Stone Throne (beta)

Part 2

In my slumber I heard a snapping twig. My eyes snapped opened and my heart thumped in my chest. Even though I had just been ripped from my slumber every molecule in my body told me something was not right. I needed to run. I tried to listen intently, but I did not hear a sound; By this point I had enough experience sleeping in the forest to know that this was a very bad sign. I slowly raised my head and scanned my surroundings. My fire was down to orange coals and the night sky was filled with a million stars. The smell of pine and smoke filled the air, but I could also smell the faint scent of blood.

Then I saw him. A monster of a man standing at the edge of the smoldering fire light. All I could make out was his silhouette. He was tall and had broad shoulders. The hilt of a sword caught the light. My heart thumped in my chest so hard that I was frightened he might hear it. I didn't dare to move. Was it one of the stone men? A statue? I silently cursed myself for having built the fire. What was I going to do? Was this the end for me?

"Hello princess," the thing spoke. Even more fear crept up inside me and I started to shake. This was no statue, for statues couldn't talk. This was a real person, and he knew who I was. Was this the shape shifter that had murdered my father, here to complete the job? I gathered my courage and spoke.

"Who are you?"

The man stepped into the light and I gasped. It was the man from the town, the man that had fought with the statues whom I thought was surly dead. His face was battered with cuts and bruises and one of his eyes was swollen half shut. There was dried blood on his face and hands.

"Oh, I think you remember me. You caused me a lot of trouble earlier with those statues. I couldn't let them get my prize," Said the man, reaching behind him.

"Your prize?"

"That's right. The king has put up a hefty reward for the safe return of the princess."

Terror struck me. No, I could not be taken there without the dagger. I wouldn't make it five steps into the palace before my blood would be spilled on the flag stones.

"No, please! I can't go back there." I pleaded, pressing against the log with my hands getting to launch into a run. The man brought his hands out from behind his back, holding a pair of iron cuffs.

"We can do this the easy way, or the hard way princess, and I don't think that you will like the hard way." A little way off I heard the neighing of a horse, undoubtedly the bounty hunter's, tied to a nearby tree. I knew that running would not be an option.

"You wouldn't dare put me in hand cuffs. The king would order your execution as soon as you release me." His brows furrowed as if he had not considered that outcome. He stepped toward me, the hand cuffs jingling in his hand, cursing sourly.

"Never mind that! I will return you to the king and have the reward, one way or another." He took another cautious step toward me, while simultaneously returning the cuffs to where ever they had been. Panic and fear flooded my mind along with the gruesome image of my father's body covered in his own blood.

"Please! You don't understand! If I go back to the palace he will kill me." Tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn't help it, I had come too far to fall short now.

"Come now, the king wouldn't kill his own daughter. Whatever you have done is surely forgivable."

"My father is dead, killed by a shape shifter. I am the only one who knows the truth. The beast tried to kill me too, but I escaped. That's why those statues are hunting me."

"I don't believe you." The man scoffed harshly. His words cut into me like a knife. Who would believe the word of a young spoiled princess who ran away?