The False Prince (Fall Of A King Book 1)

by Fuller, James

  Meath did not say anything, just kept walking to the horses with an angry glare on his face. He hated this feeling of helplessness.

  "We should make camp here, it will be dark soon. And there has been much barbarian activity around here, it would be best not to risk it." Kara pulled her saddlebag from her mount.

  The trio sat around a small cooking fire. Daden had caught two fat hares before the sun had set and they now roasted on the low flames. The smell made Meath's stomach rumble madly - the last thing he remembered eating was a small meal before he and Nicolette had secretly left the castle.

  He still had not said a word to either of them. He did not know what to say. They did not seem to want to answer his questions. He just observed them, their movements, possible weaknesses anything that might help him succeed in escaping next time.

  Kara took the two rabbits from the spit, laid them on a flat rock and began cutting thick, juicy chunks off of them.

  Daden grabbed a piece and plopped it into his mouth, but quickly spat it out. "Damn, that is hot!"

  "Well of course it's hot - it just came off the fire." Kara laughed at him playfully.

  Daden glared over at Meath, "Should we feed him too?"

  "Of course we feed him too, do not be an idiot!" Kara snapped, taking a few meaty pieces and putting them in a small turtle shell bowl. "I will bring it to him. I do not need you two at each other's throats again."

  "Be careful. I do not trust him. I can tell he is a lot like…" Daden quickly stopped in mid sentence.

  Kara ignored her companion and walked over to where they had tethered Meath. She had used her powers to displace a large root to anchor the rope, then the root had sunk back into the earth. "I know you do not understand all of this, but you will soon enough, I promise," she said, handing him the shell bowl with a sympathetic look. "And when you do, you will know why we had to do this and chances are, you will be grateful."

  Meath cursed himself for being so hungry and took the bowl and she left. He ate the meat slowly, not wanting them to see he was as hungry as he was - he watched them while he ate and listened to their small talk.

  "We have to make better time than this - tomorrow we only make two stops to rest," Daden said, wiping the grease from his mouth with the back of his dirty hand.

  "The horses will hate us, but I agree we still have a long way ahead of us," Kara replied, packing the dishes they had used back into the saddlebag.

  "Travel will slow once we pass the river. We are going to need to change our route home. Since he does not want to cooperate, I do not want to be seen by others. They will not understand and might try to stop us to help him and we do not need that hassle."

  "Good idea - it will take a few days longer, but will most likely save us much grief," Kara agreed, looking back to Meath who hid the fact that he was listening. "I do not think we will have many problems with him now, he has to know now that he cannot escape us. I just wish we could tell him why he has to come with us."

  "That is not our place. We have our orders."

  "I know, it just seems really cruel," Kara said compassionately, "to take someone from their life like this with no knowledge of why."

  "We had best get some sleep. I will take first watch." Daden got up and stretched, getting the blood flowing in his body again to help keep him alert.

  "You sure? Kara asked, "I know you have not been sleeping well… I could take first watch."

  "I will watch him first, besides I am not tired. I have a lot on my mind."

  "Wake me when it is my time," Kara told him, crawling into her bedroll. "Night, Daden - night, Meath."

  Meath rolled over, facing away from the camp and covered himself with the wool blanket he had been given. He had no plans for making another attempt at escape tonight; he was exhausted and knew he would need all his wits to escape when the time presented itself. It bothered him that they knew so much about him. What bothered him more was how they had known where to find him - it seemed impossible, yet they had. So many questions taunted him, yet he knew they would not be answered anytime soon. Finally weariness overpowered his thoughts and he drifted off….

  "Wake up, Meath. It is time to get moving," Kara nudged Meath's foot with her own.

