by Toni Cox
I stuffed it in my rucksack even as I ran towards the maze, just left of the pavilion.
No-one ever used the maze. Its hedge was only about head-high for me, and I would have to duck, but I knew every corner off-by-heart. It had been a favourite playground of mine.
The maze spanned half-way across the gardens and would take me almost all the way where I wanted to go. Keeping low, I listened to the sounds of boots on gravel as the guards filed into the gardens.
The captain gave the order to spread out. I kept my head down and walked on, taking comfort from my hiding place.
When I reached the end, I had to press myself into the hedge, for two guards walked by just as I wanted to exit. While the prickly bush pressed against my face, I held my breath until they were out of earshot.
Quickly, I ran across the pebbled path and around an elaborate flowerbed with several tall statues. All along this side of the garden, sculptures and displays provided hiding places.
Sir Julius Ivyson’s generous granite rear shielded me from view on my way to the small grate through which I could slip out into a tunnel that would lead out into the streets.
It had been a long time since I had used this tunnel, but I found my way there unerringly.
The grate sat at the bottom of the wall in a low part of the garden. It was a water overflow grate, which channelled excess water to the river that ran through the city.
I had to hide again as footsteps crunched past close by, accompanied by male voices. I thought I recognised Captain Jared, and for a moment, I was tempted to speak to him.
He was my father’s guard, and surely I could trust him. I hesitated, listening. Other voices joined, and someone mentioned the word ‘arrest.’ I waited.
Once the voices faded, I gripped the grate and yanked. It didn’t budge. Words not fit for a princess fell in whispers from my mouth as I pulled again. Could something go right for me just once? Please.
With a screech, the metal gave way, and I fell backwards, grate in hand. I scrambled to my feet, worried the guards might have heard the noise, and ducked into the tunnel.
I didn’t get far. My rucksack got caught at the top, and I had to stop to take it off. I couldn’t remember the opening being that small, but I guess the last time I had crawled through here, I must have been ten, or so.
Holding the rucksack awkwardly in front of me with my left arm, and crawling forward on my knees and my right hand, I made slow progress down the wet tunnel.
Dark, slimy, and smelling of mould, the tunnel was the worst place I had found myself in since this calamity had begun.
The light slowly strengthened, and I could see the end of the tunnel, framed by the green of bushes growing around it. The sight gave me the strength to push on through the foul place.
My knees scraped through the water over the rough surface of the tunnel. My right hand burned from dragging my weight forward along the dirty surface. Then, finally, fresh air.
Throwing the backpack out first, I pushed through the shrubs and out into the sunlight. The thorny little branches of the bush tore at my bun, loosening hairs until they flew wildly around my head.
I tumbled down a short embankment until I landed with my butt in a shallow river, small stones bruising my flesh.
Pushing myself up, I flung the backpack back onto my back and got my bearings. The river would keep me hidden from the city if I kept walking along it. It would eventually lead me to one of the exit gates of Draeguard.
Wet as I already was, it mattered little that in most places the riverbank was too steep to walk on. I simply walked in the water in those places, as the river was shallow enough to do so.
So little time had passed since the attack last night, yet so much had happened since then. How had everything changed so quickly? And why?
One moment I was a princess living in a palace; now I was a fugitive on the run. How had this happened? My eyes stung, and my throat hurt when I swallowed.
Angrily, I wiped at my face. No, I wasn’t crying. I was on my way to fix this. To help my father. If only bad stuff stopped happening to me.
I looked up at the sound of voices ahead. The embankment was lower in these parts, and I could see the tops of houses on my right. Up ahead, I could see the kingdom’s boundary wall. I was close.
Crossing the river, I now kept close to the right bank, daring a furtive look over the edge from time to time to see how far I’d come.
Soon, the main road joined the river and ran parallel to it, which I knew it would all the way to the gate. Only a few people travelled along the road at this hour, and I hoped my luck was changing.
I dug in my backpack for the shawl. I’d drape that around me to hide my hair and face, so the people by the gate would not recognise me when I left the city.
The soft texture of the shawl spoke of its quality, and its delicate floral smell was no doubt the councillor’s daughter’s perfume. A stab of guilt ran through me, but I pushed it back down.
After another short while, I found a place where I could climb out of the riverbed and up to the road. I brushed myself down as best I could and then wrapped myself in the shawl.
The few people on the road paid me no attention, and I carried on walking towards the gate. As I got closer, however, I noticed something strange.
The gate was closed.
The gates to Draeguard were always open. It was the king’s decree. But, even as I looked, I saw the guards patrolling in front of it, spears in hand.
So much for my luck turning.
I darted behind a tree and stood there for a moment, trying to rearrange my thoughts. I guessed that if they had closed this gate, the others would be, too. There would be no point in going all across the city to try the other gates.
There was only one other way in and out of the city, and that was the king’s secret passageway from his royal chamber. Too late for that option, now.
Sighing, I looked back at the river. The water flowed peacefully onward, unperturbed by my dilemma. I wished I was that free.
