CHAPTER THREE
She was absolutely gorgeous. With long red hair and fiery amber coloured eyes that sent warm chills to anyone to anyone who stared directly into them. Such a beauty that Zayn subconsciously let down his bow and arrow, lost in staring.
"I don't mean any harm okay?" Wow, even her voice was heavenly, a small smile made it's way to Zayn's lips. It was after a few seconds that he got back to reality after she had called his attention repeatedly.
"Who are you? And why were you hiding in the bushes?" Zayn finally found the right words to say.
The girl looked down at her furry boots as she contemplated on telling him her name, but in the end she did.
"My name is Xantheia and I'm not a threat, I was just spying on you for the fun of it." Zayn was a bit taken aback by what she said.
"Just for the fun of it?" He asked in a puzzled manner.
"Like I said, I mean no harm. I don't even belong here. I just happen to be going back to my home and I stopped by, that was how I saw you at the other side of the pond."
"Where is your home? Perhaps I might excort you."
"No I must refuse. I actually come from the Northern Kingdom. I'm on my journey home but we stopped here because of the food fair, it's quite important to my most trusted handmaiden."
"Handmaiden? Are you the daughter of a noble, or are you a princess?" Zayn asked her. Xantheia opened her mouth to speak but only closed them a second later.
"I believe I've said too much to a stranger." Immediately, she turned and ran off, ignoring Zayn's call to her.
Zayn sighed as he watched her cloak disappear behind the bushes, he just stood there motionless, staring at that particular place and then he muttered something…
"Xantheia…I'll find you again." The only place where he was sure to meet her was the food fair in three days time, he looked at the bushes one last time before turning to leave.
Zayn walked home slowly with an occupied mind, infact, he was thinking so much about Xantheia that he bumped into someone and almost didn't hear when two different people said hello to him.
Zayn arrived home and met Joselu sitting outside the cottage sharpening his sword against a stone. Zayn sat beside him on the bench and watched him quietly, too quiet that Joselu was compelled to ask.
"Is anything the matter?" He stopped his task to face Zayn.
"Nothing is wrong. I just…I met a girl." The two of them said nothing as they started at each other, until Joselu let out a loud laugh, slapping his knee in the process.
"So what are you insinuating? You're in love now?" Joselu asked while still laughing.
"Of course not. I just met her. But she too damn beautiful, even you would stop and stare." Zayn said, trying to defend himself.
"So what's her name?" Joselu asked as he resumed sharping his sword. He raised it up to the evening sun and moved it, causing the light to reflect brightly on the blade and he nodded in satisfaction.
"Xantheia." Zayn still looked dazed as he looked at the sun setting. Suddenly, the sun reminded him of her fiery golden eyes and he could only smile more.
"Joselu, we're going to the food fair." Joselu suddenly turned to Zayn with a puzzled look.
"I thought you said we're skipping it this year."
"Well, I changed my mind."
Joselu narrowed his eyes as he looked at Zayn, silently studying him before coming to a conclusion.
"Is she going to be there?" Zayn turned sharply when he heard Joselu's question. The man was so observant.
"Well, how…why would…" Zayn kept stuttering while Joselu stared at him with a raised eyebrow. Zayn slowly sighed and said and almost inaudible yes, but loud enough for Joselu to hear.
"Wow Zayn, now I know what's wrong with you." Joselu stood up since he was done with his task.
"And what is that?"
"You have lost your mind." Joselu said as he walked to the back of the cottage. Zayn wanted to protest but he hesitated and only shook his head in an amused manner.
He stroked the stubble of hair on his chin slowly as he thought, still watching the last of the sun disappear from the sky.
As soon as it did, he stood up and also went to the back of the cottage to find Joselu.
_
"Shhh." The girl shook in fear as the huge men in front of her tied her up.
Queen Anaya wasn't joking when she said she was going to take revenge for Zayna's death, no matter how long it took. So after careful planning, Anaya succeeded in capturing Erika, King Arsenio's only daughter.
Her skilled men blended in well with the Jadovians and got into the palace disguised as newly recruited guards until they finally captured Erika.
They were currently tying her up in a secluded part of the palace gardens and equally stuffed her mouth to stop her from screaming. It was dark already, so they set off in the carriage which they had hidden outsiders the palace walls and after successfully getting Erika over the walls, they got into the carriage and rode off to the direction of Ragaounia.
Nobody noticed Erika's absence until it was time for dinner, Arsenio thought Erika was just in her room wasting time as usual and would come down to eat when she's ready but as time passed by, Devon and Eigner were done eating and went to their various rooms. Arsenio was also finished and soon enough, he began to get worried. Erika hasn't taken this much time before. Immediately, he called a maid.
"Go call the princess." The maid courtseyed and went up the stairs, only to come down sometime later, she courtseyed again as she got to the king.
"Your highness, the princess is not in her room." Arsenio was taken aback.
"What do you mean she's not in her room?"
The maid said nothing and just stood there, head faces down.
"Don't just stand there, find her!" The maid courtseyed one more time and left immediately.
"You." Arsenio pointed at three guards standing nearby.
"Three of you, search the entire palace for the princess. Find my daughter!"
The guards bowed and hurried away.
Arsenio sat at the head of the long dinner table looking restless, while still trying to push away all bad thoughts from his mind.
The palace is guarded, of course she's fine.
Unfortunately, Arsenio's fears were confirmed when the guards and the maid came back without Erika. Arsenio began to panic until someone mentioned she was last seen strolling in the garden accompanied by two newly recruited guards. Arsenio ordered for the two guards to be summoned but even they were missing.
"No, this can't be happening. Search the entire kingdom! Search for my daughter, now!"