  Meath rolled over and glared at her. Her eyes recoiled down to where the rope was submerged into the ground. Her palm pointed toward the earth and once again Meath saw the strange black markings on the inside of her palm. A strange aura of energy filtered up from the earth to her outstretched palm causing the black markings on her palm to brighten into a collage of colors until she closed her hand and cut off the energy flow. She focused her other hand where the root was and as she lifted her hand, the root lifted from the earth as if she was pulling it up with some unseen rope.

  "You have never seen a Druid before, have you?" Kara asked, seeing the intrigue in his eyes while she untied the hemp rope that bound him.

  "No," he muttered, standing up. Ursa had only vaguely talked about other aspects of magic such as druids, mages and sorcery. It was a topic Meath had been eager to learn more about, but other studies had been more pressing.

  Meath rode silently the whole morning, just listening and taking in his surroundings, being sure to make note of important landmarks. He had discovered they were traveling to the northeast, back toward the jungle and around the north side of Sheeva Lake. He wondered how they planned to cross the lake, or even the northern side river. They would have to use one of the boatmen or pulley riggers to cross, and they had to know Meath would not keep silent. He hoped it was something they were overlooking. If he could not escape before then, that was his sure thing.

  *****

  Nicolette woke late the next morning - every muscle in her body screamed at her from the training her friends had put her through the day before.

  "They told me this would happen," she groaned, slowly pulling herself out of bed. Zehava had told her they would come for her as soon as the sun came up, but from the looks of the sun it was well past morning.

  Nicolette got dressed as fast as she could manage and made her way through the hallways, trying not to look like she was in as much pain as she was. She used that pain to fuel her every step, storming past everyone who tried to make small talk, not caring at all if they thought her rude. She was in no mood for pleasantries.

  "Where are Zehava and the others?" she demanded to one of the servants in the hallway as she passed by.

  The servant girl was caught completely off guard by Nicolette's wrath, "I…I… I am not sure Highness. I am sorry." The girl kept her eyes to the floor.

  "I saw them Highness, they were in the stable yard!" a young noble boy told her as he passed by her.

  Nicolette did not even thank him. She just stormed off to the stable yard - she did not even notice that her body was screaming in agony.

  "Why did you not wake me this morning?" Nicolette demanded angrily, coming up behind the trio sitting on a fence overlooking the horse pen.

  "We thought is best that you get more rest today," Dahak stuttered out, seeing anger radiating from her.

  "Do not say that. I said we should wake her," Shania put in, not wanting to take the blame for them.

  "You said you would get me as soon as the sun was up!" Nicolette barked back.

  "You cannot overdo it - you will not become a fighter in just a few days." Zehava hopped off the fence to stand in front of her, feeling slightly guilty.

  "I will tell you when I feel I have overdone it! That is not up to you to decide," she pressed, her icy glare cutting into him. "I will not become any kind of a fighter if you keep treating me like a Princess!" She pushed him back hard, surprising them all. "When you were sore from training did they let you sleep in?"

  "Well no, but…" Zehava started, completely taken back by Nicolette's aggression.

  She stepped mere inches from his face, "Then what makes you think I should be sleeping in when I am in training? Is it because you do not think I have what it takes?"

/>   Zehava stood dumbfounded, unsure of what to say next.

  "You have what it takes," Shania cut in, stepping between the two. "Prove it right now, you have the spark in eyes, you are ready."

  Nicolette took a deep breath. "Promise me you will not belittle me like this again."

  "Promise," Zehava and Dahak both said together.

  "We have wasted too much time already today. What are we doing?" she asked, the adrenaline still pumping through her body. But before they could answer they were interrupted.

  "There you are!" Lady Jewel bellowed, hurrying across the courtyard to where the group stood, Rift following quickly in tow. "What is this lunacy I hear that you are doing?"

  "It is far from lunacy, my dear Aunt, and yes it is true," Nicolette answered sternly catching Jewel and Rift off guard.

  "That is absurd! Why would you do such a thing?" Jewel replied in utter shock. "You are to be a Queen. This is no duty you need."

