Chapter Four Heart Lock

 The Gang

Bounty Hunter Bash and Chashathrophogh left the castle in a rush. The box or the dark lord had not been found anywhere and he had not spoken a word to her. He did not need to. She understood what his actions meant, her mother was in danger, and they needed to do it fast. 

They sold their horse and carriage and ran as fast as they could. When it became night, they booked themselves into the next tavern when their legs could no longer carry them. They looked out of the window to see if there was anyone following them. Seeing that there was none she sat in one of the two chairs in the simple room. Which her legs were glad of.

"I think that one of us should keep awake for a certain amount of time and wake the other when it comes to an end." She said as she stopped out of the window.

"Yes, after all, we both do have a bounty on our heads."

"I will take the first watch."

Chashathrophogh shook his head as he sat in front of her and looked out of the window.

"No. I think that I should. After all, I have several things that I have to go over in my mind. I do not think that I will be able to sleep otherwise." 

She looked slightly afraid but she had to remind herself that if he killed her, he too would die. Which, she knew, dying was the last thing that he wanted. So she decided to get into one of the beds.

"What?" He asked slyly. "Are you afraid that I will kill someone while you sleep?"

"No. Just-nothing!" She just slipped into the covers of her bed. "I'll just get to sleep now. Oh, and if you do, please keep it clean!"

He let out a chuckle.

"You do realise that I was joking!"

She looked at him surprised.

"Didn't know you had a sense of humour!"

He chuckled warmly.

"Just get some sleep."

"Sure dear uncle."

He looked at her completely surprised.

"What? I might as well call it you."

He nodded. She then rolled over and closed her eyes. She then it seemed like in the next moment she was shaken awake, yet she felt a strange sense of fear of something. Yet she could not remember what it was. She could feel like her body was well rested and this told her that she was asleep for at least three hours.

"Are you alright?" He asked with a worried look in his eyes.

"Yes, why?"

"You were having a nightmare." He said as he regained his composure. "It was annoying."

She would have commented but she knew better than to.

"Do you know what the time is?" She asked.

He looked out of the window to the clock tower.

"One o'clock."

"Alright, I think that it's my time to take my watch."

She breathed in and out in a specific rhythm to wake her mind up. She then did several push ups and sit ups to wake her nuclear up and sharpen her mind. They switched places and she was soon watching over her uncle. Night was soon over and they ordered their breakfast and paid. 

They were soon back on the road and they walked at a good and fast pace. Chashathrophogh made sure to walk slower than he could, just to ensure that she could keep up. However he did check that she was close behind him and was not struggling to keep up with him.

As they walked on and on throughout the day, Bounty Hunter Bash felt something hit the back of her head. She looked back and hit a face which dodged out of the way of her fist. He then raised his fist to her stomach and she dodged out of the way.

Chashathrophogh then caught a chain that was heading for her. He pulled the other attacker and placed a hand on his head. He then fell down dead. He then took out a small dagger and threw it at the other attackers that were heading their way.

"Don't kill them!"

"Why?"

"We need to get information out of them!" She shouted as a man hit her with a dagger. 

She then pulled out her bow and arrow one of their legs with two arrows. Then hit two more. She soon had chromed her opponents. Chashathrophogh then killed more of his attackers. He then used tiger clothes to clean his blades.

"Right. Care to tell me why you thought that attacking us was a good idea?" Chashathrophogh asked after they had rounded and tied them up.

They all looked away and remained silent. He then took one of the arrows and started twisting. He started to make it dig in deeper. Bash would have intervened but she knew that it would be a bad idea. After all, she knew that if they were going to speak, then this would be the best way. She curled her hand into a fist and tensed as he started to scream and scream. She bit her lip to help her endure it.

"Fine! All we wanted was that bounty!"

He then hit him.

"Liar!"

He then pulled it out and pressed in on it.

"Fine! We were hired to kill you and as we were assassins in training! we thought that we would be the best for the job!"

