CHAPTER NINE

Just when they were about to kiss,they heard a thunderclap.

"It's about to rain" Brenda looked up and said

"Yes,we um...better start going your highness" Bryan said and stood

She nodded and stood also

They both mounted on their horses and began heading for the palace

<PALACE>

Brenda went to her room immediately she got down from her horse and laid on the bed,holding her head

She couldn't believe it

She almost kissed Bryan

She wondered must he must be thinking of her

Bryan couldn't believe it also

He almost kissed princess Brenda

' I shouldn't have done that"He said to himself,hoping he wasn't make her think he knew her secret

<MIDNIGHT>

Brenda jerked up from her sleep breathing heavily

She just had a dream about her mother and all she was saying was ' He's in danger '

Unable to comprehend the dream,she went back to sleep again but after some minutes,she had the dream again

This time,it was clear

Her mother told her that Shane was in trouble

She became worried and found it difficult to go back to sleep

She had to come up with a way to save her brother from whatever danger he was in

In her dream,her mother was standing inside a building that had a flag,the painting of an eagle's face was embedded in it

She got herself some drawing tools and began to draw the face of the eagle embedded in the flag she saw in her dream

<MORNING>

After Brenda finished watering the garden as usual,she sat and asked Bryan to do the same

She wanted to ask him about the flag she saw in her dream

"Can I ask you a question?'

"Of course your highness "Bryan nodded

"Actually,lots of questions" She said "Have you seen this before?"She asked, showing him the drawing

"Yes,your highness. It's embedded in the flag of a Kingdom called Griffin Empire"

"Can you tell me more about this kingdom?"

"Well,Griffin Empire is a very powerful,feared and superior kingdom. Every year,they invade at least one kingdom,killing and capturing the people living there and sadly,our kingdom happens to be a victim"of their cruelty"

"Our kingdom?"

"Yes,it happened about twelve years ago"

"Twelve years ago?"She muttered "If Griffin Empire is responsible for the war that happened here twelve years ago,then that must be where my mother is"She said to herself but Bryan was able to hear what she said

"Your mother?"Bryan asked

"No"Brenda said "You must have heard wrong,I mentioned nothing about my mother"She said with a deep voice,not smiling "So,do you know how to get this kingdom we're talking about?"

"Um...Yes, your highness"He bowed "You'll have to pass through a wild jungle which is actually not far from our kingdom and then you'll..."

"I can't understand it if you say it. Can you draw it? Like a diagram?"She asked

"A map?"

"Yes"

"I'll get some drawing tools" He said and left the garden

Bryan was confused

Why was princess Brenda asking him those questions and when she mentioned her mother earlier,why did she try to cover it up

He wanted to know more about it but there was no way princess Brenda would tell him and he couldn't ask her about it either

Brenda was happy she was getting answers to her questions

Bryan returned later with the drawing tools

He finished drawing the map within a few minutes

He handed it to her

"There are two entrance the the kingdom" She asked, examining the map

"Yes,the first entrance is extremely guarded by soldiers and any stranger that tries to enter Griffin Empire through it will be captured. The second entrance is also guarded but not as guarded like the first entrance. Still it requires a skilled soldier to go through it" He explained

She stared at him,her mind occupied with how she was going to be able to go through the second entrance to Griffin Empire

"Are you planning to go there your highness?"

"Where?"

"Griffin Empire "

"Of course not. I was just being curious about it"

She lied "One more question" She said "You said they usually invade at least one kingdom every year,right?"

"Yes,your highness "

"Why isn't anyone trying to stop them?"

"They're very powerful. They have the best fighters,soldiers and they also have the best weapons. Invading kingdoms is just a way to show their superiority"

Brenda was a bit terrified by Bryan's answers but her mind was made still made up

She had to save her mother and brother

If Griffin Empire had the best fighters then she also had to become a best fighter too

She stood and walked towards the field where she used in practicing archery

Bryan followed

She picked up her bow and an arrow

She pointed it at her target and fired the arrow

She sighed when the arrow didn't hit the middle

How was she supposed to save her brother if she didn't know any fighting skills

A thought came to her mind

What if she didn't go alone?

What if she went with some guards or soldiers or even all of them

"No,I have to do this myself. I'll be revealing my secret if I told people about it" She said and picked another arrow

Bryan watched as princess Brenda shot the second arrow.

It still didn't hit the middle of the target

He could see she really wanted to get better at archery and he wanted to help her but now that he knew she was a girl,he didn't want to show her archery like he did the first day he taught her

Brenda was not willing to give up.

She picked up another arrow and faced her target

As she was about to shoot the arrow,she felt a masculine body behind her

She looked back and saw Bryan behind her

"Don't look into her eyes" Bryan told himself

Brenda brought her gaze back to the target,allowing Bryan show her how to arch properly

He placed his hands on hers and carried it together with the bow and arrow

"Breath in and out" He told her

She obeyed

"Face your target. See nothing but the target. Narrow your vision" He said "Let your arrow point in the direction of your target" He stepped away from her when he saw she was getting it right

"Now release it" He said to her

She released it and the arrow hit the middle of the target

"Yes!" She said triumphantly

He smiled

She shot more arrows and did like he asked her and all the arrows she shot hit the middle targets

She shot another arrow and the arrow pierced through one of the arrows she shot before

"How would you like to shoot arrows at moving targets your highness" He asked

She nodded

"I'll be right back" He said and left

He came back later with a basket filled with different fruits

Each had a string tied around it

He brought out a pineapple and hung it on a tree

It was a bit close to the garden

"Get ready your highness "He said and pushed the pineapple

It began swinging

She pointed her bow and arrow towards the swinging pineapple and tried to focus on it but she found it difficult to do so

She shot the arrow but it didn't hit the pineapple

"Try again your highness"

"Show me how to do it first and then I'll try it again" She said

He collected the bow and picked an arrow

She went to the tree and pushed the pineapple

He shot the arrow and it hit the pineapple

"Wow,how did you do it?"

"I focused your highness"

"Focused?" She asked and he nodded

She collected the bow and tried again

"Focus, focus" She told herself and pointed the arrow at the moving pineapple

She shot the arrow and it hit the pineapple, piercing through Bryan's arrow

She smiled

"What other targets can I use to practice?" She asked

"Lots more" He said