Sneaking Out

"My lady, can I assist you with anything else?" I looked at the maid, who bathed me. She was a short young lady, who had brown hair and green eyes. For the past two years, she's been assigned to me, Jennifer was her name.

However, Jennifer was one of my mother's past maids, which left me at a disadvantage. This girl could speak to Mother about anything that happens in my life, causing Mother to have constant eyes on me.

"I'm good, you may leave." She bowed and I watched her close the door, listening for the little click that indicated it was fully shut. And the room was silent.

Braiding my hair, I picked up my phone from my nightstand and unlocked the balcony door. Looking out over the front yard, the summer air, breezed by with its sweet scent.

Unlocking my phone, I texted Elias, reminding him to call me. I could still remember his clouded look while eating cake. 'How could you not react to the sweet dessert?' I questioned the whole time while I was with him, if he was okay, and knew he wasn't.

'ring, ring!' Sliding the answer button, I closed the balcony door, shutting myself outside.

"Alright spill it. Something is making you anxious, and it's worrying me." He chuckled lightly and I took in a deep breath.

For two years this type of communication was the only way to plot against the Council, however, we've slowed down on our pranks as we have gotten older.

"Rebecca, do you know a place where we can speak freely, other than your estate?" I looked out to the hill that I usually went to read books and watch over the city. I let out a sigh of breath, 'this was the only way that we could speak.'

"The hill, take a horse, and follow the back trail to the estate. There will be a fork in the road, meet me there." Ending the call, I hurriedly put on pants, since I was going horseback riding. Pulling a cloak from the top of my closet, I opened the bedroom door.

With one step, after another, I tip-toed across the carpet, down the stairs, and out the side door. My heart was beating rapidly with every step, and my breathing was out of line, by the time I reached the door. Taking in deep breaths, I dashed to the stalls.

Opening the barn door, I bumped into a man, the stable boy. Backing up to get a good look at him, I smiled lightly then rushed to my Cherokee, Rosa. He stood there and watching me, as I pulled items off the shelf.

Pulling the blanket off the stall, and grabbing the saddle, I roped Rosa in her straps and holsters. Leading her out of the stall, I looked into the boy's eyes, who was amazed at how quickly I got ready.

"It's just a simple ride, don't tell the Duke." Picking up a bow and sheath of arrows off the shelf, since I didn't have a sword, I hopped onto Rosa, who looked at me with her huge brown eye.

"Yes, m'lady." He spoke in a soft tone, opening the door for me. Lightly tapping Rosa in the side, with a simple command she walked out of the building, steering her right, I followed the trail to the hill.

As she ran, her breaths and mine became as one, her hooves dug into the earth, as she dashed across the trail. The breeze felt amazing, as she quickened her pace, and she knew her way since she's traveled this trail many times.

"Slow," Pressing my legs to her sides, she slowed. Elias, was there at the fork of the trail, smiling as he raised his hand, gaining my attention. "Were you already on your way to the stables, when you called?" I asked, noticing his horse was one of the fastest breeds.

"No, but I took the quickest horse." I nodded, clicking my tongue I turned Rosa a little to the left, her ears perked at the sound, so did Elias's. Walking down the trail, I found the path I was looking for, pulling her to the path, she figured out the rest.

Stepping onto the slope, she jumped onto the hill, leaving plenty of room for Elias to follow. For the next thirty minutes, we walked through the woods in silence, coming upon the hill that had trees covering us from others' sight.

"You weren't followed were you?" I asked while tying Rosa to the tree with plenty of grass for her to eat and water within her reach.

"No, the stable boy didn't even notice me." I nodded, lowering the hood of the cloak, I looked over the bright city. It was around nine in the evening, and the city was still busy.

"Good, now what is it that you want to talk about?" I asked, and he looked around, taking a seat on the ground. Following the suit, I placed the cloak on the ground, before crisscrossing my legs.