"No, you are a hit gang! And we were your targets, right!"

"How-did-you-know!?"

"Far too easily. Even more so when you have a crashing friend that is both a bounty hunter and assassin. Now answer me, who put you up to this?"

"I don't know! We saw the job and took it, the man never gave his name! He just egged us on to take it!"

"Thank you! Now was that so hard?"

He then took a glance at Bounty Hunter Bash.

"How much is on your heads?"

They frowned. It was all too clear that they did not.

"Come on, a good friend told me that a good assassin, bounty hunter, slayer and hit man all sold know what their heads are worth."

"Several copper."

"How much,  exactly."

"All together, as high as her!"

"And that is?"

"One gold and three silver."

Chashathrophogh's face dropped as he set them all on fire. They screamed and screamed. Bash, not being able to take this any longer, soon put the fire out and the gang all fell.

"Why did you do that?"

"Because you are worth much more than that. It is an insult to think that you are worth less than seven emerald coins." 

He looked at her disbelieving gaping mouth and widened eyes.

He really thinks that I am worth that much!?

"What?"

"Nothing!"

He huffed.

"Is just I highly doubt that! Seven rubies more like!"

He rolled his eyes and key put a huff.

"Come on! You have been able to collect the bounties of those who considered themselves untouchable, you are a princess, bounty hunter and you are my niece. Someone, who is one of the few people trained by the Dark Lady Grasharlo herself!" He ranted.

"What!?"

"Yes. Now you know."

Soon it sank in.

"You're right! Dart! Can't argue with that!"

The Bounty

As they reached a small city and the two revived a few dirty looks from people. Some looked at them as if they were nothing but dirt, yet there were others that looked utterly terrified. However there were some that looked at them worried. This told them that they would not have a quiet journey through the city. Then she spotted the prayers to prove it.

"Uncle Chash'." She said as she patted his arm. 

He looked at his poster beside hers and smiled as he nodded.

"Right. Thank you for the warning. By the way,  'Uncle Chash'?"

"Yeah your name's too long."

He let out a huff as he shook his head.

"I know, but unless the situation calls for it, I prefer that you use my full name. After all, I think it would not work out well for you to get over familiar with me."

"Why?"

"Do you want a beating?"

"No. Nor are you my mother or father. So I don't have to listen to you!"

He looked at her with annoyance. Yet he sighed and rolled his eyes as he shrugged.

"You do realise that hardly matters? And you do know that I can give you a worse beating than my sister and brother-in-law!"

She sighed and shrugged, knowing that she had been beaten. She knew that he did not give out hollow threats. She would have to remind herself to remember that on any other day, he would be trying to kill her. Probably even worse as they were so closely related.

She then looked behind her as she scratched her hair. Only to see a group of people looking at them. They had the look of a wolf carefully looking at their prey. They then spotted that she was looking at them and looked away. She saw that their lips were moving but one of them kept their eyes on the two. She then looked away.

Looks like there's going to be a fight.

She was about to raise her hand to her bow but Chashathrophogh took her hand and held it. It was almost like a normal uncle would. She looked up at him as he pulled her in.

"Do not do that. It will draw too much attention. We need to be the ones who pick the battle ground, and pick it well."

She realising he was right decided to go along with his act. She pulled away with false disgust.

"Fine on! Do you have to do that?" She snapped in order to make the group think that he pulled her in for a doting.

He, seeing this, pulled her back in.

"What? Can't an uncle dote on his beautiful niece? I did miss so much of your childhood. Might as well make up for lost time."

"Do you have to be so public about it?"

She hunched her shoulders forward and bowed her head.

"Why not?"

"Because!"

He then let out a chillingly warm laugh. It was bizarre, she didn't even know that he could laugh like that. It was so warm, almost happy-go-lucky. He pulled her in and they travelled on. They then went on to buy some supplies and Bash bought some arrows. Then to her surprise, Chashathrophogh bought her a book.

