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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89yI8ql2nR
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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYObCNq3wBS
"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. 481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVuAe3M8of
"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..."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU6eb3y58N
"So if it wasn't real," I murmur, "then why does it hurt so bad."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAjOK96oAm
"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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOANGbXaSY
"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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJjUTfE3mY
"Katie, what's wrong?"
She snatches away.
"Kathryn," I insist. "Look at me."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMM5aMYENZB
"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."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh2GzLsz9Z
"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."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgQ2JjplpS
"Well, I am glad that worked out for you. You have become legendary. Kings want to hire you, assassins want you"481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKP0VMrXNz
"For killing purposes only...I could never...would never want to"481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RiCcGNH8F
"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."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGa3Biqprq
"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."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijjfYzpU6r
"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."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dRaXwtONr
"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."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CoauU1MbB
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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFqfQLdBmy
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. 481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstrxAUcKAG
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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxskbxxut57
"Well, hello there fella, and thank you," I whisper, but I also know they are aggressive little creatures, so I have to be careful. 481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEMWYeRDUl
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. 481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKdZc3U5PI
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..481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMFeSkYuGd
I dash on to the field, where my captain meets me.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1OQESmqWX
"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?"481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfONKgfunou
"No, I kind of had a hiccup that involved another smart alecky guard and a small brawl on my behalf."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkD5qE50LI
Orlow shakes his head. "Always too quick-tempered for your own good."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1ahs5xVgB
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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXdDEEKdm0
"Orlow, send two soldiers to the bakery and retrieve a girl for me."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3cJQSoFli
"The girl?" he grunts.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq88f53TTH1
"Yes."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEvxIZaoxh
"Don't you think you have tried hard enough?"481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTGjlhOwOp
"Nothing is too much for her, Orlow."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TQ3rgx3xv
"If I was not your best friend, I would think you mad, man."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThv4Fa06Kg
"Maybe I am, Orlow, maybe I am."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWzOjNQgp1
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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBdNYiMTTN
"You?" I gasp at the creature wriggling his nose at me. 481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeU3wSOovM
Orlow frowns. "do I wanna know?"481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrysXPZqqgS
I grin. "I will tell you later."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PGZUHt5lf
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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrARt6gNYT
"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?"481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKoICakYFs
"His name's...Rooter, and he helped me escape."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXd3m8eSGx
Wrett laughs. "Aye, clever boy you are, Prince. What's next?"481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxwUrojzK4
I motion to Orlow, who rides past. "Did you get the girl?"481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA3X9TPM4f
"Here she is," a young soldier answers, throwing her at my feet. "She put up quite the fight, man."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiezh0MUZpj
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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1MwjX3re3
"Steady, fella," I whispered.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oyhyujdVZ
"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..."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMr9H8o36f
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. 481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOgFZAkjdo
"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."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH02wB6JGaG
"How did you..."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F8LoDtrOp
"'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."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ONh9PYhmx
I turn to Orlow. "We are done here."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW44EdQsxBk
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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7ALWK4se8
"Are you sure you were born wild?" I ask him.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY41fD7aWOy
"Cute pig..."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc918CBGnHV
I stare up as the familiar voice sends jolts through me that only that voice can.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfuR55UJXl
"Kathryn?"481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvpCgMGY8U
"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."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQlRI70jEi
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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2fm13mluz
"Katie," I whisper, "all I want is your heart..."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSWYoHMyeW
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."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nluH844XA
I get down on one knee, "Kathryn Aaliyah, will you marry me?"481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjLVMZUXfC
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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagn8bv9EWQ
"Let them have a few more minutes."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f8sMEndhA
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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBevsajghB5
"What say you, my queen, of this life we have built together?"481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25hn6DPHUa
"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."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5ivY4EXLz
He smiles, wraps his arms around me, whispers in my ear, "I will protect you with all my heart. Always, my love."481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEUJMGiOyc
