The Hidden Princess: Secrets Revealed (Book Two)

Chapter Eleven: "You are in pain. Let this end now,"

The moment my hand grabbed my sword, I was lunging at the man. His eyebrows raised as he blocked my attack, taking a step back.

"So, we are going right into it. Not even a little conversation first?" he asked, as he started to circle me. "Don't you want to know my name? Where I'm from? Who sent me?" he asked.

My body shook as I blocked an overhead blow. "We can save that for when you are being questioned. I have a fairly good idea of all but your name," I said, stumbling at the power and speed of his hits.

The noise around died out as my focus narrowed in on the battle at hand. I could hear the sound of my breathing and the clang of the sword.

"You are better than I was told," the man said. "My money will be well earned," he said, blocking a stroke at his legs. He then came at me, his strokes growing stronger and quicker. Panic set in as I felt my stance falter. I felt his sword enter my right arm. I heard Chloe's scream echo my own. The pain intensified as I blocked hit after hit.

"You are in pain. Let this end now," the man said, lunging at me.

I barely blocked his next attack. Stumbling back I fell to the ground, my sword falling from my hand. Reaching for my sword a grin spread across my face as I picked up the sword with my left hand. "Sorry to disappoint, but I have to be back to the compound soon and don't want to face any more punishment," I said.

"Aren't you full of surprises," he said. He pushed hard. At one point I managed a cut to his arm, but nothing that slowed him down. His sword again cut into my arm, but this time instead of falling back I pushed forward. With the unexpected advance the man stumbled falling over his own feet. Lunging at him I knocked him onto his back. Then quickly pulled his sword from his hand, tossed it away, pulled my knife and held it to his throat.

"Seems as though you could use some rope," another voice said.

Looking up I saw Luke with a sword in one hand and rope in the other. "I'll keep him in place, you secure his hands," he said, tossing me the rope and placing his sword at the man's throat.

After tying his hands, I quickly ran to Chloe and untied her ropes.

"Sam, your arm is bleeding," she said, grabbing my arm. She grabbed a napkin from the picnic basket and wrapped it around my arm.

"Would either of you care to explain why someone was trying to kill you two?" Luke asked, holding the back of the man's shirt.

"He wasn't trying to kill both of us. Just me," I said. Looking around at the three I made my choice. "Once we get back to the compound I'll explain," I said. Luke nodded and gave our captive a little shove to get him walking. "Are you okay, Chloe?" I asked, looking her over.

Chloe nodded, putting her arm through mine. "For just having watched my little sister almost die, I say I am doing pretty well," she said.

Luke chuckled. "I feel like you should be used to her having near death experiences," he said, glancing back at us.

Shaking her head Chloe looked from Luke to me. "Used to it, yes. Although it does not mean that I am any better at handling those experiences," she said.

When we got to the compound, Luke nodded towards the main buildings. "Go find Orion and your brothers. I'll take this one to the holding cell. I look forward to the explanation," Luke said. He then led our guest off to his new housing.

Soon Chloe and I found ourselves in Orion's office. Orion was leaning on his desk as we waited for my brothers and Erik to arrive.

"Sam!" my brothers called as they rushed over.

Alakay grabbed my arm and held it up. "Child! Why in the world is a mercenary trying to kill you? I get that you stopped La Fray, but a mercenary! Is he really that mad?" Alakay said, shaking his head.

I took my arm back and stepped beside Chloe. "He really is," I said looking around at the faces in the room. "I lied to you once. Withheld information until I thought I knew what I was doing. I don't want to do that again," I said.

Orion pushed off his desk and walked closer. "Sam, what's going on?" he asked.

I felt my heart speeding up. Then calm as Chloe's hand embraced mine. "I'm right here," I heard her whisper.

With a deep breath I continued. "You all have noticed my change in mood. Something has been bothering me. When La Fray tried to kill me he claimed that he was sending me to be with my parents, whom he had killed, to be with my parents King Antonio and Queen Caroline," I said. Silence took the room as the men tried to grasp what had just been said. "I thought it was a madman's rant. However, as the weeks continued little things started to connect. King Antonio was lefted handed, so am I. Their daughter disappeared at the age of one, which is when I was adopted by my family. Then a few days ago Nate reached out. Well, more like kidnapped me to take me to someone who had the answers," I said thinking back to the alley encounter.

"Wait! Nate kidnaped you? He touched you without your consent?" Benedict asked, stepping forward.

Shaking my head, I smiled as I heard Chloe giggle beside me. "Calm down, Ben. Yes, he tried to carry me as I refused to go with him. After some persuasion, I went willingly. He took me to the bakery," I said pausing as I thought back to my meeting with my brother. "My... My brother owns the bakery, just as his mother did," I said.

"Queen Caroline owned the bakery. If it is her son that owns it now that means that is your brother... if he's your brother then..." Louis paused as he looked at me.

"Yes, that means that Samantha is not just Sam from Hillsdale, the first female Dragon. She is the Crown Princess Scarlett of Auroja," Chloe said, smiling at me. "I always knew there was something special about you."

"That explains why La Fray wants you dead so badly. He must have hired the man in the holding cell to end the king's line to make himself the next ruler," Erik said, nodding his head. The others in the room nodded with him.

"Hold on a minute! Are you all just accepting this as fact right now?" I questioned with wide eyes.

Again they nodded. "Sam, it makes sense. Everything adds up to say that you are who Nate and your brother say you are. Your goal when you came to Jarrow was to find your brother. Your father knew that he held the key to your past," Alakay said.

I looked at Alakay. His usual sarcastic comments were absent. The statements he said held true. Which caused my heart to skip a beat as it confirmed yet again that what we were saying was true. "What now?" I asked.

"Now, we work together to figure out what's next. We question the man. We inform the Dragons. We help you become the woman you are destined to be," Orion said.

"I promised I wouldn't lie to you anymore," I said standing in front of all the Dragons the following morning. "Yesterday, I learned something about my past that will not only change my future but yours as well. I was told that my parents were King Antonio and Queen Caroline. My brother, Prince Alexander, took me out of Jarrow for my own protection when La Fray first attacked. I was raised as Samantha of Hillsdale. Today I stand before you saying that with the information that we have now, I am also Princess Scarlett of Jarrow," I said, my voice cracking as I said my name for the first time, well the first time that I believed it. A silence that had never been in the compound before now took over. My body started to shake as the nerves started to come. My dreams came to mind about my family leaving me. Then a hand in the back slowly rose.

"Does that mean we have to be nice to you now?" Luke asked with a smile. Laughter broke the silence as grins spread across the Dragons.

"No, but I do think it gives me the authority to throw you in the dungeon if you go too far," I smirked at him.

After a few further conversations I found myself with my brothers, sister, and Orion. "What's next?" I asked Orion, looking for guidance.

"Next we have dinner and enjoy the evening. I'm sure your brothers, your apprentice friends, and some of the other Dragons will want to talk with you. Then tomorrow, we will question our guest and have your brother and Nate called over for further conversations. We will take this one step at a time. For now, your identity will remain in the compound," he said then left me with my siblings.