Hiding Royalty

8

The trio walked with their new found travellers, making small talk and awkward conversation in an attempt to break the ice between them. Lyra was still weary of the men and constantly looked behind her, expecting to see one of them holding a dagger behind her back.

Liam watched on anxiously, not liking the fact that Lyra was so uncomfortable; as annoying and bratty the princess was, Liam still cared about her well- being. Emma talked to the men mostly, and seemed to be enjoying their company.

As night beckoned, the small group set up camp in a clearing and started a roaring fire where they cooked the small amount of food they had managed to find. Connor was sat next to Lyra, and he was tempted to slit her throat where he sat however he regained his composure and instead laughed along with the group while Lyra sat in fear.

She could sense that the men were not as innocent as they looked, and that there was some sinister plan hatching. But she couldn't tell Liam or Emma these thoughts, because they would simply tell her that she was being paranoid. Emma hated to admit that Lyra was right about anything, and Lyra realised that she would have to fend for herself if the travellers did anything to her.

There was a glint in the travellers' eyes whenever they looked at Lyra, like they were looking at a prized jewel. She was their ticket out of a life of poverty, she would be the end of a monarchy who had ruled with such an iron fist that it crushed anyone who dared rebel.

The fire died slowly and tiredness from a day of trekking forced them all to their sleeping bags where soon everyone closed their eyes. Lyra tried to remain calm as she too fell into a deep sleep, telling herself that nothing would happen to her.

Connor gestured to his accomplices when he was sure that the trio were fast asleep and slowly Alistair, Theo and William rose from their beds, grabbing their weapons. They all adorned malicious grins and their attention turned to Lyra who was sleeping soundly in her bed, her breathing shallow and her eyelids fluttering every few seconds. She was such an easy target.

Connor walked slowly over to her, careful to not make a sound and stroked her cheeks slightly with his calloused fingers.

"Such as beautiful creature, it will be a shame when we kill her," he whispered and his friends smirked slightly as Connor retrieved the gag from his bag.

Lyra moved slightly as Connor placed the fabric on her face, but she was still fast asleep; the men's plan could not have gone any better. In one swift motion, Conner tightened the gag around her mouth which woke Lyra up in a start and she hurriedly looked around in her dazed state to see the four men closing in on her.

She tried to call out as Connor threw her over his shoulder, but no sound could make it through the gag and she was forced to comply with their actions as she was taken further and further away from the camp. Theo laughed loudly at the princess' attempts to free herself, which echoed around the silent forest. Connor glared at his friend, but his confidence soon reappeared when he realised that no one had heard the sound.

Or at least that's what he thought.

The laugh had woken up Liam who instinctively knew something was wrong and one look at their camp was enough to confirm his thoughts. The men were doing something with Lyra... Something bad.

"Emma," Liam shook her harshly and she was woken from her slumber, "Those men have taken Lyra somewhere. We need to find her now!"

The urgency in his voice meant that Emma couldn't refuse him and she regrettably stood up and followed him into the dense woods where he tried to hear for any clues as where they had gone. They moved fast and without doubt, Emma still feeling as though she was half asleep.

Liam was becoming desperate when they weren't able to find the men or any sign that they were nearby because he knew that his head would be on the line if Lyra was killed. But finally he heard the faint chants and jeers of the men he had agreed to let come with them; how could he have been so stupid? How could he have let strangers travel with them?

Slowly walking towards the source of the noise, Liam found himself holding his breath, unsure of what he would find. Through the camouflage of the trees, Liam was able to see the clearing where the men had taken Lyra without being seen himself. Lyra had been tied to a tree and crudely undressed so that she was exposed, the men laughed as she desperately tried to escape from them. Connor slowly walked towards her, brandishing a dagger in his hand and Liam felt anger bubble inside of him but he didn't want to reveal his position too quickly.

"Oh poor princess, you don't have anyone to save you now," Connor teased Lyra and she began to weep as the dagger was held closer and closer to her neck.

This was enough for Liam to feel his body tingle slightly and he knew what was coming. The Yamach had been awakened. Emma watched on with confusion and Liam began to convulse and shake, his body transforming into the monster he was.

Bounding into the clearing, the men were taken aback as Liam slowly grew into a hideous beast, towering over them and the treetops. Before the men could do anything more, Liam swiped down, his arms hitting the men and forced them to the floor. Alistair and Theo ran off when they had the chance, screaming and shouting for their lives and eventually William managed to escape into the dense forest leaving Connor by himself.

Locking his claws around the small man, the Yamach lifted Connor off the ground just as the wizard had done to Liam all the those years ago. Connor desperately tried to get out of the monster's grasp but failed miserably, and the Yamach simply smiled at the human's foolish behaviour.

Without saying a word, the Yamach threw Connor over the treetops and far into the distance, his powerful force sending the man flying. The screams of the man faded and a loud thud could be heard for metres around, the body of the assassin crushed and broken. 

Slowly the Yamach felt it's body shrinking and the rapid beating of its heart slowed, soon Liam was standing in front of the two girls who both had their mouths open with awe. Liam had turned into this beast right before their eyes without any explanation, and Liam knew that he had a lot of explaining to do.

How will Liam explain this to the girls? And how will they react? You'll have to wait and see!

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