Harnessing Magic & Other Powers

"Thank you!"

He smiled.

"Well, as you have magic, you might as well learn to use them properly." He said, pointing at her. 

She noticed that his face and smile seemed to display his genuine happiness, yet, almost trying to hide it too.

Feeling compelled to get him something too and bought him a red bladed dagger. 

"Here! Do you like it?"

He looked at it and smirked.

"You do realise that I could kill someone with this?"

"Well, that's a risk that I'm willing to take." 

She then stretched as she took a glance at the group in the reflection of the blade. She soon realised that it was a bounty hunter group.

"Anyway, I'm hungry! Know any good places?"

"Yes. It's a small café that's tucked away. It's quite a lovely and quiet corner. I find it's a good place to think. It's also a good deal too!"

"Think that sounds like a good idea."

Together they walked away from the marketplace and then left the shops altogether. They then turned to the left down an ally. They then walked down a set of stairs. They noticed that the group was stool following. She felt her heartbeat in her ears as she knew that they were leading then to their deaths.

I think that- no he won't. He'll kill them so there's nothing that I can do to stop it. So don't think about those who'll miss them. Don't even get attached to them in any way.

She then went down another flight of stairs. She followed him down a small and narrow street. It was so narrow that the tips of the buildings were almost touching. They then turned off to an already under a tunnel made by the buildings. They then descended down more stairs. She heard the sound of running water and a grim scent of dung and urine and vomit. This told her where they were.

"Duck."

She did and then he threw a few small daggers. Then she had a grim splash. He then guided her through the sewage and then came up and back into the light. They came to a tucked away part of the city. She saw a few florally patterned wooden tables and chairs. All moulded into a rose vine pattern and an entrance to a small café.

"See?"

She looked around to see if there was another way here but there seemed that there was none.

"Yeah."

"Chash'! How've you been?"

"Alright Sendrose, and I told you, do not to call me that. It's Chashathrophogh!"

"How long will you be staying?"

"Just a night."

"Right, and who's the girl?"

"My niece."

Then a strange woman with red hair and light green eyes rushed to her.

"Wow! She doesn't half look like you! Tell me, what's your name?"

"Bounty Hunter Bash Drew."

Her eyes widened.

"No way! Are you serious! Chash', are you really the uncle of Bounty Hunter Bash the Touchable?"

His eyes rolled as he let out a sigh.

"Yes,  and you do realise I tried to kill her and if I was not tied to her then I would have killed her by now? So do please remind yourself who I am and keep quiet about that will you?

"Yeah I know. Now come in."

The Blood Priest

After one night they were on their way. They had not a moment to lose. They journeyed for the whole day. Whenever they needed to eat they made a sandwich and ate it as they walked. It soon became evening and the night was becoming colder and colder. The beginning of autumn was upon them. They came to a new building that was made of strange white rocks. The door had a large arch at the front and it had a domed roof. At the top of the door was what looked like a new goddess made of rubies and her hands were cupped and from them fell blood!

"Clohida, goddess of blood." A voice said that came from behind them.

 They both jumped slightly as they turned around. Behind then was a man dressed in a crimson robe. He had long black hair and eyes. His face was as white as chalk with an alluring dark beauty that would make anyone's heart skip a beat.

"She had been known to protect people from vampires, werewolves and all manner of dark creatures." He said, revealing his snow white teeth. "Speaking of which, this place is riddled with those so come in!" 

"But you do not know who we even are. We could be worse than either one of those!" Chashathrophogh pointed out.

He shrugged.

"Then I will take that risk!" He sang, as he urged them in.

Inside there were rows and rows of benches painted red and in front of them was a large statue of Clohida standing in a pond of blood.

"That looks charming!" Commented Chashathrophogh.

"Yes, I forgot, sorry. She's not well known here."

