Anna and the prince snuck around Julie's house to the back so they could take the back allies out of town. As they crossed the street behind Julie's house that lead to the woods that bordered their tiny village they could see people gathered outside about three doors down talking. Curious to see if it had anything to do with the prince they scurried into the trees and crept their way closer to the people who were talking. They ducked behind some bushes that separated the village from the woods and listened as close as they could manage. The prince immediately recognized his father's voice and began to rage as he heard him speak of the day before as if he was actually mourning. "If you see my son please bring him home. I'm sure he is utterly distraught after witnessing his mother's suicide."
"SUICIDE!?" the prince thought. He looked at Anna with fear, longing and the need for justice. She placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Come on. It's obvious that he's already tainting the town to believe him. We need to find this 'man in the mountain' so that we can finally fix all of this. Then maybe we can figure out what your name really is. I wonder why your mother never told you."
"I'm not sure." the prince replied as they made their way deeper into the woods away from the village. His mother only ever called him "my prince," so that's all he's ever known for a name. All the servants just called him "sir." He tried asking his mother about a month ago after an odd dream that he had what his name really was. "A man has to know his name, Mother. How else will I be able to make a life for myself?" She never would tell him though. She just insisted that he would never have to worry about that because she would always protect him. Well, now she wasn't here to protect him and he needed desperately to bring that sad fact to justice, and in the process hopefully learn his name.
They walked about a mile west of town to the path that lead up to the mountain. Checking to make sure no-one was on the path they stepped out to begin the climb. Anna pulled out a bottle of water, "We should drink. This climb will be strenuous." She took a drink and then handed it to the prince who also drank.
Capping the bottle the prince presented a thought, "What do you suppose we should say to this 'mountain man' to get him to help us?"
Anna took the bottle from the prince as they began walking and tucked it into the side of her duffle bag. "Hm, that's a good question. Maybe tell him we come asking about local legends?"
"That might work." the prince agreed. They walked the trail at a steady pace as to not dull their strength too quickly. The prince had never been outside of his parent's property before. Everything was so new to him he didn't know where to start taking everything in. He was extremely grateful to Anna for joining him. He never imagined that their lives would come to this. Ever since the day they met they were inseparable. She was just six and curiously peering over the great stone fence that bordered the prince's home. He saw her and snuck up on her scaring her causing her to fall out of the tree and into his yard. His father wanted to run Anna off, but it was the boy's mother who helped Father see that the prince needed socializing and so it was good for the girl to be there. After that she came nearly every day. Over time their friendship grew to love unbeknownst to his father. His mother always advised him against bugging his father with such things. He was a very busy man. He was the mayor of his village and always had "town matters to deal with and no time for nonsense" as his father would say. So, he talked to his mother. They were very close like best friends. She was always so compassionate and loving and caring. She always helped everyone even in the home. No servant ever was made to feel like they weren't important. There was even a time that the prince could recall his mother watching over one of the kitchen hands as she became ill with the Spanish flu, the same one that took his grandparents. How his mother didn't get sick was a miracle in the prince's eyes as much as she was involved in the care of the staff at that terrible time. This is why he now vowed to bring his poor mother to justice. No one who had such a loving heart deserved the death that she endured. No one, and the prince would be sure to make sure no one would ever suffer at the hand of his father again. "Charles," he said suddenly. Anna looked at him curiously. "Charles is what I will call him from now on. He doesn't deserve the honor of being called 'father' anymore." Anna nodded with understanding. "From now on the only honor he will get is the honor of meeting his fate." The prince stared hard ahead as they traveled on. This was not only something he did to avenge his mother but for the protection of the village and anyone else Charles could possibly hurt.