The Bandits of Infinity Forest

Chapter Five

I sit glumly in the small stone cell-which is surprisingly clean, actually-staring at my scarred hands.

After searching the cell for a way of escape, I'm reduced to a state of despair: there are no windows, and the door is made out of bars of Blackwire, the only articles in the small room are a few blankets for a bed, and the door is hardly ever unlocked, the only person I see-apart from the murderous beggar across the hall from me-is the jail warden during meal times, and he doesn't wear his keys, he slides bread and water under the door, and leaves the keys in the Guard-Room, the only way out and crawling with soldiers. Yahweh's going to have to work a pretty big miracle to get me out.

At least-a small comfort-my hands are finally free.

I hear a step in the corridor and look up, expecting the warden, but instead look into the blue-eyed, brown-haired face of the crown prince-I can't remember his name.

I stare back at my hands.

"Hi..?" he says eventually.

"I'm sorry about your family," he adds after a pause.

I glance up at him in surprise: is it a trap?

"I understand why you'd want revenge," he continues, but I stand up quickly, cutting him off.

"It's not about revenge," I tell him, "I'm working on forgiving. I'm against your father-and possibly you-'cause he's evil. He kills innocent people and gets away with it, he's enslaved a free species, he tortures people and animals, and-" I suddenly remember I'm talking about his father.

He's standing with his head bowed, as if ashamed. "I know," he says sadly, "Father's a sorcerer. I hope I'll be a better king."

Suddenly, he draws a set of keys out of his pocket, unlocks my cell, steps inside, and locks the door again, throwing the keys just out of arms' reach.

I stare at him, astonished, as he strides over and sits down, leaning his head wearily against the stone wall. After a moment I crouch next to him.

"What's your real name?" he asks abruptly looking at me. "I asked Captain Albert, but he just said: 'Jedi-Jedy-Jedididah,' I didn't think so, though."

I chuckle slightly, "Jedidiah."

"Jedi-what?"

"Yeah, just Jedi."

"I really admire you," the prince admits, "I'm a big fan."

"Really?! But-but you're a prince!" I stutter, staring.

"Yeah, but you're living in a wild, beast-filled forest having adventures, saving friends, and amassing followers-when you're only my age!"

I think about his words in shocked silence: he's right.

"I want to help you," he continues hurriedly, "do you have a horse?"

I nod, and manage to find my tongue, "She's black, not a spot of colour on her, but she has a fresh wound on her left shoulder: she was captured, too."

The prince nods, "They're auctioning off your horses this afternoon, I'll 'take an interest in her', or get Albert to."

"Thank you," I say. "Who's Albert?"

"The captain who asked you those questions," he answers. Then turns red, "I told him to collect any information about you he could find."

I stare in wonder at my new ally-a prince who looks up to me, an outlaw-and silently thank Yahweh for this gleam of hope.

"What's your name?" I ask, after a minute or two. "I mean, I don't hear it much in the forest."

"Sa'an."

He stands, "The auction will be on soon, I'd better go."

He starts walking to the door, then stops. "One other thing," he says, turning, "can you put up your eye mask? Just briefly, I mean."

I glance through the door: the beggar's asleep. Sighing, I fold my mask up into the hood.

Sa'an squints, "Black haired and grey-eyed, like my sister, Lexie." He nods thoughtfully, gets a large magnet from his pocket, and pulls the keys over.

As I pull my mask back down he lets himself out and regretfully locks the door. "I'll see you later." And he's gone.

I think of his last words, of him comparing me to his sister, Princess Alexandra.

That comparison has been made before, I think.