I join the chain gang of other prisoners. This plan had better work. Right now, I was kicking myself for messing it up, but if it worked, it was the ultimate infiltration. My life was at stake, and so was my whole kingdom. So why was I doing this? Welll...I would do anything for her...for just one moment with her.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq4LZv1IkH
A lady guard escorts me into a cell and slams the iron-wrought gate behind me. I sit on the hard concrete bench, staring at the dirt floor beneath my feet.
"So, this is the only way that I can get a chance to talk to you."
She ignored me, her face hidden by the mask of the army uniform, but I knew her brown eyes anywhere.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOFnPhuklt
"Funny, how we keep ending up near one another. Some would say it's chance. I say it's fate."
She continues to ignore me, but I know she will speak soon. She is not known for being quiet very long. I take a deep breath and look at the sword positioned against her thigh with its red etchings and the shimmering steel blade. I follow it with my eyes, up her leg, taking in her lovely figure. Confident, strong, but delicate. 483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6qes1BHMl
"I feel like I have loved you my whole life, you know."
"Please," she snapped. "you claimed to love me during a time when we couldn't have possibly known what love is. If we had, we would have stopped it there. We wouldn't have put outselves through this..."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXkOHEv3n2
"So if it wasn't real," I murmur, "then why does it hurt so bad."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6D5gsgoCB
"Cooper, please."
I go silent, respecting her wishes. Slop is handed out for dinner, and I automatically feel sorry for any prisoners that I had ever fed this crap to. I resolve to change the menu in my prisons when I get back home. If I get back home. A familiar figure passes on the evening rounds, and I stand up.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUN4NBuEeg0
"Katie, you alright? Haven't seen you in a while."
She turns away, and I automatically know something is wrong. I reach through the bars to grab her arm.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvZeyGmWHa
"Katie, what's wrong?"
She snatches away.
"Kathryn," I insist. "Look at me."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZZ1jKFtlz
"So," she whispers so that only we can hear. "When I met you and you said you loved me...was it just to further your kingdom? You pretended you were on our side, but it turns out it was all just lies. I was a young warrior being trained to kill, and you were an undercover prince. I told you everything, but you LIED to me for years."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1i6pf1B0D
"Katie, I was seven when we first met, and I loved YOU. I didn't...I mean..."
"I loved you with everything in me"
"But you LEFT!"
She glares at me, her almond shaped hazel eyes dilated with anger and rage. "I HAD to! I was training to become a warrior."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaRt31AMyi
"Well, I am glad that worked out for you. You have become legendary. Kings want to hire you, assassins want you"483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzgTn2WKcG
"For killing purposes only...I could never...would never want to"483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsX6Ulqx7l
"What is WRONG with you? Can't you see that I love you? I could have turned away. i could have went back to my kingdom, but EVERYTHING I have built is for you, Katie. I want you as my queen. I have built a whole kingdom, and i am offering it to you."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiTGoHar20
"The last day we were together? I had killed a man. There was a whole group that tried to kidnap me. Fortunately, my brother came, and we killed every last one of them. Their eyes haunt my nightmares. I am no human to be loved. I am a dirty murderer, and that is all I will ever be," she whispers. "I do not deserve a love like yours, not like yours."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaP9e38C4U
"Katie, if you had told me, I would not have thought that. I do not think that."
"Cooper, our lives are completely different. I am an elite warrior and a dirty murderer. You are rich prince fed from silver spoons. That is no couple that is meant to be. Move on, Cooper."
