TRUST

Chapter 10: Ultimate Sincerity (Part 1)

We lost the soldiers.

That, for once, was good, and we have arrived, well--we were already in the forest, not so deep but deep enough that we could no longer use the horse to travel. Our distance from the city was far enough that it was safe to say relax. Or, in my case, try to stop the princess from screaming and shrieking. It was not an easy task.

"You! What are you-where are you taking me?" She screamed as soon as she hopped off the horse, maybe secretly wanting to hit me. Well, I understand that part.

"Far, far away from Althea." I answered flatly as I covered the horse's hoofs with bits of cloth. The reason the cloths were significant was because the hoofs of a royal horse were marked by the kingdom so everywhere it goes, it could be found.

In my case, I did not want the horse to lead my father anywhere near me. As I checked the horse, making sure that I didn't leave any goods that could possible help me or be any of use, I let the horse go. It ran through the bushes, no longer to be seen. Those few moments of focusing on the horse were actually the only few moments where I had peace and I could mute any noises out. But now, well you know, I had to face the screaming and more shrieking.

"How could you take me away? What purpose could it possibly-" she yelled and flung her arms to the air in frustration.

"I need to get you far away from my father-Move it!" I ordered as I grabbed the weapons and pushed her to move.

"Do not touch me. But why? Is he coming to Althea?" she hissed and started walking to the way I pointed her to walk towards. I followed her very closely behind. She followed my orders, barely though.

"Well, in case you did not notice the raid we escaped, yes, and pray thanks to your husband. Informing my father was nothing but stupid," I sneered, hating that idiot king even more. He indirectly killed Xanthus, my other brother. I gulped and shook the image away. I could mourn later, much much later.

"You are a liar and you are calling him stupid. You are stupid. He will find me." she assured me, or more likely assured herself. I rolled my eyes, yeah like that was going to happen.

"Let us hope he does not, for your sake." I said nonchalantly, as I eyed her to keep moving forward.

"What? Why?" she shook her head, a bit astonished by what I said. Maybe I was little cryptic.

"Just move it! We do not have all day." I snapped a little rudely. She was asking too many questions, whereas we were in the woods, What if someone had heard us? Okay, it was unlikely, but still. Why couldn't she keep quiet? Just for a moment. But, of course she was a little offended by my slight snarl. "You Spartans, foolish and selfish. You think you can come and kill and steal everything? Surely, you have been nourished with such thought since infancy. That the world is all yours-"

"Watch your tongue Princess-" I snapped, stopping my steps exactly in front of her. I could feel the anger in my chest. I looked into her eyes with a sense of hurt and rage, all at the same time.

"-I was sent away since I was child. I did not spend my time in luxury as you have, Princess. I trained, I bled, I killed."

She was stunned, pity seeped through her eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"Save it for yourself," I snarled again, walking away from her and leaving her behind. I could hear her struggle to follow as the path was not easy, it was going uphill. Her dress might have not helped her do all the climbing. But oh well, it wasn't like I planned it to turned out like this.

I could help her-no I wouldn't. Let her struggle a little, I needed the time on my own for a few moments.

We travelled more, walking past the rocky surface and deeper into the forest. The day was no longer young, I realized. We must quickly find shelter before the night came. I looked behind me and I saw the princess about five steps away tired and out of breath.