Runaway Royalty

Chapter 7

-Sin-

Prince and I talked for about an hour I’m guessing, before Thorn came in and apologized, “The group is becoming restless, they want to keep moving. Plus they’re wondering what you’re going to do with Lamar.” I looked up at Prince as he received this information, his brow furrowed at Lamar’s name. “Tell them to prepare for a royal’s hanging!” I flinched, hangings are so disgusting. I will definitely be skipping it.

Prince rubbed my arm soothingly, sensing my unease. Thorn nodded, “I will tell them, and we will pack up camp as well?” I nodded and so did Prince. “I am ready to leave this area altogether,” I said grumpily. Prince chuckled and said, “I think it’s time to visit home.” Thorn looked at him oddly, a faint smile playing on his lips and said, “We will do that, then.”

“What?” I asked. “Nothing,” Prince and Thorn said simultaneously. I glared at them, “Tell me!” “I cannot,” Thorn said, and turned on his heel and waltzed out of the tent. “That dirty little…” I trailed off starting to sit up to go after him when Prince pulled me back. “What?” I snapped. He kissed my right cheek, then my left and whispered, “Just trust me okay?” I sighed and nodded, “Okay.”

He pressed a kiss to my forehead and I smiled, then I kissed his cheek quickly before I could chicken out. He gaped at me and I smiled smartly at him and then got up. He didn’t move, “Is getting a kiss on the cheek from me that surprising?” I asked. “Yes, actually, it is,” He said defensively. I laughed and walked out of the tent. I saw the group crowding around a tree with a rope in their hands.

“Alexandra!” I heard Lamar yelling for me. I shook my head and left, there was no way I was saving him. “Sin! Wait for me!” Prince was following me. I hurried my pace and ran into the trees. I heard him begin to chase me and I felt rain start to fall. I cursed quietly and sprinted about forty more meters into the forest before scaling up a tree quickly. No sooner had I climbed the tree than Prince ran up to the tree I was under and paused, not realizing I was above him.

“Sin? Sin?” He yelled over the pouring rain. I watched him silently; he looked around and then froze, as if sensing something, and then looked up straight at me. I gasped and he frowned at me, “What’s wrong?” “I-I just need to be alone, Prince,” I tried. He shook his head and climbed the tree and then sat next to me on the branch across the trunk.

I looked out over the trees and sighed. “What?” He asked. “I don’t know,” I murmured, “I just didn’t want to watch a hanging.” “Well, they should be done by now, and we have to pack up camp. We are going to stop in a capitol next, one with a palace.” I looked up at him, “What was Lamar saying earlier?” He smiled sadly at me, “You’ll know soon enough.”

I frowned at his response, “I don’t feel it is fair for you to know my name and rank as you do and I not know yours.” He chuckled, “You’re right. It is not fair. But I will tell you in two or three days’ time.” I huffed indignantly at this and climbed down the tree. He followed me and as my feet hit the ground I turned to escape his sights, but he grabbed my wrist. “This doesn’t change anything between us, Alexandra,” He murmured. I shivered at his closeness and he kissed the spot behind my ear. I jerked away from him, “On the contrary. I believe I am above your rank.” He smirked, “You are a rogue Princess, plenty of people are above you now, Alexandra.”

I scowled at Princeton and stalked away from him quickly. His words may be true, but I doubt he is actual royalty, and that is the only way things would ever work between he and I. I don’t exactly enjoy pushing him away but I don’t hate it either.

I entered the camp area and Princeton was right behind me. “Your tent is the only one still up,” I said over my shoulder. “Lets take it down together so we do not keep everyone waiting.” A reasonable request, “Okay,” I complied. We took down his tent within a few minutes and left the clearing, the group following us. “Where are we going?” Dag asked. “We are going to the United Valleys’ capitol,” Prince said. “I heard their palace is amazing. Will we get to see it?” Claw asked. “Yes, everyone will get to see the palace, and the market place. Everything,” He said.

