Ch. 4 - The Flight

Hoof beats erupted in the night, distant and far-off, but they were enough to alarm Jessica. The two young fighters had been trudging through the woods for a good half hour, pulling Benji the prince behind them. The fact that he was blindfolded and tied didn’t make the going any faster. Jessica, leading since Andrew was dragging their hostage, glanced back at her friend.

“We have to hurry!” she hissed, as the hoof beats drew slowly but steadily closer. “We’re just outside the city limits!”

Benji, who was close enough to hear her strained voice, suggested, “You should untie me. I would be a lot faster.”

Andrew rolled his eyes and increased his pace. “Yeah, and while we’re at it, we’ll throw in a basket laden with food for you to take with you while you escape.” He snorted. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

“At least take off my blindfold,” Benji tried again. He stumbled over a tree root. Andrew yanked upon the rope, jerking his captive up and on his feet again.

“So that you can lead the guards back to our hide out? Think again,” he retorted in a low tone, fearing detection even though the riders were still too far away to hear them. “Stop talking,” he ordered.

The hoof beats echoed off the tall trees surrounding the trio, growing ever closer. “If they catch us, we’re dead,” Jessica stated, glancing around in despair for some place to hide. The horses were coming from all directions, sweeping the forest like a net attempting to scoop up an elusive fish. “We can’t outrun them,” she said, despairingly turning to Andrew. They stopped their brisk pace, staring at each other hopelessly.

“Take off his blindfold and use it to gag him,” Jessica commanded, suddenly struck with an idea. Andrew met her eyes, his confused expression examining her persuasive one. Wordlessly, he did so. Jessica’s knife rested lightly on Benji’s back, and she pushed him toward a cluster of tall, sturdy trees with low branches. Andrew’s eyebrows shot up in understanding, and he grabbed a branch that had fallen from a tree covered in bristles and began following them, brushing the branch over the earth. Leaning toward the prince’s ear, Jessica whispered, “Climb.”

Five minutes later, the guard’s horses came thundering through. Their black manes billowed into their masters’ faces almost comically. The leading horse and his rider pulled up short, turned around, and trotted in a broad circle. The large stallion snorted and thrust back its head and all the other horses followed its example. The soldiers peered into the dense forest, their horses shifting beneath them. Silence fell over the party, interrupted only by the labored sound of winded horses struggling to get enough breath into their lungs.

Benji twitched next to Andrew. They were twenty feet above the men, concealed in the branches of the thick, old trees. Jessica’s left hand held the knife, which was still pressing into his back relentlessly. Jessica and Andrew were so close to Benji, they could smell his citrusy, imported cologne. Jessica wrinkled her nose, resisting the urge to cough and gag.

“The tracks stop here,” shouted a guard. Jessica’s quick eyes counted five men, but there were bound to be more that she couldn’t see flanking this regiment. Hopefully they wouldn’t find them since Andrew had erased their tracks with the branch. Hopefully.

“We can’t allow them to escape. If we don’t have him before sunrise…” the leader started to say before trailing off in an uncertain tone. “We continue this way. Hurry!” he shouted. In a few moments, the rumbling of horses began again and soon they were out of eyesight.

Jessica and Andrew didn’t dare breathe out until the hoof beats had faded into the distance. Andrew motioned for Jessica to jump down, which she did. Landing lightly on her feet, she turned and looked up at the boys in the tree. Benji jumped down next and Jessica was waiting with a drawn dagger at the bottom. Quickly, Andrew joined them, and in a few moments, Benji was re-blindfolded and re-tied. They once again set out at a brisk pace for the resistance’s meeting place. This time, Andrew was in front, then Benji, and then Jessica, trailing behind.

After a few moments of movement, Benji asked in a casual tone, “So how long have you two been assassinating royalty?” Neither of them replied, but Andrew yanked the lead rope suddenly, causing Benji to stumble forward. “In my opinion, you two aren’t very good,” Benji said once he was back on his feet.

“Do you want to live or not?” spat Jessica, resisting the urge to kick him behind his kneecap.

“I’m just curious if you’re bred to be murderers, or if it’s an acquired trait.”

“It’s a talent, really,” Andrew corrected in a matter-of-fact tone. Jessica began to feel uneasy about where this conversation might lead.

“How old are you two anyway?” Benji persisted in pestering them. “You don’t look old enough to kill people.”

Andrew’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t look old enough to lead a kingdom,” he countered.

