Hiding Royalty

5

After eating the breakfeast Liam made the trio continued on their journey. It was a scorching morning, but they still had to make some progress, so they decided to take the path with the most shade. The only problem was that it wasn't the safest path but Liam kept that fact from the girls. He didn't want them to get too hot.

"It's too hot, can we not take a break?" Lyra complained while stopping, causing Liam and Emma to look back at her.

"Lyra, we have to make at least some progress, otherwise, the journey will take longer," Emma said, seething with irriation and crossing her arms.

"Yeah but it is extremely hot!" Lyra whined, glaring at Emma.

The girls then looked at Liam expectantly, like they were expecting him to chime in.

"How about a compromise? We have to just get past this last stretch of forest and then we will take a short break?" Liam said nonchalantly. He looked at Emma, she nodded her head and lowered her gaze. Lyra glared at Liam for the first time, but Liam just returned her glare. She gave in and nodded while looking away.

The trio walked down the path, which twisted and turned. The path became more dangerous and unpredictable. For Liam and Emma it was an easy feat but Lyra struggled. Liam waited for Lyra, much to the chagrin.

"Why are you slowing down for her? She needs to learn that this isn't her castle. This is the world outside the castle walls.," Emma said matter-of-factly.

"Well I'm sorry that I haven't had the chance to climb up cliffs. Maybe you should just worry about yourself and move on ahead," Lyra retorted, out of breath.

Emma humphed and hurriedly up the cliff, looking back at Liam sadly. She was apologizing for riling up the princess. He nodded slightly, his way of saying it was alright.

"Why do you wait up for me? Emma seems to have a grudge against me, so why don't you?" Lyra asked when she caught up with Liam, who waited patiently for her.

"Why would I jeopardize the mission to just prove a point," Liam said smiling brightly, "Emma is just..." he searched for a word, "Envious of you royals. She has to work her hardest to just earn what she has. I can understand where she is coming from, but I understand where you come from. Not being able to have fun because of your parents." "

Liam looked up and saw Emma glaring at him, clearly jealous that he was helping Lyra. She huffed and continued on ahead. Liam was in for it when they took a break, he was sure of it. He mentally sighed as he looked back at Lyra, who was staring intently at him.

"So what happened to your parents?" Lyra asked.

Liam was shocked to hear such a question coming from Lyra, "Well soon after I joined the Knight's Army, my village was raided by the enemy. My parents were slaughtered, and of course, I wasn't able to help them."

"I'm.. I'm very sorry for your loss," Lyra said weakly, looking ahead.

Noticing that Emma was already at the top of the cliff, Lyra scowled and quickened her pace. Liam noticed this and tried to get her to slow down but Lyra wasn't listening. As they neared the top Lyra lost her footing and started to fall.

"I got you!" Liam yelled grabbing her hand, "Emma, I am going to fling her up to you, help her up."

Liam slowly swung Lyra back and forth, much to her dismay, to get good momentum going. 'I hope this works, if I fail then not only I die but this princess dies too and our hard-work would be for nothing,' Liam thought.

"Ahh," Lyra screamed or at least she tried to but nothing came out. The wind was strong enough to make her lose her breath. 'Please, I don't want to die' Lyra pleaded silently as she extended her hand, hoping Emma would help her.

"I got you, princess," Emma said sternly catching her hand. She grunted as she pulled Lyra up. A lot of thoughts were running through her mind but she was worried about what happened to Liam.

She peered down the cliff and noticed he wasn't there.

"Liam, where are you?" Emma screamed as she scanned the cliff but couldn't find him. Tears began filling her eyes as she assumed the worst.

Anger filled her entire body, as she turned towards the spoiled brat. She froze to see that Lyra was crying, practically bawling, this made her even more livid.

"Why in the world are you crying?" Emma said angrily as tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. She stormed over to Lyra and grabbed her shoulders and shook her.

"It is my fault that this has happened," Lyra said weakly as she wretched free of Emma's grasp. Emma reached for her again but was stopped.

"That is enough!" Liam said coldly. Glaring at the girls with such intensity, for the first time.

This was the first time Emma has seen Liam make a face like that. Even after what happened to his parents. Both girls were frozen with fear at his gaze.

"Let us continue," Liam said, his voice even more cold, as he walked past the girls without even a glance in their direction.

Not a word was said as the trio continued, the girls were whispering angrily at each other.

"It is your fault, that Liam is mad at us," Emma whispered fiercely at Lyra.

"You're the one who started it, with that stupid back-handed comment," Lyra retorted with intensely, "You were just jealous that Liam was helping me climb, you couldn't stand that could you? Liam giving his attention to someone other than you."

Suddenly, Emmas' hand made contact with Lyra's cheek, "Don't you ever talk like that to me, just because you're royalty doesn't mean you can say whatever you want. This isn't the castle, mommy and daddy can't protect you now," Emma said coldly, rearing her hand back for another slap.

Lyra beat her to the punch, literally, as her fist made contact with Emma's face. Both girls stood glaring at each other and readying themselves for a fight.

"Girls, stop that," Liam said getting between the two girls. Suddenly, Lyra slapped Liam in the face, while Emma pounded his back. He noticed both girls were crying.

The bushes beside the trees started rustling, and instinctively, Liam pushed the girls behind him. Emma got behind to protect their backs. Suddenly, their was a low inhuman growl coming from both sides. The growl sent chills down their spines and made Lyra's blood run cold.

So the girls had a little argument but now something more sinister awaits them? What could it be?

- TheHowlingWolves