Over the Mountain (Book One)

Chapter Five: The Bandits

^Hale^
-:-:-:-

Taylor

I wake up to something that grunts beside me. The moon still glows, and darkness is around me. Through the blackness, I can make out the shape of the guy beside me open his eyes.

I look around for Chloe. I can't see her. She must still be taking watch.

"Wh- How did I get here?" Exclaims the man in a familiar accent. He must be from the city where I was born.

"Umm.. well.. you saved us and Chloe might have accidentally knocked you out."

He scratches his forehead, wincing."Chloe?"

"She's an assassin that I'm traveling with. We're on a mission to kidnap the prince."

He scrambles up, startled. "Kidnap the prince?" He says disbelievingly. "I should go." He frowns. "You guys are crazy."

I laugh. "Don't worry! We're on a mission to capture the prince. You're out of harms way." Crossing my arms, I sigh. "And besides, Chloe isn't too happy about you saving her life. She says she owes you or something like that."

"I don't ask for a payment. I saw that a lady was in trouble, so I stepped in."

"So noble of you!" I sneer. "But don't go yet. I'm sure she wants to talk to you."

He looks unsure, but follows me into the forest. Where could that assassin be? She said she was keeping watch, but she's nowhere to be found. Either she's really good at hiding in the dark, or she's in trouble.

"So," I say, breaking the silence, "I guess I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm Taylor."

"Hale Thorn. Well it's nice to meet-"

"Get down!" He says, grabbing me and ducking behind a bush.

"Hey!" I growl.

"Look. Over there." A fire pit lights up the forest a little ways away. I can see the outlines of people gathered around it.

I look over at Hale. "C'mon. That must have been where Chloe went. Probably to spy."

"Are you sure that you want to go over there? They could be dangerous."

I start walking towards the fire. "If you want to be a scared ninny then that's fine with me, but I'm going to find Chloe."

"Hey! I was saying that for your safety, not mine!" His footsteps catch up with mine.

"Right." I mutter sarcastically.

Rolling his eyes, he sighs. The sun is just starting to creep through the trees, and I know we have to get moving. Why would Chloe just abandon us? Was her spy mission more important than my safety, what I'm paying her for? Maybe it would have been a better idea to capture the prince by myself, without some arrogant assassin slowing my journey.

As we approach the people, I can see that there are about thirty or forty, more than I thought. They all appear to be muscular and armed, except for one struggling figure, sunlight glinting upon golden hair-

"Chloe." I whisper in surprise. "How'd she get herself into this mess? Seriously? Freaking bandits?"

"Agreed." He remarks. We get closer, listening in to the conversation.