“Eighteen summers is old enough,” he replied. “But don’t let age be the only trait you judge me for.”

Jessica frowned. “If you’re as kind and good as you claim to be, why do these terrible laws keep appearing? Why to people starve, and cry, and mourn? If you’re such a good leader, why is this kingdom slowly dying?” The trees were thinning; they were almost to the city, Tosh. It was still night, and the path ahead was blanketed in dark shadows.

“He was the king. I’m the prince. There’s a bit of influence diversity there. Chain of command, you know. Not to mention my father’s foolish advisor. What could I do? I’m powerless until I become king, and since you two have now abducted me and are taking me who-knows-where, that’s unlikely to happen.”

Jessica suddenly thought of something. Voicing her thoughts out loud, she asked, “If what you say is true, why do you fight for a people you never knew? None of the nobles have ever cared about their subjects; no one notices the slave that labors for his luxuries. You can’t be that selfless.”

“Is it really that hard to believe that a person could care for other people besides himself?” Benji questioned in a quiet tone.

Jessica’s head hurt. “Stop talking,” she weakly commanded. The trees suddenly opened up and the tall, stone walls of a city stared across at them. Jessica let out a breath and tried not to feel too relieved until they were inside. Quickly and as quietly as possible, they slipped through the gates.

“We can’t be seen,” Andrew informed them. Jessica nodded. She took up a position in front of Andrew, in order to scout ahead and make sure the way was clear and there were no curious eyes about.

As they were traveling along the first street, Jessica noticed a man slouching against a doorway. His back was toward them, and his head was angled down so she couldn’t see his face. She quickly raised her hand, and Andrew ducked around a corner with Benji still in tow.

“Maybe it’s best that we split up. Less conspicuous. Take him to the safe house; I’ll meet you there,” Jessica whispered. Andrew nodded. Jessica resumed walking around the corner, eyeing the man. She paced quietly toward him, wondering what to ask him to make sure he hadn’t seen them lugging their captive around. However, as she approached, she realized something was wrong. He hadn’t moved the whole time since she had set eyes on him. With an uneasy feeling growing in her stomach, she drew a dagger out from her belt and hurried toward him. As she approached him from the back, she noticed a thick, dark liquid trailing down the doorpost and into the street.

Slowing, she remained only a few feet away from the man. Sucking in a breath, she tapped his shoulder. He didn’t move. With hesitant feet, Jessica circled around him to face him from the front. She gasped and the blood froze within her veins. A crudely-fashioned sword stuck out of his chest, pinning him to the doorway. Panic rose inside her, which she struggled to control. He was dead! Murdered! She stepped backwards, slowly, her legs refusing to move like she needed them to.

With a growing fear, Jessica began to run to the safe house. As she ran, she cast anxious glances down the streets and alleys she passed. Bodies, still and unmoving, lay crumpled at their entrances. Not a soul stirred in the whole city. She was trapped in a waking nightmare. Who would be left to greet her at the tavern? Was there anyone left? Had anyone escaped this madness? What had happened here? Her breathing became ragged and unbalanced. “Pull it together, Jessica,” her mind told her.

As she darted through an alley, the tavern came into view. Its plain appearance seemed shaken, disturbed, and somehow unnatural. Jessica burst through the alley and ran up the uneven steps to the porch. Andrew emerged from a street on the right, dragging Benji behind him.

“Jessica-” Andrew started.

“I know!” she replied, breathless. Her fear made her shudder as she grasped the handle of the old door and threw it open. The feelings that swelled up inside her at that moment were too complex to understand. It was like sleepwalking around the street and waking up to find you had wandered into a butcher’s shop.

Ch. 3 - The Escape

Jessica clenched the knife and raised it above the prince’s head. Steadying herself, she took a deep breath and then brought it down with all her might. Halfway through her movement, she could tell something was wrong. Her suspicion was confirmed when her weapon sliced through nothing but air. The prince had rolled over at the last minute, and was now jumping up off the floor. She jerked her knife out of the mattress and spun around. Her eyes detected a flash of light glinting in his hand, and she ducked to avoid a swipe from his knife. The glowing fireplace emitted a ghostly light that illuminated his face. He had a straight nose that rested above his thin lips. Two high cheekbones guarded either side of his square face, and his fair, blonde hair fell over his forehead in the worst case of bed head hair she had ever seen. But his eyes were challenging, vivid, alive, and their startling blue hue stared portrayed a sense of calm.

