Rose stared at the note. 'Why would he leave this?' Her mind beat against the dam which had locked away so many of her memories.
She could almost hear them screaming to get out. A sharp pain across her vision forced her eyes shut as she fought to bring the images into focus. Alas, they stayed fuzzy and unreadable.
"Princess Rose?" Caitlyn's muffled voice called again. There was an urgency in her voice that snapped Rose from her thoughts. She gently laid the pendant back on the table and rushed to open both doors.
Lady Caitlyn stood in the doorway looking pallid and worn out, but the relief that the princess was alive and in one piece was evident. Rose draped her friend's arm around her shoulder and led her inside, making a brief nod to the soldiers still standing outside.
"I am fine," Caitlyn assured her as she was released to sit on one of the luxurious couches. Her prim posture gave way as she slouched into the cushions.
"You do not look well," Rose countered, "I sent a message and told you not to come until morning."
The brunette rubbed her tired eyes. "I am not entirely well, I suppose. I think the medicine to revive me did more harm than good. I…had a reaction to it and emptied the contents of my stomach. I will be fine after resting in my own bed and having something light to eat. I received your message. I was ready to leave and then they insisted I stay. At the first hint of light, I begged the nearest soldier to escort me back here. It has been a very long night."
Rose was startled. She had no idea that morning was already dawning. The fatigue hit her like a stone, and she stepped off balance to one side.
"I'm sorry. Let's get you off to bed, Lady Cait. We both need some rest. I will send a message for a late breakfast in our quarters."
"First let me unlace you. I can do it while sitting. Turn around."
"Thank you!" Rose enthusiastically responded, glad at last to be free of her bondage. However, the spin to present the back of her dress revealed a hideous crimson blotch.
Caitlyn cried out, "What happened to your dress?!" Her eyes were wide and her jaw hung agape. Rose smiled weakly.
"It is just a little blood. I'll tell you after we rest."
The lady-in-waiting paled white as chalk. "Is it Borit's blood?"
"No, it is most definitely mine," Rose chuckled dryly.
"Tell me what happened now!" Caitlyn demanded. It was a testament to how tired she was that she commanded the princess to answer.
'She will alert the guards if she thinks Silver is still here.'
Rose shook her head. "After we rest, Caitlyn, I assure you I will. I promise you that all is well now."
The lady huffed, but took to untying the laces of the royal's gown. The princess heaved a great sigh when the stays were finally loosened.
'Whoever invented these new monstrosities should be drawn and quartered. They are torture.' Rose thought. "Thank you. I can handle the rest. Do you need help?" Rose offered her hand, yet her friend refused.
"No, I've made it this far. I can manage the rest." Caitlyn rose and walked slowly to her room, shutting the door without even a farewell.
'She is very far gone indeed. I have never seen her not curtsy and give a flowery goodbye. Poor Caitlyn.' Rose watched her friend's door a moment longer and then returned to her own room. She was able to change into a shift and climb into bed. As the sun peeked over the horizon, sleep took the princess at last.
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The predawn light was already glowing when Silver dropped down onto the battlement from his downward climb. There was no time to lose. He had used up precious hours before escaping, yet he would not claim it was a waste. Indeed, he would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
The Guardian looked around warily, his senses on high alert as he surveyed the outer wall. The soldiers, having used up all their energy, had either gone to bed or stared bleary eyed in various directions without focus. And with the hazy lines of twilight, the dozen or so left behind were even more unsure of what they were watching. 'Nothing to see here, boys. Go about your business.'
Silver ghosted to the side of the wall and slipped a knotted rope over one of the crenellations. Then he silently whizzed down the woven braid, careful not to burn his hands. Upon reaching the bottom, he tugged the rope to one side and allowed the knot at the top to slip.
The rope tumbled to the ground and he stowed it in his bottomless cloak for safe keeping. No one seemed to notice or raise the alarm.
He passed the infamous bush that contained his feline counterpart. "I look nothing like a cat!" he whispered angrily as if the black creature were still there. Then he bounded on to the outer curtain wall and began his vined climb.
