much to say. Marik never let on what happened in the trees, never mentioned how close Conner came to shooting his arrows. Conner was glad. He didn’t want bad blood to hover over the rest of their trip. He just bid his time, waiting to get out of the forest and return to his home.
They took it at a pace as Elissa allowed. It wasn't a fast pace, but she surprised them all moving at a steady pace. By nightfall, they were nearly out of the forest. Exhausted, she fell into a quick sleep while the men prepared their camp. Once the princess was asleep and a fire was going, Marik left the others to guard the campsite. He returned some time later with three rabbits that were quickly gutted, skinned, and cooked. They slept in shifts through the night, waking just before dawn. After a small breakfast of berries and the little bit of rabbit from the night before, they broke camp.
They trudged through the trees, following game trails and whatever open space they could find. Little was said other than acknowledging commands. Conner wasn’t last, one of the knights was always following a few yards behind. But he was always behind the princess. The physical separation while they walked did not surprise him. She was of royal blood and should be walking ahead of him. He, the peasant, should be relegated to the back. He missed her voice and conversation. He was glad that they had been found and were heading back to the safety of the castle. But the lack of communication between them bothered him. He hoped that soon they could be back to what they were, friends who could talk. In the meantime, he just followed them in silence.
By mid-day they reached the edge of the forest and found a small camp. There were three lightly clad knights tending the camp. As soon as these knights saw who approached, they shouted their joy. They showered the princess with praise and adoration. They practically carried her under their lean-to, covering her with blankets and shoving food and drink in front of her.
Marik and Conner found themselves outcast from the group and made themselves busy building up their fire.
"That was you on the docks?" Conner asked.
Marik nodded his head. "We came into the village just as you were rowing out into the river. By the time we found someone who would give us a straight answer about you two, you were already halfway across the river." Marik let out a soft chuckle. "You had them pretty uptight about a band of murderers chasing you."
"We thought for sure we were being chased," Conner said.
"You took care of them all way back up river," Marik said.
"All of them?" Conner asked.
"It appears so. We only found your tracks. No one else was following you."
"Then we were worried for no reason," Conner said softly.
"No, of course not. You were right to be worried. You had no idea who they were or how many there were. You did a great job of protecting the princess. You did an amazing job."
Conner shrugged his shoulders, embarrassed. "Anyone would have done it."
"No," Marik replied. "Not anyone would have. Many would never had gotten involved. Many would have not found protective shelter in a cave. Staying there saved your lives."
"Barely," Conner said. "It was really cold."
"It would have been colder out in the open without protection from the wind."
"Do you know who they were?" Conner asked.
Marik shrugged his shoulders. "Bandits. Kidnappers. They were pretty ragtag. Skilled enough to take out her guards, but certainly not real soldiers. They were too sloppy. But now she's safe and the king will have her daughter back. All thanks to you."
Conner was silent in his embarrassment. Then he asked, "You drew on us back on the docks. If you knew it was us, why do that?"
Marik glanced over at one of the knights putting a saddle on a horse. "They thought that a couple shots might get your attention. Turn you around even.
They took it at a pace as Elissa allowed. It wasn't a fast pace, but she surprised them all moving at a steady pace. By nightfall, they were nearly out of the forest. Exhausted, she fell into a quick sleep while the men prepared their camp. Once the princess was asleep and a fire was going, Marik left the others to guard the campsite. He returned some time later with three rabbits that were quickly gutted, skinned, and cooked. They slept in shifts through the night, waking just before dawn. After a small breakfast of berries and the little bit of rabbit from the night before, they broke camp.
They trudged through the trees, following game trails and whatever open space they could find. Little was said other than acknowledging commands. Conner wasn’t last, one of the knights was always following a few yards behind. But he was always behind the princess. The physical separation while they walked did not surprise him. She was of royal blood and should be walking ahead of him. He, the peasant, should be relegated to the back. He missed her voice and conversation. He was glad that they had been found and were heading back to the safety of the castle. But the lack of communication between them bothered him. He hoped that soon they could be back to what they were, friends who could talk. In the meantime, he just followed them in silence.
By mid-day they reached the edge of the forest and found a small camp. There were three lightly clad knights tending the camp. As soon as these knights saw who approached, they shouted their joy. They showered the princess with praise and adoration. They practically carried her under their lean-to, covering her with blankets and shoving food and drink in front of her.
Marik and Conner found themselves outcast from the group and made themselves busy building up their fire.
"That was you on the docks?" Conner asked.
Marik nodded his head. "We came into the village just as you were rowing out into the river. By the time we found someone who would give us a straight answer about you two, you were already halfway across the river." Marik let out a soft chuckle. "You had them pretty uptight about a band of murderers chasing you."
"We thought for sure we were being chased," Conner said.
"You took care of them all way back up river," Marik said.
"All of them?" Conner asked.
"It appears so. We only found your tracks. No one else was following you."
"Then we were worried for no reason," Conner said softly.
"No, of course not. You were right to be worried. You had no idea who they were or how many there were. You did a great job of protecting the princess. You did an amazing job."
Conner shrugged his shoulders, embarrassed. "Anyone would have done it."
"No," Marik replied. "Not anyone would have. Many would never had gotten involved. Many would have not found protective shelter in a cave. Staying there saved your lives."
"Barely," Conner said. "It was really cold."
"It would have been colder out in the open without protection from the wind."
"Do you know who they were?" Conner asked.
Marik shrugged his shoulders. "Bandits. Kidnappers. They were pretty ragtag. Skilled enough to take out her guards, but certainly not real soldiers. They were too sloppy. But now she's safe and the king will have her daughter back. All thanks to you."
Conner was silent in his embarrassment. Then he asked, "You drew on us back on the docks. If you knew it was us, why do that?"
Marik glanced over at one of the knights putting a saddle on a horse. "They thought that a couple shots might get your attention. Turn you around even.
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