Jessica frowned. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She tossed her knife up in the air, caught it by its tip, and threw it at the center of his chest. With almost uncanny speed, he twisted away and let the blade pierce a porcelain jar behind him which shattered instantly. He raised one of his blonde eyebrows.

“You just wasted your only weapon. For an assassin, you’re not that bright,” he commented, in a voice deeper than she would have expected. Irritated, she slipped another knife out from inside her boot with one hand and a dagger from her belt with the other.

“And you haven’t called your guard yet. You’re not that bright, either,” she thought. “I have enough weapons to finish my job,” she retorted out loud. He took a step backward, and she launched another knife his way. He ducked under this one, once again more quickly than she would have imagined possible. Changing her target, she shot her other dagger at his feet. He nimbly leapt over it like a deer. She stared at him for a moment, confused and frustrated, before quickly lunging for the poker by the fireplace. She swung it around and caught the blade he had in the process of thrusting at her. Taking two steps forward, she struck at his sides. He blocked each of her blows, all the while keeping a calm countenance. Their fight caused them to dance around the room, parrying and blocking and spinning and ducking all the while. Now quite angry, she lashed out at his head with the poker. He quickly stepped to the side. She stumbled forward and he grabbed both her wrists from behind so tightly she released her weapon with a small cry. He twisted her right arm and pinned it against her back, roughly shoving her forward until she was pressed against the wall.

They were both breathing heavily now, and sweat had formed along Jessica’s brow. Gasping, she tried to move, but his hands held her wrists firmly. Her face was pressed against the cold, stone wall, and she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

“Who are you?” he hissed in her ear. She shivered but said nothing, only uselessly trying to wrench her arms away. “Answer me!” he commanded, pushing her harder into the wall. She refused to answer. He sighed softly. “I haven’t called my guards yet; I know they’ll be harsher than I. I had hoped you would explain yourself without their influence.”

He paused, as if waiting for her to reply. The room seemed to hold its breath. Everything was still except for their echoing breaths. “So be it,” he said, exasperated. “Guard!” he called out, his deep voice ringing out in the quiet room.

Jessica regained her breath, and she closed her eyes. She counted the seconds. After five had passed by, she permitted a small smile to creep across her lips. “He won’t come,” said the girl.
His grip on her wrists tightened. “What do you mean?”

She could hear the suspicion in his voice. With enough confidence as she could muster, she replied coolly, “He’s dead.”

At that moment, the door burst open. The prince’s grip loosened, and Jessica took the opportunity to kick her leg out backward. Her foot connected with flesh, and she quickly whipped around to see the prince doubled over, with Andrew in the doorway. Andrew sprung forward, dagger in hand, and positioned himself behind the prince.

“Wait,” Jessica said quickly, raising a shaking hand. “We still need him. We can get out through the main gate with him as a hostage. Tunnels are too cramped for three people.” Andrew froze, and then gradually realized she was right. The prince’s eyes rose hopefully to meet hers. “We can kill him once we’re outside the gate,” she said in a level voice, relishing revenge.

“Wait until my father finds out about this, you scheming little—” the rest of his highness’ words were cut off as Jessica gagged him.

“Your father,” Jessica began, smirking in front of him as she bound his hands with some cloth she had torn from her sleeve, “Is dead.” The youth’s bright, blue eyes widened. Andrew reached his arm around the prince and placed his dagger firmly on the hostage’s neck. In a few moments, all three of them were preceding down the hall, the prince in between the two assassins, both of which had weapons pressing into his skin. He struggled and thrashed, of course, but they dragged him along anyway.

They hadn’t run into anyone and were beginning to feel hopeful until they got to the first level and were starting across the grounds. A few tall, muscular men in armor spotted them and rushed forward.

“Stop!” Andrew called out when he saw them. By now the sun had long since set, and the moon only gave out enough light in the darkness to reveal faint outlines and shadows. “We have the prince, and we’ll kill ‘im!” The shapes continued running toward them. “Stop moving or I’ll slit his throat!” Andrew shouted. At last, the shadows slowed.

Jessica, Andrew, and the prince continued across the moonlit grass, their eyes flickering between the gate ahead that led to freedom, and the slinking, sliding guards. Jessica pressed the knife upward under the prince’s chin. He sucked in a sharp breath, and the guards finally stopped. How strange it must have been to see their prince, in his white nightshirt and cotton trousers, being held at knife point by two people almost his age.

