Hidden Secrets, Hidden Past, Hidden Lives

Chapter Twenty-Seven (Sam)

Sam stayed up late into the night planning and anticipating this moment.  He took a deep breath and walked inside Andrew's tent.

"Oh, hello Sam.  I am so glad to see you out and about today."

"Hello to you too Andrew.  May I ask a favor from you?"

"Sure."

"May I go to Prince Erik's wedding?  It's very important that I attend."

"I can't grant you that favor," said Andrew quietly.

Sam could feel his anger boiling.  He wanted to go over and shake some sense into Andrew, but thought better.  "Why not?"

"Because...Prince Erik told me to keep you here."

Sam could not believe what he had just heard. "Why are you on his side!?"  I thought you were my friend," yelled Sam.  "People's lives are at stake and I am madly in love with the princess.  I can't let her marry a man as evil as Prince Erik!  She is being forced to wed him against her will."

What happened next blew Sam away.

Andrew completely crumpled and wept.

"What's going on?  Do you know something I don't know?" asked Sam.

"I...didn't know...I'm...sorry. He...Prince Erik...paid me to...hand over...Charles and Joseph. I never thought they...would be harmed.  Please...forgive me.  If I had known...I wouldn't have caved in," choked Andrew.

I want to kill him.

He breathed in deeply, trying to calm himself down.  Andrew hadn't know better and most men would have done the same thing;  Sam knew most men would do anything for money.

"I  forgive you.  Now, if you will allow me to ride up to the wedding, it will ease your conscious and will make me grateful," said Sam in a controlled calm voice.

Andrew smiled.  "Yes...I will allow you to take a horse, but first...before you go...I need to give you something so that neither you nor I will be in danger of Prince Erik's wrath."  He dried his eyes and nose with his sleeve and went to a trunk in the corner.

Andrew pulled out some red and black material.  The red material turned out to be a cape and the black material was a mask to go over Sam's eyes.

"What do I need a mask for?" asked Sam as Andrew placed the cape over Sam's shoulders and tied it.

"So Prince Erik will not recognize you.  I can't allow him to know who you are and that I let you go."

"And the cape?"

"That's more for appearance.  You will look more mysterious.  Plus...it looks better on you than me."

They went out and chose a horse as black as the night sky.

"Good luck Sam," said Andrew, as Sam rode off.

Please Lord, let me get there in time.

He was thankful that his horse was fast and was able to keep up at a steady pace.  Sam stopped only twice to eat and get a drink of water, which allowed his horse to rest up a bit.

Before he knew it, Sam reached the castle.  He was relieved to see servants running around like scattered chickens.  That meant that the wedding had not started yet...and that meant that Sam would not call attention to himself by being the only visible person walking around the castle.

The first thing Sam needed to do was to make sure that Brian was alright and to have him assist Sam with his plans.