Chapter 7

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Annalise

"Where on earth do you think she went?" Mother asked from inside Father's office. It was wrong of me to listen in and eavesdrop like I was doing, but I wanted to know. I needed to know, where did Catharina go?

"Annalise, what are you doing?" someone tusked. I turned around and looked up to see Clarissa with her arms crossed. "I um- Clarissa I will not lie to you, I want to know what is going on. Mother isn't telling us anything," I explained standing up from my crouched position.

"And for good reason. Nothing new has happened. Catharina is still missing, our parents and the kingdom are frantic, and the fate of Adelidon is still now in my hands," Clarissa snapped.

"Just because you're the next oldest," I grumbled.

"I didn't ask for this Annalise! I didn't ask for any of this! It's Catharina'a fault! All of this is her fault. Do you think I wanted to be in line for the throne? That if she doesn't return in a month, I have to take over Adelidon. I'm not ready for this. None of this," Clarissa explained.

I lowered my head, the sound of my bickering parents gone from inside the office. "I'm sorry," I muttered.

"Excuse me but I need to return to my studies," Clarissa said. She continued down the hall and turned towards the library. Clarissa was always practical and thought realistically. She was always tight knotted it seemed. I couldn't imagine dealing with her and no Catharina around. Clarissa was a lot like our father, someone we rarely saw due to his duties and tasks. Catharina and I were a lot like our mother.

I sighed and decided to return to my bedroom. I sat down at my desk by a window and took out a piece of parchment and a bottle of ink with a feather.

Dear Phillip,

I am so afraid my sister Princess Catharina will not return home. I do hope she is okay and not troubled. Then again that's all I can do, hope. Clarissa doesn't mourn with me. She's too busy being high strung and preoccupied with her studies. I mean really how long until you've read every book about ruling a kingdom or the history of Adelidon. To be honest I think that girl needs to grow back down to being a child. We were all so close when we were younger, we played with our dolls and rode our horses. We weren't any closer to each other than we were then. I guess ever since we got to that age where we separate with duties. Catharina went off to learn how to rule, Clarissa would anyways because she is next in line. Then there would be me, left alone. I had no one to play with or talk with anymore. I apologize if I have gone on for way too long. I just needed to talk to someone.

Sincerely,

Princess Annalise

***********

"Catharina, wake up," Asher said. I sighed and opened my eyes before sitting up from resting my head on Asher's back. "Wh- what?" I mumbled. I rubbed my eyes and looked around. There was an orange glow surrounding us. He nudged me and nodded past the hill we were standing on and towards the sky. I gasped as I took in the sunrise. It was like a candle that was igniting the sky with brightness.

"Wow, I have never seen such a thing," I whispered.

"Probably because you usually are sleeping at this hour," Asher told me, "Now come on." We trotted forward some more before Asher stopped Littlefoot and climbed off. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"We're halfway there to Igathod," Asher told me before he started walking while holding onto Littlefoot's reins, "It starts getting shady before we even make."

"I'm not liking the sound of this place," I stated.

"And I'm not liking dragging some princess everywhere I go," Asher replied.

"And I've earned my keep," I protested.

"How so?" Asher asked.

"I fixed you up."

"After you shot me with an arrow."

"Because I hadn't gone hunting."

"Because you couldn't hurt an animal."

"Are you going to keep this up?" I huffed. Asher smirked back at me. "Only because it's fun being a pain in the royal ass," Asher answered. I rolled my eyes. "Tell me Pain In My Ass-" I started.

"Wow, the Princess cursed," Asher interrupted. I blushed. "It's a first," I said.

"Aww, am I corrupting the future of Adelidon?" Asher asked.

"What? No," I said. Asher smiled before taking out his dagger and marking trees as we walked through a forest. "Too bad. I was hoping I could return you bruised, scratched, carrying a sword, maybe able to shoot an arrow," he smirked at me, "And maybe even adding an extra earring to your features." On instinct I raised my hands to my ears, finding the pearl earrings I had left in.

"I am surely positive it would cause my mother to faint," I replied. Asher laughed. "And your father to disown you? What a disgrace to Adelidon," Asher chuckled.

"It isn't funny. It would cause anarchy"," I told him. Asher just laughed harder. "Do you hear yourself right now?" Asher laughed. I thought over my sentence even letting out a laugh myself.

Suddenly, Littlefoot's hoof sank into mud. I squealed and fell backwards, landing in it. I looked at my ruined dress before letting out hysterics. Asher shook his head as he laughed at me. I fell backwards into the mud loosing my breath.

"You ruined that dress," Asher stated as I caught my breath. I shrugged. "I need a bath," I giggled. Asher looked around before pointing. "Over there is a lake," Asher told me. He offered a hand and helped me up.

********

I dipped my foot in the water only to shoot my foot back up and out of the water. "It's cold!" I exclaimed, turning around to see Asher. He was leaning against a tree. "And the sky's blue. I'll be over there if you need me," Asher said pointing behind him. He stood up straight and walked away.

I stripped myself of the dress and dipped down into the water. I dunked my head into the water, holding my breath. I ran my fingers through my hair to rid myself of the clotted dirt. I returned to the surface and swam around for a bit.

I felt free.

When I finished, I grabbed my purple dress and changed behind a bush. From there I could see Asher. He was leaning against a tree, watching Littlefoot who ate some grass. I smiled. He wasn't really that bad.

I turned back around facing the lake. Across the way, I spotted a red trail. I walked around the lake and over to the trail. It seemed into the water and swirled around. My heartbeat spiked.

Blood.

I turned around only to let out a scream. Hanging above the tree was a dead man with a rope wrapped around his neck and to the tree.

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