“Let us pass. Open the gates,” commanded Jessica. A well-built, sturdy man took a step toward the gates, but then hesitated. They were so close… “Now!” hollered Jessica. Reluctantly, he continued to the huge wooden wheel in front of the stone wall next to the huge, portcullis gate. As the heavy gate slowly rose with a grating sound, Jessica shifted from foot to foot uneasily. They were so close…so close to victory. It was almost too easy.

The prince knew he was almost out of protection, and he thrashed violently in their constricting grips. It was hopeless, for the youths were trained, and they didn’t budge or loosen their hold at all. At last, the gate was fully opened. The trio walked quickly towards it, suspiciously glancing around them always, dragging their stubborn captive with them. “Walk backwards,” Andrew commanded. They faced the guards, making sure none of them moved, and walked under the grey, stone archway. “Close the gates!” shouted Andrew, still backing up. Jessica’s nerves still hadn’t settled, and she anxiously bit her lip. The gates slowly inched their way down, making the same grating noise as before. They took a few more steps back, and then Andrew gave the command to turn around and run into the surrounding woods. Once the castle was out of view, the two assassins relaxed and paused to regain their breath.

Trees as old as time watched the trio gasping and panting and leaning against the trees. “We’ll be pursued,” Jessica warned. Andrew’s narrowed, brown eyes peered into the dark, foreboding trees behind them. He turned to their captive and ungagged him. Jess shot him a puzzled look.

“Let’s kill him now,” Andrew suggested, his voice now lethally low.

“Let’s not and say we did,” the prince interjected, not at all as frightened or as alarmed as Jessica had hoped he would be.

“Andy…” Jessica started, her brow furrowed in confusion. “If he stays alive, he could help us plan our attacks…he knows the castle best, and he could tell us the guards’ next move.”

“I like that staying alive part,” the prince said, nodding as if they had been looking for his approval.

“No, we have a man on the inside who could tell us just as much, and the prince has caused us enough trouble already,” Andrew told her, gripping his knife tighter.

“What trouble is that? I don’t know you,” the prince stated. “I don’t even know your name. Mine’s Benji, by the way.”

“Shut up,” Andrew growled. “You and your father make the laws that have allowed our city to turn to ruin. You are the reason people are allowed to be sold as slaves. You are the reason people who can’t pay taxes are thrown in jail instead of given an allowance of time in which to pay off. You are the reason children are orphaned at age five because their parents disagreed with your government,” Andy fiercely declared. Benji shook his head.

“That’s not what I am. My father issued those laws, and he would have issued laws worse than that, had I not been there to stop him. I am the reason those slaves weren’t killed. I am the reason civilians are thrown in jail instead of being butchered. I am the reason the orphans live, so that they can prosper and grow, and become citizens just as strong and perseverant as their parents.” Benji’s eyes flashed. “Don’t blame me for the sins of my father. Believe me, this country would be worse off without me.”

“And better off without your father,” Jessica added, glancing at Andrew. He was standing in front of Benji with his knife extended. Rage and passion were etched into his tense face. “Andy…maybe we made a mistake,” she ventured to say. He turned to glare at her.

“What? Jess, it’s starting to sound like you’re on his side! Are you going to go through with this or are you a traitor? Do not betray your country; they’re counting on you. On me. On us.”

“But what if we were wrong?” she questioned, doubts beginning to circulate within her at the prince’s words.

“Human error should be taken into account in every equation,” Benji chimed in.

“Shut up,” Jessica commanded the captive, harshly. Shifting her gaze back to Andrew, she wondered out loud, “What if leaving Benji there was a good idea? I mean, if he does agree with what we stand for…if he’s really on our side…”

“Question is,” Benji interrupted, “Whose side are you on?”

“The people’s,” Jessica said plainly, allowing a bit of irritation to seep into her voice.

“I don’ think we should let him live,” Andrew cautioned.

“I disagree. Let’s take a vote,” Benji countered.

“Shut UP!” Jessica and Andy shouted, together. “By the stars…” mumbled Jessica.

“Are you drunk?” Andrew questioned the prince.

“No, no, I never drink. I like to keep my wits about me. You should try it some time,” Benji evenly replied. Andrew whipped out his dagger, letting out a shout of rage and reaching for the prince’s neck. Benji shrank back a bit, but the emotion portrayed in his dark blue eyes was one Jessica couldn’t quite place or name.

