It was silent, no one was talking to each other, every one was deep in thought, Isobel head was already beginning to hurt from thinking too much yet still there was no idea on what to do, even mark or Andrea still couldn't come up with a better idea.
Isobel knew no matter what, there would be no escaping the next day. Unlike today how she left them without an answer.
That was an improper action she knows, but she knew, if she had stayed any longer, Aias may succeed in convincing the council members to increase the tax.
"Tell me something mark, why do you think the chaali kingdom suddenly increase the price of food, could it be because of my argument with the crown prince" Mark was silent for a while before he finally shook his head.
" That's possible".
Andrea could see the worry on Isobel's face, she slowly patted her shoulder "why don't we increase the tax, it's for the people anyway".
"NO!" Mark and Isobel stared at each other after shouting the word at the same time, which shocked Andrea.
" No Andrea, this happened because of me, I can't let the people suffer because of me and besides I can't let the prince have what he wants, so am going to look for a solution which doesn't involve increasing tax". Andrea decided not to push the topic any further since Isobel seem to have made up her mind.
" Mark come with me, I need to leave the palace" Mark look confused as he look at her without a word then to Andrea who shook her head, even she has no idea what Isobel was up to.
" Don't think much about it, I just want to see how the people are fairing and if they can afford to pay additional taxes". Mark relaxed after hearing her explanation. He shook his head in agreement.
Mark had brought the maid clothes for her as a disguise, Isobel surprisingly felt really comfortable with the maids clothes other than the heavy garments she was made to wear all day long. After putting on the new clothes she felt way lighter like an heavy burden had just left her. "Common we need to leave now".
"Stop" they had barely walked out of the palace when someone guard stopped them. Isobel frooze immediately, she slowly adjusted the cloth covering her face.
The guards bowed at the sight of Mark. " How dare you stop us". Mark voice was scary as the guards shiver in fear " we are sorry my Lord, we didn't know it was you".Isobel breathe. In relief as she watched them leave.
Finally, they were out of the palace, the air was different, everyone moved around freely, Isobel couldn't be happier, she felt freedom for the first time. For days she has always been within the palace walls but now she was out. Her feet just couldn't remain still as she ran deep into the market.
Mark looked at her perplexed, he has never seen her this happy as she ran through the market, touching everything thing that seem odd to her. She was happy Mark couldn't deny that, he has never see her that happy before. Her joy made him smile a bit.
" Wow Mark Atlantis is such a big kingdom, I can't believe you lock me away from all this".
" Be careful Isobel, remember why we came here". for a second, Isobel had forgotten why they came, she was busy checking out the area. Isobel stood in the middle of the market, a nice aroma distracted her attention as she closed her eyes while breathing in deeply.
"That smells delicious" Isobel slowly opened her eyes while smiling. The sudden sight made her smile fade away as she saw people running and screaming. Isobel stood confused, having no idea what's happening. A loud voice took her attention as she saw an old woman with grey hair waving to her continually. Isobel stared confused, she could almost swear that she hasn't seen the woman before so how come is she waving her hand to her. " Maybe she is just a nice old woman" Isobel concluded as she slowly, confusedly waved back to the woman
" Move!!!" She heard the woman scream loud. Finally things started to make sense to Isobel, the people where running away from something, something that scared them but she wasn't sure what it was.
A loud neigh of a horse rang through her ears as she turned back slowly. The horse was already too close for Isobel to think she could only scream, her heart was beating really fast, at that moment, Isobel felt death really close as she closed her eyes tightly, not wanting to see the end of it.
She felt a sudden tight grip on her waist, dragging her away. It all happened so fast but she could hear a loud heart beat, it wasn't hers so whose heart beat was that? Isobel slowly opened her eyes, the whole world was spinning right in front of her, the first thing she saw was sand, Isobel looked at it confusedly as she realized she had fell to the ground but not exactly on the ground but on someone's chest.
She raised her head slowly to see the face of her savior.
"Mark" Isobel couldn't stop staring at him, this was the first time she was this close to him, close enough to hear his heart beat. He was staring at her, Isobel couldn't get the thought of how beautiful his eye looks off her mind. His chest was really hard, Isobel found her self rubbing it.
"Hey stupid, don't you know you have to clear the way when the prime minister is passing, foolish" the loud voice brought her out of the dream world as she try to stand up from marks body but surprisingly his grip on her was too tight and he wasn't ready to let go.
Isobel looked at Mark again who was now growling in pain. "Mark are you ok, Mark talk to me". He could clearly heard her voice but his vision was going blur.
Isobel heart flew when she saw the blood in her hand, which came after she tried raising his head. He had earlier hit is head on a stone which pierce through his skin.
" Help!!!! Somebody help me" Isobel screamed. This time she was really scared, she never expected that she would be this worried for Mark but she knows if anything happens to him, it will be all her fault.
It felt like history repeating itself, once again someone is about to loose his life because of her. At this point her tears was uncontrollable. Now she wasn't sure if she was crying for Mark or Fred or even both. All she knew was that her heart was bleeding.
Isobel hugged him tight as she cried for help.
She looked at the prime minister with tears " help him". The prime minister didn't bother checking those crying at his feet as he ordered his guard to move the chariot. Isobel watched him leave with anger in her eyes but she couldn't waste her time looking at the prime minister when mark is about to loose his life.
Finally, people came to her rescue as they took mark to an old mountain.
" What are we doing here" Isobel asked in fear as she stared around in the dark mountain, trying to see a thing or two but it was too dark.
Thankfully someone light a fire "an old doctor lives here, she can cure him". Though he said that Isobel still felt reluctant to leave mark in their care but she has no choice, she was running out of time already.
Hours had gone by, still no news from them, Isobel paced around in front of the mountain, it was getting dark, Isobel couldn't remain outside in the dark for long, she wouldn't want to get eaten by wild animals.
A little sound of foot steps made Isobel heart jumped as she shivers, moving back a little. " My child" an old woman came out from the mountain, it was the old lady of earlier. Isobel was surprised and confused to see her there as she is stared at her speechless.
" He is awake now, go and meet your husband". Her husband! Isobel had no time protesting against that as she ran into the mountain.
She saw mark firm back as he was arranging his clothes. Isobel sign in relief as she smiled a little while walking to him.
"How stupid could you get, what where you thinking in front of a horse, I almost lost my life because of you". Isobel paused in her steps, all kind of appreciation and admiration vanished within a second as Isobel was already filled with anger. He just woke up but all he could think of was to scold her, he didn't even think about the stress she went through bringing him here or how she waiting for him all day when she could have easily gone back to the palace.
Isobel tightened her fist, clenched her teeth. Her anger had just got to it's limit as Isobel stared at him with a killer look. "YOU".