"Wait, Katie, you were only fourteen when you stopped talking to me! Why were you out by yourself..." I think for a moment, recalling that night. "You were supposed to be meeting me..." My heart hurt and shattered so fast. "Katie, you mean that you could never find love with me" But she had kept from telling me all this time so I would not have to live with the guilt. "I'm so sorry."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodBI1GFpTM
"I didn't tell you because I know it was not your fault." She is crying now. "But you should have been there, Cooper, and I was waiting for you."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeLzPbho5D
So this was my fault. I sink back onto the concrete cell bench, and she continues her rounds. My head whirls. What could I do to make it up to her? First, I have to escape this cell.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdYAvZZS5D
I remember reading a book about prison escapes. Lock picks. Spoon dug outs. Someone even tamed a rat. I don't have the time or skills for any of that. Besides, I am a historian, so how could I use that to my advantage? If one thing I know, it is maps. I also know that this poor region of the kingdom where the prison was built has trouble with wild boars. I also know that this ruddy prison is shallowly built, and boars can dig up to six feet. 483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWVhCuKIXK
Utilizing the disgusting rations they give us, I start pouring it through the little barred whole of a window in my cell. Finally, it starts working after about three days. The boars are drawn to my cell from the outside, so I only poured it at night. After a week, they were rooting under, and before I know it, I have a baby boar staring at me.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoPfReQuWg
"Well, hello there fella, and thank you," I whisper, but I also know they are aggressive little creatures, so I have to be careful. 483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm5PkN8d0Y
I know that the guards will be doing their rounds soon, and the infiltration plan has ended with half of my soldiers imprisoned, soldiers that I cannot leave. I throw a sheet over the piglet and quickly shut his snout. I shove him through the hole, and when he is free, he starts squealing, alerting the others, which sends them running off into the woods. Good. I didn't want to abandon the creature in my cell anyway. 483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHAhHDLXtj
I crawl through the hole and climb the stone wall onto the rooftop. I breathe in nice fresh air for a moment and then race to my freedom. Time to get to the meeting place we had agreed upon. As I race through the streets, I recognize Katie, in a little bakery with her family. This is her people's kingdom, after all..483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3EjRJSTju
I dash on to the field, where my captain meets me.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRkFE5wOWW
"Prince Cooper, we thought we had lost you. What happened to you all? You were supposed to infiltrate once they caught you. Did they see through your disguise?"483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV45zxIV1u
"No, I kind of had a hiccup that involved another smart alecky guard and a small brawl on my behalf."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RHYgLrNwp
Orlow shakes his head. "Always too quick-tempered for your own good."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdblaDCWz8v
I call my horse, a bay stallion named Arrow. He appears from the shadows as Orlow slips me my bag. Disappearing behind a tree, I slip on my cotton pants, silk shirt, and crown. Best look nice for the siege of the century.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwktmQKXUlN
"Orlow, send two soldiers to the bakery and retrieve a girl for me."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZg7tlYPGb
"The girl?" he grunts.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQHhA8baoI
"Yes."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD4S5X02m6
"Don't you think you have tried hard enough?"483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXeI4VDaQV
"Nothing is too much for her, Orlow."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR15WqffZm
"If I was not your best friend, I would think you mad, man."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImGQbD6ZRL
"Maybe I am, Orlow, maybe I am."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkzq79tfWN
Orlow shrugs. "Love and women will do that to a man." He remounts his bay stallion, and I mount Arrow. The horse suddenly balks, and I glance down to see a little boar gazing up at me.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgp4ynqN4LF
"You?" I gasp at the creature wriggling his nose at me. 483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGXXKU6rie
Orlow frowns. "do I wanna know?"483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxImpVUiewZ
I grin. "I will tell you later."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKco3GO3il
He nods and gallops off while I plan what to do next. Not much longer, my soldiers appear by the dozens, and we overtake the small sleeping city. I am happy to see the familiar faces of those that were captured with me.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UcbUi2geE
"I knew you wouldn't befall us, Prince," a soldier named Wrett greets me, and I nod to him. "Despite getting us into the very terrible situation. Why do you have a pig following you?"483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTPPYzqcWx
"His name's...Rooter, and he helped me escape."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQS7etaJ5VY