The river!
It was my last chance. I prayed to the Goddess and all the Gods who listened that there was a way out.
I stuffed the shawl back into the backpack and then waded into the water. It wasn’t cold, but after walking on the road, the water seeping back into my shoes was uncomfortable.
As I got closer to the gate, the bushes along the embankment became denser. Someone up there was finally listening.
Shielded from view, I splashed ahead toward what looked like a stone bridge worked into the boundary wall. The grey blocks of stone went down almost to the water’s edge, and for a moment I thought it was blocked off.
Then, I saw the gap, not more than the width of my hand, and saw the water flowing beneath it.
Dropping the rucksack on the bank, I waded out into the middle of the river. It was surprisingly deep here, reaching to my hips. Bending, I looked through the gap between stone and water to see what was beyond.
It was a low arch above the water, probably high enough so I could stick my face out to breathe. And, to keep the rucksack dry. Mostly.
About half-way between here and the other side I could see metal bars. With the dim light, the distance, and the movement of the water, I could not be sure of the width between them, but I would have to take that chance.
I went back to fetch the backpack and then took a deep breath. The water closed over my head as I ducked under the stone arch, but I held the bag as high as I could to keep it out of the water.
I surfaced a moment later, pressing my face to the underside of the rock. My body contorted at an odd angle because the river was too shallow for me to stand and too deep for me to kneel.
The bars came closer as I dragged myself along. They, too, were slimy and rusted. It couldn’t get any worse.
I pushed the rucksack through with ease and then forced myself after it. It was a tight fit and I struggled a bit, gasping for air as I had to tilt my head to fit through the gap.
I didn’t scare easily, but in the cramped confines of the dark tunnel with so little breathing room, my heart fluttered wildly in my chest. I could think of nothing else but to get out as fast as possible.
All thoughts of stealth left me as I splashed through the water to get to the light on the other side. I slipped on a rock, and my head went under. Struggling to keep the rucksack above water, I spat water out of my mouth.
Finally, I pushed through the vines growing down the wall on the other side and scrambled up the left embankment, away from the road.
Sodden, I dropped to the ground under the nearest bush I could find. I was exhausted, but I couldn’t stay here.
Pushing myself up again, I walked away from the wall and into the forest. When I turned around once after I had walked a few minutes, the wall already appeared hazy.
The forest around me became denser the further from Draeguard I went, but I stuck to the narrow road and only stepped off it once to hide from a rider who galloped along it.
A little self-pity started to set in as I walked down the road alone, wet, hungry, and with no idea where I was going. Maybe there could have been a better way to handle this.
Doubt shot through my brain, making me question everything I had been told up to this point. Who could I trust?
There had only ever been one person in my life that I could really trust, and that had been my father. Now, that stupid councillor had planted a seed of doubt there, too.
Sighing, I hitched the backpack a little higher. My shoes squelched on the dirt road as I trod along to who knew where I was going.
A soft sound in the undergrowth to my left made me turn. Amber eyes stared out of the foliage at me, and I took a moment to register that they belonged to a wolf.
My legs remained frozen for only a heartbeat longer before they propelled me forward. Not that running was probably my best course of action, but at that point, I was so tired, I couldn’t think of anything else.
A growl behind me told me that the beast had given chase. Just my luck. What else could possibly go wrong today?
I didn’t dare look behind. I did not want to see it coming. My wet shoes pounded the ground while my eyes scoured the forest ahead, looking for a safe place to hide.
Heart pounding, I dashed into a side path with the hope of climbing a tree. As I rounded the corner, I saw, half-hidden by thick bushes, an old hunter’s viewpoint.
Not giving it a second thought, I dove through the bushes. My backpack got caught, snagged on a branch, and I struggled to free myself. I could hear the animal behind me now.
Through the bushes, I could see the ladder leading to the old hut. It was so close. If only I could reach it.
The branch snapped, and I fell forward, sprawling in the dirt. I spat out a mouthful of forest floor and heaved myself back up.
The wolf behind me growled.
Chapter 5
Huge and menacing, the wolf jumped through the bushes. I scrambled backwards frantically and found my feet beneath me.
Panicked, I ran the few yards to the ladder, but my foot caught on something, and my head connected painfully with the rusted ladder of the viewing hut.
The wooden floor of the hut tilted in my vision. The furry face of the wolf swam before my eyes. Bright stars danced in the darkness.
***
Soft evening light fell through a window as I blinked my eyes.
I moved my head to see better, and a sharp pain shot through my brain.
My hand flew to my forehead, only to find it bandaged. I winced.
“Hey, careful with that,” a male voice said behind me.
“Huh?” I pushed myself into a sitting position and found myself looking at a tall man in dirty pants and a sweater.
“Who are you?” I pointed at his chest.
“I was about to ask you the same,” the guy answered.
I realised that he wasn’t that much older than me. Maybe eighteen with a mop of sandy blonde hair. “I asked first.”