“Wait! Maybe we should take him back to the Great Dane!” Jessica exclaimed loudly. Andrew froze, breathing quickly. Seizing the opportunity, Jessica added, “There might be a bigger use for the prince than either of us can see right now…I think we should take him back and hand him over to the Dane: He’ll know what to do. Better to be safe and let him be killed there, than sorry later that he’s dead now.”

Andrew gave Benji another hateful look before sighing and stowing his dagger. “Fine. But if he so much as breathes too loudly, I’ll kill him.”

“Ah, I see you despise competition,” Benji commented. A few minutes later, they were all trudging through the woods in the waning moonlight. Benji was blindfolded with his hands tied in front of him and a lead rope connecting him to Andrew. The three carefully and as quickly as possible made their way back towards the city where their leader would be waiting for them. Jessica just hoped he wouldn’t be disappointed. And so the fox and the hound led their palace peacock to the lions’ den.

Ch. 2 - The Castle

The sun had set and the moon was silently creeping upward in the sky when at last Andrew and Jessica reached the tunnel’s entrance. It was a small, oak door that lay flat on the earthen ground, well-concealed under a leafy, thorny bush. It was so well-concealed, in fact, that the two youths searched for the trapdoor for at least five minutes before they realized where it was.

Andrew knelt down upon discovering it and slid one calloused hand under the thorny defenses of the foliage. He wrapped his fingers around the handle of the door and then jerked it upwards. The door opened with a creak of un-oiled hinges, and the bush lifted with it. Jessica peered into the dark hole that resembled a crude mouth in the earth, ready to devour her.

She sucked in a deep breath and then gripped the sides of the opening, slowly lowering herself in. Once the tip of her toe connected with something solid, she reluctantly let go and took a few steps forward. The dark tunnel continued in one direction, but it was so dark she couldn’t tell if it stopped in a few feet, or a few miles. A light thud sounded behind her, and Jessica turned around to see Andrew in the act of closing the door behind them. They were both crouching, for the tunnel was low-ceilinged. A few seconds later, the narrow sides of dirt packed around them were illuminated as Andrew lit a match and lighted a torch that had been dormant and dusty in the side of a wall.

“Cramped,” he remarked, waving the flame around the short, constricting walls covered in mold and mildew. A smell of earth and rot filled their nostrils and caused them to hold their hands over their noses. They couldn’t stand side by side; the walls were so close together it was hard fitting without turning a shoulder to slide by diagonally.

“Let’s get going,” Jessica suggested. They shifted and squeezed, maneuvering around until Andrew was leading since he had the light. As they passed through the narrow walls, slumped over, Jessica asked in a timid voice, “Why are these tunnels even here?”

“I’ve heard many theories suggested by the band,” Andrew told her, sweeping the torch back and forth to light up the ground in front of his confident feet. “Barren said traders used it to sell wine to the guards and cooks without the king knowing. Melody said children built it to play in when it was raining and they were tired of the inside. Steven claims it was a military escape in case the castle was under siege, so some people could sneak out to the woods or further to get help, or food. Brooke is persuaded that a lonely princess had is secretly constructed ages ago, in order to provide her a secretive route in which to meet with her lover in the woods.” Andrew shrugged one shoulder. “But you know how she is.”

Jessica stared at the earthen walls laden with roots and covered in green foliage. They were supported with wooden columns that seemed half-rotten in some places. The floor, which was some kind of stone that might have been smooth in its day, was cracked and broken. “Well, whoever built it, they haven’t been down here in some number of years,” she remarked. The gloom in this place settled over her and bound her in its silent spell. Not even a faint dripping could be heard, or the wind whistling through loose stones. All was still and quiet.

They didn’t speak for the rest of the way, until at last they arrived at another door in the roof. Both of the youths shed their cloaks, revealing the garments of simple castle servants. Andrew slowly reached up and knocked twice on the old wood. Jessica was afraid it would splinter and rain down on them; it looked so ancient and fragile. After a few silent seconds, the door creaked open. Andrew was grabbed by two fragile-looking hands that helped him up and out of the dirty, cramped tunnel. Jessica approached the spot where he had been moments ago and reached up. Andrew’s tan hands grabbed her right arm, and the two pale ones her left. Once she was out of the tunnel, she blinked and saw herself looking into two big, blue eyes.