Chashathrophogh looked at him suspiciously, however he said nothing.

"Then make a note to warn people next time. After all, if we were normal people we would be screaming our heads off." He said.

He laughed.

"Hey!"

"What? You should know better than to expect an apology."

She just glared at him but then looked aside.

"Alright we'll stay but only one night, any longer and we'll-"

"Miss our boat."

"Where to?"

"The Desert Planes. I heard that she always wanted to go."

"I said the Sand Planes! Desert Planes are far too dangerous. Giant bugs and sand dragons and manticors. Or so I've heard."

I don't know why he's lying, but there has to be a good reason.

"So, is there anywhere we need to sign?"

"No, but you and your uncle are welcome here as long as you need to stay here." He said. "Now, you must be hungry, I expect."

Suddenly, as if on cue, their stomachs started to rumble. Yet, they knew that this was not out of hunger. They also knew better than to stay, yet their curiosity caused them to stay there.

"Sure!" They lied.

He smiled and left. Chashathrophogh turned to her.

"Go and check the religious text of Clohida. I will be giving the blood priest a hand in the kitchen."

She nodded. She looked around and in a small room she spotted a book. It was made of red leather and the pages with golden edges. It was on a red table with a maroon tablecloth.

The Book Of Clohida

Bingo.

She picked the book up. She looked around to see if there was anyone around. Seeing that there was not, which was strange. From the moment that they had arrived, apart from the blood priest, there was none there. However, this gave her the opportunity that she needed. She knew that her uncle could take care of himself. So she opened the book.

Clohida always demands two things before you

follow her. If you do, then you will be able to 

know her secrets and all things patterning to

the secrets of blood and blood magic.

Now the things that you need to do are, get a

pool of blood and sacrifice two royals by 

drowning them both in the pool. Royals born

out of wedlock with powerful magic are not

necessary but would be a more potent sacrifice.  

With that she closed the book. She now wondered if her uncle was really alright. Also this meant that he knew who they were the moment he saw them. She closed the book and then ran to the kitchens. She saw her uncle and it occurred to her that she needed a reason to pull him away without alerting the blood priest.

"Urm.. Uncle, could you help me with something?"

"No."

"But I really need your help. There's this spell that I'm really stuck on. I think I need a demonstration."

He rolled his eyes.

"Fine! I'm coming!"

He walked over to her. She walked out of the room and to the book.

"This better not be the truth. If so, then I will be disappointed!" He said under his breath.

"No, I found something."

"Go on."

"The conditions of following Clohida. And that is to make a blood pool and to drown two royals in it." 

He glanced at the pool.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah! We'll be fine!"

"Good!" He said as he gave them a goblet of a hot drink. "It's a tea from Clohida's native nation."

They looked at each other and pretended to drink it, yet somehow, either they misjudged or something, but for some reason they ended up taking a proper sip. He then smiled and took another goblet and took a sip and then poured it into the pool of blood. 

"You catch on surprisingly fast! Most do not figure it out until they're in the pool." He said. "However I guess you're not normal royals, are you?"

He walked over to Chashathrophogh and placed a finger on his jawline.

"Tell me, do you love her like a niece?"

"No. Why should I?"

"Not even a little?"

"No."

He smirked.

"Well,  my goddess Clohida will reveal if that is true." He said as he walked over to the pool.

They would have tried to move to take him down,  but there seemed to be something stopping them. Then he raised his hands and they were pulled over to him like a magnet. He then looked into their eyes and smiled. He then started to chuckle and then let out an ice cold laugh.

"Excellent!"

Both tried to well themselves away from him.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Only royals that love each other, regardless of what type, would be pulled to my hands."

"What? There's no love between us!" Bash exclaimed.

"Ignore it and trust me!" Chashathrophogh croaked as he willed a blade in his belt into his heart. 

He then fell down. Their feet landed.

