The king's folly

V

There are some many scary things in the Blackwood but watching an angry soon to be king hack off a tree's branch with his sword is much more scary.
Whack whack whack
James kept on hitting the tree without mercy, he was sweating profusely but he kept on hacking each limb.
Rebecca sat on a tree stump eating some berries,her hair was tied into a ponytail and she shedded her armor wearing a gambeson or arming doublet .
She had a sardonic smile  on her face as she watched the young king hack   his way to exhaustion.
Really good punishment
Then her mind left the sounds of his moaning and went towards her long lost father. She had been searching for him for years and someone had tracked him down.
I wonder if he would admonish me or he would be ashamed of how gangly I look
She shook her head in  grief.
"Rebecca"
She was pulled out of her thoughts
"What?"
James walked towards her with the sword,he was soaked in sweat and his head was looking all wet and matted.
He certainly didn't look like a Prince Charming
"You've been sitting since we got here?"
"And...."
The prince charged at her with his sword but she was quicker. She pulled out her dagger and parried it adding more and sending him to the ground.
He looked up at her feet.
"You know I'm supposed to be a knight"she said as she kicked the remaining strength left in his hands. He collapsed on to the floor.
"Bitch"
"What did you call me?"she kicked his nose with anger.
"Treason"James muttered
"Your mum put me in charge and gave me specific orders,I would have to kill boys like you but two seconds and you're-"
He tried to trip her but she didn't budge.
"Gosh,didn't your dad ever take you hunting or something?"she said as she looked James in the eye.
James looked away.
"I want you to keep hacking that tree,you need muscle to fight and you're just a fishbone"
James winced at the mockery.
He proceeded to get up when he heard footsteps.
He grabbed Rebecca's hands and dragged her into a nearby bush.
Who the hell could that be? I didn't tell anyone our location..only mum knows this spot..
He put his right palm around Rebecca 's face.

*************
Tobias followed the group stealthily, his ears listened to their footsteps. Suddenly the sounds stopped.
"Hey do you hear something,ulrik ?"one of the group said.
"Yes,theo "
James  heard it also.
The men drew out their swords and began to step around quietly searching for the origin.
Then one screamed "the prince..!!!"
James slammed his elbow into the man's jaws and dashed but ulrik slammed into him. Ulrik wasn't gifted in body mass and James knew it. The two tumbled in the dirt, leaving Rebecca with the four angry looking men.
She stood up and produced a dagger from her shirt.
One lunged for her but she dodged immediately while pushing him into the tree. Theo tried to slash at her from behind, she grabbed his arm and twisted it around his back,holding her dagger to his throat.
"Don't move or I'll kill him"
Theo gulped.
"Let him go or I"ll shoot"Tobias said, drawing an arrow and aiming it in between her eyes.
**********
Ulrik got to the top and managed to pull out a dagger ,James noticing this,grabbed his arm as they fought over the possession.
He saw an opening and landed a direct punch at him. Ulrik was out cold.
He stood up,dusted himself when he heard hoof sounds.
A sentry was in the woods and when he saw the king ,he came towards him.
"My king"he said bowing.
James motioned for the horse.
************
Where is James?
A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead.
"Lady Rebecca,I will hurt you"
How did he know my name?
I'm already  surrounded so...
Then she heard the loud sound of a horse.
It got closer.
James bust through the forest as he galloped past Tobias and snatched Rebecca by the waist.
She blushed in embarrassment as he held her closely,while fleeing.
Tobias aimed and shot at James. It hit home. The arrow went through his stomach.
"Arrrgghh"James said as he clutched the wound.
He still pressed on.
Rebecca looked back at the disappearing forest and trees,then at James.
You are really something,James v
She managed to keep herself steady on the horse and grabbed James' waist. She felt the wound but there was nothing.
She shook her head. He  didn't say a single word.
*************
James got down from the horse without any help.
Rebecca looked in awe.
Wasn't he bleeding before?
He noticed her stares and smiled.
"Admiring the goods,aren't you?"
Rebecca gave a cold stare.
"You could have killed yourself" she said as she slid from the horse.
"I'm going to give a report to your mum"she said.
"Someone has done that"
"Ok I guess"
There was an awkward silence between the two.
Rebecca was in another world of her own.
"Why didn't that man shoot me? And what is that mask?"
James nodded to Rebecca and walked into the hallway.
She watched him as he adjusted his hair and clothes acting as if nothing happened.
She shook her head.
Men. Showing emotion wouldn't kill.
She held the reins of the horse and hitched it up.
It was already night time.
***********
"Son, are you ok?" The queen said with concern in her voice as she watched her son through dinner be silent and playing with his food.
James was still chewing the fat on what had happened.
"Who are those men? What did they want? Why did they wear those masks?"

He turned his soup  with his spoon again and again .
He was jolted by her voice.
"I'm fine mum"
"No you're not"
James stood up from his meal.
"I'm done"
"What is wrong with you?"
"I said I'm fine mum"
She stood up from her chair, her eyes closed in anger as she slapped her son. Smack!
"What is wrong with you? Your father died and then you get almost killed and now you re giving me silence!" Her eyes were welled up in tears as she lovingly held his cheek.
"Now what's wrong?"
James v,with all the pride he had left today used it up defying his mother.
He looked at her and walked out of the room.
He could hear the weeping but he didn't care.
He had something more important to do.
He walked across the castle towards the scriptorium. He  had only one mission.
What were those masks?
His head was full of information about masks but this puzzled him more.
***************
Will he find out?
Who is Tobias?
Where did the wounds go?
Hello guys . Merry 🎄 Christmas.
Sorry I'm being away for too long. So many things  held me.
Speaking of Christmas,how was Christmas for you around the world, put it in the comments and if you loved this chapter please leave a vote,if you don't you can comment what you don't like.
And wishing you guys a happy holidays and new year.😀😀