Page 34 of If The Crown Fits
I couldn’t exactly just halt our whole party and let them know we were about to be ambushed. And even worse, I couldn’t tell them the reason I knew this, because it was the work of my uncle and his band of thieves. And they had no idea that they were about to attack me. Had no idea what had happened to me since I left a few days ago on my “mission” to steal the necklace. Last damn time I ever do contract thieving! I could be dead for all they knew. If they recognised me, this whole plan could fall apart. Even if they didn’t... well, no one could be certain how this would turn out.
A slight shadow fell over mine, and without looking up, I knew one of them was in a tree branch above me. I didn’t have much time to come up with an easy way out of this situation. I risked a glance back to the body in the tree and to my surprise — and slight relief — it was Ray. He was looking down at one of the guards riding below him. Ray was my oldest friend. And if he could see through my glamour of powder and jewels, perhaps this might not be too bad.
“When I say ‘get down’, you duck.”
I turned my head in surprise at Cai whispering to me.
“What?” I said without thinking. Cai and Jack shared a look. Maybe I hadn’t given them enough credit before. Perhaps they were better soldiers than I had thought.
Cai carefully reached for the dagger sheathed at his side. “We are about to be attacked. You need to stay down so you don’t get injured in the middle of the fight.”
I rolled my eyes before leaning over and grabbing his dagger and swinging around in the saddle. The knife went flying straight into the branch that Ray was sitting on.
One of the guards yelled “Ambush!” and in a moment we were surrounded by bandits... my bandits. I scanned all the faces, but apart from Ray, most were unfamiliar, and I realised that, in a short time, more men must have joined Uncle. I didn’t know whether that was good or bad.
I quickly undid the clasp of my necklace and let it drop into my bodice.
I didn’t mind them stealing Eloisa’s dresses or whoever’s they were, but the necklace was mine.
Suddenly I was being pulled off my horse and tossed into the dirt. I grunted, trying to sit up, when someone held a knife to my neck. I watched Cai fight off two of the men, but he turned, looking for me. Our eyes met and he stared for a moment too long, eyes wide with what I could only describe as some sort of terror.
It cost him, as the two men managed to grab him from behind and toss his sword. It slid to the ground, that jewel still attached to the hilt.
“Don’t hurt her.”
My expression turned to shock when I heard Cai, a royal prince, begging a bunch of bandits with such desperation in his voice.
“Please.” He breathed out the last part.
Upon Cai’s words, Ray’s eyes settled on me, and recognition instantly set in. I let out a breath and gave a look we’d been sharing since we were children —it’s all part of the plan. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking, but I would probably be more confused in this situation, had I been in his shoes.
“Look, boys.” His voice was laced with arrogance as he gestured to my guards’ royal uniforms. We were severely outnumbered. “I think we just got a bunch of nobles.” I heard the men laughing. This simple comment indicated enough of their anger and hate for the monarchy... any monarchy, maybe. This was treason beyond any question — if caught, they would most certainly be killed, and yet they were laughing fearlessly.
Ray approached Cai, both men holding their heads high.
“Now, what is it you were begging for again?” Ray was playing with a knife between his fingers. It was small, but the edge was unimaginably sharp. It was one of his familiar tactics to scare or intimidate people. I gulped. Ray may have been my friend, but he had always been very unpredictable, and he was filled with anger. Not that I couldn’t say the same about myself in certain aspects.
“Take anything you want,” Cai breathed out. “But let the lady go.” Ray turned to me and he didn’t have to hide his smile. He was clearly enjoying this. Was this the characteristic of Norrandish men, or princes in general, to sacrifice so much so quickly in order to save the life of a woman? It was unfamiliar to me.
“Well then.” He approached me slowly. “Forgive my manners.” Ray bowed mockingly. The men laughed again, but the knife didn’t move away from my throat. He stepped up to me so closely that I could see my own reflection in his pupils.
“Whatever is going on, you’re in way over your head,” he whispered under his breath. I couldn’t reply, but we both knewthat perhaps he was right... I was pretending to be a princess, for crying out loud! I may have been wearing a dress and expensive accessories, but underneath all that I was still a bandit. However, it was too late to turn back now.
They took our horses and our carriage and anything else they could find lying around, leaving us all with only the clothes we had on us, and a few weapons. But at least we were unharmed. Not that I was too worried about myself.
“Now what?” Jack asked, looking at Cai.
“Now—” without permission, Cai grabbed my waist and pulled me into a standing position with such ease I had to hold on to his shoulders for a moment to avoid falling over — “... we walk.”
Yes, we walkalways seems like a hell of a good idea when you’re in breeches and boots. But my layers of skirts and tightly fastened shoes certainly weren’t forest-walk-friendly. Eventually I stopped walking and Cai looked at me with concern.
“Are you all right?”
“I think both my attire and prison-torture devices were made by the same guy.” I pulled my hair away from my neck, which was covered in a thin layer of sweat.
“Do you want me to carry you?”
Oh, how very princely of him.