Bash was about to check to see if he was dead but then Chashathrophogh hit her. She looked at him and frowned and she hit him back. He then smirked as he outstretched his hand and then a fire rose up.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"There is magic here that needs to go. Fire is a purifier so you must burn these places." He said.

She nodded as she helped. Soon the temple was gone.

The Spell

They came to an inn. It was white with black timber exposed. The door was painted brown and the doorknob was in the shape of a stretching cat made of silver. As they came closer Chashathrophogh placed his hand on the doorknob and sniffed. His eyes narrowed making the bags under his eyes stand out more. He took his hand away.

"I don't-"

Then the door opened.

"Hello children!" Said an old woman with grey hair and shockingly blue eyes. Her height was only slightly shorter than Bounty Hunter Bash. She had a wide smile.

"Care to repeat that old woman?"

"Please young man, when you're my age anyone might as well be a child!" She said with a cheery tone. "Come in! Come in!

"Well, you're making the assumption that I will be your age, you old hag!" He grumbled as they walked in.

She let out a laugh.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"Yeah, it's just I don't trust women as cheery as you."

"Maybe she's well…"

"Getting old?"

"Yeah."

He signed as they reached the top of the stairs.

"These are the bedrooms. So I think that I will leave you to your own devices." She said, sweetly.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about him. My uncle's just feeling off tonight." She said, apologetically."So I think that it would be best to keep away from him."

She chuckled.

"Oh that's alright dear, we all have those."

"Do those off days include making one dagger happy?" He asked, playing with his red bladed knife.

"Duly noted. I'll pop off 'n' out the kettle on!"

When she was gone Chashathrophogh hit her on the head.

"What was that for?"

"You are pushing your luck girl."

She shook her head as he came close.

"Do I need to kill that old woman to remind you exactly who I am?"

"Will I be able to stop you?"

"No, no you will not!"

"Just don't. She's-she's-she-"

She spotted that her vision started to blur. She started to feel weak and then a pain like needles were piercing her every pore. 

"Stop-stop it!" 

She then collapsed

"Oh my! Is she alright?"

"Yes. She just felt a bit faint." He said as he approached the old woman and he put a hand on her.

No! G-get away from him! She thought as she felt herself shaking. 

Just waiting for the moment that he killed her, unable to do anything. She tried to will him away from her but he resisted her effortlessly. Then he was pulled away from her and, for a moment she thought that she was able to do it,  until she saw his strands of hair in her hands.

He got up.

"Knew it!"

"Thank you deary!" She said as her cheery smile turned into a dark and twisted one. 

She let out a chilling laugh.

"You Touchable, I wish that I could say the same. Though, I can tell that both of you must have really powerful magic but, I know that if it was not for you then this young man would have killed me before you even knew that you were ever in danger!" 

She then looked at Chashathrophogh surprised. Yet, sure knew that if she was in his shoes she would have done the same.

That was when Chashathrophogh threw a few small tiny blades at her. She raised her hands and they fell and she then took two strands of his hair and then twisted and snapped them apart. He then fell and though he was alive, he could not move.

She then walked to Bounty Hunter Bash and she pulled out her bow and fired an arrow to her, but she caught it. She then dropped it and with a flick of her wrist she flew up and then just as she thought that she was going to land, she was flung forward. The old woman caught her by her neck. She felt something strange surge throughout her body. She soon could no longer move. She then pulled out a few strands out of her hair too.

"Time to make this spell stronger. However it'll only work if two conditions are met."

"And they are?"

"I shall tell you one the spell has been cast." She said as she twisted the strands together. 

They could do nothing as she bit into her thumb and spread her blood over the strands.

"Those strands tied to the box strength of the spell increase, 

As the enmity between them continues to fade and decrease!"

They soon felt a surge of adrenalin and they soon could move again. They then wasted no time to fire fireball after fireball at her. She then dodged, yet Chashathrophogh saw this and fired a fireball at where she was going and he hit her. She then put it out as Bounty Hunter Bash fired an arrow at her. This one hit her in the shoulder. She turned to get as Chashathrophogh came code behind her and stabbed her in the back.