As he reached the top of the outer battlement, a pair of soldiers were already making their way toward him at an even pace. However, each was relying on the other to be alert, and so neither seemed to notice the irregular shadow in the crevice where a void should have been. They marched ever onwards.
Once they passed, Silver snuck one last look towards the tower where his sister now slept. He pressed his fingers to his lips before slipping below the rim of the stone ledge. It was his silent goodbye.
Dropping to the ground with another cleverly knotted rope, Silver finally completed his escape from the castle. Or so he thought.
It turned out not everyone was bleary eyed from the night of excitement. One person had been laying in wait for quite some time.
As the Guardian left behind the palace and its secrets, he was unaware of the specter he was bringing with him.
As good as he was at covert movement, he was no longer expecting danger as he entered the king's forest, and so he let down his guard slightly. There was no reason to believe that anyone had followed him. Surely they would have called the alarm before allowing him to enter the safety of the trees.
Untying his horse, Silver gave her a good pat on the neck. "I told you I'd be back, Daisy," he said softly as he grabbed the saddle and pack to place on her back. The horse shuddered and whinnied softly. She took a weary step to one side as he tightened everything in place.
"What? Are you mad? I was a little late but I wasn't gone that long! Why are you treating me like a stranger?" Silver had chosen Daisy because she had keen senses and a level head. Her behavior now was just bizarre, unless...
Silver barely pulled a sword from his cloak and spun around to meet the crossbody stroke of the stranger's blade. The clash of metal rang out as the force of the hit radiated down Silver's arms.
'Blast! Where did she come from?' The Guardian pushed the blade to one side, his body pressed up against Daisy. Clicking his tongue, Silver ordered the horse to move off, freeing his body from being pinned between a blade and a beast.
The woman before him held her blade comfortably as she made two more quick strikes, one of which would have sliced into Silver's arm if not for the dense fabric of his mysterious cloak. With the horse giving him some space, the Guardian was finally able to gain his footing to cause the attacker to back up for a moment.
The woman before him was strong and intimidating. Although she was dressed in a soldier's uniform, something was off. 'Why did she not call for reinforcements?'
And the way she glared at him with those piercing green eyes. She seemed set on doing him harm.
"Let me pass," Silver ordered in a deep commanding tone. He started to mount his horse, only for a slash of the woman's sword to nearly take off his toes as he reached the stirrup. "Don't you dare hurt Daisy!" The Guardian turned on the woman, suddenly angry. He stepped back a few paces, his sword lifted and ready.
"I have no intention of hurting the horse. Only you," the woman answered with steel in her voice.
"Me? What have I ever done to you?" Silver asked, offended. Yet even as the woman spoke, he realized he had already heard her speak the night before. This was the lady who had nearly discovered him in Borit's office.
"Really, Mighty Silver?" she spat with venom. "You don't remember? I remember you quite well. You captured my gang of water bandits and sent me to rot in prison. In fact, you promised if I chose the straight and narrow, I could join you in your quest." The woman circled him, looking for a moment to strike.
'Keep her talking.' Silver eyed Daisy. While the woman had stepped between the horse and him at the moment, she would not remain that way as she kept moving.
"Ah, you are....hmm, help me out here." Silver stepped slightly towards her.
"Ingrid. Know my name because it will be the last thing on your mind when I kill you," she answered.
'And I thought I was dramatic,' Silver smiled beneath his hood at her boldness.
He lowered his sword slightly and said sympathetically, "Of course, Ingrid. How are you? I am sorry to see that you have traded the safety of the king's prison to become one of Borti's cronies..."
"I'm not his crony. I'm his ally." Ingrid narrowed her gaze. "We have some mutual goals, you see." A malicious grin teased the corners of her lips.
"Whatever he promised, he won't deliver..." The Guardian tried to reason with her.
"And you can?" the woman countered.
"Of course." Silver figured he could match any bribe the commander had offered. "Name your price and I will match, nay exceed it."
"Not sure that is possible," Ingrid's eyes lit with fire. "For you see, he promised I could have your head!"
'Whelp, that's a problem!'
The strong woman lunged at him with speed that could rival any Guardian. The fight was on.