  Nicolette smiled snidely at her Aunt. "On the contrary, if I am to be Queen I shall rule as my father ruled and my father was a warrior when needed, as will I."

  Rift stepped forward, "I will not let you continue this nonsense! You have had a trying time of late and are simply confused in the right ways to deal with it."

  "How dare you, Rift!" Nicolette growled back, all the while Zehava, Dahak and Shania stood behind her wishing they were somewhere else. "You out of all people should be supporting such an act, since it is more than apparent that you are not always around when I need you." She knew her words cut him deeply and he quickly recoiled back and lowered his eyes.

  "Yes, Highness, I am sorry, I was merely looking out for your wellbeing, but I see now that so are you."

  "A Warrior Queen?" Jewel scoffed. "Do not be ridiculous, my child."

  "I am woman and I am warrior!" Shania cut in, taking offense to Lady Jewel's remark, but Zehava quickly pulled her back, not wanting her to be in the middle of such a conversation.

  Nicolette's jaw firmed. "If you are going to continue to call me child and belittle my efforts to become the Queen my Kingdom needs, then I will have to insist that you call me by my title and remember your place underneath it!" Nicolette's tone was sharp and unwavering, as she stood her ground against her Aunt.

  Lady Jewel was astonished by Nicolette - her face paling as if Nicolette had slapped her. "I…" she paused, clearly unable to determine what she wanted to say.”I guess we will leave you to your training then, Highness." Jewel turned without another word and walked away, clearly hurt and in dismayed.

  "You are also dismissed, Rift," Nicolette said, turning back to her friends. "What are we doing today?"

  13

  Meath had been traveling with his captors for near half a fortnight and now they were deep in the heart of the jungle. They had crossed the Sheeva River three days prior by means Meath had never imagined possible until he had witnessed it. Kara had spent several long moments drawing on the life force of the vast vegetation around them, so much so that much of the foliage began darkening in color as it began to wilt. She had then used that bulk of energy to manipulate the very earth and rock beneath them, forming a crude earthly bridge that spanned the river. He could tell the effort had drained her significantly, as she paled and her eyes grew clouded and her face taut. Holding the bridge up was still drawing strength from her and they crossed quickly.

  Meath had thought to try to make a run for it, but Daden had taken no chances prior to the spell and tethered them together with a short rope. Once they crossed, it crumbled away into the fast flowing river, leaving no trace of it ever existing, aside from some turned up earth on the far side.

  Considering the terrain had become very difficult for the horses to move through, they were making decent time. Yet Meath had still not been able to discover where they might be headed. He knew they continued to travel northeast, but aside from that, he knew nothing. He had hoped his capturers would slip up and mention a name or something that might give him a clue, but they had not.

  Night had fallen upon them and again the two sat talking around a small cook fire while Meath listened and ate quietly away from them, tethered to a root.

  "I will go gather some water from the creek and scout around." Daden got up and grabbed the empty water skins. "Do not get close to him - I do not trust him. He has been too quiet - I think he is planning something."

  "I will be fine, Daden." Kara watched Daden vanish into the darkness and knew he would be gone for a while. She looked back to Meath, who was showing her no mind at all. "I know you think we are your enemies, Meath, but we are not. You will see that soon enough, I promise." She walked over to him and crouched down just out of his reach, just in case Daden was right. "It is not healthy for someone to be so quiet." Several long moments passed and still Meath said nothing. "I am not like Daden - I do feel horrible for what is happening to you. I hate that we are not allowed to tell you why we have taken you from your life. I cannot change that - I have my orders. But that does not mean it has to be like this." Kara explained to him, truly concerned for him. "Like it or not, we are stuck together for a while - we can make it less traumatic by at least being civil to one another. I will not press you, but know I am here if you want to talk. I am the closest thing to a friend you have right now, Meath… just remember that." Kara whispered to him, getting up and going to the horses just as Daden emerged from the trees with water.

