Heads roll on the ground

"AH! SOMEONE! SAVE ME!"

Dusen's ears caught the distant cry and a grunting sound of an animal echoing through the forest. "There is someone in danger," He said, his senses on high alert. Dismounting the horse swiftly, he and Trevil drew swords and dashed into the forest.

Realizing the impossibility of combing the entire forest swiftly, Dusen climbed a sturdy tree branch. From his elevated vantage point, he caught a fleeting glimpse of a wild boar chasing a young man. "It's ten trees away," He said to Trevil, jumping onto the ground. "You cover the right, and I will approach from the left." Trevil nodded, and the two diverged and disappeared.

Meanwhile, the terrified man spotted a discarded log in his path as the bore chased him. Thanking the gods, he swiftly changed course, leading the boar directly into the trap.

With a resounding thud, the boar's front legs collided with the log, causing it to stumble and crash upside down. Undeterred, the boar regained its composure and charged toward the man, who had taken refuge atop a tree. The boar grunted and shook the tree, sending shivers down the already terrified man.

"You persistent pig... give it a rest! I am as innocent as a newborn lamb, not the culprit who threw the stones at you. You have got the wrong target, you wild porker!" He yelled.

Oblivious to his pleas, the boar lunged forward, grunting at him, attempting to climb the tree, but its hefty frame prevented it.

"Don't you only eat roots and grass?" He yelled, sitting atop the tree branch. "My flesh would be a disappointment to your taste buds. Here, eat these leaves, and leave me." He plucked a handful of leaves and threw them on the ground.

Dusen swiftly closed in on the boar from the left in silence, ready to strike its back. Yet, the man on the tree lost his footing on the branch, descending to the ground. "Ah!!" A cry escaped his lips as the boar charged relentlessly towards him. Suddenly, a figure leapt from the tree, a sword in hand, interposing between the boar and the falling man, and plunged the blade into the boar's stomach halting its advances.

"Naimishi! You came?"

Pushing aside the boar forcefully, which left a trail of blood on her clothes, she collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. Her furious gaze, akin to a volcano on the verge of eruption, fixed upon the man. "Can't you even maintain your balance on a tree, Silas? If not for my timely arrival, that savage beast would have attacked you like a juicy piece of fruit."

"Attack on me?" Silas scoffed. "Had you not intervened, I would have killed the boar myself. That boar missed out on witnessing my epic sword moves. What a shame!" With a proud smile, he gripped the hilt of his sword, yet when his gaze moved to the boar's bloodstained form, he averted his eyes with a shudder.

It's all because of her, he fell prey to this animal, Silas thought. They had come to the forest to pick some gooseberries when they spotted a boar munching on roots. Just like always, she couldn't resist being a troublemaker, hurling a stone at the boar before scampering away. That foolish boar immediately targeted him and gave chase without relenting.

Naimishi couldn't help but roll her eyes at her cousin's boastings. Just moments ago, he had been quivering in terror at the sight of the boar, now singing praises of his sword skills.

Silas, her cousin. He is none other than her father's step-sister's son. A war ravaged his father's kingdom when Silas was still in his mother's womb. His mother fled to Mithiyana to hide while his father died in the war. Now fifteen years later, both mother and son planted their roots here.

Suddenly Naimishi's senses pricked, alerting her to the presence of someone watching her. She swiftly pivoted to her left, her gaze locking onto a man adorned in regal clothes. "Who are you?" She demanded.

No response.

Dusen stood there as if he was tongue-tied. His eyes fixed upon the girl before him, his thoughts echoing with the images of her precisely driving a sword into the boar's stomach. He had never encountered a woman capable of such skill and courage. Who was she?

"Who the hell are you? Answer me?" Naimishi demanded again, her sword pointed directly at him, while Silas hid behind her.

"Please, milady, hold on a moment. We pose no threat. This man here is the crown prince of the Aashanti kingdom," Trevil interjected, coming to the rescue. As his eyes shifted to Dusen, he noticed the prince's unwavering gaze fixated on the girl, as if he was completely captivated by her. Didn't he say he only do woman?

"So, the prince of Aashanti can't speak?" Naimishi taunted. "Such a pity that he is dumb."

Trevil's eyes widened in disbelief. Did she dare to mock the prince?

Dusen chuckled at her sarcasm. "My friend was not exaggerating about the beauty of Mythiyana's women." He remarked. His eyes roamed unabashedly over her body, noting how she still had the innocence of a girl but with alluring curves in all the right spots.

Naimishi's voice dripped with a hint of warning. "Women in Mythiyana are skilled in more than just beauty. We know how to break bones, too," She didnot like the way he was scanning her from head to toe.

Dusen took a step forward, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh really? And where exactly do you plan on breaking my bones?" He leaned towards her, his voice lowering to a whisper. "Perhaps on the bed_"

Before he could finish his sentence, an arrow whizzed past him, striking a tree with precision. His attention turned to the unexpected intruder who dared to interrupt his time with this feisty girl. It was a man holding a bow and arrow, flanked by two armed soldiers.

"Prince, Dusen, it is important that you remember the protocols of our court and treat the princess of Mithiyana with the utmost respect, or your head will roll on the ground before you can blink."

Reezhel dismounted his horse, his purposeful strides carrying him closer. His eyes briefly locked with his sister's, and her troublemaking buddy before shifting to the prince. "I am prince Reezhel sent by the king. As a guest of Mithiyana, it is the king's command that you be escorted to the palace," He declared.

Although Dusen disliked Reezhel's tone, he attentively caught every word he spoke. The girl standing before him is the princess of Mithiyana. The girl his father had selected for him?