Myshka

Chapter 6: Preparations

"I hate you." She said vehemently.

"Oh. I know." The Prince smirked at her. He held on tightly enjoying the weight in his arms. The weight of her. His soon-to-be wife. It felt nice to say it in his mind. Though it shouldn't have since he was marrying her just to spite his mother who would no doubt throw a fit and nearly expire when she realised he had gotten a common street girl as his wife, the future Queen. He smiled with glee just thinking about her first reaction when he told her.

"You're mad. Let me go! Let me go I say!" The girl kept on screaming. Myshka. He would have to remember to refer to her by her name now that he knew it. For as long as he could remember she had been "the girl" in his mind, in his fantasies.

"Be still girl!" He gently reprimanded her for she had been fiercely struggling in his arms and it was getting tiresome indeed.

He took her to his tent and promptly deposited her on the floor. She looked up at him with a murderous expression on her face. In his mind he saw the girl again, the little girl of his past.

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Five years earlier
Prince Emtilov's POV

"Now tell me who you are and where you come from!" The girl asked with a determined expression. I had to say I was impressed by her courage. To threaten a man twice her size was no mean feat indeed.

I knew that I had to think on my feet. What excuse could I give?  Right then the perfect story struck. I wasn't sure if she would eat it up. She certainly was no average young girl. She was quite experienced. I had to try anyway. It was a matter of life and death. Maybe walking into unknown lands,especially a land that housed the Khashas, with only ten soldiers at my disposal wasn't such a bright idea, now that I thought about it.

"I'm a merchant." I started slowly while mentally getting all my facts in place. I hoped to God that this girl was gullible enough to fall for it.

"Where are you wares? Where is your caravan? Why are you not on the trail? Have you any..." She droned on and on.

"Will you let me explain?"I asked irritated.

"Sure." The girl raised an eyebrow but relaxed a bit. The wooden sword was back in her hands.

"You see I lost my way and came across some bandits." I said.
Immediately the girl was on alert.

"Bandits? ! Bandits did you say? Where?  Where? Tell me so I can slash those bastards." She said obviously excited  at the prospect of some action. It was like a light suddenly lightened up my mind. This girl probably wanted some adventure. Maybe I could spin her some yarn.

"Yes of course. They were merciless I tell you." I said with the most pathetic expression I could put on my face. Acting wasn't my strong point I knew but maybe I could fool her. "They captured all my wares and...and they killed all my companions. They took all my belongings so I was penniless. So I've been roaming around aimlessly for days till you, O fair maiden, came across me!" I said desperately and almost succeeded in even producing a few tears. Her face had softened completely. No more was the hardy soldier she was taught to be but in her place stood a compassionate human being. My plan was working.

"Do....do you speak the truth? Were you really intercepted? " She asked gently. I could see that she was almost convinced.

"Yes yes O noble one, I swear on my mother's grave." My mother wasn't exactly in her grave but she didn't need to know that.

"Why were you so hostile then?" She asked a little more sharply. Oh God, I asked myself, why was I hostile when a few words could have won her over.