"Now, let my sister go." Tym narrowed her eyes at him. "She did nothing to you. I'm the one you want, and not her."
Tym said in hopes the prince will allow Cicil to go.
If it happens that way, she will take Cicil and run out of the capital tonight. She has enough saved money.
Later, she might return to sell the house she bought.
"No, your sister will stay here until we return. And when we do, you can take her back.
But for now, she stays with me, where she is safe."
"Are you trying to tell me she's not safe with me?" Tym scoffed.
"I didn't say such words." The prince narrowed his eyes at her. "Your sister will stay here with us."
******
Tym went home, alone, to prepare for the journey to the mountains. As she packed her clothes, she kept on thinking back to the things that had happened earlier.
If only she has to get Cicil on a leach, something like this wouldn't have taken place. That rebellious girl wouldn't have had any need of doing what she did.
Tym packed her clothes, and left home that night for the palace.
It's true, she leaves in the morning with the prince. However, she doesn't want to go to the mountains with the prince.
She planned to sneak in and take her sister without the detection of those around her.
Tym went straight to the palace, but instead of going through the front gate like she did when she came in here, she climbed through the halls of the palace.
She was agile on her foot, and never missed a step as she jumped from the first rooftop to the other in quick precision.
Tym glanced around the place as her eyes took a sharp turn.
The mask was in place, but she could perfectly see everything.
Her eyes went straight to a small house by the side of the palace.
The small house caught her attention, and she found herself going towards it.
Tym didn't hurry. She slowly walked towards it as her eyes kept on darting around, to make certain there was no one trailing her.
The guards patrolling the grounds didn't notice her presence. Their eyes were mainly fixed on the gates as if that's where the Masked Tym the prince warned them about, will be.
However, they don't know the person they were warned about and asked to guard, was currently looking down at them with an amused expression on her face.
Tym was invincible when she wants to be. As a trained assassin, she has everything most of them don't have. And that gave her enough hand over the others.
Tym ran towards the small house.
She didn't immediately jump on the roof like she did the others. Tym peered around to make sure there was no one around before she jumped down.
She stayed hunched on her toes and glanced around to make sure she didn't make a sound when she dropped.
Tym listened for the sounds of the guards, and when she heard none, she started for the house.
With her bag slung on her back, Tym advanced towards the place, hoping this was the place her sister was kept on.
She went straight to the door after trying the windows to discover they were barred from the inside.
And should she try to force the door open, those around will hear the forced entry.
Tym walked to the door, and tried the handle, to discover it was open.
"Hmm."
She glared at the door as if it were a nuisance of some sort.
Tym wondered why they left the door open after barring the windows.
Could it be that there's nothing of importance here?
She opened the door and strode into the prince's private study area.
This was the place the prince goes to whenever things at the court become difficult for him.
It's his hideout, away from everyone, and his duty.
Tym glanced around the space and saw Cicil by the side.
She was lying on the prince's bed, fast asleep, after a reading with the prince.
"Cicil?" Tym whispered as she walked closer to Cicil, to avoid alerting people of her presence there.
"I know you will come." The prince laughed, "you are easy to read, Tym." He strode out of his hiding place, with his arms folded.
"And how so?" Tym folded get arms and pretended as if she wasn't about to take her sister and run.
"I know you will come for her."
"Is it a crime if I do that? She's my sister. And I have a duty to protect my sister. Tell me, is there anything wrong with that?"
"No, there is none." The prince walked towards the bed Cicil was lying on and sat on it. "You don't strike me as someone who will go back on their promise, Tym."
The prince tilted his head as he gave Tym a once over.
Although Tym was stronger than almost all the young men in the village, he has a petite build. His stance and agility were the only things that distinguished him. If not, he would have been mistaken for a female.
The voice was another thing. Although it wasn't feminine in the least, there was no tremble in it.
His voice sounded like that of an adolescent lad who hasn't attained puberty.
And that made the prince frown.
Could it be that the Masked Tym everyone fears is a lad?
He chuckled.
It will put all the men Tym has defeated to shame.
"I didn't promise you anything. And I broke no promise. All I ask for is my sister, and I will be out of your hair."
"Out of my hair?" The prince chuckled. "I don't think I can do that, my dear Tym. My sister is out there with the monsters. And just like you wish to save your sister, that's the same way I intend to save mine.
We all wish to save our sisters."