“This is my place, so you answer first.”
“Your place?” I looked around at the dingy old hut that looked like a good wind might blow it over.
“It’s temporary.”
I reached up at the bandage and rubbed it gently. “Did you do this?”
“Yes. You banged your head on the ladder.”
“I remember. A wolf chased me.”
The guy looked down at his hands. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
My blood froze in my veins. My hand shook as I brought it back down into my lap.
“You are the wolf?”
“When I need to be.”
I searched the rickety viewing hut for my bag. It rested in the corner opposite me.
“What do you want with me?” My voice shook.
The shifter raised his eyebrows. “You looked for me. I could ask you the same question.”
“What? No.” I winced again as the pain shot through my head once more. I fell back on the makeshift bed. “I ran from you, remember?”
He narrowed his eyes. “You looked right at me, and then you ran straight here as if you knew it was here.”
The throbbing in my forehead eased, and I closed my eyes, breathing evenly. This guy made no sense.
I gathered my courage. “Please, can I leave now?”
“No.”
My heart pounded in my chest. He was going to kill me now.
“You are in no condition to go anywhere.”
“I’m fine.” I pushed myself back up on one elbow. The hut spun around me. I might have a slight concussion.
“It was difficult enough carrying you up here. It will be dark soon, and you may as well rest until morning and then carry on to wherever you’re headed.”
“You carried me?”
He nodded, and I noticed he was quite bulky underneath that sweater.
It seemed I had no choice but to stay ~ for now. I’d have to be wary.
“Does your kind always stay in accommodations like these?”
“My kind? What is that supposed to mean? I gather you’re not a dog person, then.”
“What?”
“Never mind. No, as I said, it’s temporary.”
“Why would you help me if you thought I was after you?”
The shifter shrugged. “You were injured because of me. I couldn’t just leave you there for the animals.”
“Huh, thanks.”
“My name is Thomas, by the way.” He leaned forward and reached out his hand.
Hesitantly, I took it. “Dana.”
“Cool, now we know each other. I don’t have much, but there is some bread and jam I can offer you,” the shifter pointed to his bag with his chin, “if you’re hungry.”
I couldn’t believe this guy. His amber eyes were soft and gentle, but I knew he was a shifter.
“Very well,” I conceded, “but if you try anything, I will slit your throat.”
Thomas held up both hands, palms facing me. “On my honour, I will not touch you.”
I eyed him wearily and then watched him as he busied himself with food.
The hut had a narrow landing, which I could see through the wooden door that was barely hanging on its hinges. In fact, it looked as if the shifter had recently done some makeshift repairs.
The sleeping bag I lay on in the far corner covered a clean-swept floor.
“How long have you been here?” I asked.
“Since last night. I didn’t mean to stay another night, but I was so exhausted, I slept too late this morning. If we are going to make it to the next town during daylight, we’ll have to leave early tomorrow.”
“We?”
“It’s safer if we walk together, but I’ll understand if you don’t want to. After all, you hardly know me, right?”
“I don’t know you at all.”
“Where are you going, anyway?”
“I don’t know.” At least there was a question I could answer honestly.
The corners of my lips pulled down, suppressing a smile. Thomas winked at me.
“Where are you going, then?” I asked in return.
“A place called Wilderfield. It’s really beautiful. I’m meeting someone.”
My brows furrowed, brining on another bout of pain, as I tried to recall a town called Wilderfield.
“You can have the sleeping bag for tonight,” Thomas said. “You sure travel light for the fact you don’t know where you are going.”
“What’s it to you?”
“Just an observation.” He took a paper towel, placed a sandwich on it, and then folded it so that only half the sandwich was visible. Then, he handed it to me. “Hope you like strawberry jam.”
“Thank you.”
At least he had manners. The way he dressed, with his dirty pants, his unkempt hair, and his rough accommodation, I would have thought him to have rough manners, too.
Seems I was wrong. Maybe the shifter’s travel persona was misleading. A pauper definitely wouldn’t travel with paper towels in his bag.
The sandwich was great. I hadn’t realised how hungry I was. It made me think back at what kind of day I’d had, and all the things just came flooding back all at once.
Silently, I huddled down on the sleeping bag. I could see Thomas looking at me out of the corner of his eye, but he didn’t ask any questions.
My stubbornness prevented me from crying, but I could feel the sting in my eyes and the pain in my throat when I swallowed.
What if all of this was my fault? Whatever this blue magic was that sprung from my hand, it wasn’t fae. What if it drew the dark magic to the kingdom? Maybe that’s why my father sent me away. To save the kingdom.
My nostrils flared as more tears threatened. I was really fighting them now. There were so many questions, and I had answers to none.
Go to Arianna, my father had said. One name, nothing else. How did he think I would accomplish that? I was lucky to have found someone who even recognised that name.
I now had a witch’s book, but still no clue where to go. The king’s guard was hunting me, and I had almost nothing to my name, except what was in my backpack.
