“Don’t thank me; it was Tomas.”
She smiled inside. If only there were men with royal blood who cared so much.
He reached into his apron pocket and pulled out a small knife. He handed it to her and frowned. “I pray you will never have to use this, but just in case.”
She placed the knife in one of the saddle bags and tied the straps tight. She took her traveling pack off her back and tied it to the pommel of the saddle.
“Now go, Mel, make haste. Fallon and his men are on their way. You must be far away when he arrives. Ride hard all day; don’t stop for anything. Travel only the back roads and forest trails. You won’t be so easily seen. As soon as you are safe where Fallon will not find you, send word. I won’t rest until I know you’re safe. If anyone asks me, I will tell them nothing, even on penalty of punishment. I promise I will not betray you.”
She smiled at him again and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Lucan, for your friendship all these years. I would never have been able to cope without you. When Kevaan was away, you were the only friend I had. I will never forget you. I pray that one day things will be different, and I can return. Until then, take care and know that I love you.”
“And I you, Princess. Please be careful. Trust no one.”
She swung up into the saddle and settled her horse.
“Go through the orchard. I have left the back gate open. Go through it and take the meadow all the way to the stream, then go through the forest from there,”
“I know where to go, Lucan. I have traveled this countryside thousands of times. I will not get lost.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just afraid for you.”
“The world outside these walls don’t frighten me. Be more afraid of Fallon finding me.”
“I am. Don’t waste any more minutes. Go.”
“I love you, Lucan.”
“I know. Go.”
She turned her horse around and kicked her into a gallop. The chill of the wind blowing through the gap in her hood, made her ears cold, but she rode hard, not stopping until she reached the stream. She slowed enough to take the turn and followed it around the bend and into the entrance of the woods. She looked behind her, the castle walls still close enough to block out the lower floors of the palace. She could see her room, higher up in the left tower and suddenly felt sad. She was leaving the only home she had ever known, leaving her father whom she still loved dearly. Sad that she would never again see him, that he was not himself and therefore didn’t know what he had done. She was sad even more for Kevaan, her dear big brother that had made her promise she would wait for him. He had not yet returned, thinking as she had, that Fallon would not arrive for three days. If he had known Fallon was that close, he would’ve returned and helped her flee. She was sad that she could not say good-bye to the only man in her life that she truly loved. She hoped someday he would forgive her. She turned her horse forward again and raced into the trees.
***
When Kevaan arrived back at the castle, only hours before Fallon and his men, he flew through the gate and dismounted his horse before it had even slowed. He threw the reins to a stable boy who had scurried out from the stables, bowed to his prince, and led the horse back in to wash and feed him. Kevaan went through the back door and flew passed the kitchen crew. He ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and hurried down the hall to his sister’s room. He knocked on the door. There was no answer. He knocked louder. All was quiet. He swallowed the panic that was beginning to well up and tried the handle. The door opened easily, and he pushed it open. She was not in her room. He went to the door to her adjoining washroom and knocked. There was no answer there either. He opened it and looked inside, worried that he might be intruding on her asleep in the bath. All was empty. He turned back and went into her bed chamber again, looking around for something amiss. He didn’t think she would have cooled off enough to spend time downstairs with her father, but she had promised she would wait. Kevaan was starting to be afraid that Alek had been right, and she was already gone.
He finally noticed a drawer in her dresser that was slightly open, a silken slip peeking out. He went to it and opened it further. It was a mess, as if someone had rifled through it in haste, looking for something. He opened her jewel case and looked under the tray. The gold pieces she always kept there were gone. The panic started growing more intense. He opened the door to the armoire and looked under her long dresses, pushing them aside so he could see the back. Her day bag, the one she carried every time she went out for a day of riding, was gone. He slammed the door shut again and walked back down the corridor and down the stairs. This time he went out the front door and strode across the inner bailey toward the gate. Tomas saw Kevaan headed his way and walked forward to meet him. He wanted Kevaan far enough away from the gate so as not to be heard by Gerard.
Tomas bowed. “What’s so urgent, My Lord, that you are in such haste?”
“I’m looking for my sister. Have you seen her, Tomas?”
“No, Your Highness. She has not been down here today.”
Kevaan didn’t quite believe the young fair haired man, but he decided not to make a scene. He knew Lucan would know something and tell him.
“Thank you, Tomas. As you were.”
Tomas bowed to Kevaan and returned to his post. Kevaan went into the stables. He found Lucan working with a skittish horse halfway down the stables. Lucan looked up and saw Kevaan standing over him. Lucan knew the prince was mad, but he had to be strong for Melenthia.
“Where is she, Lucan?”
“Who, Your Highness?”
“You know damn well who, Lucan. Where’s Melenthia?”
“I haven’t seen her today, Your Highness. Perhaps she’s in the garden playing lawn ball.”
“No, she’s gone. Her day bag is missing.”
“Then perhaps she went into the village to buy some chocolates at the market.”
Kevaan stared at him, hard. He knew Lucan knew where she went, and he would beat it out of him if necessary. He knew Lucan cared deeply for his sister, even loved her, and he knew he would be devastated if anything happened to her. He also knew Melenthia told him everything. He would know about her betrothal to Fallon, and that he was on his way. He would try being gentle. If that didn’t work, then he’d beat it out of him.
“Lucan, we both know how you feel about Melenthia. You are in love with her and if things were different, if you were not a stable hand, I know you would have asked her to be your wife years ago. But because you love her, you would not do anything that would embarrass her, so you have kept silent about it. If you truly love her, like I know you do, you will tell me what you know. I’m afraid for her life but I have made plans to keep her safe. What’s happened? Tell me where she has gone.”
Lucan hung his head and began to weep. “She has fled, Your Highness. She found out Fallon was ahead of schedule and asked me to help her escape. I cut her hair, Your Highness, short, all her beautiful hair. I prepared her horse while she packed, and Tomas stole her sword out of the armory. She left just after dawn, heading west down the Stillwater Creek. She is probably halfway to the Dark Woods by now. I would guess she will hole up somewhere in Tamerlane, then continue on west at dawn. She may be headed to Isamar. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
Kevaan placed a consoling hand on Lucan’s shoulder. “It’s alright. I know you were doing what you thought was right to keep her safe from a terrible