“I can’t believe she ran away,” Joey muttered, glaring at the road. Next to him, Justin snickered. Joey glared at him. “What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing,” Justin told him, struggling to keep back a laugh. He glanced at the forest lining the sides of the little-traveled path. “Do you know anything about this land?”
“No,” Joey replied. “Why the hell would I?”
“Well, it’s getting dark, and I’m just hoping this forest isn’t haunted.”
“Do you actually believe in those things, like ghosts and dragons and curses and elephants and those horseless carriages and those things that fly in the air, what are they called?”
“Airplanes?” Justin supplied.
“Yeah. Do you actually believe in things like that?”
“I don’t believe in elephants or horseless carriages or airplanes, everyone knows they don’t exist, but no one is sure about things like curses and ghosts and dragons. Besides, don’t you remember the legend about the king’s sister?”
“I always thought it was just a legend. No one can prove she even existed. She probably didn’t. How can someone just disappear like that? No magician is good enough to change history.”***
“Not god enough?” Chris exclaimed, listening to Joey and Justin’s conversation. “How dare he?”
The faint picture in the silver glass resting on the long, wooden table flickered and went out entirely.
“I am too good enough,” Chris muttered. “I made everyone forget about her, and changed all the history records.”
You just placed an invisibility spell on her name. And you weren’t able to make everyone forget about her. There are still people hiding in the hills that remember the princess Samantha. They’re the ones that keep the old legend alive.
“Oh, shut up for once,” Chris told his conscious.
Not until you reveal Sam to her brother.
“Soon.”
Then you’ll have to deal with me for a little while longer.
"Meanie.”
There’s no escaping me.
“Will you shut up once Josh meets his sister?”
We’ll see.***
“Do you think we should stop for the night?” Justin asked. The sun was setting, and the forest was growing darker as he spoke.
Joey looked around. He didn’t want to stop, but it was dark and they couldn’t go any further that night. “Yeah. We need to find a place to set up camp.”
“I heard a waterfall over there,” Justin commented, pointing off to his left, deep into the forest.
“Are you sure you want to go in there?” Joey asked, looking at the forest. During the day, it looked ok. But now, at night, with a fog spreading out across the land, it sent shivers down his spine. He didn’t even like being on the path.
“It won’t hurt. And if mark our trail, we won’t get lost.” Justin dismounted his horse and looped the reins over his arm. He cut an “X” into a tree and disappeared into the forest. Joey quickly followed.***
“They look rich,” Sam whispered to Kaylyn. They were sitting on a tree above Justin and Joey’s head, looking down at the two sleeping men.
“They can spare those cloaks, then,” Kaylyn agreed. “And some money.”
Sam looked at Kaylyn, her blue eyes meeting Kaylyn’s brown ones. ”Ready?”
Kaylyn nodded, and they swung off the tree, to land a few feet from the fire the guys had built. Quietly, Sam and Kaylyn moved closer to the guys, Sam reaching under Justin’s pillow, where he had placed his bag of gold coins.
She was slipping it out from beneath the pillow when a hand shot up and grabbed hers.
Sam froze, her voice loud in the sudden silence. “Shit.”***
“Did you hear that?” Lance asked suddenly, sitting up and looking around the small campsite, not far from where Justin and Joey were currently being robbed.
“Hear what?” Josh murmured sleepily.
“Horses,” Lance said. “I heard horses.”
“Lance, you’re hearing things,” Josh told him. “Go back to sleep.” He rolled over and cuddled in his blankets.
“Josh, someone’s out there,” Lance told him.
“It’s just an animal,” Josh said. “Now be quiet so I can sleep.”
“Josh, it’s not an animal. There are people out there.”
“I’m sure there are, Lance. People can actually live in this forest.” Josh sat up and glared at Lance
“He’s right, you know,” a voice said behind Josh. He felt the cold, hard steel of a small dagger press into his back.
Josh slowly turned around and looked into green eyes. “Who are you? What do you want?”
“I’m Kevin,” the tall man said. “And I and my friends were just going to steal all of your things, but I’m changing my mind now.” He glanced over at the brunette who was holding Lance hostage. “What do you think, AJ? Should we hold them for ransom?”
“Hell yeah,” the man called AJ agreed. “That’s the king there.” He pointed with his dagger to Josh. “Just think of the money we can make.”
“Nick, hand me some rope,” Kevin called to a tall blonde standing near a group of horses, along with a shorter man.
Nick tossed Kevin some rope, who quickly tied up Josh. Then they helped AJ tie up Lance. The shorter man who had been standing with Nick, along with a man with dark brown hair and eyes then lifted the two captives onto the horses. They gathered all of Josh and Lance’s stuff and rounded up their horses.***
Justin glared at the person whose arm he held. “No one steals from me.” He shook the arm he held. “Got that, boy?” he stated, thinking the person he had just captured was a young boy. He dragged “him” closer to the fire and got a better look at “him”.
“He” had waist length black hair, dark blue eyes, and pale skin hidden under all of the dirt on her face. She was wearing a coarse woolen tunic and a dark brown woolen cloak, and.... He drew in a breath, having realized “he” was a girl by her hair, when he saw that she was wearing pants. Pants! No woman of his acquaintance had ever worn pants.
“What the hell were you thinking of?” he demanded.
Sam looked over at Kaylyn, who was being held captive by Joey, then turned back to Justin. “I was doing what I always do.”
“Haven’t you been caught by now?”
“No.”
“I’m turning you into the local magistrate,” Justin said. “Along with your friend.”
“Sure you will,” Kaylyn agreed. “If you can catch us again.” She stomped on Joey’s foot, hoping he would let her go.
Joey grunted in pain, tightening grip on her. “That ain’t gonna work, sweetheart.”
Kaylyn gritted her teeth. “Then I’ll try this.” She raised her leg to kick him in the crotch.
Joey lifted her up before she could do any damage. Then he tossed her over his shoulder.
Justin glared at Sam. “Are you gonna try anything?”
“She won’t have any time to,” a voice said behind them. “This is just our lucky night, guys. Two more nobles and some women.” Kevin’s green eyes scanned the group. “And, judging from their dress, the women are loose women.”
Sam tried to lunge for Kevin, but Justin’s arms were still around her. “Bastard,” she spat. “We’re not loose women.”
The five guys quickly surrounded the group, and had them tied up before they knew what was happening.