Read Mark of the Princess Online
Authors: B.C. Morin
Kaleb lifted his foot into the straps of his saddle.
“Wait!” Tristan said, stopping Kaleb.
Kaleb looked at him somewhat annoyed that he’d interrupted their departure.
“Kaleb, we need to arm ourselves. We don’t know who else is involved or what else will happen.”
They quickly ran to a nearby armory. The guards inside assisted the young faeries in arming themselves with only the best weapons.
The Prince and his friend found themselves armed with another sword across their back, small metal daggers tucked into the leather straps on one of their arm braces and a spring loaded sword/knife on their other arm. A belt containing medicinal herbs and potions, hung around their waists.
Prepared, they mounted their horses and took to the skies.
Tristan and Kaleb headed with great speed to Meira.
"Keep your eyes open Tristan . I doubt very much if he was going to do something it would be in plain sight."
"What do you mean?" Tristan questioned, pulling his horse closer to Kaleb to hear his response.
"Keep your eyes open for anything strange or different. If he was to attack her he wouldn't do it in the middle of the village where people can see him and stop him."
After crossing over the walls of Meira, the boys decided to go back to the ground in order to see better.
The horses galloped quickly jumping over twigs and branches. Kaleb and Tristan called for Alannah and Evyette but to no avail.
* * *
"Greer, can you move?" Evyette’s voice was barely a whisper.
"Slowly my lady. I am regaining feelings"
"The potion is wearing off Greer!" Evyette pushed herself from the ground far enough to look around and see Greer’s large pointy ears emerging from a nearby brush.
The two faeries struggled to move from where they were until they heard the horses galloping. They dropped back to the ground for protection amongst the leaves.
"Alannah?" Kaleb called.
"Evyette?" Tristan followed.
The voices of the boys shouting were heard by the two faeries on the ground.
"Over here!" Evyette managed, her voice a bit stronger.
The steeds slid to a halt and Tristan and Kaleb dismounted running to the voice they heard.
Evyette began getting up again so that they would see as Tristan rushed to her side.
"She's gone!” She blurted out as the boys came closer, tears streaming down her face. “It took her. I barely saw them in the distance, we couldn't do anything.” She hung her head. “It was a paralyzing potion. He must have spread it on the floor or had been dropping it on us from above." She finished glancing over at Kaleb who had seen Greer and was helping him to stand.
"Who took her?" Tristan asked, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"Saros. It had to be Saros. I am sure of it!" Evyette exclaimed.
"Greer can you fly?" Kaleb asked the creature.
"I think so your majesty" Greer replied standing firm and forcing his wings to move, slowly at first and increasing in speed until he was hovering off of the ground.
"Excellent.” Kaleb marveled. “Fly back to the King. Tell him of what has transpired. My father will more than likely be on his way as well, with the information of what happened at Talom."
"And you my Lord?" Greer asked although he knew what the answer was going to be.
"I am going to look for her" Kaleb said, turning toward his horse.
"And I." Tristan added approaching the horses, his arm still around Evyette ensuring she could walk steadily.
"And I." Evyette echoed, Tristan looking at her in disbelief.
"But you might be in danger as well."
"Then it is good that I will be with you and Kaleb." She retorted stubbornly, standing firm.
Kaleb turned again to Greer.
"Tell the king that this was Maligo's doing. There was an attempt on my life as well. My father will inform you."
"Yes, my Lord" Greer glanced at Evyette. “My lady, your father…”
“My father.” Evyette interrupted. “Will understand that I
have
to help find her.”
“As you wish.” Greer said bowing slowly before turning and going on his way.
Kaleb turned to Tristan and Evyette who were already getting on Tristan’s horse.
"Are you sure you two want to come?"
Tristan looked at Kaleb "There was never a question my brother."
~
Chapter
10~
Where could he possibly be taking me?
Alannah thought to herself.
She cursed him for flying high within the trees so that it would be difficult for her to see where they were headed. Saros’s grip on Alannah had tightened. Once he felt her moving about he knew he would have to contain her himself.
The more she tried to move, the more he would tighten his grip on her and leave her practically breathless.
Slowly he began to tighten more and more although she had stopped hesitating.
"What are you doing? I am not resisting you!" The princess yelled gasping for air but could not find it, and fainted.
Saros knew his master would not be pleased if Alannah knew where she was so that she could attempt an escape. He increased in speed, his large wings old but strong flapped faster. Quickly he passed the clearing in an attempt to not be seen.
He ducked in and out of ravines and caverns until he stopped just outside of what seemed like a castle in the very midst of them. The castle looked like it had been centuries since anyone had occupied it.
Until now.
The over sized wooden doors to the castle began to open, the creaking and rumbling echoed throughout the empty mountains. Saros dropped the princess to the hard stone floor. The floor was hot and began to burn her skin which woke her instantly. It was as if evil lived and breathed this entire place. Cautiously, she lifted her head fractions of an inch from the ground
to get a better view of the castle.
The mortar on the walls were cracking, it looked completely unstable, but at the same time horribly solid. The larger towers in the distance beyond the castle walls caught her attention.
If I can get up there
she thought
I can see where I need to go to get out of here
.
A dark figure began to step through the doorway, drawing her attention away from the distant towers. The trolls guarding the doors bowing their heads at their new master.