I glanced at him warily, he makes he seem like we’re going to be staying there for a while. We cannot exactly afford to do that, thieving groups are picked up on quickly in capitols. I kept my mouth shut. When night returned again, we continued on. The dark has never slowed us before. The full moon and the stars shined bright, and hours later the forest opened up to a wall. “This is the capitol wall,” Princeton said, “There should be a gate along it somewhere nearby. There are 4 gates in all.”

We rode along the wall for a half hour or so and came to a gate. Prince ordered all of us to stand back and away as he talked to the gatekeepers. He came back a bit later and led us through the open gates, the gatekeepers bowing their heads in respect. He has to be at least a noble, I thought nervously.

There were houses everywhere. Houses of stone, wood and hay. Some nicer than others of course, but these were mostly poorer since we were so close to the gate. As we explored the capitol deeper the houses became nicer, the more people there were out and about and my anxiety grew. This is not good. Something is not right, I kept thinking.

Soon we were in a crowded marketplace, and a ginormous palace was in view, the United Valleys’ Palace. It was gorgeous, you could see that a lot of detail had gone into it and that they kept a firm hand on things around here. “Stay close, make sure no thieves are stealing your stuff,” Prince called over his shoulder as we made our way to the palace. “Dag,” I said softly, falling back out of the earshot of Princeton. Dag glanced at me, “Yes?” “Something isn’t right. I am not going in that palace. I hate to do this but please choose between Princeton and I now, I’m leaving the group but would enjoy some company. However I do not need it, if you choose him.” “My loyalty has always been with you, Alexandra. You took out Lamar for me the day you ran away.”

I looked at him in surprise, “You were the stable boy?” He nodded. I smiled a bit, “Okay, we will just ease to the back of the group first.” He nodded again and we slowed our horses down a bit. After a few moments some of the group began to pass us and then we were at the back after a couple minutes.

“Now we go,” I said and turned away from the group, peeling off into the marketplace. Dag chuckled at something – “What?” I asked. “He already noticed that you’re gone,” “What?” I exclaimed. “Sin!” I heard Prince yell. “Run!” I hissed. Dag and I took off on our horses and I heard Prince let out a stream of curses as he tried to follow us.

We hid in a stable for a bit, until we were sure we had lost Prince. Then I slowly crept out to look around. “Alexandra,” Prince said. I jumped and swung blindly at where the voice came from and heard, “Oof!” It was Prince. I hurried back into the stable and yelled at Dag, “He’s right there, go!” Dag mounted his horse and as I was stepping up onto mine Prince grabbed me and pulled me back to him.

“Dag!” I cried, and reached out for him as Prince swept me out of the stable. “Stop running,” Prince grumbled as he mounted his horse and pulled me in front of him. “Prince, tell me who you are now!” I demanded. Dag brought his horse next to Prince’s and I saw he was leading my horse as well. I sighed and turned back to Prince looking at him expectantly.

He huffed, “I am not someone you will approve of Alexandra, but keep in mind that I did not hate you or dislike you at all when I found out your birthplace and rank.” I nodded, and he dismounted, and helped me down too.

Once we were facing each other on the ground he took a deep breath and looked into my eyes, “I am Prince Tarquinn of the United Valleys.” I gaped at him and he waited for me to say something.

My mouth moved but nothing came out and so I closed it. I swallowed and glanced at Dag whose eyes were wide in surprise as well. “Prince Tarquinn?” I squeaked. I’ve heard the stories about him, he was out searching for someone. He did something bad, like really bad, and so the Gods gave him an impossible soul-mate that he would have to earn and so he was to search years for her. It was said that he didn’t age, that he would be immortal until he found his soul mate.

Prince nodded and his voice suddenly became hoarse, “It’s you, Sin.” I stared at him, my body turned to ice as I felt a hundred pairs of eyes on me it seemed. “I – I…” I stuttered and looked back at Dag and then at Prince Tarquinn. He hugged me and rested his head on top of mine, “I’m sorry,” he whispered into my hair.