Ragged Royal

Chapter 36

I greet Poppy in the stables before leading her out of town and into the forest. Leaving the saddle and bridle behind as they are property of the First Prince of Clarines. Without a word we travel through the dense underbrush, searching for a clear patch to spend the night. The wound on my side burning as I push on through the night.

I ignore the rustling coming from behind, knowing full well who would be stupid enough to follow me into such terrible terrain. Taking my chances, I stop dead in my tracks and listen to the rustling and cursing of the person attempting to tail me, Izana's irritated voice cutting through the silences as he mumbles curses because he keeps tripping over the forest floor.

It took all I had in me not to burst out laughing as I listen to his struggles. If I didn't know he was a prince I would have guessed that he was the clumsiest person in the world, when it comes to trekking through the forest.

"run ahead, I'll meet you at the forests edge" I tell Poppy

"Are you sure?" she neighs nervously

"positive" I state as I run my hand over her soft snout.

With slight hesitation she trots off through the forest no doubt heading to an easier trail than the one I had been leading us down thus far. The forest grows steadilyquiet as Poppy's steady grate becomes non-existent as she travels farther into the forest. The only sounds now are the natural rustle and twittering birds of the forest accompanied by Izana struggling and cursing as he grows closer to my position.

"Usually when you follow someone the goal is to do so without being caught" I state loudly "sheltered children shouldn't try and track someone in the forest if they can't do so silently" I add as I start to double back on a different path to get behind him.

"Who said I was tracking someone" Izana's breathy reply reaches my ears after the sound of his body hitting the ground once more makes it to my ears.

I said nothing as I stealthily passed him, at a distance just far enough for me to see his struggling form as he picks himself up once again. Silent laughter runs through my body as I observe him for a moment.

His white clothing now streaked in dirt and leaves. His hair sporting an assortment of leaves and twigs from his constant falling. The look of determination set on his muddy features, somehow amusing to me as I plan my approach.

Without so much as a sound I return to the trail I had originally been following, this time tailing Izana as he grows slowly closer to the spot, I had changed course and sent Poppy on her way. I watch as he attempts to track my movements, clearly observing the horse tracks and not bothering to look at mine. That was his first mistake, the second was when he stopped and slumped on the ground for a breather.

As soon as he sat down, I took to the trees and wrapped my cloak around me, before slowly making my way up to him. Making sure to come up behind him as silently as possible, almost as if he was my prey.

With his head resting on a nearby tree, I took the opportunity to teach him how dangerous letting your guard down in a place like this is. So, I quietly unsheathed on of my twin daggers and approached his tree from behind.

"Never let your guard down out here" I seethe out as the cool metal of my dagger rests on his exposed neck.

His first reaction was to jump which resulted with my razor-sharp dagger leaving a shallow cut on his porcelain skin, a trickle of blood dribbling down his neck and resting on his collarbone. At the sting from the cut his who body goes rigged, as if his body stopped working for a few moments, before addressing the threat.