Chapter 5
Panic raced through my heart as I glanced behind me while crossing the bridge. There were at least forty soldiers mounting horses, for sure chasing me by my father’s orders.
They will never catch me. I thought venomously. I won’t let them. I pushed Scarlet to go faster and I sped through the trees behind the castle.
The soldiers were gaining on me. I could hear the hooves of their horses pounding down on the forest floor behind me. Pushing Scarlett faster than I thought was possible, I leaned as far as I dared in the saddle.
Moments later, an arrow whizzed by my ear and implanted itself in the tree, mere feet in front of my face.
They were shooting arrows at me! I was a princess! This was unacceptable! I was running from them, but didn’t father want me alive, because he wanted to marry me?! None of it made sense.
Deep in my thoughts, I didn’t realize a thick tree branch approaching rapidly. Looking up too late, my head collided with the thick branch of the tree and I fell to the side of the path. No sooner then I fell, did I feel myself rolling down the side of a steep ditch and finally stopping in a small creek.
Scrambling to the side of the creek to stay hidden, I heard the soldiers’ shouts as they neared the edge of the ditch.
“I don’t see her!” one yelled.
The leader, identifiable by his crest, shouted to all the men, “We’re going back to the castle men! Tomorrow we shall search more thoroughly. It’s getting dark. Who knows what beasts roam these forests at night.” Now addressing me, he added, “I’d best show yourself while you have a chance princess! Wouldn’t want to find your pretty remains scattered in the forest tomorrow!” After this, he laughed cruelly and rode away.
The thought of unknown beasts and strange creatures roaming to forests, looking for prey, spooked me for sure. But I had to keep going. My only chance of freedom would be if I managed to cross the border from Rolque, to Tamanth, the neighboring kingdom. If I ran, I should be on the other side of the border by sunrise.
Best get started then, I thought, and I ran.
I ran until my feet were covered in blisters and my limbs ached. I looked to the stars and saw that I had ran about eleven miles nonstop, which meant I was inside Tamanth’s borders. I was safe.
If I was to be a normal citizen in Tamanth, I would need to learn to adapt. Fast.
All the stories I heard about Tamanthians were not very kind and friendly. They were often rude and disrespectful to any, other than their own kind.
I would need to first befriend a Tamanthian, ask where I might find house and work, and maybe borrow some clothes. To my delight, there was a small cottage further into the woods which housed a lovely old woman, Elsa, and her son, Brian. They were kind, and offered me some spare clothes and a ride into the city, where I would be able to find work.
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I apologize for not uploading sooner. It was pure laziness. No other excuse. J
YOU ARE READING
Runaway Princess
Historical FictionWhat would you do if you learned that your father, the king, had fallen in love with you? Princess Domerica runs. She runs for her life. She runs, because she knows that her father will stop at nothing, to get what he wants.