Shakily, Alannah got to her feet, trembling slightly from head to toe. T
he long dark robe, the sorcerer’s hood, the long white beard
….
I know him,
she thought. “MALIGO!” she yelled recognizing his intense dark eyes. “You did this?”
Maligo simply smirked raising an eyebrow.
“My father will find you and kill you for what you have done.” She said to him solemnly.
Maligo towered over her, a leering smile twisting his dark face.
“You would have to consider yourself lucky if you ever see your father again. Even if it is while he watches me take your life.” He snarled, allowing a haughty smirk creep across his face.
Alannah stood speechless. She wanted to hit him, she wanted to say so much. But she didn’t have much energy and now was not the time.
She felt a grip on each of her arms and turned to find two more trolls had come up behind her.Allanah turned her face, trying to escape the putrid odor coming from their mouths. Having never seen a troll in person, she found that the physical aspects were not as unnerving as the look of disgust and hunger that loomed in their eyes. Her eyes traveled over their face, stiff deep wrinkles gave a permanent look of anger. Their pointy ridged ears sticking out two or three inches from the side of their heads, so different than hers.
Yellow, hollow eyes looked her over as one grasped her arm pressing his ridged skin to hers, his long nails digging their way into her skin. She felt the warmth of her blood dripping down her arm but did not acknowledge it. “Walk!” he demanded as he motioned and pushed her arm forward.
They walked her through the castle gate doors. Again she looked at the towers hoping they would put her there, but Maligo’s laughter behind her interrupted her thoughts.
“Do you really believe that I would be ignorant enough to put you in the tower? I know you better than you think I do.” He walked around the trolls and turned to face her once again, his robe brushing against the dusty floor. He leaned down inches from her face, until she could feel his hot breath on her skin.
“Oh yes Princess. I know
all
about you. How you sneak away from your home. Abhor the constant over protectiveness of your father, even your pathetic feelings for your prince. Or should I say, he who
would
have been your prince.”
Alannah’s eyes widened.
“Oh, I suppose you wouldn’t know now would you? Being that it probably happened while on your journey here. By the time the moon aligns with the top of the sky this night, your prince will be dead.” He turned to walk and didn’t look at her again as he continued. “That is, if he is not dead already.”
“What have you done!?” Alannah screamed, trying for the first time to free her arms
from the troll’s vice-like grip throwing herself forward and yanking at her arms. She threw herself forward, yanking at her arms, but their grip simply got tighter and their nails dug deeper into her skin, calling on more blood.
“I wouldn’t concern myself with that now my dear.” He smiled to himself, proud of how well his plan was coming to fruition.
Alannah caught the smile as he glanced ever slightly over his shoulder. She was disgusted at his pleasantness with killing others. She was hurt at the thought of losing Kaleb, but most of all she was concerned for her Kingdom.
What plans could he have? What else could he have already done?
Alannah thought desperately to herself, frightened by the possibilities.
Maligo continued to the main building of the castle, with the trolls and prisoner in tow.
Another subservient troll opened the doors to the main building and closed it behind them.
He led them through a large sitting room full of chairs and small tables. Alannah’s stomach lurched at the smell of rot and decay. Quickly, she was pulled along through a large set of rusted doors to the right and down two or three sets of rickety flights of stairs, descending no doubt, to the dungeons below.
They reached the bottom and proceeded down another corridor stopping at an area that had a number of cells on each side.
“Welcome to your new home ….. Princess” Maligo said, giving a mock bow as the trolls shoved her into her cell. “I’d go through the effort of enchanting the lock, but you don’t even have your powers yet do you? … Such a waste.” He tsk’d and shook his head, as he put the lock on the door and the key in his pocket.
“What do you want with me?” She shouted, throwing herself at the bars.
“Right now, nothing.” His arrogance and aloofness infuriating her more. “But soon you will be invaluable to me. However, there is no point in telling you more now, it might ruin the surprise.” He turned to walk away but glanced at her once more … “I will be seeing you again soon.”
Very content with himself he threw his shoulders back and walked a little taller. She listened intently as his footsteps echoed up the stairs and through the sitting room overhead. Maligo pushed open the door and walked in to the dark room. He uttered some words under his breath and waved his arms for a moment, causing all the candles in the room to spark ablaze.
The room was laden with old maps, tables and planning tools, and in the corner, his apprentice. “You have arrived.” Maligo said, unfazed by the sudden appearance of the fae.
“Yes my Lord, I apologize for the delay, but I wanted to take extra precautions to ensure that I was not being followed.”
“Well done. Our guest is put away safely in her dungeon, and I will be leaving tomorrow.” Maligo walked over to the table and began rolling up two of the maps and tucking them into the large satchel at his waist.
“You are leaving Sir?” The apprentice asked, standing abruptly to his feet and walking over to stand by Maligo.
“Yes. It is time to begin the second phase of my plan.”
“Second phase?” The apprentice questioned.
“Yes, I will not underestimate the Kings and Queens of the surrounding Kingdoms and their armies.” Maligo said turning to the map and with his decrepit looking fingers pointed to a barren land deeper into the mountains. “I must retrieve
my
army.”
~
Chapter
11~
Stopping by the armory in the forest of Meira seemed to have taken ages although it was only a few moments in which Kaleb and Tristan worked together to arm Evyette.
“Evyette!” The deep familiar voice was full of concern as it called to them from the shadows.