Once she died they felt a strong pull to each other.

"Suddenly I wish we had that horse."

"Though it would be dangerous for him."

"Do you think we should stay here?" She asked, glancing at the dead witch.

"Yeah." He said as he picked the body up. "We will burn the place tomorrow."

The Arrival

In the morning they burnt the witch's tavern down along with her body. Then they went on their way. They were on the road for a great amount of time without any threat. Then they turned a corner that gave them a glimpse of the wall of the border of the kingdom that they were born in.

"We're almost there."

Chashathrophogh curled his lip.

"What."

"Last time that I was here my parents had hired an assassin to kill me."

"Oh."

"What was your last memory here?"

"I left to collect your bounty."

"By the way,  I've always wondered, why did you leave here, the first time?"

"My parents tried to marry me off to hide the fact that I was born out of wedlock."

He let out a chuckle.

"Looks like that was ineffective!" He laughed.

"Yeah!"

"Tell me, had anyone told you-"

"We're a lot alike? Yeah, mother and father never liked that, mother mainly. Probably because she was worried that I would end up like you. She tried to make me different so I guess I never could have a good working relationship with her. Even though she knew about the dark lord and his trickery I still think that she had her doubts. Tell me, did you love to use a bow and arrow too?"

"Yeah, though these days, I prefer blades and magic."

Wonder if I will be like that?

"Come on, I think that we need to get this over as soon as possible."

Chashathrophogh nodded.

"Yeah how-"

They were snapped back into reality by a twig. They knew better than to look back. One took out her bow and then loaded her arrow and fired. Then an arrow was fired back and Chashathrophogh caught it before it could hit her. He then flicked it in the arrow back to where it came from. As it flew he set it alight. He then looked at her to move. She nodded and ran down to where the person was, she fired again. She then heard them jump up. She then fired where he was going. She heard a grunt and he fell.

She was about to go to where they were but Chashathrophogh signalled for to stay where she was. He used his magic to drag him over to them. He then pulled out a dagger. Chashathrophogh kicked it out of his hand and threw it at him and he died.

"Now do you see why I prefer magic and daggers?"

"Yeah. Do you think that there are more?"

"Probably."

She nodded as they walked on as he burnt his attacker. They soon came closer to the border, however they knew that they would have to keep their guard up. So, when they took a break to eat, Bounty Hunter Bash took a few glances around her.

"Bash, don't look up tight. Learn to look around and make it appear to not look like it." 

"Like you?"

"Yes."

"Will you teach me?"

"What's the point?"

Oh yeah… She thought as she felt something sink in her chest. Even though there was no blade in her heart, it felt like it. 

"What?"

"Nothing."

It was at this moment that she remembered when she had used her magic to kill. She remembered how he hugged her how her parents would. Yet, she knew that if either of her parents were there they would have neither hugged her or understood. Yet even if they did it would have been in the same way.

"On another note, what do you think that we should do once we get back there?"

"Well, I'll have to ask for a private conversation with my sister."

"What danger is Mother in?"

His eyes narrowed and his demeanour became guarded. However as he realised that she would come to that truth he let his guard down slightly.

"I think that we should talk about this in private." He said.

So it's something that can be magically overheard.

She soon spotted something in the corner of her eye. She was about to look but she remembered what Chashathrophogh had said and stopped herself. She knew that she would have to get her bow, but she had to make it look natural. So she took it out. She looked at it and plucked the string.

"You know, I think that this would need a new string."

"Do as you will."

She then pulled out the arrow.

"I mean it!" She exclaimed childishly. "I'll show you!"

She loaded it and fired, which was followed by a scream.

"Looks like you hit something!" He said with a smirk.

"Hope that he will be alright."

"Want to check?"

"Couldn't hurt."