"Rebecca, I want you to be careful. This year there will be foreign guests, with the tournament competitions coming around, and many of them support the Council's plans." I looked at him, 'Is he going to prevent me from participating in this year's tournament?' I thought to myself.

"Elias, I know how to take care of myself. What are you getting at?" Looking up at the stars for a moment, I turned and watched the horses munch on the grass, while Elias looked at the city.

"This would be the year to cause trouble, if you're going to participate in this year's tournament, which I have no doubt, you need to do your best. There is potential, and you need to use it, whatever the council is planning, you and I are the only ones that can stop it." I nodded, then looked at his face again, there was still more to say.

"You're worried about something else." I deadpanned, he turned slightly facing me. "You're worried that they might get what they planned for. Look, Elias, the King is in a bad spot at the moment, however, he also knows what he's doing.

"That day in the throne room, I could read everybody's faces. The King was acting weak so that when the time comes, he can crush them. All he needs are witnesses and proof of their works. Yes, two years is a long time, but have a little faith in him.

"As we work from the outside, he's working in the inside. We also have resources that are in the castle, that will do anything to prevent the throne from going to liars and thieves." He dropped his head, I stood up and held out my hand. He took the hand, pulling him off the ground, we stood at the same height.

"You know, you have a way with words." He chuckled, then walked over to his horse, pulling something out of the satchel, a small box. Tossing it in my direction, I caught it, and while the air breezed by, it pulled at the ribbons. Opening the box, there was another charm to my bracelet.

This dragon was green with emerald eyes, I felt like I've also seen this one, but in history books. Then I remembered his name, "Raphael, the great general amongst the dragons, who passed by old age." I muttered, looking up to the Prince I frowned slightly.

"It's a late gift, I'm just adding to your protections charms, it seems that dragons have to take a liking to you if you're dreaming about them." I clipped the charm on the bracelet, studying the five on my wrist.

"It will be a treasured gift, Your Highness." With that statement, I watched him retreat into the shadows of the night, I would leave when I didn't see his horse. Looking down at the bracelet, I smiled lightly.

Three years have passed since the Prince walked into my home, over those three years I've come to call him family. He's done everything to protect me from unwanted forces and tried to prevent me from going against the Council, however that conversation ended quickly in my favor.

"When will he learn," I muttered, hopping onto Rosa we took the trail slowly, it was about midnight that I arrived at the stables. The stable boy helped prepare Rosa for her rest when he just shooed me out completely.

Trudging to my room, I left the pants on, and crawled into the bed, falling asleep immediately. It was the first night that I didn't have a dragon speaking to me.

***

"Captain, there is another letter." Taking the letter out of man's hand, the captain unrolled it, reading the fancy print of the Councilor's men.

"Hmm, set sail for Belfare, it seems this man, wants us sooner than planned." He opened the drawer, placing the letter with many others.

"We should arrive in four months, it seems that he wants her gone before the end of the tournament." The man spoke with a stern tone, he still didn't know what his trophy looked like and yet this man was commanding them to arrive at Belfare.

"Yes Captain Cortez, we shall set sail." Walking out of the room, the Captain looked out to the waters, pulling out a jar of rum, he drank until he passed out. His men were capable of steering the ship, he needed a rest anyway.

***

"What were you doing out so late, Your Highness?" Alfred jumped out of the luxurious bed, as he pretended to be me. Hanging up the cloak in the closet, I looked into the young man's eyes. His heartbeat could be heard from where I was standing, 'why is that?'

Stepping forward, I patted his shoulder. Leaning into his ear, I whispered, "Don't speak so loud, there are eyes and ears everywhere. What happened while I was gone?" He pulled back and nodded.

Leaning in to whisper, "Someone checked on you, however, they didn't come over and notice me. Where did you go?" He asked again.

"I went to someone that I needed to hear from, goodnight Alfred." I took off my shoes, then buried myself into the bed. 'It's her boldness, that I worry about her.' I thought to myself, as I drifted into a deep slumber.

***