distracted by the mess that just transpired.
Not knowing another way out of the castle, she climbs out of the window when she the guard looks away.
Stace
(Thoughts)
Okay... Here goes!
She walks down the path to the guard at the gate.
The guard immediately notices her.
Guard
Halt. No one's allowed out of the castle.
He also notices how she's only in socks.
Guard
What happened to your shoes, girl?
Stace
Huh? Oh, that. I uh...
She tries to think up an excuse swiftly.
Stace
I lost them...?
The guard rolls his eyes.
Guard
Right...
Stace
(Nervous)
Knowing that, can't you allow a poor shoeless girl to pass?
Guard
No. I'm not that easy. I was given strict orders.
Stace
(Nervous laugh)
I was afraid you'd say that.
She looks at him in the eyes and turns to walk away. As she does though, she spins back around quickly and hits him in the non-armored gut.
Guard
Kuh! Why you!
The guard reaches out to grab her, and she dodges underneath. She then kicks him in the mid-section, knocking back into the gate.
As he recovers, she reaches and grabs the hilt of his sword, pulling it from its sheath and holding it at his neck.
Stace
Unlock the gate...
The guard wasn't expecting this turn of events.
Guard
(Reluctant fear)
O-Okay...
He turns towards the gate and uses his key to unlock it. Still holding the sword at him, she walks past and starts running.
As she runs to the front, other guards at the front entrance and in the towers over the exit to castle grounds see her running with the sword.
Guard 1
Someone's fleeing!
Guard 2
Stop her! She must be the assassin!
As she runs through the opening between towers, one guard on the left tower aims his bow and arrow at her.
Letting an arrow loose, it flies and hits Stace in the back of the shoulder.
Stace
(Pained)
Ah!
She keeps fleeing to the best of her ability, but slower thanks to this pain.
Camera cuts as she runs slowly.
YOU ARE READING
Like a River Page One
Misteri / ThrillerRiver Lucrece, a princess from the island kingdom of Lupresia (Lou-Pre-Zha), off of the west coast of the mainland, receives pressure from her father, the king, Phosphorus Lucrece, to wed and bear an heir thanks to his own failing health. In an earl...