She then walked over to where the scream came from. She soon spotted her broken arrow and a small pool of blood. She then felt a blade touch her neck.

"Well, you caught me off guard."

Her eyes spotted the blade and she did her best to look calm.

"Are you sure?"

She then hit him in the ribcage causing him to drop the blade. She spun but before she was able to load her bow again he gripped her wrist and pulled her in.. She kneed him in between his legs and then punched him in the throat. Before she hit he hit her in her gut and she was almost crouched on the ground clutching her stomach, however she was made of stronger stuff. She then used her magic to will him aside. She then pulled out an arrow and hit him in the thigh. As he limped to her Chashathrophogh hit him with a fireball.

"That was fun!"

"I think that we need to go now."

He nodded.

"Yes. That would be a good idea."

They started to wall to the border.

"What do you think would happen if they arrest me?"

"I hardly know, I haven't thought about it. Maybe that was the plan."

"Well if it was, then we will cross that bridge when we come to it." He said as they crossed the border.

"You have a lot of nerve coming back here after all you have done Chashathrophogh!" Spoke Sir Folied.

"I know."

"And why are you of all people with this murderer?"

"No time we need to talk to mother!"

"Yes, you do." He said as they turned and marched on.

The Reunion

They travelled for over a day on foot, apart from Chashathrophogh, who was in a cage. This was one thing that he was willing to undergo. Yet despite Sir Folied booking him and getting in a tavern, she chose to stay outside. She did not want to leave her uncle alone.

She felt that something was off, she could not place what it was. She did not want to even think about it. She wanted to sit where she was and get some sleep. She woke up some time later from a nightmare that she soon forgot. She looked back at Chashathrophogh sleeping in his cage. She thought about the day that they met. She thought that it was a strange coincidence that Sir Folied was there too. 

Yet she could not budge the feeling that he was expecting the two to show up. Then again, it hardly mattered, Sir Folied always had a strange reputation of being a tool in people's schemes. It was so bad that she had heard that, if her grandmother had not been so sharp, then he would have killed her great-grandfather. So maybe this time was no different.

She looked up at the room where he was sleeping. She had wondered for a while why he was still around? Why were her parents keeping around such a knight? Was it out of pity or was it that her parents were using him just as the other did? Or maybe it was just keeping a promise? Whatever the case, it hardly mattered. 

After they made sure that her mother was alright, she and Chashathrophogh would be out of here. Her thoughts then turned to her sleeping uncle. Even though he was morally black, and had killed people, both guilty and innocent, she knew that she had started to care for him. She knew that if his head was on the chopping block then she would save him within a heartbeat. Even though she would never say it out loud.

She closed her eyes and drifted off again. She then woke up from another nightmare that she forgot. It may have been the same nightmare. She knew that she was killed in it, yet she did not know who had killed her or how. She shook her head to get the thing out of her mind. It was only a dream, it had no meaning. She looked around and then rubbed her eyes.

Am I going to get a good night's sleep?

Probably not. She thought as she heard a snapping of a twig. 

She drew her now and loaded it, she aimed it at the source of the sound. Then Sir Folied raised his hand up with shock.

"Woah!"

She lowered her bow.

"Oh, sorry."

"You should be."

She frowned.

What's his problem?

"Yeah, I should quit thinking every twig snap is an enemy."

He nodded.

"So, what's he like?"

"Better than you think, though he can be scary every now and again."

"Do you think that it would be alright to release him?"

"Yes, and he has a name. It's Chashathrophogh, use it."

"No. Is bad luck to say the name of an evil one."

"He's not evil. And you ought to drop your superstitions."

He looked at her with shock.

"Are you serious? He killed all those Royal bastards like you and himself, both innocent and guilty alike! Not to mention he tried to kill you!"

"I know, but I can tell that he's mute complicated than that."

"Maybe, but I still will not say his name. Now, breakfast awaits!"