  Meath could tell by Daden's scowl and demeanor that he was annoyed that Kara had been trying to talk to him again, he smiled at that. He watched and learned, and was beginning to see by the way Daden talked to, and looked at, Kara that he liked her more than just a work companion did, but he also noticed that she did not seem to have those feelings for him. That was the only reason she was out here with him, because she was ordered to be by whoever had sent them out to collect him. This he could use to his advantage he hoped. Meath laid down on his bedroll.

  The next day things were much the same, slow and silent travel. Meath was becoming increasingly frustrated - he had hoped he would have had another opportunity to escape by now. But nothing had presented itself, and Daden was being overly watchful of him, allowing him no chances to seize any small opportunities that might have occurred.

  Meath could smell smoke in the distance as they were nearing a small town. Though he was not too familiar with all the towns and villages out this far north, he did know that most likely there was a road that would take him to somewhere he would know.

  "Tomorrow we will sell the horses back to the man we bought them from in Tigris," Daden said to Kara as they set up camp a few short miles from the town.

  "I thought we would make it before it got dark," Kara moaned, wanting to sleep in an inn or even a barn.

  "I know - me too. Normally I would say let us keep going until we were there, but the path is too dangerous and I do not want risk breaking one of the horses' legs. Not to mention with all the barbarian attacks of late, I do not want to draw any extra attention to ourselves by coming in the night, especially with him," Daden replied, eyeing Meath suspiciously. "I am sensing he is about due to try something stupid."

  "Leave him alone, Daden," Kara snipped. "I sure am going to miss the horses - it is so much easier traveling with them.

  Daden chuckled. "Oh come on, you love it out here, back home all you do is complain on how you wish you were out here on adventures, running through the land. Now that you are, all you do is complain and wish you were home."

  "I am not complaining, I am just saying we have been gone a very long time and been doing nothing but traveling hard for what seems like forever," she said, trying to redeem herself a little, knowing he was right.

  "We will pick up supplies tomorrow in town so we do not have to hunt anymore; it is only slowing us down," Daden told Kara, wanting to be through with this mission already and back home as well.

  "What are we going to do with him tomorrow?" Kara asked, glancing over to Meath. "You know as well as I do, we cannot ju
st walk in there with him tied up without drawing curious stares."

  Daden nodded his agreement. "I am sure our ‘friend' here will not exactly keep silent either. Is that not right, Meath? Would not want to make it easy for us, would you?"

  Meath just sat there staring hard at him, wondering what they were going to do with him after all. If they left him alone that might be his only chance to run, if they brought him into the town he might be able to get help from the locals.

  "Well, we cannot just leave him alone; he is devious like we were told he would be," Daden mumbled, clearly annoyed.

  "Well you go into the town and I will stay with him. You trade the horses back for what money you can get for them and buy the supplies and I will watch over him," Kara replied, even though she had wanted to go into the town and have a warm bath and maybe buy something to bring back with her.

  "Are you sure, Kara? Daden asked, not liking the fact that she had taken such an interest in Meath. "Maybe I should watch over him."

  Kara sighed and shook her head. "You know as well as I, Daden, that you will be far better off selling the horses and buying supplies for a better price than I would be - a lone girl walking around in town may attract trouble we do not need."

  "True enough, I guess. I will go first thing in the morning, as soon as the shops are open. I will be as quick as possible." Daden looked over at Meath, trying to determine what he was thinking. "You know, him being so quiet all the time is really starting to irk me."

  Kara turned and regarded Meath with a shrug. "I do not blame him; I cannot say I would not be doing the same thing if I were in his position."

  "You take first watch tonight." Daden grumbled while he unrolled his bedroll and crawled into it.

  Meath woke to a sharp sting in his shoulder and his eyes opened wide to see Daden standing over him with a dart and a self-satisfying grin. "There, now I will know for sure you will not be causing any trouble while I am away." He winked.