Wrett laughs. "Aye, clever boy you are, Prince. What's next?"483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHbsT7xxD8
I motion to Orlow, who rides past. "Did you get the girl?"483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIynFqdjjL
"Here she is," a young soldier answers, throwing her at my feet. "She put up quite the fight, man."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpKyxdSBe8
I stare into her eyes and for a moment, it is just she and I in front of the prison. Then she spits at Arrow's hooves and shouts in Swahili at me. My stallion shifts with disdain. He just had his hoof-shining a few weeks ago and doesn't appreciate the gesture.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PrCg23Bvg
"Steady, fella," I whispered.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkyPun3dno
"Funny how you care for a horse better than a human," she growls. "So I guess you want me to work for you now? That's usually how it goes when you take prisoners of war. To overtake my city with its untouched walls...you will be a legacy..."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSaaQifwMr
I slip off the horse and shake my head. I untie the ropes and grab her chin in my hand. She squirms and beats at my chest and scratches at my arms, so I put my dagger to her throat. 483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QPit0Ud4D
"No more!" I snap at her, and she stops, but there is still rage in her hazel eyes as she glares at me. "I'm not killing these people. I only wanted my soldiers back from the prison. I only killed the king and his royal family so that you will be free now Katie. I am going to take my men and leave this kingdom to you." I slip the crown off my head and deposit it into her quivering fingers as I release her. "You're the rightful heiress, after all."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN6lC5ZjjM
"How did you..."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TvPTXXayj
"'I'm a historian, remember? I research every place before I siege it, and I know that your family is descended from the Chambers line that was unjustly dethroned by a vengeful cousin. The cousin killed the beloved king and made it look like it was your family, so of course, the whole kingdom wanted you dead. Therefore, in exchange for the king's protection, you agreed to devote the eldest sons to the king's army and those of his descendants. However, you are a better warrior than your brother, and that must be why they tried to kidnap you. You have always been elite, and the king wanted your service. So, now, you have devoted your service to spare the sons of your family. A very noble deed." I whisper. "But now, Katie, you are free."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgGs1LGAD8
I turn to Orlow. "We are done here."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSqVSXINkE
He nods and calls the soldiers, and we leave. when we stop for the night, I offer Rooter some very good apples to signify my gratitude and our new friendship. Then the boar settles into some blankets.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis4OkpOrLu
"Are you sure you were born wild?" I ask him.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdkOJSks2l
"Cute pig..."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3CSB0sbZ8
I stare up as the familiar voice sends jolts through me that only that voice can.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMvhYPFg4s
"Kathryn?"483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR18XU9rkOB
"What you did today...I never said thank you, and I owe you something for your deed. I really could not start my reign off with debts."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBtJ9rPRcw
She wore a sparkling rose pink dress and the rose gold crown I had left to her. She looks so gorgeous that I am smitten speechless.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfv1kyrpo3
"Katie," I whisper, "all I want is your heart..."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcuCg5WR9n
She shakes her head. "Before...it was not mine to give to you, but now, I am free to love whoever I want...and that person is you."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGnq54VoX9
I get down on one knee, "Kathryn Aaliyah, will you marry me?"483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tqZFvEo64
I said yes that day. Now, as he stands on the balcony, I venture to his side with a glass of lemonade. I begin to call the children to lunch, but he shakes his head.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4ldOypXj6
"Let them have a few more minutes."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVXv6rnMeF
I intertwine my fingers with his, and we watch our children, the heirs and heiresses of one of the most legendary kingdoms in history. Geoffrey and Vincent have his nose and my deep brown skin with his dimples. Rubileigh and Alexis have my ringlet curls and his blue eyes. They have all of our love. They play happily with Rooter...in this kingdom that I rule with the one who holds my heart forever.483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsJzJzj1Ue
"What say you, my queen, of this life we have built together?"483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHUNgs2VZQ
"Sometimes I still have nightmares of distant times, but whenever I am afraid, you pull me close in your arms, and I feel safe." I turn to him. "My love, I could not have dreamed of a better life. Thank you for not giving up."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNfDzWxCOS
He smiles, wraps his arms around me, whispers in my ear, "I will protect you with all my heart. Always, my love."483Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao9WbVU5HF