"Not without Uncle Chashathrophogh."

He rolled his eyes and went along. They were soon brought before her mother, which gave them a look of confusion and outrage.

The Lies And The Truth

"Drew, what is this all about?" She snapped.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

She looked around and noticed that her father was not here. Nor was her baby brother for that matter. Not to mention she had not heard even an echo of a crying baby.

"Why are you here with the man that killed my parents?"

"Our parents and an evil warlock, which I suspect is a dark lord, used magic to bind us together." 

"I was not talking to you. I was talking to my daughter." She snapped coldly.

"Well it is what happened, and I think that the one that did this was the one that has been turning the Royal children born out of wedlock against their parents."

She nodded with an icy look.

"And next you will tell me that if I execute this murderer then you will die too?" She scoffed.

"Yes."

She scoffed.

"I don't believe it! I was warned about this!"

They frowned.

"What do you mean?" 

"There was a man that killed my husband and son."

"W-what? Father and my brother-" She said, shocked, incapable of processing such information.

"Silence! After all, it was him that killed him and he would have killed me too if Sir Follied wasn't there to save me!" She said as tears entered her eyes. "So how can you , of all people, defend him?"

"When did he?"

"Be gone! Chashathrophogh, tomorrow I will have your head. And as you are the only one who can inherit the throne, Drew, you will live but I will find you a husband that will be fitting for you! Now take her to her room and lock her in!"

They were forced apart and Bounty Hunter Bash started to feel weak as they all moved further and further apart. Chashathrophogh too. The soldiers threw her into her old room. She then heard the lock click. She could feel herself growing weaker and weaker. She looked at the lock and forced herself to the door. She kept quiet and listened to the guards. They knew that they would be competent, however not all that much. She knew her mother enough to know that she would not see her as anything but a princess that she could not control, or a rebellious girl trying to foolishly prove herself. She never saw her the way that her father did.

She then realised that it had not set in yet, that the only parent that saw the for who she truly was, was dead. Her baby brother too… Suddenly she felt a strange loneliness as she processed it.

Why, though? Why is this happening? Why did my father and baby brother get killed? What's the point of all this? Why does that man want me and my uncle dead?

Well it would not matter if either of us are dead. So I am going to have to get out of here. I need to get me and Uncle Chashathrophogh out of here.

But when and how?

She thought. She knew that she could not be right now,  if she did that then her mother would know that she had underestimated her.

What am I thinking? Am I really going against my own mother? How? How did it come to this? Never mind that when haven't I?

She let out a long and deep breath to calm herself down. She had to. She knew that her mother would not know how to calm herself down nor listen to reason, she never did. Her father did, not to mention he was always a voice of reason and competence. It was her father that knew her and it was always him that she was always close to.

Meanwhile her mother was always trying to connect a daughter that she barely knew and projecting herself onto. Then trying to protect that daughter without even considering or helping her to handle or protect herself. To her mother, she could only protect her by marrying her off to a stranger, who she thought would protect her. Her mother knew nothing, she never did.

She waited until it was night. Even though she was extremely weak she used her magic to unlock the door. She leveled the rotten of her breathing and claimed herself. She knew that it would be a mistake to escape this way. And she knew that a mistake would cost her dearly.

She knew that neither she nor Chashathrophogh could afford that. She looked through the keyhole. She was about to open it but soon saw that that would be a mistake. So she got up and walked to the window and slowly opened it and looked outside. She let out a sigh, there was none there. She then heard the door click.

Mother!

She willed the key to weld to the keyhole. She then put a heavy desk in front of the door and then weld the lock to the wall too, for good measure. She then pulled the curtains down. She heard the door bang and this caused the adrenalin to give her a boost of strength, yet she forced herself to not focus on that. She had to focus on this. She tied them all together and then let them out of the window.

By the time her mother finally barged into the room, she was already gone. The window was open. The curtains hanging out of the window like a rope.