Victor's hair dances in the wind as his horse eats the ground running in a frenetic gallop. His body moves along with the movement the horse has. The boy grits his teeth as the pain kicks in every time he arches his back as he rides.
Two knights follow him from behind. Their eyes follow the prince as he seems to be in a hurry. They hit their horse to keep up with him. Useless …. Victor is set to lose them behind. After few hours of the knights basically chasing Victor instead of guarding him, riding by his sides, they are not seeing the prince in their sights anymore.
Victor took a new young stallion on purpose. His horse was older and he never rode other horses before so choosing the new one raised few eyebrows from the stablemen. After his horse was a gift from his grandpa. Later he found out that his horse was the brother of Ilona's horse Nix. Since then, he never let Mist out of his sight and rode only on him.
He planned to talk to Anise before the knights came. It seems that his plan works just fine, as the young stallion is sending him flying.
The forest echoes the gallop sound and birds are flying scared. A wild boar is crossing the path but he runs frightened by the beast coming in a wild gallop towards him without giving any signs of stopping. Well, the beast wasn't the horse but Victor.
His eyes are glaring and his jaw is tensed as if he is going to war, nothing could stay in his way. Not even a mountain. He could crush it by his appearance and determination. That's how he looked.
If only he would take care of his health more…. the pain in his back is worsening but he just ignores it stubbornly. The cream his friend had put on him will work its magic, but Victor has to stay still not moving like a madman.
As if he can stay still!
His thoughts are aligned in one thought. 'I will do it! "What he will do …we will see. Just this thought alone is pushing him forward in a crazy way.
In his subconscious, the idea of Ilona being on the verge of death is the scariest, the worst … a nightmare. Victor knows that nothing he did till now will matter if she were to die. And, if she dies, he will start to lose his purpose of living.
His face is cold as the forest is left behind. The field, the sky …the birds …the wild animals that hop at the sound of his hours …..all seem to fade. The pain in his back is nothing compared to what his heart is going through.
'She needs to recover …. she will …I will do it ….'
As the horse is wet from the heat and the way he strained himself to run, foam is covering his neck and back legs as well as under the saddle. He breathes heavily as Victor pushes him more with the whip. In half a day, they are almost in Windsor village. Normally a day would be the fastest way to arrive by horse. The young stallion beat the record.
Houses are seen in the valley as they are getting out of a small forest. The village is bustling as the people are shopping and the market is full of people.
Victor approaches the periphery of the village and lets the horse walk on the small stoney road. After making a left turn, the prince sees Ilona's house. As they arrive, Victor unmounts and takes the hours by the reins.
The horse puffs and kicks with his front leg on the ground. His breathing becomes irregular and his head swings up and down. Victor looks at him with cold eyes and putting his hand on the horsehead of the horse he whispers, "I had to do it….". He finishes talking and the horse collapses. After convulsing the horse is letting out his last breath.
Victor watches it. He is approached by a boy wearing a hat coming from the main street towards Ilona's house which was on a secondary street.
"What have you done majesty?" Leo spits his words as he squats down checking the pulse of the horse. Right in front of the gate of the house, the horse is laid down.
"Don't bother. He is dead …." Victor frowns and turns to open the gate.
"Wait …!" Leo screams after the boy who is heading with fast steps towards the entrance of the house.
Victor ignores the voice yelling at him and pushes the door. He smells the fresh bread that is in a basket and the smokey smell of the fireplace. After looking around in the kitchen, he takes every room to search. No one is at home.
Of course …. Anise was at school.
Victor gets out of the house and looks at the boy talking to some men who stopped in front of the gate.
"Yes, we will take him. Just let me take my carriage. "A beardy man is taking from Leo a bag of coins and is ready to leave with the other two men.
"Till tonight I don't want to see the horse here! See ya! "Leo arranges his hat and turns to Victor who is opening the gate.
"What's happening?" Victor frowns looking at the men departing having the bag of coins with them.
"They will take the horse in the forest ..Animals will feast on him. Anise shouldn't see this when she comes back." Leo frowns and observes the prince.
"We have to talk …. about Anise." Victor is staring at Leo who seems to have an idea of how serious the matter is.
They go into the house and sit at the table.
Silence …..
Leo smacks the table." Hey, you are the guy who visited Ilona before …but not in these exaggerated clothes. What are you trying to pull, prince …." He frowns and looks at Victor below the edge of the hat.
"Victor. Use this name without honorifics." The boy sigs and points at the clothes." I had to wear them. Your name?"
Leo smirks and nods." Leo." Victor wants to shake his hand but the boy is changing his attitude fast.
"I will deal with you if you tell me why you were with Ilona that time. "Leo's eyes get dark and his usual playboyish vibe wears off revealing his dark self.
'Ahh…that's it … so he is supposed to be my rival ?....' Victor observes him and smirks.
"I think this is not important now. Just know this …. I will never give Ilona to anyone and I am doing everything for her. If you wish to meddle in, then you will suffer the consequences. I'm not going to lose." Victor's eyes are staring coldly at Leo who is caught in the eye contact.
The energy he is giving off makes Leo flinch. He sees that Victor is ready to slaughter and do anything to have Ilona. He remembers how many times he asked Ilona out. If he knows that Ilona will not be with anyone, why is he feeling that Victor will have a chance?
Victor does not notice anything in Leo's eyes. "Good. The deal is risky and I need you there for one reason. Anise has to be protected by you." The prince is leaning back and stares with a warmer gaze at the boy.
Leo is unsure what to do. For some reason, he trusts this madman. "What do you mean?"
"The King ordered me to bring Anise for her to marry my twin brother. I want to send Anise away since you know how much Ilona cares about her. I will take Ilona instead at the castle and marry her." Victor puts his plan on the table through his words.
"You are indeed crazy …. But why taking Ilona?" Leo frowns at the idea of Ilona marrying the madman.
"She went to war …I think you know that …. and …. she was badly injured in the fight. I have to take her to my friend; he is the best doctor. This is the only way I can keep her alive."
Victor grits his teeth and swears in his head. Why does he need to tell all his hidden motivations to this boy? He had to trust the boy for the boy to trust him.
"Where is she now? "Leo bites his lip and frowns. He takes his hat off and puts his elbows on the table leaning closer.
"She is in a carriage coming here …but till she arrives you guys have to leave. You just have to go to this location and you will find my friend there. He will keep you hidden from the eyes of the king. "Victor hands him a rolled paper with a map.
Leo looks at the paper and then looks at Victor." I don't know why I am doing this but …..as long as you promise to take care of Ilona I will be under your lead …. my King." His eyes are cold and his voice is denoting sobriety.
Victor rises from the table and so does Leo. After a brotherly hug, Leo walks out of the door in a hurry. He knows what to do.
The time is ticking …. tick ..tick ….