Kingdom of Snow

Chapter Four - Thane

"Hey!"

We found Asher and the others inside a deep opening of a carved rock, almost like a cave. I was expecting for the brown-haired princess to greet and throw her arms around me, and then I realized the looks on their faces.

Asher coughed apologetically. "The princess is not here."

Cyrus spoke before I did. "Where is she?"

"We looked for her but we could not find her." Asher's eyes avoided Castor entirely.

I immediately grabbed Asher by his tunic. "What do you mean you could not find her?" I asked, trying to level my voice.

"When you left, we resumed walking. She was only behind us, and then when I looked back, she was not there."

I let Asher go after a few moments.

"Asher, what happened?" I turned to see Castor, who was gritting his teeth. "Where is the princess?"

Asher did not answer.

"Thane, stay here."

"Cyrus, what are you—"

Cyrus spun on his heel and ran into the plains, obviously to find the princess. Really now.

"Asher."

"Understood."

I ran after Castor.

"Annaliese!"

We were both shouting now, but our voices seemed to be lost in the snow.

"Annaliese!"

Of course, I was also troubled, but in Castor's face there was something else.

"That girl..." he muttered.

"We'll find her," I said. It was kind of odd assuring your rival, but we both wanted her to be safe.

"Annaliese!" we shouted once more.

"We should split up to look for her," I suggested.

Cyrus merely nodded and we went to opposite directions.

"Annaliese!"

It was not like her to just disappear... Well, there was one time, but it was because of Castor. What could it be now?

I ended up in a ravine so I turned back. Cyrus was still desperately shouting for the princess. Then he stopped.

"Thane!"

I ran to him. "What?"

He pointed to something in the distance. "Annaliese!"

Annaliese was walking toward us, and her face was full of cuts and scratches. She looked dazed and was about to fall. I held out my hands in front of me to catch her but Castor ambled forward and caught her.

He stroked her cheek. "Annaliese?"

I could feel a wave of anger and embarrassment coursing through me. I should be the one doing that, not Castor. But I stood behind him and watched as Annaliese slowly opened her green eyes.

"Cyrus?" she croaked. "Cyrus? What... are... you doing... here?"

"Where were you? We were looking for you!"

"Sorry," she mumbled.

I felt my eye twitch. I coughed deliberately and Annaliese's eyes went up.

"Thane!" She looked uncomfortable right then. "Cyrus, you can let me go now."