A young woman with pale blonde hair was staring back at her, dressed in the traditional garb of palace cooks. To her right, Andrew was stretching, his limbs glad to be out of the hunched-over position. The three occupants of the kitchen stood appraising one another with wary eyes, and the two newcomers unconsciously noted the dim light of a single candle and the glow it cast upon the cluttered kitchen.

“The fox an’ the ‘ound?” the woman questioned in a light, accented voice. Jessica recognized the code words, but Andrew was quicker to reply than she was.

“The door mouse?” Andrew’s eyes were scrutinizing her. She looked to be a bit older than them, and her build was thin but tough. Jessica wondered how she had heaved Andrew out of the hole, for she seemed so petite and small. Then again, she was a cook, and her arms seemed to bulge out of their long sleeves with muscle. She had a hidden strength, apparently. So this was their inside man… the door mouse; unseen, unheard, but always seeing, always hearing.

As if suddenly remembering something, the slight figure fished around in her apron pocket for an object. She pulled out two keys and hid each one under a plate on top of two trays laden with dishes full of fruit. Her eyes darted around the silent, darkened kitchen as if afraid of someone barging in at any moment. “Go quickly to the East tower,” she urged in her timid voice, ushering them forward. “’Is ‘ighnesses will want their evening snack soon,” she remarked as coolly as she would to two servants.

“Thank you,” Jessica said, saluting her by bringing a closed fist across her chest. The young woman did the same, and then Andrew and Jessica grabbed the trays with the concealed keys and hustled rapidly out of the large, kitchen door.

The passageways into which they hustled were made of large stones, smooth and polished like marble. There was a slight coolness to the air, and a vague scent of stuffy, musty smoke wafted to them from various rooms where their occupants were doubtlessly smoking pipes. Luckily, as they drew closer to the East tower, they ran into no one, and any guards that they chanced to cross were hopelessly drunk. It was beginning to seem as if no one would notice them at all as they wound up the final staircase toward the sleeping chambers of the king and his son.

Then Jessica rounded a corner and her breath caught in her throat. Two guards paced across the entrance to the narrow hall lined with doors that she needed to enter. Andrew glanced at her and then motioned for her to proceed forward. Her breath still frozen inside her, she stiffly approached the men. The guards stopped and stood erect upon seeing the two servants approaching.

“Halt. What businesses have you here?” questioned one of them. He had a big, red beard that obscured his mouth. Andrew didn’t move.

Jessica swallowed hard and replied evenly in the accent of most of the maids and servants, “The evenin’ snack for the king an’ ‘is son.” She smiled slightly, trying to appear as innocent and naive as she possibly could.

“I don’t recall him ordering anything,” the other guard, with thick, brown hair remarked. Panic welled up inside Jessica as she struggled to keep a calm countenance. “Now is when it matters,” she thought to herself.

Jessica leaned in toward the one with brown hair and whispered with a grin, “It’s unofficial. Cook’s request. She noticed ‘is majesties lookin’ sullen and stressed as of late, and thought some food might do ‘em some good.” The brown-haired guarded looked to the red-bearded one, who shrugged. The small girl seemed sincere enough, with her enchanting smile and her pleading eyes.

“You’re right – they’ve both seen happier days. Tread carefully,” advised the brown-haired guard.

“Thank you, sir,” Jessica said softly, dipping into a small curtsey and waiting until Andrew had bowed his head respectfully before walking past them and into the hallway ahead. Once they had turned a corner, she released a shaky breath and closed her eyes.

“You did fine,” Andrew reassured her. They continued down the hall until they got to the two doors opposite each other with jewels in their hinges and adorning the stone wall around them. There was a guard stationed between the two, but he had long since fallen asleep with his back against the wall, an empty mug nearby. Jessica and Andrew moved the plates from their position on the trays and grabbed the keys. They turned their backs to each other, each stuck his own key into its appropriate lock, and on the whispered count of three, they turned their handles and stepped inside their rooms.

Jessica hastily closed the door behind her and placed the tray of food on a side table. There were many elements to be noted in the magnificent room, such as the extravagant silk curtains, the mahogany side tables and bookcases, the elaborate portraits of past rulers staring down at her with cruel, condemning eyes, the fireplace’s ruddy glow, and the large stained-glass window in the eastern wall where light could stream in and illuminate the room with the rising sun.

