King Erian's face twisted in frustration as he entered the queen's chambers, his ministers and bodyguards in tow. The search had yielded nothing, no sign of the forbidden items or any clue as to who might have taken them. He approached his wife, Queen Lili, who stood tall, her expression serene.
"I am sorry for this, my queen," he said, his voice laced with annoyance. "I understand, my king," she replied, her voice calm and soothing. "I have nothing against you."
The king's eyes narrowed, searching for any hint of deception, but the queen's gaze met his without flinching. He turned to his ministers and bodyguards. "Let us return to the court hall. We have wasted enough time on this wild goose chase, and they departed.
Meanwhile, Susan, exhausted and trembling with fear, sat beneath a tree, her eyes scanning the darkness. She had been running for hours, the bundle clutched tightly in her arms. The night air was chilly, and she longed to start a fire, but the risk of detection was too great. She picked up a few firewoods, then hesitated, remembering the danger. With a sigh, she dropped them and began to run again, her pace slow and deliberate.
Meanwhile, the guards, their horses' hooves pounding the ground, chased after Susan, their torches casting flickering shadows on the trees. But as the minutes ticked by, they grew wearied, their breath coming in ragged gasps.
"I do not think anyone left the palace," one of them said, reining in his horse. "Or maybe she's not a suspect. We must return to the palace at once!"
The others nodded in agreement, and they turned their horses around, abandoning the pursuit. Susan, oblivious to their decision, continued to run, her heart pounding in her chest, her senses on high alert.
As she disappeared into the darkness, the guards rode back to the palace, their conversation laced with doubt and uncertainty. "Do you think we were deceived?" one of them asked.
The leader shook his head. "I do not know, but we must inform the king. This is no ordinary matter."
And so, they returned to the palace, their minds racing with questions and suspicions, unaware of the danger that still lurked in the shadows, waiting to strike.
As the guards rode back to the palace, their weariness and doubt evident on their faces, a figure emerged from the shadows. He was tall, with piercing eyes and a mischievous grin. He stepped into the moonlight, his long coat fluttering behind him like a dark wingspan.
"Ah, you seem to be chasing after someone," he said, his voice low and smooth. "And you look like the royal guards. What matter have you left the palace for?"
One of the guards narrowed his eyes. "Have you seen a girl run past here?"
The stranger nodded. "Yes, I did see a girl running past here. Not long ago, either."
The guards exchanged a look, their interest piqued. "When?" one of them asked.
The stranger shrugged. "Not long ago. Pursue her, and I believe you will catch her." He pointed down the road, in the direction Susan had fled.
The guards nodded, their weariness forgotten. "She must not have gotten far. Let's go!" one of them exclaimed.
With a loud "Hia!" they spurred their horses on, thundering down the road in pursuit of Susan.
As they disappeared into the darkness, the stranger watched them go, a knowing glint in his eye. And then, he vanished into the shadows, leaving behind only the faint whisper of his name: Gaius, the magician.
But what was Gaius doing here? What was his interest in the guards' pursuit of Susan? And how did he know so much about their mission? The questions swirled in the air, leaving behind a trail of mystery and intrigue.
Meanwhile, Susan ran on, her heart pounding in her chest, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She had thought she had escaped, but now she wondered if she had simply walked into a trap. The darkness seemed to press in around her, and she stumbled, her foot catching on a hidden root.
As Susan tripped and fell, her head hit a wooden log with a sickening thud. She felt a wave of darkness wash over her, and everything went black.
An hour passed, or maybe it was two. Time lost all meaning as Susan lay there, unconscious.
But then, the sound of hooves echoed through the night air, growing louder with each passing moment. The guards had found her.
Just as they approached, Susan's eyes flickered open, her head spinning with a dizzying intensity. She groggily sat up, her hand instinctively reaching for the bundle beside her.
With a surge of adrenaline, she stumbled to her feet, the wrapped images and candles clutched tightly in her arms. She took off in a sprint, her legs trembling beneath her.
As she ran, she glanced back, her heart racing with fear. The horsemen were closing in, their torches casting eerie shadows on the trees.
One of them spotted her, pointing a shaking finger in her direction. "Over there! Catch her!"
The guards spurred their horses on, thundering towards Susan with a deadly intent.
She ran faster, her breath coming in ragged gasps. But no matter how hard she tried, the guards seemed to be gaining on her.
And then, just as they were about to overtake her, Susan saw a dark shape looming ahead. A forest, perhaps, or a ravine.
Without hesitation, she darted towards it, the guards hot on her heels.
But as she vanished into the darkness, it was impossible to tell if she had escaped or been caught.
The guards reined in their horses, peering into the shadows. Had they lost her, or was she hiding, waiting for them to make their next move?
Only time would tell. But one thing was certain: Susan's fate hung in the balance, and the outcome was far from certain.