15 The Encounter In The Woods!

Emmaline watched silently, making sure that she made no sound.

" Your silly mistake is costing me much already, Liam wasn't supposed to get married ! That was the plan, I should sit on that throne, with that crown on my head, not Liam's " the man that Emmaline didn't know said out in anger.

" How was I supposed to know that they were twins ?. You didn't say they were, and the silly maid is to be blamed, she didn't give detailed informations as well ". The strange looking man that Emmaline had recognized said defending himself.

The little that Emmaline had heard, had sent the signal already that they were talking about princess Arianna and princess Brianna. Both men stood akimbo and continued talking. " What should we then do now ? " The strange looking man asked the other.

" You know something Ferdinand ! You should learn to use your pronouns well. What do you mean by we ? What do I even pay you for? If I could think my self, I shouldn't have hired you, this is your mess; clean it up! " The other man retorted. There was an awkward silence, as the man Emmaline didn't know, began to pace restlessly, while the strange looking man, Ferdinand as Emmaline had picked his name, just stood quietly.

"Look ! I tried to remedy the situation. When I got to the wedding venue and found out that there was a wedding going on. I inquired from the maid, that was when reported that they were twins, I spoke to the princess about her sister scantly, just to catch her attention, and dropped her a note, with an address on it, hoping that she'd come. The plan was to abduct her as well, but I waited and she hasn't still showed up ". Ferdinand explained in self defence. " Please let's give it sometime, if she doesn't show up, then I'd come up with something better. " He said again.

" You do know we don't have all the time in the world? Time is ticking and very fast at that matter, I must become the next king of St Lucia ! Get that into your empty thick skull " the other man said still very furious.

Emmaline just watched in bewilderment. Her jaws dropped in amazement.

" What about the maid ? What have you done with her ? She can't just be left alone, she knows so much already, we need to get rid of her some how " the man looking a bit calm, spoke up again.

" Naaaaah ! "Ferdinand objected, using his hands to wave of the idea. " It's still too early to stain our hands, besides it won't be necessary I have already threatened to end her whole..."

Emmaline couldn't hear all the details, because there was the sudden wake of buzzards from the woods, they made so much noise that she couldn't hear all they said anymore. Emmaline felt like throwing a stick at them in anger. They had deprived her of vital informations that she needed.

However out of anger she tripped and landed on the floor with a thud, for she didn't know she had been standing on a very fragile wood. She made a small painful sound " Arrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhgg"

" Did you hear that ? " Ferdinand asked. " Hear what ? " The other man asked very unbothered. " I thought I heard a sound, he said walking towards the direction that Emmaline was hiding. "

Emmaline just groaned in silence, as soon as she heard his foot steps coming towards her direction, her heart skipped. If they ever find her there, she wasn't sure she'd live to tell the story. Something had to be done. She looked at her back, there were the cluster of leaves from a fallen tree, she crawled silently into the cluster of leaves, making sure she was careful enough not to make a sound.

Ferdinand soon got to the spot she was hiding, but found nothing.

" You fool ! You're out in the woods, there are alot of animals out here, they could have possibly made the sound. " The other man said to Ferdinand.

Ferdinand returned to his first position, although very skeptical. " That shouldn't even be your worry for now, you should be more worried about getting to help me become the next king of St Lucia. If anyone has to die in the process, I don't care ! Just do the needful, I am running out of patience ! " The other man said walking away.

" Wait so I get nothing for today? " Ferdinand asked flipping his both hands open.

" Yes you get nothing for today, each time you make a costly mistake, you get nothing. I can't be wasting my resources and get nothing. I do not pluck money from trees. " The other man said authoritatively. " And you had better be careful, so I don't replace you soonest " the man said rudely, walking away .

Ferdinand walked briskly after him, Emmaline began to hear their voices indistinctly, she waited till she didn't hear anything again before coming out of her hiding place.

Emmaline chickened out in fear, and was still in great pains. She just sat on a wood like a mouse drenched in the rain. She began to assimilate all the information she had gotten.

" The maid ! " She said aloud. " The maid must be Iris, that means Iris had been a spy all the while, Iris possibly knows that Princess Arianna is not princess Brianna. " She said again opening her eyes wide opened. " Oh my ! Princess Arianna is not safe anymore " she said almost in tears. " And Iris her self is not even safe. "

She was silent for a while...

" what threat could have made Iris do such a thing ! " She wondered in astonishment. " I have to be careful to remain in my undercover, no body knows me yet. ( She became silent a little, watching her feet bleed as a result from the fall)

" Those birds spoilt things for me, I am sure Ferdinand would have said what he told her that made her do such a thing. But who was the other man ? He is obviously one of the king's sons, but not for once was his name even mentioned, " ( she angrily threw away the stick she had been playing with while she thought...)

" I have to tell Princess Arianna about Iris, ( she said biting her lips softly and staring into the air, pausing a bit) No ! I must warn Iris first, princess Arianna might send her back home, and she could get killed if she goes back home, I will see Iris first, and warn her. Yes that's exactly what I should do, then I would tell princess Arainna, and try to convince her not to send Iris home. She said aloud to her self convincingly.

As she stood up to leave, she sat back again acting as though she forgot something. " What if Iris decides to report me to the man, seeing that I know about her little games ? Then I'd be in serious trouble, I'd become the next target. " She said very confused.

" No I can't talk to Iris my self, it'd be too risky. She said fearfully. " " Emmaline think! think! think! " She said using her hand to smack her head lightly while putting her hands under her jaw and became silent for a while...

" I am only left with the option of telling Princess Arainna first. I should also warn her to guide prince Liam properly as well. His life could also be in danger "

The day was becoming hotter, Emmaline thought to return to the palace. She stood up and walked away quickly like someone stepping on hot coals and limping Abit.