All this was irrelevant compared to the large, canopy bed in the center of the room and the figure gently pulsating with breath sleeping inside it. The prince was covered except for his head in thick, puffy fabric that rose and fell slightly with each breath he took. Silently, she slipped over to the head of the bed and pulled out one of her knives. His body wasn’t as long as his bed and she pondered if the rumors were true that the prince was, indeed, a young one – perhaps even her own age.

Jessica sighed softly to herself. Well…it was now or never. Time to take the leap of faith. Or, rather, the stab…

Ch. 1 - The Plot

Alright, um, ya know how I start stuff and never finish it? Well, if anyone's interested, here's the first part of a story I'll probably never resume.

Jessica’s pale, white fingers grabbed the handle of the dagger and thrust it into her boot. Reaching out to grab a knife in her left hand, her right opened up a pocket in which to hide it. Smoothing the crease in her belt a moment later, she stood erect in front of a cracked mirror and examined herself. She looked innocent enough. The reflection staring back at her was clothed in stealthy boots, cotton britches, a dark brown shirt, and a large, cloth belt. None of her five weapons were visible. Donning a simple frock, she was pleased it covered the clothes underneath. The simple maid’s clothes obscured her normal outfit well. Distractedly, she grabbed a band of cloth lying on the old table and tied up her golden hair. Her brown eyes stared back at her from the mirror. Daring her to carry out what she was about to do. The image before her seemed daring, bold, and confident – the mask behind which a small, scared little girl hid.

A knock sounded from the wooden door, and she slid the dagger out of her boot and held it warily behind her back. A few seconds later, it quickly opened and a man with a round face poked his head in. “It’s time,” he stated in a voice higher than one would expect for his bulky appearance. He popped out as quickly as he had popped in.

Jessica let out an uneasy breath and stowed the dagger back into her boot. Glancing over herself once more in the mirror, she strode confidently out into the corridor outside of her room. The hallway was small and poorly lit, and she was thankful when she emerged from it into the main room of the tavern. The only candles lit in the room rested on top of the center table: there were only five people in the room, including herself. Almost all the other occupants had gathered around the table upon which rested various parchments and maps. One lone figure sat positioned at the window, dutifully keeping watch for anyone on the street outside.

Jessica marched over to the table and bent over the papers like those surrounding her. On her left was the inn keeper with the round face who had summoned her. He looked flushed and excited, and sweat dribbled down the sides of his forehead. A large hand waved over the map of the castle, belonging to a tall gentleman across from her.

“Jessica and Andrew, there are a series of tunnels connecting all the rooms of the palace with each other. There is a separate tunnel that leads to the woods surrounding the castle that you can take into its heart.” He pointed to an “x” on the map. “It’s too small for any of our other men to fit in; otherwise we wouldn’t rely on children.” Jessica inwardly bristled. She and Andrew were almost eighteen. They weren’t children anymore. Although, they were the smallest in the resistance. “If you take this tunnel here,” the man continued, unaware of Jessica’s annoyance, “You’ll end up in the kitchen. Once you’re inside, our inside man will meet you there and give you the keys to the chambers.”

A young man on her right asked, “We have a man on the inside? Why can’t he do the job?” His hazel eyes were narrowed suspiciously.

“We need someone on the inside with a clean slate to cover your tracks. He has to be trustworthy in order to belay suspicions that may arise concerning us. Also, if he were to get caught, we’d lose our only spy on the inside,” the man explained, his voice rumbling out and filling the empty room. His dark eyes met each of their faces from underneath thick, black eyebrows. The young man nodded, his brown hair shifting slightly with the motion. The older man resumed his topic with just as much urgency in his voice as before.

“Once you have the keys, you’ll have to enter quietly and carefully into the east tower, where both your targets will be sleeping. Our man reports the guards to be repeatedly drunk, but they are stationed frequently here, here, and here.” The man pointed to various spots on the map. Jessica’s stomach felt uneasy, and it flipped over restlessly as the hour grew nearer and nearer. “If you succeed in eliminating your targets, exit the same way you entered.” She felt lightheaded. It all sounded so simple yet so risky…she had never taken on a challenge this big before. Sure, she had killed before, but this…She focused on portraying a calm, determined countenance.

“You two cannot fail,” the man said in a serious tone. His eyes locked on Jessica’s, and then on the young man’s. “Our cause is riding on you.” Straightening up, he brought a closed fist across his chest. The other members assembled around him mimicked his motion.

