Butterflies of Blood

Chapter 1

Aias slipped into the Princess's room, silent as a cat. The princess was small with a delicate face, her gold-blonde hair spread out over the pillow like a halo. He moved to her bed side and smothered her mouth with a cloth, the faint sent of poppies filled the room. The princess struggled and her eyes opened briefly, just long enough for terror to register in them before the anesthetic took effect and she slept once more. Aias lifted her gently and wrapped a rope around her waist then another under her arms, artfully securing her. He carried her bridle style to the window and laid her on the sill, he grunted, she was a small girl but even so her dead-weight was heavy. He tied one of the rope ends to the massive bed and the other around his waist.

"Okay Your Majesty," He whispered, "Time to fly," And his words dripped with sarcasm.

Then he pushed her out the window. He held tight to the rope around his waist and lowered her slowly to the ground. Once she landed he unfastened the ropes and dropped them down.

Aias listened closely at the door and, neither hearing nor sensing anything, crept into the Prince's room. He looked startling similar to his sister with delicate features and long hair, he was tall but still shorter than Aias. He leant over and performed the same procedure - knock out and down to the ground, 15 meters below. Then he climbed out the window and down the wall, half way down he heard voices of palace guards. He cursed silently and moved faster, dropping the last two meters out of sight, just in time.

"God damn, it's cold out here," a loud voice complained.

"Ah, quiet yer' yapping," the second voice sounded older. "What did you think being a palace guard meant?" the voice answered its own question, "Fighting gallantly for the pretty princess? Or perhaps drinkin' till dawn?"

"No, I -" the first voice stammered, but Aias tuned out.

He turned back to the unconscious prince and princess in front of him and sat back on his haunches. He considered for a moment then stood and moved silently around the tower and brought his horse, a beautiful black stallion, back with him.

"Upsy - Daisy," he said quiet and heaved first the Prince then the Princess over its bare back, face down like a sack of rice.

He took the halter in one hand and said, "Up, Jokarmun, move on."

Jokarmun responded instantly, his hooves clacking quietly on the cobblestones as they made their way to the stables.

"Halt," Aias whispered.

He left Jokerman and did a quick once over of the stables, it was clean and ordered, reserved for the horses of those very high up and there was no human in sight. It would house ten horses total, five each side but only the first two stalls were occupied. Two horses were saddled with bulging bags and seats designed for long distance travel, a white mare and grey gelding, both pure bred and stunningly beautiful.

"Good girl," he said tenderly and sighed, stoking the white mare's muzzle.

He brought Jokarmun in and hoisted the princess onto the mares back. He put her feet in the stirrups and then tied her to the horse's neck. The second horse was a grey gelding and he repeated the process for the prince. Once both heirs were secured he saddled Jokarmun, for while Aias preferred riding bare back the journey they were about to embark on would require a saddle.

Finally everything was ready and Aias lead the three horses into the courtyard; he had thrown blankets over the heirs so they would not be obvious but still he wanted to avoid people as much as possible, although he had a feeling that tonight that would be easier than usual. He closed his eyes for a moment and listened, extending his senses outwards - the coast was clear. They walked for about five minutes and finally came to the gate the kitchen servants used to bring food in and out of the palace. Normally there would always be at least two guards stationed there but tonight there was none. Elden's handy work undoubtedly. Aias grinned wryly and guided the three horse and their unconscious riders out of the Castle.