Betrothed (NOT UPDATING ANYMORE)

Chapter Twelve

It's been two days since I left Cassandra with those two guards. Two days and not a word from her or the two men I sent her with. I didn't mention this to my father as he was stressed about the barbarians enough as it was.

I did mention this to one of my closest friends who was Captain Isaacs son and his Lieutenant, Richard while I was strapping on my chainmail. "I can send some men out to Jarseth to her parents," He leaned back in his chair as he watched me dress in my armour.

I sighed attaching Fightweaver to my belt. "I don't know Rich, it's just a weird gut feeling that I have that she's upset or in distress."

Rich sighed and patted my shoulder as he stood next to me. "So what are you going to do?"

I looked in the mirror at myself and at him. We grew up together in the palace along with Nicholas. I had shoved Rich aside as I grew and went with Nicholas and discovered the world of women. Now, with Richard, it seemed just like the old innocent times. I gripped my sword and took a deep breath.

"I need to go find her." With a swoosh of my cape I left the tent and in long strides I entered my father's tent. My father looked up at me from the map that was stationed on the table. "What is it son?"

"Princess Cassandra hasn't made it home yet. Her parents sent word asking where she is. The two guards I sent her with haven't returned either. There are plenty of men here so I will go and find her. I will be headed towards the Oplaque Mountain pass. I feel like that would be a good starting point to look for her."

My father rubbed his face and ran his hands through his hair. His blue eyes so much like mine looked at me then the map. "You better find her boy. For the sake of both these kingdoms."

I was out on my horse faster than any man I've ever known. I got the fastest horse we had and let the stallion tear down the road. It was at least an hour from where my father had his camp to the Oplaque pass. I would make it in twenty minutes.

oOo

Being locked up in a shed was not the worst thing to ever happen to me since Terrence used to do it to me when we were little. Being locked up in a shed by a bunch of sadistic madmen that were bigger and stronger then me, was the worst thing to ever happen.

As I sat in the dark I thought about Terrence. I brought my knees closer together as I realised that I might never see him again.

The lock on the outside rattled and light shone through and as soon as it opened it was closed again. I stood up slowly as Nicholas came towards me.

"What do you want?" My voice was hoarse from not drinking water or talking.
He stepped closer to me and I stepped back grabbing the tool that was behind me, my back pressed against the cold wall.

Nicola's sighed and stepped closer so our noses were almost touching. He smiled upon seeing my position. His hand grasped my chin as he tilted my head up to meet his eyes. "What I want is for you to hear my proposal."

I gripped the farming tool behind my back. Tearing my chin from his hand I backed away from him. "Go ahead then. Tell me everything just so that Terrence and I can tear it all away from you."

He grasped some of my hair in his hands and lifted it up to his nose and closed his eyes. He opened them and looked down at me. "My people are going to win against King James and capture Hern. And when Hern is done we will take Jarseth as well. I will have both Royal couples publicly executed. Then when that's done I will enjoy torturing Terrence. After that I will travel to the other kingdoms and take them down as well."

I felt a cavity in my chest tighten and found it hard to breath. It took my whole will to ask this question even though I knew the answer. "What will happen to me?"

Nicholas smiled as he pressed his hand against my cheek. I flinched as he stroked my cheek. "Princess Cassandra, you'll be at my side of course. Watching while we create a new world. One full of masters and slaves. Doesn't that sound wonderful?"

I grasped the pitchfork tighter as my mind raced. I decided to play along and hopefully he would leave me alone. I looked up at him and grinned. "That sounds absolutely wonderful." I leaned forward so our noses were barely touching. I crept my hand up his arm. "When do we start?" I purred.

He grasped my hand and pulled me towards his chest. "We can start right now if you want."

oOo

She was terrified. For some unknown reason I could feel what state of mind Cassie was in. Her being terrified just spurred me further. I had already been to Oplaque Pass and had found Luke's dead body along with Jimothy's and Sterlings, her horse. Jim was barely recognisable, his body already mostly decomposed and covered in fresh snow. He was literally chopped into several pieces. The thought of it makes my stomach curl.

The barbarians definitely knew how to make one suffer and I was worried about Cassandra. She would do whatever it took to make sure that her kingdom was safe even if it cost her something precious such as her life.

I raced through the bushes and the trees on the young stallion. I slowed him down as we neared a small village that I hadn't known existed. I dismounted and tied the horse to a tree. Quietly, I made my way towards the edge of the tree line and looked out on the village.

Sure enough I found my destination. I gripped Fightweaver's hilt in my hand. I could feel it was ready for barbarian bloodshed, as was I. I stayed low in the brush and among the leaves observing. The falling snow obscured my vision but I was able to see that was a shed that was on the outskirts of the village. Two figures emerged from it. Cassandra and...Nicholas. That bastard. I gritted my teeth and tried to think rationally about the situation.

I was only one man. One man against a whole village of barbarians would not turn out well. I was about to get up, but something stopped me. I looked over at Cassandra just as a bell rang. Nicholas held her hand and looked at her like she was his. Cassie just looked miserable. She was faking her smile, her body language, everything was all fake. Nicholas called for attention and everyone shushed.

He smiled at Cassandra and she smiled back. "Princess Cassandra has decided to join us in our conquest against Jarseth and Hern." Cheers were all around as Nicholas bent down and kissed Cassandra on the lips.

I looked at her dejectedly as she separated from him and sent out a fake smile. She was so pale. I rubbed my face and sighed. "Cassandra what did you do?"

Almost exactly after I said her name she looked directly at me. Her eyes widened and she looked away quickly, but the smile on her face was real.