“All clear,” the figure at the window reported. The young man approached her and her dark eyes met his.

“Ready, Andy?” she asked. He nodded confidently. They each grabbed one of the hooded cloaks hanging by the front door and slid it over their heads. Andrew opened the door and stepped out into the street, the setting sun lighting up his angular face for a moment before he disappeared. Jessica cast one last look around those gathered in the dusty, old tavern. They all looked edgy except for the tall man. His features had settled into a hard, calm emotion. As if he was strong. Like a boulder in the sea refusing to be moved. She swallowed hard, hoping she would see them again.

Jessica stepped out onto the street and followed Andrew down a side alley. There was a slight breeze. A cold front was coming in with the night. Their footsteps sounded hollow when they ran down the empty back street. Unconsciously, Jessica found herself studying Andrew.

He was short for his age, but still taller than she. His build was toned, with broad shoulders but little mass. His skin was tanned, that which she could see from under his cloak and clothes. For as long as she had known him, she had always wondered if he was a little bit oriental, as his dark hair and eyes would suggest. As if he could sense her looking at him, he turned his head toward her.

“What?” he asked, slowing to a stop. The sun was now facing away from them, and the chill caused Jessica to pull her cloak tighter around herself. The lack of light in the street made her uneasy.

“Can you do this?” she asked, bluntly.

“What do you mean?” he asked, confused.

Her anxious eyes roamed the street, cautiously scanning for anyone who would watch them. “You know…” she started, convinced for the moment that no one was eavesdropping. “Kill the king.”

Andrew stared at her for a few moments, his lips pressed into a tight line. “Now’s not the time for second thoughts, Jess,” he warned softly.

“I know! I’m not-” Jessica checked her rising voice and resumed in a lower tone, “I’m not having second thoughts. It’s just…this is big.”

He nodded slowly. “It is big, and that’s why you have to have your heart in this. This is everything the resistance is fighting against; the king has made this kingdom a ruin and it’s time someone did something about it.” Andy’s restless eyes scouted out the path ahead, observing every detail and calculating it in that clever head of his. “Once the king and his son are out of the way, the people can finally have things their way. We could start our own republic. Just think of it, Jess – all of us in the resistance would be head of it all!”

Swallowing nervously, Jessica allowed the vision to play before her eyes. There she sat, next to the tall man and Andy, along with forty or so other men and women, all dedicated to their cause. As she began to speculate how she would feel at that moment, Andy shifted and began running again.

“Come on,” he called, “We’re going to be late.” Jessica let out a small breath and followed behind her friend. The doubts still plagued her mind, and she wondered why now, of all times, she was feeling so uncertain. It was like jumping out of a window and then wondering if the ground would still be there when you landed.

Washington, DC!

Well, we're in Washington DC! :) This city is BEAUTIFUL, but there is NO PARKING ANYWHERE!!! But i'm not driving so whatever. Oh well. >:( We went to a LOT of museums, but my favorites were the Newseum and the Wax museum.

{How else could you explain these?}

{Johnny Depp and Me. ... he's less piratey in person.}

{Will Smith and Me. Yeah, we're like homies now.}

{And, somehow, Michaela and Miley Cyrus got tight or something...friends for life.}

{But that was before we found out Michaela was the long-lost granddaughter of the Kennedy's...}


So, anyway, we're having an awesome time in DC. My dad is critiquing everything I write over my shoulder, so if I say something weird or ... weird ... it's his fault. Along with hairless chihuahuas and global warming. Lol. ANYWAYS!!!!! We went around DC on our own and went to Smithsonian museums and all kinds of cool stuff. Also, we went on a night tour of the DC monuments, and here are some of the few pictures that turned out semi-ok from all those experiences. ;P

{National Cathedral; I know, I know, it looks like the building Quasimodo rings the bell of...but it's not.}
{West Side of the Berlin Wall; on display in the Newseum - best museum ever-}

{The Capitol building}

{The Lincoln Memorial @ niiiightttt!}

{Library of Congress. :) Though a lot of pictures weren't allowed, and someone *cough* -Dad- didn't want me taking so many pictures...}

Tomorrow we're leaving for Hershey Pennsylvania. Hershey. As in... chocolate. *grin* mmm...this is going to be AWESOME. So, hopefully, more pics to come, unless I eat so much chocolate that i die...in which case...um...no pictures. Sorry. CIAO and have good weeks!!
~ Cap'n Bonnie