The Royal Engagement

Chapter 20

Tiny feet pattered against the stony paths as two giggling children, draped in dark cloaks raced undercover the street stalls. Hand in hand, they swerved and shifted through carriages, skirts and the market place, agitating bystanders who'd lose balance after their collisions.

They couldn't stop for even a second as they sped away from the palace with hoods pulled down tightly to conceal their identity. If the palace guards who diligently searched for their target were to find them; they might not get this opportunity again.

One a girl, being led by a boy slightly elder to her. She laughed with him as they rested in the darkness of an alleyway to catch their breath.

"Where are we going?" she chuckled, still heaving for air, but unable to restrain her excitement. The boy, rose a finger to her lips and hushed her.

"We don't want to let them know where we are, do we?"

The girl clutched her grinning mouth and shook her head in answer. The boy beckoned her closer, to which she complied, and whispered, "To a party." The girl's face brightened. "A big party that's going to shake the Sirium Empire to their knees," he chortled, giving the impression to her that it was a joke.

However, something struck her mind. Her anticipant smile fell in disappointment. "The Sirium Empire? But, you know I can't go there. And, even if I was allowed to, how am I meant to get there? You can, but they'll spot me," she pouted, slightly disheartened by the venue.

The boy's hands rested on her delicate, little shoulders to cheer her up. "Don't worry, I have some friends that are also going that have a way of sneaking you out. It'll be fine, you won't be spotted," he reassured with a passive-aggressive squeeze of her shoulders.

The girl winced, the reality and severity of the situation and the idea he was proposing now dawning her. She pushed back, out of his hold apprehensively. "Actually, I change my mind. I don't think I'm ready to do this kind of thing..."

The boy, realizing her hesitance, dropped his calming smile; his now darkened eyes still hidden behind the hood. He wasn't going to let her run away from their agreement that easily. "But, you promised me you would... Were you lying to me when you told me that?"

Her eyes went wide at the statement and she shook her head. Her eyebrows furrowed in temper at the accusation. "No! Of course, I wasn't! You were the one that didn't tell about your plan to sneak me into the Sirium Empire! You didn't even tell me what we were going to!"

"Well, then why did you let me take you there! Are you that naïve to let someone take you to a place you don't even know!" He retorted, the intensity of their argument rising with every sentence.

"It's because I trusted you! I know you aren't the type of person that would do something bad!"

"WELL YOU SHOULDN'T!" He bellowed, frightening her back a few steps. He made no effort to comfort her. "Because I would be that type of person..."

She pressed against the wall, now fearful of his attitude. He lifted his head up to peek through the overhang of his hood. His eyes met her's as she stared up at his height through her own hood.

His hand suddenly launched and gripped her arm, painfully. She yelped and attempted to pry it off, the stupidity of her decision's impulsiveness to agree to this now gradually sinking in. "Let me go! I said I don't want to go with you! You cannot force me! I will scream for the guards if you do not stop this!" she grunted, struggling against his constricting hold.

"YOU PROMISED! You said you wouldn't leave me! That you would accept me and everything I choose upon! Was that all lies?!" he screeched in shaking anger, leaving raw, red marks on her skin. She didn't answer and instead vacuumed a large gulp of air in preparation to scream as she warned she would.