THREE.

Princess Cora-Jane had never felt so wierd in her entire life. It was as if all of a sudden, someone was about to die. She needed to know what was wrong.

Sultana Sidik blessed her children before they embarked on their journey to the Roman Empire. Amal took a horse while Shaban was given a palanquin. They all left the kingdom by noon.

Meanwhile, Princess Cora-Jane was busy making an embroidery of forest on her cloth when she felt the needle prick her skin. She hissed and sucked the oozing blood. She sighed and let go of the artwork, feeling uncontrollable frantic heart beats.

What was happening? She caressed her chest. She stood up, leaving the balcony and gulped slowly. She decided to take a nap. That too didn't go well as she had a nightmare.

In the nightmare, a palm was covering her mouth, trying to hide her while she was struggling to free herself but it turned out that the person was trying to protect her. She gasped, waking up with a start.

Amal had called for a halt and the guards had set up the camp. He had sent some of the guards to get some bush meat and fruits for supper while the others freshened up.

"Mudhin, what are you up to?" Shaban asked her elder brother, suspecting him of an evil deed. Amal only smirked and replied,"you would see." Amal looked at his sister, softly pinched her cheek then looked away.

"I hope you are not going to take someone's life." Shaban spoke, raising an eyebrow.

"No," Amal replied simply. Shaban sighed, rolling her eyes. There was no way that Amal would utter a word about his plans. Never! Not until he had succeeded with his plans.

The next few days followed quickly and they finally reached their destination. Amal inhaled deeply and exhaled with a wicked smile.

"Leave me alone for tonight", Cora-Jane dismissed her maid servants.

Amal made sure that his sister had fallen asleep before he put on his clothes, ready for his mission.

He rode to the palace gates.

"Hey,who are you?" The guards stopped him at the entrance, crossing their spears infront of him.

"I'm here for my wife. She is in the palace. She is seriously sick and needs to see the village's physician please." Amal lied, joining his palms together and looking at them pleadingly.

The guards believed him and having compassion, they let him in. He had a turban on his head and a cloth covering his face.

Princess Cora-Jane sighed as she took off her garment and entered her bath.

Amal pulled out his dagger, slaying anyone who came his way. He didn't want them to be alarmed by his presence just yet.

Cora got out of the bath, wiped the water off her body, put on her night wear and climbed in bed, falling asleep almost too instantly.

Amal made sure that where he was about to climb the tree, nobody was present there before he did so. Putting his dagger back into the sheath around his thigh, he climbed the tree.

Mudhin Amal quietly entered the princess' chamber after his third try. He was sure that this was the her chamber because of the fragrance of both lilies and roses.

He inhaled and exhaled while he stood behind the curtains,he was already starting to get addicted to the fragrance.

Satisfied that no one else was in the room, he smirked as he quietly turned off some of the candle lights and walked to the woman's bed.

He mounted her platform and stood by the bed, carefully studying her. Suddenly, the door opened and Amal quickly hid beside the bed.

Magdalene, walked into the room, humming to some random song. Magdalene was one of Cora's personal attendants.

"Who turned off the candle lights? This wind." As she concentrated on correcting everything in the chamber, Amal stood up and took slow steps towards the oblivious young maiden.

Magdalene frowned, feeling someone behind her. She turned and opened her mouth to scream but Amal chuckled darkly and quickly tied a cloth around her mouth. He took a candle stand and quietly threatened to use it against her head.

Magdalene shook her head in fear. He took her to the pillar in the chamber, tying her body against it. She tried to free herself but she couldn't.

Amal walked back to Cora's bed. He took three long pieces of cloth. Magdalene cried, trying to release herself.

Princess Cora-Jane slowly opened her eyes, feeling that somebody was watching her. She panicked and sat up, about to cry out in alarm but a deep dark chuckle rambled from within Amal's chest and he shushed her.

"Who a-are you?" Cora asked already sweating. She turned only to see Magdalene in captivity.

"Magdalene!" She called out, close to tears.

"Hey,shut up!" He growled, holding and squeezing her cheeks together. He tied one of the cloths around her mouth and the other two around her wrists and ankles.

Cora tried to free herself from captivity but Amal advised in a deep voice,"if you don't want any trouble with me, keep still." Cora flinched at the intensity of his voice and let him carry her onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

She cried as she writhed to free herself. Amal harshly threw her onto his horse and used another cloth to cover her eyes.

Why was this man after her? She didn't even know him!

Amal outsmarted the soldiers at the gates. He pulled Cora into his arms, hiding her face in his massive chest.

The guards allowed him to go without checking the state his 'wife'was in.

Mudhin Amal smirked as he rode to his camp, where his soldiers were waiting for him. Cora slipped in and out of sleep due to exhaustion.

When Amal finally reached his destination, it was almost Dawn. Amal took his captive in his arms and took her to his tent.

Cora was awake then. He took off the blind fold after setting her down on his bed.

She pushed herself to a far distance away from him. Amal slowly closed the hide of the tent and walked to her. Her body shook in fear as the man approached her with calculated predatory steps.

Amal released Cora's wrists and ankles from the pressure of the cloths and just like that, her hand flew across his cheek in a tight slap. Amal clenched his jaw and glared at her.

"How dare you?!" Her soft voice shook. Amal studied her. Typical princess. Everything of hers was delicate. He could break her into two if he dared him to, literally. He hissed and held her cheeks, pressing it in a tight grip.

"I want your Empire's throne. I am going to create a war between my empire and yours." He spoke and let go of her. She massaged her jaw, glaring at him.

"I don't even know you!" She protested. Amal ignored her and put the cloth into her mouth this time,tying her hands and ankles again.

"I will be back, Princess." With that, he walked out.