The king's folly

VIII

The sound of hoofs stamping against the grass. The sweat on her forehead. All this didn't occur to her. it was the afternoon and the sun shone brightly which affected her eyes

she had snagged a horse near the tree, and headed for the path she remembered.

Rebecca's horse galloped down, following a path towards the castle, her thoughts were scrambled, what she saw earlier had changed her thinking all of a sudden. she passed the bridge which brought about her first meeting with the prince.

but now she had to save him. it was her destiny though after it being bestowed to her without feeling or care of what she wanted to be. it was her destiny.

she loved having power and feeling proud around fellow guards who could not look a woman who had accomplished what they could not accomplish in centuries. but the prince had been her toughest work yet.

he was rude and immature but he was powerful although he never knew it.

her mind took her back to the prison from which she had just escaped and she shuddered at what she saw. the engraving on the ground.

it was scrawled badly and was hard to read at first, it read

the sounds of hoofs
the drop of blood
the cries of the woman
!!محافظت از پسر

Her heart slammed in her chest, what is that strange language?

Before all this had happened, she had spent weeks, researching on the prince and their strange family. she had always felt something odd in this family and her heart was never at peace.

Then everything changed when one of her good friends found something on them. the secret that could destroy a noble house that had been living for generations.

She brushed it aside, claiming the friend had told her lies.

But this writing had reinforced her suspicions.

She came out of her thoughts and looked towards the castle gate which was getting bigger as she drew nearer.

"you there, identify yourself" a commanding voice boomed.

she stopped her horse to a halt, already knowing the voice"

"I have to see the prince" she said

within breaths, her stomach growled in pain.

"No can do, you have to identify yourself"

she took a step forward. the man clad in armor, pulled out his sword.

"I am not a threat but your footing needs work" she said while taking another step.

"how dare you, strange girl" he lunged at her with the sword.

she ducked and gave a small smack to his chest.

the man reeling from the force tripped himself, falling back first to the ground.

"i am dame rebecca of the hills and i demand to see the prince"

"sorry, milady but the person you claim that you are, is dead." another man who sat on the top of the wooden gate, his bow and arrow outstretched. there were murmurs of men, who also had their bows outstretched. a single wrong move could kill her.

she picked the knocked down guard's sword.

"fine. but i will be back" she said. it was reasonable to retreat because of her strength.

she needed to rest.

she claimed back on her horse, with one hand on the reins and the other hand on her sword which she held.

then she galloped north.

she could not believe it. had someone taken her position.

her strength was leaving and her stomach growled even more.

she proceeded towards the village. her mind was crazy with thoughts and her stomach was full of emptiness.