The Princess of Blue Star Castle

Chapter 11

As the army crossed the bridge, which Ivy was certain she wouldn't ever want to see again, the king was on his own horse after having just returned from a ride around the kingdom, as he did often, he seemed happy to see his soldiers and daughter return and waited for them to come to him. Ivy never felt inclined to ride with her father whenever time permitted, preferring to ride on her own since she always felt he regretted naming her after her mother and wished not to think of his past. When the horses carrying her and Tom came into view he immediately jumped to conclusions. "Is this the bandit who kidnapped my daughter?"

"No, from what we know he had been imprisoned by the time she had arrived amongst the bandits," Leynard said, as he was led away to the prison. Ivy's prisoner horse, which was once Tylore's, was next to Leynard's.

"Why is he here then?" The king asked. "As much as I would like to kill them, there should be a reason he is here and with her."

Ivy had looked up with horror in her eyes, concerned by her father's words, but Leynard continued, "He merely lied to us to set himself free from a prison in Antharan. I'm not sure who told him to do so, but I believe whomever it is may try and take the princess and his friend back."

"I see. Take her to the prison cell near the rear courtyard. I will speak with my daughter tomorrow."

As the king rode away, Leynard turned to the princess. "I am sorry, truly I am. I didn't want this to happen."

"You should have requested me to be locked in my room. That would have given the boy who's coming for me a harder time to reach me," Ivy said, almost wishing that she would be in the comfort of her own room.

"It wouldn't matter, Princess Aveline," Leynard said, using her real name. It was rare, but as the king was nowhere near them he said her name aloud. "He won't be able to get in. He's bluffing, no bandit would be insane enough to try and set you free."

"You'll see. He's cleverer than anyone could give him credit for," Ivy said with a smirk. She knew all too well that if anyone could save her it would be Eric and the bandits who work for the kingdom. Leynard and the other knights still doubted that there were bandits among them, but Ivy knew she would enjoy seeing his expression when the truth is revealed.

Ivy stood in her cell with Tom. She hadn't been in the cells or the dungeon before. Despite the lack of privacy between her and Tom, it was a livable place. Three knights, Captain Leynard included, looked at her through the bars. None of them wanted to see her here, but they couldn't allow for anything to happen if what the bandit said was true. As Ivy paced, she noticed that the doors to the other cells were inside one another. A tri-cell, Ivy had learned such locations were made due to lack of room for additional prisons. She soon realized that the far door was still open along with the other one in the middle. Why the central cell had openings on both sides was confusing. Perhaps it was a mistake done in hindsight.

"What's over there on the other side?" Ivy asked, turning to her knights.

"It leads to the outer courtyard princess. These cells are underground, but lead to a stairway outside," replied Leynard, "Why do you ask?"

"I'm going to have a look," Ivy said, opening the central prison door in front of her. It surprised the knights as the door was supposed to be locked.

Fearing she would escape, the knights and Leynard yelled for her to come back. Tom sat on his cot smiling as she went through the next door and the yelling by the knights increased as they ran to stop her, realizing that the far door may be open as well. It was. But Ivy hesitated, wanting badly to leave it open, instead, closed it the rest of the way and stepped up on the bars, looking at an opening that led above and to the outer courtyard. The gallows were visible and a low hanging wall was near her cell. The knights arrived breathless but were relieved, thinking the cell door was indeed closed and locked.