Chapitre 16: Chapter 14
The next morning, we get moving right before the sun comes up. The air is crisp and the sky is showing signs of rain. We gallop on our horses, doing the best we can at following the hoof prints.
"We're still at least a day behind them," the prince says on one of our rests.
"Will we be able to catch them?" I ask.
"They might get on a ship and sail away," Zander adds in.
"We can't give up! I will get my mother that antidote." With that, the prince walks into the forest.
"He really loves her," Zander comments.
"Yeah," I agree. We sit there for awhile until we hear the prince coming back.
"We need to leave," he says in a bitter tone.
Zander and I just nod, not wanting to bother him.
After a long time of riding, my hips and bottom begin to get sore. I've never sat on a horse this long. We ride until the forest is dark again. I'm exhausted and I can feel my heavy eyes begin to close. Finally, the prince says it's time to stop. I hop down from the horse and stretch my sore and cramped muscles. We set up a makeshift shelter out of extra blankets that were brought. Zander starts a small fire and I shoot a few rabbits for dinner.
Once we're all situated around the fire and eating happily, a loud noise interrupts our thoughts.
"Is that..." Zander starts.
"Thunder," the prince confirms with a bleak face.
By the time we're all under our blankets, the rain had begun to come down. In no time, the blankets above us are soaked as well as the ones on top of us.
"We might as well continue," the prince says.
We pack up our soaked belongings and leave again. Suddenly, off in the distance, I see a light. Then I see many lights.
"It's a village!" I exclaim.
Zander and the prince also look relieved.
By the time we reach the inn, my teeth are chattering and my hands are numb with cold. We step inside and immediately a kind looking woman runs up to us.
"Oh you poor dears!" She exclaims. "Please come in. I have some warm broth and beds for you. My name is Emilia."
We follow her inside where she gives each of us an extra pair of clothing to wear while ours dry. She give me a light blue nightgown with dry undergarments to wear. Quickly I change and she also takes the rest of my stuff to dry it.
In no time, we're all situated around the fireplace. The fire feels warm on my face. We explain our whole story to Emilia. Suddenly, I notice someone in the corner staring at me. As they stand up, I notice that it's a girl about my age.
"Who are you?" I ask.
Zander and the prince look in the direction I am facing, confused.
"I'm Juliana," she responds.
"What are you doing here?"
"I live here."
"Oh."
"Juliana is my daughter," Emilia says from where she's sitting.
We all introduce ourselves. Juliana is tall and slender. She also has a good amount of bust and is very beautiful. I notice that the prince and Zander are looking at her, their eyes practically falling out of their eyes. A pang of jealousy goes through me but I ignore it. Then Juliana says something that surprises us.
"Can I join you on your journey?"
"Do you fight?" The prince asks doubtfully.
"Yes. My father taught me before he died as one of your own soldiers in battle."
"I'll have to see your skills tomorrow morning right before we leave."
"Okay."
After talking some more, we all say our good nights and head off to bed. As I lay under the blankets, my thoughts are keeping me awake. I get up and throw on some clothes that I find in a closet. When I get outside, I find a few targets and a wooden post. I grab the sword that I brought and walk over to the post.
After swinging my sword for awhile, I hear someone begins me. Turning around, I find Juliana leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
"Do you want a real partner?" She asks.
I shrug and respond, "Sure."
She's good but I'm still better. In no time, I'm able to disarm her and pin my sword to her neck.
"Wow. You're good," she comments.
Then we hear another noise and we see the prince coming toward us.
"What's going on here?" He asks tiredly. "This is the first time I can actually get some rest and I'm awakened by the clanking of swords."
I grin sheepishly and say, "She's good. I think we can keep her."
He raises an eyebrow and says, "Prove it now that I'm awake."
Juliana and I take our stances and she makes the first move. I duck, swing, and sidestep as she does the same. I go a little bit easier on her since the first time I beat her easily. Eventually, I end up winning.
The prince claps and says, "Okay fine. You can come. Now everybody go and get some sleep!"
Juliana heads her own way and the prince and I walk together.
"I could tell you were going easier on her," the prince remarks. "Why do you want her to come with us?"
"I don't know. There's just something about her. Whenever she fights, I see this spark in her eyes that I've never seen in anyone else that I've fought."
We walk in silence until we reach our rooms.
"Get some sleep," the prince says.
I turn around and start walking into my room when he calls out, "Iris!" I turn around and he says, "It wouldn't hurt for you to use my real name sometime."
I laugh and respond, "Okay Ashton."
The next morning, we're all up before the sun. Emilia has porridge with berries ready for us. After we eat we gather up our now dry belongings and say our goodbyes.
"Thank you so much Emilia," I say.
"Oh don't you worry about it dear," Emilia responds.
With that we head out. The guys take the front while us girls stay back. At one point, we slow down some so that our horses can rest.
"So why do you want to come with us?" I ask Juliana.
"I don't know. I've always wanted to fight and go on an adventure," she responds with a faraway look in her eyes.
"Why don't you come and join the army after this?"
"I've thought about it, but my mother needs help at home. I almost backed out of this quest so that I could stay back with her."
We continue on until we reach the end of the forest. What we find surprises us. There's a cliff in the way of our path.
"We could go around," Zander suggests.
"That would take too long," the prince argues.
"Well we can't go down the cliff," I add. "Going around is our only choice. Besides, the men would've had to go around as well."
The prince sighs and agrees.
Right then, an arrow whizzes past me and off the cliff. Out of the trees jumps five men in black. Unable to get my sword out fast enough, one of them grabs me and starts to push me towards the cliff. I struggle but it's no use. I'm already falling and Ashton is yelling my name from up above. I fall until I give up all hope of surviving.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone